CHAPTER 232: BEST DIFFERENT

Neither Jamal or Stefan said a word as they sat in the car, outside the gate while Stefan waited for Genevieve to come out.

Stefan sighed deeply before sipping from the coffee travel mug of coffee which Jamal had brought him.

"I’m sure this is all for the best," he said after he set down the mug, "I mean these recent developments. Things would most likely have been more messy otherwise."

"You know what I’ve been thinking all morning since I heard from Tom? I’ve been wondering what Ryan was thinking when he saw the pictures. After learning more about his and his motive for doing all he did, it occurred to me that he might not be as calculating as we thought and maybe..."

Stefan frowned and cut in. "Why do you sound like you’re feeling sorry for him? You’re not feeling sorry, are you?"

Jamal sighed deeply. "I am. Sort of. It’s weird I know. Considering all he has done. But we can’t always expect everyone to have the best reaction to situations, right? His reaction and retaliation was extreme, and more people than he intended got hurt. But he’s Callan’s Dad. I can’t imagine how Callan would feel knowing that someone loved him and his biological mom enough to go this far."

Stefan shook his head. "You’re so softhearted. I know if it was up to you, you’d want a peaceful resolution. Everyone in a room together shaking hands and letting bygone be bygone."

Jamal shrugged. "I know. You don’t have to sound like it’s such a bad thing."

"It’s not. But I don’t need to remind you that this man kept you away from the love of your life for twenty years. You missed out on your son’s life for years because of him," Stefan pointed out.

"So, I should want his head, right?" Jamal asked with a chuckle.

"I would want his head," Stefan said flatly.

"Yet you’re mad at him for taking the head of everyone who did exactly the same thing to him. Unlike me, he doesn’t get to be reunited with the love of his life after twenty years. He lost her for good. And he didn’t lose four years of his son’s life. He lost thirty years. How could he not want the heads of everyone involved?" Jamal asked making Stefan frown.

He didn’t like that Jamal’s argument made sense. "Did he have to do that to Genevieve and Abigail too? He ruined both their lives."

"Yeah. But thankfully he didn’t kill Abigail as he could easily have done. And using Genevieve saved her from the sort of life she had with her mother. You’d agree that what he did helped her more than it hurt her, wouldn’t you?" Jamal argued.

"I hate that you’re being so logical this way. Does Abigail share your thoughts, too?" Stefan asked, and Jamal rubbed his eyes.

"I can’t say any of this to her or to anyone else for that matter. She’s bent on making him pay. And honestly, I don’t mind him being arrested for his crimes. He should face the law. If everyone walks away freely after such heinous crimes no matter how justifiably the reason is, the society would be very messed up."

Stefan nodded. "Okay. I get it now. You feel sorry for him but that doesn’t mean you don’t want him to be punished legally."

"Yeah. When I first realized Abigail was Dawn, I was so sure I’d squeeze the life out of Ryan with my own hands." Jamal chuckled. "I’m not cut out for all of this. I just want to go home with Abigail and Josh, and put all of this behind me."

"You’re lucky you’re surrounded by people who can do the dirty work to make sure you have the peaceful life you have," Stefan said, and Jamal nodded.

"Yeah. I know that. I’ve lived a sheltered life thanks to them, and I intend to keep living that sheltered life and make sure my family lives that way as well. I don’t want to cross any lines."

They both stopped talking when the gate opened and a pretty blonde stepped out with her luggage.

Stefan’s pulse quickened. "Wow!"

Jamal chuckled when he saw the look on Stefan’s face. "Well, this is my cue to leave. Let me know when you arrive."

"Sure," Stefan said, already getting out of the car, and Jamal did the same.

"Have a safe trip, ma’am," Jamal said to Genevieve.

Genevieve smiled at him. She was glad that the walk from the house to the gate had helped her clear her head and eyes.

"Thanks, Pete. Please take good care of Abigail and Josh. And yourself," she said, and he nodded.

"Sure will." Jamal waved before walking away.

Stefan was grinning when she faced him. "You look different."

She smiled shyly. "Good different or bad different?" She asked even though the look on his face told her he liked what he saw.

"Best different. You look even more beautiful than the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Viv I dreamt off," he said with a wink.

Genevieve felt the butterflies in her belly as she laughed, but before she could say a word, Stefan covered the distance between them and embraced her.

"I missed you so much I couldn’t wait another day to see you," Stefan said, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

Genevieve’s pulse skyrocketed as she let go of her luggage bag and wrapped her arms around him. She inhaled deeply, drawing in his masculine scent. "I missed you too."

Stefan pulled back and looked into her blue eyes with a smile, "So, are you ready to take off with me?"

Genevieve smiled back and bobbed her head. "Yeah."

"Good." Stefan picked up her luggage bag and led her to the car.

He opened the door for her to go in, and after she was seated and he shut the door, he took the luggage bag to the trunk.

Genevieve drew a deep breath as she fastened her seatbelt and waited for him to get into the car.

The moment Stefan got into the car, he held out a hand, "Your phone, please."

Genevieve took out her phone from her handbag and unlocked it before handing it to him.

"What are you doing?" She asked when she saw that he was switching it off.

He flashed her a smile. "I don’t want any distractions. I want your whole attention on me."

Genevieve laughed. "Well, you got it. I was going to switch it off anyway," she assured him as she relaxed in her seat.

She prayed for the hundredth time that she was making the right decision.