Chapter 110: The Guests

By Sunday morning, the freshly painted lines in the parking area had already solved one of the problems discovered during the soft opening.

Dominic noticed almost immediately.

The spaces were wide enough to maneuver comfortably, with a clear lane running through the middle so vehicles could enter and leave without anyone having to move first. There was none of the haphazard parking he’d half expected from a family estate suddenly converted into a business.

He pulled neatly into a space near the side.

Victoria waited until he’d turned off the engine.

"You can still change your mind."

Dominic looked at her.

"We’re already here."

"That doesn’t prevent the car from moving in the opposite direction."

"I told you. I want to congratulate Auntie Rosalie."

"Yes."

Dominic waited.

Victoria said nothing else.

Somehow, the silence sounded skeptical.

He reached for the rearview mirror instead.

His hair was fine.

Dominic adjusted one side anyway.

Then he turned his face slightly, checked his skin in the morning light, and smoothed his shirt collar.

Victoria watched him.

"You look fine."

"I know."

"Then why are you still looking?"

"Because we’re in the old neighborhood."

"So?"

"I might see someone I know."

"You might."

"And I’d rather not look like I just came off a plane."

"You didn’t. We came home from Italy before this."

"People don’t know that."

Victoria stared at him.

Dominic ignored her and checked his hair again.

Italy had at least been useful in that respect.

He looked rested.

The time away had helped his skin, and the careful treatment he’d been following had done enough that he no longer felt compelled to inspect every reflective surface for something new to worry about.

That didn’t mean he intended to walk into the Vance ancestral home looking careless.

People around here remembered him.

More importantly, people talked.

He ran both hands down the front of his shirt.

Victoria sighed.

"Dominic."

"What?"

"You’re going to a café."

"I know."

"Not a press conference."

"I know."

"Then stop preparing for one."

Dominic looked at himself one last time.

Satisfied, he opened the door.

"I’m ready."

"I was beginning to worry the café would close first."

Dominic ignored that too.

The walk toward the ancestral home was stranger than he’d expected.

He knew the place.

Of course he did.

He’d been coming here since he was young enough that nobody would’ve questioned him wandering through the house without announcing himself. He knew the garden, the veranda, and the old driveway.

But the estate no longer felt entirely private.

Cars belonging to people he didn’t recognize sat in the drive. A small sign directed visitors toward the café and bakery, while another pointed toward the bed-and-breakfast entrance.

The changes weren’t dramatic.

That somehow made them more noticeable.

The house was still the Vance ancestral home.

It had simply learned how to welcome strangers.

Mother and son slowly walked the path to the cafe counter.

Tomas smiled automatically when he saw them approaching the counter.

"Good morning."

Victoria Sebastian looked back at him.

"Tomas. It’s been a long time."

"Yes, ma’am."

Beside her, Dominic glanced around.

The place was familiar enough to be uncomfortable and different enough to make him feel as though he’d missed something important.

He’d heard about Rosalie’s new business while they were still in Italy.

Victoria had actually discouraged the visit.

Quite strongly.

They had barely returned from a vacation partly intended to give Dominic some distance from everything that had been consuming him before they left. Visiting the Vance ancestral home to investigate Rosalie’s new venture was hardly the first destination his therapist would’ve recommended.

Dominic had insisted.

He wanted to congratulate Rosalie.

That was his explanation.

Victoria knew her son well enough not to believe it was the only one.

Still, the café was open to the public.

So there they were.

Then Dominic noticed the man standing behind the register.

Alejandro.

For one uncomfortable second, neither spoke.

Their last meaningful conversations hadn’t exactly ended well.

After the Marriage Bureau incident, Dominic had called Alejandro, still insisting that he intended to marry Alex but just not that day.

As though the distinction should’ve made everything better.

Later, when the engagement finally collapsed beyond repair, Dominic had returned the ring through Alejandro.

Apparently, neither event had been forgotten.

"Uncle Alejandro."

Alejandro looked at him.

"Dominic."

"It’s been a while."

"Yes."

That was all.

Dominic had known Alejandro most of his life. Once, walking into this house and greeting him would’ve required no thought at all.

Now he found himself searching for something appropriate to say.

Victoria rescued him.

"We heard about Rosalie’s business. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"It looks lovely."

"She’ll be happy to hear that."

Alejandro’s tone wasn’t hostile.

That almost made it more awkward.

Dominic glanced toward the register.

"I didn’t expect to find you cashiering."

"Neither did I."

Victoria smiled.

"How did that happen?"

"My wife opened a business."

Alejandro apparently considered that explanation sufficient.

Dominic gave a small laugh.

"I suppose retirement didn’t last."

"Apparently not."

There was no invitation to discuss anything more personal.

No question about Italy.

Nothing about the engagement or what had happened afterward.

Alejandro simply stood behind the register waiting to process their order like he would for any other customer.

For some reason, Dominic found that considerably more uncomfortable than anger.

Before he could decide what to say next, footsteps sounded from the hallway, approaching from the guest rooms.

Alexander appeared first.

Giovanni followed moments later.

Both stopped.

Dominic’s gaze moved from one to the other.

Alexander was dressed casually.

So was Giovanni.

At this hour.

In the ancestral home.

Interesting.

Alex recovered first.

"Dominic."

"Alex."

Giovanni offered a considerably less enthusiastic "Good morning."

Victoria closed her eyes briefly.

Perhaps Italy hadn’t been long enough.

Dominic smiled.

"I heard about your mother’s new business. Congratulations."

"It’s hers," Alex said.

"I know."

"Then I’ll tell her."

Dominic’s smile remained.

His gaze shifted toward Giovanni.

"I didn’t realize the bed-and-breakfast portion was already operating."

Giovanni understood immediately.

So did Alex.

Victoria definitely did.

Alex smiled pleasantly.

"It is."

"Apparently."

Dominic looked between them.

"Early morning for both of you."

Giovanni glanced at the clock.

"That’s generally when mornings happen."

Alex lowered his head.

Not quickly enough.

Dominic saw the smile.

"I meant I wasn’t expecting to find both of you here."

"I live here whenever I’m at the estate," Alex said.

"And Giovanni?"

Giovanni answered for himself.

"I stayed the night."

Dominic’s expression changed only slightly.

Victoria stepped in before her son could turn that information into something it wasn’t.

"I’m sure the drive back to the city would’ve been inconvenient after the opening."

"It was late," Giovanni said.

"And he spent half the day baking," Alex added.

Dominic looked at him.

"You baked?"

Giovanni nodded.

"Rosalie needed help."

"How domestic."

There it was.

Not quite an insult.

Just close enough to one.

Giovanni smiled.

"I’ve had worse job offers."

Alex looked toward him.

"Excuse me?"

"Your mother offered bread."

"She fed you dinner."

"Exactly. Excellent benefits."

Victoria almost smiled despite herself.

Dominic didn’t.

He turned back to Alex.

"You two seem comfortable."

Alex’s expression remained pleasant.

"We usually are."

That landed considerably more cleanly than anything openly hostile would’ve.

Dominic looked around again.

"Well, I only came to congratulate your mother. It’s good to see the family doing something new."

"Thank you."

"And you, of course."

"For?"

Dominic’s gaze briefly moved toward Giovanni.

"Moving on."

Alex understood exactly what he’d meant.

Once, the comment would’ve irritated him.

Now it mostly seemed unnecessary.

"It’s been surprisingly easy to stay busy."

Giovanni looked away before Dominic could catch his expression.

Victoria did.

She intervened again.

"Is Rosalie here?"

"In the kitchen," Alex said. "I’ll get her."

"No need."

Rosalie had already appeared at the doorway.

She stopped when she saw them.

Whatever surprise she felt lasted only a moment.

Then she wiped her hands on her apron and walked forward.

"Victoria."

"Rosalie."

Victoria smiled.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Dominic followed.

"Congratulations, Auntie."

Rosalie studied him briefly before nodding.

"Thank you, Dominic."

She didn’t ask why they were there.

She didn’t need to.

They were customers standing inside a business open to the public.

Whatever history existed between their families didn’t change that.

Rosalie gestured toward the counter.

"Have you ordered?"

"Not yet," Victoria said.

"Then you should. The cinnamon bread is fresh."

Tomas immediately offered them one of the printed order sheets.

Victoria took the pen.

Dominic looked down at the menu.

For a moment, nobody said anything.

Then Victoria checked the box beside the cinnamon bread and wrote 1 under quantity.

Tomas examined the sheet.

"One loaf."

"One loaf," Victoria confirmed.

Alejandro looked over from the register.

Tomas caught him.

"I got it right."

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were thinking it."

For the first time since walking through the door, Victoria laughed.

Even Dominic’s mouth twitched.

Alejandro shook his head and began ringing up the order.

The tension didn’t disappear.

It simply had to make room for everything else happening around it.

Customers were waiting. Bread still needed baking. Someone on the veranda wanted another coffee.

Rosalie had a business to run.

And if Dominic and Victoria wanted to be guests, then guests were exactly how they would be treated.