Page 85 of The Bitter Rival

“Wow, that’s wonderful. I’m really happy for you.”

“I’ll call you with our travel arrangements. I look forward to seeing you.”

Well, what do you know about that?

You’d think I was awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. I’m so worked up. Mr. Hansen and his lady friend should be here any time now. Perhaps this excitement is merely needing to see someone other than nameless passersby on the street. Or possibly Nurse Nancy has pushed me to the brink with her “Get up and out of this house” routine. But, I know deep down it’s because I’ve come to think of Eugene Hansen as a father figure.

I check the kitchen and smile when I note the antipasto tray in the refrigerator and the premade pasta I ordered for their visit. I’m anxious to finally meet his girlfriend. Eugene located a villa not far from where I’m renting so he and his girlfriend can spend a week in Sorrento before traveling to Florence, Rome, and Tuscany. He’d said they anticipated an extra week there before returning to the states. I could only imagine the landscapes he’d paint after visiting the picturesque cities in Italy.

Seated in my favorite chair overlooking the water, I try to calm my excitement, stroking Boomerang’s head as I wait. I hear a knock at the door, and Nancy heads in that direction as I try to gather my braces and stand to greet them. As the door opens and she greets him, I see him standing alone, wearing an expression I can’t decipher as he stares back at me. It’s not pity.

“Sebastian. Thank you for having me,” he says as he approaches with a warm smile.

“I’m honored you came,” I reply. We stand in momentary silence, the emotions causing a tightness in my chest.

“Would it be all right if I gave you a hug?”

“Of course,” I respond, trying to keep it together. As this kind old soul gathers me into his fatherly embrace, I can feel tears start to well.Get it together, Bas. Don’t blubber all over him.“Please, sit.” I direct toward the chairs behind me to give me a moment to collect myself. “Where’s your girl?”

“Ah. I asked her if we could have a few moments alone before she joined us. She found a beautiful spot out back to sit and read. I hope that’s okay.”

“Certainly.” I watch as Boomerang walks over to sit beside him, and Mr. Hansen strokes his coat, giving him an almost knowing look. “Do you have pets, Mr. Hansen?”

“Yes. I have a black lab that looks much like this one. She’s kept me company for many years. They have such a kind spirit about them. Like they can sense your struggles.”

“You’re right. I’ve never had a pet before Boom came along.” This dog has gotten me through a lot in the last few months.

“Boom?”

“Ha. Yeah. He just showed up on my doorstep one day and kept coming back. So I named him Boomerang.”

“Ah, I like it,” he says, scratching behind Boomerang’s ears.

“I’m thrilled to hear you’re painting again. I can imagine this country will give you a lot of inspiration.”

“No doubt.”

“I mentioned your work to a young man I met recently. He’s incredibly gifted. He’s a teenager but possesses a vision I haven’t witnessed in many seasoned artists,” I add proudly. “He gravitates toward land and seascapes as you do. I wish I could’ve introduced you before this happened.”

“What’s stopping you from introducing us now?”

Turning my head, I try to find words to explain the situation so he might understand. “I was seeing his mother before I was diagnosed.”

“Jesus, Sebastian. She left you when she found out you had MS?”

“No,” I blurt. “I left her.”

He gives me a sharp, perplexed look as if I’m speaking another language.

“Isabella is a single mother to a teen son with Autism. He’s very high functioning but nonetheless has required all of her time and devotion. She’s an incredible mother and has devoted her life to him. I couldn’t ask her to now be a caregiver to me as well.” I watch as he silently stares. “She mentioned wanting to have another child. She’d be juggling the care for all of us on her own.” He continues to sit wordlessly, listening. “She just graduated from school and has started working for the first time since putting her husband through medical school years ago. I couldn’t let my situation keep her from having the things she’s worked so hard for. And if she wants to marry and have a family, I don’t want to stand in her way.”

He continues to stroke Boomerang’s fur for a few more moments before patting him on the head. “May I be frank with you, son?”

“Of course.”

“That wasn’t your choice to make.”

“What do you mean?”

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