Page 102 of The Bonus

Wait, what did he say?

“You’re here to say goodbye to them?” My eyes search his.

“It’s for the best.” He tilts his chin to the sky in defiance.

Oh…my poor babies.

My heart runs into a puddle on the floor.

“Fine,” I whisper, distracted. “You stay in my bed and I’ll…” I pause, “…sleep somewhere else.”

He stares at me for a beat, and I get the feeling he’s collecting his thoughts as well. “Thank you.” He looks around the kitchen as if searching for the next thing to say. “What time is dinner?’

Fuck.

FUCK…

I’ve made Italian, but not just any Italian.

Bad Italian, really bad Italian.

The kind that will turn his stomach. Spaghetti Bolognese complete with pasta sauce that came in a jar and instant pasta, it’s not even good instant pasta, it’s cheap crap I bought for ninety-nine cents.

Oh, fuck my life…

“I’m sorry, I didn’t make enough for you.”

He glances at the huge saucepan simmering away and amusement flashes across his face. “There is plenty, I’m sure it will be just as good as my mother’s.”

That’s it!

“Listen here, you . . .”

“Hi.” Lucy comes around the corner, cutting me off.

“Hello there.” Gabriel smiles down at her. “Do you remember me?”

She nods in an over exaggerated way.

Gabriel looks around the house. “Where is your brother?”

“He’s upstairs,” Lucy gushes as she swings her arms in glee, ugh…does he have this effect on all women, even children?

“Can you go and get him for me, I have something to tell you.”

Lucy skips off, and my eyes widen in horror. “What do you mean, you have something to tell them both?”

“I’m telling them.”

“What…now?” I gasp.

“No time like the present.” He points to a dining chair. “Sit.”

I drop into the chair as all the blood drains from my body. “What are you going to say?”

“Whatever I fucking like,” he snaps.

“Gabriel…you can’t…they’re little children.”

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