Page 2 of Ma Belle Marguerite (Hidden Secrets #1)

Isabella

T he sound of an alarm going off in another room wakes me, and I crack one eye open.

Who left the fucking blinds open! It’s too bright in here.

Sadness threatens to creep in as I remember my husband is no longer here.

Adrien used to close the blinds before he went to work, when I had forgotten the night before.

I never noticed the small things he did for me until it was too late.

I could stay here forever, cuddled in its warmth, until I reach across the space where Adrien is supposed to be and feel how empty it is without him in it. I don’t think I will ever get used to it.

I sigh. It’s been six months since Adrien’s accident.

Six months since me and my twins, Remi and Brielle, had to say goodbye to him.

People say that time heals all wounds but it feels like everything has gone by so slowly since the funeral.

I haven’t been back to work. Between life insurance and our savings, I have hidden out at home.

Just the thought of being back where I last saw him has so many emotions swirling inside my head.

How do you unsee your husband lying on a stretcher covered in blood?

Since Adrien’s accident, I’ve considered moving back home multiple times.

I met him thirteen years ago when I moved away from Stinson, my hometown, to attend college.

It was a small place where everyone knew everyone's business.

It looks like a nice, quiet place to move your family, and it is as long as people mind their own business.

While I loved Adrien, he was more of a best friend than anything else. He was there for me when I needed someone and my heart was broken. He was my escape from my life back home.

Unfortunately, my life back home is complicated—filled with nothing but ex-lovers and familial ties that have nothing but illegal habits.

I was young and naive back then, thinking there was so much more that life could offer outside of my small town. Wanting to get away from the life of being a less-than-savory accountant's daughter. Away from the danger.

I will have more support for the kids if I move back home, though. Adrien’s parents, while nice, have never been much help. They haven’t been in contact since the accident.

Camille and Giselle have been the biggest factors in convincing me it would be the best move.

They have been my friends since high school and have always been there for me, even from a distance.

More like sisters than friends. Which is why the kids call them both aunt, but of course in french, Matante.

After moving away for college, they would come and visit me as much as they could. If they couldn’t be there for me or the twins in person, we’d be on video calls. They never missed a birthday or milestone.

Camille called me last week and said there was an opening in the emergency department back home in Stinson. The pay is better than where I am now, plus my family and friends are there. Besides, I can be civil with my ex if I see him. Things didn’t exactly end on the best terms.

My father still works closely with my ex’s father. He’d be furious if I did something to cause waves with that.

So, I applied and decided that if I got the position, we would move back home. It turned out that it was meant to be; a few days later, I got a phone call saying that I had been accepted for the position. I’ve known for about a month now, and we leave tomorrow.

I’m still unsure if I’ve made the right decision for our family.

It will be hard to make the kids leave the only home they have ever known.

Besides, I left my home town for a reason.

My family's life is not what I want for my children.

To be raised around violence and to constantly worry if someone is coming after you because of a decision your father made.

Here, it’s quiet and what most would call normal. I don’t have to be looking over my shoulder all the time.

I decided to get an education and leave our small town and its drama. That included Alexander, my childhood best friend and high school sweetheart. I preferred to call him Rex.

He was supposed to follow me a few months later.

Instead, all my messages went unanswered.

The letters I mailed were all returned and unopened.

Yes, mailed letters . I was a sucker for old-school romance until it was the cause for my heart being ripped out of my chest. I thought we’d get married and have a family together. We had so many plans.

When I met Adrien in the college cafeteria, I saw another chance at happiness.

He was handsome and charming. I thought I finally found someone who would choose me wholly and first. It may have started as a fling to forget Rex, but it became so much more.

I ended up married to my best friend. We may not have been soulmates, but we had a good life.

It wasn’t what I had hoped for growing up, but Adrien treated me like a queen. He gave me Remi and Brielle, my world.

I need to get over it all and put my children's needs at the front of my mind for now. Mom first; heartbroken mess later. I don’t have time for all the different emotions floating through my brain. I did my best to keep things as normal as possible. Hockey practice for Remi, cheer for Brielle.

Now I have to break it to the twins that we’re leaving the home they grew up in and are moving. I know they won’t be happy, as they don’t do well with change. Besides, what teen wants to leave their friends?

My phone starts vibrating somewhere under the sheets, and that reminds me to pack my drawer of battery-operated boyfriends up before we leave. I’d rather not have the movers go through that.

I fell asleep scrolling mindlessly again last night, it seems. Who knew funny dog videos and fails were therapeutic?

Well, that’s what I’m telling myself anyway.

It begins moving around again, and I start getting frustrated.

Where is that damn phone? My foot hits it under the sheets at the bottom of the bed as it stops.

Oh well, if it’s important, they’ll leave a message.

Almost right away, my phone starts to vibrate again. I reach down and pick it up to see who it is. Of course, it’s Camille. She calls me daily to check on me and the kids. She’s been the most supportive friend someone could ask for.

“Camille, it’s seven in the morning. Why are you blowing up my phone?” I answer sleepily.

“Morning biatch, rise and shine! Come unlock your front door. I’m here to help you pack.” Camille screams way too loud and upbeat for this time of the day. If I didn’t love her, I’d just roll over and go back to sleep. Duty calls, though.

Sitting up, about to get out of bed, something dawns on me. “Wait, open my door? When did you get to town?” I’m so confused. She lives five hours north of here. “You didn’t tell me you were coming!” I throw the blanket off of me and hurry downstairs.

“Just come open up already, and I can tell you face to face,” is the last thing I hear before I swing the door open wide.

Camille jumps into my arms, knocking me over, and squeezes me hard.

I forgot how expressive she is as her squeals fill the air.

Usually, I’m all for it. At the moment, I could use earplugs.

“Mom!” The twins yell in unison as they barrel down the stairs. “Are you okay? What is going on?”

I wish I was back in bed. It is too early for this.

Camille jumps off me suddenly when she hears Remi and Brielle. I use this bit of freedom to get up and shut the door while they greet each other excitedly. They have always said Camille is their favorite aunt, and they even ditch me for her when she visits.

“Can we stay home and visit with Matante Camille today, Mom?” Brielle begs. “It’s Friday, and we don’t do much anyway. We won’t be missing out on anything!”

Camille side-eyes me and gives me her ‘seriously’ look. She did tell me last week that I shouldn’t wait to tell them about the move. I’m sure I’ll hear more about this later.

“Kids, why don’t we all sit down and talk for a minute? I have something important to tell you. It has to do with why Matante Camille is here.” Deep breaths, deep breaths, it’s going to be okay. Or so I keep telling myself. I can do this.

“I’d rather go to hockey practice if that’s okay, Mom?” Remi asks me quietly. He’s thrown himself into sports since we lost his father. Remi and Brielle may be twins, but they couldn’t be more different. Although they are handling everything pretty well for a couple of twelve-year-olds.

“Normally, I wouldn’t mind, buddy, but this is important.” He senses the hesitancy in my words. Begrudgingly, Remi sits down on the couch with his sister and aunt. The same couch the kids and I slept on together the night I came home from the hospital alone.

I hadn’t slept alone in years. Spending that night cuddled up with the twins may have been selfish on my part, but we all needed the reassurance that we weren’t completely alone. There have been a lot of sleepovers on this couch since.

“Your Mom has exciting news to tell you!” Camille squeals, looking over at me. “Oh, wait, can I tell them? Please!”

Sighing, I agree. Maybe it’ll be less harsh coming from her. I give her a nod and watch the twin's faces as she starts to talk. This will either go well or be a complete shit show.

“So, good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” Camille has always had a way with the kids that I don’t. She may not be their biological aunt, but she has been an amazing one nonetheless.

“Good,” Remi yells.

“Bad,” Brielle yells at the same time. Brielle and Remi both start laughing.

“Okay, we’ll start with bad, so maybe it’ll ease the sting by hearing the good after.” Calmly looking between them, she gauges their reaction before continuing. “You are moving to Stinson tomorr—.”

“WHAT NO, NOT FAIR!” Remi jumps up off the couch angrily.