Adam's POV

Sitting in my office, I couldn't help but look outside. The sun was shining bright, the colours very vibrant and beautiful, broadcasting the beauty of the world, yet, I couldn't fully appreciate the beauty wholeheartedly. I closed my eyes, trying to find some peace within myself

Father....... I can't stop thinking about her.

Bright blue eyes, blonde hair, tall, beautiful, kind-hearted, best friend, loyal, feisty.........filled with love.

I sighed as I touched the ring on my finger, twirling it around, fully preoccupied. I hadn't taken it off ever since that day. I told myself that I would love her and only her, that I would never be with another.

We fell in love in high school, got married after university, built our little house and gave birth to Emilia there. After two years of bliss, it all came tumbling down. I lost her, and I believed that that was it for me. Falling in love with someone else was off the books for me.

The door was suddenly opened, and in walked in the man who thought was in charge of this business, my partner and best friend, James.

"Adam."

I just looked up at him, silently taking in his sad and disapproving gaze. A gaze that clearly showed me that he was not happy, not one bit.

"Do you need anything?"

He looked at me for a little while before sighing and sitting down in front of me. It was like this for a little while, him just looking at me, while I'd given up and had decided to play candy crush.

"You're still wearing your ring."

I stopped playing and looked at him for a second before I went on playing.

"So?"

He banged his hand on the table, shocking me a little bit at the moment.

"What do you mean 'so'? How long are you going to keep on with this? You are letting yourself go, holding onto someone who has died a little over five years ago."

I kept quiet, because I, myself, knew that what I was doing was not healthy, but I couldn't stop myself. I couldn't forget her. I tried, I really did try to forget, but it didn't work.

"Dude, I know you loved her, but you have got to let her go. She loved you, and now she's resting. If there's one thing that I'm sure of, it is that Kathie wouldn't want you to be like this. She'd want you to be happy, and even find someone to be with again."

I sighed, and stood from the chair and went to the floor-to-ceiling wall, looking outside. Subconsciously, I twirled the ring, thinking deeply about everything.

He came and stood next to me.

"I've seen how you've withdrawn yourself into your work, drowning in it. You are hardly present in church, and you don't take part in any church activities anymore..........."

Taking a hold of my shoulder, he squeezed lightly.

"I worry about you, and I see that you are slowly disconnecting from everyone, even me."

I walked away and sat down again.

"I know what I'm doing, friend. Thanks for your concern, though. I'll be fine."

He stood at the wall, looking outside before he charged towards the door. When he was about to get out, he stopped and looked back at me, face unreadable.

"I hope that this ends soon. It's been five years already."

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Rain poured down in showers as I drove down the street towards home. Clair de lune played in the car, giving me the peace that my soul so very much yearned for at the moment.

In a couple of minutes, I would be home with my little daughter, Emilia. The thought brought a small smile to my face. My little baby, already seven years old.

I remembered back then when she was just two years old when Kathie had died. It was very hard for me to take care of her, and try to run the new partnership company James and I had just begun. After a year, I hired a nanny to take care of her, but I always made sure that I made time for her. Maybe we'd go out, watch a movie, play games, anything she wanted. I never wanted her to feel alone.

The guard opened up the gate, and I drove in. After parking the car in the garage, I got out, only to be pushed back a little by some force. I looked down to see Emilia holding onto me with a tight hug. I took a hold of her and held her up. Her face was tear stricken. My happiness from seeing her vanished completely into panic and confusion.

"What's wrong, pumpkin? What happened?"

She cried even more, holding my shirt tightly in a bunch with her little fingers.

"It's....... it's....aunty! She's..... she's leaving me!!!"

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, trying to piece everything together. Everything would, when we got in and I had a talk with her.

I found Aunt Linda in the sitting room on the couch, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. I went to her, and sat next to her. She was surprised to see me there, and quickly dabbed at her eyes.

"Mr Carter......"

"What's going on here?"

She smiled sadly, and looked at me.

"I'm going to get married, sir. I met a man about a year ago, and we dated. When I went out for my leave last weekend, we got together and.....he proposed. I decided to tell you this today so that you could have an extra week to look for the new nanny."

Dumbfounded, I just nodded. I was quite shocked that she had found someone to be with again after her husband died four years back. She was now forty, so i wondered who the man could possibly be.

Smiling warmly at her, I took her hand in mine and gave it a squeeze.

"Thank you so much for staying with us for so long. You took care of Emilia ever since-"

I kept quiet for a little while, and the pat from Ms Linda brought me back.

"I'm quite glad that you found someone to be with. I'd like to see the man who took your heart."

It took all that was within me not to laugh at her as she was blushing like a schoolgirl.

"Of course, sir. It's such a shame though, leaving Emilia. She had grown quite fond of me up to the point where she ran away from me in tears when I told her."

"You can come visit her anytime, any day. You're literally a mother to her, you know?"

She sighed then looked down, the pain of leaving evident on her face.

"Sadly. She is also allowed to come see me and Walter as well. My little one...... And you should also look for someone. Look at me. I'm a forty year old woman who's going to remarry."

I smiled wryly, not wanting her to feel offended.

"Thank you against for telling me in advance. Now I can look for a new caretaker for her without too much of a rush."

She smiled, got up and left the room.

>^<^>^<^>^<^>^<

"Next!"

The girl who had been sitting on the chair scoffed, tossed her hair to the side and left the office.

Another one came in, looking more like she walked out of a strip club than a person who was looking for a nanny's job. She had red lipstick on, six inch heels and a strut that screamed LOOK AT MY BODY.

"Get out."

She stopped, posed and smiled seductively.

"You know you want this."

I just rolled my eyes, and called security. She quickly ran out, but yelled out CALL ME on the way. I looked at the resume to see that it had a number with 'x o' on it. I tossed it in the trash, and sighed in exasperation.

What is wrong with this world?

I rolled about in my chair, trying to relax when the door opened, and James walked in.

"I bet this means that you have been unsuccessful."

I whispered as I massaged my temples, "Don't talk about it."

He sat down, seemingly deep I thought.
"Do you want to go to church with us this week?"

I shook my head, and I saw that the flicker of hope that had sparked in his eyes extinguished.

"I think it's been too long since you last went. The house of the Lord is a hospital, you know? He heals the brokenhearted and gives them peace beyond their very own understanding."

I looked at him, and a sad smile graced his face, making me feel a pang within myself, a sudden drive to go.

Don't go. What will the people say after not going there for so long? They'd say that you killed her.

I sighed,"Sorry friend, I don't think that I can go."

"Oh.......okay then. I'm still coming to take Emilia, whether you like it or not."

I nodded and shooed him off with my hand.

"That's fine with me. "

💞💞💞💞

Author's Note

Don't forget to comment, share, vote and add that book to your reading list, if you like it so much!!!!!

Keep safe and God bless you!