A Love Restored

Chapter 21

(Now)

Tommy had gotten my car fixed before I even got back from work. He was off from work himself, so he had taken my car to a garage and got it fixed. It hadn’t been a big issue, but I knew my car was going to break down for real one day or another. It had already been second hand and in not so good a shape when I’d gotten it. And I’d been using it for a while now.

I paid Tommy back the money, and to thank him, I made him and his mom some cookies. Tommy’s mother, Maria, was a sweet old lady who used to work as a cashier at the local Target. Last year, she had quit her job after Tommy started earning enough for them both. She now worked at the local dog shelter. Maria was very sweet. She didn’t talk much, but she had that motherly presence some old ladies do.

My Dad still hadn’t come home. I was half–glad. I liked the peace. When he gut back, conflict would be inevitable. I did not have the energy for that.

I had woken up lazily today, knowing I didn’t have to rush to do any chores or make breakfast for my father. I took a shower, and I packed myself some bunch I even had some

coffee, and then headed out to my car to drive to work

On the way, I said bi to Maria who was getting home from her morning walk, and she thanked me for the cookies.

Since Liam had driven us around Avalon yesterday, I had been thinking non stop of our houses. Of my home. Yesterday as we drove, I hadn’t had any time to look at it, to savor the moment or to even experience it.

If I could muster the courage today, maybe on the way back, I would stop and look at the houses. Even from afar, I knew it would feel quite something. And maybe it would be, at the very least, some kind of closure.

I drove slowly to work; a lot was on my mind. But I still reached on time. I saw Liam at the gates and waved hi to him. He grinned and ran up to me as | got out of my car.

“Fixed it?”

I nodded, smiling. “Thanks for the ride yesterday.”

“Anytime, Flora,” he said. We bid goodbye and headed to our respective work positions

Lydia was in the kitchen rushing around, doing a lot of things. I wasn’t late, so I wondered why she was already here, and working

“Hey I greeted, “What’s going on!”

“Hi, Flora.” She sighed in relief. “Felix’s parents will be here for lunch. We need to get everything ready.”

“Oh. Okay”

The Carsinos would be here. They would see me. Should they see me? Or should I hide? I couldn’t decide

I knew Mr. Corsing would help me out. He would be angry and he would be mad and he would be kind to me. Mrs. Corsino, too,

But I couldn’t risk it. There was too much at stake. I would have to stay inside the kitchen and do my best not to cross paths with them.

I began to help Lydia with the food. We prepped several things. Lydia had planned a very meticulous and elaborate menu. It made sense. The Corsinos had always loved luxury.

Whenever I would eat at their place, there would always be fancy dishes I had never he

heard of, several courses and several dishes to choose from.

I made Felix’s coffee and his breakfast eggs, bacon, toast and strawberry jam. He used to love the homemade one. I would make sume for him. Lydia asked me to go serve him, so I did. He wasn’t in the dining room when I arrived, but he entered the moment I had placed his food on the table.

“Good morning.” I muttered. He didn’t reply, but I knew he heard me. He had stilled for a second when I had spoken, I knew Felix noticed me. I knew he noticed; 1 knew he listened, I knew he cared and I knew he remembered. He was just angry, maybe he was confused and conflicted. He could take his

It was alright, I would wait.

I would wait for him Berver.

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“Would you like anything else?” I asked as he sat down to cat.

“No, thank you, Miss White.” He answered, curt as always.

it in

He could treat me like this all he wanted. I could take the rude behavior, the curtness, I could even take it if he would be mean to me. But I hated this ‘Miss White.‘ I hated it.

After he said it, I would hear it echo in my ears for the rest of the day. Though everyone called me Flora, it felt like I hadn’t heard my own name in years. I was only Flora when

Felix said it. And I was so desperate to hear him say it.

“Is your coffee alright?”

He nodded.

I began to turn to walk away, but he coughed and 1 spun around. He was looking down at his place. When I turned, he looked back up at me. He cleared his throat. “As Lydia would have told you, my parents will be here, today.” I nodded. “I would like for you to leave, for today.”

The way he said it was so cold and hard it knocked the breath out of me for a second.

He continued, “You can help Lydia out. But after that, please leave before my parents arrive. It can be a paid half day.”

“Are you afraid they’ll accept me and you won’t be able to ignore me anymore?”

Felix’s eyebrows raised at my tone. He clenched his fists. “Miss White, you have a lot of nerve saying that to me.” He turned away from me, back to his meal. “Do as I say. This is all.”

I made it a point to stomp away. I hadn’t been planning to see the Corsinos anyway, but him telling me to leave stung. He really wanted nothing to do with me anymore.