ARIA’S POV
I take a step to the back when the man wheels himself forward again, getting even closer into my personal space than he already was. Looking to Regis for help in that moment doesn’t help one bit because he also has the same look of confusion written in clear lines all over his face.
“I can’t believe it’s really you. Look at you, all grown.” He’s smiling through tears.
When he grabs my hand out of nowhere, I yelp at the unexpected contact, backing away from him. It is exactly what Regis needs to break out of his confusion as he steps between us. I hide behind him, rubbing the hands the man held not too long ago.
“Sir,” Regis says, “Is everything okay?”
At Regis‘ words, the man breaks out of whatever spell he’s been put in since he saw me.
“Oh, how rude of me,” He says and then meets my eyes to continue, “I apologize if I made you feel
uncomfortable. I just couldn’t help myself.” He chuckles at the end of the words. However, that isn’t enough to convince me to step out of what I deem to be Regis‘ protection.
“You came all the way here for answers, please, do not let my mistake take that from you.” He says again in another attempt to convince me. Regis looks at me, squeezes my shoulder and nods with a reassuring smile that I don’t return but is enough to convince me that he is here with me and everything will be fine.
The man wheels himself back through the opened door and we follow into what first seems like a visitor’s room before stepping into a much bigger place with a living room set–up.
“Please, make yourselves at home. The maids will attend to you.” He says and pauses to look at me for a brief moment before disappearing into the house. I heave, realizing I’d been holding my breath since I walked in here.
Regis urges me to sit on one of the three seater couches in the living room and he settles beside me too. A maid soon comes by to offer us tea; while Regis declines, I immediately opt for water instead, needing something to calm my nerves.
I am only halfway through the glass of water when the man appears again. He looks to be more put together as he rolls towards us now and I make use of the opportunity to take a good look at him. He might have specks of gray hair on his full head of hair while his beards are entirely gray but he doesn’t seem to be older than fifty not to mention how he looks oddly familiar when I am sure I have never met this man in my entire life.
“Once again, I apologize for my behavior.” He apologizes as soon as he stops in front of us. I nod, telling myself that his reaction to seeing me doesn’t matter as much as knowing why Grandmother gave me the key chain that leads here.
“I couldn’t help myself especially when I have been waiting for this moment for so long. When Regis told me a young woman named Aria Miller had my card, I just knew it had to be you even though your last name had me second–guessing. Isn’t your mother’s last name Cook?”
His words bring me to the edge of the couch. Cook was my last name before I married Adam. It was my mother’s last name.
“You knew my mother?” I haven’t heard anyone speak of my mother in years, not even grandmother who avoided the topic of my deceased mother. I know so little about her since she died before I was even old enough to start elementary school.
“How do you know my mother?” I ask again, impatience and urgency working together to drive words out of me. The man nods his head.
CHAPTER 12
+25 BONUS
