Erica’s POV
I was up early the next day. My eyes stung and my body felt weak.
I got up and walked to the dressing mirror. I was right. My face was a mess; blotchy and ugly in different places.
I had spent the entire night crying about Dante.
Pointless. It was all pointless.
I loved him but I could be with him. My family and my pride and dignity wouldn’t allow it. No. Not after everything that he had done.
I gripped the dressing table hard. My eyes stared back at me and I felt a lump form in my throat.
It was settled then. No more seeing Dante. I was going to give myself to Lorenzo. All of myself.
The decision had haunted me in my sleep. I had seen it all unfold in my dreams and now I was asleep no more. I was going to do it. I owed Lorenzo my faithfulness. It was no longer a question.
I grabbed my phone and rang Clarissa. I needed to get the children out of the house for the morning, at least.
I really hoped that she wasn’t busy with her mate.
It rang twice and she picked. She sounded groggy. I could only imagine the wonder night that she had had.
“Hello?”
“Clarissa, good morning.”
“What? Uhmmm…yes…good…good morning Miss Erica. I…I didn’t know it was you. I was still very much asleep.$
I smiled.
“It’s alright. I need to ask a favor though. I don’t know if you have any plans but I want you to take the kids out today. The park, the mall, wherever. I just need some time alone with Lorenzo.”
“Lor…Lorenzo? Uhmm… I mean. Yes, You and Mr. Lorenzo should spend some time together. I’ll come over and get the kids. Yes…”
I was relieved and thanked her. The call ended and I set the phone down.
I was wondering why she was acting nervous. Maybe she was a bit embarrassed by what I said.
I stared at myself in the mirror again. I was going to make sure that I rekindled the flame in Lorenzo and I’s relationship.
A flame that was never there in the first place.
I sat on my bed and planned what I was going to do.
I didn’t have much and I decided that it was best that I started small. I could make him his favorite meal.
It was an Italian dish that had a painstakingly long process but it was worth it if I was going to start patching things up with him.
I got dressed and headed to the living room. The kids were already awake and as soon as they saw me, they clamored into my arms and attacked me with hugs.
“Hey, you three should get ready. Miss Clarissa is coming around and she is going to take you three out. I don’t want you to keep her waiting.”
My words worked like a charm and in a flash, they clamored off me and ran to their room to get ready.
However, Elma stayed behind.
Her electric green eyes stared at me. She was unwilling to budge.
“Elma sweetie, what’s the matter? Aren’t you excited to go out with Miss Clarissa?”
She said nothing. Instead, she walked to me and hugged me around my knees.
“Miss Clarissa likes Mr. Lorenzo.”
I was slightly stunned by the information.
“Really?”
I tried to act intrigued so she wouldn’t feel dismissed.
She nodded and hugged me a little tighter. I stroked her head and was lost in thought for a while.
Clarissa like Lorenzo? Clarissa was already mated to someone else. Did she mean that Clarissa respected Lorenzo? Lorenzo was a very likable person anyway. Maybe she was reading it wrong.
I was uncomfortable having to explain all this to a five-year-old.
“It’s okay to like people, Elma. Especially if they are good people. And Lorenzo is a good person. You three should try and give him a chance.”
Elma ran away from me and hurried up to her room. I was even more confused. Did I say something wrong? Had I cleared her confusion?
I was not sure.
I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast for them and also make a list of ingredients to buy. It was going to be a long day of cooking. I had to be prepared.
I made some cereal for the kids and as soon as they came downstairs, they gobbled it all up.
There was of course no breakfast without incident and Ethan ate faster than the rest of his siblings.
Elsa called him out on it and he ended up choking on a cereal flake.
Another typical day in my household. If only I could get my kids to get along all the time.
Knock! Knock!
I got up from my seat at the table and opened the door.
Clarissa came in. She was dressed in a beautiful sunny dress and I couldn’t help but smile warmly at her. Her mate was taking really good care of her. I was so happy for her
“You look beautiful, Clarissa. Come in. The kids are ready.”
She gave a light blush and walked in.
The kids rushed to her and gave her a hug. Elsa commented on her dress and the blush on her cheeks spread more.
“Please make sure that they have a good time. I have sent some money to your account for them. Please have them back by 7 pm. Also, there is a Chinese restaurant at the mall that they love. Ethan and Elsa can recognize it and take you there. Get them Chinese takeout for dinner…”
I was still talking when I heard a door creak open.
Lorenzo came out of his room, bright-eyed, his hair was a ruffled sexy mess. I had never seen him this way. He looked so handsome.
But Dan… No, no, no. I had to forget about him.
I tried my best to see Lorenzo in this newfound way but it didn’t last very long and soon, in my eyes, he was back to Lorenzo-the Lorenzo I saw every day.
“Clarissa, you’re…you’re here?”
I moved uncomfortably. He didn’t even notice me. He saw Clarissa first.
I sighed. Was it really her fault? She looked beautiful and I was still a groggy mess in my bedclothes. Even I wouldn’t notice myself.
“Good morning, Lorenzo.”
I tried to act sweet and flirty. Lorenzo was startled and turned to look at me. He gave me a quick and nervous smile.
“E…Erica, I…good morning. What happened to you? You look really tired.”
I smiled and took a deep breath.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night. I asked Clarissa to come over and take the kids out so that we could have some time together.”
He looked at me in shock. I would be shocked too. I had never proposed such an idea to him before.
“Uhmm…right…yes…that…that would be…good.”
Clarissa seemed uncomfortable and the kids seemed restless. They were probably in a hurry to leave.
“Alright, you can go now. Thank you for taking the time today. I really appreciate it all.”
Clarissa said nothing and gave a polite curtsy and left. Lorenzo retreated into his room and I was left alone in the living room.
I exhaled deeply. I guess it was time to get cooking…