(Blake's POV)
How do you fake a smile? How do you show everyone that you are okay?
The weather was perfect, soft clouds were moving in the blue sky, and the temperature was just right. It was not hot, but not chilly. This was a good time for walking on the shore, snorkeling, or my favorite, scuba diving.
Matthew and Eric didn’t need an explanation of what had happened. They did not need to ask where Tara was. Showing up with Sadie today could spell out what happened to us like you have to analyze and conclude everything by yourself. Or maybe Samantha had already filled them up with what had transpired yesterday.
She was so mad at me, and it was all my fault. She allowed me to go to Australia alone, hoping I would have the guts to break up with Sadie, to break our engagement.
“What kind of woman would ask you not to contact her for three long years just because you will be a distraction?
(Blake's POV)“Are you sure you have no other plan except work?” Sadie asked as we all walked to the parking lot.Matthew takes a look at his wristwatch before nodding. “It’s only four,” He answered as he followed Eric.“Matthew, no car?” Samantha called when she noticed his car was not there.“Can’t you see it, Samantha? It’s invisible,” He joked, laughed at her, and then he shook his head. Samantha sneered at him, then focused on looking for her car key. “I didn’t bring a car because I was hoping to visit Nana Shea, but something came up,”She nodded and then tossed her keys at him. “Drive my car, then.”I raised my eyebrows. “How will you go back home?”She frowned at me. “Key,” When I furrowed my forehead, her lips pouted as she pointed to the key I was hol
(Blake's POV)“What’s this, Blake?” Sadie’s eyes were wide, and they glinted with anger. “First, in the car, and now she’s telling me to sleep in this room and not yours?” She hissed at me. “I know she doesn’t like me, but-”I held the doorknob and twisted it to open. “I’m sorry, Sadie, but Samantha’s just following my orders,” I said, walking inside the room. “Look at the bright side, Sadie. This room is way better than spending the night in the hotel,”She rolled her eyes, then looked at the bedroom. She closed the door. “I can’t understand her... nor you...” She tugged my arm to sit in the bed, and I did, thinking she would sit beside me. Sadie stood in front of me, taking off her clothes.“No work for you today, Blake,” She said, unclasping her bra and tossing it on the floor.
(Blake's POV)As soon as I stepped foot in the airport, I could feel the weight in my heart. It has been six months since I left the country, pretending to everyone, to Sadie, that my business trips were unavoidable. I was well aware that I was unjust to her, but it would be even more unfair if I claimed to be in love when I was no longer sure.The bright morning sun shone happily in the sky. Its sunlight shimmered on the crowd, bathed the surroundings, and its warm light promised excellent weather for any occasions ahead, but my heart seemed to have been overcast with dark clouds, and it had never stopped crying for months. Now that my heart is quiet and calm, I think I could face Sadie without comparing her to Tara. It was like I developed my mantra that my brain had to remind my heart every day that Sadie was my first love, my forever love.Matthew greeted me at the airport, but we were quiet until we reached
(Blake's POV)It has been half an hour, and all I did was stare at the pieces of paper on my table. They usually have guides when you buy puzzles, but these were torn into pieces, crumpled, and two papers mixed. I could imagine her anger when she saw Tara’s things in my bedroom.I took a deep breath, thinking about how I could possibly put them together.My head raised when the glass door opened. “I told you, Sam, I don’t want anyone disturbing me today... and that includes you!” I snarled, almost banging the table with my fist. But Samantha is Samantha. She never listened to me at times, especially in this situation. “We know you’re a puzzle expert, Blake, but this isn’t your ordinary puzzle,” Samantha explained as she wiped her tears. “There’s a nice story behind these drawings.” She said, taking half of the papers and walking to t
(Tara's POV)I was staring at the sky for a long time as if waiting for a miracle to happen. It was like looking at a postcard, the blue sky was perfect, but I guess nothing is constant that even the sky was changing. Big clouds formed above that darkened the sky, hiding the sun. I began to move my wooden easel, and I stood up to switch on the light in the veranda. When I went back to my seat, the rain started sprinkling onto the ground. The rainfall became strong, making me remember that first time that I could not go home because the rain was not stopping as if heaven did it on purpose to imprison me to that office to be with Blake for a long time.The door behind me opened, and even if I did not turn around, I would know the person who came out was Stella, holding cups of hot choco. She gave me the other cup and walked towards the railing to look up at the sky.She took a deep breath, turned to me, and then s
(Blake's POV)“Blake, are you listening?” Samantha called my attention as she stopped the car.“Huh?” I blinked at her, knitted my eyebrows trying to figure out what it was, and glanced at her, not realizing she was saying something. She grinned at me, but I could see the worry behind the smile on her lips.“You’re not listening, then,” She nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt and looking back at our passenger, who was busy playing an online role-playing game. I shook my head, smiling as I remembered we used to hear nursery rhymes, but now it was normally quiet as Sean would use earphones, and we would just hear him utter words reacting to his game. She puckered her eyebrows, extending her hand to him. “Give that to me. Game over, Sean!”“Mom!” He pouted, complaining and not looking at his mother. He continued to play, ignoring his mother’
(Blake's POV)“You have your own children, Mr. Williamson?” Ben asked, lowering his gaze at the ring on my finger.My right eyebrows lifted, thinking what he meant by his question. “If I had, one thing for sure, I won’t allow my child to be playing or wandering alone by the beach. We never know when an accident happens,” I explained with a hint of anger in my voice.“Yeah, you’re right,” He agreed, gazing at his secretary.She looked down again, nibbling her lower lip as she tried to stop her tears.“Was she your daughter?” I asked, curious and hoping that his answer was no, although he seemed to know the child very well.“If we’re still talking about Bree, then she is.” He said. “And I’m fortunate to have gifted and beautiful daughters, Mr. Williamson,” He proudly shared with us. “I was hoping to have another
(Tara's POV)The main door creaked when Bree pushed the ajar door. I put down the palette and brush to the table beside me and glanced at her. I pressed my lips, suppressing a smile as I peeked at her. Annika, Ben’s sister, looking after Bree today while I worked, wailed when she came home, realizing my daughter was not with her. I told her she might be on the beach looking for a hundred-eyed cowrie shell, one of the rarest seashells in the world. When I first learned to dive underwater, Ben told me I was lucky to spot this sea jewel.When Bree started asking about her father, I told her I would bring her to him if she could collect four of them, and I knew it was impossible for her age, but she was so persistent like Blake. Every morning, in our morning walk to the shore, she would pick one, study it carefully, and I would hear her heave a sigh whenever she got the wrong one.I wondered who chose her T-sh