Page 91 of Vengeful Eyes
“Please, stop. It’s Nate, okay? Enough formality. Family.”
“Fine,” I agree. Not that I entirely do, but we're all here. I invited them after all. Or, I think Emily invited herself, and I agreed.
“You staying in town long?” Benjamin asks Nate, as he raises his glass to his lips. Even at home with guests, he’s still in a dress shirt, although he’s rolled up the sleeves to reveal the shadows and sins of his tattoos.
I’ve not asked about them yet. I've been on the edge of that particular cliff, ready to jump off and learn what might have driven him to commit the darkness to his skin, but I also want him to freely give that information to me. It's all so black,the occasional shadows of grey twining with yet more dark ink. Ghostly. As if there's nothing but death indelibly etched into his skin. The small snippets I've already gleaned are hideous enough to contend with.
“A few days. Maybe more,” Nate replies, “We’ll be back as soon as little Miss Winters arrives. I’m going to enjoy seeing how you’ll cope with a daughter. Or will her name be Vico?”
Benjamin’s stare screams at Nate to back off.
Ever since we found out we were having a girl, he’s been more wound up than ever. Part of me is relieved. Having a son, I can’t help foresee a younger version of Benjamin taking his father’s place in his world. That’s not what I want for our child. At least not out of the simple reason that it’s his duty. And then there's the name thing. Another thing we're bickering about. Winters keeps her safe, away from the world. Vico wouldn’t allow her that.
Emily arrives from the kitchen with a tray of drinks and passes them to Nate and Gabby before offering one to me.
“Thank you,” I say, nodding at her.
I take a tall glass of lemonade from her and quench my thirst. Her warm smile is filled with generosity and love. If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I would never have imagined that Emily could have a fierce side. It makes me wonder if it’s a consequence of her time with Quinn, or if it was always part of her personality. Time will tell, I guess.
“Here. A gift,” Gabby says from behind me. She's resting on the arm of the chair, a floral dress making her seem so much softer than the woman I thought I knew. She pulls a small box from her bag and hands it over, a genuine smile lighting up her face. It might be the first time I’ve seen her without a shadow plaguing her features.
“We said no gifts, Gabby.”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t resist. Besides, no one will be able to top this. Go on. Open it.”
I pull the shiny paper off the box and fold the corners back. Inside, a small silver bracelet with a diamond dangling from a tiny hoop lies on pink tissue paper. It’s so delicate, and utterly perfect. My eyes fly to hers, shocked. She was the last person I’d have expected a gift from given our bickering. The sting of tears prickles my cheeks, and as if she knows I’m thinking about her, the bump decides to rearrange herself, squishing up against my ribcage.
“Gabby, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything. Diamonds are a treat,” she says, standing. “And my little niece will certainly enjoy them if I have anything to say about it.”
She walks over to the edge of the deck to admire the view, and Nate chuckles as he goes to her. It all leaves me a little speechless.
“I have a feeling that little girl of yours is going to be thoroughly spoilt,” Emily adds. “Gabby, is that one of yours?”
“Might be. We don't talk about that, though, do we, Nate?” He frowns and swats her ass, a smile on his face. “It’s not the biggest of diamonds, but hopefully it will inspire her love for the finer things in life. She'll certainly need to understand niceties with these three brutes around her. ”
We all giggle, and for the first time, I feel like these women could become friends. Real friends.
* * *
The afternoon was everything I could have hoped for. Everyone was happy and excited about the baby until the moment they left, but Benjamin seemed a little subdued, like he had something on his mind and couldn’t shake it. The times when he doesn’t open up to me now, fill me with a fear that I'm not prepared for. Although I know he’ll ensure that neither me or the bump will ever want for anything, him missing from our lives would be a gap I don’t know I’d ever be able to fill.
“Hey,” I sigh, watching him walk over. I'm tired after entertaining and chatting all afternoon, and whatever his mood has been isn't something I really need.
I cast my eyes over the low light, watching the sun slowly setting over the waves out there. He sits down next to me on the comfy sofa that gives me the best view, elbows on his knees. “You happy out here?” he asks.
“Sure. It’s my favourite spot.”
Now I'm nearly nine months pregnant, I’ve had to give up my regular runs. Torino still shadows me most of the time, but his presence is less intense than in the city. He's my security when Benjamin's not around, acting the part of gardener come handyman, and I suppose I've softened to him as my bump has grown. It's easier because I know it's Benjamin's concern for us. Maybe the mother in me is mellowing my fiery side.
“Not what I meant, Hope. Are you happy here? This house? Us?” He doesn’t look at me but looks out at the view as I do.
“I love this house. You know this. And I love you. Am I content with everything in our lives? No. It’s only been a few months, and I’ve gone from being with you to waiting for you.” The thought makes me look at him, searching his profile for what he's trying to ask. “Adjusting to that has been hard. Plus, I’m growing another person. It’s not the most relaxing of times.”
“You love me. Your life will never be relaxing again. Hell, you’re going to raise my daughter.”
“We, Benjamin. We will raiseourdaughter.” He looks back at me, a slow grin spreading.
