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Anne nodded.
“It's still something Dad is trying to figure out.”
“Ah!” they stammered.
“Can you two promise me something?”
“Podi.”
“Don't go with her alone, okay? Always listen to Helena and Mylon. Do you understand?”
They nodded.
I bent down and kissed each of them on the forehead.
Until I understood what Diana had come to do there, I had to be very careful about what she might try with my daughters. I doubted that, after so many years, she was really trying to preserve her sister's image in any way because she hadn't even come back for Daphne's funeral.
“Are you hungry?”
“We are!”
“Then go and have a bath so we can have dinner.”
“Pizza!”
“No pizza today, Anne.”
“Ah!” They snorted.
“Go and have a shower,” I encouraged them. “The nanny is waiting for you.”
As soon as they had gone down the corridor, I headed for my room. My little pests weren't the only ones who needed a shower and a bit of relaxation.
I took off my suit and put it on the bed. After spending a few minutes under the water, I came back with the towel wrapped around my waist, picked up my cell phone, and looked at the photo in the background. It was a picture of me with Helena and the girls that we had taken on an outing last month.
My daughters were happy with that relationship, but I, more than anything, was grateful that I had been given the chance to feel love again.
Seeing Diana that morning reminded me of how much I had loved Daphne. Losing her had undoubtedly left a wound that would never be healed, but what I felt for Helena was strong and just as important, showing me that I could live again.
I didn't know exactly why my ex-wife's sister had shown up out of the blue, but I had to be careful that it didn't disrupt anything good I had achieved in my life after so long.
I took the velvet box from my trouser pocket and stared at the ring. I was determined to ask Helena to marry me, and it wouldn't be a few rude words from a woman that would change my mind.
Chapter forty-three
My cell phone started vibrating, and I pulled it off the table to see who it was. Thomas's messages were nothing new since we were dating, but thinking about them made me tense after the day's events.
Thomas:
Are you at home?
Helena:
Yes.
Thomas:
Busy?