Page 53 of The Enemy's Daughter

Christmas was a really hard affair. Bella stayed at home with her father and Rebecca. She spent most of her time in her mother’s kitchen, making Christmas dinner, and then dessert. There were a couple of carolers, and they fed them as well. The big day was … difficult. She had Alaric’s present in her room.

Speaking of Alaric, he didn’t back down. He was there every single day that she went to work. Flowers still arrived at work, and everywhere she turned, he was taking care of her. When one of the pets died, he sent her a batch of brownies that she loved. He also made sure food was sent to her apartment or to her father’s house, or he turned up at work with lunch. Alaric didn’t stay for her to argue. He simply placed her food on the counter, stared at her for several seconds, and then left.

Every time she saw him, she saw the pain in his eyes, and the regret. For a man who only wanted to use her, he was certainly making it hard for her to hate him.

She tried her hardest to not think about him, and focus on her father and Rebecca.

Her father loved the photograph album she made for him, along with the regular ties, socks, and slipper purchases. They were nothing special, not really. Rebecca loved the bag she’d bought and the few items. After food, they sat down around the television.

Nothing seemed to help, and her heart was breaking every single day. She missed Alaric, and there was no getting away from it.

By the third day after Christmas, her father came to her room. It was late at night, and she was tired even though she’d been struggling to sleep.

He knocked, and a second later entered.

“You’ve got to give me a little more time, Dad,” she said. “I’m twenty-five, soon to be a year older.”

“I know. You’ll always be my little girl.” He sat down on the edge of her bed, and sighed.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, worried.

“Alaric dropped this off on Christmas Eve. He wanted you to have it, but I didn’t want to risk you being in any more pain. I tried to spare you.” Jackson held out a rectangular box.

“He was here?”

“Yes.”

“Did he want to see me?” she asked.

“Of course he did. You and Rebecca had gone out, and now I think it’s time for you to open this present.”

She looked at the box, and slowly tore into the wrapping paper to reveal a velvet box. Her heart was racing, and as she opened it, she frowned. Inside lay a heart-shaped locket. Slipping open the catch, she saw that there was a picture of her mother, and of Buster.

Tears sprang to her eyes.

“I’m not saying his motives were good, or that he should be easily forgiven,” her father said. “In fact I want to hurt the little bastard.”

“What are you getting at, Dad?”

“This life is hard, and it’s lonely. Being a businessman, you’re used to the cutthroats, the gold-diggers, and everyone who wants to see you fail is always taking a front row seat. This world, it’s not exactly ready for women like you, or your mother. They laughed at me when I married your mother. She was this beautiful light in a whole lot of darkness. I truly believe that Alaric thought you were like the other women in his life. The ones that only want him for what he can give. From the moment he entered your life, you showed him different.”

“This still doesn’t explain anything to me.”

“You love him, don’t you?”

“It’s beside the point, isn’t it? He lied, Dad. He lied, and he wanted to hurt me, break me.”

“I know. Love is a really hard and difficult thing in this world. It blinds us, and makes us feel like fools. Even though love can hurt more than anything in this world, it’s worse not to have known it. Love blinds us, Bella. It breaks a part of our soul, and leaves us wanting.”

“Dad?”

“He’s an asshole for what he did, but if you want to live the rest of your life hating him, I get that. I do. What I want to say though is that life is short. It is really fucking short. I would give anything to have your mother by my side again rather than just my memories. That’s what I regret, Bella. I regret not hugging her enough, not telling her how much I loved her. I don’t want you to wish for more time, or worse, to regret not forgiving him.” He cupped her cheek. “You’ve got to do what your heart wishes. What does it want?”

She sobbed then. “I love him, and I miss him, Dad. Why did he have to hurt me?” He wrapped his arms around her, and it wasn’t enough. She wanted Alaric back.

“Go to him. Talk to him, and learn to forgive. You know your mom would want that.”

“I know.”

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