Be My Forever [COMPLETE]

Chapter 101

-1 YEAR LATER-

"Momma, what's for lunch?" Valerie asked, grabbing my hand as we walked to our car.

"We'll see what we have when we get home." I say. Claire started babbling and mumbling in my arms. "If we're lucky, maybe daddy will be home!" I added, causing Valerie to jump around.

Toby had spent the last two weeks in Philadelphia, designing a building. He said he would visit after a couple weeks, but so far, nothing.

"Good! I miss daddy so much!" Valerie exclaimed. Now, almost three, Valerie has been picking up words here and there. Valerie has become so intelligent, and Toby and I are so proud of her.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Claire exclaimed. Of course, "daddy" was her first word. I buckled the girls into their seats and started the car.

"Mommy?" Valerie chirped from the backseat.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"What happened to your mommy and daddy?"

I was in complete shock. I almost didn't stop at a red light because I was so caught off guard. What should I do? Should I lie? I've never lied to Valerie. Well, at least not this badly.

"I... I don't-" I started to say, until (thankfully) I was interrupted by Claire, who started to cry in the backseat.

"Valerie, could you please help Claire calm down? Mommy's driving right now." I said.

Valerie nodded. "It's okay, Claire Bear, I'm right here." She said, holding her little sister's hand. She was such a huge help when it came to Claire. Even though they were only a year and a half apart, Valerie was very much like a second mother to Claire.

What could I tell her? She's way too young to understand death, but I don't want to be vague and say "they're not around." I don't want to lie to her, but that seems like my only option now.

"My mommy was a lawyer, and so was my daddy." I finally said, answering her question. Claire had stopped crying, after Valerie had miraculously soothed her.

"Are they nice?" She asked, a hopeful smile on her face. She looked just like Aria when she smiled.

"My mommy was very nice."

"What about daddy's mommy and daddy?"

"They were both really nice, too."

"Can I see them?"

"You've seen the pictures on our wall, haven't you?"

Before Valerie could say anything else, we pulled into the driveway of our house, and we all got out of the car.

"Is daddy home?" Valerie asked. She sure had a lot of questions.

"Not yet." I answered.

"Daddy!" Claire yelled in excitement.

I went to unlock the front door, but to my surprise, the door was already open. Valerie ran inside, running to the living room to retrieve one of her many toys that were still in the ground. She wasn't usually messy, but it was partially my fault. I decided to take the girls on a spontaneous shopping trip and didn't give them the opportunity to clean up.

"Hello!" Valerie said to someone in the living room. My heart dropped to my stomach, and I ran to the living room, with Claire still in my arms.

Before I could process what I saw, I let out a loud scream.