Page 47 of Ma Belle Marguerite (Hidden Secrets #1)

Isabella

T hat was the most awkward breakfast I have ever had in my thirty-one years. Remi put Rex through the wringer. I get that he was just being protective of me, but he acted like a father meeting his daughter's boyfriend for the first time.

Remi didn’t want to talk much after Rex left.

Brielle on the other hand just changed the subject after saying while she misses her dad she approves then talked about cheer tryouts.

I know I don’t need their permission to date but I want them to be happy too.

I don’t know how the conversation will go when we finally tell them he is their biological father.

Adrien will always be their dad, but Rex is their father.

The twins are very perceptive for their age. I could tell that they knew we hadn’t told them everything. The way they were side eyeing me made me feel like I was in the hot seat.I hate lying to them, even by omission. Hopefully, they understand it is for their own good.

I don’t know what to do today after I drop the twins off at school.

Rex has some job he’s out on, and I don’t have one anymore technically.

I guess I can spend some time in the kitchen.

I haven’t had the chance to bake in a while.

The kids really love my grandma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe with the secret ingredient.

I will need to stop at the store on the way home and make sure I have everything I need.

“Mom, let's go! We are going to be late, and I don’t want to have to sit out of cheer practice because you’re slow!

” Brielle is so impatient. There is plenty of time to get to school.

I’m just glad she’s settled into her new routine so well, unlike her brother.

Boys are easier than girls I was told, I beg to differ.

“Get in the car, and I’ll be right there.” I just need to find a sweater. It’s a bit chilly this morning. I can’t wait for summer when we can walk around in tank tops and shorts and not worry about freezing.

I’ve had a nagging feeling in my gut all morning, and I can’t seem to shake it.

I’ll need to talk to Rex tonight about telling the kids sooner rather than later.

Then, I should feel better with it off my conscience.

I don’t want to start a habit of ‘lying’ to the point that the kids feel like they can’t trust me.

I grab the first sweater I find, which happens to be one of Rex’s. Of course, he snuck some of his clothes into my closet, knowing I always used to steal his sweaters in high school. Now that the kids know about us, I guess it doesn’t matter.

I slip the sweater over my head as I rush down the stairs to the front door.

I involuntarily sniff the sweater as I put it on and Rex’s pine aftershave scent relaxes me.

I see Remi and Brielle waiting beside one of the armored SUVs.

So much for letting me handle things. He’s such a control freak even if he won’t admit it.

I don’t recognize the driver, but Rex has so many men, I doubt I will ever know them all.

I nod to him as I usher the kids into the backseat and decide to sit in the back with them.

I don’t feel comfortable sitting with a man I don’t know.

“After we drop the kids off, could you bring me to the grocery store please. I need a few things.”

“Yes ma’am,” is all he says as he starts the vehicle and starts driving.

As the gate at the end of the driveway opens, he turns left instead of right. “Excuse me, you’re going the wrong way. We are taking the kids to school.”

“Yes, ma’am. The boss asked me to make a stop first. We will still get to the school on time.” He keeps his eyes on the road.

Rex had mentioned that he won’t have his phone on him. If I needed him to text Josh, he would know how to get the message to him. I just want to make sure that this is the plan. I trusted Cole once and look where that got me.

When I look down at my phone, I see that it’s not working. It says no service. That can’t be right. I know that it’s spotty here but I usually can still at least text.

I see Brielle’s phone on her lap and grab it to check hers, hoping it is just mine messing up. It is an older phone. Looking at her screen, it also says there is no service.

Trying to remain calm for the kids sake and well lets face it, mine, maybe I forgot to pay the bill. There has to be a reasonable explanation for this. As I turn to ask Remi for his phone, the driver slams on the brakes and swerves, causing my seatbelt to jam and throwing me sideways in my seat.

I feel my head hit something hard making everything a bit fuzzy. Suddenly hands are undoing my seatbelt and pulling me from the vehicle. I look behind me to see it’s the driver dragging me to the ditch before he pulls out his gun.

I hear the twins screaming as all I see is the butt of the gun coming towards my head before everything goes dark.