The Redemption(87)

I’m prompt, as everyone should be when invited to afternoon tea. I’ve never had high tea, but I understand there are rules and etiquette that accompany it. Being on time is probably one of them.

The door is opened by Charles. I remember him from the first time we stopped by. “Right this way,” he directs.

I’m quickly intercepted by Judith and her wide smile. “It’s so good to see you again, Ms. Floros.”

“You too, Judith. Please call me Rochelle.”

She nods, and says, “Right this way, Rochelle. Mrs. Caggiano is waiting for you.”

With my hand, I stop her when I touch her forearm. “Should I be worried?”

Her smile eases into reassurance. Her hand covers mine, and she replies, “No, Mrs. Caggiano likes you. I’ve heard only good things from your visit to Diablo. But I will warn you that she’s weak, weaker than she lets on.”

“Thank you.”

I walk into the conservatory. Dex’s mother is seated in the far corner in a plush, floral fabric covered chair as she stares through the glass outside.

“Ms. Floros,” Charles announces.

Mrs. Caggiano turns and smiles when her eyes land on me. “Come in,” she says, starting to stand.

I rush over. “No, don’t get up for me.” Standing before her, she sits back down and reaches a hand out. I take it, and say, “Thank you for having me here for tea today.”

“I’m glad you could join me. Please. Sit,” she says, signaling to a chair next to hers that also faces out toward the gardens.

“I must admit, the invitation was unexpected.”

“Yes, but I’m glad you accepted. We didn’t have enough time to chat in Diablo.”

“Was there something in particular you wanted to chat about?” I ask.

“My youngest son.”

“I should tell you that I care about Dex, but we currently aren’t seeing each other.”

She leans back in her chair and an understanding grin appears. “I know. I don’t mean to pry. I’ve been hands off with him for many years, too many. I’ve failed him in so many ways. I’ve tried to reconcile that with him, but some scars are too deep to heal overnight.” The tea and tray of finger foods arrive on a large silver tray, interrupting her. She waits until everything is set up on the table before us, then continues when we’re alone again. “Antonio and I may not be able to heal all of our old wounds, but I hope he can carry on with less pain weighing on his heart.”

“He’s a good man.”

“You love him though he’s left you… in a way.”

“In a way?” I question, curious to what exactly she knows about our situation.

“He loves you. He’s being a silly man and hoping to spare you his burdens to bear. What he doesn’t understand is that women are built to share our partners’ troubles. Wouldn’t you say?” She leans forward and pours the tea. “Please eat something.”

“I would help him if I knew how, Mrs. Caggiano.” I drink my tea straight and take a bite of a small chicken salad sandwich.

His mother says, “I’ve jumped ahead of myself and forgotten my manners. Please call me Katherine.”

Setting the sandwich down, I dab the side of my mouth with the white cloth napkin. “Thank you.”

After sipping her tea, she says, “I’ll be gone soon. My expiration date, according to the doctors, has come and gone. Yet, I’m not really feeling inspired. I worry. Antonio has been left with a huge responsibility not only with my father’s estate, but his company as well since I won’t be around. I did the best I could to get things in order. I left an internal board to run things for years. I never had a knack for those types of dealings.”

I touch her wrist that is resting on the arm of the chair. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. Cancer is not how I expected to go… I wonder about my sons and if they’ll make up. They disagree about,” she says, with a light laugh, looking at the floral pattern of the chair, her finger tracing a violet peony. “Pretty much everything. Gage is troubled a lot like my father was. Anto… Dex is like his father. Troubled in other ways.” She looks up. “I need to ask you a favor, Rochelle.”

I want to readily agree, but my heart begins to race and without warrant I start to hold my breath in anticipation of what’s coming next.

She smiles. “Take care of my son when he finds his way back to you.”

A slow exhale is followed by me asking, “How do you know he will?”

“You’re the love of his life. He didn’t have to tell me that, though he did. I could tell the first time I ever saw you with him. Diablo confirmed my suspicions.”

“What if he never comes back?”

“Then he’ll miss out on his own love story.”

I smile. “In Diablo, you told us to follow our hearts.”

“Follow your heart. It will lead you home.”





On the drive home, I ponder her words and my thoughts drift to Dex and the mess he must feel his life is. It makes me want to call him, but I don’t. Even Tommy told me to give him time.

So I do. I also wonder about my future and what role am I willing to let Dex play in my life and in the boys’ lives. As much as I love starting this new chapter with Dex, hoping he follow his heart back to me, the reality is, I need to close other chapters, fully opening my heart to him.