Chapter 95
A R I A N A
I sat on the old park bench watching them.
It has been one week, a week since Dante started coming over every day after school, and a week since he came back into our lives.
We were currently at the park, Dante was pushing Sophia on the swing her laughter filled the whole park. “Higher Daddy… Higher!” she screamed and he pushed her gently with a smile spread on his face.
Isabella was showing him her book pointing at a picture and Asher was hanging from the monkey bars showing off.
My heart felt so full it was almost painful It was a picture I had dreamed of for so long.
Seeing the kids so happy and with their father, something I had denied them for years, it made my eyes sting with tears.
If only they had him right from child birth then with no doubt I know Dante would have been the best father, he’s only been with the for a week but their relationship with him felt like it was forever.
Dante said something to the kids then he started walking towards me swelling down on the bench next to me.
“Are you okay?” he asked his voice quiet.
I nodded not taking my eyes off the kids. “I’m okay, they’re so happy p>
“They are,” he agreed.
We sat in silence for a moment just watching them play with unspoken words, the the worry that had been eating at me all week… or should I say all these years finally came out.
I had to ask, the sooner I asked the better it was for all of us.
“Dante?” I said my voice a little shaky.
“Yes Ariana p>
“I… I need to know. What is the plan? Are we… are we going to split custody p>
He turned to look at me his face full of confusion. “What p>
“You know,” I said twisting my hands together. “The kids Where they will live, I don’t want them to be split from each other and I know you’ll want time with them but I’m so used to having them with me… I don’t want to be selfish Dante so I was thinking, Maybe… maybe they can stay with me during the school days? And then during the holidays they can stay with you? Would that… would that be okay?” I rambled so scared of his response.
I didn’t want him to disagree… I didn’t want him to take full custody, after all I deserved that since I hide them away from him for all these years.
Dante was quiet for a long time his silence eating me up, he just looked at me with unreadable emotions.
Then he shook his head slowly.
“Ariana,” he said. “No p>
My heart sank. “No? What part? The school days? We can change it we can, please Dante don’t take them away from me… they’re the only thing keeping me sane and filling my miserable life, I wouldn’t live p>
He reached out and put his hand over mine stopping me. “Ariana listen to me. I am not taking the kids from you p>
I stared at him. “You’re not p>
“No,” he said, his voice firm. “That is not what I want p>
“Then what do you want?” I whispered.
He looked right into my eyes. “I want you p>
I felt my breath catch. “What p>
“It is not just the kids I want back Ariana,” he said. “I want you, I want us all of us together. I am not here to split a family. I am here to be a family with you p>
I shook my head pulling my hand away. “Dante, that’s… that’s not possible… Our relationship… it was always based on paper a contract, a business deal and then all the lies. There is too much broken that can never be fixed and we both know that, we can’t just… be a family p>
“Why not?” he asked, his voice intense. “The paper does not matter, the lies… we can put them behind us and start over all over again p>
“Start over?” I said a sad laugh escaping my lips. “How? We are not the same people we were years ago… Dante things can never be the same p>
“I know we are not,” he said. “I do not want the people we were I want the people we are now. Listen to me Arian, you’re a strong, amazing mother that have done so well with bringing up the kids, our kids and now that I’m back, please Arian don’t take that away from me, don’t take being with all of you away, from me and the kids p>
“It’s not that easy,” I argued tears in my eyes.
“It is not easy,” he agreed. “It will be hard but I am not walking away again I am not losing you again Ariana. I would be damned if I did p>
He leaned closer, his gaze so serious. “I love you I never stopped and I think… I think a part of you never stopped loving me either p>
I looked away back at our children.
Sophia was laughing.
Isabella was smiling.
Asher was trying to show his sisters a new trick.
They were a family.
He was right.
He was already a part of it.
But I wasn’t too sure I wanted to live a life I had closed before… I didn’t want to experience such pain again and the on the other hand I love my kids so much, their happiness means the world to me… finally having their father back, I didn’t want to take him away.
I looked back at Dante at the man who had broken my heart and was now here trying so hard to put it back together.
I took a deep shaky breath.
“Starting over is… very scary,” I whispered.
“I know,” he whispered back. “I am scared too but we can be scared together p>
“Okay,” I said the word soft but sure. “Okay. Let’s try. Let’s start over and this time, don’t break my heart again”
A slow real smile spread across his face. “I won’t my love… I promise”