5: Lies From The Past
1150 Words
Lavender's POV
As I closed the double-panel, arched door behind me, I took a deep breath, surprised to see it was only around 3 in the afternoon. Dee had left earlier due to an emergency at the cafe and wasplanning to return later.
The business meeting with August had been civil but utterly draining. His curt demeanor, guarded expressions, and subtle, masculine cologne were stark reminders of the life I had abandoned five years prior.
Finding the living room empty, I hung my blazer on the hook, smoothing out the creases, a habitual gesture. The faint scent of the vanilla diffuser Anna and I adored greeted me, softening the day's sharp edges.
"Mommy!"
Before I could take another step, Angel dashed toward me, arms outstretched, with Jane following closely behind. Her curls bounced as she ran, a vivid reminder of August's features.
"Hi, sweetheart!" I crouched down, embracing her gently, inhaling the sweet strawberry scent of her shampoo.
"I missed you, Mommy!" She pulled back, her eyes locking onto mine.
"I missed you too, sweetheart," I replied, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "How was your class this morning? Did you learn something new?"
Angel stepped back slightly, rubbing her wrist. "Mommy, I don't like learning at home. Can I go to the school where Emma goes?"
She referred to our neighbor's granddaughter in Europe, Emma, who attended a private nursery school and often played with Angel.
I gently patted her head, smiling. "Sweetheart, homeschooling is different, but it lets us explore things that truly interest you. We can even take breaks whenever we need to, right?"
"But I want friends to study with. Why can't I go to school, Mommy?"
I sighed softly. "We'll discuss this again soon, okay? If going to school feels right for you, we'll consider it together."
"Okay, Mommy."
"How about we go to the park or shopping—"
"Miss Lavender, a friend of yours is outside asking for you."
I looked up to see James, our butler, standing by the couch.
"A friend of mine?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Lavender. I hope I'm not interrupting," a familiar voice called out, hesitant yet steady.
Turning toward the door, I saw Lucas Smith—the man who, alongside my father, had made New York feel less lonely all those years ago.
"Hey, Lucas. I didn't expect to see you here." My voice emerged sharper than intended, a mix of surprise and an unidentifiable emotion.
Lucas chuckled softly. "Sorry for dropping by unannounced. I wanted to surprise you and Angel." He approached, carrying a few paper bags. "Hey, little princess. We meet again."
"Lucas, did you follow Mommy and me all the way here?" Angel asked, her tiny hand still clutching mine.
"What if I said yes?" Lucas teased.
Angel’s face lit up as she ran to him. "I missed you!"
"I missed you too, little lady. Here, I have a gift for you." He handed her one of the bags. Angel beamed as she hastily opened it, revealing a pink stuffed rabbit.
I stood there, observing how Lucas had seamlessly integrated into our lives, now standing in my living room, looking entirely at ease with my daughter. Angel’s grin was testament to her acceptance of Lucas into her world.
"We were planning to go to the park today. Would you like to join us?" I offered, watching them delve into the other gifts.
"Can I?"
"Play with us, Lucas. Please..." Angel pleaded, her lips forming a gentle pout.
Lucas chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sure. I'd love to play with Miss Bunny and Little Angel."
Angel dashed back to her room with her nursemaid to prepare for our outing.
***
We arrived at the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park around 4:00 in the afternoon. The park buzzed with life, children running around, parents chatting on benches, and laughter blending with the ambient music.
"Mommy, hurry up! I want to see SpongeBob!" Angel’s voice rang out as her curls bounced with each step.
"I'm coming, sweetheart. Slow down, we have plenty of time to meet your favorite characters," I called back.
Lucas walked beside me, chuckling. "Angel seems thrilled after seeing the massive billboard, Lavender."
"Well, what would you expect? She has been a Nickelodeon child since she was two years old," I muttered, gazing at Angel, who was already playing with the cute mascots. "Careful, Angel."
Angel was too excited to listen. I was about to run after her, but Lucas stopped me and jogged to catch up with her. His easy laughter blended with my daughter's as they enjoyed each other's presence.
I trailed behind, letting them have their moment. It felt good, this ease between us, the kind that I could not explain. Lucas had stepped into Anna's life so naturally, and for a moment, I let myself breathe in the calm of it all.
"Lavender? Lavender Graystone?"
I froze for a moment after hearing a familiar voice call out my name. That surname that I haven't heard in years. For sure, this was someone from my past.
I gently turned and was stunned after seeing her. Miriam Stanford. August's cousin.
"Miriam? Is that you?" My lips curved into an involuntary smile.
She smiled, embracing me briefly. "I knew it. I never thought that I'd see you here in New York."
"M-Me too..." I bit my lip. Miriam was the only person who welcomed me into the Stanford family four years ago. "W-What about you? What are you doing here?"
Her auburn hair was tied back in a loose bun, and she wore a casual blazer over jeans. As simple as ever, yet effortlessly elegant.
"Well, I actually just acquired this park, and I am expecting some relatives today to check on me, and voila...I bumped into you." She chuckled softly.
I nodded. "That's amazing."
"This is such a funny coincidence. You're in my park."
"I also couldn't believe that I would see you—"
"Lavender, Angel’s waiting for you at the photo booth."
I wasn't able to finish my words when Lucas appeared in front of me.
Damn! Miriam couldn't see Angel.
"Oh, you've got company, Lavender."
I forced a smile and pulled Lucas closer. "T-This is Lucas, my...cousin."
Her eyes followed my gesture, lingering on Lucas for a moment before she looked back at me with a knowing smile. "It's nice to meet you, Lucas."
"We gotta go, Miriam. His daughter is waiting for us at the photo booth," I muttered.
"Sure. It's nice to see you again, Lavender. I'm glad you're in a good situation now; we should hang out soon."
I nodded at her and smiled before grabbing Lucas's arm, leading him away from her direction.
I had no choice but to lie. She can't discover that I have a daughter. No one from their family should, even if she was a good friend of mine.
- Writer
