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His Mom paused as if waiting for him to finish her thought. It was her thought, and he had no intention of helping her. When she realised he would not add anything to the conversation. She sighed.

“From everything I’ve read, twins have a connection, whether or not they are raised together.” Again, a long pause. “Emmanuel?”

“Yes, Mom?” Emmanuel wished he could escape the direction in which he was sure this conversation was headed.

“I know you started off on the wrong foot, but you two are brothers. All I am saying is I would hate to see you two lose more time apart.”

“Okay.” Because what else could he say?

“That wasn’t an answer.”

“With all due respect, Mom, that wasn’t a question.”

She clicked her tongue at him. “Fine. Here goes. I think your brother is a good man. The act he committed was horrible. For both you and Ivy’s sake, I wish he had gone about it a different way. Nevertheless, it led to the truth finally being revealed.”

Again, she wielded her silence to let what she had said soak in. Then, as they approached the gate to his property, she got to the point of her message. “Emmanuel, you probably don’t remember this, but right until your teens. You would insist you were different from all the other children. I would shush you and tell you, you weren’t. My ignorance and guilt made me think you were picking up on being adopted. Now, I am wondering if that aching you would sometimes complain about was you sensing your separation from your twin.”

Shit! I wonder the same damn thing, but twin or not, he almost cost me Ivy.

“I know you are angry at Leonardo for the havoc he caused your marriage. You have every right to be, but you two have already lost so much time together. I believe your brother is sorry. You have been fortunate in many ways he has not been. Perhaps consider what the love you have been surrounded by can do for your brother. Under the right circumstances, you two can forge a wonderful bond. You both deserve it.”

“Okay, Mom.” Just as he stopped the vehicle in front of his home.

“Oh, and Dear?”

The way she called after him, Emmanuel was certain he would not like what she said next. He worked to keep the aggravation out of his voice. “Yes, Mom.”

“Don’t allow Larson’s actions… As Sage would say, ‘take you out of your character’.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

FORGIVE OR FORGET

It surprised Ivy to learn she’d fallen asleep on the way home. However, upon hearing her husband and mother-in-law speaking, she didn’t immediately make it known she was up. Especially when she overheard what they were discussing. Although part of her agreed with Grace, she also recognised that, unwittingly, her mother-in-law may have an ulterior motive in wanting Manny and Leonardo to unite and forge a bond. Their closeness may absolve the guilt Grace felt in what she perceived was her part in the men being separated at birth.

Tonight was the last night Grace was spending in the house. The guest house was ready for her. Ivy could sense she was eager for her space. After they wished her good night, the couple headed to their suite.

“If you wash my back, I’ll wash yours,” Manny offered.

How could she turn down that offer? It seemed like it was days, not hours, since they met Manny’s grandmother. They hadn’t had a moment alone to unpack their visit. Not to mention Grace and her son’s tête-à-tête.

Ivy joined him in the shower after she protected her hair. She had no intention of doing hair care tonight. Besides, she has a few days off. Running around unearthing decades-long secrets wasn’t the way her husband and she had intended to take their time off, but here they were.

The moment she entered the shower; Manny spun her around and wrapped her in his arms. Neither said anything for a while as the water cascaded over them. For a moment, nothing penetrated the bubble they created. They shared so much without words.

Ivy wasn’t sure how much time passed before he pressed a kiss to her temple.

“Let’s get cleaned,” Manny said as he released her from his arms. Soon the space was filled with a mixture of the scent of musk from his body wash and the floral fragrant shower gel.

They spoke about the meeting with Manny’s grandmother. Especially about her revelations about his mother. “I don’t think we will ever really know the complete truth, but it would be nice to get as close as possible.”

“All you can do is to keep putting the pieces together. You seem to have taken to your Nonna.”

“She seems genuine. I’m not sure I understand all her choices where my mother was concerned, but I know times were different fifty years ago. When you factor in culture, there is a lot I don’t understand. I now have an entire heritage to get to know.”

“Well, you have family that can help you with that. Especially if you want to learn the language.”

The couple were now apart, facing each other as they attended to lathering their own bodies.

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