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She balled her fist around the material, raw fear mixed with a lot of anger in her green depths. “I just wanted to get away from my mistakes, but they keep following me.”
I pried the sweater from her fingers and clasped her cold hand in mine. Determination to fix whatever problems she had filled me with a renewed energy. “I know a lot about that, but together we can face anything.”
She blinked at me. Her confusion morphed into gratitude. “Easton’s brother, Drew, has been bothering me at work. Because of him, I lied to Easton and nearly ruined his relationship with Mulaney. Now he lives in this building. I can’t—” The words tumbled out. I couldn’t imagine Beauty lying about anything, but if she had, it was for a damn good reason. Of that, I was certain.
“Why is he harassing you? I’ll put a stop to it.” No one was going to bother her. Not as long as I drew breath.
“Carlos—”
“Mama. Daddy.” My heart lurched at the powerful word. I squeezed Holly’s fingers. “I’m ready for my story now.” Gabriel stood in the doorway with a hint of impatience.
I got to my feet and helped Holly to hers. With her hand in one of mine and Gabriel’s in the other, I soaked in the moment.
If I didn’t make it, at least I had this fragment of time. It would make an eternity in hell easier to bear, and I’d hold on to it until I took my last breath.
Chapter Fifty
Holly
He wasn’tthere when I woke up.
Had he changed his mind? Last night had been . . . a lot. Maybe out of the heat of the moment, he’d realized he wasn’t ready to be a father.
The cup of coffee in my hands had gotten cold because I’d been trying to puzzle things out for so long. When the doorbell rang, disappointment washed over me. Carlos was long past announcing his arrivals. He came and went as if this were his home.
“We’re here to take Gabriel to school.” Vivian breezed in without invitation.
Daniel was a little less bulldozer, but followed her nonetheless.
“Where’s Car—um, Muriella?”
Vivian noticed my slip and grinned. “Not available.”
“Miss Vivian. Mr. Daniel.” Gabriel flew in, soaring a toy plane above his head with one hand and holding his cowboy in the other.
“Hey there, little man. Ready to go to school?” she asked.
He looked past them, and a line creased his forehead, but he didn’t ask the question I knew was on his mind. The same one I’d almost asked only seconds ago.
Daniel fist bumped him after he grabbed his backpack and slipped it on his shoulders. Vivian practically shoved them out the door.
“I could use a spa day. What about you?” She didn’t wait for me to answer. Like a tornado, she whirled around until she had my phone, purse, and keys. Then she grabbed my elbow, locked my door, and steered me into the elevator lobby.
“I don’t have on any shoes.”
She shrugged. “You don’t need them anyway.”
“I have to work.”
“I talked to your boss. We even have a chauffeur.” She playfully nudged Daniel, who was busy chatting with Gabriel.
They both stopped talking and looked at my socked feet.
“We’ll hold the elevator while you get your shoes.”
I checked my watch.
“We’re going to be late to pick up Gabriel.”
