The Sicilian Affair

Chapter 14 - Lost And Found

A week had gone by since Laurie's walk on the beach with Tomas and after her weekly update on his mother's health she hadn't spoken to him. Part of her felt as though he was avoiding her, but then thinking about it, what reason could he possibly have?

Today was her day off. She had woken up early in hopes of checking in on Teresa before heading to the local town. Hearing Silvia describing the place over their usual on and off dinner together really made her want to explore and see everything that Sicili had to offer.

As Laurie made her way to Teresa's room, she could hear voices coming out of the closed door. She hesitated for a minute, shaking her head at how wrong it would be to eavesdrop on a private conversation but her feet froze in place when she heard Tomas' voice.

"I'm trying mama but it's hard. Being here, it's ..." he stopped, the pain in his voice caused Laurie's brows to crease lightly as she pressed her ear to the door.

"I know Tomas. I'm reminded everyday. I live here remember? So how do you think it makes me feel?" Teresa said, her voice was so soft and gentle that it tore at Laurie's heart.

The hallway was clear but it still made Laurie nervous to stand there and listen,  and yet she couldn't walk away. Her curiosity about Tomas and Teresa and their weird relationship made her wanted to stay on more, to hopefully understand what was going on.

"Let's not do this now,please. It's been three years."

"Yes, three years Tomas. I feel as though I've lost my son too."

Her son too.

Did that mean? Laurie gasped. Did Tomas have a son?

"Mama."

Her name came as a warning to Laurie's ears. She swallowed and leaned furthermore in to the door.

"How are you going to heal Tomas? You don't want to talk about it. Not with me, not with anyone. Please Tomas, let me in." Teresa begged.

"I will not do this with you today!" Tomas roared, startling Laurie.

"Then when? You keep on blaming me and I know that I deserve it but Tomas..."

"Stop it mama! If you don't then I will leave. You've been asking me to come back when I wasn't even ready but I'm here now and you keep pushing and pushing. Just stop! Stop reminding me what a failure I am. Just stop, please."

Tears burned through Laurie's lid as she heard those words coming out of Tomas' mouth, it held so much raw yet painful emotion that it pricked sensation in her throat.

She had been right. Something did happen to Tomas, the glaze of sadness in his eyes that he tried so hard to hide had told her so.

"I'm not," Teresa's voice croaked, "I just want my son back."

The sound of footsteps walking towards the door was Laurie's queue to leave. Embarrassed by what she had done and heard, she sped down the hallway and was out the door within minutes, with her heart racing against her chest.

Running towards the garage, she blinked, blinded by the unshed tears in her eyes. The sound of bird churning in the trees and the distant sound of the wave gently crashing on the shore made her lips quiver, saddened by their hurt.

After drawing in a few breath, she spotted the red bicycle that Silvia had asked Mario to leave out for her by the fountain. She grabbed quickly onto its handle and was off.

The narrow road from the Carsigni mansion was steep as it lead down the curves but the more Laurie pedalled the less troubled she felt. The warm wind blew against her face and it felt therapeutic, her nerves dissolved into a warm blissfully sensation ; and yet she could help by frown at herself. She had been right the first time around. Teresa wasn't the only one who needed help, whatever happened in their past still had an emotional strain on Tomas.