The Circle of Life - Addicted Series - BOOK 4

3. Siddy Bear

Fits of cold air blew onto his face as he was standing in front of her house. There was snow everywhere - in the parkway, on the steps and three feet up the door, that was guarded by a giant snow man wearing a open bright orange Hawaii shirt and a carrot nose.

"What do you guys need? a welcome party? Come in." Sid asks as he steps inside tapping his feet off the powdery snow.

"This is Nadia. My wife." he introduces the lady who opens the door. She looked young, maybe late twenties.

"You are married?" Nick laughs.

"Yeah. Was not having an affair with your girlfriend so you can relax."

"Is this the time?" Nadia chides Sid.

"He started it." Sid snaps readily.

"I heard a lot about you." She tried to briefly smile at Nick.

"From him?"

"No, from Aisha."

"Lia to me." Nicks nods and was about to ask something else, but his eyes catch a huge photo canvas in the middle of the living room, hanging like a mantle above the fireplace. It was a picture of Lyana, with what he now understood to be Lana and Siddharth on either side of her. And then in that moment, he understood it was all real.

The boy could not resemble him anymore closely. He was like a carbon copy. Only sharper. Only happier. And the girl could only be her daughter. The same beguiling large eyes that spoke volumes in a wink, the same soothing angelic smile, the same long honey brown hair and the same flawless complexion.

Her dying, the twins. Was this all real. Did she really do all this?

Why?

Why?

The question loomed through his entire body like an angry serpent.

He could have looked just at the picture for hours. Standing stoically. Burning in the cold betrayal being handed to him so slowly yet callously. He looks at the diamond that still shone brightly on her finger. His eyes burned at the silent glow in her eyes, her beautiful content smile. How could she be that happy without him? How could she have hidden about these beautiful kids who are clearly his own blood. For eight years? How could she? And the sad part was that she was now too far away to answer any of these questions.

All these years he kept convincing himself and his family that she will come back. That she will always come home to him. That they were soulmates.

How is he supposed to handle this burning ball of fire?

"Are you my Dad?" a small innocent voice breaks his silent rueful conversation with his fate. She was peeping out from the dimly lit archway by the fireplace. All he could see was the silhouette of a little girl with long hair.

Sid calls her out to introduce them."Lana, why are you hiding there? Come meet..."

"Don't." Nick stops Sid instantly. "Please don't." he begs.

"You are on your own then. Let me get you something warm, Neal?"

Neal looks at his brothers eyes that were filled to the brim and walks inside, patting his shoulder.

Nick stands in the same spot not knowing how to go about this. What would he tell her? That I am the father who was never in your life? Hey, sorry for the last eight years but here is a hug. He looked at Lia's picture again and shook his head as an angry frustration swept through him.

"Lana?" Nick calls her softly taking a few steps towards her.

"Yeah..."

"Can you come here please?" he asks as those few simple words almost choke his voice.