Page 99 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

We sat together, awkward silence between us. I desperately searched for a topic that could keep the conversation going between us, but for the life of me, I couldn’t think of a single one.

“You remind me of someone,” he started, causing me to look at him in surprise.

“Oh.” Unsure how to respond to it, I remained quiet waiting for him to say something else.

“She was very beautiful,” he added. “Like you.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “Has she been gone long?”

“She belonged to someone else,” he answered as if talking to himself. “Last time I saw her was a very long time ago.”

I felt uncomfortable, glancing around as if hoping someone would join us for this conversation. Alexander told me during our honeymoon his father was unwilling to give up a woman, that he gave up his family for her. Was this the same woman?

I also wondered if he remembered the features of the woman he was talking about accurately after such a long time. “When I saw you, it was as if she came back, never aging a day.”

“I’m sorry for the reminder,” I finally said, unsure what to make of his comment.

His eyes met mine. “I am not.”

Well, this was an odd conversation.

“Can I call you Liberty?” he asked.

I nodded, hesitantly. It didn’t really matter. I probably wouldn’t see much of him anyhow.

“Thank you,” he replied and sounded like I just gifted him the most precious gift. “Does your mom live in London too? What about your dad?”

It was bizarre because even as he asked me that question, I had the strangest feeling he knew the answers.

“No, my mom died seven years ago.”

Taking a deep breath, I thought back to my mom. She killed herself seven years ago, but I could never say those words out loud. I tried so hard to understand what drove her to it. I worried whether I was her last straw, all my questions about my dad and asking about her past. Her gentle demeanor always attracted everyone. She was caring and tried to help everyone. I never saw she needed help too, till it was too late.

“My dad wasn’t around,” I told him briefly, unwilling to admit I didn’t know who my father was.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” his voice shook slightly and I raised my eyes. He seemed quite upset. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

I swallowed a lump in my throat. “I had,” I swallowed again before I continued, worried my voice would fail me. “I had a sister. She was the same age as me, she died in an accident… about a month ago.”

I swore he seemed shaken by the news. He was as sad as I was, but he never knew Lena nor my mother. His hands slightly shook, and he swallowed a few times as if trying to get himself together.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I shouldn’t have made this lunch all gloomy like that.”

He reached his hand over the table and gently patted mine. The gesture seemed oddly comforting and I offered him a smile.

The waiter came over, and we ordered our lunch.

After he left, Mr. Caldwell Sr. continued our conversation. “That is an unusual name you have, Liberty.”

I chuckled. “Maybe,” I told him and started explaining. “My mom was actually born in the UK. She didn’t talk about it much, but she told me once she left because she wanted me to have a free life. So she picked that name.”

I still wondered why she couldn’t be free here. She never explained what she meant by it.

“She did complain that I took the definition of freedom to a whole new level,” I cackled softly and he joined me although there was sadness in his eyes.

Lunch came and we both worked at our meals, while talking about various topics. I wanted to ask him about Alexander but couldn’t quite be that bold. I wanted to understand Alexander and what drove him. His father’s betrayal with another woman seemed to have hurt him although he kept it hidden beneath his cold exterior. Did his father realize how much he hurt Alexander? Did his father know his sons at all?

He asked me questions about my mom, where I grew up, and he was listening attentively about everything and anything I mentioned.

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