Timothy stands to go after her, and I stop him with a hand on his shoulder. He glances over at me with clear apprehension.
“So, you’re—”
“Yes. But more importantly, I’m the man in love with her daughter. Please, let me.” Timothy studies me for several seconds before giving me a slow nod. I don’t give Cecelia a chance to object before making my way out into the back yard.
I find Diane fighting with her lighter in the center of the yard before she manages a flame, inhaling her first hit deeply, eyes closed, tears staining her cheeks. Sensing me, she opens her eyes and faces me while I approach with my hands tucked in my sweatpants.
“Mind if I have one of those?” She nods, opening the box, and extends it to me. I pluck one out, and she lights it, her eyes heavy on my profile before I back away. “Thank you.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine how this happened.”
I pull on the cigarette and exhale a stream of smoke, thankful for the slight relief it brings. “It’s a very complicated story.”
“Did you become involved with her to hurt her, because of us, because of what I did?”
“No. In fact, I went to great lengths to make sure she was kept out of it, but I failed.”
Her tone sharpens. “I might not have a right to ask, but when it comes to her, I don’t give a damn. What exactly do you mean by that, Tobias? You had plans for Roman because of what I did?”
“Initially, yes. Roman was my target until I found out the truth of what happened. But I had no intention of hurting her. Protecting her has always been a priority for me.”
“Since when?”
“Since the first time I laid eyes on her.”
“Which was?”
“When she was eleven.”
“Jesus.” She’s visibly shaking as she takes a drag of her cigarette and studies me carefully. “You love her, that’s clear.”
“I do.”
“Roman never told me you were involved…God, that man.”
“He was good at keeping secrets. But he was very aware when Cecelia and I parted ways, years before he died, that our relationship was over. We worked together to protect Cecelia.”
“I guess I have no choice but to try and believe you.”
“I hope you do. I would never hurt her.”
“But you have.”
I nod because it’s the sad truth. “But mostly to protect her.”
Her gaze loses focus as her chest constricts and her shoulders drop forward before she speaks. “So many, many times over the years I wanted to reach out, to confess the truth to you, to Dominic, and beg your forgiveness, but you disappeared. And eventually, he did too.”
It’s then I know my assumption was right.
“It must have been hard supporting three children every month.”
Her eyes drop. “I didn’t want you to go without. I’ve taken so much from you, and I saw how miserable you were in that house with Delphine.”
I exhale, tapping the ash off my cigarette. “For years, I thought the boxes without a return address mailed to our doorstep were from friends and relatives of my parents. Boxes with hundreds and hundreds of dollars’ worth of clothes and gift cards, toys, shoes. But no one is that generous, are they, Diane?”
She sniffs, wiping her nose. “Delphine hated me, and I knew she would turn me away, but I just couldn’t let you go without. I know it doesn’t make up for what I did.”