The House of Roses (32 page)

“
Do I?” Rita whispered.

“
Of course. I need you now. I need you more than ever.”

“
I feel like things are different now that you know,” Rita said, wiping her eyes on a wad of tissues she had taken from her apron.

“
They are. I respect you so much more because you told me the truth.”

“
I should have told you a long time ago.”

“
But you didn't. And you didn't have to tell me now.”

“
Ella wanted you to know.”

“
She could have told me,” Caitlin said. Rita held out a tissue and Caitlin took it.

“
She didn't feel it was her place. She's a good woman, Cate.”

“
So are you, Mom.”

“
Do you really think so, because most of the time I'm not sure.”

“
You're a nut, Mom. You know it, I know it, but it's part of your charm. Ask anyone. No one around you is bored. There is nothing fake about you. Most people are afraid to show the world who they really are. You're not, Mom.”

“
I'm afraid of everything else.”

“
I know. So am I. We'll work on that,” Caitlin said, laying her hand on her mother's arm. “You still listening to me?”

“
Yes.”

“
Good. When I asked Maria to come, the issue of you minding, or being put out in any way never came up. You know why?”

Rita said nothing, she simply sat listening to her daughter.

“
Okay, don't humor me by asking why, but I'll tell you anyway. It never came up because your heart and your door are always open. They always were. Daddy was like that, too. Ella is like that. You're good people, Mom. I'd like to think I'm good people, too. I was just a God damned fool over Colin.”

“
Don't say that,” Rita chastised.

“
I was.”

“
I mean........,don't take the Lord's name in vain, Cate. You know I don't like that.”

“
I know. I'm sorry,” Caitlin whispered.

“
Have you told him yet?” Rita asked softly, as she knelt over the babies' stroller.

“
No, but I'm going to tell him. I'm going to tell him I need to see him. It's not something you tell someone over the phone.”

“
That much I agree with,” Rita said. Hannah fussed and Rita took the tiny child into her arms.

“
I love you, darling,” she whispered, and the baby stared into her grandmother's eyes as if she understood.

“
I think she knows,” Caitlin said, taking several steps to stand beside her mother. “Come to the hospital with me later. You're not intruding. No matter what happened, you're a part of me.”

“
I know.”

“
So you'll come?”

“
I'd like that, Caitlin.”

“
So would I. I love you, Mom,” Caitlin said, laying her head against Rita's arm. Caitlin gently kissed her daughter, who slept against her grandmother's shoulder.

“
I know, sweetheart. I love you, too,” Rita said.

Thirty-seven

Colin Thomas was a man of medicine, but he avoided it when it came to his own body. He nervously fingered the two pills in the left pocket of his pants, as he and Caren stood in the hallway outside of Rosario Mariposa's small apartment. His knee was throbbing, likely from overuse, and he longed for the relief that one or both of the pain pills would provide.

The door in front of him opened just a crack, and he felt his heart leap as Mia's small round face filled the opening.

“
Hi, Colin,” she said.

“
Hi, sweetheart. This is my friend Caren. Can we come in?”

“
Is she a doctor?” Mia asked, maintaining her place in the doorway.

“
No. She's a nanny,” Colin said, and they both watched as Mia processed the word.

“
Oh, like for rich kids,” Mia said matter of fact. Satisfied with the responses she'd gotten from the two adults, Mia opened the door fully. Colin and Caren stepped inside the small apartment.

“
Is Mom around?” Colin asked, not imagining she wasn't.

“
She's resting. I'll tell her you're here,” Mia said, disappearing into a hallway that made the outer hall look massive.

“
Now this is small,” Caren whispered, and Colin nodded.

“
Okay,” Mia said, reappearing in the doorway, and motioning with her hand for Colin to follow.

“
Mia, would you like to show me a park or someplace we can play?” Caren said, and Mia smiled.

“
Can Marvin come?” Mia asked.

“
Who's Marvin?” Caren asked, kneeling so she was eye level with the little girl. Colin was growing more impressed with his new nanny by the moment, and he watched the exchange between Caren and the child who would soon be his.

“
He's a bear. Not a real one though. Real ones are scary.”

“
Marvin's not scary then?” Caren asked, and Mia giggled.

“
No. He's cute,” Mia said.

“
Okay, but just in case I do get scared, can you hold my hand?” Caren asked, and Mia nodded.

“
Let me ask Mama first. Mama!!!” the child called, and Caren stood up beside Colin. They both watched as Mia disappeared once again into the alarmingly tiny hallway.

“
She's precious,” Caren whispered.

“
I know,” Colin said, feeling the familiar tightening in his chest. “I just want to protect her. As much as possible.”

“
You're getting this parenting thing better than you think,” Caren reassured him, and Colin smiled, although he still wasn't sure.

“
Mama said it was okay, as long as we wear sweaters,” Mia said, reappearing with a pink sweater and a well-worn bear hugged to her chest.

“
Where's Marvin's sweater?” Caren asked, and Mia laughed.

“
Bears don't need sweaters,” the child replied.

“
Okay then, let's go. We'll be back in ten or fifteen minutes,” Caren said to Colin.

“
Have fun, sweetheart,” Colin said, kneeling carefully in front of Mia. His knee was throbbing, but he barely noticed.

“
Kiss Marvin,” Mia said, and Colin did as asked. “Now me,” she said, and Colin pressed his lips to the little girl's cheek. Mia kissed his cheek and smiled at him. “See you in a few minutes, Papa,” she said, and Colin felt his eyes immediately fill with tears. Caren's eyes grew moist as she watched. “Can I call you Papa?” the child asked, and Colin nodded.

“
I'd like that, Mia,” he whispered, hugging the child tightly to his chest. Colin looked at Caren who watched him with tears sliding down her face. She quickly wiped them away when he stood.

“
She's scared already,” Mia said, unaware of the emotion of the moment. “I'll hold her hand. She'll be okay,” the child reassured Colin.

“
Take good care of her, Mia,” he said, as the two disappeared through the apartment door.

“
I will, Papa!” Mia called back.

Colin laid his head against the cool wooden door. He took several deep breaths to steady himself. Suddenly he heard a voice behind him.

“
Are you all right?” Rosario asked.

Colin turned to the woman behind him and nearly gasped. She barely resembled the woman from the restaurant, and he was impressed by the attempts she'd made for their dinner together. Her skin had a sickening pallor, and her eyes seemed to be receding into her warm brown face.

“
I'm all right,” Colin said softly. “How are you doing?”

“
Not well,” she said, moving slowly into the kitchen, and taking a chair at the table. Colin sat beside her.

“
Is there anything I can do?” Colin asked, feeling like a fool. He didn't know what more he could do, other than offer his friendship.

“
I think it's almost time for the hospital, Colin,” Rosario said, dropping her head into her hand. “It's the part I've been dreading, even more than what's really coming.”

“
I have another idea, Rosario,” he said. Rosario looked at him and he reached for her hand.

“
I rented a house today. It's nice and it's in the right school district for Mia. We can move in on Sunday, and I plan to do that. I also talked to hospice, and I've arranged for someone to come as soon as we need them. I'd like you to be able to stay at home. Would you like that, Rosario?”

Her only response was a gentle sobbing, and Colin squeezed her hand.

“
I'd really like that, Colin. Thank you so much. I never imagined you'd take such good care of me. I knew you'd take care of Mia, but I never imagined anyone would care for me as you have. I know it's only been a few days since we first talked, but you have done so much for me, more than you'll ever know.”

“
I'm happy to do it,” Colin said softly, meaning every word. He felt confident in his knowledge of medicine, but he was learning more about life. He said as much as he continued to hold Rosario's hand.

“
You've done a lot for me, too,” he whispered, and she smiled slightly.

“
I have?”

“
Yes. I thought I had a full life, Rosario. I thought I knew about life, and about death, but I never really knew. Not until now.”

“
I heard Mia call you Papa. Is that all right?” Rosario asked.

“
It's nice. I like the sound of it. Is it all right with you?” Colin asked, and Rosario nodded.

“
Yes. She loves you, and she's doing better than I expected, although I'm still not sure she understands. She doesn't remember when my husband died. She was too young. I'm not sure she realizes I'll be gone.”

“
I think she does, but we can talk to her more about it,” Colin said. “It will be better with all of us together.”

“
I think so, too,” Rosario said. “I'm not sure what to do with all of this stuff,” she added.

“
Caren will help you pack what you want. I'll arrange for someone to come get what you don't want.”

“
She sounded nice,” Rosario said, of Caren.

“
She is. She was a nanny for years. She's missed it terribly.”

“
She'll be good for Mia,” Rosario said, and although it wasn't a question, Colin nodded. “I know you'll really be there for her.”

“
I'm here for you, too,” he said, and she smiled the weak smile once more.

“
I know. Thank you, Colin. I mean that. Thank you for everything.”

He responded with nothing more than a gentle smile. He hadn't lied. He was learning more about life. It was a good lesson, one that would serve him well.

Thirty-eight

Caitlin knocked softly on the door of Ella's hospital room. A soft voice replied, and carefully Caitlin pushed the double stroller into the room.

“
Oh my, what do we have here?” Ella said with delight, and Caitlin smiled.

“
Say hello to Grandma, babies,” Caitlin said, and Ella beamed.

“
Oh my Lord, I'm not sure I've ever seen anything so precious. This is one of the most wonderful moments of my life, Cate. Thank you so much for bringing them.”

“
You're welcome, Ella,” Caitlin said, leaning over to kiss Ella's cheek. “How are you feeling?” Caitlin asked, and Ella smiled.

“
Not too bad,” she lied, and Caitlin looked concerned.

“
Are you telling me the truth?”

“
No more lies,” Ella promised, although she hadn't been entirely honest. It was a fib, nothing more. She didn't want anything to mar the glorious moment with her grandchildren. Caitlin reached into the stroller, and emerged a moment later with her daughter in her arms.

“
This is Hannah Margaret. Would you like to hold her?”

“
Oh, I'd love to,” Ella said enthusiastically. Caitlin gently laid the baby in Ella's arms, and stood back watching as two tears slid down the older woman's face. “She is an angel,” Ella whispered.

Rogan chose that moment to let out an agonizing squeal.