Page 62 of Mafia Scars

I shouldn’t have said what I said to Luc.

About changing.

It was wrong of me to bring up an intimate conversation like that, that held so much meaning for us.

It didn’t matter what I believed. He’d looked hurt.

The shuffling of footsteps forced my eyes open, and I turned in an instant.

I couldn’t be blamed if the last few days had made me slightly jumpy.

However, the person who approached me was the least likely person to be jumpy around.

“Millicent,” I gasped.

The elderly lady who’d been like the fairy godmother in Cinderella smiled, beaming at me. She held a tray of cookies and a glass of chocolate milk.

“Welcome home, Miss Amelia.”

* * *

The cookies were all gone, and I scooped my finger around the inside of the glass that had previously contained chocolate milk made for God himself.

God would definitely have appreciated that. It was like ice cream blended with rich, smooth Godiva chocolate. That was the texture it had. What I called velvety goodness.

“How about I make you some more of that later?” Millicent chuckled, placing her hand at her heart in that old habitual way that showed she was glad I enjoyed her food. “Are you… going to be here later?”

The question, the flicker of interest in her eyes, told me that was no mere question. I had a good hunch that she was trying to ask me about Luc, and I wondered what might have been said before.

“I think I may stay later. Yes, I’ll be here tonight.” I’d decided it as we spoke.

We’d been out here for close to an hour catching up while I ate.

Talking to her was refreshing like always.

This woman had been my comfort and rock for so long. I didn’t know how it was I’d survived without her for more than a decade.

I thought of staying to reacquaint myself with my home, with my father.

I’d taken that first step by coming back and talking to him. I kind of wanted to see how everything else flared out.

“That’s great. I’ll whip you up a fresh batch of everything then.” That flicker sparked in her eyes again. “I guess I figured you’d be staying with Luc. Although I’m sure your father would love having you here.” She rolled her eyes and laughed at herself. “Amelia, don’t let a lady suffer here. You know what I’m trying to ask.”

I laughed too. “Yes, I thought that maybe I’d play it by ear where I base myself while I’m here. I’ll go to Luc’s tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan.” She gave me a curt nod. “Your father told me about you two this morning.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that he knew you guys were together and that he was happy to die knowing you were with someone who could take care of you. Better than him.”

I glanced down at the neat swirl of grass that cushioned our feet and rested back against the strong wicker chair.

“Everything is so all over the place,” I breathed.

“You had a lot to process.”

I wasn’t sure how much she knew. I doubted that my father had told her all the intricate details, but then again, maybe he did.