Chapter 99 – Waving the White Flag (Anj‘s POV)
“On business...”
My eyes flickered on the TV when it flashed a familiar face that even my children stopped playing with Nitro on the floor. Our old television did not do justice to giving my children a clear picture of their father, whom we had not seen for almost two weeks. Yet, their faces lit with joy upon seeing his face, and they all focused on the screen. He called once, but I let Leyanne answer the phone, and with three girls to talk to before I had my chance to hold my cellphone, he had to say goodbye because his meeting was about to
start. He promised to call again, but he never did.
When the screen flashed a video of Sky, catching him walking and talking sweetly with Lalaine, although it was a few seconds video, three pairs of eyes widened and looked at me. Dylan rose to his feet; not bothering to take the remote control on the center table, he pressed the power button and turned off the TV.
“Daddy‘s busy,” Dylan hissed as he walked back to the single sofa.
I gave him a sullen look. “Girls, time for homework,” I said, pretending to look at the wall clock. “Kiss Uncle Dylan good night, girls.” I stood up. “Mommy will follow you in a bit.” Leyanne and Lyra Helene stood up, kissing Dylan on his cheek, while Selene picked up Nitro before going to him. Like the two, she kissed him and left the puppy on his lap. The three girls wrapped their arms around me as I kissed each on the forehead. I glanced at Dylan walking to the kitchen.
We had to talk. We need to clear things out because I hated seeing him and Anya repelling each
other whenever the two of them were in the same room.
“Our bed‘s so small; Nitro can‘t
Daddy‘s bed,” Lyra Helene twitched her lips. I smiled at them, wishing I could voice it too. I also love
“I don‘t mind where Nitro sleeps. As long as I‘m
Daddy?” She pouted. “I do. I just want to be with Mommy, that‘s all.” “Enough, girls,”
up and enjoy it, but I hesitated since Dylan was standing and leaning on the edge of the countertop panel. With a beer can in his hand,
talk to me.
He asked but looked at the
another can of beer from the refrigerator, my eyes flickered at his bedroom door. It would be easy for him to drag me there if things got out of control. He had already opened it before giving it
garden at the back. As he sat on the wooden bench, I felt my heart in my throat, hating my heart for thumping inside my
and Anya?” I asked when he didn‘t speak. “Make me understand, Dylan. We‘ve all been together since I was twelve, and I knew you and Anya better than anyone else.” “Nothing,” He heaved a deep sigh, then looked at me and smiled sadly. “I brought you here
saying more than three words, Dylan. All you did was answer me or ask me,” I
his cheek, and he smiled at me. “Did you know what I said to myself when I first saw you, Anj?” He lowered his gaze to his beer. “I found
to do was wait for you to
It came out as a whisper because Dylan suddenly burst into
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