Page 148 of Charity's Redemption

I grinned and sauntered towards him, taking the orange from his hands and placing it on the narrow decorative table beside us. “If I wasn’t playing nice, I’d paint the walls red before the BBQ began.”

“You’re scary when you're mad.”

“Who said I’m mad?”

He twirled a lock of hair around his finger and tugged. “Your eyes are a raging inferno burning with anger. They hurt with just one glance because I can see… I know what you’re feeling.”

My throat constricted. “And what is that?”

“You told her she lost both children that day, but the same applies to you. You lost your brother and your mother as well.”

I ground my teeth and stepped away from him. “You’re wrong.”

“Am I?”

“You are.” I squared my shoulders. “I lost her a long time ago.”

My mother stepped out of the restroom, our gazes clashing with one another down the long corridor. An unspoken battle raged between us as I spun on my heel and walked away.

Nico and my fathersat together, conversing while I ignored my mother with ear buds.

Cover Me In Sunshine by Pink played while I spun in circles in the rays, with my arms out to the side and my sunflower dress spreading out around me.

My heart weighed heavily with the burden of Max’s words.

It wasn’t true that I’d lost her that day. It was before, I was sure of it… right?

A little girl with black pigtails wearing a long-sleeved green dress and matching stretchy pants tugged on my hand, her lips moving, but the only sound I heard came from my mind and ear buds.

She was adorable with her curly hair and shiny black shoes with rhinestones across the top.

Getting down on one knee, I paused my music and pulled out my ear buds.

“What’s that, sweetie?”

“I like your dress,” she said with a high octave voice. “Sunflowers are my favorite.”

With a smile, I squeezed her hand. “They are? That’s so neat. They are mine too.”

Three more children shuffled through the back door screaming towards the far left side of the property where a small playground sat, each one fighting over who got the swing on the outside.

She took off running after the other kids. “Genevieve, don’t ruin your new shoes.”

“Okay, momma,” she hollered back towards the woman who walked outside, holding a covered pan and a back over her arm.

Genevieve was a spitting image of her mother, with the silky black hair down her back, the button nose, and large brown eyes.

Dante, Gavino, and Ignazio shuffled through with their families and a few others I didn’t recognize. This small gathering had quickly turned into a party, the size of which made me uncomfortable.

“They are just shoes, Comfort. We’ll get her new ones.” Dante said.

“I just bought them.”

I moved around them, watching as they argued over a pair of shoes that probably cost twenty bucks and would be ruined on their first outing regardless. Kids destroy things without thinking twice about their value.

Stepping inside, towards the smell of macaroni and cheese, I caught Nico’s eye who watched me escape inside with a slight smirk on his face.

He was in his comfort zone. Talking about work, no doubt, and surrounded by everyone he knew.

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