Bonus Kisses - Freya Barker Page 0,8
forbidden way.
Alive and effortlessly tempting. Like a moth to the light, I couldn’t help but be drawn in by her and it terrified me.
I was almost relieved when Nicky ended up pregnant. Even though unexpected, it was something I was able to fit into the future I’d always envisioned.
Look at me now. Oh, the irony. My marriage a contrived farce, the mother of my children dying—and to top it off—the one woman who can make my heart beat out of my chest with just one of her crooked smiles shows up out of the blue.
I’ve lost all control.
The door to my office flies open.
“How long are you gonna hide in here?”
Kathleen has never been a big fan of mine. She’d been a friend to Taz long before she became one to Nicky, and neither of those roles has won me any favors. Whether intending to or not, in one way or another I’ve hurt both sisters and she knows it. She probably knows more than I do.
“It’s work, Kathleen. I’m hardly hiding,” I lie.
“Right,” she scoffs, clearly not buying it. “Well then, when you’re done working you may want to go check in on your kids, instead of leaving them to someone who’s a stranger to them.”
“You’re the one who asked her to come,” I fire back, realizing instantly I’m acting like a two-year-old.
“Yeah, I did, because Nicky asked me to, and because—whether you like it or not—your family needs her. That doesn’t absolve you, though.”
I know she’s right. Like I said, I’m a coward.
I drop my head and run my hands over my face. “Let me check in with Lisa. I’ll be right over.”
“Okay.” Her voice is suddenly much softer. “I’ll just say my goodbyes and be on my way. My kids are waiting at home.”
“Thanks, Kathleen,” I mumble, looking up at her.
“Sure thing. Any time you need a swift kick in the ass, I’m your girl.”
“Why is she here?”
I sit on the edge of Sofie’s bed, nudging her hip. “Scoot over, Pipsqueak.” When she does, I stretch out beside her, tucking her close. “I assume you’re talking about your mom’s sister? She’s here because your mom loves her very much. She needs someone to help her, and it so happens your aunt is a nurse.”
“How come she never visits?”
I should’ve known it would be my daughter—with a natural inclination to challenge everything—who asks the hard questions. So much like the aunt she’s grumbling about, it’s almost painful.
“Not so easy when you’re living in Africa, Sofie. You’ve heard of Doctors Without Borders, right?” I know she has, because I heard Nicky proudly talk about the work they do, not that long ago. She nods almost reluctantly. “Your aunt, Taz, works as a nurse for them. She’s been in several countries in Africa, running clinics and looking after people who don’t always have access to medical care.”
Her reluctant interest is piqued. “What countries?”
“I know she just came from the Congo, and other than that I’m not sure, but I think she may have been in Ghana at some point too. You should ask her yourself.”
Her answer to that is a shrug. “I still don’t get why she has to come all the way from Africa to help Mom.”
Now I recognize the fear in her voice and I tuck her even closer, resting my chin on her head.
I had a chance to check in with Nicky earlier, while the kids were getting ready for bed. She mentioned Taz’s suggestion to let the kids guide when a good time to tell them would be. Sofie’s comment indicates to me she knows the answer to her own question but is not ready to hear it. So I’m careful in my response
“Don’t you think it’s better to have family than a bunch of strangers in your house?”
She looks at me, the lashes framing her pretty brown eyes batting tears away.
“I guess so.”
Chapter Four
Taz
“Are you going to be back for dinner?”
I stop Rafe right before he slips out the kitchen door.
Every morning this past week, he’s done the same thing; disappear as soon as the kids leave for school and come home just in time to put them to bed. Left me to deal with Nicky, the kids, and my parents.
Don’t get me wrong; reconnecting with my sister has been a gift even under these circumstances. Dealing with the kids has been more of a challenge, especially Sofie who still regards me with a healthy dose of suspicion. There’d been a few difficult questions, most