Chapter 26 Gabriel He stands to go to the bar , and before I can stop myself , I stand too . Torno tra un attimo . ( Back in a moment . ) I stride over and stand next to him at the bar . His face falls before he catches it , and I roll my lips to hide my smirk . Soft cock . Ferrara , he stammers nervously . How are you ? Good , and you ? Im great . The bartender walks over . What will it be ? Let me buy you a drink , Rodney . Oh , I couldnt . I insist . I smile as I sit down on the barstool . Two Blue Label scotches , please ? Rodneys eyes widen at my order . Ive got to go back to work . This will make it more fun , then , wont it . I point to the stool beside me . He nervously falls onto the stool beside me . The way we parted , it was nothing personal , you know that , right ? Yes . It was a The Perfect Husbands Secret 29.5 % apter 26 bad time for me . Where are you working now ? I ask him . Ahhh … He hesitates . Miles Media . My eyes hold his . Am I right ? Ah … well …. Relax , its fine . They are lucky to have you . The waiter puts the two scotches on the bar in front of us . Thank you . I pick mine up and lift it to my lips , ahh , perfection . Rodney sips his and winces . Maybe youre just weak ? No doubt about it . He rubs his chest as he feels it go all the way down . So … How do I put this ? Have you seen anyone that we used to work with ? I act casual . He shrugs . I run into Geoffrey every now and then , hes still with you , obviously . I nod and take another sip as I listen . What about Miss Coleman , do you ever see her ? No. He twists his lips . I havent seen her for years . Oh … I ran into her when she was pregnant at a trade show but havent seen her since . My stomach drops . Shes married ? No , she did it alone . Donor sperm . What ? I screw up my face . What do you mean ? The Perfect Husbands Secret 29.6 % He shrugs . I dont know , she said that she wanted a child and didnt have a partner so decided to go down the donor sperm route . Thats why she moved away , so that she could bring up her child in the country . What ? I stare at him as I listen intently . How pregnant was she when you saw her ? Heavily pregnant , like huge . When was this ? Not long after I left work , actually . Within a year of when she left . What do you mean ? Yeah . He shrugs . Shocked me too , if Im honest . What was the date ? I have no idea , it was … He frowns as he thinks . I saw her at the Apple convention in Vermont . When was that ? No idea , but it was in the year we both left , I know that because I was still living in Manhattan , I remember I moved the weekend after the show . Hmm … I sip my scotch as I think . Rodney keeps talking and I take out my phone and google , Date of Apple convention in Vermont The date pops up . July July … 29.7 % The Perfect Husbands Secret pu We were together in the December of the year before . Weird … Thats seven months after we slept together , so she was already pregnant at the time … or … What do you think ? Rodney says . I glance up , I havent heard a word hes been saying . Im sorry , Im here with my mother . It was lovely seeing you again . I cut him off and hold my hand out to shake his . Oh … His face falls . Of course . Good to see you again . I march back to my table and sit down ; my mind is racing a million miles per minute . She was seven months pregnant when he saw her , seven months after we spent the night together . Couldnt be … I ordered for you , Alessio says . I take out my phone and text Mark . Find Violet Coleman Violet Find your ballet shoes , bubba , I call as I spread the peanut butter onto my piece of toast . Where are they ? Lucy calls from upstairs . They should be in your closet , I call back . I hear things hitting the wall as she throws things out of her way to look . Theyre not . Joll my eyes ; it would have been easier to find them myself in the first place because now The Perfect Husbands Secret 29.8 % apte m going to have to walk upstairs and get them anyway plus clean up the mess she made while looking for them . I cant find them , she screams , on the edge of a meltdown . Ive looked everywhere . Coming , I call . Ugh , every Saturday its the same . Running around like a chicken , getting ready for ballet class . Iswear someone must break into our house and hide shit to make my life difficult . Im forever looking for something . I walk upstairs and from the corner of my eye catch sight of her twirling in my bedroom , shes checking herself out in my full length mirror . I stand and lean against the doorframe and watch her for a moment . Shes wearing a pastel pink leotard and tutu , little white stockings . Her long dark hair is up in a bun and she is so stinking cute I cant stand it . Fabulous twirling . Im getting really good at these . She holds her hands out all professional like . I can see . Very impressive . Maria says that I might go up to the next class next year . She will go up because shes older but Ill play along . Wow , I didnt know that . I walk into her bedroom and look around at the chaos , everything is out of the bottom of her wardrobe and strung all over her bedroom . What happened in here ? What ? The Perfect Husbands Secret 29.9 % apter The mess . Oh … I was looking for the ballet shoes . Couldnt be bothered to put things back after ? I roll my eyes as I begin to look for these bastard ballet slippers . Im twirling . I roll my eyes as I look around her room , not in the wardrobe , not in the toybox , not under the bed . Where are these stupid shoes ? Maybe you should go barefoot today , I call . No , she cries . Well , where did you put them ? Maria must have touched them . Ugh , shes probably right . Maria has moved out and is living with her boyfriend , shes here three days a week while I work and she still knows more about our house than we do . I walk downstairs and text her . Hi Maria , Sorry to bother you . Have you seen Lucys ballet slippers ? A text bounces back . Snuffles is wearing them . Oh for gods sake . The Perfect Husbands Secret 29.9 % apter 20 What would we do without you ? Thanks . I trudge back upstairs , and sure enough , Lucys giant stuffed elephant is wearing the ballet slippers . Snuffles was wearing them , I call . Oh yeah , she calls , unruffled . He was too . Come on , we have to hurry now . Downstairs and in the car . Irush down the stairs and glance out the window down to the lake . The morning sun is glistening on the water . This view will never get old . In the car , please , I call . I hold the piece of toast with my teeth as I collect my bags . Straight after ballet we have Little League , and then this afternoon we have a birthday party . Saturdays are always jam packed with activities . I walk out the front door onto the large veranda and see a black car come down the driveway . In the car , I call . Fucks sake , I mutter under my breath . The car stops and parks at our place and I frown as I look over . Who is this ? The back door opens and in slow motion I see a man in a navy suit get out of the car … my heart stops . Gabriel Ferrara . He walks toward me , his height towering over mine . Big brown eyes and his perfect square jaw . Hello , Violet , he says in his deep purr of a voice . Emotion instantly overwhelms me and I get a lump in my throat , suddenly Im taken back in time to the girl he didnt want . The Perfect Husbands Secret 30.0 % Chapter Se always knew this day would come , but now that its here …. 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