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“Carolina’s boss has been sending dinners to the hospital.”
“Wow.” He wouldn’t have ever thought to do that. “That was nice.”
“Well, they have so much.” Rosa rolled her eyes. “It’s not like it’s a hardship.”
Carolina had warned him that her mother had lost her filters, but it seemed strange that she would be flippant about Abby’s kindness.
“I hope you enjoy tonight. They’re holding a special table just for you.”
“They should. My daughter’s performing.”
He kept from raising an eyebrow. “We’ll be eating with one of the men I work with and his fiancée.”
Rosa didn’t say anything. Just watched as they drove through the squares, humming a song he didn’t recognize.
Sage directed the cabdriver to the parking lot. It was the closest he could get so Rosa didn’t have to walk too far. “Let me help you.”
Rosa took his arm like she was a queen. “Lead on.”
They moved through the courtyard gardens. “None of this was here the last time I was at Fitzgerald House,” Rosa mused.
“I didn’t know you’d been here before.” He slowed and pointed to the carriage house apartment. “Carolina is living up there.”
“She is?” Rosa frowned. “It’s the least they could do. I’m dying, you know.”
“I know.” He cleared his throat. “I hope you can…enjoy the remaining time with your daughter.”
“I don’t know what I would do without her.” Rosa sighed. “She’s my shining light. The spitting image of her father.”
Sage raised an eyebrow. Carolina looked just like her mother.
Slowly they moved to the restaurant. Right outside the entrance was a life-size figure of Carolina.
“There’s my baby!” Rosa called out. People on the patio glanced over.
The hostess waved. “Hey, Sage. Kaden and Courtney are already here.” She pointed to a table in front of the stage.
“This will be perfect.” Rosa selected the chair with the best view. No problem, when Carolina came onstage, Sage would swing his chair around. “Kaden and Courtney, I’d like to introduce Carolina’s mother, Rosa Castillo. Rosa, this is Courtney Smythe and Kaden Farrell.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Kaden answered.
“Good to meet you,” Courtney echoed.
“You aren’t Fitzgeralds?” Rosa asked, frowning.
“My brother is married to Abby Fitzgerald,” Courtney said.
“The oldest.” Rosa nodded. “Are they all married?”
“Only Abby and Bess. Dolley is getting married next year.”
“My Carolina is between Bess and Dolley.” Rosa stated it with finality.
This was the strangest conversation Sage had ever had. But when they’d decided to eat together, he’d warned Kaden and Courtney about Rosa’s tumors.
“I understand you like champagne,” Sage said. Rosa’s doctor had told Carolina a little alcohol was okay.
“I adore champagne.” Rosa waved a hand like a conductor.
“So do I,” Courtney said on cue.
He ordered a bottle for the ladies and he and Kaden requested beers.
Sage helped Rosa make her menu selection based on Carolina’s recommendations. As they waited for their food, Ella walked over to the table. “Hello.”
Sage made introductions.
“I think I know you.” Rosa frowned.
“I was Carolina’s roommate in Nashville. I’m staying with her right now.”
“Of course.” But Rosa still looked puzzled. “Make sure you don’t drown out my baby.”
“I won’t.” Ella crossed her heart with her finger. “I’m going to play some background music while you eat. Carolina will be out in about twenty minutes.”
“I can’t wait.” Rosa shooed her away. “Go. Play. Then Carolina will get on sooner.”
Everyone at the table laughed.
Their salads arrived. Rosa looked around, took a bite and then sighed. And repeated it again. Was this the brain tumors or her normal personality?
“How are the headaches?” Kaden asked, directing the question at Sage after their entrées arrived.
Before he could say they were better, Rosa put her hand to her temple. “Awful. I hate them. But tonight—not so bad.”
Kaden raised an eyebrow. “That’s good.”
“Bright lights sometimes make me have…” She looked at Sage as if she’d lost the word.
“Seizures?” he asked.
“Yes! Seizures. But Carolina fixed all that. She made my stress go away. Poof!” Rosa took another bit of her lamb chop. “Now I get to hear her sing.”
