Chapter Twenty-Six
Inis Vitae Sed Non Amoris
For the first timein months, Felipe didn’t want to go into his family’s home. Standing where the dogs couldn’t see him, he gathered his courage and swallowed against the knot in his throat. He wished Oliver could hold him tightly again and tell him everything would be all right, but they couldn’t do that on the street. Instead, they had gone in circles around the park across from the house until the frenetic energy burnt off, leaving only the dregs of anxiety. He had promised Teresa he would tell her everything that happened, and while he wanted to, he still wasn’t certain he could bring himself to do it.
“We could come back another time,” Oliver offered. “I’m sure Teresa would understand.”
“No, I need to do this today. If I don’t, I’ll just keep putting it off, like I have been.”
Forcing himself up the steps, Felipe tried not to look like he was going to the gallows. Louisa, Agatha, and Teresa loved him, but there was always a part of him that feared that love would be conditional. If his parents or cousins knew what he was now... Dropping the knocker, he banished the thought. Their love wasn’t like that. The curtains in the parlor parted as Pastel dove onto the back of the sofa to bark furiously at Felipe and Oliver. She was yanked out of sight only to reappear in Teresa’s arms as she opened the door.
“Did Amelia Bellamy survive the night?” Teresa asked, shutting the door and setting the dog down.
Pastel growled at Felipe’s shoelaces, but when Oliver ruffled her head, she forgot her prey in favor of kisses. “Yes, she did,” Oliver replied around Pastel. “She’s under the care of a doctor who is also a healer, which should help. You might know Dr. Dressler’s daughter, Ruth. She’s an actress.”
“Oh! I know her. She’s the masher. Her shows are fantastic. What happened to Mrs. Bellamy? Did she get arrested too?”
Felipe smiled to himself at the way his daughter took such an interest in the case when she wasn’t supposed to leave the steamer. “Yes, she’s been charged with child abuse, among other things. I don’t know if the charges will stick, but Amelia will be living with her late-father’s relatives in the future. Did you tell your mothers about your well-timed throw? Oliver said it was quite impressive.”
Her cheeks heated, as expected. “I thought we could keep that between us.”
“What did you tell them? So we can keep our stories straight,” Felipe whispered conspiratorially with an arched brow.
“That I went on a case with you and only came in when the fighting was over because Dr. Barlow needed his medical bag. I didn’t tell them aboutthatin too much detail either.”
Felipe sighed. He wasn’t sure if he appreciated her discretion or felt guilty that his daughter had to fib to her mothers in order to keep his secret safe. Nearly everyone involved in the case apart from the three of them ended up in the infirmary, so he should count himself lucky that Teresa only had to lie instead of hide wounds. Before he could thank her, Agatha bustled in with a bright smile and Kuchen trailing behind her.
“It is good to see you both,” Agatha said, hugging and kissing each of the men in turn. “Teresa said you were stopping by now that your case is over.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s over, but the arrests were finally made.”
“Well, we can celebrate your victory while you’re here. I baked a chocolate cake this morning that someone,” her hazel gaze drifted pointedly to Teresa, “has been dying to cut into.”
As they followed Agatha into the parlor, Felipe’s eyes snagged on a pop of color in the conservatory. His feet seemed to move to the pot overflowing with bright orange marigolds of their own accord.
“Aren’t they beautiful? We’ve never gotten them to bloom so early.”
