Chapter Fourteen
Parents and Partners
Standing a few housesdown from his family’s house on East 17thStreet, Felipe’s grip tightened around the bouquet of flowers he had bought for Teresa. He stared at the bunches of geraniums and gladiolas and knew they wouldn’t be enough of an apology, but he had to start somewhere, especially if he might not be there for Sunday dinner. Luckily, their meeting with Ansley had gone far better than the last two. He had finally arranged Joe’s payment and a temporary place at the society after, and while Ansley seemed keen to get into the Institute for the Betterment of the Soul, he didn’t appear to have a plan beyond getting inside, looking for files while Oliver and Felipe did what they had to, and meeting briefly again on Sunday to go over his “plan” before they left. Felipe sighed and slowed his pace. If Ansley had a plan, he certainly didn’t share it with them. He hoped to god this wouldn’t be an absolute shitshow, but it probably would be. He and Oliver would have to come up with something more concrete just in case, though he wished he could speak to Joe again. Having a discussion with the informant you’re putting in danger was far better than going in blindly, but exposing Joe again unnecessarily wouldn’t help either.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” Oliver asked softly at Felipe’s elbow.
“No, I’m only going to apologize and see if Teresa and I can talk it out. I’m not—”
When he couldn’t get the words out, Oliver gave his shoulder a loving squeeze. “I know. I’ll be just across the street in the park if you need me.”
Nodding, Felipe waited on the sidewalk until Oliver disappeared into the greenery, wishing he could invite him in but knowing it might do more harm than good. He drew in a long breath and focused on the steadiness of the tether cinched around his heart until the urge to bolt subsided. He and Teresa loved each other. She might be mad, but she would understand. By the time he rang the bell, Pastel had alerted the whole neighborhood to his presence. A curse in Spanish stopped the barking a moment before the door opened to reveal Louisa Galvan. Her coral tea gown was rumpled and covered in orange dog hair, as if he had awoken her from a nap with Pastel.
Behind her slightly askew reading glasses, her dark brown eyes traveled from Felipe to the flowers in his hand. “She’s not here, Cariño,” she said with a frown.
“Oh.” His heart sank. He hadn’t expected Teresa to not be home on a Saturday afternoon.
“I think you should come in. It’s time we talked.”
Felipe swallowed hard but nodded and followed Louisa inside. Louisa wanting to have a conversation with him rarely ended well, but if she was going to rake him across the coals again, at least he deserved it this time and it would kill time until Teresa returned. Setting his hat on the hall table, Felipe’s eyes caught on the refuse Teresa left when she was home. A sketchpad and gloves laid forgotten on the table while her saber leaned against the wall beside the coatrack. Somehow, the house felt more like home with her things littering it. The moment Felipe crossed into the parlor, Pastel charged from her hiding place behind the sofa and latched onto his shoelaces. The orange puff grunted and growled as she tried to shake his foot to death.
“How did Teresa’s match go?”
“She wiped the floor with the other girl. Give me the flowers, and I’ll put them in a vase. I’m sure Agatha can keep them from getting too droopy until Teresa gets back,” Louisa said, taking the flowers from his hand, so he could deal with the dog.
Felipe pried Pastel off his foot and scooped her up. “Gets back? Did Teresaleave?”
“Not permanently. She’s staying at a friend’s house for a few days,” she called from the other room. “Don’t worry, it isn’t just you she’s mad at. Apparently, we’re all horrible parents. Lemonade?”
“Sure.” A small smile crossed his lips as Pastel panted and licked his cheek. At least someone still liked him. “Sadly, I’m accustomed to being the favorite.”
“I know you are. No one else would curry her favor with flowers or trinkets.”
“Though I’m sure when she’s back, you’ll make her favorite dinner.”
“And Agatha will freshen her art supplies,” Louisa said, flashing him a conspiratorial grin as she passed him his glass. Sticking a bookmark into a book of Emily Dickinson’s poems splayed across the cushions, Louisa shook her head as she set it on the end table. “Yes, we’re horrible parents.”
“What did you get in trouble for?” Felipe asked as Pastel wriggled free from his grasp and dove into Louisa’s lap the moment she sat.
“Agatha and I tried to explain to her that you are allowed to have a life.” When Felipe opened his mouth to protest, she held up her hand. “I stand by what I said. Agatha and I have been partners for twenty years, and we always hoped you would have someone who loved you like that. Happiness and peace have been my only wishes for you, Cariño.”
