Belongs To Him

38 | Just a button you push

Kingston Romano

The idea of spending one of our evenings in London with Alina's random grandmother was not exciting, to say the least. She never spoke of her mother's family, and that's because they weren't close.

I didn't like Willow that much, and that was because I knew her record. She wasn't squeaky clean, and I passed judgment. She was reckless, with two DUIs and court-ordered AA meetings in the past few years. None of this Alina knew, but that's not what got my gears turning on her.

The stories Alina shared felt manipulated in one way. She always dragged Alina into things she didn't want to do and asked her to go above and beyond. However, I knew exactly why her mother didn't like Willow. Because she almost killed Alina as a baby.

In her medical records, Alina survived a dry drowning incident. But her lungs were damaged for a bit, and she had to do certain treatments and rehab, all while being six, from what my PI gathered. Her grandmother had a cottage in Kent with a big pond behind it. Willow was watching Alina and lost her. 

According to neighbors who heard about it, she was drowning in the pond. However, that's why I believe Willow favors her: to make up for it, to make herself feel better.

"I haven't seen my Nan since I was beginning uni. Dear god, she's probably going to comment on something and make it all negative," Alina collects her face in her hands, shaking her head.

"Kingston, I can't do this, I can't. She was terribly critical on me and my siblings growing up. None of us visit for that reason including my mum. She was the worst to her, what drive my mum to religion," Alina presses her hands against the sink counter rocking forward closing her eyes.

I hated seeing her like this. Seeing her any sort of discomfort. We were meant to be on a dinner date viewing the tower bridge and drinking champagne. Not in the hotel room while I watch her panic.

She clutches her stomach in discomfort and moments later she turns to the toilet. Emptying out her stomach I pull her hair back as she begins to cry. I'd never seen her anxiety this bad before.

"I'm canceling Alina," I whisper to her as I rub her back in a circular motion. She shakes her head in refusal, but as her body begins to shake. She throws up once more confirming our cancellation. She wasn't being forced into anything. I was making damn sure of that.

Once she's done I flush the toilet and she leans back in tears, "I'm a wreck." She announces turning her head to me in some type of shame.

"You're anxious and not feeling well evidently. I'm making the call. Your Nan and Aunt can have a lovely dinner together on my tab," I assure her. I didn't care if they bought the whole restaurant. I just cared that Alina got good rest and could relax.

"No, no I have to go," She shook her head anxious and I reached for my phone. I instructed her to go lay down as I made the call, she didn't argue.

"Hello?" Willows voice answers on the other line and I head into the living room.

"Willow, it's Kingston. Alina's started throwing up and we are staying in because she's not feeling well. I think it's caused by the anxiety of things being thrown on her, dinner with your mother is on me. It was nice meeting you," I end the line before any further discussion could be held.