Page 61 of Unexpectedly You

“Why are you here?”

“We want to see Arianna.”

My body goes rigid, and every muscle screams in tension at the thought of leaving my daughter with them. Halia’s face appears in front of my eyes before a big fatnoslips from my lips. At the same moment, Jay’s hand brushes against mine reminding me that I’m not alone.

I’m sure he’ll protect Arianna with every fiber in his body.

We never talked about it, but it’s easy to see in the way he cares for her.

I say words that go against everything I am today, thanks to them. However, there is nothing I’d deny my sister, even nowthat she’s no longer here. She would want for her daughter to see her grandparents.

“Come on in,” I say, backing away from the door to make space, and using my arm to protect Jay from being stumbled on.

My father enters the room as if he’s entering hell. Slowly, and looking around as if expecting my sinful life to attack him, or to contaminate him.

His behaviour upsets me, but if he’s a decent human being while he’s here, then I can live with him being an arsehole to me. But the moment he touches those important to me, I’ll kick him out.

My father takes just a step inside the door, with caution and uncertainty, as if afraid his Lord is going to strike him down for associating with a sinner.

It makes my body vibrate like a thrumming live wire.

Jay’s look settles me, as does the shake of his head. He knows what my father is doing but he prefers to let it go, probably understanding that I’m close to snapping. He couldn’t be more right.

If they had looked for me after throwing me out, maybe in those moments, when I still believed they deserved my love, I would have forgiven them for what they did to me. Those memories would still have stayed with me and the wound never healed. For my sister, though, I would have let it go.

Now, there’s no point, because I no longer want them to accept me. I don’t want to offer forgiveness, and I don’t want to let it go. Yes, the young boy I once was may still desire their love, but the adult me knows that the scars are a lasting mark.

“How do you know where I live?”

“Halia’s will.”

“What are you doing here?”

“We want to see Arianna.”

“Why should I allow you to see her?”

“We’re her grandparents.”

There’s nothing I want less, but it’s not my call. When I took Arianna in, I promised myself and Halia I’d do my best to respect her desires for her daughter.

I glance at Arianna still in Jay’s arms, pondering what should be the best course of action.

“We have rights.”

That they do, but I’m still reluctant to hand Arianna to them.

“I’ll allow it, but…” I raise my hand to stop any comment. “Only if I’m present.”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead. My father’s stare is full of hatred, but I don’t sweat under its weight.

I have what really matters on this side of the room, and I’m willing to destroy everything hindering our path to keep us together.

“That won’t be necessary,” my father says, thinking he has a choice.

“I decide what’s best for my daughter,” I say, using my best not-open-for-discussion tone. I love how his eyes go big in surprise at me calling Arianna my daughter.

His hands close into fists, but under my unwavering stare, he nods.