The Lost Angel [BxB]

medusa

Did I escape, I wonder?

'Medusa'
[Sylvia Plath]

♡ ♡ ♡

15: MEDUSA

Lalo appeared in the kitchen, looking as scruffy, and as dishevelled as ever. His hair was a mess, his clothes muddy, and neck plastered in love bites. Next to Esme's polished outfit and groomed look, he couldn't help but feel inadequate.

"Hola." Esme outstretched her hand for Lalo to shake, then turned to her son, "How do you communicate with him?"

"He's from Illinois, Mum." He sighed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Tucker." Lalo greeted politely.

Her tight features relaxed into a smile, "Oh, what delightful manners you have." She mentioned, "I remember your application now. My husband and I were quite sceptical. But for someone so young, and with such little experience, you've done exceptionally well."

He couldn't help but appreciate the praise, "Well, thank you for the opportunity, Mrs. Tucker. These past few months have been really rewarding."

"Oh, call me Esme." She instructed as she glanced across to her son, who was busy pouring a cup of tea, "I understand that you and Rory have been getting along rather well."

"Don't respond, Lalo." Rory interjected.

Esme rose her brows in exasperation, "I'm just commenting." She shot back, "Oh, Rory, you're such a private person. Everyone in this room knows what you two have been doing, it's written all over the poor boy's neck, for goodness sake! I don't understand why you are so insistent that we mustn't talk about these things."

"Because I don't want to, okay?" He responded sharply, "I know you're only here to get me to come back to London, so just drop the act of pretending to be on some sort of vacation." He slammed her tea down onto the counter, watching it splash over the side of the cup.

"Hey, so, I've got a lot of work to do — I'll leave you two to catch up." Lalo excused himself.

"No, Eladio, don't go anywhere." Esme ordered, taking a swig of her tea, "Rory, if you'd excuse me, the gardener is going to give me a tour of the grounds, and show me all the hard work he's put in."

He groaned, "Mum—"

"Eladio, shall we?" She asked, gesturing to the door.

He hesitated as Rory's pained expression told him to stay put, but the woman in front of him was his employer. He couldn't say no. "Of course, Mrs. Tucker. Follow me."

He led her through the rose bushes, the pretty vibrant flower beds, and the groundwork for new rows of hedges. They were silent until they reached the burial site of the Hernandez family. "I almost forgot about those ghastly eyesores." She grimaced.

"I planted a some forget-me-nots." Lalo added, "I did what I could, but...it will always be a gravesite."

She stopped walking, "I like you, Eladio."

He stared at her incredulously, "Y-You do?"

She nodded, "You're a hard worker, and you're dedicated to taking care of this property. As an employer, I'm very pleased with your work." She said, "But as Rory's Mother, you'll forgive me if I have a few concerns."

Rory complained about his parents a lot. They were cold, they were rude, they were unsupportive, and they had a superiority complex. Everything he had said was adding up, and yet, the sickly sweet coating that soaked through Esme's words almost tricked Lalo into thinking that she truly cared for her son. It was clear that all she cared about was her image and reputation. He wanted nothing more than to fight her on this and tell her that Rory was old enough to make his own decisions, but he was pulled back to reality by the nagging realisation that she paid his income. "What are your concerns?" He asked through gritted teeth.

She tilted her head to the side and smiled sympathetically. She was good at pretending to look innocent. "You seem like a confident young man who knows what he wants. You Americans are good at that." She started, "But my son is...easily led. Impressionable."

"Impressionable?"

"What do you plan to do when your contract here is up?"

He shrugged, "I don't know yet. Probably travel."

"Whatever you do, and wherever you go, I fear that Rory will follow you like a lost puppy."

Lalo shook his head defiantly, "Forgive me, ma'am, but I think you underestimate Rory's free will. We've never talked about travelling the world together, in fact, I suspect we'll part ways once this is over." Of course, he was lying. He didn't know what would happen, and perhaps their connection would break with distance, but he didn't have any intention of letting Rory go. But his Mom didn't need to know that. She needed to believe that Lalo was a good influence on her son.

She didn't say anything else on the matter, and instead, continued walking, leaving Lalo to trail behind her. When they reached Medusa, the miniature statue of a beautiful lady with vicious snakes curling around her head, Esme spoke again, "What do you think about the sculptures? Do you think we should keep them?" She asked, her fingertips caressing the cool stone as she examined the motionless figure.

"I like them." He said simply.

"Hm." She murmured, "They're creepy, right?"

"I guess I've gotten used to them." He shrugged, "You will too, if you decide to keep them."

She hummed noncommittally, and moved on.

The atmosphere at dinner was strained and quiet. Lalo made a traditional Spanish dish using a recipe Josefina had given him, Rory bought a pie from Ignacio's bakery, and they drunk red wine on the tiled little patio, watching the sun disappear in the distance. Esme closely studied the way the boys interacted; the smiles they shared, the volume of Rory's laugh, and how their words just bounced straight off of one another. Esme reluctantly admitted to herself that something about their relationship just worked. And as concerned as she was, she couldn't deny that seeing her son happier than he'd been in years would never be a bad thing.

At the end of the meal, she rose her glass and fixed on a smile, "I'd like to propose a toast."

Lalo and Rory exchanged uneasy glanced. "Mum..." Rory warned.

"Oh, hush, son." She waved him off. "I just wanted to say how proud I am of you boys." She started. "Eladio, not only have you done a marvellous job transforming the garden, but you have made my son happy, and for that, thank you." She paused for a moment, "Rory, this isn't something I ever expected you to be doing — cleaning up an old house to make it inhabitable by July — but it seems as though you've found your calling. If you decide to travel the world once your work here is done, then I support you. You will always have a home to return to; both in London, and in this house."

They were shocked by her words of love and unconditional support. Whether it was the wine talking, or the dreamy intoxicant of the countryside, she seemed to have meant what she said. "Will Dad be annoyed when you go back to London alone?" He queried shyly.

"Your Father is a stubborn son of a bitch." She laughed offhandedly, "So, yes, perhaps. But you inherited that trait, Rory, and he knows it as well as I do. I don't think he ever truly expected you to have come back with me."

He sighed, standing up to give his Mum a hug, "Thank you." He hummed softly in her ear.

"And don't worry, I won't tell your Father about..." She gestured between them, clearly referring to their relationship.

Esme stayed for a couple more days, catching up with her son, learning more about Lalo, and getting acquainted with the house.

By the time she left, the layers of her stony exterior had finally started to peel off, revealing a softer side to her nature. A softer side that Rory hadn't seen since he was a little kid.