Page 263 of Seasons of Love
"I believe that. The actions and beliefs of one man shaped the lives of so many people around him, people it was his job to love and protect." He paused before shaking his head and saying, "Oh my god, I have a father."
My chest expanded, and I couldn't stop more tears from falling. "Yes, you do. Nothing would make me happier than to get to know you. I hope soon you can meet Mateus, too."
"Holy shit, I have a brother." He was beaming. "I always wanted a brother."
We hugged again.
"Er, Vítor." We both smiled and then he pointed at the bags by the door. "Are you going somewhere?"
"I have to go back to Lisbon because of work."
"Does that mean you'll go back to Tiago?" He looked hopeful.
I wasn't sure what to say. Despite everything I'd just found out—we'd just found out—I knew David still very much had Tiago's back, and the truth was, I didn't know how to handle any of this.
"Don't stay stuck in the past," David said. "The only past we should remember is the good one. When Mom died, I was so angry because I was left on my own. Yes, I still had family, but I didn't have a dad and Joel was in America. He didn't come back for a long time. I held on to that hurt and hid myself away. We can all live with regret, but I think it would be better if we lived with hope."
I laughed because it was like I was listening to Paula all over again: "Vítor, you are who you are. What if you get to be ninety years old and you look back and all you can show for it is a life that wasn't yours?"
"You sound just like your mother," I said.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've been told that before."
"Do you think Tiago will forgive me?"
"I'd say he's asking himself the same question. Did you know he came here?"
"What? When?"
"Just after you left Lisbon. He came to speak to you, but when he got here, he said he saw you with another man."
"That would have been Luís. He's my best friend; we've known each other for years. There's absolutely nothing between us."
"Then Tiago needs to know that because he's mopey as shit and my cakes come out all wrong when he's in the center."
I laughed. I didn't believe in a world where David's cakes came out wrong. I'd had some of them, and my boy was talented.
"David, do you have a way to get me in the center while Tiago isn't there?"
"Yes, I have keys."
"How did you get here?"
"By train. It was quicker and I was too angry at you to drive."
"Well then, let's go get my man. I'm going to take the advice of my wise-beyond-his-years son and live for the hope."
He smiled and took one of the bags while I closed up the glass panels and made sure the house was secure before we left.
"I'm going to ask Joel to marry me this summer."
The way he said it, I knew it was the first time he'd said the words aloud. My heart grew in size at the realization that my son, one of them, had just had a first with me. And what a first it was.
"I'd like you to be there."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
As I drove us back to Lisbon, we spent the next three hours getting to know each other better and planning how I was going to win my family and the second love of my life back. The small bunch of dried flowers was in my jacket pocket.
