Selene Thompson hurried into the hotel, her young daughter in tow. The birthday party for her son’s fifth birthday had already begun.
At the center of the private room, Harrison Vaughn sat beside their son, the soft glow of birthday candles illuminating the boy’s delicate features.
Dames pressed his hands together, closed his eyes, and made a wish: “I hope Ms. Felicity can be my new mom.”
Selene shivered. The rain outside was coming down in sheets; to keep her daughter and the birthday cake dry, she’d half–shielded them, leaving herself soaked through. Her clothes clung to her skin, cold as ice.
Felicity Thompson let out a hearty laugh. “How many times do I have to tell you, don’t call me Ms. Felicity! It’s Flick! Your dad and I are best buddies–1 can only be your second dad at best!”
Her laughter echoed through the room. Most of the guests were Felicity’s old friends, and they joined in the laughter, though only Felicity ever dared tease Harrison so openly.
Dames blinked his bright eyes and gave Felicity a winning smile.
Felicity ruffled his hair and asked, “So, Dames, why do you suddenly want a new mom?”
Dames shot a quick look at Harrison. “Because Dad likes Flick!”
Felicity grinned, scooping Dames onto her lap and throwing an arm around
Harrison’s shoulders.
She raised her eyebrows at Harrison, showing off. “See? The kid sees right through
you.”
Harrison’s brows furrowed. He turned to the others and said, “Just a child’s
nonsense. Don’t take it seriously.”
But children don’t lie.
Everyone knew Harrison and Felicity had grown up together. Felicity had always preferred the company of boys, roughhousing and joking around–a fact that hadn’t endeared her to Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn.
Selene, on the other hand, had been brought back to the Thompson family at
eighteen, carrying all their hopes and love. She’d married Harrison, given him
1/2
22:21
Chapter 1
children, and tried her best to fit into his world.
The room erupted with teasing:
“So, who do you like more, your mom or Flick?”
“Are you kidding? Flick wins by a mile! Mom’s still living in, like, the 1900s or something.”
A flicker of cold amusement flashed in Felicity’s eyes, almost too quick to notice. She pulled Dames closer and kissed his forehead.
Selene felt her blood run cold.
Dames had never liked being touched, not by anyone. When Selene tried to hug him, he’d always wriggle away, distant and reserved, just like his father.
But now, he was nestled in Felicity’s arms, smiling at her with an easy affection.
And the look Harrison gave Felicity–Selene had never seen such tenderness on his face before.
They looked more like a family than she ever had with them.
“Mommy.” Her daughter’s voice broke through Selene’s daze.
Selene glanced down, her vision blurring with tears.
“What did you wish for, Daph?” Her voice trembled.
“All I want is you, Mommy!”
“What about Daddy and Dames?”
Hot tears splashed onto Daph’s small hand. The little girl panicked.
“Don’t cry, Mommy! I’ll go tell Dames not to always stick to Aunt Flick.”
Daph and Dames were twins. When Selene gave birth to them, she nearly died from blood loss. She’d called Harrison from the delivery room, but it was Felicity who answered the phone.
“Harrison went to get popcorn. He’s watching fireworks at Disney with me. Don’t worry about us–just focus on the baby, okay?”
Even now, the sound of fireworks seemed to echo in Selene’s ears.
From that day forward, her heart had been shattered.
She squeezed Daph’s hand and pushed open the door to the private room.
213
22:21
Chapter
The room fell silent.
“What’s Mrs. Vaughn doing here?”
Though the birthday celebration was for her own children, Selene’s presence hung awkwardly in the air–an uninvited guest at a party she was supposed to host.
Felicity kept Dames tucked securely in her lap, silently staking her claim.
Selene set the cake box on the table, raindrops still streaking her cheeks.
Dames glanced up. Felicity’s makeup was flawless, her dark hair loose and soft. He looked at Selene and pouted in annoyance.
Selene opened the cake box. On top of the cake she’d baked and decorated herself, two hand–drawn cartoon figures smiled up at them–Dames and Daph, together.
22.00
