Page 121 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

“Kaywa,” he called, pointing at her.

“Shh, she’s still sleeping.”

I took him to the bathroom and checked his diaper. It was soaked. Potty training had been going slow. I undressed him and decided to give him a bath. Kayla was up by the time I was done, so I gave her a bath while she still looked sleepy.

Tristan returned from his run when I was done giving the kids their breakfast. I left the kids with Nana and joined him in the shower. Tristan had my back against the glass wall as soon as I stepped in, his hands and lips exploring every part of me. I prayed the shower walls and sprinkling water blocked out the uncontrollable moans leaving my lips. I orgasmed twice before I left his room and went to my room to dress up.

I didn’t know where he was taking me, so it was hard to pick out an outfit. I went with a pair of denim jeans and a white corset top with lantern sleeves and matched it with white mule heels. I left my face bare, only applying some lip gloss. I took a glance at the time as I ran a brush through my hair.

There was a knock on the door, and I knew it was Tristan. I took a deep breath and looked around for a small bag. I found a white bag and grabbed it, throwing a few essentials inside. I jogged to the door and opened it with a sheepish grin.

“You look stunning.” He reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers.

My cheeks burned red as we walked down the stairs. The twins were riding around the large living space in their toy car.

“Call me if anything comes up,” I told one of the maids on our way out.

Tristan told me to wait on the porch, so he could get the car.

A minute later, he drove a white Rolls-Royce to where I stood, waiting. The interior of the car was breathtaking. The plush brown leather seat warmed my skin as I sat down. Tristan took a glance at me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he drove the car away.

“So, are you going to tell me where we are going? I don’t even know if I’m wearing the right outfit,” I said.

“We’ll be there in a few minutes, and you look perfect.”

He ran his palm down my thigh and kept his hand there for the remainder of the ride. He squeezed my thigh once in a while and brushed his thumb repeatedly on the same spot. I tried to ignore the heat that traveled to every part of my body and the tingles crawling up my spine.

I scrolled through the touchscreen on the car’s dashboard, looking for where to play music.

After fifteen minutes of singing along to some classics while Tristan shook his head at my failed attempt to hit a high note, we finally arrived. At a cemetery. I looked at Tristan to be sure we were not lost. He stared back at me, a softness grazing his face.

“Are we at the right place?” I asked.

He said nothing. He looked somewhat nervous. He came down from the car, and I watched him walk to my door and open it.

“Do you trust me?” he asked, and I nodded with no hesitation.

“Come with me.” He held out his hand for me.

I took it and stepped out of the car. He closed the door and led me through the gateway. I tightened my grip around him as we walked through a few graves. I knew where he was taking me, and it made me anxious.

We stopped in front of two marble tombstones, and fresh flowers lay in front of each. Tristan was the one holding my hand tightly now. I brushed my thumb over his fingers, and he looked down at me with a weak smile. I didn’t know how to act or what to say. I’d thought this was a space only for him. A space where he could be with them. Even if it felt weird, being here, it was still a privilege to be invited into this world, where he connected with them.

I stared at the butterfly-shaped tombstone with the nameNadia Roseline Sanchesterengraved on it. Next to it was Fiona’s tombstone.Fiona Dyani Adrielwas engraved on the heart-shaped stone. I let go of Tristan’s hand and squatted. My fingers reached out to dust the dry leaves away. A sense of sadness filled me. I stood up and looked over at Tristan. He seemed distant as he stared silently at their tombstones. The air suddenly felt stiff and the surroundings somber. I knew being here brought hurtful memories. Fiona and Nadia had been a big part of his life. She was his first love and best friend. Death had ripped them away from him. It was painful to watch the raw and harsh emotions slowly climbing up his face. I felt helpless, not knowing the right thing to do or say.

“Can I hold you?” I asked quietly.

He nodded and sank into me immediately when I wrapped my arms around him. His arms came around me, gripping me so hard that it was almost impossible to breathe.

I loved that he wasn’t afraid of feeling big emotions. He didn’t have to put his grief aside to love me and the twins. He’d struggled with grieving Nadia and Fiona and loving me in the past, but this was a whole new beginning for us. He held on to my hand after I pulled away.

“Um … Chloe, meet Fiona and Nadia. Fiona, this is the woman I talk about all day when I come here. I didn’t know how lonely I was until I met her. She means everything to me, and I want to spend my whole life with her.”

It was soothing, watching him talk to them about me and the twins like I wasn’t beside him. I was upset we hadn’t brought flowers. After a few minutes, Tristan leaned down in front of the tombstones and ran his fingers over the names engraved on each. He stood and faced me with a big smile.

“Let’s go,” he said.

“Um … can you give me a minute?”

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