TIFFIN 3

89

When we made it to the playground at the nearby park, I immediately spotted Tawnee, Garrick, Emma, Archie, Niall and Jo. 

As soon as we managed to gather our bearings at a group of benches, Tawnee gratefully took Eleanor from my hands and showered her with kisses. 

It was quite a sight to see how she and Garrick communicated with our daughter. They accepted her wholly, without a second thought.

I knew without a doubt that they would make exceptional grandparents and I was fine with it.

As jo talked my ear off with Niall by her side, I couldn't help but notice Hero's disturbed demeanor. Like some paranoid nancy, his eyes roamed the busy area. 

Something was definitely wrong.

I had half a mind to ask for his help with setting up Eleanor's changing station, but let it go. I wanted to observe what exactly had changed in the last week.

Who had changed it? 

Much to my dismay, Emma and Archie forced me to engage in conversation, allowing me to take my eyes off Hero. 

We were all now in a giant huddle, discussing what the past few days had brought and what the plans were for upcoming year for Eleanor, minus my distracted husband. 

When they had all dispersed to take Eleanor to a set of swings, I turned only to find that Hero had disappeared. 

What? 

Where had he gone? 

I swiveled towards my best friend then eyed Niall in consternation. 

He responded by raising a brow. I could already tell he was as clueless as me. 

"Everything alright?" 

"I'm not sure." I whispered eyeing the public bathrooms across the way.

Surely he could have excused himself there?

"Is it Eleanor? She's not sick, is she?" Josephine instantly exclaimed.

I shook my head, thoughts still clouded.
 
"No she's fine. Healthy as a horse. Hero... he's..." I trailed off now facing Niall entirely. "Has he been acting off?" 

He shrugged. 

"I feel like shit saying this, but we barely see each other anymore. When we do, he bullshits about the scare he had with that damn sting. I'm guessing it still fucks with him."

I nodded. 

That had to be it. 

It had to be. 

"So," Jo began trying to change the topic, "crazy thing about Diedre bailing out of prison, huh?" 

I blew out a breath. 

"Tell me about it. Fortunately, it's only temporary unless of course there's enough evidence to support that she wasn't guilty." 

Niall grunted. 

"There's no way. With all the exhibits they displayed in court and her being present at the sting there's no way they'd let her off the hook." 

Jo rolled her eyes. 

"With all the money she has, she could get off on good behavior."

She then turned towards me, a pitiful expression marring her features. 

"You don't think... Hero bailed her out, do you?" 

I gasped at this, but really... I didn't blame her for jumping to this conclusion. He had done some questionable things in the past and it wasn't a secret that he still cherished his grandmother. 

Or the relationship they had. 

No. It wasn't like that. He'd been abused and he was done with everything that entailed. 

"No," I finally replied, "He wouldn't do that. He made a promise to protect his family. He made it clear to her that he was done with her shit. He wouldn't take that risk."

I could tell I hadn't won my best friend over but there wasn't anything I could do about that.

What I could do was locate my husband and demand that we attend our therapy sessions again.

I only grew more worried as the day went on. 

At least two hours had passed and Hero still hadn't returned. Many questions from our families reached my attention but there wasn't much I could  reassure them with. 

"Perhaps he had business to take care of?" Tawnee asked. "You two have been quite busy with little Eleanor here and..." 

She broke off on a laugh as my daughter squealed and yanked on her hair. 

"Oh, the little troublemaker!" 

Awhile later, Garrick and Archie carried a few coolers over and began preparing hot dogs and burgers when none other than Hero materialized from a corner of the park. 

What the-? 

When he reached the group, he seemed nonplussed. Like his absence hadn't affected anything.

I sent him a look as if to ask: That's all you have to say? 

But he simply took a seat with a blank face. 

While everyone's attention was on Eleanor, I fixed him with a grimace. 

"Mind telling me where you've been?"
 
He sucked on his snake bites, refusing to maintain eye contact. 

"Places." 

"Seriously?" I hissed. "You've been gone for two whole hours, Hero-Fiennes-Tiffin! We are here for your daughter! For us! Answer me."

I didn't notice I'd been hanging onto his side until he tried to shove me off. 

"I don't answer to anyone but myself."
 
What? 

"Excuse me? Hero... I'm your wife..." 

He shrugged. 

"Well, right now you're being fucking psycho." 

I gasped at his words. They brought back so many memories.

The old version of himself was now revealed and I didn't like it. 

This happened when him and Kylie...

"Hero... are you cheating on me?" 

I didn't know what I expected from my comment but what happened next definitely wasn't it. 

He jumped from the bench, his face twisted in fury.

This was not going to be pleasant.

Uh oh.

Trouble in paradise 😤😤

Where do you think he went?