Page 31 of Deceitful Promises

“I don’t normally do stuff like that.”

“Youareblushing.”

“You’re a wild ride, Ania. Seriously.”

He turns, leaving me to ponder his words.I’mthe wild ride, am I? He’s the one who makes me feel like I’ve got whiplash, going from needing him to wanting to go home and back again.

CHAPTER 13

AIDEN

In the bathroom, I splash cold water on my face. Is this normal? Going from disaster talk to smiling and making jokes and then back to serious? I’ve always been able to do that, maybe as part of my job, or perhaps it’s just who I am. I like to let things slide and not take life too seriously. It’s easier that way. More manageable.

Ania seems the same. We match each other so damn well in that way. I didn’t plan on that when I was arranging this. I didn’t plan on any of this.

Leaving the bathroom, I step into the large living room. Molly is lying on the couch with Henry in her arms. Sadly, Ania still hasn’t met her little brother. Molly looks up, smiling tightly. “How is she?”

“Scared and hurt,” I say.

“Hurt? How?”

“Not physically,” I murmur, sitting on one of the chairs.

“I didn’t handle that very well, did I?” she mutters.

“It’s understandable.”

“You’re too calm, Aiden.”

“Hmm.”

She strokes Henry’s head, kisses him, and says, “I want to see her.”

“That’s why I’m here, to see if you did.”

“I just need a few more minutes.” Molly takes a long breath. “When I saw her, it all came rushing back. I just wish you’d told me.”

“Hmm.”

Molly tilts her head, looking so much like Ania at this angle. “You wanted to tell me, didn’t you? Teddy wanted it to be a surprise?”

“That’s your business,” I tell her.

“So that’s a yes.”

“I’m not worried about what Dad did or didn’t do. I’m worried about that young woman who thinks her mother hates her.” I don’t mean for so much anger to come into my voice. Yet it’s there, plain and simple and impossible to avoid. “All her life, she’s probably been dreaming of that moment.”

Molly sighs, nods, then gestures for me to take my baby brother. I bring Henry into my arms, holding him as gently as a man like me can. I’m always worried that I’m going to hurt the little bundle. Not that I’d ever do it intentionally, obviously, but there’s a niggle at the back of my mind, a what-if. My hands weren’t made for caring.

“I should go speak with her,” Molly says, narrowing her eyes.

“Hmm?”

She grins, looking a lot like Ania again whenever I sayhmm. They’ve got the same eyes and the exact shape of their cheekbones. “You seem very interested in her.”

I stroke my hand over my brother’s head. Deep down, there’s this thing growing, like maybe I could have a family one day—a feeling I’ve never experienced before. I should kill it. Fast. Yet some part of me doesn’t want to, a little part.

“She’s my sister.”

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