Can't Afford Mistakes.

Chapter Sixteen

Arabella.

"Arabella," a masculine voice whispers as I run towards my biological parents house.

With every step I take, the house seems to get farther away. I keep running until my lungs are screaming for me to stop. I come to a halt, wheezing as I try to catch my breath.

"Arabella, stop running," the same masculine voice says, now closer to me.

I turn around to face the person who the voice belongs to but there is no one around me. I turn to go back to the house when I hear the voice again.

"Walk slowly," the voice says, "believe that every step you take is bringing you closer to the house."

I take a deep breath, visualizing me taking a step, and getting closer to the house. The gravel crunches under my feet as I walk in the direction of the house. I reach the end of stone walkway, contemplating whether to walk up the ten stairs to the front door. I lift my foot to take the first step when the front door slowly creeks open. A tall figure walks of into the light and all the air leaves my body.

"Dad," I choke out.

"Hey princess," he says opening his arms.

I run to my father and wrap my arms around his neck, holding on for dear life. Tears fall down my face, dampening his shirt as his arms close around my body. His body feels warm and solid against my shaking frame.

"Let's take a walk," my dad says as he pulls back and holds me at arm length.

I nod my head in response, unable to find my voice. He holds out his arm for me and I link my arm with his. We walk around the house in silence, linked at the arm until we come to a small path inbetween flower gardens.

"Arabella," my father says softly, "your mother and I are so proud of you for mending your relationship with your brother."

"You should have seen his face. He looked so broken and torn, and his voice was trembling. There was no way I could have stayed angry at him," I tell my father, looking up to him.

"We saw it all. Your mother and I may not be with you physically anymore, but we are always looking after you and brother," he says looking down at me with a warm smile with a hint of his pearl white teeth.

"That's good to know," I say looking back out towards the overgrown grass. "I can't believe no one has bought this place. Or even taken care of it."

"You're the legal owner, maybe you should do something about it," my father says causally.

I stop in my tracks, pulling my father to a stop with me.

"I'm the what of what," I ask in shock.

"Your mother and I left the house to you, so now that you're of legal age, you own it," my dad says as if it is the most obvious thing.

"That's amazing," is all I can think of to say. I look back to the house as the sun slowly beginnings to peak over the roof.

"Arabella, I have something important to tell you, and I don't have much time," my father says turning me to face him. "Your brother and you are going to have to make some difficult decisions soon, but I want you to know that whatever your brother does, you have to forgive him."