Chapter 49
Ariel
We exchanged surprised glances and immediately I began to search for a dress I could wear while Dmitri buttoned his pants and quickly put on a vest.
“Liora? Is it really you?”
The surprise on my face wore off and my eyes became misty. If she was really the one, I didn’t know what I’d do with myself. Since I couldn’t wait to find out, I dashed to the door with Dmitri trailing behind me.
My fingers trembled as soon as it touched the doorknob and Dmitri noticing my fear, placed his hand on mine and twisted the knob, opening the door.
Liora peered up at us with uncertainty blaring on her face. “Mummy,” She called this time and my heart swelled to the point of exploding.
I scooted, unsure of what I heard. When did this miracle happen?
“Liora, are you alright? You’re calling me mummy,” I croaked, my emotions choking my throat.
It took a lot for an emotional person like me not to burst into tears.
She nodded slowly and cupped my face. “I did because you’re my mummy,” She reiterated and glanced at Dmitri who suddenly couldn’t talk.
I could tell what was going through his head because the same thing was happening to me.
“Daddy, let’s go inside,” She urged us and we heeded to her request without any reluctance.
We plopped on the bed and made her sit between us. The tears in my eyes were already threatening to fall off so I looked away and dabbed them with the back of my palm.
“Sweetheart, are you really talking?” Dmitri broke the silence, his voice shaky.
“Yes, Daddy. I wanted to tell you about the dream I had last night. You and mummy were in it,”
I sniffed and reached for her little hand. “Oh baby, you have a beautiful angelic voice and I want to hear it all the time. Please can you never stop talking?”
She nodded vehemently and offered me a small smile. “Can I keep calling you mummy? I like you, but I’m hungry,” She giggled innocently.
My head felt like it was going to burst if she continued to talk and I was too giddy with excitement that I barreled out of the room. Having nowhere else to clear my head but the garden, I veered toward it.
The warm afternoon breeze slapped my face as I took a deep exhilarating breath. The restlessness within me eased off with the fragrance of the white jasmine wafting into my nostrils.
A sigh of relief echoed behind me and then I knew that I was no longer alone.
“It’s funny how I’ve heard of miracles several times, but I didn’t know that it will be happening to me this soon,” Dmitri took a sitting position beside me on the properly mowed grasses.
I chuckled and brought my knees close to my chest. “Is it still hard to believe that your daughter is speaking?”
His eyes turned wistful as they peered at me. “You won’t understand it, Ariel. She has never said a word to me in her whole life. The first time I set my eyes on her after she was born was the best day of my life; she was fragile, yet beautiful. She didn’t even take the color of my eyes but I don’t mind because she’s the most gorgeous child I’ve ever seen. And after that, the only thing I wanted from her was hearing her call me daddy but it never happened until now,”
“You love her so much,” I commented.
“Yes, I do…” His voice cracked and he sniffed. “I love her so much and that was why I wasn’t happy that her mother’s death nearly caused her life. Liora is a bright kid who’s supposed to enjoy what I can offer her, what the world has to offer her but I had to hide her because she couldn’t even speak…” He trailed off again and I knew that he was close to tears.
I reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Dmitri,” I called softly. “I know that you like to act all macho and cruel, but I’ve seen how you adore your daughter. And I’m going to tell you now that you aren’t all that bad. You hurt me severally but I understand the reasons behind your actions and I forgive you so forgive yourself now. Allow yourself to enjoy what the universe has done for you. You also free to cry, I’m the only one watching,”
Finally, he let the tears cascade freely down his cheeks. He sobbed quietly but at least, they were for good reasons.
“Don’t mock me about this later,” He croaked after cleaning his face.
“I might do that,” I wiggled my brows and smirked.
His arm went around my waist and he pulled me closer to him. “You played a major role in Liora’s recovery. Thank you,”
My eyes bulged and my lips fell open as I made a fake show of surprise. “Is the Russian Capo thanking me now? Am I dreaming?” I gasped.
He laughed softly but it was sincere and carefree as if he had no cares in the world. “Right now, I’m not a Capo. I’m your husband and I want to apologize for hurting you,”
“I told you that I’ve forgiven you already. By the way, are you falling for me now?”
“You wish,”
A companionable silence ensued and I didn’t want it to end. I thought about everything and I was amazed at how the tide of events turned around for my favor.
At first, I hated him for taking away my perfect life, but the reverse was the case now. I wasn’t sure that I was in love with him, but I could say that I cared deeply about him and his daughter.
And the fact that he gave me the best orgasms that I couldn’t even give myself was something to be happy about.
“We’ll be traveling back to Chicago in three days,” He suddenly announced.
My heart skipped a beat as only one man crossed my mind; my father. I wasn’t sure I wanted face him yet.
“What for?” I asked dejectedly.
“For his birthday party and he emphasized on bringing you over. He wants to see you,”