There’s no more hiding.
Pulling open the door, I find my aunt, who looks exactly like my mom standing on the threshold of the house where I grew up. When I told her to come here, I was hoping being in the familiar surroundings would ease the news I’m about to deliver.
“Mila,” she pulls me into a hug, holding me so tight, I can’t breathe.
“Aunt Shanika,” I smile. Shutting the door behind her, I lead her into the living space.
Her long dark hair is pinned back, so her face isn’t hidden by the curtain of black locks that usually frame her expression. She’s nothing like my mother – serious, almost cold and distant. But this hug is something else.
“I’ve spoken to Gabriel,” she tells me as she settles on the sofa, and I take a seat on the opposite couch. I know she’s heard about Grayson and me. There’s no other reason she would be here.
“Okay,” I say, dragging out the word, unsure of what to tell her.
“At first, I was shocked, to be honest, I thought it was disgusting that you’re in love with Grayson,” she utters, her voice is low, but there’s no menace to it, and I wonder where she’s going with this.
I bite back a retort. I want to defend myself, defend the man I love. The ring that’s on my left hand is painfully clear where my life has taken me. And even though I’m starting a career soon, and Grayson is supporting me following my dreams, I also would like her blessing.
“Your mother was very much a free spirit,” my aunt says with a fond smile. “That’s where we differed. She was always off doing something exciting, upsetting our folks. But there’s one thing I can say, is that I’ve always admired her.”
“She never told me any of this,” I whisper, feeling the tears prick my eyes at her reminiscing.
Aunt Shanika nods, “You’re so much like her. And I know, deep down, she would’ve been happy, as long as you were. If Grayson is the man who looks after you, makes you smile every day, and gives you the support you need, then I guess it’s okay.”
I’m on my knees, holding her close. My heart is filled with warmth and happiness. It’s all I ever wanted.
“Is he good to you?”
I glance up at my aunt and nod. “He is. He’s the best man, I promise I’ll always look after myself, but I can’t stop loving Grayson.”
“Then we’ll have to plan the wedding.” Her smile is everything to me. It brings me the comfort in knowing I have my family near, and I have the man I love to spend the rest of my life with.
Austin’s Christmas Shortcake
A Taboo Novella
The sexy babysitter…
Prologue
Two years ago
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” I tell her.
Those long dark lashes frame her deep blue eyes as she blinks at me. She doesn’t respond. I knew she wouldn’t. When I walked in earlier and saw the suitcases, my heart stopped. It fucking shattered the farther into our apartment I stepped.
“You’ll be fine, Austin. She’s your daughter too. Can’t you watch her for a little while? I need to find myself,” Moira says.
I don’t understand. She’s twenty-seven. She has an incredible career as a marketing executive. She wants for nothing more than a few days off with her friends each month. And even then I support her when she tells me she thinks better without our daughter’s noise.
“Find yourself? Are you fucking kidding me?” My tone is incredulous. I can’t handle the agony that’s slicing through my chest. The woman I loved since I was nineteen, the mother of my daughter, is walking out and she doesn’t seem to care.
“Yes, Austin, I’m not as lucky as you to have everything I want.” The frustration in her tone, the words she utters finally break me. “I mean…” She tries to backtrack, but there’s no taking back what she just said. There’s no way she can deny it.
“Fine. Take your shit and get out of my house. Make sure that when I get home with Chels this afternoon every damn trace of you is gone. And when my daughter asks where her mother went, I’ll tell her you weren’t good enough to be a mother.”
I don’t mean a word I say. They’re spat in anger and the way she looks at me tells me she doesn’t care either way. Perhaps it would be easier if she’d just left without a word. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to look at her and see how much she doesn’t love me, or my daughter.
“You don’t deserve happiness after what you’re about to do to Chelsea.”
She doesn’t respond. Instead, she stalks past me and into the bathroom. I can hear her moving about and I make my exit. I can’t deal with this right now. I have a little girl to look after, and this time, no woman is going to fuck me over.