Arabel's POV
Despite the tremor in my heart, I am determined to go along with this. The idea from the start was to pretend to be someone else. Being angry, showing my displeasure at every single thing he does or says, or even restricting him from being friends with Daisy, who is obviously attached to him for a reason I can't place, is a bad idea.
This is why I have decided to let things be. Continue with the pretense. Stop being mad. Act like everything is fine. Fake my laughter and smiles.
And then maybe, everything will be much easier for me to take.
I couldn't sleep last night. I kept tossing in bed, indecisive about whether to go with them or not and whether to allow Daisy to go or not.
He already concluded on coming to pick her up even before I made a decision. That leaves me with either going with them and seeing everything they do together and everything they say to each other, or staying back at home while guessing and wondering what they must be doing.
This is really bad.
Daisy had always been a carefree and friendly child. She was like this with Alex too, but I fear what would result from her being friends with her father without her knowledge.
I don't know whether to let the sleeping dog lie or do something before it is too late.
Everything equates to one thing. One single decision I made was to accept this partnership. It comes with a lot of sacrifices. If not for anyone, I would do this for my child.
Daisy had been excited all morning. She came to wake me up herself, asking me to get her dressed for her outing with her buddy.
My chest constricts as I watch Daisy spin around, asking if she is beautiful for her outing.
I nod intermittently, pushing back the choking tide of panic in my throat. Just then, my phone rings, and I see it is him.
I don't want him to enter, so I grab Daisy's hand before strolling out. She won't stop talking nonstop about the ice cream he got for her, and the difference between that and the one Alex always gets.
I just hope she won't reveal anything to him today that isn't appropriate. A part of me is sure this is the major reason why I am tagging along.
To control her.
Clad in a simple gown and without any make up, I wave at Nita with Daisy, and I stride out and walk towards the gate.
If there is one thing I know and admire about Richard, then it is his punctuality. This is one thing every businessperson should possess, but aside from being a businessperson, Richard is always punctual.
Just like I am thinking, the guard opens the gate to reveal a creamy coloured G-waggon and a relaxed looking Richard in a casual white T-shirt and blue jeans with a black sunshade.
Temptation battles with my resolve, but I manage to keep a straight face when he looks up and waves at us.
Daisy giggles and runs over to hug him while I watch with folded arms.
I don't want to let my mind drift off to what was supposed to be or what I want. Waving the silly thoughts away, I move close and greet politely with a light smile on my face. “Good morning, Mr. Giodano.”
“Richard.” He mutters sharply, watching me behind the shades. Despite this, I feel like his gaze is boring into my existence.
I nod.
“Sorry. Richard.”
“Good morning," he murmurs, picking Daisy up and turning to open the passenger's seat. Like a pro when it comes to handling a child, he drops her there, leaving me to go to the back of the car.
I open the door before he can get it for me. Calmly, I settle in waiting for him to get in and drive.
Honestly, I can't wait for the day to be over. If I had a choice, I wouldn't be out here with him going to God knows where, but I need to keep an eye on my child. I need to ensure that she refrains from saying inappropriate things to him.
If I had my way, I would stop Daisy from ever contacting him, but that isn't possible considering how little of a problem that was. If she doesn't contact him, I will definitely see him.
We can't be partners without seeing each other.
The ride is silent except for a few exchanges of words between him and Daisy. I am silent, feeling like an intruder, and praying for this to be over soon.
I don't know when I doze off until someone taps me on the shoulder. “Bella?”
I flicker my eyes open with my head relaxed at the edge of the seat to see ocean blue eyes peering at me. “Are you ok?”
His breath fans my face, jerking me out of my reverie as I blink and sit upright immediately, feeling embarrassed to be caught dozing off behind his car.
This is not supposed to be awkward. I didn't plan for this to be awkward, but right now it is, and it makes me wonder just how I am supposed to act with a man I was married to seven years ago and I'm now acting as a stranger to.
“Are you ok?” He asks again, his soft tone laced with concern.
I nod intermittently without saying a word before finally looking around to realise we are in front of a fancy restaurant. Daisy is on a strange phone, which I assume is his.
Reminding myself that I am not out here to scold her or be rude to anyone, I refrain from asking her to return his phone as I step out.
He must have his reasons for giving her his phone. Personally, nobody touches my phone, which is why I got her a phone too.
She is such an inquisitive child.
Richard closes the door and leads us to the entrance, where the guard passes a card to him before we enter.
When we are fully inside, I realize the whole place is empty and quiet, except for the soft music floating from somewhere behind the huge counter.
Slowly, realization dawns on me.
That card is his booking card. He must have booked the entire venue for us.
Not us.
For Daisy. I am just a third party.
Careful not to show my surprise at this side of Richard, I feign a smile and watch him draw out a seat for me to sit in.
Without giving that nice gesture much thought, I slouch in, wanting to help Daisy to her seat too, but he beats me to it.
He flashes me a cute smile, which gets my head racing with a particular scene from years ago, before he slumps opposite me.
I am watching him with curiosity.
The Richard from years ago is a cold, mean, selfish, and heartless fellow. While this man before me is the total opposite, Not only did he come out here during working hours just to take Daisy out, but he is being extraordinarily nice and kind.
For a moment, I am tempted to ask what changed about him, and if he still thinks I am Arabel.
Did I change him? Is this nothing but regret and the only way for him to make up for his mistakes?
Does he think forgiveness comes that easily?
“Bella.”
“Mom.”
They both call simultaneously, and I flushed red in the face for being lost in thought again. I shouldn't be behaving this way. The agreement is to act like everything is fine so as to get rid of whatever doubts are still lingering in his mind about me being Arabel, his ex-wife.
“I'm sorry, what were you saying?” I politely apologize, making a smile crawl to my lips.
“What would you like to order?” He demands, staring at me with an intense gaze.
I shake my head. “Nothing. I am fine.”
“What?! You have to order, you can't just sit there…”
“I'm fine, really. I'm here for a specific reason, remember?”
He continues to stare, and I am thinking he will still insist on me ordering something, but he only nods in agreement and mutters. “You should feel free. I don't bite. I don't like how uptight you always are around me.”
I smile, and then I try to think of what conversation to strike to ease the tension and break the moment of silence between us.
Daisy is oblivious to the tension and the tumour in my insides as she munches on the filled donuts in front of her.
No matter how hard I try to think of something to say to start a conversation and ease the tension, it always leads to a remembrance of my past.
Everything reminds me of the US. Our marriage. The nights of passion. The divorce. The pregnancy. And finally, our child.
He raises his head to take a sip of the red wine in front of him when our eyes meet, and I realize I have been watching him all along, trying to figure out what is going through his head and his mind and how he is managing to keep calm.
Like an idiot, I blurt out carelessly. “Are you married, Mr. Richard?”