The Shadow

Chapter-15 Regret

Eventually, the party came to its end. Few close friends and their kids stayed behind. In the meantime, Robert was looking at his friends and their kids playing with each other. He, then, sadly smiled looking at them.

Unintentionally and subconsciously he envisioned himself & Cami doing the cute and spontaneous steps of the unforgettable Monkey dance and Gabi making their videos, while Isabella rolling her eyes as both girls are Daddy's girls. It was a dream seen simultaneously with his opened eyes and his hidden, sensitive heart. His heart fluttered looking at his own family complete. This imagination brought one kind of peace in his mind and soul as well as causing him to form a smile.

Soon he came out of his trance when he heard someone calling him "Dad...DAD"

Without realizing it, he whispered, "Yes Cami?" It just slipped through his mouth. He doesn't even control his own words.

"Cami... seriously dad," asked Gabi with a raised eyebrow, twinkling her brows, showing off her evident annoyance. She couldn't believe that Cami was in HER daddy's mind and attention.

Robert shook his head due to Gabi's annoyance "No, it's just she calls me Daddy. So I thought Cami was calling me. It's an honest mistake."

Gabi smiled looking at him. She thought that it doesn't matter because he is here with her and HER father was only HERS. She believed he punished Cami in this harsh way because only she has captured his heart, but something was itching a weird sensation in her heart.
Then, she recollected herself and intertwined her fingers with him "But I didn't say, Daddy."

Robert got quiet for a couple of seconds, he's surprised as Gabi's presence and words manifest in his mind. Gabi gently placed her head on his shoulders and asked him,
" Do you feel guilty? We didn't listen to what she was trying to say."

Robert gently squeezed her hand, trying to comfort more himself than her "She crossed the line. She hit Claire and blamed her for her father's death."

Gabi recalled the scene and her heart filled with sadness recalling Cami's crying face and the horror of her face's expressions.

"You never raised a hand on me. Is it because she is the daughter of that man? I don't know, but I didn't like when you raised your hand on her. I'm mad at myself also. How did I behave with her? You know...." she stopped automatically when she saw Claire and her mother approaching them.

Robert and Gabi smiled at them but noticed an evident hesitation in mother and Claire's eyes.

"Claire badly wants to tell you something important," said Claire's mother, looking at Claire with hard and narrowed eyes.

Claire's eyes pooled with tears when Robert gently held her arm and patted her back. After some time, when Claire calmed down gradually, she confessed," I called you Murderer. I also said that I don't like you and Cami and you should die."

Robert got stunned listening to this. His hand stopped midway while patting her. He gradually came to the realization that was unfair to Cami. He didn't want to believe he made a grave mistake. Would he confess that he has wronged Cami?

"WHAT?" Gabi furiously yelled. "How dare you?"

"GABI..." Robert glared at her warning her.

"But Dad, She..." she complained.

Robert gently smiled at Claire, without being enraged "It's Ok. I understand."

Claire nodded her head and continued "My dad is not with me. I love my dad. I don't like you, because he spent all his time with you. Didn't get time to spend with me. But you are a nice man. And I don't want to like you. I'm sorry, but I can't cheat on my daddy by liking you."