Page 78 of Return To You

Twice, Vanessa has poked holes in their condoms, and twice, he’s left her over it, only for her to beg and plead, stating she’s willing to wait.

Unfortunately, when Vanessa wants something, she’s always gone and got it, no matter who she hurts in the process. This time, it's her own husband. According to Mom, Vanessa threatened to cancel the wedding if Rose attended, not because of what she supposedly did to me, but because Rose had Diego.

I think Rose's having a child before her has bent something in her. I’m not sure what, but she’s been acting crazy over it, and if she’s not careful, Al will leave her. He’s spent most of his timeat the office, where she’s banned, and most of his evenings on the phone with me, trying to get Rose to speak to him.

Vanessa clears her throat and wraps her hand around her coffee mug, her manicured nails clacking together, which has me fucking cringing.

She’s waiting for Rose to start the conversation, but I know for a fact that’s not going to happen. Alejandro wanted this meeting, so it was time he spoke his peace before Rose decides to leave because, so far, she has said fuck all, not even looking at them. My hand is firmly on her thigh, just below her dress, holding her there, because I know she wants to bolt.

“How’s Diego?” Al finally asks, and Rose tenses.

I grip her thigh, gently rubbing my thumb along her skin, and I rasp, “He’s good. He took his first steps today.”

Alejandro’s green eyes sadden but he smiles. “That’s awesome. I guess he’s with Barnett right now?”

I feel the anger coming in spades from my girl. Our son is a very sensitive subject, but she keeps her mouth shut, and I admit, “And Cameron. He decided to high-jack their day, much to Barn’s dismay.”

Al half smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Vanessa sits in silence, her eyes on my girl.

“So, uh, is he talking yet?” he asks, and I smile a little when I feel Rose sigh, giving in.

She finally speaks, "He says a few words, but ‘dada’ is his favorite. Cam is Caca, and Barnett is Bam-Bam.”

Alejandro sits up and smiles. “It’s good to hear your voice, Little Bit….”

Rose flinches and grabs my hand on her thigh. I go to tighten my grip again, expecting her to shove it away and bolt, but instead, she removes it and links our fingers, placing our joined hands on her lap before gently tracing her name on my ring finger.

Pride shoots through me as she looks at her brother and gets straight into it.

“And who’s fault is that?” Alejandro’s throat bobs, but he keeps quiet, allowing his sister to give him the hell he deserves. “Growing up, you were my person, my protector. You were the only person I could count on, and when I needed you the most, a scared seventeen-year-old, whose father had given her an ultimatum and kicked her out, you turned against me.” Rose’s eyes tear up, and I squeeze her hand, giving her support. “The love of my life ran, he broke my heart, and where were you, Al? Where was my big brother who knew my heart, who knew what Noah meant to me, who fucking knew that I’d never hurt Noah that way? Where in the hell were you!”

That’s my fucking girl!

“Rose, I-I….fuck.” He leans forward. “I don’t know what I was thinking. All I saw was Noah heartbroken, and that stupid photo. It wasn’t until after my wedding that Dad pulled me aside and laid into me, explaining how innocent it was. I have no excuses for how I treated you, but I’m trying here, Little Bit, to make things right. I’ve lived two years without my little sister. Being deployed was hard, and seeing you that day in the café, I wanted nothing more than to tell you how much I missed you, but Noah…I, I saw how bad he was, Rose….”

Fuck, I look down, ashamed, knowing where he’s about to go.

“He was killing himself, and Vanessa…she blamed you, and so did I,” he admits.

Rose nods, then whispers, “But that didn’t give you the right to allow your girlfriend to hit your pregnant sister, and it didn’t matter if you knew or not; she had no right to lay a finger on me, and you had no right to stand back and let it happen.” She tilts her head. “Did you think I was having the time of my life, Alejandro?” He flinches. “I was working two jobs and living in amotel I had to clean for room and board while pregnant. I gave birth early, then went straight back to work within a few weeks.”

I tense at her words, not knowing that little bit of information about the motel and going straight back to work, and she squeezes my hand tighter.

“Rose, please…. I know I fucked up; I know I let you down, but all I’m asking for is a chance. You gave Dad a chance, and Noah….” He winces, but I just nod because he’s right; she has given me and her father a chance but, unfortunately for him, there’s only so much someone can take.

Rose shakes her head, about to answer him, but Vanessa speaks up, “Look, should I have hit you? No, I shouldn’t have, but honestly, Rose, you hurt my cousin, so I’d do it again if I had to.” I sigh as Al scoffs and sits back in defeat, all while Rose just raises her brow, and Vanessa continues being the bitch she’s turned in to. “Right now, Rose, you are just acting immature, showing that you shouldn’t even be a mother, especially at twenty.”

I look at my cousin with fury, but she doesn’t back down, even when Al moves his chair away from her. Instead, she glares at my girl, showing us a side of her none of us has seen before.

Rose chuckles, causing Al and I to look at her, confused until she says, “Really? Funny. Because the lawyer you hired to sue for full custody of my son said I was a good mother, putting her child first, and that because my father and brother were not part of the petition for you to gain custody, you had no case.” I stand up in shock while Al slowly looks at his wife. Vanessa’s face goes white as Rose continues, “And thereisproof that my brother definitely wasn’t a part of your screwed up plan,” Rose sneers at Van. “The reason I’m not willing to reconcile with my brother, Vanessa, or allow him near my son, is not only because he said I was dead to him, but because he’s still married to you. I won’t force him to choose between his nephew and wife, unlike you.”

“What, I what…?” Al stutters.

Rose looks at him and sighs. “Ever wonder why Vanessa wanted a baby straight out of high school despite having so-called plans to go to law school?”

Alejandro’s eyes widen with realization, and he chuckles darkly. “She knows about the stipulations in Dad’s will….”

I frown and ask, “What stipulations?”

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