Chapter 66
In the highs of heaven, my childhen will be reunited with their father, nn Inger will carry the Burden of guilt of denying the
part boast so ent–and dry, I’m terrified of Gabriel coming hack into my life.
of the power be has ever me, of the love I’m not sure I ever shake,
The hurt and destruction in my heart I know he will bring
It’s weird, like I have this disattachment to all things love, to all the men who have tried to love me aste the years and the thought of marriage and a happy ever after.
Like a disease creeping in the dark, waiting in strike. My attachment to the pain he caused grows stronger than ever, and what does that say about me?
I loved him, but more than that, I love to hate hini.
It’s easier to blame someone else for things gone wrong.
Sure, the attraction between us is still there, but that’s all is
A physical attraction will never win a war or spin the world on its axis.
Only love can do that, and this is as far from that as it gets.
Thope he looks after my babies.
I can think of only one thing worse than him not loving me. Him not loving them..
Friday afternoon I grab the four cartons of milk and put them into the fridge.
The worst part of grocery shopping is unpacking it when you get home.
My phone dings and I read the text as it comes through, it’s from Cabelel
Finally here and settled.
I’ll see you tonight.
My address is
Tread the address and frown, ugh, he’s so predictable. Of course he got a house on the most exclusive street in towIL
My stomach flips. He’s here.
“Guys,” I call as I act unexcited. “We’re going to have dinner tonight with our friend Gabriel from New York, remember him?” “Beally?” Lucia gushes with excitement.
Dominic looks up from his place on the couch. “Can I stay home?”
“No, baby.” My heart sinks, damn it I hate that Dom saw Gabriel and me fight that first visit, definitely not my finest hour. “Cabriel’s a nice man and you’ll like him if you just give him a chance.” Dominųe curls his lip, unimpressed.
“What will you wear? | ask him to change the subject.
“Can’t I wear this? He
looks down at himself.
“Why don’t you wear something nice?”
Like what?”
“I don’t know, dress up with some nice pants and a shirt or something”
“Can I wear my new yellow dress?” Lucia burts in
Chapter 68
“Of couine you can.” “”Can you braid my hair?” “Yep.” I unde.
Dom goes back in watching television and I know I have to move him along or else he will sit there procrastinating forever. Da
have a shower and wash your hair, meetheart, 1 tell him.
NosT
“Yes, now.” I widen my eyes. Turn the television off, please “
He grumbles his way up the stairs and I hear the bathroom door close behind him.
Nerves dance around in my stomach. Treight is the night. Up until now they’ve never really asked questions about their Inological father, they’ve Been too young to really understand it all
Please let this go well.
Lucia takes off up the stairs all excited, and then another thought hits me, what the hell will wear?
An hour and a half later, we drive up the road as I glance at maps on my phone. “It should be just up here on the left keep driving “And remember, we are using our best manners here tonight. It was very nice of Gabelel to ask us to dinner.”
1 just want tonight to run smoothly without the drama of Dominic’s cheeky shenanigans.
“What will we be eating?” Dominic sighs. “You will eat whatever he serves up.” “What if it’s brains?” Dom replies
Then you eat the brains.”
“What if it’s caterpillars?” He smiles darkly as Lucia frowns in horror. Then you eat the damn caterpillars.”
Turn right
Google notifies me of the driveway and I peer at the lights disappearing up and over the hill.
Jeez.
The sweeping driveway is huge and grand with big white hall lights on both sides, it looks more like a main road than it does a driveway,
“This is it,” I say as I turn i
“This is his house?” Lucia gasps. The rich or something?”
He must be,” Dom agrees. “Only rich people have driveways like this. I bet he has a pool too,”
“Who cares if he’s rich or not?” I sp. “It’s rude to talk about money, guys. Please never do that.”
Oh hell, these kids are going to sound so uncultured and country bumpkinish.
Well they are.
We continue up the hill for miles and the car is silent as we look around at the beautiful surroundings, okay thas driveway is swish, it’s like the botanical gardens, even Em in awe.
Ugh so typically him
What a wanker.
My palmu begin to sweat as I hold the steering wheel, the magnitude of tonight is really beginning to freak me out “Guys just please, promise me that tonight you will be nice to Gabriel, okay?”
“Yes. Momina.” Lucia smiles from the backseat.
My eyes flick to Dominic in the rearview mirror for confirmation.
Dum?
“Yes” He huffs, “I told you already.”
Chapter GG
We come over the top of the hill and my eyes widen at the sight. The house in white and huge, three stories and upsch the panan Eency big binit lights. It has a sweeping veranda and beautiful gardens.
“Woooooal,” the children gas from the back seat.
