Chapter 45 I Love You Mum
"Is there? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've swooped in and taken over my son's entire life."
"He has," Cedric said. "But I let him. I wanted him to."
Linda turned to him, tears in her eyes now. "Baby, you've been through so much. The debt, your father's death, everything with Ray. You're vulnerable right now. And men...." She looked at Falcone. "Men like Mr. Falcone, they see that vulnerability. They use it."
"I'm not using him," Falcone said quietly. "I love him."
The words hung there. Simple. Direct. Undeniable.
Linda stared at him. "You love him. After a month."
"I've loved him longer than that." Falcone's hand found Cedric's again. "I know how this looks. I know it seems fast. But some things you just know, Mrs. Santos. Some people you recognize as yours the moment you meet them."
"That sounds like obsession, not love."
"Maybe it's both." Falcone didn't flinch. "But I can promise you this: I will never hurt your son. I will never let anyone else hurt him. I will give him every opportunity to be the person he was meant to be before life got in the way. And if he ever wants to leave, I'll let him go. It would destroy me, but I'd do it."
Mrs. Kozlov returned with a tray~tea for Linda, wine for Cedric and Falcone. The interruption gave everyone a moment to breathe.
Linda accepted her tea with a quiet "thank you," then took a long sip, eyes never leaving Falcone's face.
"You say you'll let him go," she said finally. "But you've made him dependent on you. The housing, the school, all of it. How is he supposed to leave if everything in his life is tied to you?"
"It's not." Falcone's voice was firm. "The veterinary clinic is in his name. The school fund is in an account I can't touch. If Cedric left tomorrow, he'd take all of that with him. I made sure of it."
This seemed to surprise Linda. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I don't want him to stay out of obligation or fear. I want him to stay because he chooses to. Every single day. And that means giving him the freedom to leave." Falcone's jaw clenched. "I'm not a perfect man, Mrs. Santos. I've made mistakes. I've done things I'm not proud of. But I love your son more than I've ever loved anything, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of that."
Cedric's eyes were burning. He hadn't expected Falcone to be so honest, so open.
But this raw honesty was better. Scarier, but better.
Linda set down her teacup carefully. "Cedric, can I talk to you? Alone?"
Cedric's stomach dropped. "Mom~"
"Please. Just for a few minutes."
Falcone stood immediately. "Of course. I'll go check on dinner. Take all the time you need." He squeezed Cedric's shoulder as he passed. "I'll be right outside if you need me."
After he left, the room felt different. Smaller. More intimate and more terrifying.
Linda patted the couch beside her. "Come sit with me, baby."
Cedric moved to the couch, his whole body tense. His mother took his hands in hers, and they were warm and familiar and made him want to cry.
"Tell me the truth," she said softly. "The real truth, not what you think I want to hear. Are you happy?"
The question broke something open in Cedric's chest. "Yes. I'm happy, Ma. Happier than I've been in years."
"Even though it's complicated? Even though there are things about him you're not telling me?"
"Yes. Even though." He met her eyes. "I know this looks crazy. I know it seems fast and reckless and probably stupid. But when I'm with him, I feel—" He struggled for words. "I feel seen. Like I matter. Like I'm worth something beyond just surviving."
"You've always been worth something~"
"Not to me. Not for a long time." Cedric's voice cracked. "After Dad died, after I dropped out, after everything fell apart~I stopped seeing myself as a person. I was just a problem to solve. A burden. Someone who kept fucking up and dragging everyone down."
"Cedric~"
"But Gianni sees me differently. He sees who I could be, who I want to be. And he's helping me get there. Not because he has to, not to control me, but because he loves me." Tears were falling now. "I know you don't understand. I know you probably think I'm making a huge mistake. But Ma, I need you to trust me on this. Please."
Linda was crying too, hands tight on his. "I do trust you, baby. I do. But I'm your mother. It's my job to worry. It's my job to make sure no one takes advantage of you."
"He's not taking advantage of me. I promise."
"He's rich, Cedric. Very rich. And you were desperate. That's a dangerous combination."
"I know. But it's not like that. He doesn't treat me like I owe him anything. He gives me things because he wants to, not because he expects something back."
Linda studied his face for a long moment. "Do you love him? Really love him? Or do you love what he can give you?"
"Both." The honesty hurt. "I love both. I love him—who he is, how he makes me feel, the way he looks at me. But I also love what he's giving me. My dreams back, my future back. Is that wrong?"
"I don't know," Linda admitted. "Love is never pure, baby. It's always complicated by circumstances and needs and a thousand other things. The question is whether you're being honest with yourself about what you're feeling and why."
"I'm trying to be."
"That's all any of us can do." She cupped his face, thumbs wiping away his tears. "I want you to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you and your sister. And if this man~if Gianni~makes you happy, then I'll try to accept that."
"Really?"
"Really. But~" Her voice went stern. "If he ever hurts you, if he ever makes you feel less than you are, you call me immediately. Understand? I don't care how rich he is or how much he's given you. No one gets to hurt my son."
"He won't hurt me."
"You don't know that. No one knows that." Linda pulled him into a hug, holding him tight. "But I'm choosing to trust you. And to trust him, for now. Because you're my son and you deserve to make your own choices, even if they scare the hell out of me."
Cedric buried his face in her shoulder, breathing in her familiar scent. "I love you, Ma."
"I love you too, baby. So much." She pulled back, wiping both their faces. "Now. Let's go get your boyfriend and have this dinner. And maybe you can tell me more about this veterinary clinic. That's the part I really want to hear about."
They stood together, and Cedric felt lighter than he had in days. Not perfect~nothing was perfect. But better. Manageable. Like maybe this could actually work.
They found Falcone in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. He looked up immediately when he heard them, expression anxious and hopeful and terrified all at once.
"Everything okay?" he asked carefully.
Linda walked right up to him, and for a moment Cedric thought she might slap him. Instead, she took his hand.
"You make my son happy," she said firmly. "That counts for a lot. But if you break his heart, if you hurt him in any way, you'll answer to me. Clear?"
Falcone's eyes widened. Then, to Cedric's surprise, he smiled~a genuine, relieved smile. "Crystal clear, Mrs. Santos. And I give you my word~I would rather die than hurt him."
"Good." Linda released his hand. "Now. I was promised dinner, and I'm told your cook is excellent. Shall we?"
Falcone offered her his arm like a gentleman from another era. After a moment's hesitation, Linda took it.
Cedric followed behind them, watching his mother and his lover walking together toward the dining room, and felt something in his chest unclench.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was a start.
And sometimes, a start was all you needed.