Page 50 of A Sixpence For Your Shoe

After breakfast we are all sitting in the living room. Misha is curled up against my side and my arm is wrapped around hershoulder. Celso is sitting opposite on the single sofa. They are still deep in conversation about things that don’t interest me. I pull her tighter against me and she glances at me. Her eyes asking if I’m ok. I smile.

But I’m not ok.

I don’t understand what’s going on between them. I’m starting to think that they are hiding something from me.

Celso drinks his coffee slowly and I have to hold back from telling him to hurry the fuck up and leave. I haven’t even talked to him about the fight he got into last night, but with the way he’s laughing with Misha I don’t think he remembers it happened.

Finally, when the coffee is done, and the breakfast is over, I stand up, making a clear suggestion that it’s time.

Celso and Misha stand up too.

“I really like this one, dad.” He muses, his eyes squinting in her direction as though he’s trying to work something out.

“Indeed.” I mutter, unimpressed, my arm gripped tighter around her waist.

“Thanks for breakfast. It was amazing to meet you, Misha. You make excellent bacon. Maybe I’ll come visit once a week.”

“We’ve run out of bacon.” I snap.

Celso laughs as though I’ve made an incredible joke, but my blood is running hotter by the second.

“It was nice to meet you too.” Misha smiles sweetly at him. I push her behind me as he makes a move to hug her goodbye. She wraps her arms around my waist and runs her hands over my stomach.

“Bye.” I say, gesturing towards the door.

“Bye, dad.” He chuckles and heads out, closing it behind himself.

I wait a few moments to be sure he’s not going to come back in then I turn to look at Misha with dark jealousy traced in my eyes.

“What was that?” I snarl, pulling her close.

“What do you mean?” She asks, hesitantly.

“Do you know my son? Have you met him before? Is something going on between you two that you forgot to tell me about?” I’m angry and heated and taking it out on her. But I have to know the truth. I will kill him. And I’ll never let her leave this house alone again.

“Vincent.” She says gently, tracing her fingers over my chest. “It’s nothing like that. I’ve never met him before. Ever.”

“Then what? Hmm? What was that?” I snap.

She shakes her head. “My entire life I’ve always wanted a brother. And when I looked at him - from the very first second it just felt like - oh - he’s like my big brother somehow. I don’t know how to explain it. It was a good feeling. He’s the type of brother I would want.”

“A brother?” I say carefully.

“Yes. It’s always just been my mom and me. When I was a little girl, I used to lie in bed at night and dream I had a massive family. And we would all sit around the table at dinner time eating good food and making jokes and teasing each other. I’m sorry if I upset you. But meeting Celso just jumped me right back to those dreams I used to have as a little girl. Of being a part of a massive family. Everyone happy.” She speaks as though she’s lost in those memories, and I realize I have nothing to worry about.

Misha snuggles against me, and I kiss the top of her head.

“I’ll arrange a big family dinner for you, little raven. You can meet everyone and finally experience what it’s like to have that big family,” I say, gently stroking her hair.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Misha

I’m really nervous.

Vincent keeps laughing at me because I am a pure bundle of nervous tension.

“They are all going to love you,” he chuckles, pulling me close.

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