announced the divorce that you’ll always be an Aldridge,” he assures me and fixes a strand of my hair. “We’re always going to be friends, right?”
“What if we meet new people and…?
He takes my hand and sets it on his chest. “There’s a part of my heart that’s yours. No matter what happens. This place is only yours.” He cups my face and leans closer. His lips almost touch mine. Our eyes stare at each other, and he whispers, “I’m going to fucking try to be better, though. For you, for me. For our future. I want to win you. This time I’ll be deserving of it.”
He kisses my forehead and releases me.
“You’re leaving?” I stare at his lips, wanting to kiss him. All the feelings I have for him coil in my belly. I have so many words to say to him, but I hold onto them because what if it’s just misery and loneliness.
He nods. “I’ll be back later today to help you clean. Do you want me to bring Buster and Daisy?”
“Please,” I answer.
“Don’t forget to eat lunch,” he reminds me. “I asked the caterer to set a lunch box in the fridge with your name.”
“Thank you,” I say, but I want to say I love you.
Around six, Sophia comes over with a bottle of wine, cupcakes, and water.
This is our usual way to start a pity party. I invite her to my office, and she pours wine in my mug.
“What happened?” I ask.
She smiles and says, “We’re having twins.”
“You’re pregnant!” I run to her with open arms. Hugging her tight I ask, “How do you know?”
She releases me and shows me a picture on her phone. It’s a sonogram. I spot the amniotic sacs right away.
“This is so perfect,” I start crying with her. “I’m going to be an aunt of two little terrors.”
We take a seat and eat the cupcakes while she tells me that her family is beyond thrilled and all the Aragons will be here next weekend to celebrate. Gwen, one of the technicians, knocks on the door and announces that the place is clean and everyone is leaving.
I thank them for today before Sophia and I go home.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, taking off my shoes.
Grace and Blaire are in the play area with Arden.
“The guys are in the basement playing poker,” Grace says. “They kicked me out because they think I count cards.”
“You count cards,” Sophia confirms.
Grace grins, “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Have they kicked you out of Vegas?” I question her.
“I’ve never gone to the casinos,” she states. “The couple of times I’ve been there is to perform or when Too Far from Grace performed.”
Sophia and I prepare some sandwiches for us. Everyone else already ate. We sit in the living room. This is just perfect, and I wish I didn’t have to leave the house. Can I just get a divorce and stay in Blaire’s empty room?
There’s a knock on the door. We all look at each other.
“I’ll get it,” I say.
When I open the door, Jerome Parrish is on the other side. “Just the person I was looking for, Ms. Leyla.”
I don’t like how he calls me Ms. I touch the base of my sternum and ask, “You’re looking for me?”
He nods and hands me an envelope. It looks just like the one Sophia received when she got engaged to Henry. This one has my name on it.
There’s a tightness in my chest that’s almost unbearable. What changed, or what happened that he’s giving me this?
“Why?” I ask staring at the paper that’s burning in my hand.
“Earlier, we received an electronic copy of your divorce decree,” he states.
His words punch the air out of my lungs. This shouldn’t shake me, but God if the grief doesn’t feel like heavy metal in my stomach. The emotions spinning inside me are unbearable. Why is he giving me this news?
Pierce comes running from the garage. Beacon is right behind him.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Pierce glares at Mr. Parrish.
“Did you know we’re divorced?” I ask him.
He nods and swallows hard. “I received a copy of the decree when I went back to the office.”
I show him the envelope. His face pales.
“Going back to tell you felt inappropriate,” he says with a low voice.
“Is there anything else, Mr. Parrish?” I ask. “I’ll be leaving the house next week.”
He nods and grins at Pierce. “The will says that Leyla Faye Aldridge has to stay in this house for eighteen