Chapter 53
“What?”
“Do you like what you see?”
“Nope.” I pull my gown closed tighter. “Hideous.”
“Ah…” He sips his coffee. “You told me I was hideous once before.” “I did?” I frown.
“Yes, right before you told me you fucked my computer mouse.” Oh hell…I’ll never live that down.
“Yes, well…” I feel my face flush with embarrassment, “…my stationery intercourse days are well and truly over.”
“Shame.”
“Or not.” I need to change the subject. “Why do you have someone watching me?”
“Because I want you safe.”
“I am safe.”
“If the press get a hold of this info about you and the children, you will have reColemans camping out the front, this is for your protection, not mine.”
I don’t want him knowing everything I do. “No.”
“It’s nonnegotiable, Violet, and not up for discussion.” His eyes hold mine in a silent dare.
I may be seeing this slightly new and improved version of Gabriel Ferrara for the first time,
L but his strongest instinct is still to fight. I don’t have the energy for more dramatics today,
I’m going to let it go for now.
o upstairs and wake the kids, they need to get up now anyway,” I tell him.
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“Okay.”
I’m going to make some breakfast. Do you want some?”
“Ah…” His eyes flick to the kitchen as he hesitates. “Ah…”
He’s scared to eat my cooking, I roll my lips to hide my smile, “I’ll make you something special.”
“That’s not necessary.”
It would be nice for you to eat breakfast with the kids, go wake them up.”
He disappears up the stairs and I open the fridge and peer in.
Now, what’s the worst breakfast I can possibly make?
Gabriel
لم
I make my way up the stairs and down the hallway. I catch sight of Lucia sitting up in bed,
her hair is all
messed and she’s in a cute pink nightdress and reading a book.
What child reads a book when they first wake up? She’s a literal genius.
“You’re such a good girl, no wonder that your mother is so proud of you.”
She smiles sweetly over at me and I feel my heart melt. “I bet you were the cutest little
baby.” I sit down beside her on the edge of the bed.
“I was,” she agrees.
I smile at her innocence. “I wish I knew you then.”
She nods as she thinks. “Me too.”
“Do you have any photos of you when you were a baby?”
Mom does.” She nods. “There are even some when we are still in her belly.”
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“Really?”
Pregnant Violet.
“Can I see them?” I ask.
“Okay.” She smiles, all excited, she takes off and I follow her down the hallway into Violet’s bedroom. She bends down and looks under the bed.
“What are you doing?” I frown.
They’re under here.” She slides a chest out from under the bed.
“Oh.”
She opens the lid and smiles proudly. “These are all our photos.”
I stare at the box in awe, a transportation to the past, to all I’ve missed.
“Thanks, Lucia, this is perfect.”
“Mom keeps everything special under her bed.”
“Does she?”
Hmm…
“Well, this is great. Thank you.” I push the hair back from her forehead as I stare down
her. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more perfect child, not that
I’ve ever looked closely at any, I guess. “Is your brother awake yet?”
“Don’t know. Where’s Mom?”
“Downstairs.”
“I’m going to go see her.”
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“Okay.”
1
She toddles off and I wait until she has gone down the stairs and I quietly close the door.
Let’s see what other special things Mom keeps under her bed.
I kneel down and peer under, there are a few boxes and I slowly slide them out.
Photographs mainly.
Hmm, right at the very end is another box that looks identical to the one with the baby pictures. I wonder what’s in there. I slide everything out of the way and nearly have to half crawl under the bed to retrieve it.
It’s dusty and looks like it hasn’t been opened in a long time.
I glance back up at the door. If Violet comes in now, I’m dead. I slowly open the box and frown, it’s full of notes and trinkets and random things. I pick up a coaster and turn it over.
Peter’s New York
Hmm, that’s the bar we used to go to, haven’t been there for years, actually.
Why would she have kept this, weird.
I keep digging through the box and pull out a napkin, a note is scribbled on it.
It’s not possible to miss someone this much.
Gabriel…where are you?
My stomach twists. I read it again.
It’s not possible to miss someone this much.
Gabriel…where are you?
When did she write this? I turn it over to try to find a date.
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she missed me?
But she told me last night that we were just a cheap fuck on a desk…she lied.
A little knock sounds at the door. “Gabriel?”
Damn it, Lucia has impeccable timing. “Just a minute,” I call.
I slide everything back under the bed and quickly stuff the box I’m holding into my overnight bag and put my clothes on top of it. I’m taking this box home; I need to study that napkin. I’ll sneak it back in later.
I open the door and see Lucia standing there, waiting patiently for me. “Yes?”
“Breakfast is ready.” She smiles up at me.
“Great.” I glance up to see Dominic come out of his room. “Good morning, Dominic,” I call.
“Hi,” he grumbles as he walks into the bathroom and shuts the door.
Hmm, we need to work on this, damn kid hates me.
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