Page 96 of Powerful Deception
February third.
The one-year anniversary of Angelina's death.
In only a few weeks’ time, I have to live with the fact that my wife, the mother of my children, has been dead for a year, and there's nothing I can do about it.
“I think you should take the day and just spend it with the kids, maybe even go to the cemetery and visit her.” Evelyn voices, trying her hardest to get me out of the spiral that my head is going through.
The only thing I can think of doing to placate her comment is nod.
Just nod.
One year. One year without the woman that I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I knew very early on in our relationship that I wasn’t going to need anything else if I had her in my life. Now I was able to live a whole year without her a few feet away from me.
I was able to make it a whole year without hearing her laugh or seeing her smile. A whole year without seeing her with our children. A whole year of birthdays and holidays that she didn’t get to experience.
A whole damn year.
“Maybe you can even bring Arianna with you.”
It's at that comment that I’m able to find my voice. “You want me to bring the nanny, that one that I’m fucking not even a year after my wife’s death, to said wife’s grave?
I look over at my assistant with astonishment, that she would even suggest something like that, but all I get is a look of indifference in return.
“It's just a suggestion. To make the day easier for you. Because even if you don’t want to admit it to me, that girl is way more than just the nanny. I see it, security sees it, hell I’m sure your kids see it, no reason to keep hiding it, especially from yourself. ”
I let out a sigh. “I’m not going to take her to the cemetery with me on the anniversary of my wife’s death.”
Because Evelyn is right, Arianna is more than just the nanny, she has been for close to two months now, and it wouldn’t be fair to her or Angelina if I took her there.
“Again it was just a suggestion.” Evelyn voices, reaching over and giving my arm a squeeze.
I just nod and look out the window for the reminder of the drive.
For the remainder of the drive, as much as I want to forget about my every growing relationship with Arianna and Angelina’s death, I can’t. Even if two months have passed since me and Arianna became a thing and twelve since Angelina side, I still feel guilty for not waiting longer to move on.
I’m a goddamn jackass and I know it.
After fifteen more minutes, the SUV pulls into the estate and heads straight to the main house.
When I walk in, Evelyn heading to her cottage, I’m constantly surrounded by music and children giggling.
A smile instantly forms on my face when I walk in and head to the living room.
Arianna and Alessandra are in the middle of the living room, jumping up and down with the kids’ music video playing on the screen. All with Angel watching them and giggling from his jumper in the corner.
This is a visual that I’ve been coming home to a lot more often since Arianna started working here. Some chaotic scenes where the kids are laughing, smiling, playing or dancing. Something that they didn’t really do for a few months. Having Arianna here has really brought out a bright spot, not only with the kids but also in the house. It feels lighter, happier.
And it’s all because of her.
Arianna catches sight of me in the entryway of the living room and gives me a bright smile that I can’t help but return.
When she stops moving, Alessandra notices and turns to see what has gotten her nanny’s attention. When my little girl sees me, she also gives me a smile before she runs over to me with her arms open wide.
I crouch down to catch her and as soon as she’s in my arms, my smile grows even more.
The little girl that I thought I was never going to see again, is coming back. Slowly, but it’s happening.
“Hi, gioia mia.” I say into her hair.