The chapter starts: “Esperanza almost never left Mama’s side,” and it ends with Esperanza saying:“Don’t worry. I will take care of everything. I will be la patrona for the family now.” what does it mean to be la patrona?

La patrona means patron in English: a person who gives financial or other support to a person. Esparanza reassures her mother that she will support the family. Esparanza has changed a lot for the self-absorbed and entitled girl that she used to be.