Page 36 of Return To You

I wasn’t supposed to be back. I was supposed to be at my dad’s for another twelve days, but as soon as I saw Noah, and then my brother, I just couldn’t be there anymore.

My dad refused to bring me back to Fremont, so I ended up calling a cab using money I couldn’t afford to spend, and got a train with Diego, which was interesting, to say the least.

The poor boy didn’t know whether to squeal with delight or cry.

As soon as I got back into town, Katie saw me and begged me to come to work. Peter has had to take over as cook. Our usualcook, Frank, is off sick, and Katie needed me. With Mrs. Cannon at her son’s for the week, I had to place Diego into daycare, but Katie has promised to pay the fee.

She was desperate and, honestly, I won’t say no to the extra money she’s paying me.

“How are you doing?” Natalie asks, and I shrug, not knowing what to say.

It’s been two days since I returned, and I’m all over the place. I didn’t expect to see Noah, Alejandro, or Vanessa. I wasn’t prepared.

My dad royally screwed me, and then yesterday, I went into Jarold’s Family Law for a few hours to finish my report for my classes, only to bump into my flipping brother.

“Thanks, Jarold, for the report. My professor will be pleased,” I say as I put the papers in my bag.

He chuckles. “No problem. When are you starting on campus classes?”

I half smile. “Actually, I won’t be. They said I can complete everything online because I’m working part-time for you, so that’s a blessing in disguise.”

Granted, I won’t get the whole college experience, but I’m a mom trying to make ends meet.

He nods, his light blue eyes looking at me with concern, and he says, “Just take some time for yourself as well, yeah, girl?”

I swear Jarold is like the grandfather I never had. He’s so sweet, and always looks out for me.

“I will,” I promise, even though we both know I don’t mean it. I have too much going on to think about my time; Diego is my priority.

After giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, I turn and leave, heading to the daycare room to pick my boy up.

When I got back into town, I called Jarold and mentioned I didn’t need the vacation time any longer. He wasn’t happy butagreed I could come in today only to complete my assignment, wanting me to try and relax.

Smiling a little, I head down the hall, but my smile soon fades with the voice I’ve come to despise calls out.

“Little Bit….”

You have got to be kidding me….

Biting my inner cheek, I ignore Alejandro and continue walking until he opens his mouth again.

“You going to just ignore me,your brother?”

I curl my lip and turn my head in his direction. He’s standing tall in a suit, not at all bothered that he’s in one of my places of work, and potentially causing a scene.

I raise a brow. “Funny, because last I checked, I died when Mom did.”

He flinche., “I didn’t mean it, Rose. I was angry for Noah, Vanessa, she?—"

I cut him off, “Oh yeah, I know. The girl who I saw as a sister believed I could cheat on the guy I gave my heart to, my virginity.” He scrunches up his nose, and I shake my head. “You allowed your girl to give you an ultimatum, and you chose her over me. You stood there and allowed her to hit me when I was struggling with the fact that not only was I pregnant at seventeen but also that the love of my life believed I could cheat on him. God, you didn’t even bother to tell me you got engaged, let alone married; you let me find out with everyone else. You threatened me not to show up to Cal’s funeral, Cal, who was like a brother to me. You, again, chose your wife over your sister, and allowedherto say bye to guy I knew first, a guy I grew up with.” I look him up and down with disgust, not recognizing him anymore, and snap, “You said I was dead like Mom, so why don’t you stick to your words of anger, turn around, and get back to your life.”

I turn and walk toward the double doors at the end of the hallway, and he says, “I was wrong, Little Bit, and you have another think coming if you think I’ll allow you to cut us out of your life, out of my nephew’s. If you can’t forgive me then, fine, I’ll earn it, but I’m not giving up.”

I just scoff and continue walking as I state, “You might as well, Alejandro; remember, I died when Mom did.”

“I don’t know how to feel,” I tell her the truth, my conversation with my brother still in the front of my mind. “I didn’t expect to see them. I thought I was there for my dad and for Tamara to see her grandson, you know….”

Natalie nods, then asks, “Does Noah know that his mom has a relationship with Diego?”

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