Page 26 of Shattered Love

“Are you working?” My mother’s voice is more timid than I remember.

I nod my head at question. I’m staring at the people who brought me up, yet don’t know anything about me. For the last four years, I haven’t existed to them. I feel my anger rising, that hurt resurfacing.

“Yes, I work in the local primary school. My class is amazing. They are so full of ideas and creative.” The coldness makes my mother flinch and my dad narrows his eyes.

“You’re a teacher? But…college?”

“We both got full scholarships, I worked in Dixie’s, the local diner, in the evenings, Dom had taken on two jobs and we paid everything up front.”

My mother eyes widen. She looks at Dominic who has just walked in. “You did that for Avery?”

He crosses his hands over his chest. “I would do anything for your daughter.”

I smile up at him.

He looks at me and his eyes soften as he leans down to kiss me quickly.

“I’m going hit the gym with Carter and let you catch up.”

I stand. “No way. This is our house. You do not have to leave.” I don’t look at my parents showing them where my loyalties lie.

“Avery, they don’t like me. I don’t want you stressed.”

I snort. “I don’t care if they like you or not. They are in our house, they will respect you. Either you stay here or they go.”

My father grunts. “Best listen to her, boy. She’s stubborn as a mule. She gets it from me, and I don’t want to leave before filling my belly. Got anything to eat in this place?”

I watch his eyes widen at my dad’s joking tone, so different from the ice cold one he received last time. He looks at me as if he needs help. He doesn’t know how to handle it.

I grab his hand. “Why don’t you go make lunch? My dad can’t boil water, but he supervised my mother for years.”

My mother laughs. “She’s not lying, either.”

Dominic looks at me then to my father. “Okay.” He walks to the kitchen, his body tense.

I bite my lip, worried, as my dad follows.

As he passes, he squeezes my shoulder. “It’s okay, baby girl.”

I nod. I may not have seen my father in Four years but I trust the man I’ve always known him to be.

My mother fidgets with her fingers. “Are you happy?”

I smile. “Yes, Mom, I truly am. No matter what you think you know of Dominic, he treats me like a princess. He loves me so deeply, Mom, that I didn’t even know it existed. I thought it was made up by brilliant authors and their clever, beautiful words. Never did I think I would get to feel all those things and so much more.”

A single tear rolls down my mom’s cheek. “I’m so sorry, Avery. I’m so sorry. I’ve missed so much. I thought it was a phase you were going through. I thought you would snap out of it.”

I narrow my eyes. “You thought I would grow out of Dominic? What, like I did my Tamagotchi? You do realize he’s an actual person?”

My mom sighs. “I thought it was your bad boy phase. That he would break your heart and you would come running home with your tail between your legs.”

I shake my head. “Mom, Dominic may come from the wrong side of the tracks, but he has the heart of a fierce lion. He loves with no limits, no restrictions. It never wavers or is questioned. I’m the one unworthy of his love.”

My mother’s eyes widen before she looks toward the kitchen. “I know. I heard it yesterday when he rang us. I saw it in his eyes and the way he always stands slightly protecting you. He loves you, Avery. There is no doubt in my mind of that. After seeing the lives you two have achieved and looking around, it’s in every picture. The way he looks at you…”

She wipes away another tear.

“We love you, Avery. You're our little girl. We miss you so much. Can you forgive us? I don’t want to miss any more of your life, or our grandchildren.”

---