Page 58 of Tito

“Exactly,” I agreed. “Not that we would think that way. Who lives forever?”

Our eyes met as we both exclaimed, “Max!” We still felt shocked.

“Must be lonely too,” I said.

“He claims to have no feelings about any of it,” Tito reminded me.

“I don’t think that’s true,” I replied. “He loves this family a lot and he doesn’t even seem to realize it.” I smiled at him. “Especially your mom.”

He slowly shook his head. “I don’t know how to feel about that.”

“Yeah, the time travelling, 300 year old butler being in love with your mom. I don’t think anyone would know how to feel.”

“She stays true to my father,” I informed her. “I’m not sure she would reciprocate said feelings.”

“But what if she did?” I asked him. “You wouldn’t be mad, would you?”

He let out a long breath. “I’m not her boss.” He chuckled. “If anything, she’s mine.”

“Yep, whomever holds that spatula,” I teased him.

We both laughed.

“But honestly, your mother has been a widow for a long time.”

“Yeah, and she seems happy,” he said.

“She keeps busy is why,” I told him. “She cooks and helps to serve three meals a day then she manages the staff for all the clean up and other parts of the house. She deserves some happiness. Maybe some time away?”

He shook his head. “She would never agree to that. She refuses to leave the estate.”

“Like ever?” I asked in surprise.

“I think?” he replied.

“Wow, so how long has she…”

“Ever since my father’s funeral. She flew over to Italy, attended it. Then she…” he paused.

“What is it?” I asked him as he looked troubled.

“I was a young teen, Rocky wasn’t eighteen yet. Mama was in the hospital. I forgot about that. I mean that whole year was super bad. I just wanted to forget everything.”

I grabbed his hand. “Of course, it was. So why was she in the hospital?”

“I don’t know.”

“No one told you why?” I asked him.

“No. And I didn’t ask. I spent a lot of time at the pond. I even camped out there. Fish, swim, hike and the days all blurred together. It all got fuzzy, time didn’t seem to matter to me. I actually thought I would lose her too. I was determined to be a sad sack of shit.”

I lightly slapped his arm. “That’s an awful thing to say.”

“After 3 months, Rocky came out to get me to come home and that is what he called me.”

My mouth popped open in an O of surprise. “What?”

He nodded at me as he laughed. “Now that day I remember well.” Tito chuckled.” We got into the worst fight. It topped any argument we ever had before or since. He was the big brothercoming to talk some sense into his kid brother. Only his kid brother threatened to kick his ass if he didn’t leave.”