Three Thousand Miles - Forever, (book #3 of Three Thousand Miles, Series) (23 page)

Twelve

Two weeks have passed since that night Adrian and I had dinner – looking over
the River Thames. Things since that night have gotten crazy. Adrian went to the
hospital the next day and he found out that Williamis his son – surprise,
surprise. Adrian and I were both ecstatic and a little scared by the outcome,
but we have welcomed this new challenge with open arms. William has
seemed to accept the fact that Adrian is his father and Adrian and I have spent
the last two weeks getting to know him. Zara allows him to spend a few hours
with us every night after school and how amazing those nights are. We have
dinner and then Adrian, William and I sit down and watch a Disney movie. He
loves cartoons and he especially adores Toy Story – buzz light-year to be exact.
I can’t begin to describe how many times that we have watched that movie
with him and I am sure that Adrian and I both know all of the words off by
heart. He doesn’t stay overnight as Adrian feels that it’s a little too soon for
that yet. However, I have insisted on decorating William a room in our house –
just in case he has the urge for him to stay.

Zara has been ‘okay’ the last couple of weeks back. She hasn’t been her usual
bitchy self; instead she has actually been rather nice. She doesn’t ask me to
leave when she is around anymore and she doesn’t seem to mind that I am
spending time with William. I feel that Zara realises that William needs his
father and she has accepted that I come as part of the deal. I know that it must
be difficult for her and I do admire her for being graceful regarding this
situation. She has even opened up to Chad and she has told him that Adrian is
the father of her son and that we have the paternity test to prove it. As
expected Chad wasn’t happy at her confession so he has moved out of their
house and he is now living with Michael and Emma.

Emma returned to London last week after she decided that she wanted to give
things another go with Michael. I haven’t seen or spoken with Michael since
that day I visited him at his house and I have to say that I am a little glad that
he hasn’t contacted me. After my outburst in the restaurant Adrian explained
in full detail what actually happened between Becky and Michael and when I
heard what he did to that innocent girl, I felt as if I didn’t want him around me.
I saw certain similarities between my friendship with Michael and that of his
with Becky. I just felt that I didn’t want to encourage him to obsess over me so
I have decided not to contact Michael anymore and I have to admit that
thought is terrifying. Michael was my best friend and my heart breaks every
day for him. I care deeply about him and some part of me loves him, but I
know that for my own safety and his, I have to let him go. I need to move on
with my life with Adrian and William. Although I don’t see Michael anymore
Adrian and I still have regular visits from Emma. She drops by every couple of
days and she is always sweet. Adrian really appreciates and cares for his sister
so I do my best to get along with her. However, her visits do tend to become
awkward when she brings up Michael and Chad. I try my hardest to nod and
listen in on what she is saying, but sometimes shemakes it really hard for me
do that. She never says that he is thinking of me or she never tries to urge me
into talking with him. I feel as if she blames me for the sudden change in
circumstances and she feels that I am the one who has the problem – not
Michael. Although she has never said anything like this to me, I can sense in
her eyes that she is thinking it every time that she looks at me.

Adrian has been busy at work and he spends most of his time at the office. My
days have also been busy as I am still working at the orphanage. I wake every
morning with a rush to get there. I enjoy my days with Janet and the children
and I crave them when I have my days off. I have spent the last two weeks
bonding and getting to know the children of the orphanage. Every one of them
is unique and special in their own way and I love that I have the chance to help
them. I respect them and I try my hardest to be there for them if they need any
advice. Being with the younger children has really opened up my maternal side
and now that I am spending more time with Adrian’s son, the more I feel like a
mom. I love looking after children and now that William is in our lives, I feel
that I have been given the chance to prove that I will be a good mother and I
can’t deny that I haven’t been thinking about Adrian and I possibly having a
child of our own. I have watched him with William and although he has his
doubts about his parenting skills, he is a wonderful dad. He is caring and loving
towards him and he would do anything for his child and I desperately want to
give him more children to love.

Today is Saturday and it’s my day off from work. I woke up late this morning as
I didn’t sleep much last night. I tossed and turned all night and I was
unbelievably uncomfortable. My body temperature was high and my lower
back throbbed all night. I finally feel asleep around 5:am and I didn’t wake up
until 11:am. By that time Adrian had already left for work so I just went
straight into the shower and then I made myself a very late breakfast
consisting of pancakes and fruit. I watched daytime TV for a while and then I
did a few things around house.

Now it’s around 2:30pm and I am up the stairs putting the finishing touches to
William’s room. For the last week or so I have beendecorating one of our
spare bedrooms so that when William comes to visit he has his own room.
Adrian ordered a red race car bed for him and I searched all over the city until I
found a Toy Story duvet cover. We have painted the walls of the room a light
shade of blue and I have carefully attached transfers of all his favourite
characters from the movie onto the walls of the room. Adrian has bought him
loads of new toys and I went shopping and bought him a whole new wardrobe
of clothes. We understand that it is a big change for him and that he might not
understand what has happened and why he is here, but we want to make it an
easy transition for him and we want him to feel at home with us. Adrian and I
have instantly fallen in love with him and I want him to spend more time with
us. That’s why I have been hassling Adrian about asking Zara if William can
sleep over with us for a few nights. I feel that it would really help him in getting
to know us more and hopefully he will grow to love us as we love him. I ask
Adrian every night when he comes home if he has thought about it, but he
always gives me a vague non-answer. I feel that Adrian is perhaps afraid to let
William stay because he knows that once he does then he won’t want him to
leave.

I begin to fold away William’s clothes into the closet of his oversized room
when I am interrupted by the doorbell. I immediately stop what I am doing and
I rush down the stairs. I carefully peep out of the small hole in the door to see a
man. I instantly back away from the door as my heart begins to race. The
doorbell rings again and this time I ask who is there.

“Who is it?” I ask in a strong voice. There is no answer from the man, but
instead there is a firm knock at the door. My heart is pounding and I don’t
know if I should answer him. My mind flashes back to the threats that I have
been receiving and I instantly think that this could be the guy who has been
tormenting me. The doorbell rings again, but this time he speaks.

“I am looking for Adrian,” he shouts in a deep English accent. I rush to the front
door and I consider answering him, but then I resist the urge as I question him
on who he is.

“Sir, who are you and what do you want?” He laughs through the door and I
feel annoyed by his rude actions.

“Don’t worry love I won’t hurt you.” He says as he laughs again. I give in and I
open the door. When the door bursts open the man has his back turned to me
so that I can’t see his face. He is tall and he has jet black hair. He is dressed
smartly in dark trousers and a black sweater. He isslim and he looks youngish
from the back, but I could have sworn that he was older, given the deepness of
his voice. He notices that I have opened the door and he turns to face me. He
swirls around with one fluid motion and my heart stops as I take in his face. He
is in his late-forties but doesn’t look a day over thirty. His skin is golden and he
has thick wavy black hair that is styled to perfection. His nose is broad and his
lips are full, but what has really caught my attention are his eyes – his glowing
green eyes. I look at him and I know who he is – Edward Black, Adrian’s father.

“Hello my lovely, you must be Alanna?” He says as he lunges forward and grabs
my hand. I stare at him – blankly as I can’t believe that he is here. Edward Black
is actually standing right in front of me. I have heard so much about him from
Alice and Maggie and I don’t know how to approach him. He is staring at me as
he holds my hand and I feel weakened by his presence. I don’t know how to act
around him; this is the man who abandoned Adrian when he was two years
old. I can’t process that he is here standing in my doorway – what am I going to
do?

“Hi, Edward, is it?” He smiles at me and I quickly lose myself as I see Adrian
staring out at me from his eyes. He is looks so much like Adrian and now I can
understand why Maggie was so startled when she first saw Adrian.

“Yes my lovely I am Adrian’s father.” I can’t breathe as he confirms my
suspicions. What will I do? I need to invite him in that’s what I need to do.

“It’s nice to meet you, would you like to come in?” He smirks at me and again I
see Adrian staring back at me. I walk nervously into the house as Edward
follows behind me. I escort him into the lounge and can feel my anxiety
building as I alert him to take a seat.

“Please take a seat. Can I get you something to drink, tea perhaps?” He smirks
again at me.

“I wouldn’t mind something a little stronger, if you don’t mind?” Wow he is
intense. However, I agree to his suggestion as I make my way over to our
drinks cabinet. I begin to rummage through the bottles and I quickly select a
bottle of single malt whiskey and a small crystal glass.

“How do you take your scotch?” I ask as I open the bottle.

“Neat, my lovely,” I pour him his drink and then I close the cabinet and make
my way back over to him. He takes the drink carefully from my hand and he
instantly begins to sip at the alcohol. I glide over to the arm chair and I sit
down as I think of what I am going to say to him, but he talks first – which
saves me from breaking the ice first.

“This is a stunning house and you are a beautiful girl. Adrian has done well for
himself.” I blush at his words.

“Thanks,” is all that I manage to say. Edward laughs again and I feel uneasy
around hm. He is very intense and intimidating andI can definitely see where
Adrian gets his good looks from – his father. I feel awkward, but I need to pull
myself together as I don’t want to seem rude or childish in his presence.

“I have heard a lot about you so it’s nice to finally put a face to the name.”
Edward laughs again as he sips at his drink.

“Yes well I am sure that everything you have heard about me is true.” He says
sarcastically and now I know where Adrian gets his sarcastic ways from. I
gently smile at his comment and then I think of Adrian and that I should call
him and let him know that his father is here. I resit as I want to know more
about him –first.

“The last I heard of you was that you were living in Scotland.”

 

“Yes I lived in Edinburgh for a while, but I have now moved back to London.” I
clear my throat as I say my next words.

 

“I am sorry if I seem rude, but why are you here?” He looks surprised by my
words and he downs his drink as he considers his reply.

“I am here to see my son and his wife.” I roll my eyes at him as I feel that why
now – after twenty six years of no contact why does he want to see Adrian
now?

“That’s a little hard to believe.”

“Listen my lovely, I appreciate that I haven’t been the world’s greatest father,
but I am here because I want to try to be in my son’s life. I want to make up for
all those years that I was absent.” I stare at him as I try to believe what he is
saying is true. I would love for Adrian to have a relationship with his father, but
at the same time I don’t want him to get hurt by him either. Edward has a
reputation for being a dead-beat- dad, he abandonedtwo children and never
gave them a second thought, I really don’t know if he is sincere in his words,
after all a leopard can never change its spots.

“What about your daughter, Emma?”

 

“What about her?” Edward says in firm tone that stuns me. I feel my face flush
hot as I try to compose myself.

“You say that you want to be in Adrian’s life, but what Emma’s life? Have you
been to see her?” Edward scowls at me and I am getting a hatred vibe from
him. My heart gently beats as I stare into his intense green eyes – waiting for
his smart answer to my question.

“Of course I want to be in her life, but I haven’t had the chance to bond with
her in the way that I have with Adrian.” I frown at him – did he just say what I
thought he said? Has Adrian already met his father?

“I am sorry what did you just say?” Edward rudely rises up from the sofa and
he bounces over to our drinks cabinet. He stares at me as he helps himself to
another glass of scotch. His eyes are piercing through me and I can tell that he
isn’t impressed by me. However, I try to hold my own as I wait for him to make
his way back over to the sofa. He sits down and he has brought the entire
bottle of scotch back to the seat with him. He arrogantly rests the bottle onto
my glass coffee table and I frown at him as I jump from my seat and
immediately place the bottle onto a coaster. I take my seat again – opposite
him as I stare at him for an explanation.

“Wasn’t I clear? Adrian and I have bonded lately and I was simply saying that I
haven’t had the chance to meet with Emma- at least not yet anyway.” My eyes
are spinning around my head and my chest is pumping violently I can’t breathe
as I take in his words.