Mr. Watson passed Old Greg a handkerchief, and he wiped away the tears. As he gazed at the tombstone, he said, "Ann, thank you for pushing so hard when you were alive. It’s because of you that I have such a wonderful granddaughter. I wish you could see her. I need you to know that it wasn’t your fault. It was my son and you shouldn’t be the one in the grave, it should my son." His voice quivered as he spoke. "He has never co to visit you, and I will never forgive him for what he’s done to you and Edie." Grandpa sighed. "You and Edie were the ones who have suffered, and I will always carry around that guilt in my heart."
"Okay, Old Greg! We should be going. I see how upset you’re getting," Mr. Watson says. Old Greg lets out a long deep breath as Mr. Watson was pushed his wheelchair down the hill.
After Old Greg left, a middle-age couple appeared in the cetery. The woman standing in the front wore a long, black dress. She was wearing a black hat with lace that covered her pale face. It was Stuart’s mother, Mada Yates. Mr. Bayer looked at her anxiously. He followed her every step worried that she might fall.
"Why, this isn’t a path at all. It’s all rocky and bumpy," Mada complained.
"Please watch your step," Mr. Bayer replies.
Mada Yates stops in front of Ann’s grave. "Miss. Lara, you don’t rember , but we t when you were a little girl. Everything that’s happened is all because of . You must hate !" she said, sounding agitated. "None of it was your fault. I was to bla. It was who made the arrangents and you were the only one who knew." She struggled to find the right words. "I’m a murderer, aren’t I? You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for ?" Mada felt a rush of anguish surge into her chest and throat and flood her eyes with tears.
Mr. Bayer’s heart ached as he watched Mada Yates. He wanted to make her pain go away, but he knew he was powerless and couldn’t do anything to help her. She’d hoped the burden of the secrets would end there.
Mr. Bayer could no longer control himself. It broke his heart, watching her cry and take all the bla. He gently pulled her into his arms and said, "Why do you keep doing this to yourself. We’ve all paid the price."
"Maybe everything was a mistake from the beginning?" Mada closed her eyes and pictured it all again as if she was right there at that mont, experiencing the agony and despair from the past.
Mr. Bayer gave her a faint smile, yet she saw a bleakness in his eyes. "What are you saying? Was my love for you wrong, or your choice to marry soone else was wrong? It wasn’t our fault. Yes, we survived, and yes, we’ve gone through a lot of pain and hardship, but we’re here. You should be thankful for that," Mr. Bayer said.
Mada Yates never responded. They stood in silence, and the only sound was the wind and constant gritty slosh of dust against the graves.
Edie and Stuart were waiting in the car for Old Greg to return. Mr. Watson opens the door and puts grandpa in. "I’m not going ho with you, but I’ve left so of my things, just in case I return one day."
Edie looked at her grandpa and said, "But..."
She was stopped by Stuart, "Your grandpa is a very wise man. He knows what he’s doing."
Edie nodded her head in agreent but never said another word until they arrived at the Villa. "Grandpa, thank you for telling about my mom and always rember how much I love you." Edie gave him a hug and went up to her bedroom to lay down.
Stuart was in the study on his laptop. He was on his way out when he was stopped by Mr. Bates. Mr. Bates had a serious expression on his face. "Master! Mada is here."
"What? Where is she?" Stuart asked, his voice seed even colder than usual.
Seeing the expression on Stuart’s face made Mr. Bates worry even more. He hesitated and said. "She’s at the Hilton International Hotel. She called while you were at the cetery, I don’t think she’s coming to the Villa today. Master, do you want to wake Mrs. Yates up so she can go with you to the hotel, or would you rather I contact Mada.?"
"No! I will go myself. Don’t say anything about this to Mrs. Yates," Stuart said in a deep voice.
Mr. Bates nodded his head. "Yes, Master! As you wish."
At the Hilton International Hotel, Mada Yates was busily reading, writing, and conducting her business affairs. "You look tired!" Mr. Bayer said as he placed a cup of tea in front of her.
Mada nodded her head. Their silence was often accompanied by explicit non-verbal expressions such as an eye-gaze or a head movent. Mr. Bayer was happy enough just to watch her and see the expressions chasing across her face and listening to the sound of her voice.
Mada Yates was accustod to having Mr. Bayer around. He never had to make a sound, and she always knew when he was there by the scent of his cologne. Neither one of them ever spoke of their feelings, but they both knew they loved one another.
"Since we’re here! Why don’t you visit her! You must miss her very much," Mada Yates said as she watched the steam rising from her cup.
Mr. Bayer chuckled. "Visit her? What on earth for? Her husband would roll over in his grave at the re thought! It’s been fifteen years since I worked for Bette."
Mada Yates smiled, realizing she said the wrong thing. "Sorry! I haven’t been in a very good mood since we got back from the cetery. It’s getting late, and you can go now!" she said as she faked a laugh.
"I’ll give you a massage before I go," Mr. Bayer said. He walked over to her and started rubbing her shoulders.
Mada Yates lowered her head. After a while, Mr. Bayer looked at her and noticed she’d fallen asleep. He quietly walked into the bathroom and filled the tub with hot water. "Wake up! Your bath is ready," he said. He helped her up and into the bathroom and closed the door. Just as Mr. Bayer looked up, there stood Stuart with a bleak expression on his face.
Mr. Bayer looked up at Stuart fearlessly and asked, "Are you here to visit your mother?"
Stuart had nothing to say to Mr. Bayer, and he nodded his head. Mr. Bayer didn’t care about Stuart’s frigid attitude. He smiled and said, "She’s taking a bath. If you don’t mind waiting?"
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