Ch 1

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"I finally have something that's all my own," I grinned dancing around the tiny little flower shop that was days away from opening

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"I finally have something that's all my own," I grinned dancing around the tiny little flower shop that was days away from opening. "I know it's not much, but it's enough." I turned to Angel who was shaking his head at me as I dragged him around the small space. "What, why are you looking at me like that?" I questioned staring at my best friend who was smiling at me like an idiot. Angel and I hadn't always been close. When we were kids and I was dating his brother he hated me. There was no real reason behind it other then him feeling like his brother was always the favoured child so his displaced his anger. I always looked up to Angel. He was like the older brother I never had. So after EZ got locked up and I found out I was pregnant Angel stepped up. At first I was surprised, but I was in no place to turn down the help. Sophia loved him more then words could describe. At one point she had started calling him daddy it broke both of our hearts having to explain to her that no he wasn't her father. But who has the heart to tell an toddler there dad is in prison. So we made up a story. A fairytale of sorts knowing one day she would meet EZ.

"It's nice to see you happy." Angel replied lazily tossing his arm over my shoulders. "I know these last four years haven't exactly been easy on you...I mean being a single mom and all but you've done great Genny I hope you know that." He kissed my temple and looked around one more time. "Maybe we should go relieve Pop from grandpa duty. Sophia doesn't exactly go easy on him," Angel suggested.

"You made them a lot easier." I admitted. "Have you talked to him recently?" I questioned as we drove to the Reyes house. I wrapped my hands tighter around the steering wheel remembering how I showed up at the jail that day and was told I was no longer on the visitor list. Ez had taken me off without warning and refused to speak with me. I was pregnant and alone. If it wasn't for the baby I would have hated him. I would have packed everything I owned and ran away, but I couldn't. This was no longer just my life. "Did you tell him about me? About Sophia?"

"It's not my place to tell him Genevieve." Angel squeezed my hand. I stared at my now white knuckles wondering why I didn't hold more hatred for his younger brother. Maybe it was the little girl who was his carbon copy. Everything down to her laugh was the same. It broke my heart, and brought me joy in the same moment.

"He's going to hate both of us when he finds out."

"Let him. Because you know as well as I do that that hate won't last very long." We pulled into Felipe's driveway stealing a look from one another. A silent we got this before we collected our thoughts and went inside.

"Mamá! Mama! Grandpa fell asleep again!" Sophia squealed running into my arms. I lifted up my toddler and rested her on my hip as she hugged me as tightly as possible. "You have good day?"

"Yes I had a good day. Did you little one?" I set her down ruffling her dark curls and squatting down so we were eye to eye. She nodded excitedly before letting out an exaggerated yawn. "Maybe we should go home. Yeah a quick nap before bed?" Again Sophia nodded. I scooped her up and gently shook Felipe awake. "Thank you for watching her. I'll come by tomorrow and cook you dinner." I kissed the top of his head then positions Sophia so she could copy me. Felipe smiled at us.

"I heard from him today." His words were a whisper. It was as if he thought Sophia wouldn't hear if we talked low enough. "He's getting out." It felt like I was going to be sick as the words began to process. This is what I wanted wasn't it. To have EZ home. To have him finally meet his daughter.

"When?" I stammered. "When is he getting out." I passed Sophia off to Angel who took her to the spare room. She was already fast asleep so it was better for me to wait it out then wake her up and take her home. I fell onto the sofa frantically wiping the tears away as the fell down my face.

"End of the week they're releasing him." Felipe told us I stared at Angel for a moment trying to tell if he already knew this, but from his expression I knew this was new information for all of us. "So you have some decisions to make Genevieve."

"Take down the photos." I whispered. "Just ease him into the idea of being out of prison. He doesn't need this right now to." I looked at both of them. "I'll stay away for now."

"Running away isn't going to make this easier Genny," Angel sighed.

"He shut me out Angel. I need to do what's best for my child and right now what's best for her is her father being in the dark. It won't be forever. Just for right now."

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