Page 52 of My Downfall

Hudson

We’re lying in bed after the best night of my life. Taking Mia around London, seeing her experience everything for the first time, is something I’ll never forget. I will treasure every moment of tonight, every moment spent with her.

“You’ve mentioned your mom a lot, but you’ve never mentioned your dad. What’s the story there?” It’s late but we’re both wide awake, jetlag is a piece of shit, and I’ve decided now’s a good time for us to learn everything about each other. I want to know what makes my girl tick.

She takes a deep breath before she answers me. “He left when I was three. Woke up one morning, told my mom he couldn’t do this anymore, walked out of the house, and never came back. Afew weeks later she got the divorce papers through the door. I’ve not seen him since.”

“Shit,” I breathe. “I’m sorry, baby. He doesn’t realize what he’s missed out on by not having you in his life.”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal, but I know different. Something like that hurts, it shapes you in a way you might not even be aware of, and it explains so much about her hesitation to commit.

“It’s fine, you can’t miss someone you don’t remember, right? Anyway, mom came from money and she got a massive payout from the man who fathered me. She was set for life. Money makes her happy.”

“It does a lot of people.”

“It’s why we won’t work.” My heart lurches at her words.

What the fuck?

“I don’t know how we can go from your dad leaving you because he’s a pathetic fucker, to us not working.”

“Because my mom would love you.”

“Great, that doesn’t seem like a problem to me.” I don’t understand what’s happening right now.

“I always said I wouldn’t marry like mom did. I wouldn’t marry for money.”

Oh, sweet pea.

“I might have money — and a lot of it — but that’s not why you’d be marrying me.”

“Oh no?” She raises her eyebrow at me.

“No. You’d be marrying me because you can’t imagine your life without me. You’d be marrying me because it’s what you want, because you’re madly in love with me, and it will only ever be me.”

“Sounds like you’re projecting.”

“No, sweet pea, I’m manifesting. Tell me it’s working,” Iwhisper.

“Yeah,” she whispers back. “It’s working.”

***

I’m in love with her.

I’m standing on the path watching her walk through the rose gardens at Hyde Park and they can’t hold a candle to her; their beauty is transient but hers will last a lifetime.

My lifetime.

She spins in a circle, her arms out at her sides and the most majestic smile taking over her face. I’m glad my cell phone is in my hand; raising it in front of me I snap a picture of her and save it as my screensaver immediately.

“You ready, baby girl?”

“I love London,” she shouts as she runs toward me and leaps into my arms.

I love you.

“I can tell.” I grin at her.