“Oh, it’s so wonderful to see you,” Kim said, hugging the older woman enthusiastically, hoping to allay any potential awkwardness, while Antonio and Gabriel chatted. “It’s been far too long and, really, all my fault for not visiting, I’m sorry.”

Emilia smiled uneasily, and glanced sidelong at Gabriel.

“Kim... I am so sorry about the other night. I was upset, I don’t know why I said what I did.”

“Hush, don’t worry about it—I completely understand and I know you wouldn’t have meant anything by it.” She touched her arm. “And I hope it goes without saying, but there is no question of... I mean, Antonio is like a father to me.”

Emilia looked pained afresh. “I know that. Which is why I cannot understand why I even thought anything like it, let alone said it out loud—and to your husband, too.” Tears appeared in her eyes. “I do not know what is happening to me lately, Kim. I can’t seem to...trust my emotions. Or indeed my actions.” A low sob escaped from her, and Kim quickly took her beloved mentor’s hand and led her away from the crowds to a quieter area further away from the house.

“Please, don’t worry about it,” she reassured her. “We all get like that from time to time. Things have been so busy in the lead-up to this whole thing, that I’ve pretty much forgotten which way is up myself.”

“But to suggest...to even think about accusing you of something like that—it was unforgivable of me. But Antonio—he has been acting so strangely lately, and when a husband suddenly becomes secretive, you begin to suspect the worst. Also, he was so angry with me about the permits. But I didn’t realize I had done anything wrong. In fact, I thought I had done him a favor. The paperwork was in his office, and I thought he had neglected to send it, and that perhaps the project would be in jeopardy. So I sent it instead.”

She looked pained. “I don’t know why I thought that, since everything was already agreed a long time ago. But I have fallen behind on so much lately, my mind—it is not what it used to be, and I am not sure what is happening...”

She was so truly distressed and painfully aware of her slips that Kim’s heart broke for her. “Honestly, it’s fine. These things happen. And everything has turned out great regardless. Look around you, isn’t it wonderful? I want to give you a proper tour inside the center, too, but maybe tomorrow when there are less people wandering around.”