CHAPTER 20
“Some dreams shatter when we least expect them to…”
ISABELLE CAMPBELL
“Madame!”
“Stop calling me that, Tito!” I said, trying not to laugh at Colin’s main driver. “You just love teasing me, don’t you?” I couldn’t help but chuckle afterward.
Tito grinned wide, then kept driving toward Colin’s mansion.
“I’m just a normal person. Even if I tried, I could never be like those high-society women.”
“Good thing,” he said. “Most of them are unbearable. I’ve driven a few before and... well, better not say anything. I’d like to keep my job.”
“Oh no, now you’ve made me curious.”
“It’s just little things,” he said with a sigh. “Like having the AC set to exactly 72.5 degrees—not 72, not 73. Or cracking the window exactly four inches in the front. Driving strictly between 22 and 25 miles per hour—no faster, no slower. That kind of nonsense.”
“That’s ridiculous!” I said, outraged. “How can people be like that?”
“You wouldn’t believe half the stuff us drivers go through...”
We kept chatting the whole way. Tito was such a cheerful man—it was obvious he loved his job. He’d been the second employee Colin ever hired, right after Helen.
When we finally got to the mansion, I finished my morning chores and got ready to take Joshua to school.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
Joshua seemed different today—happier, somehow. I didn’t know if it was because he’d seen Hanna or something else had happened, but I didn’t want to pry into a child’s thoughts.
“You know,” he said suddenly, catching me off guard, “my dad came into my room last night.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. He stayed there for a while, but I pretended to be asleep.”
“Why’d you do that?”
“I don’t know. I could tell he was looking at me... and at the ceiling. Sometimes I opened one eye, and he was staring at my toys. Then, when he left, he kissed my cheek and said he loved me.”
I hadn’t expected to hear that. Not like this.
I was speechless. That simple gesture told me Colin was fighting his fears—slowly, quietly—and finding his way back to Joshua.
“Give your dad a chance, Joshua. He went through a lot when your mom and sister passed away. I know you’re sad too, and some days must feel heavy, but he’s hurting as well. I’m sure he misses you just as much as you miss him.”
“Okay, Aunt Isabelle.”
Great. Now I was Aunt Isabelle.
I smiled. Fair enough.
“Can I really call you that?”
“Of course. Hanna calls your dad Uncle Colin, so I don’t see the problem.”
We both laughed, and the rest of the ride to school was much lighter—and happier—than I’d expected.
The morning flew by, and after picking Joshua up from school, I headed to the kitchen to help Helen with lunch—Jeanne was sick and hadn’t come in to work.
“Colin’s different today,” Helen said out of nowhere.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure. He seems… happy. No one around here knows how to deal with that. Hanna’s loving it, though.”
“Of course she is.” I smiled.
Then, all of a sudden, I heard two kids screaming from one of the rooms down the hall. I looked at Helen, puzzled. It didn’t sound like fear—it sounded like pure joy.
“Where’s that noise coming from?” Helen asked, and we both left the kitchen to follow the laughter that got louder with every step.
When we finally found the source and cracked the door open just enough to peek inside, we nearly stumbled backward in shock.
Joshua and Hanna were running around the room, trying to escape someone—someone blindfolded—who was chasing them.
“Doesn’t matter where you hide, I’m gonna win this game!”
Colin was blindfolded, reaching out and laughing as he tried to catch them. Helen and I stood there for a moment, watching the three of them through the narrow gap in the door.
He could have caught them at any second, even blindfolded—but he didn’t. If anything, he made sure they stayed ahead, just to keep them laughing.
After a few seconds, Helen quietly closed the door again. I looked at her, searching her face.
“Let’s just leave them be,” she said softly. “I can’t even explain how happy it makes me to see them like that.”
Back in the kitchen, I couldn’t stop thinking about that brief moment—Colin, smiling, playing with the kids.
Could it be that he’d finally found a way to start winning Joshua back?
It was almost time to leave, though it seemed a certain someone was doing everything she could to stay a little longer.
“I don’t wanna go home, Mommy!” she said, pouting, her little voice full of drama and determination.
“Sweetheart, don’t be stubborn. You come here every day.”
“Yeah, but today we were playing with Joshua, and it was the first time all three of us had sooo much fun together!”
“Hmm. Maybe that can happen again another day.”
“Okay.”
“Come on now. Go say goodbye to Helen—I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Fine.” She gave me a sad little face and trotted off.
That girl…
Colin waited until our conversation ended, then joined me a moment later.
“Hanna ratted you out,” I said first.
“About what?”
“I think you know. What were you doing with those kids?” I asked, even though I already knew—I just wanted to hear him say it.
“Taking the first step,” he said simply. “Trying to make up for lost time with my son. And Hanna’s… pretty persuasive.”
“How shameful,” I teased, grinning. “Using my daughter to get closer to Joshua?”
“That’s not how I’d put it. Seems like she’s the one most invested—more people to play with. Your daughter hates the word ‘no,’ and from what I can tell, she’s gonna be even more stubborn and outspoken than you.”
“Hey, that’s not true—I’m nothing like that.”
Hanna came running back to us, her face scrunched up in the most dramatic, pitiful expression. I’ll admit, I almost fell for it. Almost.
“Why the long face?” Colin crouched down to look at her.
“’Cause my mom wants to go home.” She pouted at him, then turned to me with accusing eyes, like I was the villain for wanting to leave.
Such a little actress…
“You’ll be back tomorrow, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, but I wanted to stay longer today.” She crossed her arms, sulking a little.
I started laughing, and I could see Colin fighting not to do the same.
“Your mom’s got things to take care of back home. But tomorrow, she’ll let you stay longer. Maybe we can play again too—depends on how well you behave tonight.”
“Okay. I’ll be happy!” she said quickly, her frown disappearing into a big smile.
This time, Colin laughed outright, and I loved the way he talked to Hanna. I never imagined he’d be so gentle with kids, but apparently, there’s a lot I don’t know about Colin Adams—because that man is full of surprises.
“Can we get to Uncle Colin’s house earlier tomorrow, Mommy?”
Oh, for heaven’s sake…
We were on our way home. Colin had told me earlier that Tito would now be our designated driver to and from the mansion every day. I still thought it was over the top and didn’t want to cause extra trouble, but if you’ve ever tried arguing with Colin Adams… good luck winning that battle.
“No, sweetheart. Your mom needs to sleep.”
She had no idea that while she spent her days running around playing, I spent mine running after her, hair a mess and nerves shot.
“Do you like Uncle Colin, Mommy?”
Of course. Perfect timing for that question. She really is a miniature version of me—no doubt about it now.
“He’s nice,” I said simply, while she kept her curious eyes fixed on me. The less information, the better.
You know those kids who stop whatever they’re doing just to stare at you, like they can see straight through your soul? Yeah, my daughter’s one of them.
And as if that weren’t enough, kids somehow know when you’re uncomfortable. Then, just to torture you, they keep staring, waiting for you to say something, while all you want is for them to stop looking at you like you’ve committed a crime.
“Uh-huh.”
The car stopped—but the moment I opened the door, panic flooded me.
My house looked completely destroyed. I hadn’t noticed at first, since the car windows were tinted darker than usual, but once I really saw it, I froze.
There were at least three police cars parked out front. As soon as the officers saw me walking toward the shattered door, they rushed over.
“Tito… take Hanna. Now,” I said quickly.
“Yes, Ms. Isabelle.”
For a split second, I panicked, thinking my mom might be inside—but then I remembered she was coming home late tonight.
“Are you the owner of this house?” one of the officers asked.
“Yes,” I managed to say, still dazed. “What… happened?” The words barely came out.
“We got a call about a vandalism report,” he explained. “When we arrived, the house was already empty.”
I barely heard him. My feet moved on their own as I walked past him and into the house.
The moment I stepped inside and saw everything, I broke down.
I couldn’t believe it. Everything was shattered, thrown, smashed, painted over. The sofa was slashed, tables splintered…
I stumbled down the hall toward our bedrooms, not even thinking clearly. Every bed was broken. Mirrors shattered. Clothes torn, some burned…
My knees gave out, and I collapsed on the floor. My whole world was falling apart right in front of my eyes.