Page 38 of Promises in the Dark

Stepping inside, I come to a stop as my lips part, and my eyes widen. This home is absolutely breathtaking in every way. My eyes glance up at the large overhead windows; a soft pink hue from the sunset casts through and reflects across the marble floors. Dark wood accents, fresh flowers, and museum-worthy artwork decorate the space so elegantly.

Voices drift from the far end of the house, and just as I turn, I find Mrs. Alarie rounding the corner, heading our way.

“There you are.” She greets us with a warm smile as she approaches. Her dark hair is styled perfectly, every strand in place. Her emerald-green dress is impeccably tailored, her makeup flawless, yet nothing about her feels intimidating. If anything… She reminds me of the kind of mother I always wished I had.

Still, my heart thunders wildly the closer she nears. Her eyes immediately land on Clara, lingering there with unmistakable affection before shifting to Alex…and finally settling on me.

I clear my throat, adjusting my sweater. “Mrs. Alarie. It’s lovely to meet you.” She walks directly toward me, and any courage I might have had completely vanishes. “I’m so sorry for any trouble I’ve caused your family by being here. I promise to leave as soon as—”

She reaches a hand out toward me, and I instinctively flinch, expecting a hard slap. But instead, her palm gently cups my cheek, a sympathetic smile gracing her face as she looks me over with nothing but concern in her bright blue eyes. “You’re welcome to stay for as long as you need.” An invisible weight lifts from my shoulders, my eyes watering as her words settle over me. “And please, call me Cecilia.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, blinking away tears.

She lowers her hand and turns to Clara, her fingers stroking her cheek. “I hear my granddaughter is quite fond of you.”

I watch as a contagious smile appears on Clara’s face. “I’m quite fond of her as well.”

The past few days spent with Clara have been a dream. Laughter constantly spills from her lips, her smile always making me smile. She enjoys almost everything, like listening to me read, playing with her toys, watching her favorite princess movies, or helping me in the kitchen. She’s the distraction I need in my life right now, but more than that, she’s filling the little hole in the center of my chest that’s been there for years.

As if knowing what I’m saying, Clara reaches for me with her little hands. “Char, Char,” she babbles happily.

I extend my arms, and Alex carefully places her into my hold. She snuggles against my chest, yawning. My hand strokes down the back of her head, my palm resting on her back.

Cecilia smiles at the sight, brushing her fingertips gently over Clara’s soft hair. “I think someone is ready for bed.” She motions for a woman nearby, and I recognize her as Francesca.

Francesca dips her chin in greeting. “I’ll take her to her room,” she tells me, holding out her arms.

My embrace tightens without meaning to. It takes me a few seconds before my hold loosens and I hand her over to Francesca, watching as they disappear up the stairs. A weird feeling washes over me, my chest squeezing as an ache builds beneath my ribs.

“Everything okay?” Alex asks, peering down at me.

“Yes, I just…” I look back at the stairs one last time before meeting his eyes. “Never mind.”

Cecilia and Alex regard one another as if having a silent conversation before Cecilia says, “Shall we join the others?”

She gestures toward the dining room, and after taking a steadying breath, I follow her deeper into the lion’s den.

With every step we take, laughter spills down the hallway. The kind that spreads like wildfire among people who feel safe amongst one another. Something I’ve always wanted to experience.

“She did what?” I hear one man ask through a rumble of amusement.

“Your sister thought it would be funny to buy me a pair of swim trunks that disintegrate when they get wet.”

“And did they work?” a female voice asks.

“I swear a fucking turtle tried to bite my dick off!”

Laughter erupts.

“But I made it up to you later, didn’t I?” a different female voice purrs.

“That you did, Princess.”

“I’m going to be sick,” I hear Vincenzo’s recognizable voice groan.

We enter the dining room, and Alex clears his throat. Silence descends upon us as Alex steps to the side and all eyes land on me.

Four frightfully big men, who would probably scare a grizzly bear out of hibernation, regard me. Vincenzo, I immediately recognize, but the other three I’ve only seen before in photos and at charity galas from afar. Never this close.