Page 13 of A Promise For Tomorrow

I finally find my voice. “She is quite the investigator. She’ll without a doubt know something is up ifIget out of the car. I planned on coming in with you, is that not alright?”

“No, that’s okay. I appreciate that, really, but I think it’ll be best if I go spend somealone timewith my family.”Ouch. I guess that means coming back here is strictly for her father. Even Diego seems pissed. Perhaps some of that anger is directed at me for offering to go with her.

“I’m yourhusband. I can be there with you,” he grits through clenched teeth, clearly bothered by her lack of needing our support.

“Please, can we drop the husband act for now? I need to get to my dad, and I need to digest the fact that not only am I back in New York, but I am back here with all of you,” Madison huffs out while unbuckling her seat belt.

She’s anxious. It’s written all over her face. We are only prolonging her from seeing her family.

Diego purses his lips, looking ready to demand he go in with her. When he notices her frantic face, he eases off, keepingwhatever he meant to say to himself.Good. We respected her wishes this time last year and we need to do the same now.

Nothing has changed.

Maddy slides across the leather seats. She tries to open the door, then tries again, looking to the front of the SUV when she is unsuccessful a second time.

“Oh shite, we had little Kian in the car the other day and put the child lock on. I can get out and get ya,” Kieran offers, reaching for his own door handle.

“No!” she all but shouts. It occurs to me that her sister will notice Kieran and put two and two together. The lass is a clever one. “Just pop the trunk, I’ll grab my bag.”

Without wasting another second, she glides back down the opposite side of the bench and awkwardly straddles Diego, attempting to climb over him and exit through the other door. Her head is bent towards his so that their noses practically touch. He takes full advantage of her position, gripping her hips before opening the door for her.

“Your father will pull through,Mariposita,” he soothes as she climbs out. She’s about to close the door when he adds, “Tell the surgeon I said hi,” while shooting her a wink.

As sassy as ever, she slams the door in his face, flipping him the bird through the tinted windows. Diego chuckles deeply, clearly amused– and knowing him—probably aroused.

I roll my window down, needing to make sure Maddy will be alright tonight.

“Hey, do ya have a place to stay after? I’m sure your family got a hotel room. But if they don’t, call me, I’ll come grab ya. You can stay with us if you want… no pressure or anything. I know you weren’t planning on coming back.” The somber tone of my voice probably gave me away.

It’s not like I actually expected she would come home and suddenly end up staying with us. I just thought…Fuck. I don’tknow. Perhaps she would want to reconnect with everyone—even just platonically—while she’s here.

“Thank you. I’m sure that won’t be necessary… I’ve got to go. Thanks again!” She waves at me before collecting her bag from the trunk.

Her sister meets her halfway, embracing her in a loving hug. The two of them sway back and forth, relishing in the emotions of their reunion. Apparently, Madison hasn’t been home at all since she left.

Not even to see her family.

Not even for Christmas.

Which is strange.

The love she has for her family runs deep. Staying away from them couldn’t possibly have been because of us…

Could it?

“Madison, sweetheart.”Mom pulls me into a hug while Mel comes up from behind, wrapping herself around us. My arm curls around my younger sister. I’ve missed her so much. I miss our coffee dates and rides in the car. Even the damn teenage gossip. God, she looks so much more mature. Where has the time gone?

What was I thinking not coming home for over a year?Family meanseverythingto me. I let myself isolate and wallow across the country over two men. Three if we want to get technical–but Killian and I no longer share anything romantic. Selena has been and always will be his true love. That doesn’t mean I didn’t need the distance from him as well. He and I were fine until the night Diego took me. He hasn’t been the same since.

Certainly not the man I once fell for.

“Come sit down. How was your flight?” Mom pats the seat between her and Mel.

I take a seat, placing my bag on the small coffee table in front of us. Mikayla claims her own, crossing her arms over her chest. Like a hawk, her eyes have narrowed and zeroed in on me, waiting for my response.

Fuck. She knows something. However, that look on her facetells me she’ll keep my secret. I bet she is just dying to get as much evidence as possible before she approaches me on it.

“It was fine. Screaming babies, lots of flatulence, and a bit of turbulence. Typical flight.”

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