Page 74 of When Love And Destiny Collide

"I would love it if you came with us," she says, turning back toward me. She places her hand on my chest, her touch too casual, too intimate. Instinctively, I wrap my fingers around her wrist, pulling it away.

"Did you hear me, Love?" she asks, standing close, her gaze steady. "Will you join us?"

"No," I say flatly, offering nothing more.

"I want you back, Noah," she whispers, her lips coming too close to mine for comfort. But I stand my ground, refusing to budge.

"Mommy!" Davey's cheerful voice pulls my gaze away from her, but Marian's eyes remain locked on me.

"Mommy!" Davey repeats, louder this time, when Marian still refuses to look away.

"Hi, Darling!" she finally exclaims, turning her attention to Davey. "Are you ready to go?"

"Where are we going?" Davey asks, his face scrunched in confusion.

"Did you forget?" she says, kneeling down to his level, her voice softening. "We talked about it the last time we were together."

"We did?" Davey asks. "I don't remember."

"Well," she says, her tone sharpening with impatience, "do you want to go or not?

"Ah," I murmur, "there's the Marian I know."

The look she shoots me would kill most, but I’m accustomed to it. It only reaffirms the old adage that people rarely change.

"Go grab your backpack, Darling," she says, placing a hand on his shoulder while still giving me a lethal stare down. "I'll wait for you right here."

"Do you want to see my room, Mommy?" he asks, his tone brimming with excitement. Davey is blissfully unaware of the silent war of wills unfolding around him. His innocence tugs at my heart, making me wish things could be different, if only for a fleeting moment. Because in the next room is my future, my happiness, my fiancée.

"I'd love to!" she says, taking Davey's hand and heading toward the stairs. "I'll help you change, and we can pack you an overnight bag."

"No," I interrupt. "We have dinner plans. Please have him back by four."

"Dinner plans?" she asks, turning back to face me. "With whom?"

"With my niece and her husband," I say.

"Which one?" she probes, fishing for details.

"Loren," I reply flatly.

"So, Loren, Aaron, you, David, and who else?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

"If you're asking if Lily is invited, the answer is yes."

"Come on, David," she says, her icy tone returning. "Show me your room."

Once they’re at the top of the stairs, I walk into the kitchen where Lily is waiting. Her fingers are wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee as if she's trying to fend off an icy chill. I can relate.

"Did you catch all that?" I ask, taking my cup from the table and moving to the coffee pot for a refill.

She stands and walks toward me, her blue gaze unwavering as it locks with mine. Her perfume is subtle, yet its alluring scent pulls me in like a sweet dream. I close my eyes and inhale deeply, wrapping my arms around her until there’s no space between us. What I had with Marian was never like this. It was never this safe.

"I love you," I whisper in her ear, feeling her body melt into my embrace.

"I love you too, Noah."

Ten minutes later, I walk Davey and Marian to the door where I hug my boy goodbye. We both watch him run down the porch steps and into the back seat of the car. Once he's out of earshot, I turn to Marian. "I’d like his tooth back," I say with a slight smile. "For the tooth fairy."

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