First Love Only Love (The Life 2)

I dropped down on the hard cot when my legs gave out.

How did I get into such a fix?

“So if you’re hiding anything, now’s the time to tell.”

“Is my husband going to find out?”

“Most likely. But I’d think that that’s the least of your worries right now.”

“My daughter, what’s going to happen to her?”

“Well, since we can’t prove that she had anything to do with it, and she’d adamant she knows nothing, she should be leaving soon. According to the people at the store, she never touched the money, only you did.”

He looked almost hopeful as if he expected me to give up my daughter. “She has nothing to do with it; please just let her go. She’s old enough; she can drive herself home; just give her the keys from my purse.”

“I’m afraid we can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“She might be of age in New Hampshire, but she’s still a minor in this jurisdiction; she can only be released into the care of an adult.” An adult, does he mean Felix? No-no-no. Who can I call? There must be someone.

GABRIEL

After taking care of Gianna, I had one more call to make before I could settle down to do my homework. One of Victoria’s friends that had been missing this morning, Lisa, hadn’t just been lucky. I’d made a call to her mom the night before with just the hint of a warning. I don’t know why she’d reacted so strongly; it was just a warning after all, not a threat. But she’d obviously read between the lines and had most likely called the mother of the other missing girl to give her a heads up as well.

I’d chosen that particular mom because I’d learned that she’d been the only one willing to give Becky Fontane a chance back in the day. A softhearted woman who, although she has come to see the other woman for what she truly is, might still be swayed. I just had to let her know that if she helped Becky in any way, she’d be going against the Russos.

Now I just need to call with a reminder. There will be no way for Becky to keep her husband from knowing what’s going on. I have no fear that she’d tell him about the car, not yet at least; that’s my job.

GABRIEL

“What’re you doing here?”

“What? I can’t just drop by anymore now that you’ve got a new friend?” The jackass grinned.

“Funny! What’s up?” I got up and pulled on the lightweight down vest that I’d thrown over the back of my chair as he stood there smirking at me.

“Nothing’s up. I got bored. Where are you going?”

“Come.”

Not like I was going to shake him anyway. I wasn’t doing much, just making a quick stop since the Alden woman wasn’t answering her phone. I’m not afraid of her going around me, the woman had taken her kid out of school after all, but I needed to make sure all the same. “Wait here.” Of course, he didn’t, not once he realized I was going to the twins’ room and not Gianna’s.

We could hear the three of them from outside the door, laughing. She was laughing. The sound rushed through me like sleigh bells at holiday time. Yes, I admit I have a weakness for that season, just like everyone else who indulges. Something about the warmth of a fireplace, the excitement in the air from everyone wondering about their gifts, even the smell of cakes and cookies baking at the time seems different. Why the hell am I thinking about this shit?

I opened the door, and my eyes went immediately to her. She looked up just then from her place on the floor where she seemed to be entangled with my sisters beneath a mountain of pillows as feathers floated through the air. For a split second, she looked different. There was a spark in her that I hadn’t expected or the effect it would have on me.

Her face shone with glee, and her eyes shone bright, nothing at all like the girl I’d first met, just a short week or so ago, or the way she’d looked the day I picked her up off the floor with glue in her hair. It’s like watching a butterfly leave its cocoon and spread its wings for the first time. There was something otherworldly special about her laughter and smile, something I hadn’t noticed before.

The room was a mess from their pillow fight. “I thought you were doing homework?” Did my voice sound gruff? I guess it did when she jumped up from off the floor, and her usual somber look came back on her face.

“We were, sorry we got distracted.”

What the hell did I just do? And why? I know why. I was jealous, jealous of her having fun with anyone else, sharing her laughter with anyone else but me—even my own sisters. I made matters worse or at the very least more tense when I shut the door and walked away without another word.