Page 143 of Love Arranged

She tenses beside me, her lips pressed together tightly.

With a deep breath, I continue, “I want to start off by saying I’m sorry. First for putting you in any position that would affect your health, and second for not taking you or your feelings into consideration like I should’ve.”

She stares at the fountain instead of my face, not giving me much to go off besides my intuition.

“Asking Lily to marry me without talking to you about it first was a huge mistake, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. Honestly, I didn’t think much about it, but I wish I had because you’re one of the most important people in Lily’s life…”

It’s impossible to carry on with my apology once I notice the tears falling down Rosa’s face.

“Rosa?” Panic bleeds into my voice because not once did I consider what to do should Rosa startcrying.

I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to hug her or if she’d prefer for me to leave, but then I think about her heart issue and if she should even be alone when she’s distressed?—

Rosa’s hand reaches for mine, and she gives it a pat. “Thank you for fixing the fountain.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

Did she hear a single word I said?

She wipes underneath her eyes. “When Julian told me itwas repaired, I thanked him, but he said I should reach out to you since you’re the one who paid for it.” Her gaze falls to her lap. “I wanted to thank you in person, and I planned on it yesterday…”

“But then I screwed up.”

Her nose scrunches in the same way Lily’s does. “I was definitelysurprised, but what happened after wasn’t your fault. My doctor warned me about what could happen if I got too excited?—”

I cock a brow. “Excited?”

Her laugh is soft like her daughter’s yet so completely different at the same time. “A little nervous too, but that’s to be expected.”

Her gaze returns to the fountain. “If my husband were there, he would’ve had something funny to say. He always had that way of making everything better and easing my worries.” Her voice catches toward the end.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I say because I don’t know what else sounds good in this situation, although I regret it as soon as the words leave my mouth.

“You know, people always say that, including myself, but I didn’t truly understand what it meant until I had to go through it personally.” I feel my throat getting scratchy as she continues, “Every time I’m reminded of my husband, it feels like I’ve lost him all over again.”

She motions toward the garden. “This place…it was his. I should feel happy here, like Lily does, but it reminds me too much of him.”

I felt the same way about Lake Wisteria at first. I couldn’tlook past my own grief because everywhere I turned, I was reminded of who and what I lost.

“But Lily…” She smiles to herself. “It’s her special place.”

“What happened to it?” It’s a far cry from the mythical-sounding secret garden she described to me late one evening, and there is no way her mother hasn’t noticed.

Rosa looks over at me with raised brows. “She didn’t tell you?”

Shit. “Uh…”Uh?!I’m not the type to hesitate or flounder, and she is staring like I should definitely know the answer to that question.

Rosa’s head tilts, and I know I’ve gone and screwed up.

But like an angel coming to save me, Lily magically appears from around the corner. I could kiss her for her impeccable timing, but I’m already pushing my luck around Rosa, so I hold off.

Lily’s smile falls when she glances at the fountain, and both Rosa and I share a look. Neither of us says anything, but I can read Mrs. Muñoz’s thoughts like they’re my own.

What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours,amore mio?

Lily clears her throat. “I was wondering where you two went off to.”

Rosa’s gaze swings between us. “Lorenzo and I were finishing up.” She stands and walks over to her daughter to give her a hug. “I’ll give you two some privacy.”