AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The only reason why I believed that was how easily she caved when I confronted her. She wanted to open up to someone. I just happened to be convenient.
The ladies were all huddled around Christina who was twirling around, arms up in the air. I couldn’t help but look at MaKayla. She was smiling with joy as she watched her little cousin dancing like a baby ballerina. When Christina got dizzy and fell onto the floor, MaKayla bent and picked her up, hugging her.
Whatever awkwardness that had been initially there, was gone. They all looked as though they had always known each other. Hopefully, they were going to make up for some of those missing years on this trip. It wasn’t for me to fill in the blanks now. They would need to do that themselves. From the way they were interacting, I was confident they would.
The women were still chatting when Steven walked over to me. “Thank you, Damien. Aiza and I almost gave up on finding them. If you hadn’t stepped in, we wouldn’t be having this reunion now. “
“I’m happy for you all. Nothing is more important than family,” I said.
“I wish my father had felt that way. If he had, maybe my brother would be alive to see what a beautiful, intelligent woman his daughter turned out to be,” Steven said.
“Venus has done a good job raising her,” I said, making sure she got that credit.
“Yes she has. Michael knew she would, otherwise he never would’ve entrusted her with MaKayla.”
“We are all going to go back to our house for dinner. Why don’t you and Bennett join us?” Steven offered.
I shook my head. “Thanks, but I have work to do,” I said. Not a lie. I had another client that had reached out and I needed to do the research to see if their claim was valid.
“I understand. I’m sure you are in high demand.”
“At times, yes. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to head to my suite and get started. Enjoy your dinner,” I said.
Steven shook my hand and said, “If you ever need anything, just ask. I owe you more than you will ever know.”
Oh, I knew. I just handed the only woman that I ever loved over to him and his family. I just hope they love and appreciate her as much as I do.
Not possible. I love her more than life itself.
I made my way out of the conference room, but the door opened behind me.
“Damien, where are you going?”
I turned around to find Venus following me.
“I have work I need to attend to. Is there something you needed?” I asked.
“Not me, but I think MaKayla does. She needs you,” she stated. “She might look as though she is strong, and she is, but this is overwhelming. She has so many questions.”
I smiled at Venus and said, “And she has the best mother in the world who can answer them all for her.”She doesn’t need me.
“You’re sweet, but you’re wrong. There is so much I don’t know. This Tabiq is not what I left. Nothing is the same as it was when we were eighteen. It has changed.”
“Then you and MaKayla can learn about it together as it should be. Venus, this is your time with your daughter. Enjoy every second of it. You both deserve it,” I stated.
“But what about you? I thought you and MaKayla were...were...”
“Venus, none of that matters right now. I saw MaKayla’s eyes when she learned about the family. She is living what she has been dreaming of. Let her live it.”
“And you? What will you do?” she asked.
“I will go back to work and help the next family,” I replied.
Venus wrapped her arms around me and hugged me so tight. “Thank you, Damien. Thank you for loving my daughter enough to let her go. I know what that is like. It is not easy.”
No it is not.
She released me and turned back to rejoin the others. Each step I took further away from the conference room felt like a knife digging deeper into my chest. We hadn’t said goodbye, but I knew it was.
