Chapter 36: Kiss Your tears away

When I went downstairs again, Sin and Angel were nowhere to be found. The sitting room was empty, and I had started to turn around when the butler from yesterday came around, his hand elegantly behind his back.

"Good morning," he said "Good morning," I replied. I still wasn't familiar with the place, especially since I never got to tour it. "Where are Angel and Sin?"

"Sir is in the kitchen with Angel."

I took a step forward, then realized I didn't even know where it was, exactly.

"Where is the kitchen?"

The butler silently extended his hand in front of him, and I immediately followed. He led me to the kitchen, then walked away as soon as we got to the door.

I slowly stepped in, making sure to be quiet, as I heard Angel's giggles from inside.

Sin was standing behind her, and she was standing on a stool so she would be exactly his height.

A slice of bread was on a white plate in front of them, and Sin was holding her hand and gently twisting pieces of the edges that they had slightly cut, so they looked woven into each other.

"That edge is done," Sin said, then turned to kiss the girl's cheek.

She giggled, then gave him her small hands, and he kissed both of them before they got back to work again.

I smiled a little wistfully, a small breath escaping me. Despite everything around her, I still haven't seen a child quite as happy. Quite as loved. I almost envied her.

I sighed, looking up, just as Sin did, and his eyes met mine. He said nothing but turned away and kissed Angel's cheek again.

"Mummy is here, Angel. Can I trust you to teach her while I get ready?"

She nodded, looking up at me. "Will she tell our secret?"

"She won't," Sin said, smiling. "Will you?"

I immediately shook my head, then smiled and walked in. I leaned to Angel, who was now watching me, her eyes filling in on mine.

"Cross my heart. I won't tell a soul."

She nodded. "Fine. We are making twisted toasts."

I nodded, then took Sin's place as he moved away from me.

"Please handle the oven, Annalise."

I nodded, giving him a thumbs up. He walked away, leaving I and Angel, who was rather serious about her job as my instructor.

"Here is how you do it," she said, setting the slice of bread they had done with Sin away. She brought out a new one, then turned to me, and immediately broke into a big smile.

I held her waist gently, my chin lightly resting on her shoulder. "Is this fun?"

She nodded, her hair falling in front of her. "I like Mummy."

"You do?"

She nodded, then turned to me, her hand going to cup my cheeks. "Mummy. Will you come with me to school tomorrow?"

My brows furrowed. "Why?"

"Bethany keeps telling me that I do not have a mummy. She also said that daddy sold mummy, and that is what her mummy has been telling her."

My lips parted, and I cupped her cheek, a small smile lifting my lips. "You do know daddy would never sell mummy, right?"

She tilted her head to the side, her brows furrowed. "Why?"

"Well, because Daddy is a good man, you know. And he loves Angel very much."

She laughed, her eyes thinning.

"You know he loves you, right?"

She nodded. "I love Daddy too."

"Why don't you tell him that later when he comes back? It would make him very happy."

"Will you come to school with me if I do?"

I chuckled. "We can even wear matching outfits and stun annoying Bethany. She won't say another word to you."

Angel let out a mischievous giggle, then nodded, giving me her little pinky. "Promise."

I nodded. "Promise. Now, let's finish these toasts so we can give some to Daddy, okay?"

She nodded excitedly, and we returned to work. After two slices, I had gotten a hang of it. After cutting it up, we would twist it, pop it in the oven for a short while, and then fill it up with anything.

I experimented quite a bit with the fillings, and by the time we had made enough, we had different fillings on the bread, even one that Angel had specifically asked me to write 'I love you' on the chocolate spread.

I helped her down from the stool, and we went towards the dining table. I kept the toast on the table, as the rest of it was already set up, probably by a chef.

Sin returned, and he was wearing an all-grey ensemble. A loose grey cardigan under a darker grey coat and dark grey trousers.

He leaned to pat Angel's head before he moved to take his seat.

Sin didn't even look at the toast as he grabbed a cup of tea instead, and then brought it to his lips. I turned to Angel, who was watching him, her eyes big. I could see the disappointment fill her eyes, and I turned to him again.

She had put the special one on his plate and put another on it, so it would be a pleasant surprise. He, apparently, wasn't as keen about toasts as she was.

"Sin?"

He turned to me, a brow raised. Slowly, I leaned further, then lifted the toast on top. I then moved the plate and turned to Angel.

"How about you take it to Daddy so he can see?"

She brightened up, then collected the plate, and came down from her chair. With small steps, she went around to Sin, who slowly leaned to her, his eyes softening by a great deal.

"I made this for you, Daddy."

He looked down at the plate, then broke into a smile, his hand touching his heart. He then accepted the plate and pulled her into a hug, her small body encased in his.

"I love you too, sweetheart."

I turned away, a smile on my lips. I felt at least proud of myself. Suddenly, Angel turned to me.

"You too, mummy."

Sin looked up to me, his eyes blank.

"What?"

"Say you love Daddy," she said, then wrapped her hand around my finger to pull me into their hug.

I let her pull me, then squatted to her height, my lips parting, but no words coming out of them.

"Please?" she said again, then pulled me even more.

I swallowed, meeting Sin's eyes. "I... I..."

"I love you," he said, then pulled me so he could hug both Angel and I. My breath stopped in my throat, and I found it hard to think, my eyes focused on what little part of him I could get.

Slowly, he broke away, then kissed Angel's forehead, her smile big. He didn't have to do it, but he leaned to me, his hands cupping each side of my face, his eyes holding mine for a split second before he gently leaned to kiss my forehead.

My eyes closed, and Lord help me, I held his hand, my lips parting as his lips touched my skin. It felt like going to a home that I never had but somehow always felt its absence.

He leaned away, but my hand stayed wrapped around his wrist, a small teardrop resting right at the base of my left eye.

"Are you holding my hand so I can kiss your tears away too?"

I swallowed, blinking hard as I let go of his hand. I immediately moved away, my chest heaving, my heart thumping hard in my chest.

If I was going to be honest with myself, it didn't sound so bad.