Chapter 34
Serenity
Imeant what I said to Victor. I believe he wouldn’t ever cheat on a partner even if it wasn’t a love match but a business arrangement.
After watching him break into a million pieces about his mother’s infidelity, he’d never inflict that on someone else.
And the fact he trusted me with that kind of information—the kind that could destroy him—blows me away.
While he’s been offering up his heart to me on a silver platter, I’ve been keeping him at arm’s length. But how can I give him mine when it isn’t even whole?
Summer twirls around in her pink dress while we wait for Victor to arrive home. Right as that thought enters my brain, the front door opens, and Victor strides inside. Summer stops spinning and bolts over to him, tripping over her own feet.
“Are you ready to go meet my dad?” Victor asks Summer as he sets down his briefcase.
She twirls one of her ringlets around her finger. “Your dad is alive?”
Victor’s gaze meets mine over Summer’s head, and my heart clenches. He kneels in front of her and says, “Yes, he is.”
Summer nods slowly. “My daddy has gone to heaven. I thought that’s where all dads are.”
Tears fill my eyes. No matter how much I’ve grown to resent Paul, I’ll never tell Summer everything he did. Since he died when she was a newborn and she has no memories of him, she at least deserves to think of him as a regular, good man and dad.
“Some are, while others aren’t.” Victor reaches out and grabs one of Summer’s small hands. “I know he’s watching down. He’s definitely proud of you. I am. You’re the best girl I know.”
“Let me show you my daddy’s picture.” Summer tugs Victor over to the stairs and up to her bedroom. “It’s in my room.”
I didn’t want to put a picture of Paul in the living room when this is Victor’s home, so we put one in Summer’s room. I follow behind them as they enter her room.
I stand in the doorway as Summer pulls Victor to her bed where a picture of Paul sits on her nightstand.
He’s holding a day-old Summer with a big smile on his traitorous face.
At that time, he was deep in debt, and I didn’t know it.
He was gone so much I had already felt like a single mom.
Not to mention he “forgot” to mention he was laid off from his job when he stopped showing up.
“Are you going to be my new dad?” Summer asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
Victor is kneeling beside Summer again, but she still has to crane her little neck up to look into his gaze.
My chest aches, and my eyes are suddenly wet. I open my mouth to say something, but Victor says, “Is that something you want?”
Summer nods and wraps her arms around Victor’s neck.
Tears stream down my cheeks, and I cover my mouth to hold back a sob.
I back out of the room because this moment isn’t about me, and I release the torrential downpour of tears.
I knew from the beginning that Summer would grow attached to Victor.
But he almost seems as if he’s as attached to her as she is to him.
***
Summer’s one hand holds mine and the other holds Victor’s as we walk toward the entrance to a restaurant. Victor told me he and his father agreed it would be better if we didn’t meet inside the house so they wouldn’t bump into Mrs. Barlowe.
That works for me. I never want Summer near her again.
As a doorman opens the door for us, a short woman is about to walk by but instead takes out a camera and starts snapping pictures. I’m thrown into protective mode and scoop Summer off the ground. I turn my body, so she’s shielded from the woman.
Victor stands behind us. “Please, no pictures. This is a private family matter.”
“Is it true that you married that woman?”
As I push farther into the restaurant, her voice disappears, and I hold Summer a little closer. Whenever Victor and I are alone, the cameras are minimal. It’s as if they swarm to us whenever Summer is here.
“Mommy, who was that outside?”
I open my mouth to respond—
“Serenity?”
Turning around, I find Rob. He almost looks like a new man.
His skin is still a little pale, but he has some color in his cheeks now.
And last time, walking to his seat at the ceremony left him breathless, but now, he gets up and pulls two chairs out for us without breaking a sweat.
The fact he’s doing this for us when he’s barely recovering makes my muscles almost feel weak..
I take a deep breath. So far, Rob seems five hundred times friendlier than Mrs. Barlowe. Hopefully, it isn’t an act.
I place Summer in one of the chairs and sit beside her.
“How is my granddaughter doing?” Rob asks.
“You aren’t my grandfather. My real one is gone, and my new one lives in a big white house with a fence.”
My chest squeezes like it’s in a vice grip. Summer hasn’t been lucky when it comes to family. It’s been Harmony and me for too long.
Rob doesn’t miss a beat. “I have a big house with a fence, too.”
Summer scrunches her eyebrows. “But is it white?”
Rob chuckles. And I absolutely see where Victor gets his happy persona from. “No, it’s not. It’s actually red brick.”
Victor walks up to our table and takes the chair beside his father. “I’m sorry that took so long. Normally, I don’t mind the cameras, but with Summer here, I had to make sure they left.”
I press my lips together, trying to suppress a frown. A simple gesture. That’s all it was. But Paul never would’ve done something like that for us.
“We were just getting to know your dad more. I see where you get your charming personality from,” I say, trying to rid all thoughts of Paul.
Rob leans forward with a smirk. He was definitely a flirt when he was younger. “Glad to know women still find me charming.”
“But your house is red brick, not white,” Summer chirps from beside me.
I cover my mouth to hide my laugh. Victor’s eyebrows draw together in confusion. But Rob chuckles.
A warm hand covers mine, and I look up into Victor’s eyes. Something like warmth flickers from within.
Rob leans forward, grabbing my attention and says, “I wanted to thank you.”
I look between the two men, but Victor doesn’t bat an eye. “For what?”
“I’m sure Victor told you about my last wish since you moved up the wedding date. I didn’t get a chance to really talk to you at the wedding due to my health, but I still wanted to say thank you.”
Tears well in my eyes, and when I glance at Victor, his eyes are wet, too. I’m not sure what to say considering the marriage is temporary, but Rob is so sincere that my gut twists. “I’m just glad I was able to get your blessing to marry your son.”
“My dear, you are the best thing to ever happen to him.”
I wave him off. “Now you’re exaggerating.”
“Am I though?” He winks.
“How about I settle this argument,” Victor says as he turns to me. He pushes a strand of hair behind my ear, and says, “I agree with my dad.”