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“You can't disassociate one from the other.”
“What if she doesn't make you happy?”
“She's already making me happy.” I turned to face him. “Look who's asking me that question.”
“What's wrong?” He shifted his shoulders. “I worry about you.”
“I know that, but you're not the best love advisor there is. You only have affairs.”
“That's why. I get the best out of every woman.”
“Then she threw them away.” Deborah came out onto the balcony and pulled up a chair to sit at the table, joining us.
“This happily ever after thing is bullshit.”
“Maybe because of men like you.”
“I thought you loved me.” He crossed his arms.
“Just because you're my brother.” She shrugged and took his glass, drinking the rest of the shot. “Stop agonizing over Thomas's relationship; he deserves it.”
“I'm in mine.”
“I know...” Deborah looked up.
“Aunt Deby!” Mary came running up the small wooden steps from the balcony where we were standing.
“Be careful not to hurt yourself.” My sister went over to her niece.
“Come andplaywith us.”
“Do you want me to go on the swing?”
“Quelo!”
My sister looked at us, and I nodded in encouragement.
“I think she'd be a great mother,” Tyler commented when our sister walked away from us.
“Everything has its moment.”
“You're getting old, man. Talking just like Dad.”
“Life changes us.”
“I hope not.” He crossed his legs and stared at the horizon.
I swore that I would never put another woman in my life, much less get involved to the point of giving my heart away, but there I was, looking with a passionate air at the woman who played with my daughters. I knew that Tyler would also be challenged by fate at some point, but that wasn't my concern at the moment.
Chapter thirty-seven
Thomas was right, his family welcomed me with open arms and after spending a very pleasant day in their presence, I no longer even knew why I had been afraid of that meeting. Even though they had money and a lot of resources, they were kind to me and didn't let me down at any point. The girls were very used to the house, and that helped me too.
When we got into the car to leave, and I settled them in the back seat, I had the feeling that it wasn't the first time I'd been there. If this atmosphere continued over the next few visits, I was likely to get on very well with everyone.
I was afraid of how my relationship with Thomas would develop, but as time went by, it became increasingly clear that there were many positive points for it to work out.
“Will you let me take you to my place today?” He moved his hand towards me, but before he ended up with it on my thigh, he put it on the gearshift, probably remembering that the girls were in the back seat.