Chapter 29 #2
“Motion carried. Now, how about I treat you all to lunch? Tomas, I’ve yet to try your family’s restaurant.” He ushered the younger people out of the conference room, turning at the door to say to his wife, “Please turn out the lights on your way out.”
Tomas lifted a dazed Fiona into his truck. She barely noticed as he buckled her seat belt. She was still staring at the front of the building as he settled behind the steering wheel. “You okay?”
“I don’t know. That was....” Tears started coursing down her cheeks.
Leaning over the console, Tomas cradled her head, drawing her closer. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. My mother is?—”
“A shitty human being.”
Fiona snorted, blowing snot bubbles. Feeling slightly relieved, Tomas opened the glove box, found some napkins, and handed them to her.
“I won’t try to sugarcoat it. Not only is she racist, but she’s greedy and ruthless.”
“She’s always been cold, but I never thought of her as heartless.” After wiping her eyes, Fiona held the crumpled napkin tightly, not looking at Tomas. “So yeah, that’s my family. Nice introduction, right?”
“Your dad was pretty awesome.”
She turned to him, a wondering look in her eyes. “I don’t know where that came from. He’s always deferred to her, standing in the background. But today he was so decisive.”
“She’s probably never gone off the rails like that before. And you gotta know, after what she said about my family, I don’t ever want to see her again.” Repressed anger bubbled up to the surface. He did his best to keep it out of his voice. “I know that puts you in a tight spot but?—”
Fiona shook her head vehemently. “No. I agree. I have no desire to see her, either. But for now, I don’t want to talk about her or even think about her. I’m just sorry….” She choked on a sob and leaned into his warmth.
Wrapping his arms around her, he held her until the tears subsided.
Fiona was warm and loving and thoughtful, always going overboard to help others improve their lives.
It had to be killing her to discover the truth about her mother.
Tomas didn’t get it. His own mother opened her heart to everyone she met.
She held strong opinions, but at the end of the day, she believed there was room at the table for everyone.
He pulled back, kissing Fiona gently on the forehead, and started the truck.
The drive to the restaurant wasn’t long, and he spotted his mother standing by the door when he pulled into the parking lot.
He hadn’t even turned off the engine before Louisa was tugging open the passenger door and enveloping Fiona in a tight hug.
He met his mother’s gaze and, at her nod, got out of the truck and went into the restaurant, leaving the two women alone.
He found the others at a large table. Carlos had joined them, and Andy was animatedly giving him a blow-by-blow description of the morning.
His stepfather tipped his chin up in greeting, and Joseph raised an eyebrow in question while David pulled out the chair beside him.
“My mother is with Fiona,” Tomas told them, settling into his chair.
Joseph pushed a beer toward him and turned his head toward Andy, draping a possessive arm around the back of his chair.
“My children have each found partners who are worthy of them.” David sipped his beer and glanced up at Tomas. “You’ve now seen our dirty laundry. I hope you aren’t thrown off by it.”
Tomas’s smile was unamused. “Thrown off? No. But don’t expect me to forgive and forget.” He wondered what kind of marriage Fiona’s parents had that her dad could have been so unaware of his wife’s thoughts and activities.
“I wouldn’t expect you to. I’ve been a fool,” David spoke softly, but the others at the table heard him and gave him their undivided attention.
“Our children were cared for, educated, and uncomplaining. So I looked past my wife’s prejudices and controlling behavior in order to keep the peace.
I see I should have paid more attention and spoken up long ago.
It may have prevented this from happening. ”
“I don’t know if you could have prevented it.
” Fiona stood at the side of the table, eyes puffy from crying but otherwise looking composed.
Louisa was behind her, an arm around her waist protectively, looking like the fierce, loving mother Fiona deserved but never had.
“Mother is not wired to be compassionate. She’s too self-involved. ”
David looked like he was about to protest, but Joseph got there first. “Fiona’s right. Mother had an agenda, and Tomas screwed with it.”
“Actually, I think it was more that his mother screwed with it,” Andy spoke up, his gaze focused on Louisa.
“You’re a natural-born leader. People listen to you.
The congregation respects Linh Han’s ability to get things done, but they don’t like her.
She only has time for someone if they can do something for her.
I think when Fiona chose Tomas, that was fanning the flame.
She can’t get rid of you, Louisa, but she could destroy something that held value to you. ”
Tomas watched his mother, seeing her thoughts and feelings chase each other across her face.
Although he’d never thought of it that way, Andy was bang-on.
His mother was a leader. At the moment, she appeared troubled.
“I don’t know what to say. I’ve never had angry words with your mother.
We worked together a few times, got along good, so I don’t know… .”
David rose to approach her. “Mrs. Santiago, I doubt you did anything but be yourself. The blame is totally on my wife.”
“Okay,” she said through watery eyes. “Please, call me Louisa.”
Acknowledging the invitation with a slight bow, David extended his hand. “I will if you call me David. I think we should be on a first-name basis as we are going to be family.”
“Dad!”
“What?”
“Tomas and I aren’t there yet.”
“Well, you should be. I’m not getting any younger.”
Fiona glared at her father as she moved to the chair Tomas pulled out for her. “Sorry,” she said quietly. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
Taking her hand, Tomas kissed the inside of her wrist. “No worries. You know I’m on board with the idea.”
A server arrived with a tray filled with tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole, as well as a pot of tea for Louisa and Fiona. Louisa settled into a chair between Carlos and Fiona and looked fondly at her son, clearly pleased with the idea.
Directing the conversation away from Fiona, Tomas spoke to Andy. “Are you gonna kick Linh Han out of the church?”
Andy still wore his clerical collar, not concerned about being seen having a beer.
“I can’t kick her out. I will ask her to step down from her leadership roles and make a public statement about not condoning racist language and behavior.
It will draw attention to your families, so it’s up to you.
But I think I should.” He ran his hand up and down Joseph’s back.
Joseph leaned into him with a tired smile on his face. “That will suck but I think you should, too. Mother has to understand that her actions have consequences, and losing her status in the community is the best way for her to do that. Dad? Fiona?”
Sitting back, Tomas observed the Han family, thinking it was telling that Fiona and Joseph called their father Dad, while referring to Linh Han as Mother. Gripping his hand, Fiona leaned across him to claim her father’s attention. Neither looked happy, but both were resolute and nodded at Joseph.
“And your family?” Andy glanced at Tomas before focusing on Louisa and Carlos.
“This is hard. On one hand the words ‘turn the other cheek’ are being whispered in my ear. But on the other….” Louisa sighed, not looking happy.
She exchanged glances with Carlos before speaking directly to Tomas.
“When you went to prison, I feared for your life. I know things happened to you that you won’t tell me.
I know some of those things happened because you are Latino.
I couldn’t do anything then. I can now.” She shifted in her chair to see Andy more clearly.
“I don’t think of myself as a leader. I do know I am a role model.
” She waved at the restaurant. “I have staff who watch me and two daughters I hope look up to me. They would suffer if I sat back and did nothing. So, yes. Make the statement.”
Tension eased out of Tomas. At the same time, he felt Fiona stiffen beside him.
This was going to suck for both of them, both their families.
Sensing his concern, she squeezed his hand and squared her shoulders.
“HFH needs to make a statement as well. Mother should be terminated, and a letter of explanation should be sent to all tenants. I know that’s going to leave a gap, but Joseph, if you and I?—”
“No. It’s time I step up,” David spoke up, placing his elbows on the table and steepling his hands.
“I’ve been hanging out in the greenhouse instead of working.
I may need some help, but I can run this company.
You should also know I will be speaking to a divorce lawyer.
I don’t want to talk about it right now, but you need to know that.
Now, can we talk about something else? Like turning those burned-out houses into homes? ”
Murmurs of agreement were heard. As the conversation started, it became clear that the process would be much smoother without having to appease Linh Han.
As ideas started to flow and the conversation got animated, Tomas tugged Fiona up from the table and walked her toward a quiet corner of the restaurant.
Turning her so that she was sheltered from view by his big body, he cradled her face and studied her.
Color was returning to her cheeks, but she looked exhausted.
“What can I do?” he asked, drawing his thumbs across her cheekbones.
She leaned into him. “Love me.”
“I already do.” This tiny, determined woman with big ideas had wormed her way into his heart ages ago. Letting her know freed him.
Tears welled in her eyes. “I want us to be a family,” she whispered.
He whispered back, “Just say where and when. I’ll be there.”