Page 87 of Promise of Punishment

“Why not?” I glance at my sister. “What do you think?”

“I think Mum will hire someone to take you out.”

I laugh. “With what money?”

She slaps a hand over her widening smile, but it does little to contain it. “I don’t think we’ve ever had this much fun at home before.”

“This was never home.”

“No.” Her gaze drops to a dead flower, nudging it with the pointy toe of her heel. “I suppose it wasn’t.”

Leave it to me to kill the mood. “Are you okay with that? If you want the manor…”

“I don’t want the manor. I like the shelter idea.”

“You don’t have to be part of it,” I tell Tessa. “I’ll get it set up and find the right people to run it.”

“What if you gave a section or apartment area to your mom?” Fable says. “Living here, she’d be forced to watch women and children heal and get help in the home she wanted for herself.”

“My god,” Tessa says to Fable. “You are diabolical, and I absolutely love it. She’s perfect for you, Wes.”

“We actually soften each other.” I kiss Fable’s temple.

Tessa’s phone rings. She takes it from her purse and excuses herself, walking to the other end of the terrace.

I turn to Fable and secure my hands around her waist. “You think so too, don’t you? We soften each other.”

“Sometimes.” She smiles sweetly at me. “But sometimes I make you hard.”

Oh shite. This woman. I kiss her madly as the cool breeze brushes our skin. Birds chirp in a nearby tree, leaves rustle, and sheep sound in the distance. It’s the most at peace I’ve ever felt here.

I pull back from Fable and look into her citrine eyes. “You didn’t want this place for us, did you?”

“No way. I don’t think you could ever be happy here.”

It jogs my memory. “I might have forgotten to tell you something.”

“Is it bad?” She tucks flyaway strands behind her ear.

“I’m not sure.” I should just come out and say it. “I own your family’s farmhouse. I bought it when it foreclosed in case you ever wanted it back, but if you want to destroy it, I’m up for that too.”

“You bought it?” Her features twist as she tries to wrap her head around it.

“I didn’t want your dad to have it, and I didn’t know if you’d ever go back, so…” Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

She turns away and lets the breeze sweep her hair from her face as she stares across the immaculate lawn, the pristine pool in the distance, and the brick pool house.

Shite. “Fable?”

“I’m not upset. I just... I’m conflicted. There are so many bad memories at that place, but I also have fond childhood memories with my mom when my dad wasn’t around.”

“You don’t have to decide anything now or ever.” I move close behind her and slip my hands around her waist, holding her small belly.

She nods. “I feel bad.”

“Why?”

“It was so easy for me to give ideas for what to do with your childhood home, and look how I’m acting about mine.”