A Second Chance

Chapter 14

Nicola's POV

I woke up with a jolt. When I opened my eyes, I saw outside through a window.

It was light outside. So I looked at my phone to check the time. It was six. I looked around at the unfamiliar room slowly remembering last night.

I finally let out everything that I had wanted to say to him for the past six years.

He had still thought that I was still in love with him and was pining for him? That man and his ego! Well, I hope after last night, his ego has finally come down to a normal human size. I rolled my eyes. Unbelievable!

Anyways I had better things to do. Like catching a plane and getting back to my home, back to my life. A life where I only had people who genuinely cared about me and had no egotistical males who thought I was in love with them!

Thinking that, I jumped out of bed eagerly and went to freshen up. I needed to leave before the girls woke up. I didn't want to break their little hearts saying goodbye again. Last night was enough.

I did my business in the bathroom quickly and ordered myself a cab.

Fortunately, it was nearby and would reach in ten minutes.

I exited the room and went to take a final peek at the twins. I didn't go in, not wanting to wake them up. After I was satisfied, I quietly made my way downstairs. Fortunately, my room was next to the stairs, so no one would hear me coming down.

I stepped outside of the house and breathed in the cool fresh air after the rain, and smiled blissfully. I loved the smell after the rain. 

I heard the cab pull up outside, so I walked out to the gate, taking one last look at Sarah's beloved garden, saying a silent goodbye to her.

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Gabriel's POV

I woke up in the morning and looked outside. Looks like the rain had stopped, and the sky had cleared. It would be a safe trip for Nicola, hopefully.

Speaking of Nicola, I had to go see her before she left. I checked the time and saw that it was seven thirty. Shit!

I hope she was still here. I got up and quickly pulled on some sweat pants and a t-shirt before I made my way down the hall.

I knocked on her room door again, and again, there was no response.
I opened the door and looked inside.

The bed was empty, and it was made. I went in calling her name. No response.

I knocked on the bathroom door several times before I checked it. It was empty.

I checked the kids' room. She wasn't there. I ran downstairs but only found Paula. Nicola was gone. She probably left early so as not to upset the twins by having to say goodbye again.

Shit, shit, Shit! I can't believe she is gone, and I never got to apologize! Now, what do I do?

I thought for a while and went to see Paula. She looked up when I entered, asking, "Sir, do you want your breakfast?"

"Not right now, Paula." I answered.

"Paula, did Nicola give you her number by any chance?" I asked.

"Of course, she wanted to call the twins  so she took my number and left hers with me." She replied.

"Ok. Good. Could I have it?" I asked.

"Okay.." She replied. Giving me a confused look, probably wondering why l don't already have my sister in law's number.

Fortunately, she gave me the number without asking questions.

I copied her number on my phone and hit the dial button. It started ringing so I waited. After a dozen rings, she finally picked up.

"Hello," she said. She sounded out of breath.

"Hey..," I said. There was a pause. And then I heard her quiet reply.

"Gabriel?"

"Hi." I said again. Then I cleared my throat. I didn't know what to say. After an awkward silence, I heard her again.

"Gabriel? Did you want something?"

Ugh! So polite! She really did talk to me like I am a stranger. I thought, sadly. I missed how she would usually respond when I called. She was always bubbly.

"Nicola, I had actually wanted to talk to you before you left." I started.

"Oh. Sorry, I didn't want to say goodbye to the girls again and upset them all over again." She said

"Yeah, I thought that's why you left. Could you tell me where you are staying. Maybe I could go there.."

"I already checked out. And my cab is on its way." She replied.

"What!" I replied anxiously. "So I really can't catch you before you leave?" I asked more to myself, running my hands through my hair frustratedly.

"Yeah, I am sorry. I have to go now the cab just arrived and I'm running late. Goodbye, Gabriel. Take care." She said.

"Ok. I will call you. Have a safe trip, Nicola." I said resignedly.

With a final bye, she hung up. And I put my phone down as well, feeling dejected.

As I sat down on the sofa, I heard the girls' footsteps coming downstairs.

They ran into the living room and jumped onto me. With an oof, I caught them giving them a hug as they both said loudly in my ears, "Good morning, Daddy!"

"Morning," I mumbled against Bella's shoulder and breathed in her scent.

I guess this is my life now, just me and my girls. I pulled away, looking at their small, innocent faces. Looking at me like I am there whole world and they have so much trust in me.

Its about time I picked myself up and started living up to it, I thought, looking back at them with so much love. They count on me now, and I am not letting them down.

So the sooner we started a normal routine, the better it would be to recover and easier for all of us to adjust.

I guess I am going to have to start going to work soon then. I grimaced thinking, to do that, I would have to hire a nanny soon.

I have been interviewing several nannies this week while the girls went out with Nicola. I will have to finalise on one of them.

It's time to start living the rest of our lives without Sarah.

I got up with each girl in one arm. "Girls, what do you want for breakfast?"

"Fruit smoothies and sweet potato toast!" They announced instantly.

I stopped in my tracks, staring at them.
"What?" I asked faintly. Feeling like I am already losing the battle of this single patenting.

Paula, looking at my face sympathetically, smiled and said,"it's something Miss Nicola made for them once. They loved it. Don't worry, it's very simple. I can make it for them. "

I smiled in relief and sat down with the girls to start our new day and our new lives.