AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s because I didn’t.” Her soft, angelic voice sounded from behind me.
Victor stood up as he greeted his daughter with love and adoration. He wrapped his arms around her as he kissed her delicately on the head. Her carved lips turned up into a breath-taking smile as she allowed her father to hold her for a moment. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t just tell me who she was meeting. Maybe she just loved pissing me off a whole lot more recently. It was fun.
For now, anyway.
“Lorenzo, would you like to join us?” Florence asked from the other side of the table.
“I don’t want to intrude. You all enjoy your evening.” I smiled before turning my attention to Anastacia. “Ana, I’ll see you at home.” I nodded as I turned on my heel to leave.
“Not so fast, young man.” The unknown voice stopped me instantly. “I told my granddaughter I wanted to get to know her fiancé and what better time than now.” She smiled genuinely.
“Please, I—” I began.
“I won’t take no for an answer. Sit your backside down beside me right now.” She laughed.
It was right then that I knew exactly where Anastacia got her attitude from. This lady was fiery. I glanced over at the woman who infuriated and intrigued me all at the same time as she nodded her head with a gentle smile on her lips.
“I’m Evelina, Victor’s mother,” she said as she patted the seat beside her. “This is Marilyn, Victor’s aunt.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both this evening,” I replied. Relaxation slowly crept in.
As I sat down beside Evelina, my eyes moved to Anastacia lowering herself gracefully into the seat opposite me.
Why was I searching for her?
Why did I care where she sat?
The rest of the meal went by smoothly as Evelina spoke about her life as much as she asked about mine. Anastacia spent time catching up with Miles, Marilyn, and her parents. The love she had for her family was second to none. She was so at ease when she was around them despite the ups and downs her and Victor might have, she still looked up to him, and I admired that. Her eyes shone with brightness as she spoke, laughed, and joked with them. It made me wonder if someday she might look at me like that.
Do I even want that?
Why am I so torn between wanting her and not?
“So, Evelina, may I ask what’s the occasion for this evening?” I asked.
“Today is the anniversary of my husband’s death,” she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have intruded,” I apologised.
“Please don’t apologise. It’s been wonderful having you here,” she said softly as she squeezed my hand. “Aleksander would have approved of you; he would have had some stern words to say regarding our beautiful girl, but he would have liked you.” She smiled.
“That means a lot, thank you.” And it did mean a lot, but it also hurt a little, and I wasn’t one to get hurt easily.
I hadn’t exactly treated Anastacia right since we met, and hearing Evelina say how much her husband would have liked me was a hard thing to swallow especially because I was treating their granddaughter like she was nothing. Originally, she was, but with each passing day, it was getting harder to see her as that. Her presence was known all over the house. If it wasn’t her angelic laugh, it was her intoxicating scent, and when it wasn’t that it was the way she put me in my place many, many times. The list was endless, and it would continue to grow.
“Shall we move on?” Victor asked as he broke my train of thought.
“Yes,” Anastacia answered.
* * *
I followed Anastacia to their final destination, which just so happened to be the graveyard. Her grandfather was placed in a family plot. I stood beside my car and watched her from afar. It was a rare moment to see Victor and his family out without security, but this time was precious no matter how vulnerable they might be.
I noticed Miles walk Florence and Marilyn to the car as Victor made his way to where I was waiting, leaving Ana and Evelina alone.
“They were incredibly close. Anastacia was the apple of his eye,” Victor spoke softly.
“Wasn’t that spot reserved for his wife?” I questioned.
