Page 87 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘Please...’

Emily was in a little suite attached to the NICU. It was a place that was used to hearing bad news—but not of an old, sick man dying.

It was still devastating...

‘Do you know when the funeral is?’ Anna asked.

‘Sebastián is sorting it—but probably tomorrow.’

‘So soon?’

‘They take place much more quickly here.’

‘Will you go?’

‘I don’t know.’ Emily gave a helpless shake of her head. ‘I don’t know how I can be so far away from Josefa when she’s so small.’ She looked at her friend. ‘But I know you have to go back. I understand that more than ever now.’

‘I haven’t seen Willow in over a week. My mother...’

‘I know things are still shaky there. We’ll be fine,’ Emily said. ‘I mean, it’s not about me, is it? It’s about Alejandro.’

And for Anna it was about Sebastián.

He’d asked her to stay.

To be there for the funeral.

He didn’t want for ever, and yet he’d wanted her presence on the most awful day.

How could she stay, though? Her mother would never accept the excuse that she wanted to stay for her friend’s father-in-law’s funeral. And anyway, Willow needed her...

Nothing would keep her from her daughter. Nothing came before that love. Anna had decided that long ago.

Yet things were different now.

There wasn’t a rival for her love for her daughter.

But therewassomeone else in her life whom she loved too.

And even if there could never be a future for them, Anna knew she might be able to help him a little now, just by being there.

It was surprisingly easy to call her mother...

‘We’re just heading to church,’ said Jean. ‘Willow’s ever so excited that you’re coming—’

‘Mother,’ Anna cut in, ‘can you take this call away from Willow, please? I need to speak to you.’

She heard her mother talking to Willow. ‘I’m just going to check if Grandpa’s got his service notes.’

There was the sound of heavy breathing and she could hear her mother climbing the stairs. And suddenly it dawned on Anna that this was what Sebastián had done when he’d asked his father to join him on a walk.

Everyone had accused him of putting work first, yet she could see now that he’d been getting his father away before Carmen joined them.

José’s perfect response to his daughter had been orchestrated by Sebastián, Anna was sure of it. Because that was what he did. He had smoothed the way for his little sister, made sure her relationship with her father was protected, taken care of his family in ways they didn’t even realise.

She was determined to be there for him now. Anna wasn’t even nervous to speak with her mother. It was simply the right thing to do.

‘Is the baby okay?’ Jean asked.

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