What should have stayed buried
1044 Words
Edward POV
The backyard was quiet that afternoon as I sat alone on one of the lounge chairs by the pool, staring at the water.
The Christmas celebration was totally different from what I used to know. Totally.
I exhaled slowly and leaned back against the chair.
I've never been a man who believes much in coincidences. Life throws strange situations at people all the time, but this?
This was something else.
Of all the people in the world...
Selene Hart.
The woman I'd spent weeks trying to forget, whilst blaming myself for everything that happened that night.
As if the universe hasn't punished me enough, she somehow turned out to be Hilda's daughter.
My future stepdaughter.
Even thinking about those words felt strange.
I rubbed a hand over my face.
What were the odds?
After that night, I'd convinced myself it was over.
A terrible decision made by two hurting people.
Nothing more.
The next morning had only reinforced that belief.
I still remember waking up in that hotel room, only to realise the other side of the bed was empty.
The room was silent.
No note.
No phone number.
Nothing.
At first, I assumed she'd gone downstairs for breakfast.
Or maybe she stepped out for some fresh air.
But after nearly an hour, I knew she wasn't coming back.
I remember getting dressed and heading downstairs.
The receptionist was behind the front desk sorting paperwork.
“Excuse me,” I'd said.
She looked up.
“Yes, sir?”
“There was a woman with me last night.” The words sounded ridiculous even to my own ears, but I managed to add, “Chestnut hair. Hazel eyes. Short dress.”
“Oh, yeah.” Recognition flashed across her face.
“She left a little while ago.”
I glanced toward the entrance.
“Did she say where she was going?”
The receptionist shook her head.
“No, sorry.”
“Thank you.”
I walked outside immediately and spent nearly an hour searching nearby streets like a fool.
Even now, I couldn't explain exactly why.
Was I looking for her to apologize?
Offer her money for a cab?
Ask for her number?
Learn her name?
I honestly didn't know.
All I knew was that I wanted to see her one more time.
Just once.
Instead, she vanished.
And now fate had brought her back into my life in the most uncomfortable way possible.
“Hey, darling.”
I looked up.
Hilda was walking toward me carrying two glasses of red wine.
The moment I saw her, I smiled.
She had that effect on me.
She handed me one of the glasses and kissed me on both cheeks.
“Thank you, love.”
“Oh, come on.” She chuckled and settled into the chair beside me. “It's nothing.”
I took a sip of the wine.
“So, how are you enjoying your stay?” She asked.
I smiled.
“Fantastic.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
She laughed.
“You're not saying that because I'm here, right?”
“Anything for my lady.”
She rolled her eyes inwardly.
That earned me a light chuckle.
“No, seriously. It's been nice.” I glanced toward the house. “It feels good spending the holidays with you and the kids.”
The smile on her face softened immediately.
I loved seeing that look.
God knows Hilda deserved happiness.
After everything she'd sacrificed raising Selene alone, having someone who would always show up for her is all needed.
“You fit in better than you realize,” she said.
“I’m glad you see it that way.”
“Of course. Even Louis likes being around you too.”
I smiled.
“He's my son. He doesn't have much choice.”
“Oh, please.” She nudged my shoulder. “That boy adores you.”
I laughed.
We talked for a while after that.
Christmas plans.
The weather.
How different Milwaukee felt compared to Miami this time of year.
Simple things.
Comfortable things.
Then, completely out of nowhere, Hilda asked, “So what do you think about Selene becoming your stepdaughter?”
I nearly choked on my wine.
I coughed immediately.
Hard.
“Oh my God.” Hilda sat forward. “Are you okay, love?”
“Yeah…” I coughed again. “I'm fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Eventually the coughing stopped.
Barely.
Hilda stared at me suspiciously.
“That reaction was concerning.”
I forced out a laugh.
“Bad timing.”
She shook her head.
“I know she can be a handful.”
A handful?
If only you knew.
“But trust me,” Hilda continued. “She's the sweetest girl.”
My grip tightened slightly around my wine glass.
Sweet.
Kind.
Funny.
Beautiful.
Stop.
Please, just stop.
That wasn't how I should be thinking about her.
Not anymore.
The woman from that hotel room no longer existed.
She couldn't.
She was Hilda's daughter and my future stepdaughter.
And if I had any sense at all, that's exactly how I needed to see her.
Nothing else.
Nothing more.
That night was over.
Buried.
If I could erase it, I would do that a million times and get over these messy thoughts hovering inside my head.
Not because I regretted meeting Selene, but because of what it threatened now.
The fragile love growing between Hilda and I. I can't let anything disrupt it. Not Selene, not the memories of that…
“Edward?”
I blinked.
Hilda was staring at me.
“Sorry.”
She laughed.
“There you go disappearing again.”
I smiled sheepishly.
“My bad.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Is Selene really that bad?”
“What?!”
“You keep making that face like she disgust you or something.”
I sat up immediately and moved closer to her. “Oh, no. No, no, no.”
“Then what's wrong?”
“Nothing really.” I smiled. “Trust me. Selene will make a great daughter.”
The words came easily.
Even if part of me wasn't sure I believed them yet.
Because every time I looked at her...
I remembered everything about that night.
- Writer
