Chapter 133

Almara’s Pov

Robert and I return home, empty handed once again. We step into the living room and I must say I’m a bit relieved to see it’s empty. I assume Roman is upstairs sleeping, I just can’t handle another hopeful look in his eye only to dim when we have to tell him we don’t have the potion, yet.

It pains me just as much as I’m sure it pains him. I ascend up the long stairwell using the curved railing for support. I need to see Grace. I crack open the door and step into her nursery. The room is a shade of dust rose with painted clouds on the wall. Her name is written in a bubbly cursive above her white crib.

The rest of the room is decorated with plushy stuffed animals, greenery, and fluffy blankets as though the clouds from the wall are also stuffed in the oversized wicker baskets.

As a whole, the nursery looks as though it belongs on some kind of home décor magazine. It’s detailed and picture perfect. I hate it.

Roman and I didn’t get any say in how the room ought to be designed and something inside me wants to crawl up the walls and rip down the sheer sparkly curtains, to take a bucket of green paint and throw it on the wall. I want the room to have fresh grass and dirt so Grace can connect to her inner wolf.

I don’t do any of this. I move to her crib where I find Grace sleeping. I don’t know how much time passes, but I continue to gaze at her and keep my thoughts at bay.

The rise and fall of her belly while her arms are extended beside her as though surrendered to sleep keeps me steady. Numbly, I walk over to her and very gently lift her into my arms. I breathe her scent in and stoke her back.

“She really is a cutie.” I hear Robert say. Normally, the sudden intrusion would make me jump and maybe that’s what Robert wants, to see if he still has control over me- but when I’m holding Grace, I’m unshakable.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper across the room. The only thing that makes this nursery feel less belonging to just Roman, Grace and me, is the fact that Robert is here leaning against the door frame. I can’t help noticing how ridiculous he looks standing in a place made for the most innocent lives among us.

“I wanted to see my niece.” He says plainly. I rest Grace back in her crip, her little lips give a small quiver and then give back to a calm stillness as her body finds rest once more.

“You can look, but you can’t touch.” I say. Surprisingly, Robert doesn’t argue. He peels himself off the door frame and saunters over, he keeping his hands in his pocket and hovers over the crib. I keep my eyes locked on him, just in case of any sudden movements.

Instead, the only reaction to happen is a ever so subtle change in his expression. The same look he gave when he saw Grace for the first time in the car. A softening, a crack of the tough-guy mask he wears.

“Why do you love her so much?” I ask, completely confused by his seemingly pure open-heart posture towards her.

“I don’t know.” He admits, keeping his eyes fixed on Grace. I’m a bit taken back by his honesty, and to be frank I think his love for Grace is a surprise to him as well. I don’t say anything, mostly because I don’t know what to say. So, I give this moment to Robert and Grace.

“Look,” Robert says after a moment of tender silence, “I will leave you and Arthur alone to enjoy your lives together once you know,” He trails off using his hand to give a waving gesture to summarize the concluding of events.

“Thank you.” Is all I say, I don’t know what he wants me to say. Who cares what he wants. Lily says and I can’t blame her for still being put off by Robert’s presence. He was horrible to me after all and unfortunately it’s taken me this long to notice it and I owe that to Arthur.

It’s only because of him showing me what it’s like to be treated properly have I learned what a good relationship is, and maybe that’s why I’m so hesitant to allow Robert to get close to Grace- he hasn’t had anyone show him that yet.

Um, hello?! You showed him that! Lily is quick to interject and it hits me that she’s right. Maybe it took me leaving for Robert to learn his lesson.

“I can’t promise I’ll leave my old man alone.” Robert says jokingly to lighten the mood, though I know very well he will indeed keep bothering Roman and I chuckle at the thought. Poor Roman. “And maybe I can see my niece every now and then.”

The smile fades from my lips and I let out a sigh. “It’s going to take more than one day of kindness to convince me you’ve changed.” I tell him. Robert nods in understanding. A cough from behind us snaps us back to the present moment.

I turn to see Arthur leaning against the doorframe. Did he hear all of that? I usher over to him and he takes me into his arms, protectively. “How are you doing?” I ask, more so out of habit at this point.

“I’m doing fine.” Arthur says also out of habit, we look into one another’s eyes and we know the truth. We’re just trying to spare the heartache of saying how we really feel out loud.

“I’ll leave you two alone.” Robert says moving through the open door.

“Wait a minute,” Arthur tells Roman forcefully and I can tell that took just about all of his strength. I lead Arthur to the white armchair near Graces crib so he can see his daughter rest. Maybe he can pull from her calmness like I did.

Robert waits patiently as Arthur sinks into the seat, the cushions grunting underneath his dead weight. I try to wipe the concern off my face, but I’m not sure I’m succeeding. “I heard what you said, and I stand with my wife.” Arthur says, his voice quiet and out of breath.

I stroke gentle circles on his upper back while he closes his eyes and takes a slow deep breath. “As for my father that’s between you and him. As for you and me, well I don’t like you based on the way you treated Almara in fact the very thought of it still pisses me off.”

“Shhh.” I soothe Arthur. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” He looks at me with sunken eyes but even through the overwhelming sense of lifelessness is a seriousness in what he’s saying. “You didn’t deserve that.” He says to me and then turns his head to Robert who looks as though he doesn’t know how to respond.

“Though if you didn’t treat her so badly, she wouldn’t have ended up with me.” The slight change of Arthur’s tone makes Robert dare to lift his eyes and meet Arthurs hard state. “That’s what I’m going to focus on instead.” It’s not necessarily a statement of acceptance or forgiveness, but it’s a baby step in the direction of moving on. A weight visibly falls from Robert’s shoulders.

“Now, get away from my daughter.” Arthur says, yet nothing about it sounds threatening. Robert gives a half smile and ducks away.

Arthur pulls my arm so I’m lowered to sit on his lap. “How’s my favorite girl really doing?” He asks and I can’t hold back the tears any more. Arthur wipes each one away as they roll down my cheek. “I know little wolf.” He says kissing my hand. “Me too.”