Suddenly, Sofia bent her head forward a bit, and gave in.

“He’s got spirit, Ross. I like him.”
She shot a quick glance sideways to her son, who visibly relaxed. Then she turned back to me and smiled apologetically.
“I apologize for my rudeness; it was a test.”
I was still a bit wary but offered her a tight smile. I didn’t apologize myself; the comment itself stood because I felt that way. I thought she was a bitch. Then she focused her gaze on my mom and approached her.
“Mrs. Toriello, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

My mom seemed to gauge the towering woman in front of her, and squinted a bit. Then she apparently thought her to be okay and smiled warmly, taking the offered hand.

“Yeah, ditto. I apologize for my son; he takes after me.”

For some reason, my mom and Sofia really hit it off. I myself was a bit more cautious, and answered her questions thoughtfully, short and to the point as I possibly could. It earned me a few angry stares from ma.
All-in-all, though, dinner went well. Sofia Forester proved to be an excellent host. She was very intelligent, well versed in many topics and entertaining. I couldn’t detect a moment of silence, what sometimes happens during a meeting of this kind, but if she wasn’t talking, ma was.

Sofia was well informed about me. She knew what I did for a living and she surprised me by giving me a compliment for the latest work. Apparently Ross had given her a CD with the music from the intro.

“For someone your age, I hadn’t expected it,” she admitted. “I was half fearing a rap-house combination. But what you made is a bit ethereal at times, and more orchestral. Who influenced you?”

“I’d like to think no one,” I answered, “that I have my own style. But I like to listen to movie scores like those made by Shore, Zimmer and Silvestri. So maybe some of their influences are in there.”

”I see. Their names are unknown to me, but I’ll look into it. So how did you get into this business?”

“By accident. I’ve always been in bands and all that, and during some gig this woman came up to us, asking who wrote some of the music. She was a producer for an independent game and needed a score. The game was then sold to a bigger company and they hired me for other games. I also did a few documentaries for local TV stations.”

“And your education… you went to Julliard, correct. Dropped out after the second year?”
I raised an eyebrow at her.

“How do you know…”

“I know a lot of things. Why did you drop out?”

“Because they steered me in a direction I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to become a concert pianist. And all the recitals we had to do; I hated them.”

“So you dropped out, no degree, nothing. You’ve been very lucky.”

“Yeah, well… even the best upbringing, the best schools can produce a failure every now and then.”
I didn’t even try to hide her as the target of that remark, but Sofia raised her glass and smiled.

“Touché.”

**********

After dinner, we moved back to the salon where coffee was served by an elderly woman, the housekeeper I guessed, and after, Ross asked my mom if she would like a tour of the house. When I also got up, Sofia asked me to stay behind.

“It’ll give me a chance to get to know you a little better.”
I sat down again, watching them leave and then waited for Sofia to open up on me with all sorts of personal questions.
It didn’t take her very long to do so and I spent the next half hour answering all sorts of questions about my life, my ambitions and dreams. Then she gradually steered the conversation to Ross and me.

“So tell me,” she asked, “do you love my son?”

“You don’t beat around the bush, do you?” I asked, blushing.

“I find that a waste of time.”
When she raised her eyebrow, I thought for a moment.

“Honestly? I don’t know… I feel something for him, yes, but if it’s love, I don’t know.”

“You don’t?”
The answer seemed to surprise her and I shook my head.
“Why?”

“I’ve never been in a relationship like this before. I want to be sure before I tell someone such a big thing. It’s not something you blab out after the first date.”
She smiled.

“That’s something, at least. You’re very young. May I ask how many relationships you have had?”

“Like this? None.”

“I see. But you’ve… been with other men?”
I nodded.

“Has Ross told you about his previous relationship?”

“A little. His name was Kyle, right?”

“I prefer to call him a conniving cheat but yes, his name was Kyle.”
I couldn’t help but grin at her feisty reply.
“Kyle was only in that relationship for one thing; money, which brings me to another question…”
I risked a glance at her and saw that she was closely watching my reaction.

“Am I after Ross’s money?” I asked.

“It’s a definite possibility. Are you?” she asked directly.
I shook my head.

“There’s no answering that in such a way that you’d feel at ease about it.”
I gave her a sour grin.
“There’s only two ways to prove it; trusting that I’m not, which I assure you, or make me sign a document that I’m not after his money.”
She regarded me for a long time.

“Would you sign a document?” she asked. “Right now, no questions asked?”
I sighed, throwing my hands in the air.

“Sure, let’s see it.”
A corner of her mouth slightly lifted and she nodded appreciatively.

“That won’t be necessary, but thank you. You must think I’m a very distrusting woman.”
I frowned.

“Not really. You want to protect your son, and I guess you’ve had some dealings with people that had financial gain in mind when it comes to your family.”
She nodded again.

“Yes. Wealth makes you a vulnerable target to those who feel they should be sharing in it. My husband has always been a generous man, very trusting in nature. Ross has the same character, although he realized after Kyle that not everybody wants to be with him for just him,” she answered.
“And since I usually am the one asking these questions, I guess that makes me the bitch in the family,” she continued dryly.
I snickered at that and asked her how her husband was doing.

“He’s doing very well, thank you for asking. Charles is once again up to his old tricks.”
I was a bit curious about him; why wasn’t he living here, with his family but instead in Europe?

“May I ask why he lives there? I mean… Ross didn’t tell me you were divorced…“
She smiled and shook her head.

“No, we only live separate. About twenty years ago, Charles decided that he wanted to return to England, where he was born, so he sold the company. I did not want to go there, not permanently, and neither did Marcia, Andrew and Ross. They had their friends here and Steven was too young. So we decided on a trial separation, because we did not want to get divorced. Charles had a strong dislike for the US in those days. I fly over there once a month, stay about a week and then come back. Charles hasn’t been back here for years. It’s an arrangement that suits our needs.”
She was surprisingly open about it.

We talked some more for about half an hour until Ross returned with ma, who seemed excited about the tour he’d given her.
After their return, we moved to another room, a smaller and much cozier one, with a fire burning in the fireplace and comfortable fauteuils arranged around it. The walls were made up of bare, grey rough stone, the ceiling lined with heavy oak beams and the whole room was scarcely lit with soft lighting. Several rugs hung on the wall, occasionally separated by oil paintings and a small bar was located in one of its corners. It looked a bit like a mountain cabin, which Ross confirmed as being deliberate.

“We have a cabin in Big Bear, which is almost the same. I’ll take you there some day.”

Sofia made a face as she looked around. It was a much more masculine room than the elegant salon we’d just left and it obviously wasn’t a favorite of hers. I didn’t think she came in this room that often.
But she sat down, motioning ma over to take the comfortable chair next to hers. I took the one that stood closest to the fireplace, reconsidering that a minute later when the heat proved to be a bit too much.
Then Ross asked from behind the bar what we wanted to drink. His mother opted for a dry martini; ma requested a beer, which caused an amused reaction from Sofia.

“Sorry, I’m not into the fancy stuff,” Ma said. “A nice, cold beer for me, please.”

“Would you believe that I have never, in my life, had beer?” Sofia smiled, frowning. “Ross? Forget that martini; I’ll also have a beer.”
He stared at her and then shrugged, mumbling something. In the end we all ended up with the same drink and the conversation moved to our family.

“Not much to tell, really,” Ma said. “My husband did a runner when Mark was five. I was an only child, my folks died when Mark was three, so it’s basically only him and me.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Sofia said, “have you ever tried to find your husband?”

“Sure. I tracked him down to New Orleans. He signed onto a ship there and I lost the trail. He sent a few postcards from around the world, for about two years. Then they stopped. As far as we’re concerned, good riddance, eh kid?”
I nodded, raising my glass.

From there, the conversation skipped to my childhood, the diner, where I basically grew up, until a clock on the wall announced that it was 10pm. Ma looked at her watch and then to me, and I emptied my glass.

“Sofia,” she said, turning to Ross’s mother, “it’s been a great evening and I don’t want to be rude but we really have to go. My day starts early tomorrow.”

“Oh my dear, I completely forgot to ask, but you’re welcome to stay; both of you,” Sofia answered, putting a hand on ma’s arm. “I can have a room prepared for you… it’s no bother.“
But ma shook her head, firmly.

“No, I can’t. I wish I could but there’s a pile of laundry still waiting for me.”
She looked at me.
“Mark, you can stay, if you want to.”
I started to shake my head but Ross caught my eye, mouthing ‘stay’. Then Sofia also chimed in.

“Yes, of course he can,” she said. “And the laundry can wait. I don’t want to hear another word about it. John can bring you to the city tomorrow morning.”
Mom turned her head to her and then back to me, eventually accepting the invitation.
“Wonderful. I’ll tell Maria to prepare a room for you. In the meantime, Ross can get us a few more drinks.”

Sofia rose from her fauteuil and walked to the bar, where a house-phone stood. She spoke a few words and then returned, while Ross got up and did as asked.
When he returned, he set down the beers and when he gave me mine, he motioned to the door with his eyes.
I looked at mom and Sofia, who were already engaged in a conversation about mom’s work and got up, then followed Ross through the hall and then to the salon. From there he led me onto a large terrace outside. He closed the doors behind us as I walked to the edge.
It was pretty dark but lights were scattered all over the grounds. I could see two paths running back into the trees, past the pool and, if my eyes weren’t fooling me, a tennis court.
Then, when he joined me, he snuck an arm around me from behind.

“Finally alone.”

CHAPTER *22*

He took me on a tour of the grounds and I found out that it was indeed a tennis court. The path then led to a guest house, the smallest of four, as he explained.

“Jesus, how big is this place?” I asked.
He smiled.

“Not as big as you think. And two of the guest houses are permanently occupied. Maria and Joseph, the housekeepers, live in that one,” he pointed, westward, where a few lights could be seen through the trees, “and John, mother’s driver and also the gardener, lives in that one.”
He pointed straight ahead, at the smaller guest house.
“The other two are used when we have guests and can’t put them up in the main house.”

We walked on slowly, talking softly, sipping on the beers and passing the other two guest houses, until the path curved back to the main house. From where we were, we had a great view from the back, as it bathed in soft light.

“Wow,” I said softly.

“It’s just a house, remember?” Ross said, winking.

“Yeah, I know. I just meant to say that the view is absolutely…”
I sought to find the word and couldn’t find it. He smiled.

“Thank you, I’m glad you like it.”

“So… how many rooms are we talking here?” I asked.
I couldn’t resist.

“Ehm… nine, including the indoor pool and the gym,” he answered, and then frowned. “No, eight, my office was annexed last year.”
He grinned when I made a ‘duh’ comment.
“I know this seems a bit much but we actually use all of it, frequently. Andrew comes by often with his family. Marcia drops in from time to time. And we have a lot of guests, business relations.”

“So what you’re saying is; a big house out of necessity?”
He nodded.

“Yes, that’s the best way to put it. There’s always someone here. As a family, we’re pretty close. Well, dad not included, but he doesn’t like it here. And Steven keeps pretty much to himself. He comes and goes as he pleases.”
I nodded.

“Yeah, your mom told me.”
Ross stopped and it took me a few steps to realize that. I stopped and turned.

“Mother told you that?” he asked.
His eyebrows rose when I confirmed it.

“Yes. Why; not good?”
Ross shook his head and smiled.

“No, not at all, it’s just… she usually is very private about it. What did she tell you?”

“That he left twenty years ago, to England, where he was born. That he didn’t like it here and that you guys opted to stay here, with her.”
Ross’s eyebrows went up even further.

“Really… she must like you, then.”

“What makes you say that?” I asked, as we resumed walking back to the main house.

“Mmm… well, Kyle lived with me for seven years and she never told him anything,” he answered. “Okay, she never really liked him.”

“Tell me about him,” I asked. “What was he like?”

“Kyle? Why do you wanna know?”
I shrugged.

“I heard some stuff about him, and I’d just like to know.”

“What did you hear?” Ross asked, stopping again.
I could tell that he didn’t like me asking about his ex.

“That’s not important. Just tell me about him.”
He looked at me and then shook his head, frowning.

“No, tell me.”

“Quid pro quo,” I answered, stubbornly. “I’ll tell you if you tell me.”
He sighed and looked away, staying silent for a long time.

“We met in college,” he began. “I was twenty; he was eighteen, two years below me. He was handsome, fun to be with and we spent some time together, but when I graduated, we lost contact. I met him again in Mexico, four years later, during a vacation. We clicked, yada yada… a year later he moved in with me. I didn’t have this house yet, I lived alone in Miami.”

We remained where we were, standing there in the semi-dark. Ross shoved his hands deep in the pockets of his pants as he continued.

“At first, we had a great time. Lots of friends, I had started a company that was quickly gaining in the market, every night was a party. Then, about two years into the relationship, I found out he was sleeping around. When I confronted him, he blamed me for not being around enough and I believed him and I felt guilty because I was so busy all the time… but he promised me it wouldn’t happen again. We moved to Colorado when the company really took off because some of the biggest clients were based here.”
Ross emptied his bottle and let it dangle between his fingers as he slowly started walking again.

“I thought we were doing okay. When we were here for about a year, I bought this place. Until then, we lived in the city. Kyle hated it here. He thought it was too quiet and preferred the apartment we had. But I had planned to ask mother to come live with us, to get the family together. That’s what I worked for. She agreed and moved in here. But they didn’t really get along. I asked mother to try, for my sake, but they ended up simply avoiding each other. Then, three years ago, I had to work late and instead of going back here for the night, I went to the apartment. I walked in on him and one of my best clients.”
He sent me a sour grin.
“I tried to forgive him. He used the ‘you’re too busy’ excuse again and I thought he was right. Mother told me to dump him but I didn’t want to; I loved him. A month later, he walked out on me. Shortly after, he came to the office with his lawyer and sued me for half of everything I built up in the time we were together. I paid him off for a fraction of it. That’s it, in a nutshell.”
I closed my eyes; now I understood why Sofia...

“Your turn,” he said.
I told him about what Janice had told me and when I was done, he nodded.

“That was the day she talked about. Yeah, I guess was a mess. At first, I wanted to give in, give him what he wanted. But my lawyers, and mostly Andrew, kept me from doing it. I didn’t really care. I just wanted him gone, no matter what the cost. I never wanted to see him again, and never to love again.”

“I would’ve killed him,” I said.
Ross smiled and took my bottle, taking a sip. Then he loosely draped his arms over my shoulders.

“And then, a few years later, the strangest thing happened.”
He looked at me and I frowned, waiting for the rest.
“For years I hadn’t looked at another guy, wasn’t interested, and then, a few months ago, I met this cute guy with weird eyes and I felt something again.”
I rolled my eyes, mockingly.

“Don’t you just hate it when that happens?” I said, conversationally. “Just when you’re almost dead inside, some dickhead comes along and it starts all over again. If I were you, I’d just buy him an apartment right now and be done with it.”

“Funny,” he said, making a face at me. “Very funny; someone ever tell you that you’re funny?”

“Yeah, I’m comedy club material,” I answered. “So where are the keys to my new apartment?” I patted his pants as if I was looking for them and he laughed, shaking his head and sighing.

“God, I love you.”