Chapter 5 The Reunion (Pt 2)

• DAPHNE
• When Pops said he was going to pick me up the next day, I hoped he would come by himself. Even if it meant that he would possibly see Micah and Lori, I didn’t mind. Prayed for it even, because other than Pops, the only other option would be him. Then again, our worst fears had a way of springing up when we least expected it.
• Asher. Looking into the car and seeing Asher’s grey eyes staring at me was the last thing I wanted. How long had he been waiting out there? Did he see Micah and Lori leaving? Most importantly, how much did Pops tell him? To be fair, I left out a lot of things when I called Pops last night, but how much did Ash know?
• Pops was what I called my grandfather, Lance Snow. Thanks to my parents, S.Laury and Ronan, being a celebrity pop duo, who were almost always on tour for the most part while I was growing up, I lived with my grandfather fulltime since I was ten.
• Lance Snow was the best man I knew, and for a little while, I thought I saw him in Micah. Now I knew better. A caring, big-hearted man. Maybe too bighearted for his own good because that was how Asher came to be. Technically, he was my uncle, but I’d never seen him like that.
• Straightening my posture, I pulled myself together. Absolutely, definitely couldn’t let Asher of all people see my weakness, especially when he was the reason. After standing there for an awkward number of seconds, I finally realized that Asher wasn’t coming down from the car.
• Ass. He could have helped me with my luggage. With a huff, I lifted the bag into the boot, then got into the back seat.
• “Don’t talk to me. Don’t ask me any questions. As a matter of fact, I don’t even want to know you’re there.”
• Barely had I buckled my seat belt when these words, surrounded by the coldness of Asher’s tone, reached my ears. Shocked, I looked into the rearview mirror to catch his eyes, but he had already started the car.
• What the fuck? Sure, I didn’t expect flowers and a red-carpet for my return back home after seven years, but wasn’t the cold shoulders childish? Also, who was this person? The Asher I left back home seven years ago was talkative and always had a smile for everyone. Although they had the same face, this man in the car seemed like a whole different person.
• “You…” Belatedly remembering Asher’s instructions, I swallowed back my words and turned my face outside the window.
• This was the end of a life I’d spent five years on. Just like that, it was gone. I was never going to walk along this street again, greeting the neighbours. Maybe Micah would move out or maybe not. What did it matter anyway? It was none of my business.
• Coming downstairs this morning, I found the new divorce papers sitting on the dining table. After signing it, I felt my heart break, but the primary feeling there was anger. Not only at Micah for what he did to me, but also towards myself for believing his lies about Lori. Like a fool, I deluded myself over the truth when it was right there in front of me.
• Sooner or later, I would forget about the pain or Micah’s betrayal, but I was always going to have a part of him with me. Thinking about that, I placed the palm of my hand over my belly.
• “I’ll keep going for you,” I whispered under my breath, hopefully low enough that Asher couldn’t hear.
• During the night, I tossed around, unable to sleep because of the unpleasant thoughts of what Micah and Lori were doing in my former matrimonial bed. Now, in the solace of Asher’s car, as I closed my eyes, I found that sleep came easily.
• The next time I opened my eyes, the car had stopped moving but was still running. Not only that, but Asher was not in the driver’s seat. Popping my eyes wider, I looked around frantically, then stopped as I realized where I was.
• Asher, seriously. He couldn’t even wake me up when we arrived?
• Slowly and unbelieving, I came out of the car. Nostalgia made me forget my annoyance at Asher as I took in surroundings. The trees that were seemingly unimportant, the statue in the middle of the compound, the blooming gardens full of zinnias. This was my grandfather’s mansion. Everything was the same, making it look like I just stepped out for a couple minutes and was back. But in reality, it was much longer than that.
• “Daphne.”
• I froze upon hearing my name. Everything hit me at once. I didn’t think it would be this painful seeing my grandfather again after seven years, but I was wrong. When I turned around, the first thing I saw was my grandfather’s face. My hands flew to my mouth as a sob left my throat. The man standing in front of me was both familiar and unfamiliar.
• The age lines on his face were more pronounced but his smile was still the same. I took in the cane he was leaning on as well. Gently, I threw my arms around his neck, breathing in his scent.
• “Pops, I missed you so much.”
• The moment was cut short when Asher, who was standing next to Pops, said, “I’ll be leaving now, Dad.”
• Pulling away from Pops earlier than I would have liked, I turned a glare on Asher. He still hadn’t said anything to me. So, I put on a big smile and asked, “Would you like a hug too, Ash?”
• If looks could kill, then I would have been six feet under with the withering expression that appeared on Asher’s face. Without saying anything else, he walked to his car and got in. With narrowed eyes, I watched his vehicle until it was out of the gate before asking Pops, “Did I make a mistake? Isn’t that Asher? Why is he so different?” So cold.
• Different was an understatement. In the past, he never so much as frowned at me, but now he hadn’t smiled once the entire time. I understood things changed, but did they change this much?
• “It’s complicated, Daphne. Come inside. Let’s get you settled down.”