whisper that I’m sorry things ended the way they did. I truly am. This is not what I wanted. A sob escapes me, and now that I’ve started, I can’t stop. I sit back on my heels, shaking and crying. That’s when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up to see Mr. Mancini giving me a sympathetic smile.
I jump up and wrap him in a huge hug. In that moment, I’m not even able to speak because I can’t stop crying. He rubs my back and says, “It’s okay, Patty. This isn’t your fault. Please tell me you know that.”
“I’m so sorry it ended this way. I’m not sure why he was behaving the way he was, but I certainly didn’t want this.”
“I know you didn’t, and it’s me who should be apologizing. I’m sorry for what he put you through. I didn’t even realize how far he had taken his obsession with you until the police came looking for him.”
I pull away, looking up at him with so many emotions coursing through my body. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You had no part in this.” He nods at me. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m doing okay. I’m taking it one day at a time and trying to busy myself with work.” I rub his arm. “I want you to do me a favor, though,” he says, looking into my eyes.
At this point, my family has surrounded us. “You name it. Anything?” I tell him.
“I want you to move on from this. I don’t want you giving any of this a second thought. He can’t hurt you anymore, and you have this nice man by your side.” He turns to Carter. “Be good to her,” he says as he swallows a lump in his throat. “She is a sweet girl and deserves way better than my son did by her.”
Carter nods. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry for your loss.” Carter shakes Mr. Mancini’s hand.
We all hug and give our condolences. In that moment, I’m really glad I came because I feel like a weight has been lifted and now I truly can move on.
I put my hand on Mr. Mancini’s arm. “Hang in there. You’ll get through this.”
Carter gently squeezes my hand and nods toward the door, letting me know there is a huge line. We say we’re sorry one more time and walk through the rows of people to the back of the room. A few have whispered their hellos as we quietly slip out the back door.
“I need to use the ladies’ room,” I tell my family.
“I’ll come with you,” Bella says, and as soon as we’re through the door, she hugs me. “I’m so proud of you. That took a lot of courage, and I have no doubt you will feel much better now.”
For the first time today, I smile. “I think you’re right. I already feel better. I haven’t cried since everything went down, and to make matters worse, I was stressing over him being mad that I showed up tonight.”
“Oh, Patty, he wouldn’t be mad at you. He adores you, and he always has.”
“You’re right. I think that’s why I was so worried. I didn’t want to lose that. I’m glad I came. Now let’s go meet up with everyone else so we can get something to eat.”
I quickly pull a tissue from the box to dab my eyes.
***
Carter
We pull up to the U-shaped driveway of the club, and I’m happy because Patty seems back to her happy self. There’s color in her face, and the twinkle in her eye is back. It’s amazing how a couple of words between people can fix so much.
As we walk into the club, Patricia smiles as we glance around at the holiday décor spread throughout the entry. Sandra and Richard are standing there, waiting for us. “Patricia, darling, how are you?”
“I’m fine, Mother, but I would like to move on now. I’ve spoken to Mr. Mancini and, like he said, it’s time for me to move past this.”
“Okay, let’s go get some dinner,” she says, dropping the subject. We all follow her into the dining area, where the hostess is waiting for us. She walks us to a table for six, and we take our seats.
After the waitress pours our water, Sandra says, “I want to tell you all I’m very excited for this
I jump up and wrap him in a huge hug. In that moment, I’m not even able to speak because I can’t stop crying. He rubs my back and says, “It’s okay, Patty. This isn’t your fault. Please tell me you know that.”
“I’m so sorry it ended this way. I’m not sure why he was behaving the way he was, but I certainly didn’t want this.”
“I know you didn’t, and it’s me who should be apologizing. I’m sorry for what he put you through. I didn’t even realize how far he had taken his obsession with you until the police came looking for him.”
I pull away, looking up at him with so many emotions coursing through my body. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You had no part in this.” He nods at me. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m doing okay. I’m taking it one day at a time and trying to busy myself with work.” I rub his arm. “I want you to do me a favor, though,” he says, looking into my eyes.
At this point, my family has surrounded us. “You name it. Anything?” I tell him.
“I want you to move on from this. I don’t want you giving any of this a second thought. He can’t hurt you anymore, and you have this nice man by your side.” He turns to Carter. “Be good to her,” he says as he swallows a lump in his throat. “She is a sweet girl and deserves way better than my son did by her.”
Carter nods. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry for your loss.” Carter shakes Mr. Mancini’s hand.
We all hug and give our condolences. In that moment, I’m really glad I came because I feel like a weight has been lifted and now I truly can move on.
I put my hand on Mr. Mancini’s arm. “Hang in there. You’ll get through this.”
Carter gently squeezes my hand and nods toward the door, letting me know there is a huge line. We say we’re sorry one more time and walk through the rows of people to the back of the room. A few have whispered their hellos as we quietly slip out the back door.
“I need to use the ladies’ room,” I tell my family.
“I’ll come with you,” Bella says, and as soon as we’re through the door, she hugs me. “I’m so proud of you. That took a lot of courage, and I have no doubt you will feel much better now.”
For the first time today, I smile. “I think you’re right. I already feel better. I haven’t cried since everything went down, and to make matters worse, I was stressing over him being mad that I showed up tonight.”
“Oh, Patty, he wouldn’t be mad at you. He adores you, and he always has.”
“You’re right. I think that’s why I was so worried. I didn’t want to lose that. I’m glad I came. Now let’s go meet up with everyone else so we can get something to eat.”
I quickly pull a tissue from the box to dab my eyes.
***
Carter
We pull up to the U-shaped driveway of the club, and I’m happy because Patty seems back to her happy self. There’s color in her face, and the twinkle in her eye is back. It’s amazing how a couple of words between people can fix so much.
As we walk into the club, Patricia smiles as we glance around at the holiday décor spread throughout the entry. Sandra and Richard are standing there, waiting for us. “Patricia, darling, how are you?”
“I’m fine, Mother, but I would like to move on now. I’ve spoken to Mr. Mancini and, like he said, it’s time for me to move past this.”
“Okay, let’s go get some dinner,” she says, dropping the subject. We all follow her into the dining area, where the hostess is waiting for us. She walks us to a table for six, and we take our seats.
After the waitress pours our water, Sandra says, “I want to tell you all I’m very excited for this
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