Chapter 33: Chapter 33

KRISTIN

The thought of June's father brought back a barrage of emotions—emotions I thought I had scaled.

"My sister was in her third year in college when she got pregnant, and I wasn't aware..." I started, my mind running back in time. Edith listened with rapt attention. "Before that, I had always thought that nothing could go wrong. My sister was in college; my business was flourishing. What could have gone wrong?! But it did. I learned of my sister's pregnancy after June was born."

"Huh?!" Edith gasped in shock. "You didn't know until she gave birth?"

"Until the child was already eating solid food," I corrected.

"Wow! What was her excuse?"

"She said her boyfriend dumped her and she didn't want him to know about the baby," I swallowed the imaginary lump stuck in my throat. "So she hid the baby from everyone. It came as a huge shock to me. I was hurt. She didn't bother to tell me... At that time, my relationship with my sister became so strained that I didn't speak to her for some time."

"I would feel hurt too," Edith said softly.

I shrugged nonchalantly like it didn't matter anymore. Well, it didn't... She was in heaven now...

"When I got over my feelings, I went to her... It was a very emotional moment for me. She cried in my arms... I promised to help take care of June... and I did."

"And you are still doing."

"From the beginning, she wasn't my sole responsibility. It wasn't until her mom died two years later that June became my sole responsibility."

Edith smiled. It looked like she was moments away from crying, "That is one of the most emotional stories I've heard in a long time."

I smiled back, "It's been ages since I opened up to anyone about June and me. "I don't know why I had to put it out there to Edith but her response made me happy for my decision.

"I feel lucky you told me," she chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Kristin, you are doing a great job... Keep it up."

"Thank you, Edith."

She smiled at me again. Something about Edith's smile makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. She licked her lower lip, moistening it.

My eyes went there. A familiar tingle of desire flowed to my groin, but I snapped out of it before my dick got hard.

"I would like to hear more," Edith said, getting up and straightening her skirt. "Come join me in the kitchen."

"Kitchen?" I looked around, perplexed.

"Yeah. I'm going to make you something to eat and clean the place before leaving."

"Edith, I won't allow that..." Already knowing what would come, I shook my head stubbornly. "You can't continue stressing yourself like this—"

"Do you have rice?" she interrupted me with a wave of her hand.

I sighed helplessly and followed her into the kitchen. I really feel helpless, but... Edith's presence is soothing. It's not every day you see someone who cares about you so much to make you breakfast or lunch.

She was already cooking before I had time to properly settle on the kitchen stool.

"You see, ladies also experience youthful exuberance," Edith started from the stove. "At the age, June is now, she is at her peak. Trying to restrict her movement or stop her from dating will only cause issues."

"I never stopped her from dating," I argued. "I only said that it shouldn't be Mark. I don't want him." Hell, I don't want him anywhere near June. If possible, I want their friendship to end because Mark seems like the one to use anything to get into an unsuspecting lady's pants.

"You dislike that dude."

"Hate!" I said loudly, surprising myself and Edith. "I hate him. I don't want him anywhere near my niece!"

When I finished, Edith was looking at me with amused eyes.

I made to apologize but she interrupted me.

"Don't even bother trying to apologize. I'm happy you're letting off steam. So... who do you want June to date?"

Offending Edith must be impossible. I chuckled lowly at the thought. She must have heard me.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked, amused. Her attention was divided between checking the pot on fire and listening to me.

"I just realized that you are really difficult to offend. Isn't that funny?"

I watched Edith laugh like I've never seen her do before. Her face lit up like firecrackers. Her body shook from the laughter.

"Why do people always say that?!" she asked, still laughing merrily.

"So, I'm not the first person?"

"No. People tell me that almost every day."

"'Cause it's true. We both know it. You are not easily offended."

She nodded and smiled shyly. "What can I say? Thanks. Before we deviate from the main topic, what kind of guy do you want June to date?"

I've never sat down to think about it.

I know that I don't want June to date Mark, but I have never tried to think about 'who' I want June to date.

"Anybody but Mark is okay," I replied at last after a moment of running around in my head.

Edith who was peering into the pot, looked back to roll her eyes at me. "Anybody but Mark? Then I'm sure you wouldn't object if June dates a guy that does coke."

"What? Of course, I would object!" Was there a possibility that Mark does coke? I wouldn't be surprised if I heard that. "Fine... For June, I want a responsible guy who has a future, who doesn't sit around waiting for his father to pass away so he can inherit the wealth he didn't work for. I want someone who will take good—no, better—care of June than I am doing."

Edith giggled, nodding slowly."Hmm, in summary, you want a guy that is not Mark."

I'm glad she got the message. "Exactly."

The amusement on Edith's face disappeared. "It's only natural that you protect your niece. And... you haven't answered my question."

"Oh, which one?" I sat up.

"June's father," Edith reminded. "You don't talk about him at all. It's fine if you don't want to—"

"No, no, it's not that I don't want to talk about him. You can't talk about someone you hardly know anything about. I didn't know my sister had a boyfriend at that time. Hell, I wasn't even aware that she was pregnant."

"Does that mean nobody knows him?"

I shrugged. "Well, at least, not me," I said. "I tried to reach out to him after my sister died, but I didn't even know where to begin my search. My sister hardly spoke about him." I massaged my temples when it seemed it was getting tense, "I don't even know what he looks like."

Edith exhaled. "That is one hell of a problem. Do you have a name you used during your search?"

"No," I shrugged. "I literally have nothing to track that dude with. He would be in a part of the world now, probably oblivious to the fact that he has a child."

The topic is as stressful to Edith as it is to me.

On more than one occasion, she closed her eyes and exhaled.

"Everything will be fine," she said. "I want you to hold onto the fact that he is still out there, probably aware that he has a daughter and is actively searching for her."

I smiled softly. "I guess that seems plausible."

The remaining part of our conversation went by in a blur since I was beginning to get worried about June's whereabouts—considering that she was probably with that pig.

Some minutes later, Edith led me to the dining room after setting the table.

"Edith, you didn't have to do this," I whined, looking at the delicious meal before me. Despite my complaint, my mouth watered.

"Well, I did. Dig in."

She sat on the other side of the table so I was privileged to see the beauty of her eyes. When I first met Edith, her blue eyes were her most striking feature. Before then, I had never seen natural blonde hair perfectly complement blue eyes. And what's more, her big heart always reflects in her eyes.

It's hard for you to see Edith full of malice or unnecessarily mad.

Her level of self-control and love is out of this world. Little wonder why she can say something in the company and it stands.

"How is the deal with Dija going?" she asked me when we were halfway into our meal.

I finished chewing before answering, "You reply to most of my emails. Shouldn't I ask you that?"

"She seems to prefer reaching out to you privately. Quite the businesswoman she is."

I know that Dija's motive is more than just business. I guess it's safe to say that my prowess in bed got me the deal. As soon as her pussy heals from our last session, she would definitely come again for another episode.

"Everyone has their way of doing business," I said nonchalantly, but Edith scoffed, shaking her head from side to side.

"Or maybe she likes you. Let's drop the business facade."

No, maybe she likes my dick.

"Edith!" I roared, laughing. "How did you come to this conclusion?"

She clicked her tongue. "You might have forgotten that I am a woman. I know what we do whenever we are into someone."

"What do you people do?" I asked in amusement.

"Well, for one, we want to get as close to the person as possible. Most times, we would want others to think it's just business or work. That is just one."

"Wow! Spill me some more knowledge!"

"Nah, I won't!" Edith waved her spoon at me, "I won't destroy the chances of prospective crushes hitting on you."

I rolled my eyes, "Oh please, nobody crushes on me."

"We both know that's a lie. You should give them a chance."

The heat seemed to be targeted at me, so I repelled it. "What about you, Edith? You should also give all those dudes a chance."

She caught the tease in my voice. Dropping her spoon with a clatter, she leaned back in her chair and laughed.

"Oh, please, Kristin! You keep amusing me. There are no dudes."

"We both know that's a lie. You should give them a chance," I said, using her lines on her. She laughed louder than before.

"Okay, okay," she raised her palms in defeat. "I agree that I need to give them a chance. You should agree too."

Agree that I should give a woman a place in my heart? That's not happening anytime soon.

"No, thank you. I will pass." I had no idea I said the words out loud until Edith narrowed at eyes at me.

"Kristin... who made you this way?" The air in the dining room seemed to get thin. "You don't open your heart to anyone... Something happened, right?"