Chapter 88-Making Amends

Mulo POV

“Why are you here?” Aric stood outside his house blocking the door way. He didn’t even give me a chance to knock.

“Is that anyway to greet your father?”

“Well I could punch you again.” I smiled remembering the right hook he caught me with the last time we saw each other. I was proud of how he defended his mother like a good son should.

"I like the new house. Grow tired of the beach?"

"No, Nina thought it was too large for just us and wanted something smaller, that felt more like a home. Mom rents out the beach house now. You haven’t answered my question.” The anger rolled off of him in waves. I hated that my actions caused this rift in our relationship, but now that I was back I wanted to make amends for the wrongs I made with him.

“I simply want to talk. Maybe meet my grandson if that isn’t too much to ask.”

“Actually, Mulo, it is.” I chuckled softly to myself hearing him refer to me by name.

“So formal now son? I am still your father regardless of how you feel on the subject.”

He started to say something when the door opened. I smiled seeing my beautiful daughter-in-law standing in the doorway. She placed a calming hand on his shoulder, undoubtedly feeling the level of tension he was radiating because I felt it as well. She flashed me a warm smile.

“Nice to see you Mulo. Would you like to come in?” He turned giving her a scowl that she shrugged off.

“Yes I would, thank you.” Reluctantly Aric stepped to the side allowing me entrance into the house. A smile spread across my face as I spotted my grandson sitting on the floor playing happily with the toys I sent. I sat down with him and he looked up to give me the biggest grin.

“I’m glad he’s enjoying the gifts.”

“He sent those? You told me mom bought them.” Aric said looking at Nina. She just shrugged him off and smiled.

“Yes well sometimes a little white lie isn’t a bad thing.” She responded softly.

“Yes little white lies snowball into total deception.” His hard gaze was pointed in my direction. I picked up Jonathan giving him a hug before handing him to Nina.

“We need to talk son.” Nina took Jonathan upstairs giving us some privacy.

“I don’t think there is anything I need to hear from you.” I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation but I underestimated how hostile he would be.

“Can we sit and have a conversation.”

“Just say what you came to say and then leave. Mom needed you because of Marisol but I don’t.”

“I understand you are angry at me for how I treated you last time we saw each other. You’re my son. In all my years in existence you are my only child, I wouldn’t do anything to truly harm you.”

“You think this is about you throwing me through a wall?” He asked giving a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah I was pretty pissed about that, but this is more about what you have done and are doing to my mother. You know the woman you claim you love yet at every turn you are doing something to make things bad for her.”

“Don’t over step son. The relationship I have with your mother is between us not you.” He stepped towards me preparing for another fight. This was not how I planned on this talk going but I would not be drawn into another fight with him.

“Well when you do things like try to kill her that involves me.”

“I didn’t try to kill her.”

“Oh really? So leaving a gaping wound on her neck letting her bleed out wasn’t an attempt on her life? My mistake.”

My hand balled in a fist at my side. He was trying to goad me into a fight; I could see it in his eyes. I took a step back getting my temper in check.

“Ok son, I see how this is going to go. I have not always done right by your mother I know this, but I would never kill her or attempt to kill her. I knew how soon you would be awake and I knew she had enough of my blood to keep her alive.” Aric let out another sarcastic laugh.

“Do you ever see what you do to her as wrong?”

“No. There is a reason behind everything, maybe not always a good one if you don’t know the whole story, but a reason all the same.” He looked at me as if I had grown a second head shaking his in disbelief.

“Well, we’ll be here to pick up the pieces when you go blow apart her life again if that’s the case.”

“She asked me to come.”

“Yes because that woman nearly caused the death of her child not because she missed you. She’s lost enough, so can you try to do more good than harm this time?”

“Yeah I think I can do that.” I answered with a smile.

Amari’s POV

“So when is the pool fence being installed?”

“Tomorrow. I hoped for sooner but that was the first available appointment. I’ll feel much better once it’s in. I should have had one before.”

“Hey you have to stop beating yourself up over it.” Carter gave me a hug trying to make me feel better. I still got nervous having Finley outside but I couldn’t keep her locked up inside all the time. The triplets were still grounded and had taken to helping around the house with the cleaning and chores trying to get back on my good side. I loved them but still every time I looked at them I saw them standing there doing nothing watching their sister drown.

“I’m trying, but it’s hard.”

He gave me a kiss on my head and the friendly warm smile I always took comfort in. Victoria was a lucky woman, we had become friends and I enjoyed being around her as much as I enjoyed Carter’s company.

“Ok enough gloominess.” I said wanting to focus on happier thoughts. “Tell me what are your plans tonight?”

“Well first I'm taking her to her favorite restaurant then she wanted to go to the festival. She loves magicians so I called and set up for her to be the audience participant and I will ask her then.”

“Aww how fun! Carter I want to be the first to say congratulations.”

“She hasn’t said yes yet.”

“She’d be crazy not to.” After Carter left the triplets worked on their homework while I worked with getting Finley to use the potty, she loved to talk but not so much potty time.

“Do you guys want anything special for dinner?”

“Lasagna.” Elton replied. I sat Finley in the kitchen while I started dinner. Wilma came to sit with her. Both dogs had taken a liking to her and followed her around almost everywhere she went. As I worked on dinner my thoughts went to Mulo. He hadn’t shown up and the link we shared seemed to be blocked. I could always feel him there in the background, but the last two days had been completely dark. It was strange and I hated to admit it, but I felt like something was missing.

I knew he was in town; Aric had called to let me know he came by but he hadn’t visited me. I was a little on edge waiting for him to show up. The fence company showed up right after the kids got off to school. It took them a little over an hour to install and I felt much calmer playing outside with Finley after they left. Watching her take her first steps was heartwarming. We had been outside for only about twenty minutes when the dogs started barking.

“Hello Love.” The darkness that was left from him blocking me was lifted and I was overcome with everything he was thinking.

“Stop! You can keep all those thoughts to yourself.” I said scooping up Finley so I could feed her lunch. “Fred, Wilma quiet! Although I must say they have excellent judge of character. I do believe you are the only one they ever have barked out. I wonder why.” I heard his laughter behind me as I headed into the house.

“I’ve missed you too Love.”

“Quit checking out my ass.” I called over my shoulder sensing his still unfiltered thoughts. I knew he was doing it on purpose but I wasn’t going to play that game with him. That ship had long since sailed.

“But it’s such a nice view.” I ignored his comment as I continued into the house.

“There you are sweetie, enjoy.” I turned to face him and wasn’t quick enough filtering my own thoughts. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t flatter yourself. I'd still rather drive a stake through that cavity that should be your heart. However you are more help to me alive than dead so I will refrain from doing that.”

“I appreciate that. I’ve already talked to Marisol, she won’t bother them anymore. I think of them as mine and therefore she has to give them the same respect she gives to Aric. Well really all of your kids for that matter from here on out.”

“They’re not yours.”

“I know Love. Your beloved Marcus is their biological father, but,” he pushed off the wall closing the distance between us in an instant “I did create what they are, so that makes them a little bit mine.” I pushed against his chest to put more space between us.

“No what you created almost got my baby killed. Look at her Mulo, an innocent life almost lost because both you and her refuse to just let me be. What you created left them open to her and now their thinking is all twisted. They have four other vampires in their lives, yet somehow her way of thinking overrides all other. I like to think they understand but I’m scared that they are instead getting better at hiding it from me.” Finley started crying, Mulo had her out of her seat and in his arms before I even turned around fully.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Yes she is, and with her father gone...”

“Don’t worry Love. I’m back now and will take care of everything.”