Chapter 8
“Leon treats Mommy really well. He always answers her calls and remembers that I don’t like peach cake. If I could choose, I’d rather Leon be my father. He loves Mommy, and he loves me too!”
Naomi’s voice cracked into sobs.
Graham’s lips trembled, and for a moment, he stood there completely speechless.
I gently wiped away her tears and turned to him. “If there’s nothing else, then we’ll be going.”
I took Naomi’s hand and walked away quickly. Graham followed a few paces behind, refusing to let us go.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and turned around to snap at him. “What are you doing, Graham? Why are you still trying to interfere in our lives?”
He froze at my words, his eyes clouding with regret. “Nora, come home with me.
I let out a sarcastic laugh. “Do you really think I’m your housekeeper? That you can just come and go as you please?”
“I…”
Just then, Leon pulled up beside me in his car, rolling down the window. “Ms. Fields, can I take you and Naomi home today?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I helped Naomi into the car and got in, leaving Graham behind. He stood there, watching us drive away, that unwilling look still in his eyes.
The next morning, after putting Naomi on the school bus, I turned around to find Graham
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Chapter S
standing just outside my yard, looking completely lost.
“What are you doing here?”
+25 Bonus
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. His voice came out low and hoarse, almost pleading. “Can we talk?”
As I stepped closer, I finally noticed his shirt was wrinkled and he looked exhausted. I had never seen him like this before.
“Nora,” he whispered. There was so much he wanted to say, but only two words came out.
“I’m sorry.”
My chest tightened.
used to think you couldn’t let go of Dean, and that’s why you never showed your soft side
- e. But I was wrong. Now, I know you loved me.”
Graham pulled a ring box from his pocket, then slowly got down on one knee.
“Nora, marry me. I promise you, I won’t let you down again.”
The silence stretched on. I stared at him for a long moment.
Looking into his sincere eyes, I let out a bitter laugh.
This was the proposal I had dreamed of for years, but it had come too late.
I shook my head and spoke softly. “I’m sorry, Graham. I have my own life now.”
His face fell. Still, he nodded. “I understand.”
He handed me a card. I tried to refuse, but he pressed it into my hand.
“Nora, I failed you. But I want to help, even if it’s just this much. I hope you’ll find happiness.”
With that, Graham walked away.
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Chapter 8
Every month after that, money was deposited into that account.
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On Naomi’s next birthday, we received an anonymous cake. On the order slip was a small
note. It read, “No peaches, please.”
That same year, I started dating Leon, the blond young man who had picked us up from the
airport.
He was warm, sincere, and good to both me and Naomi.
But this time, I wasn’t waiting for a ring or dreaming about a wedding. I was living in the moment, cherishing every ounce of joy we shared.
As our car rolled slowly through the neighborhood, Leon glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “Penny for your thoughts, Ms. Fields?”
Before I could answer, Naomi piped up from the backseat, “Mommy’s thinking strawberry juice would be perfect for our picnic!”
She winked at me with a grin. “It’s not me who wants it. It’s Mommy.”
I laughed and tousled her hair lovingly. “Okay, okay. I want strawberry juice. We’ll grab some on the way.”
In the days that followed, laughter and joy gradually eclipsed the pain of the past.
I had finally let go of every scar, and the future now felt like something worth looking forward to.
