But standing here with Sofia, watching her admire these ornaments I remember from my own childhood, I feel something I've not felt in a long time.
I feel like there's a reason to keep fighting this mayhem and chaos.
Sofia moves to another ornament and tries to reach it, but it's too high for her, so I step forward and lift her without asking.
She tenses in my arms but doesn't protest.
I hold her steady while she adjusts the ornament on the branch.
When she's satisfied, I set her back down.
"Better?" I ask.
She nods and gives me that small smile again.
It does something to me.
It cracks open a part of my heart I thought had closed permanently.
I turn to Angelica.
She's watching us with an expression that shows her displeasure with her jaw tight and her hands clenched in her lap.
Sofia runs off toward the kitchen, calling for Marta to show her something.
I sit down beside Angelica on the couch.
She shifts away from me slightly but doesn't leave.
"The DNA results came back," I tell her, and seeing how stiff she is, my tension returns almost immediately.
Her body goes rigid.
"Of course they did, you bastard. You had no right."
"She's mine."
"Well, you already knew that, didn't you? Just had to prove it so you can take her from me."
"I'm not going to take her, Angelica."
No wonder she's so hard-hearted against me.
Is there nothing I can do for this woman that will soften her so she'll have a civil conversation?
She turns to face me and her eyes are hard.
"Like hell… Just fuck off."
She stands and walks to the window.
She crosses her arms and stares out at the garden.
Just her posture screams for me to stay away, and I again feel something I've never felt before.
Frustration that she's ignoring me.
How many women would throw themselves at me?
