Love in Surrender (De La Fuente Family 8)

She’s more of a fighter than I am. She doesn’t wallow in self-pity like I’ve been doing. On the outside I try and only show the old me, before the accident. But on the inside, I’m falling apart. Useless to anyone.

Seeing Violet so upset because of me makes me pause, I need to pull myself together and grab on to the life that I have left. There’s no reason why I can’t find something I can do, that will allow me to support a family.

Family.

That’s what I want.

The whole De La Fuente family have the right idea and it’s about time I did too.

6

Violet

It’s been a few months since my disaster of a date with Deacon, and to my relief, he’s kept his distance. I’ve felt his glare every now and then when I’ve been passing by—I ignore him—he has made no move to approach me. I’m not even sure what I’d say to him if he did approach. He’d really scared me that night in the restaurant.

Since then, Blake has been different. It’s as though he suddenly has a goal in mind and he’s worked harder with me and at the gym than he ever has before. Sometimes I think he’s getting movement back in his legs, but when I mention it he clams up and tells me I’m ridiculous. I’m not too sure though.

While I’m pottering around the kitchen, I keep stopping and trying to overhear what he’s discussing with his sister, Felicity. I smile at the thought of her waddling, because if her stomach gets any bigger she really will resemble a penguin. I feel sorry for Kasey though because he’s worried sick that their baby is going to be too big for his wife to birth. He treats her like a queen, which is why she has strict instructions not to move from the sofa until he returns to pick her up.

Shaking my head, I grin as I carry a tray of refreshments into the living room and my grin widens when I see the amusement on Blake’s face while he watches his sister. Felicity is currently lying on the sofa with her feet raised on a cushion with the huge baby bump protruding upwards.

“I think I’m going to need help—maybe a crane—to sit up,” she mumbles.

“Let me put this down and I’ll help.” I chuckle.

Felicity watches me, but not as closely as Blake does. His eyes burn into my soul and it’s only when Felicity clears her throat that he blinks and offers his sister a wry grin. “I think you should stay where you are until Kasey gets back,” Blake offers.

“No way. I need refreshments and then I need to pee.”

“TMI, sis.” Blake shudders.

“Just be glad that I’m not asking you to help me in the bathroom,” she grumbles.

Blake’s eyes widen and the laugh I’ve been trying to hold in, bursts forth.

“I can imagine the exact look on his face, in fact its pretty close to that one now.” I chuckle and with Felicity’s help, get her sitting up.

She grins and rests the small plate with a slice of lemon drizzle cake on her belly. Taking a bite, she sighs. “This is really good. Melts in your mouth.”

I grin. “Lynne and her daughter, Cara, from next door made it. Lynne knows I’m partial to it, an

d it was a thank you for taking Cara to the library one afternoon.”

“That’s really sweet. You’re such a good person, Violet.” I notice Felicity briefly glances pointedly at her brother before continuing to eat. “So, Violet, have you heard anything about those jobs you applied for?”

My heart sinks as I catch Blake turn quickly to stare at me from the corner of my eye. I hadn’t told him I was looking for something else—away from him.

“Umm, I have an interview next week.”

Blake curses under his breath and wheels himself out of the room and down the hall, seconds later we hear his bedroom door slam shut.

Felicity sighs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think he’d act like a child. I wanted him to get bent out of shape and question you.” She shoves more cake into her mouth. “I still think he needs a kick in the ass.”

“What a nice ass it is too,” I mumble, trying to lighten the current mood, but failing. “He’s made his mind up Felicity. Leave him. I’m going to go for the interview next week in Boston, and I’ll see how it goes.”

“It’s a long way from Montana,” she comments. “A long way from my brother.”

“If I dwell on it, then I won’t go. I need to go and move on with my life because I feel stuck. When I’m here with Blake, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around him and I can’t carry on like that. I need to be comfortable in my own home. The move would be good for me.”