Broken by Willow Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

jobs in other states. I
thought we might do it when he is gone. As far as I am told the surgery will
only take a day, right?"
    "That's correct. The procedure itself only takes
a few minutes. It's all the examinations and the preparation that takes time.
And unlike adults she needs to be under anesthesia but that shouldn't cause too
many problems for her. If you bring her in around ten she'll be done by four in
the afternoon. I will make sure that she gets the best treatment."
    "Then that's what we'll do." She grabbed my
arm and squeezed it. "Thank you so much, Christian. This means everything
to me."
    "It's nothing," I said. "But don't you
think your husband will notice eventually and start asking questions?"
    "Maybe. But at least then Luyu's eyes will be healed and she will be able to go on with her life," Aiyana said. "He can't change that, he can't reverse
it."
    I nodded in silence. I was thrilled to be able to help Aiyana and by the prospect of getting to see her once
again, but I didn't like the feeling I had about this guy she had married. It
made me uncomfortable.
    We walked for a little while longer staring at the
waves and the long stretch of sandy beach reaching as far as the eye could see.
Seagulls and pelicans dove for fish. We stopped to watch them as Aiyana put her hand in mine again. She squeezed it tightly.
A thrill coursed through my body. I closed my eyes for a second and took in the
moment. The wind took her hair and her scent of subtle jasmine filled my
nostrils causing all my memories of our time together ten years ago to rise
inside of me again. I had forgotten almost nothing from that time. I remembered
every word she ever spoke to me; I remembered every little thing about her
body, every curve, every bump. I felt so happy at that moment hand in hand with Aiyana that I almost couldn't bear it. I wanted to
stay like this forever. I opened my eyes and looked at her with a huge smile. I
wanted to get to know her again. I wanted to catch up on all I had lost,
everything I didn't know about, everything that had happened in her life since
then.
    "So did you ever write that book?" I asked
as we began to walk again. A crab fled from our feet and hid in a hole.
"The one based upon your grandmother's notebooks about her life?"
    Aiyana shook her head slightly. "Let's just say it's a work in progress."
    "What does that mean? It was your dream! To
become a writer was your big dream!"
    "Well. Michael doesn't actually condone me doing
it, so I stopped. I only need like the last third of Shimasani's story and then it is done. But that has
to wait. At least till Luyu is grown. I can't do
both, Michael says. I have obligations to take care of the house, my husband
and child."
    " Hm ," I growled. I
didn't like the sound of that either.
    "I'll finish it when the time is right," she
said.
    William and Luyu splashed
water at each other, shrieking joyfully. Aiyana looked at me with a mischievous look. Then she kicked the water and it splashed
all over my neat pants that I had been planning on wearing for work. She tilted
her head backwards and laughed. I closed my eyes with a smile and listened to
that childlike laughter hoping I could somehow hold on to it long after this
moment was gone. The laughter had grown older, more experienced but it was
still every bit as enchanting as it had been ten years ago. It could still make
me forget all of my worries.

Chapter 8
    We
walked to the Sunset Grille where I bought us all
lunch and loads of ice-cream for dessert. The kids shared their food and seemed
to be enjoying this day every bit as much as us adults, possibly more. We
laughed more than I had done in years, we even sang at one point and ate too
much. I couldn't help but smile as I watched everybody I loved sitting at this
table - even Luyu who I had just met had already
earned a huge spot in my heart. And certainly one in William's as well. I never
once thought about the clinic or Heather and how to explain this to her.