Page 14 of The Prize

“Yes, much. Thank you.”

His kindness felt like a lifeline and I loved seeing his gentle side when he let down his guard. He looked around the room and breathed out a sigh of wonder, hinting he was tempering his emotions. I sensed he’d been close to his grandmother.

“What a beautiful room.”

“My casa is your casa.” He sat on the edge of the bed and watched me walk around. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“You own this house now?”

“Yes, she left Edward a manor on Bodmin Moor.”

“Cornwall? That’s wonderful. Though a little isolated.”

“Yes, he should have gotten this place and me the manor. Still, who’s complaining, right?”

“If you lived in Bodmin you’d be isolated.”

He held my stare. “I know.”

“You’d be lonely?”

“I’m well acquainted with...” He waved off that thought. “The quiet helps me to think.”

Which was something he probably told himself to bear the agony of it.

I stepped forward and took his hands in mine and squeezed them, and he gave a nod to show his appreciation.

“Your grandmother was very generous.”

Tobias brought my hand to his lips and kissed my wrist. “She was everything that was good in this world. She would have loved you.”

“Which side of the family?”

“Mom’s.”

“Was she religious?”

He glanced at the artwork. “How did you guess?”

“You were close?”

“She was like a second mom to me.” He broke my gaze. “Grandma Rose used to take us to the Metropolitan Museum whenever I visited.”

“How wonderful.”

He swallowed hard. “After the plane crash my uncle decided to hide me away. He wanted to protect me and I suppose he was trying to protect other members of my family, as well.”

“So you were separated from everyone? Even your grandmother?”

“Fabienne thought it was best.”

“You missed her?”

“Every time I saw Edward I was reminded of her. Reminded of what was stolen from me...” Tobias’s eyelids flickered as though only now realizing this was why he’d willingly lost touch with him. “It was easier to pretend I had no family. For a long time that’s how it was for me.”

“How do you feel about being back here?”

“I wish she was here. There’s so much that was unsaid.”