he said, "I know and that's why. Ren, there isn't a spot in that place that doesn't have a memory with you in it. I couldn't bring myself to let it go."
All I could say was, "I love you."
Resting my head against his chest, when he said he loved me too, I could have sworn I felt it in my soul.
9
Unpleasant Surprises
Waiting outside of a fitting room in a department store, I shook my head at Sophia as she handed me a handful of swimsuits and asked me to get her a black and white one that she saw and forgot to grab. We should have all gone to breakfast together but since Sophia always waited until the last minute for things, Jackson and Ailin went to eat and we went shopping. I thought it was ridiculous, but Sophia had said they were going to find a beach on the way to their next stop. Apparently she didn't care what the weather was like, she was determined.
Rummaging through a bin of discounted bathing suits, I finally found the one Sophia asked for. In an effort to hurry, I quickly turned and ended up running right into someone. When I looked up I realized it wasn't just someone. It could have been anyone with brown hair, medium build, brown eyes and generic features but it wasn't. It was HIM.
A voice that reminded me of a distant memory said, "Ren, I thought that was you."
I could barely get his name out of my mouth as I breathed, "Henley," then trying to overcome the pounding in my chest, I questioned, "What are you doing here?"
"I live here. You didn't know that?" he replied.
Shaking my head, I answered, "I never asked where you went."
"What are you doing here?" he asked, apparently displeased at me answer.
For some reason I couldn't think of anything to say.
I briefly considered slapping him and shouting, 'None of your business'.The grown up version of me decided that would not be wise . Even though I never got over the years I spent with him, I had made my peace with him before he left. Of course, that was with the understanding that I was never going to see him again. Now that he was standing right in front of me because I had invaded his territory, I had to say something.
After a short mental debate over how much of my life I should share, I settled on saying, "We decided to take a trip."
Glancing down at the Claddagh ring on my hand, Henley said, "We? You are with Jackson." As I nodded he snapped, "Figures."
Scowling at him, I didn't get the chance to say anything because Sophia walked up beside me, saying, "Mama." Then grabbing the suit out of my hand, she cheered, "Yay, you found it."
Sophia didn't seem to notice Henley until he asked, "Is that your daughter?"
Smiling at him, Sophia replied, "I sure am and you are?"
I do believe at that moment my heart may have stopped for a minute.
Before he could answer her, I quickly stated, "Nobody. I accidentally bumped into him and said I was getting you your bathing suit. Now hurry up and go try it on so we can go."
I watched her shake off a curious expression before darting towards the dressing rooms. I turned and looked at Henley.
"That's you and Herterand's daughter?" he questioned with irritation.
Starting to feel sick to my stomach, I replied, "Yes."
An expression of disgust, that I was very familiar with, spread across his face as he asked, "That's your daughter?"
Clenching my teeth, I stood there staring at him before I repeated, "Yes."
With a hateful glare Henley shook his head at me before turning and walking away.
One step towards the fitting rooms and I had to stop and close my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I pulled my thoughts together and continued walking.
Tapping on the fitting room door, I said, "Okay, we need to go."
The door flung open as Sophia pouted, "I didn't like that one either."
"Let's go then," I said ready to get out of there.
With a little sigh she replied, "Just let me go look again, maybe there's a cute one I missed."
Unable to take a moment longer in the store, I snapped, "Damn it Sophia, you always wait until the
All I could say was, "I love you."
Resting my head against his chest, when he said he loved me too, I could have sworn I felt it in my soul.
9
Unpleasant Surprises
Waiting outside of a fitting room in a department store, I shook my head at Sophia as she handed me a handful of swimsuits and asked me to get her a black and white one that she saw and forgot to grab. We should have all gone to breakfast together but since Sophia always waited until the last minute for things, Jackson and Ailin went to eat and we went shopping. I thought it was ridiculous, but Sophia had said they were going to find a beach on the way to their next stop. Apparently she didn't care what the weather was like, she was determined.
Rummaging through a bin of discounted bathing suits, I finally found the one Sophia asked for. In an effort to hurry, I quickly turned and ended up running right into someone. When I looked up I realized it wasn't just someone. It could have been anyone with brown hair, medium build, brown eyes and generic features but it wasn't. It was HIM.
A voice that reminded me of a distant memory said, "Ren, I thought that was you."
I could barely get his name out of my mouth as I breathed, "Henley," then trying to overcome the pounding in my chest, I questioned, "What are you doing here?"
"I live here. You didn't know that?" he replied.
Shaking my head, I answered, "I never asked where you went."
"What are you doing here?" he asked, apparently displeased at me answer.
For some reason I couldn't think of anything to say.
I briefly considered slapping him and shouting, 'None of your business'.The grown up version of me decided that would not be wise . Even though I never got over the years I spent with him, I had made my peace with him before he left. Of course, that was with the understanding that I was never going to see him again. Now that he was standing right in front of me because I had invaded his territory, I had to say something.
After a short mental debate over how much of my life I should share, I settled on saying, "We decided to take a trip."
Glancing down at the Claddagh ring on my hand, Henley said, "We? You are with Jackson." As I nodded he snapped, "Figures."
Scowling at him, I didn't get the chance to say anything because Sophia walked up beside me, saying, "Mama." Then grabbing the suit out of my hand, she cheered, "Yay, you found it."
Sophia didn't seem to notice Henley until he asked, "Is that your daughter?"
Smiling at him, Sophia replied, "I sure am and you are?"
I do believe at that moment my heart may have stopped for a minute.
Before he could answer her, I quickly stated, "Nobody. I accidentally bumped into him and said I was getting you your bathing suit. Now hurry up and go try it on so we can go."
I watched her shake off a curious expression before darting towards the dressing rooms. I turned and looked at Henley.
"That's you and Herterand's daughter?" he questioned with irritation.
Starting to feel sick to my stomach, I replied, "Yes."
An expression of disgust, that I was very familiar with, spread across his face as he asked, "That's your daughter?"
Clenching my teeth, I stood there staring at him before I repeated, "Yes."
With a hateful glare Henley shook his head at me before turning and walking away.
One step towards the fitting rooms and I had to stop and close my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I pulled my thoughts together and continued walking.
Tapping on the fitting room door, I said, "Okay, we need to go."
The door flung open as Sophia pouted, "I didn't like that one either."
"Let's go then," I said ready to get out of there.
With a little sigh she replied, "Just let me go look again, maybe there's a cute one I missed."
Unable to take a moment longer in the store, I snapped, "Damn it Sophia, you always wait until the
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