The Husband Beside Me (The Devil Trilogy Book 2) (14 page)

A quiet knock startled me.

“Mrs. Evans? Mr. Evans said you will be leaving today. Would you like me to prepare your bag for you?” Ana offered, still standing behind the bedroom door.

“No, it’s fine; I’ll do it myself. Thank you.”

Daimon had the car ready with Ted as the driver and my bodyguard. I texted Sofia telling her I was heading to her. She was happy I would get to see her and her new little life. I was just happy to lay my eyes on her, to know she was safe. It took us nearly two hours but Ted finally reached the Omni Hotel, which was near Yale.

Ted dropped off our bags and headed straight to the university. I was to meet Sofia out front, near the blue Welcome to Yale University sign. We drove until I saw the sign and my Sofia, who was speaking to a few other students.

“Do you want me to honk or get out and get her?” Ted asked as he looked in the rearview mirror.

“No. Just stop the car and wait.”

I wanted a few moments just to watch her shine, just as she ought to. She laughed openly as she spoke to her friends. I had never seen her do that before. Not my Sofia. My Sofia would have her head in a book and never once look out from under it. She waved goodbye and stood waiting. That’s when I opened the car door and stepped out.

“Addie!” She smiled and ran toward me. We hugged and kissed. I savored the moment of Sofia being safe in my arms.

“You’re frozen,” I huffed, bundling her up.

“It’s okay. I was excited so I came out a little early.” She smiled. “Are you hungry?” she asked me.

“A little.”

“Okay good. There’s this great pizza place down the street I wanted to take you.” She took my hand and began leading me away from the car.

“Mrs. Evans,” Ted cried out.

“It’s okay, Ted. I’ll be with my sister. If there’s anything, I’ll call you,” I said over my shoulder.

“Mr. Evans wants me to be near you at all times,” he insisted.

“Then park the car and walk behind us,” Sofia hissed at him. “He’s annoying,” she said, still holding onto my hand and dragging me away.

We finally made it to her favorite pizza place called BAR. She explained they had the best pizza in town. Apparently, she came here often to eat and to hang out with her friends. We sat in the Bru Room as she called it. I understood why the instant we walked in. In the back of the room, were two large brewing vats made of copper. She sat us down in one of the booths on the other side of the bar. Ted followed close behind us and sat at a single table.

“So what do you think?” she asked, looking around.

“I think it’s great!” I smiled.

“So what will you two ladies be having?” The waitress came over, wanting our drink order.

“She’ll have a half pint of Toasted Blondie,” Sofia said without hesitation.

“And you?” the waitress said to Sofia.

“An ice tea.”

“I’ll give you two a minute to look over the menu,” she said, leaving us.

“So what do you usually order?” I asked, looking at Sofia in her element.

“You’ll see.”

Sofia ordered for both of us. She knew what I liked and wanted me to try her new favorite, which was a white pie with mashed potatoes on top. She also order a traditional red pie with mozzarella and a salad for us to share.

“Who the hell is going to eat all that?” I asked her once she finished ordering.

“Us!”

“You’re impossible.” I shook my head, knowing my sister’s eyes were always bigger than her stomach.

“So how’s school?” I asked, taking a sip of my beer.

“Pretty good. I'm getting good grades,” she answered proudly.

“That’s great, Sofia. I'm really proud of you.”

“I'm thinking about going to medical school,” she said, taking my half pint glass into her hand and taking a sip.

“Really?” I said, kind of taken aback.

I knew she was considering, but I thought the moment she started classes, she might have chosen something else.

“Yeah, my grades are exactly where they need to be. So I'm thinking of continuing. If I can get a scholarship, that is,” she said softly.

“You just keep doing what you’re doing and don't worry about the money. We’ll figure it out,” I winked.

“I don't want Daimon paying for it,” she snapped.

“Daimon is your brother-in-law now. If he can help, then he will,” I said dismissively at her. I knew him enough to know the moment I said it to him, he’d ask me for something I would not want to give.

“Addie—”

“Look, let’s not get all fired up about something that’s three years away. I want to eat and hear about your life here in New Haven.”

I sat with my little sister listening to her adventure and how everything had changed for her. She explained how she wanted to see more of the world and was excited to be in school. She complained a lot that it wasn’t easy, but she loved the challenge.

“I'm glad it passed your expectation and I'm happy you want more out of life,” I said softly, finishing the last bite of pizza.

We sat for over three hours catching up. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her until we sat down to eat. My little Sofia, who slept beside me since she was four, was now her own woman, coming into her own. I could even see her wings as she began to spread them, wanting to soar high above all I had taught her.

“How about tomorrow? We meet at Atticus Bookstore, have some coffee and then I’ll show you around Yale,” she said excitedly.

“Sure, why not.” I smiled, content at her confidence.

“I’ll even give you your present,” I teased.

“Give it to me now!” she held out her hand.

“Fine!” I reached into my purse and took out a card. She laughed.

“Oh, all I get is a card,” she mocked, but her smile disappeared the moment she opened it and found a prepaid credit card.

“I want to make sure you have everything you need,” I smiled.

“Addie, you coming here was my present. I don't want money from you. I’m tired of taking all your money. It’s just you I want to spend time with,” she said quietly.

“I'm here now and I’ll be here whenever you want. I'm not going anywhere. Use the card to come home, use the card to get whatever you want.” I took her hand and held it. “I love you, you little shit,” I winked. I missed calling her that. I hadn’t been able to since she left.

Ted made sure the bill was charged to Daimon and drove us to her dorm.

“I’ll be there around eleven, okay?” I said to Sofia as she got out of the car.

“Okay, eleven tomorrow at Atticus.” She waved. I watched her go inside, disappearing into the crowd of students who shared her dorm.

I spent the rest of the night hating myself for being resentful that Sofia was considering medical school. I loved my little sister more than anything in the world, but I felt a sense of betrayal. Had she chosen another field, I would still feel some envy, but she had chosen my dream and was now trying to achieve what I couldn’t fulfill myself. I berated myself for being so petty and small. I should be happy Sofia was chasing her dream, but as much as I told myself off, I still couldn’t move past how jealous I was. She now had freedom to experience things I only dreamt of. I gave up ten years of my life to the diner, losing time and a chance to live out my own life. I cried quietly, knowing I was truly a horrible person.
How can I be jealous of her?
This was what I wanted for her my little sister, yet I was resenting her for taking my place.

****

We left the café and headed to the campus. The architecture was amazing as each building brought out the various years it has been around, from the very old to the very modern. I completely fell in love with the Street Hall building with its old style. Students filled the campus grounds despite it being the holidays. Sofia didn’t stop until I saw every building. Each building we entered, she explained its history and purpose to me; I watched as she spoke; I could see it brought her a sense of accomplishment and happiness. While for me, each building only made it clearer how useless I was. Sofia was going to be someone. She was on the road to accomplishing her goals, while I became someone’s wife and nothing else. I had bankrupt our diner and had very little to show for myself. “Addie? Are you okay?” Sofia asked.

“Yeah, I’m great. It’s just overwhelming.” I smiled. “You better get your ass to New York your next break!” I pointed my finger at her.

“Okay, I promise,” she relented. We hugged and kissed, promising to Skype the moment I got home. Sofia kept waving as Ted drove us off back to Manhattan. I sat in the car reexamining my life and the hard decisions ahead of me.

Daimon didn’t return home until early morning of New Year’s Eve. I hadn’t planned anything for New Year’s, still feeling sorry for myself from my visit with Sofia. He barely said two words to me as he walked in, making me feel even worse. Once he finished with his shower, Daimon came down and took a bottle of water out of the fridge.

“How was Sofia?” he asked, leaning against the counter.

“Fine,” I bit out angrily.

“Addie, are you okay?” he narrowed his eyes at me.

“I’m fine,” I hissed as I played with Drako.

“Just fucking tell me what’s wrong,” he barked.

“She’s doing great! All right! Better then great,” I shouted. “She’s getting honors and living her life. She’s going to get a career, the very one I wanted for myself. While I'm nothing. I’ve done
nothing
, I’ve seen
nothing
. All I am is your hired help. I'm worthless and useless,” I berated myself, jealous of my own sister’s success. “I'm almost thirty and I'm envious of my own baby sister,” I laughed a little, knowing how absolutely ridiculous I sounded.

“You’re not useless and you’re not hired help. You did what you had to do to help your family. Not everyone could do that,” he said surprising me. “You’re one of the most amazing people I have ever met. No one would give up a chance of a lifetime to help her family. You gave up everything and not once looked back.” He marched over and peered down at me.

“Not once looked back?” I said incredulously. “I looked back all the time and I hated that I lost it. I hate I lost my chance for something,” I sobbed, quietly.

“Addie…”

“Stop! I'm not doing this anymore. Tell me about your trip. Did you make the merger?” I asked, wiping away my tears. I had grown so sick of my pitiful ways.

“Come on, beloved. It’s me, Daimon. Of course I made the merger happen and made more money in the process.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“Figures,” I shrugged.

“What figures?”

“You’re good at what you do.” I gave him a toothless grin fighting back my horrible behavior.

“Did you just praise me?” he asked smiling.

“Say it’s one of your belated Christmas presents,” I offered.

“I’ll take it.”

“Of course you would,” I teased.

“Look, I have to go and get some paperwork done at the office. I’ll be back before six, okay?” he said, heading upstairs to change.

****

Instead of cooking, I ordered in some Thai food which I spread out onto the table. I took out one of his favorite wines, a cabernet sauvignon and waited. It was almost six when the phone rang. I knew it was from downstairs; I could tell by the ring.

“Addie, it’s me.”
Fuck
. Darren had shown up without calling first.

“Darren, it’s a bad idea you’re here,” I said to him.

“I just wanted to see you. Jesus, Addie, it’s been weeks since I’ve heard from or seen you,” he said sadly through the phone.

“I can’t let you up here. If Daimon finds out—”

“I don't care if Daimon finds out. You’re my friend I want to see you,” he said angrily.

I knew I couldn’t let him up here, not after I made such a huge deal about him not letting anyone in here. I hung up the phone and headed downstairs. I found him sitting on the couch, leaning forward looking on the ground.

“Darren?” I said as I walked up to him.

“Hey,” he said, standing up and hugging me.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I pushed back to see his face.

“Now I am.” He smiled. I moved around him and sat down on the couch that faced his.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“I missed you,” he said quietly. “I really missed you. It’s been weeks and I hadn’t seen or heard from you.”

“You could have called.” I smiled.

“I did,” he said, looking affronted. I took a deep breath, knowing what Daimon had done.

“He has you locked up tight up there.” Darren pointed up.

“I honestly don't understand you. First, you’re okay I'm dating him. You even make fun of us. Then out of nowhere you say you care for me. I tell you I'm sorry and you tell me it’s okay, yet now you’re here, wanting to see me.” Darren and his behavior confused me. He wasn’t the type to not know what he wanted.

“Sue me,” he shrugged. “You’ve always been there, Addie. I liked that you were always there. Now, you’re not,” he hissed.