The Family Business 3(75)

“You?” She seemed confused by my statement, but I wasn’t willing to explain the part I played in my husband entering this business in the first place. That was ancient history at this point, and it was between me and my husband. All she needed to know was that I understood why my son had chosen her.

“My son is very lucky to have you . . . and Sonya?” She glanced up at me, tears falling from her eyes. “So am I.”

“Thank you.” She closed her eyes and released a breath from deep within. When she opened her eyes again, I could see the relief, like a weight had been lifted off of her. “Can I bring you anything?” I shook my head, and she left the room, allowing me to be alone with LC again. There was so much I needed to say to him.

“Junior is going to be all right,” I said. “He chose the right woman. I know you would agree. She has a lot of the same qualities you’ve told me you value in me over the years. She can handle this life, and she can make Junior feel that love we always wanted for him. He always put us and his siblings first, but this time he took care of himself.

“You told me he wasn’t going to leave her, and you were right. You’re always right,” I said with a sad smile. “But if you wake up now ’cause you heard me say that, I’m going to deny it. Women like being right. We need it.”

I walked over to the mantle to look at one of the photos displayed on top. The memory of that day made me smile. It was a picture of Vegas and Daryl before their high school prom. We had taken pictures of them with their dates, of course, but I figured those girls would be history too soon to take up permanent residency in our house, so LC had made the boys pose for a photo without them, one we could keep.

I turned back to LC. “Daryl is back, and that’s really good for Vegas with everything going on. They work really well together and—get ready for this surprise—you know who else Vegas works well with? Orlando. The two of them were bumping heads, about to go to war, but now they’re working as a team. Kind of reminds me of you and Lou. I miss those early days, when we were too young to know where we were headed,” I said, wiping away a tear.

“And your grandson Nevada is the spitting image of Vegas. He’s a smart, kind boy, but I can see that Duncan fire in him. If you were here, you’d help him to hone it, and you’d love him on sight. Of course, I have no idea what Consuela was thinking by keeping him from us. Now that she’s single, I’m not sure what her intentions are for Vegas, and apparently neither does his girlfriend.” It took everything I had not to burst out in laughter. “That son of ours has been like the Pied Piper with women since he was in grade school. Not like the studious Orlando, always thinking about work. That’s why I’m still praying we’ll be able to get Orlando’s son back one day. I know it’s hard for him not to have his son around.... Oh, LC, I just wish you were here to help him,” I cried.

“Mom?” London came in and stood over me, hovering as usual.

I wiped away my tears. “Honey, I’m just having a chat with your father,” I said in a tone that told her I didn’t want to be interrupted.

“Well, I’ll come back later.” She turned and left me alone without any more fussing. That was odd for London.

“London just came to say hi to you,” I told LC. “She and Harris and the girls are fine, but now that Daryl is back, I’m going to have to keep a close eye on things. Funny how our children always think they’re doing things behind our backs—like we can’t tell when they’re having feelings for someone.” Thoughts of London’s wedding came rushing back to me, making me wonder if we had done our child a disservice. There were so many of them to worry about.

“Rio. He needs you even more than the others. He needs you to show him that you’re proud of him. You should see what an important part of the family business he’s been these weeks. He’s really growing up.

“And speaking of growing up . . . Yes, we all know that Paris is your favorite. She’s always going to be a handful, and without you here to control her, I’m not sure anything can be done with that girl. Now, Sasha has a lot of Lou in her, and she can temper herself, but that Paris is a lot harder to contain. If she had someone to really love her, soften those rough edges like you did for me, then I know she’d be okay. Guess that’s why the whole Niles thing still bothers me.”

“Hey.” Donna’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “You all right?” She came over and took my hand, looking down at LC.

“I just don’t want to let him go,” I said. “I know that probably sounds selfish, especially when he’s lying here in this bed not able to do anything for himself, but when you have loved a man as long as we have been together, it’s hard to do the right thing. Especially when the right thing is to let him die.” Donna reached up and wiped the tears streaming down my face.

“He’s always going to be in your heart.” Her words were meant to comfort me, but I didn’t want my husband in my heart. I wanted him in my bed, in my arms, in my life. Everywhere.

“What are you going to do?” Her question was one I hadn’t wanted to answer out loud, and yet I had to, because I needed to hear myself say it.

“I’m going to let him go. I’m going to give his friends some time to pay their respects, and then I’ll let the children know my decision.”