SORRY

Chapter 53. Keeping Safe

Noah POV

But that would be wishful thinking.

I knew Briana was trying to be civil for the children’s sake,

I could sense her detachment when I tried to include her in my conversation with the children.

Though there are moments when I get to see a glimpse of the old Briana, I can feel

her resistance.

She did not want this and was only doing so for the children.

It was near dinner when Briana told the kids we had to leave.

“Oh, mom!” They all groaned in unison.

They don’t want to leave yet. Neither do I.

The hours were too short.

Besides, I could tell the triplets were having so much fun.

The theme park has private cabins. We rented one to allow the children to nap. Briana joined them on the bed.

I wanted to join them, too, but no one had invited me.

Feeling a little lost, I went to the small living area and surfed the channels on the television to see anything interesting to watch.

When nothing could get my interest, I tried to check my emails,

Langley and Brent sent me a report regarding the filing of charges against Uncle Matt.

I read through them to while away the time.

“He was so angry. He’s threatening to counter–sue.” Langley informed me.

“Make sure he can’t post ball. I don’t know what he’s capable of doing, but I wouldn’t want to endanger my children.”

Langley sent the a question mark in reply. And I sent back a facture of my children Walking with Buana wailer

Onud! You have children with Briann?”

I don’t know how he knew it was her. The pieture only showed Briana’s side profile

How did you know she was their mother?” Hyped back with a frown on my face

Langley sent me a smiling emot. “It’s becatige her face had been forever etched in my head sil”

tread his response, and jealousy burgeoned inside me, I can’t imagine Langley having the hots for my ex wife.

I started typing on the screen when another message from Langley arrived.

“I feel guilty, sir. She is a good idd. Your parents brought her up well. For five years, I could not shake off in my memory the anguish on her face when I told her you were divorcing her.” I read his next reply.

That was unexpected.

Langley worked previously with my parents. He was the one who handled Briana’s papers so my parents could take her without legally adopting her.

Langley never spoke to me about her since then.

Come to think of it, Langley and I never spoke at all in the past five years.

Must be my conscience.

Langley reminded me of those last minutes with my wife before the divorce. I sighed.

“How old are your children, sir? Are they all boys?”

teould feel Langley’s excitement while we exchanged messages by email.

No word about them to anyone. Langley,” I warned.

I called Chris next told him about what happened to my uncle, and ordered him to hire bodyguards for Briana and my children.

* could not take anything to chance. I have to ensure my family’s safety first.” I informed Chris

+23 BOARDS

A sense of protectiveness engulfed me, and I promised myself that I would do everything in my power to keep them safe and well.

“I cannot leave everything to chance,” I told him.

I also instructed Chris to arrange a meeting for me with Marcus Ford tomorrow.

“Tell him it is about Briana and the children’s safety. But don’t tell him anything else. Let me explain to him.”

When I put my phone away, I glanced at the bed and saw Briana stretching her arms upward.

Her arms were suspended in mid–air when our eyes met.

“Sorry, I thought it was just the kids and me. She excused. I shook my head.

A deep longing assailed me for the wife I pushed away.

“I missed this,” I mumbled under my breath.

Briana frowned. “What did you say?”

I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized she did not hear me.

I made a motion to look at my watch for the time.

“Should we wake the triplets? I am sure they are hungry.”

I remember they did not eat much during lunch because they were hurrying up for the rides.

Briana laughed. It was loud at first but faded when she noticed me staring at her.

“Maybe you did not notice, but the children were snacking in between rides. I brought them fruit and veggie trays I placed in plastic containers. They snacked on those.” Briana told me and pulled out a lunch bag.

Che opened it and showed three empty large containers.

“The boys love munching on fruits and vegetables.” She added.

“Why didn’t you let me carry the bag?” I asked.

She looked stunned and gave out a small laugh.

ested to habit thad been doing it for years whenever the boys and I went out Pods, never thought of it as a chore it’s for my children.” She shrugged it

was abg desal to her. But to me it was

not

Ewant to share in her load when it comes to the children.

Iwanted to share more, but tam sure Marcus Ford would have none of that.

should be grateful he allowed me time to spend with my kids and Briana.

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Lcould not stand their silence anymore. It was like we were back to being strangers

“Is that your girlfriend?” Riley asked upon continuous prodding from me.

I was surprised. I didn’t think the triplets sow me with Britney,

I underestimated their astuteness, it seems

Riley crossed his arms over his chest and eyed me accusingly.

I felt so small meeting his accusing stare.

I don’t know how to explain. Maybe I’ll start clearing my relationship with Britney to dispel any doubts in their minds.

“No. She was not.” I told him honestly and felt Briana’s heavy stare on me.

“I saw her on television.” Mason volunteered

“She is beautiful.”

“But not as beautiful as our mom.

“Our mom is the prettiest mommy in the world.”

A smile slowly appeared on my face as they extolled Briana’s beauty,

“Yes. Your mom’s the most beautiful.” I readily agreed and was rewarded with a blush from Briana.

It did not allay my fears, though.

When the food arrived, the children dug in. Briana was still ignoring me, She was turning cold on me.

Her attention was on all three boys.

It was more discomfiting than her attitude earlier.

When we finished our food, Riley said something that actually surprised me.

“You are our daddy.” Riley opened, and I nodded in agreement. It amazes me that the children never questioned my existence and instantly accepted me.

To continue being a daddy, you are not allowed to have another wife or a girlfriend. Our mommy does not have a boyfriend or a husband because she said we are enough to make her happy. I hope we are also enough to make you happy, Daddy”

i stared blankly at Riley. Then at his brothers. “Are we good on this, Daddy?”

Am 1 fully comprehending what he was telling me? Briana had no husband or a boyfriend. So where does Marcus Ford figure in their lives?

+25 BONUS

a confused look and was stunned by her stricken face

Ceping our children as an unwitting audience, I could not wait to ask. sy tweet was thumping wildly in my chest excitement while I waited for her confirmation. i had not been banking on this development. But it sure was a relief to

that Briana had never nemamed, nor was she in a relationship.

I figured of wanted to take back my family, this was my chance. A chance I promise to put to good use. win her back

Tommy dromey Borana only averted her face

She acted like she did not hear me, but I knew better.

Ste avoided answering my question.

I did not press, though. I figured we still had time to discuss her social status without

Maybe she was stocked, too. She did not bank on Riley blurting it out of the blue.

But thats to my advantage.

know

have a lot to work on. Too many things to prove to her and the children, but will do everything in my power to assure her – there had been no one else. Steve lows they. That I was sure of only tolerated her because she was there exomeone to rely on. But we haven’t been intimate. I never wanted her

The side back pose was uneventful Branaghose to sit as far to me as possible. She wis direct hugging the door to avoid contact with me.

Than tossed the van in their driveway, I kept my mouth shut, though I was itching to ask and fire my questions away. The timing was off.

“They view Bana muttered when we opened the passenger door to get the

Traft wake them up will carry them.”

I got out of the car and helped her unstrap the children took Rally in my artis. He’s the most adversarial among the three and was not that quick to accept me, but he was the most protective of their mother.

#t must be because he was the eldest. He took his responsibilities wall

Tears blurred my eyes as I tenderly watched my son in sleep. At a young age, he began to understand the concept of being the man of the house because was not

thers

I kissed the top of his head and carried him in my arms.

When I reached the main door, it opened to Rowan, the second eldest of the Ford Brothers, as he got out, followed by Flint.

They marched up to the van and took Mason and Brizz.

“Where to?” I asked Briana when she ran ahead of me. She took the stairs, andil

followed her to a room.

When she opened the door, her natural scent assailed my nostrils. I was

momentarily immobilized by a long–ago memory. It was recent. It was one of me and Briana in bed, cuddling after a satiating lovemaking.

“Just put Riley here.” Briana’s voice pulled me back from my trance.

Hooked around the room. It was so very much like Briana.

I approached the bed, and longing filled me,

The children are sleeping with her, I realized.

This knowledge bolstered Riley’s claim that their mom is single and unattached. An Involuntary smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I can’t help it.

Even if Briana had been cold towards me since the Britney incident, I could not help feeling happy. Finally, I could see a glimmer of hope.

I put filey on the bed and took off his shoes and socks.

“Do we need to change him?” I asked Briana, who was still not looking at me when I addressed her

It’s fine. I can do it.” She said before going out of the room.

+25 BONUS

While she was gone, Rowan and Flint Ford came in carrying Mason and Brixx in their arms. They also put the two children beside their brother.

When Briana came back, she was holding changing clothes for the triplets.

Rowan and Flint were gone by then, and I stayed behind to help her. We worked quickly as a team. But the silence was killing me.

“Briana,” I called out to her.

“It’s late. You should go ahead.” She said without looking at me.

I figured now was not the time to talk and stopped attempting to engage her.

“Good night,” I told her and bent to kiss the triplets on their downy heads.

My feet won’t move. It was hard tearing myself away.

“Noah. I need to rest.” Briana reminded me. This time, her voice has a sharp edge to

1. it.

“Good night,” I told her, but she wouldn’t look up in my direction.

She was busy arranging the pillows around the triplets.

I sighed and let myself out.

Outside, Rowan and Flint Ford greeted me.

“Marcus is waiting for you at the study,” Rowan told me.

He showed me that way, and I was ushered inside a large study.

The room was neat. The floor was made of sanded wood and smelled of lemon wax.

Marcus Ford sat behind a mahogany desk with a laptop in front of him. He looked. when he heard me come in.

up

“What do you want to talk to me about?” He asked even before I closed the door.

I approached his desk.

Marcus Ford eyed me with a frown on his face.

“First, let me ask you something. What is your real relationship with Briana? Why is

Checter 55 Real Relationship

she using your surname?”