Chapter 18
*Victoria*
After a few more hours with Grace and a Sophie, we call it a day. After much begging, I sit with Sophie in her room before I leave. I sit cross legged on the spacious floor across from Sophie who combs her barbie's hair.
"Did you have fun today?" I ask her.
"Mmhm." She replies with a nod. "When can I see you again?" She asks, keeping her eyes on her barbie.
"I'm not sure sweetie." I reply, hating having to tell her something she doesn't want to hear.
"That's always what you say." She frowns. "I hate that I never see you." She admits with a pout. "You left for a really long time, but you're back now and I still only see you sometimes. You used to come over all the time, remember?"
"I do remember. But things were different back then. I can't just come over like I used to."
"Why not?" She finally looks up at me. Her eyes desperate and a small pout on her face. "Mommy and Daddy wouldn't mind."
"Did they say that themselves?" I ask with a small smile. Kids will make up anything if it gets them their way.
"No, but I know they wouldn't." She mumbles.
"I miss you too when I'm not around." I say, brushing her hair out of her face. "But right now, things are complicated. I can't be around as much as I used to, no matter how much I want to be. Do you understand?"
She shakes her head as a tear runs down her cheek. "Why is it complicated?"
What can I tell her? How can I explain this situation to where she'd understand? Does she even know why I disappeared? Does she understand the relationship Aaron and I have now? How much does her parents let her know?
"Everything okay in here?" Grace asks as she pokes her head inside the room. She looks at Sophie and concern instantly crosses her face. "What's wrong?" She asks, rushing to Sophie and kneeling to her level. She wipes away a fresh tear as it falls. "What did you do?" She turns to me and asks, the look on her face accusatory.
"Nothing. I just..."
"It's time for you to leave." She cuts me off.
"No." Sophie whines, dropping the doll in her hands and pulling away from her mom. She gets up and crosses the space between us to take me into a hug. Her small arms tighten around my neck as if I'll disappear from her at this very moment. I look at Grace who looks at us wide eyed and confused. "What if you don't come back?" She says into my hair, her voice sounding a bit muffled.
"Of course I'll come back." I reassure her as I hug her back. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You promise?" I look at Grace who has a mixture of confusion and anger on her face. She'd love for me to leave right now and never come back. At this point I'm sure she won't care about Sophie's reaction if I did. She doesn't like me much and the feeling is mutual, but I came into Sophie's life at an important time. While I never wanted Grace's position, I became Sophie's mother figure. I was there when Grace wasn't. We're connected now and I'm sure we always will be, no matter how Grace and I feel about each other.
"I promise." I say, placing a quick kiss on top her head. "I have to go now, but I'll see you later."
"Later when?" Her arms grip a bit tighter.
YOU ARE READING
My Perfect Soulmate
Teen Fiction(Sequel to 'My Perfect Mistake') It's been two years since Victoria and Aaron have seen each other. Victoria has moved on and found someone who she feels she can spend the rest of her life with, while Aaron has never stopped thinking about Victoria...
