Page 76 of The Bonus

Sorry to bother you.

Have you seen Lucy’s ballet slippers?

A text bounces back.

Hi.

Mr. Snuffles is wearing them.

“Oh for god’s sake.”

What would we do without you?

Thanks.

I trudge back upstairs, and sure enough, Lucy’s giant stuffed elephant is wearing the ballet slippers. “Mr. Snuffles was wearing them,” I call.

“Oh yeah,” she calls, unruffled. “He was too.”

“Come on, we have to hurry now. Downstairs and in the car.”

I rush down the stairs and glance out the window down to the lake. The morning sun is glistening on the water.

This view will never get old.

“In the car, please,” I call.

I hold the piece of toast with my teeth as I collect my bags. Straight after ballet we have Little League, and then this afternoon we have a birthday party. Saturdays are always jam-packed with activities.

I walk out the front door onto the large veranda and see a black car come down the driveway.

“In the car,” I call. “Fuck’s sake,” I mutter under my breath.

The car stops and parks at our place and I frown as I look over. Who is this? The back door opens and in slow motion I see a man in a navy suit get out of the car…my heart stops.

Gabriel Ferrara.

He walks toward me, his height towering over mine. Big brown eyes and his perfect square jaw. “Hello, Grace,” he says in his deep purr of a voice.

Emotion instantly overwhelms me and I get a lump in my throat, suddenly I’m taken back in time to the girl he didn’t want.

I always knew this day would come, but now that it’s here…I’m not ready.

“Hello, Gabriel.” My eyes flick to the house. “What are you doing here?”

His dark eyes hold mine. “I think you know.”

The screen door slams shut and Lucy comes sauntering out in her little tutu.

Gabriel’s face drops and he watches her walk over to us.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang beats my heart.

No…

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