Whirlwind

CHAPTER 7

On their way home from the airport they made plans to have an outdoor lunch to eat in the garden at the back of Brad's house consisting of a granite table and matching benches on each side of the table.

"Rosaline, darling, what do you think about Brad?" Priska asked while they set the table together while Susan went into the kitchen to the food with Matt and José. She knew she was intruding but then she'd never been one to beat about the bush. If the was something on her mind, she didn't hesitate voicing it. Right now, she, as a protective mother, wanted to know if as she suspected, Rosaline loved Brad or if she was stringing him along for the money. Absurd, yes! But it had been the case with all of Brad's exes, not that there were many. The last one had taken a piece of Brad with her and she'd noticed that that piece was regaining itself. He laughed more. Smiled more. And was even more relaxed and outgoing, and Priska was determined to not let anyone or anything take his son back to the dark place he'd been after breaking off the engagement.

"I think he's an excellent doctor and a wonderful man, and he's blessed to have a loving family and great friends. Why?" She knew exactly what Priska was hinting at but wasn't really ready to open up to anybody about how she felt about the doctor. He'd done her a humongous favour by taking her in and he'd never made her feel like she owed him anything. If anything, he'd made her feel like a part of his family, including her in every family affair. Although they'd taken a huge leap from acquaintances to... partners? Sex partners? Whatever! But he still hadn't made her feel used or taken advantage of, she was the one who stirred things between tin that direction.

"It's just that I know you've fallen in love with him." She raised a finger to silence her. "I've seen it in the way you look at him and you agreed to live with him."

Rosaline shifted uncomfortably. "He offered."

"And you accepted the offer." She raised an eyebrow. "You can deny it all you want but we both know you love him and he loves you and you're good for him. I've never seen him this happy since...his father's death." Priska's eyes briefly darkened but she quickly smiled. She had been about to mention the engagement but quickly figured it wasn't her place.

"I'm sorry about your late husband, Priska."

She waved away her words. "I've come to terms with it. Let's rather talk about you, what's your family like?"

Family. The word brought back the sadness and hurt she'd thought she was past. After all that happened, for a long time, Tony had been the only thing close to family, and look what he'd done. Maybe she had been a baggage, you know, relying on Tonny with everything. Maybe she had become a nuisance and Tony didn't have a way yo say it to her. Her knees suddenly felt weak and she sat down, Priska followed suit. She took deep breaths to stabilize the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
Talking about her mom and dad had never been an easy feat.

You have to talk to someone at some point. It'll be easier to come to terms with their death if you talk about it, her grandmother's words rang in her mind and tears blurred her vision.

"Look, if you don't want to talk about it, I understand," she sighed. "But anytime you want to talk, I'm here."

Rosaline shook her head and took in a shuddering breath. She looked down at Priska's hand.

"I was told that my mom and dad died in a car accident when I was just a baby and my grandmother me in. She also died three years ago so I don't have any other known relatives."

When Rosaline looked up at Priska, she found the older woman's eyes sparkling with tears.

"You are comfortable staying here, aren't you?"

Rosaline wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. "Honestly, I feel like an intruder. You guys are always so good to me and that makes it worse."