My Devious Soul

Hope

Yana's POV:
As we returned back in the car,we found Victoria asleep.Bruno started the engine after Elijah announced the destination which was our home.

There was no talking in the car at all,but instead I watched Victoria sleeping peacefully in her baby shell a few times.I gently slid my index finger in her half opened hands and she grabbed after it making me smile.

We arrived home after a thirty minutes ride.Elijah walked into his office finishing some businesses and I spent time with Victoria trying to distract myself.

I played on the couch with her when I heard Elijah's footsteps walking down the stairs.He walked past the couch giving me a smile and headed to the balcony wearing the same just like at the funeral,but only the blazer left and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up showing his veiny arms.

Just when he opened the door,a cold breeze entered the apartment and after he closed door behind him by dragging it to the left,I felt that breeze disappear.

I continued playing with the baby and when I threw a look at the huge balcony window,I remarked Elijah with a cigarette in his right hand.

The last time I saw him smoking was after his mother's death.Which means Elijah only smokes when he is really stressed out.

I stood up and wrapped Victoria in her blanket and stepped outside the balcony.

I sat down on the bench behind Elijah facing his back.While my body shivering even though I was wearing a black pullover,Elijah who was dressed more thin than me wasn't shivering at all.

"Why did you bring her here...in cold?"Elijah asked with a husky,but at the same time calm voice."I can't leave her alone...and lit off the cigarette."I explained and then demanded with a normal voice.

Elijah immediately dropped it and stepped on it.

He turned around facing me without an emotion.

"I...don't mean to forbid you,but smoking isn't the solution."I tried to explain,he replied back without a hesitation"I'll quit!"

I nodded and stood up approaching him with Victoria in my arms.

Elijah wrapped his arms around me and the baby and I buried my face in his neck,we stayed like that for a few moments.

I broke the hug and assured him with a positive smile"We'll make it through!"He chuckled and approached his lips to mine and gave me a soft kiss on the cold lips.

The smoking breath wasn't that bad since he only smoked a quarter.

Elijah threw a look on his watch,"I think,we should head to your family."He reminded me,I nodded.

We got back in and dressed ourselves up,grabbed the presents for the others and drove to my mother.

At Yana's parents' house
My aunts,my older cousin and I were helping my mother finishing the dinner while my uncles and Elijah were in the living with my other cousins and Victoria.

Sara is my mother's older sister and an architect.She is married to an American neurosurgeon,David,and they have daughter named Lily who's thirty and lives with her fiancé George in Miami.Nina was my father's younger sister and works in real estate while raising her fourteen year old son Lucas since she divorced her husband,Christian.

My uncles' names are Miyo and Aimé.Miyo is the youngest sibling in my mother's family and is happily married to an English woman called Amber and they don't have any children while Aimé the oldest sibling in my father's family and his wife named Leonie have a eighteen year old daughter,Ilo.

Elijah met them all three days before our wedding and I immediately remarked that he was liked by them.

Dinner was served and Elijah and I took turns since one of us had to stay with the baby even though Lily offered herself to hold her.

It was Elijah's turn to eat while I sat at the table with Victoria in my arms.

I looked around the dining table and felt the absence of a person.An important person.My father!

The house feels so empty without him that it makes my heart ache.

I still had him in my mind,walking around the house all graceful and proud of himself.

We spent the rest of the evening in the living room unwrapping the presents,talking and trying to bring some laughters,but it was hard.

Before Elijah and I said goodbye to the rest of the family since their flights were the next day.

We arrived home at 11:00 pm and went straight to bed.

Yana's dream:
"V come here,please."I begged her and sat down on her bed with her shoes and jacket in the hands.

She was all running,laughing and having fun.

"Come on,I have to dress you up."I said,she stopped and watched me with her big green eyes."But why?"She asked innocently,I replied friendly"Because we are going to visit daddy at work."

She just ignored me and walked to her Legos that were on the floor and started playing."Come on,please!"I exclaimed,but no answer from her.

"Let me dress her."I heard a voice saying and as I moved my head to the door,I saw my father standing in the doorframe,I smiled and nodded.

He walked in talking to V"Mon amour,why don't you let me dress you and so you'll go see daddy?"

Victoria just watched him innocently and exclaimed after a few seconds"I want to play!"

My father chuckled while sitting down next me and was trying assuring her"We'll play together when you'll return."

She tilted her head to the right and my father added like a promise"I'll be right here...waiting for you!"

I smiled hearing that.

A smile crossed Victoria's face,she nodded standing up and coming to me.I put her shoes on while my father gave her the jacket.

She chuckled at the end hugging him and then me.

I gave her a kiss on the forehead and suggested"Why don't you go in the living room?Bruno's waiting there."She nodded and left the room running.

My father's gaze followed her until she out of the room.

We both stood up and I sighed.

"You were just like her."My father told me while I just shook my head smiling and not wanting to admit.

"You're doing great!"He complimented me with a proud smile."You and Elijah raised Victoria well in those four years."

I thanked meaning it.

"I'll have to go now,too."He announced wanting me to understand what he exactly meant.

"Where?"I asked confusedly and my father replied back casually"Somewhere."

He then was about to leave the room when I uttered"Dad!"

And he turned half around and I stated sincerely"Je t'aime!"

A chuckled came out of his mouth and before he turned around and leaving,he said back"Je t'aime aussi!"