Susan was still totally unfocused and sad about Harry. Daniel didn't have much trouble losing his temper and had spoken many truths to his brother's face. Daniel slumped in his chair clutching his face in his hands, as if he had fought a battle.
- My God... Harry -
- What am I going to do, Susan? I don't know how we can live together as brothers after this... He's a cowardly brat! I knew it, I knew it! I knew he was in love with Deanna -
- Daniel, he can't do anything about his affection for your wife anymore, he's married now and I know he wouldn't dare harm Laura -
- "Affection for my wife" ... I'll have to witness it every time he looks at her. You know what I'm like, Susan, I won't be able to tolerate it -
- Well, you'll have to make a supreme effort because he's still your brother and in time things will change. When his son is born, he will forget everything.
- Believe me I didn't expect to develop feelings for her, since I met her it's all I think about... -
- I realized it before you did yourself, Daniel... -
- She's much younger...
- That has nothing to do with it, brother. She was looking at you the same way, you had to be blind not to notice it. I feel very sorry for Harry's situation and as much as it pains me, he was wrong in his decisions. But that doesn't mean you don't have the right to be happy, if you love her and she loves you, what do the years of difference matter? Don't refuse to live again, Daniel.
Susan was the cohesive stuff that held her siblings together. She had been there for Daniel and his nephews all the time since Emily had passed away. She had watched him mutate more and more into the cold and distant man he had become; no woman was good enough for him. And suddenly along comes this tousle-haired college girl with a warm smile to melt his brother's armor. Of course she'd be there for him! She had been there for Harry too when he was crying disconsolately over Laura's pregnancy, not knowing the real reason. She thought at the time that he was grief-stricken because he was a few steps ahead and because it was too heavy a burden for him. But she advised him, she listened to him, she held him back, she told him that a child was always a reason for joy and that from now on he should only think of him, that he would be happy in spite of everything because he loved Laura. He had no way of knowing that his tears were for the woman he loved, they were for Deanna.
Would Laura know all this? No, of course she wouldn't. She only lived for Harry and their little baby on the way. She wouldn't have accepted Deanna's help otherwise she wouldn't have allowed her boyfriend to spend time with her. Harry had hidden his emotions well, but if Deanna had shown even the slightest interest in him, Susan was sure he would have dropped everything to be with her. What a mess! No one ever had to know, the gossip about the two of them had already circulated and reached Camilla, if this got out it would end up separating Daniel from Deanna.
-Daniel, no one must know. Least of all mom, do you know what a scandal it would make? Poor Laura will be devastated if she finds out. And Deanna...
- Deanna will go away... Don't worry, Susan. I can resist mom, but I don't know if I can bear Deanna leaving... If she finds out about Harry I'm sure she'll disappear -
- Brother... you really like her and you like her too much -
- I do -
Of course he liked her and it wasn't just physical attraction. Deanna was a warm breeze that surrounded everything in her path, but she could also be an uncontrollable tempest; she was tender with his children, and complicit with them in some things; she had that ability to transform the simplest and most common thing in life into something wonderful and extraordinary. Of course he liked her too much, the attraction he felt for her he had never felt for anyone, not even Emily. Deanna would go from being a little shy and distracted to looking him straight in the eye with unabashed mischief, and when she did she felt no shame, totally confident in her emotions and sensations. It made Daniel's blood boil. Because he was the target of those emotions, not his money or his CEO position, not his last name, it was him. And he was going to hold on to that woman with all his might.
When they returned home that afternoon with the kids, he found Deanna and Jonathan sitting on the living room floor with ice cream.
- They're back! There's ice cream for everyone in the kitchen - Ethan and Naomi didn't need to hear it twice.
- Do you think it's time for ice cream? - Daniel asked, sitting down next to them in one of the armchairs.
-It's always time for ice cream... We brought you some, too.
Ethan and Naomi returned, he sat next to Jonathan and Deanna on the floor and Naomi next to her father.
- How did you do on the exam, Ethan? -
- I think fine... He asked us questions about the solar system and the planets -
- Yeah, they always add those topics in the exams. Next time you can ask your father about the alignment of planets... –
- Do you think so? - asked Ethan.
- Of course! Dad is an expert," said Naomi.
- It's true, if he doesn't get everything lined up perfectly, it doesn't work," added Deanna.
- Hey! - Daniel exclaimed with a half smile.
Laughter had come back to flood his house, his children were laughing more, they were happier. He was happier. When he came home from work he forgot all his problems, he could relax; he no longer locked himself in his office and the children didn't run to their rooms. They would all relax together before dinner, maybe chatting or reading or watching a movie. Once again he had a home. Watching them laugh he felt Susan's voice like an echo inside his head, "You deserve to be happy, Daniel."
- Saturday is Grandma's birthday. We'll have to go to her party - He announced to them all.
- It's true! We need to buy her a present -
- Sure, Naomi, what will we buy this year? - Ethan asked her.
- I don't know... Deanna, can you help us choose? -
- Of course I can. Let's go on Friday after school -
She looked at Daniel with worried eyes. Again she had to face Camila and her interrogations, and not only that, but also everyone else. Everything was easier when it was just the five of them.
-Don't worry," he said softly, knowing what she was thinking.
Deanna could handle the scrutiny and the uncomfortable questions, she wasn't afraid of that. She was worried that something similar to the last time when they both lost control of their tempers would happen. She didn't much care, but she knew well that Daniel had to maintain a certain image in society and that gossip and rumors didn't help.
After dinner and the children went to bed, Daniel went into his office. And Deanna went to bring him a coffee.
- Thanks -
- I guess I'll have to find something to wear... I should have shopped when we went with Harry and Laura -
- Nothing short -
- You're obsessed with it, you know that, don't you? -
Deanna sat and watched him for a while as he read some papers.
- I'm sorry about what happened last time, it won't happen again - She told him.
- It was my fault, not yours. Just try not to spend too much time alone with Harry.
- It's okay -
- You can wear whatever you want... I'll have to get used to it, even if I don't like it.
- Laura tells me that you're very popular with the ladies... -
- Of course I am -
- But how cheeky! - Daniel smiled.
- None of them interest me... -
Deanna stood up and walked over to him, stood between his legs and looked down at him.
- Will I have to take care of my sexy husband from those women? -
Daniel took her by the waist, that attitude she had towards him showing an open and unabashed interest, calling him with those epithets that stroked his ego. He couldn't tell if she did it inadvertently or with all the intention in the world to get him out of control.
Deanna stroked his hair with both hands without looking away from his eyes and he clung tighter to her waist. Slowly she lowered her head to meet his mouth and kissed him. She kissed him like that first time in the company, full of shyness, full of gentleness.