The Return Of His Ex Wife
Chapter 33: It Was All A Lie?

Chapter 33: It Was All A Lie?

Arlo’s POV

I didn’t expect this depression to kick in now but it did. It didn’t make any sense because I was at the most happiest moment of my life! For Tara to agree and bring Richard here, it felt like I’d been dreaming!

I heaved in a deep sigh, "You’re fine now, Arlo." I was trying to work out my therapist’s idea. "Focus on your breathing..." It worked, but not today. "Fuck it!"

"Are we good?" Sofia said behind me and I hadn’t even known she was in my room already. "You don’t look so good..." She knew of these sad says when everything never made sense to me as I’d have a couple of episodes in her presence. And she had been so frightened back then.

"Yes. We’re good, Sofia." I lied.

"You’ll be fine. Is it those dreams again?" She asked, concerned plastered on her face. "Dude, have you been getting any sleep at all?"

"I’m fine, Sofia. That’s the most important thing." Those dreams? More like nightmares! Those memories of her on her death bed...I shook my head to stop those thoughts. I had even accepted these contracts all at the same time so I could get busy and distract myself from my suffering.

"Changing the subject, you know...I am so proud of you and your relationship with Tara. She brought her son here just for you!" Sofia smiled.

"This version doesn’t suit you. How about you go back to being your demon self again?" I teased and she slapped my shoulders. "But yea, you’re right. I feel so happy actually."

We all met at the restaurant, there I couldn’t stop staring at Tara. She looked so gorgeous in that red dress and her blond hair was somehow wrapped in a tiny dough sitting at the nape of her neck. Richard was dressed in a little tux, and he actually smiled and nudged at me happy we shared a similar sense of fashion! Ella was also on a gorgeous dress and they all looked good!

Sofia whistled. "Whoa, you guys are all beautiful. Come on in." She said as she led us all in to the restaurant.

I stayed behind to speak with Tara. Her face lit up in a smile, though she seemed to appear nervous. "Wow, you really are trying to melt my heart here, aren’t you?"

She looked distant, "Huh? Oh..."

"I’m talking about Richard’s outfits, you silly." I said. She still didn’t seem to be following. "You know I’m a tux person and you um, you dressed him up like a mini me!"

"Oh, oh yes. Um, that is absolutely true, ha!"

Was it though? Why was she acting suspicious like this?

She paused and remained still, making me wonder why she wasn’t heading in. Was she that nervous?. "By the way, you’re not going in yet? It’s fine. Sofia is really happy you guys are here. Everyone else is waiting already."

"Oh it’s fine. I’m waiting for someone." She announced and I frowned, surprised by what she meant.

"Waiting for someone? But we’re all complete."

"Your sister gave me the permission to bring some extra guests! I asked her a couple of minutes back."

Nothing was making sense anymore. "I--I don’t understand, Tara."

She heaved in a deep sigh. "Wow I’m just so nervous seeing my step brother after all these years. I mean we see on some occasions, but that’s just it. Listen, Arlo. I have a confession to make."

I let myself appear attentive as I possible could. "Okay?"

"My step brother is trying to ruin me! I’m working on a project, and he’s the only one who knows about this. But then I heard now that he is trying to sabotage all my hardwork! All of my investors, he keeps telling them I wasn’t as ready and committed as they thought. Spewing bad things about me! That’s not cool, even on my step brother level."

"Now I’m expecting him over with his wife and two kids. You know, when I heard you’d be coming here, I instantly said yes because this was an opportunity to deal with this mess. I’m sorry I lied to you about the reason for coming here. I hope you’re not mad at me!?."

I realized I’d stiffened up so I tried to let myself loose with a pathetic smile that hurt the more I tried. My heartbeat quickened and I tried all my possible beat to maintain eye contact with her. "What? No, I’m fine Sunflower." Fine? I wasn’t! She lied to me?

"I just feel a little...I mean, you would have said no, right? If you hadn’t found out your step brother was in town?"

"I’m sorry, but at least I’m here now, right??" She still glanced around for her mysterious brother to pop out.

"Tara, I can help. I could have help, why didn’t you tell me?"

"Tara? Damn, you must be really mad at me. Look Arlo, I’m sorry." She looked so serious now.

"No. I’m not! I...it’s fine. So, we’ll wait for him, right? For them." Fuck me, I was panicking!

"Arlo, I didn’t want to involve you. I can handle this myself, it is my project."

I scoffed. "You didn’t want to involve me, yet here you are."

There. I’d offended her.

"You can go inside. I’ll wait here!" She frowned, completely furious!

I knew I was supposed to apologize, but I was angry too! "No. I’ll wait." I had expected she would act stubborn but she just remained still, that murderous frown still appearing on her face though.

It took a couple of minutes later, maybe 10 minutes? Then I saw him. A tall dude with dark brown hair and a bright smile on his face, but that disappeared as soon as he sighted us. A dark skinned beautiful lady, probably his wife, accompanied him, holding two kids; a boy and a girl, around the same age as Richard, a bit older now that I checked again.

I caught a glimpse of Tara’s expression and saw how she was fidgeting. Was she so nervous because of her brother? Or step brother...I keep forgetting.

"Hey, you’re late, but you’re here now. All that matters." Tara said in a strange tone, why was she so nervous!

"Yes. All that matters." The lady beside her step brother said.

"Alright then. Arlo, this is my step brother, the eldest of us all, Mike. And his wife, Alison. Mike, this is Arlo, he--" Tara was a lot to go on when she was cut off.

"Hernandez??" Mike’s eyes widened as he sighted me. I was used to these kinds of expression so I managed a composed smile.

"It’s nice to meet you." I held out my hand for a handshake and he grabbed on to me a little too tight.

"My pleasure! Oh my goodness, it’s really you! Tara, you didn’t tell me you were friends with the Arlo Hernandez!!" Mike blurted out and by this time, his wife was already smiling too.

"I guess it must have slipped my mind. Let’s head in," Tara said, "by the way, Arlo over here, he’s my boyfriend."

Mike gasped, Alison had her hand cover her widened mouth, and me? I blinked, taking a closer look at Tara. Oh, so now I was her boyfriend?