Chapter 41
TIFFANY
Joseph grips my hand tightly as I struggle to breathe. The white building housing a memory I may not wish to resurrect.
“You’ll be okay.”
He attempts to reassure me as we head up the steps toward the open double doors.
The Priory is the name on the brass plaque by the door, and I take a deep breath because somewhere inside is my mother.
Priscilla Van Der Hudson, then Zaferelli, now Stone who married a banker by all accounts. Was it for security, his money, or was she afraid of something?
My issues of abandonment are strong and have clouded my curiosity.
She left me.
She never came back, and yet here she is, locked away for her addiction to alcohol and drugs. Broken, a wreck even. What will I find?
There is a woman at the reception who smiles with curiosity.
“May I help you?”
Joseph steps forward, his gaze blank, his eyes stormy, causing her to back away slightly.
“Priscilla Stone. Her daughter wishes to visit.”
The woman glances at her screen and nods, a troubled expression on her face.
“I have the appointment here.”
She glances at me with a curious half-smile.
“You’re her daughter.”
“I am.”
I find my voice, and she sighs.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but well, Priscilla can be a little difficult. If she, well, is, please call the staff immediately.”
My heart drops. “Is she—?” I choose my word carefully. “Unhinged?”
“Aren’t we all?”
Her words do little to reassure, and Joseph huffs, “It will be fine. We won’t be staying long, anyway.”
The woman pushes a visitor’s book our way.
“Please sign in while I arrange the lanyards.”
As I scrawl my name, it strikes me that this is the first time I have to use my married one, and as Joseph watches me, a small smile breaks across his otherwise blank face.
He takes the pen from me, and his gaze burns as he signs his name under mine, a strong sensation of family takes over me.
We are a family now, soon to be many more, and I have never felt such a sense of belonging before. Of direction even – of destiny and in my heart I know this is the right path to take, holding the hand of the complicated man who edged inside my world uninvited.
“Please wear these at all times to avoid questions by security. If you take the elevator to the third floor, turn left and announce your arrival to the nurse on duty.”
We smile our thanks, well, at least I manage to, and as we head toward the elevator, my heart is fluttering inside me.
“It will be fine.”
Joseph reassures, but my heart is beating against me like a caged bird. Panicked, desperate, and locked in prison.
We ride the elevator in silence, any words melting on my lips. I have no idea what to expect, or why I am here at all.
As instructed, we announce our arrival to the duty nurse, who eyes us with suspicion.
“Priscilla never spoke of a daughter before.”
“I’m sure she never spoke of many things, but it doesn’t mean they didn’t happen.”
Joseph’s reply is cold, dismissive and threatening and his dark glare causes the nurse to nod and take a set of keys from her pocket.
“Follow me. If at any time you want to leave, there is a bell by the door. Ring it and I will let you out.”
“Why is she locked in?”
I’m wondering what the hell is happening here, and the nurse shrugs.
“Ask her. It’s what she wants.”
“So you don’t lock up your patients as standard then.”
Joseph asks, and she shakes her head.
“No. This isn’t a prison, sir; it’s a hospital. Priscilla is a difficult case. She hasn’t responded well to treatment and always appears afraid of something. She may not wish to see you, and if she well, demands it, I’m afraid you must leave.”
“Of course.”
I’m more nervous than ever now and wondering why we came. Is my mother crazy? I guess I’m about to find out.
The nurse knocks on the door and says brightly, “Priscilla, it’s Fiona. I have two visitors who wish to visit you.”
“Has anyone else visited her since she’s been here?” I ask, wondering where her husband is.
“Only Riordan, her husband. He’s the only person she accepts. So kind, so loving, and such a sweet man.”
Joseph appears to find that statement amusing, and I wonder what he knows.
“Come in.” A weak voice somehow makes it through the closed door, and Fiona smiles her encouragement.
“She’s just had her meds, so she should be calm. Perhaps it’s best if you make this visit a short one.”
My heart is thumping as we enter the rather large white room, and as the sun pours through the window, I notice a figure slumped in an easy chair by the window. She doesn’t look up, and Fiona approaches her and drops to her heels, taking her hands.
“You have visitors. It’s up to you whether you accept them or not.”
My breath hitches as she slides her gaze toward me and then dips her eyes and nods.
Fiona stands, appearing surprised, and whispers, “You know where I am.”
She says over her shoulder, “Would you like me to lock the door, Priscilla, or keep it open for once?”
“Locked.”
The frail tone of a broken woman responds, and with a sad smile, Fiona leaves, turning the lock behind her.
For a second there is an awkward silence, and Joseph hangs back against the wall, smiling his encouragement as I take a faltering step forward.
“Um–”
I’m not even sure what I should call her and decide her name is the best option.
“Priscilla, I’m–” I glance at Joseph, who nods.
“Um, well, my name is–”
“Tiffany.”
I’m shocked at the stronger voice speaking over me and even more shocked when she turns and raises identical eyes to mine. She glances past me to Joseph, and as realization settles in her expression, she sighs.
“I see.”
She crooks her finger and points to a chair in front of her.
“Please, take a seat and you–” She sighs heavily.
“Can pull the one over by the bed.”
Joseph does as she says with no response, and as I drop into the chair opposite, I take my first look at the woman who abandoned me all those years ago.
I’m a little shocked when she smiles, her perfect white teeth gleaming as the frown is replaced by a confident smile.
“Tiffany.”
Tears fill her eyes, and a lone tear escapes, running down her face.
“You are so beautiful.”
It’s as if she sheds the broken woman she is and emerges with a confident tone as she glances toward Joseph.
“You must be her husband.”
She points to the rings on our fingers.
“So, congratulations. You are the winner, I presume.”
“The winner?” I ask and she laughs softly.
“Enrico’s will. I heard about the conditions, and I’m pleased to see he took my advice.”
“Your advice?”
It’s as if I’m in a parallel universe, and Priscilla nods, leaning back with a smug smile on her face.
“Forgive this act, Tiffany. I’ve played it for so long I’m starting to believe it myself.”
“Act. I don’t understand.”
She shakes her head.
“If you are here, it appears the message reached you, which gives me hope.”
“Please explain, because quite honestly, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I’m a little stunned and hurt, if I’m honest, because she doesn’t appear troubled that she ran away from me for most of my life. It’s as if she has no thoughts on that, and I feel compelled to say, “Why did you leave me—with him?”
There is accusation in my voice that doesn’t go unnoticed, and she sighs deeply.
“Because I had no choice.”
“Perhaps you should start at the beginning.”
Joseph speaks for the first time, directing her attention to him, and I’m shocked when she laughs softly.
“Joseph Ravera. I was interested when I heard the three Ravera brothers were the chosen ones, although I’m not surprised.”
“Excuse me.”
My head is spinning, and she laughs out loud.
“You really are clueless, darling. I’m not surprised Malik sent you to me.”
My breathing is erratic as I struggle to understand what is happening here, and she leans back, folding her hands on her lap and saying with confidence.
“Don’t be fooled by the act. It’s for a very good reason. It suits me to be considered crazy. A lunatic, if you like. The locked door, the guarded tones and the reverence the nurse shows me have been years in the making. My addiction is survival, not alcohol, and I want to reassure you on that.”
She sighs.
“Life is a cruel bitch who throws many curved balls, and my marriage to Enrico was a knockout one. It didn’t take me long to discover why he married me—why he married my predecessors and yet, unlike them, I fought back.”
Her sudden smile catches my heart because it reveals a beautiful, confident woman, unlike what I was led to believe.
“When he was otherwise occupied, I investigated. I spent many hours in his den, cracking his codes, rifling through his papers, and scouring his computer. I listened to his furtive calls and formed my plan to escape.”
“What did you discover?”
Curiosity has replaced astonishment, and she leans forward, her eyes bright her expression almost joyous.
“That he owed billions and was using your trust funds as collateral. That he was deep with the Sorcusi mafia and had a contract out on him should he fall behind with the payments. It was a mess, a brutal, hard truth that revealed his desperation. He was in so deep he was struggling for air.”
She sighs. “For all his strengths, he was a weak man. I’m surprised he got as far as he did, the way his greed took over.
You were a few months old when I discovered this information, and any rose-colored spectacles I was wearing concerning him were distinctly black by the time I finished.
So, I confronted him one day. I told him what I knew and informed him that I was leaving. ”
“You were brave.”
I mean that because facing my father when he is in a rage takes some courage, and I should know.
“I was used to a man flying his fists around; your grandfather was no different, and I used the only thing I had to bargain with.”
“Me.”
My heart falls as I slump in the seat, and Joseph reaches out and laces his fingers with mine.
“So, you sacrificed your daughter to save your own skin. That’s not very loving, if I may say so.”
Mom shrugs. “I did what was necessary because of the facts. You see–” She glares at Joseph and sneers, “I learned that the Sorcusi mafia killed Edwina, my predecessor, Rose’s mom, as a warning to Enrico.
He was way behind on his payments and struggling, which is why he married me so quickly.
For my money. I told him I had lodged evidence with the feds and if anything happened to me the entire shit show would blow up.
I assured him I would agree to Tiffany remaining until I was settled and ready to offer her a loving home. ”
“But you never came back.”
No matter what she tells me, I can’t disguise that fact, and she turns to me and says simply, “Because when you are running for your life, it’s probably best if you don’t run back into the fire.
Strategy is key, and time is sometimes not on your side.
I had my reasons, and if you’ll hear me out, you will discover what they were. ”
Her steely gaze, which is so much like mine, pins me in place and as Joseph holds my hand gently, I prepare for her excuses.