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“I can’t do this.” She turned to go inside, but I grabbed her wrist.
“You hurl accusations without anything to back them up. You vilify two men who have been kind and decent to us, but when it comes down to explaining why, you speak in platitudes, expecting me to go along with you based solely on your word. You weren’t there that night, Mom. You don’t know what happened. You don’t have proof Hewitt stole anything.” I shook my head. “I can’t do this, either.” I stormed off the porch, leaving my mother and my dinner behind.
The sun was setting, but there was enough light from the moon so I could see where I was going. Rather than walk in the direction of the temple, I went toward the building Noah had pointed out as the meditation room. I could certainly use several minutes of quiet reflection, during which I hoped I could clear my mind of my mother’s antics.
I was about to open the door when Tryst walked out.
“Hello, Seraphina,” he said, putting his hands together and giving me a slight bow.
“Hello, Tryst. Thank you for bringing us to your ranch. As Noah says, it is a magical place.”
“Join me for a moment?” He motioned for me to sit on a bench in front of the building.
“Sure.”
“I came here when I was a young man serving in the military. Truth be told, I was lost. Or I was guided here intentionally by a higher power. I knew, one day, I would save enough money to buy a small plot of land and build a home.”
“Instead, you built a ranch.”
He smiled. “I did. My wife and I spent many happy years here.”
“Do you have children?”
“No. Rosa and I could not conceive.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Fortunately for me, my brother and his wife had no problems doing so. I have six nephews and one niece, who I am as close to as if they were my own children.”
“They’re lucky to have you in their lives.”
“Mutually lucky.” He looked out at the horizon. “I named this place El Lugar de Curación, the Healing Place, hoping a miracle would happen while we were here and my Rosa would be healed. It did not.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeated.
“I tell you this so you understand that no matter how much we want to heal those we love, it is not always within our power to do so.”
I wasn’t sure whether Tryst was speaking in generalities or meant someone specific in my life. Either way, the first person who came to my mind was my father.
There were days I wished I could go back in time and figure out a way to save him from himself. However, Tryst’s words reminded me that even if I had tried, it might not have been in my power to do it. He would’ve had to want it for himself. “I think somewhere in the back of my mind, I know what you’re saying”
“Your mother is in a great deal of pain, but she must be the one to do the work to make it go away.”
At first, I was too stunned to speak. Then I remembered Noah saying he was troubled by things Tryst had said to him. “You aren’t going to elaborate, are you?”
“It is not my story to tell. My sole purpose in speaking with you about your mother is to offer my support should you need it.”
“The two of you should be the ones having this conversation. You’re equally cryptic.”
“I know it’s difficult, but try not to take your mother’s troubles personally. They have nothing to do with you. I said the same to Noah.”
“About my mother?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to ask you one question, and I would appreciate it very much if you would answer.”
He nodded.
“Did my mother have an affair with Noah’s father?”
