The Fashion of Love | Adult F/M Romance [COMPLETE]

ch. 58 - November

When Sora and Tommy arrived at home just after the dark, the lights were on in the den.

Ravi was stretched out on the sofa, an arm thrown over his eyes. There was a spotty wineglass on the table.

Sora opted to put Tommy to bed for the night before she greeted him. This isn't going to be a fun conversation.

Ravi had a second glass of white waiting for her upon her return. She sat her wine aside to cuddle up to him.

"How'd they take the news?"

He shook his head. "They were livid. Evelyn went off on me for leaving them in the dark about something as important as my health. Ishir had to calm her down."

"That must have been..."

Ravi scratched his ear. "Yeah. It was about what I expected. She cried. She didn't want me to see, but I saw anyway. I'm always letting her down. I'm trying to do better, I just keep living down to her low expectations."

Sora smoothed his hair out of his face. He sighed, leaning into the contact.

"Evelyn's strong. She's been through a lot. I put my kids through hell bouncing back and forth between Hana and their mom. Yelena isn't any better off and I'm the only father she's known. That's not a life I want to live anymore. Being conspicuous by my absence shouldn't be my hallmark."

She scraped her nails soothingly down the nape of his neck.

"You know what you have to do. Be different, don't vacillate, choose and stand by your decisions."

"I do."

"Hold that thought. We're not there yet."

"Any day now."

"How did the two of you leave things?"

"She wants to see me at Christmas, meaning it wasn't a complete loss. Jasmin met me at the airfield specifically to read me the Riot Act. My ears are still ringing from that slap. She wanted to know why I hadn't asked her for help, said she could have referred me to people she knew."

"She was hurt that you left her out when you two ended things on a good note."

"I was an idiot who thought he was being brave when I was more scared than anything. I dug a dark hole to die in without letting anybody know."

Sora was reminded of her failing heart and her battle with PPD. She had needed help and been unwilling to face that. Were it not for Jasmin's intervention, however ill-timed in the latter case, Sora was unsure whether she'd be here today.

"But you didn't crawl away to die. You fought back, you lived. That's what's important. You're here with me, with our boys. You have time to tell your children you love them, now. You can make up with Manendra."

"Dad and I are as good as we're gonna be."

"He apologized to me tonight, for what went wrong with you two. He loves you and he wants to make peace. Let's put the rest of this behind us and do that."

"I'm ready if you are. I want to get on with my life with you, not fight over the past. Looking backward isn't an answer."

"There's my wise man."

...

"Sora Gallegos."

"Sa—Sora, that you?"

"Anthony?"

"I wanna come over."

"Where's Hana?"