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The rain was torrential, and it was hard to see anything beyond it. “What is it?” I asked.
He paused the recording and rewound it. I watched as a man I recognized as Zin came out of the woods and made his way to the area behind where the meditation center used to stand. He picked something up, then walked over and sat on the ground against a tree.
“You want me to send someone out for him, Tryst? He’s gonna get himself electrocuted.”
I shook my head. “I’ll take care of it.” I got in my truck and drove as close as I could get to him. The rain was coming down harder and getting worse as I raced over to where he sat. His head was down when I put my hand on his shoulder, then held it out to help him up.
“I’m on my way to check on Berta,” I said once we were in the truck and out of the rain.
We didn’t speak again until we reached the vet’s office. I pulled a jacket from behind the seat and handed it to him. “Put this on,” I said before going inside, where the vet waited.
“She’ll be glad to see the two of you,” he said as we followed him into the back.
“Go ahead,” I said, motioning Zin into where Berta rested. I handed him a face brush and turned to leave when I heard him ask me to stay.
When I hesitated, he said, “She needs both of us.” With Jada gone, I agreed. In fact, we all needed each other, even though I was too angry to say it.
When we returned, I dropped him off at Brix’s place. “We’ll go again tomorrow,” I said when he got out.
When I arrivedat the burn scar two days later, I was stunned to see a group of people already hard at work, clearing the debris.
“What is this?” I asked when George Norman and Malcolm Warwick approached me.
“This is what Los Caballeros does, Tryst. We show up when we’re needed,” said George, putting his hand on my shoulder. “I heard you could use an architect.”
I raised a brow.
“Come with me, and I’ll show you what I’ve drawn up for the rebuild.”
“The rebuild?”
“Yes, Tryst,” said Malcolm. “We aren’t leaving until it’s completed.”
With the exception of Press, all thecaballeroswho were at the emergency meeting almost three weeks ago showed up to help. Their presence and generosity moved me to tears many times. Forty-eight hours ago, I thought nothing in the world could lift my spirits—other than seeing Jaicon again. Not that I knew when I would. Two days after she left, Atticus showed up, saying he’d be filling in for her until she could return from California. When I asked him when that would be, he said he had no idea.
Whenever I thought of her, I thought of my Rosa, wondering if Jaicon had been correct when she said things between us had gone the way they were supposed to. “While we may have both believed we wanted something romantic to develop, you have to admit that neither of us is truly ready for that,” she’d said.
Rosa was my one great and true love, and I’d vowed to honor her every day for the rest of my life and forever, into eternity. Had my desire for Jaicon been a betrayal of that vow? Laird had said my late wife wouldn’t have wanted me to live the rest of my life without love, but that’s where he got it wrong. For the rest of my life, Iwouldlove. I’d love my Rosa.
I looked over to Zin, who stood with George as he was reviewing the changes I’d requested in the building’s design.
Today, he and I would visit Berta one last time before she moved on to a new home. Somewhere she’d be given the time, attention, and love she needed. I would miss her, and Zin would feel her loss just as much.
“We’re going to raise the foundation,” I heard George say when I approached. “The previous structure was built on a concrete pad. By reinforcing it the way we intend, it will allow us to add heat beneath the floor as well as provide better comfort in other ways.”
“What are these?” Zin asked, pointing to the two rooms I’d requested George add.
“Sacred rooms,” I responded. “You and I will be the only two working on their construction.” I walked away but looked over my shoulder when I realized Zin wasn’t following. “It’s time to visit Berta. Let’s go.”
Saying goodbye to Jada’s beloved horse was harder than I imagined it would be. When the day came I had to do the same with Cariño, who I would always consider to be Jaicon’s, I would be devastated.
With the numberof people working tirelessly at rebuilding the meditation center, one week later, everything but the sacred rooms was complete.
I walked to the temple, as I did every day now, and gave thanks for the love and friendship I had in my life rather than mourn what was missing. I’d been there a few minutes when Zin walked in, carrying the plans I’d asked George to give him.
He set the rolls on a pew when I motioned for him to join me. The two of us stood facing themandir.
“I owe you an apology,” I began.
