Delayed but his

20

Estella’s pov

We drove down to the woodlands,a district in the state of Texas .Uncle George explained as he drove us to his farmhouse stating that he had preferred the woodlands because of the elevations of the lands around,farming was the new gold around here.

I looked out of the window as he made a turn ,driving into a barn.

A huge farmhouse stood at the side of it.

“We’re here “Uncle George announced.

“Wow this is a huge farm.You’ve got all the livestocks and vegetables too.”

I admired the beauty in front of me and stepped out of the car.The farmhouse was frequented by livestocks walking around and two horses at the other end of the land section.

Arman stepped out of the car and walked to my side.

“Is that a pig?”he said in dismay.

I chuckled and nudged his side”come on.Nature is so lovely to look at and all I see here are ingredients to try new recipes”

“You’re a menace..do your thing but I’m not going close to any of them”

Uncle George laughed wildly as he helped carry my suitcase.”Maybe give the horses a try..I can give you some riding lessons by tomorrow.Come on in….I made some pot pie few hours ago and I’m sure it’s warm by now,you would love it”

Arman sighed deeply ,nodded, and held my waist as we joined him.I could tell he wasn’t used to being vulnerable to just anyone but yet he let himself be that way for me.I smiled at the realization of it.

My hairs stood at the end of my skin at the touch of his hands ,he squeezed my hip and gave me a flirty smile.

Hours later,we assembled for dinner and I noticed the stare from Uncle George.He was so attentive ,I wondered what it felt like having someone,a family member to be precise,caring about you .

“How are you doing Estella? I’ve been anticipating this moment for awhile..Thank you for considering to spend some time with me also”He said after some minutes of silence

“Oh no uncle.I’m happy to be here plus I’d really want to know what my real life looks like.Thank you also for accommodating me”

“Please don’t thank me for that.It’s my responsibility,So you mentioned you’re a chef”

“Yes .Actually I work for Arman’s family as a private chef and we met there”

“Really.That’s nice to know about.I hope my niece has been doing a good job son”he asked turning to Arman

“She’s been nothing but competent.This vacation is one of the many rewards that would be given to her”Arman said giving him a weak smile.

“How do we know that you’re really whom you say you are?”Arman added immediately.I knew he had been itching to say so with the look written all over his face.

He looked so defensive as he focused on my uncle.

Uncle George chuckled and wiped his mouth clean.He pulled out a purse from his pocket and checked through the contents.

I gave Arman a hard stare but he only disregarded it and turned his focus back to my uncle.

New character unlocked .Possessiveness..

“Here.This is your father”Uncle George said giving me a Polaroid.I recognized the man in the picture ,he was the same man that he had referred to as my father.

“I mean…I don’t know what to say?”

“Can I see that?”Arman said and took it from me.

I frowned at him and resumed speaking

“Where is he?you never answered my texts regarding that?”

“Basically he’s dead.He died from a gunshot during 2012.There wasn’t much evidence so they let the suspect go albeit he had an identity crisis .Claimed the voices in his head told him to find a Ray Montana “

“Montana”I muttered “That’s his name?”

“And yours also”Uncle George said sounding glad.I smiled at him and looked back at the picture Arman was holding.

“How did you guys meet up?”Arman asked

“A genealogy app”

Arman scoffed in mockery”Wait those stuffs work?”

“It was 99.9% and can you please try to be supportive here”I said in frustration.

“I am love.I just need to be sure that he’s really related to you and you can’t put all your trust on an app “

He had a point but uncle George didn’t budge at his words.

“He’s doing the right thing dear and we could take a proper test if you want.I know this is not a waste of time because I can see the similarities between you and your mother”

“You mentioned that I look so much like her.Do you have a picture of her?”

“Sadly no.Your dad met up with your mother during his graduation party from the university he attended.It was a one night stand but you know how it is at times,they kept seeing each other and then she got pregnant.He proposed to her months later and they decided to get married after she gave birth to you .You were a blessing to both of them but then she died during childbirth and that broke your father apart.He became a shadow of his old self,lost his job and got involved in gambling .I tried to support him but things weren’t okay for me too.Your father,Ray,got too deep in it and the cops think he must’ve got into a bad deal and got shot up.”

“What about the suspect?”Arman asked .

His expression tightened as he spoke.

“Maybe he was a decoy.There were many holes in the case so they had to turn it into a cold case”

I felt Arman take my hand but I was too weak to react to anything.

The words coming from uncle George were overwhelming.I wished I had never asked to know any of it but there was also this satisfaction of knowing.

“I’m sorry Estella.I never wanted to say all of this to you but I know your father would want you to know the truth also.”

“Can I visit their tombstone before leaving?”

“You’re sure about that?”Arman asked.

His eyes turned dark as he searched my face.

“Yeah sure.So how about the rest of the family?”i inquired

“It was just us two.Your dad and I .We lost our parents during the 90’s so no we don’t.Our parents got married against the wish of their parent so they moved away after getting married.Never heard from their families till this moment.I just knew about you because I was the only one that Ray kept in contact with,he stopped reaching out to his friends and acquaintances after awhile.Ray put you up for adoption when he couldn’t take care of you anymore.I tried looking for you after his death but all to no avail”

I sighed deeply .So much for trying to know your family roots.“ .I..I need to get some rest.Goodnight and thank you for the pot pie.It was so delicious.”I stuttered

I gave Arman a last look and walked out immediately.

I bit my lips in attempt to stop myself from tearing up as I walked to the guest room that was mine for three days.

I stripped off my clothes,took a hot shower and retired to bed.I decided to call Heather and let her know I was safe.I also needed her humor to help me stop feeling the way I did.

She picked at the second ring.

“Hey.How are you?I’ve been trying to call but it keeps going to voicemail.”she said sounding unpleased .

“I’m sorry I took time to call.I’ve been trying to settle down and Arman has been nothing but a b***h since we got here”

She chuckled “Why?”

“He’s just been acting like my uncle George is an imposter”

“I mean you don’t have to blame him.The internet is a dark place too and I know you really want to believe he’s related to you “

“Badly.So I’m going to give him a chance but Arman being suspicious is making me lose it”

“Just allow yourself to enjoy the moment and I’m sorry that I had to tell Don Simon about your vacation but I couldn’t lie to his face.Estella,you’re really important to him,I could see the look on his eyes “

“Well….I’d just have to tell him the way I feel about Arman someday”

“Well that’s a new one!!!”

“What?”

“What you said just now.The way you feel about Arman.You’re in love with him,Estella.I knew it!”

I loved her enthusiasm but I just realized that she may be right.

It made sense with the way I felt safe around him.I felt safe around Simon too but with Arman,it was different.

“Maybe I do but that’s not the issue here.I need to make him fall in love with me too”

“Well you’re right on track.You just have to keep up with your plan.That’s by the way,did you ask about your parents “

I didn’t want to talk about it so I lied.I was still trying to dilute the information uncle George had given me.

“Not yet.Maybe tomorrow.I wouldn’t want to appear so desperate”I tried my best to sound convincing”

We spoke a little bit about work and then I wished her goodnight and hung up.

I was about to put away my phone when an incoming call came in from a private number.

I paused for some seconds and picked it.

“I’m at your door”

“Arman?” I Said and moved to open my door

Right there he was ,looking handsome as ever.

He looked like he had just taken a shower,the sight of his wet hair made my insides tingle.

But I gave a pout and moved to sit back on the bed.

“I’m sorry for being a b***h earlier.I have my way with dealing with my trust and he seems too good to be true also.”he said as he walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

“Estella.Talk to me”he added when I did nothing but give a fake focus on my phone.I knew I had to say something then because it sounded more like an order.

“It’s fine.I’m good really.I just thought I would be strong enough to take all of this,the truth”

“It’s okay to not be strong at times.Sometimes I try not to be”

I looked at him then and chuckled

“Your personality says otherwise”

“Personality?”

“I’m not saying you’re a bad person.You have a good heart but you can also be distant at times.It’s just like one minute you’re all over me,next minute I don’t know my stand in your life.So really you’re strong because you don’t see the need to be around people most times”

He moved to stand in front of me.

“What are you saying really?Estella”

He cupped my face softly ,pinning my eyes with his.

That feeling was back.It hurt so much to look at him .

“I need to know why you can’t seem to let go of me at this point.I need to know what’s going on through your mind.”

“That’s it for tonight.You need to rest Estella because it’s been a long day.”he said leaving me hanging.I watched him adjust my pillow and signal for me to get under the duvet.I did so quietly and set my phone aside.

I saw the look on his face.He didn’t want me insisting so I let it be.

“Have a good night rest “he muttered and pecked my cheek .

“You too”I said looking up at him.

He made to move away but I caught him by the hem of his night shirt.

“Don’t go.Please.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.I need you to stay by my side.I don’t want you to ever leave my side.Please”

He smiled deeply and moved to lay beside me.

“I’m never doing that ,Mi Hermosa”he said as he spooned me from behind.

“Hermosa?Why did you call me that?What does it mean?”

“Sshhh…I’m the only one that gets to call you that.”he said and kissed my hair.

I melted in his hold and move backwards ,my ass grinding against the growing bulge in between his legs.

I could feel the heat between my legs.

I heard him groan inwardly as I continued my torture and then I turned to look at him..

He tugged at my hair and pulled me in for a kiss..

We’ve never been this close whenever we kissed and it was so good to be skin deep with him.

I couldn’t hold my Moans as he worked on my lips.He tasted like a mixture of vodka and toothpaste,I was sure he had taken a drink with uncle George after I left .

Did they talk things out?I hoped so because I needed them both at this point of my life.

He stopped kissing my lips and moved to kiss my neck and it made the adrenaline in me rush up my system.

I wouldn’t last a minute with him touching me this way.

“Now you need to sleep and you know I don’t like you disobeying my orders”he whispered in my ear.

I hated the fact that he’d stopped his sweet torture but I knew he was right.

“Right”I Said and moved to hold him close before allowing myself to fall into a deep sleep.