Chapter One Hundred and Eighty Six - Shocking Adana

I had no idea where Adian was taking us, until he pulled in front of an ice cream parlor in the middle of the city.

I smiled, because if I couldn't have coffee, I could load up on ice cream.

I looked down at Emmy's excited face, but her focus was on Adana.

"Dana, do you love ice cream, like I do?" Emmy excitedly tried making conversation with Adana, who continued to snob her.

I silently tried to quiet Emmy but she persisted and I know she's going to spend all afternoon concentrating on making Adana happy.

If she only knew, Adana's happiness will only surface where Adian and I break up.

Taking a deep breath, I blink away the tears that suddenly filled up my eyes.

Will Adian be able to do this?

Would he have the patience to deal with a sister, whom he loves that's going to constantly waring with his wife.

Should I put him through that pain?

We are having a baby!

I will do my best to make Adana and I work. I have to!

"Hailey, Hailey!" Emmy was tugging me, "come out before the ice cream finishes" Emmy was jumping up and down in front of me.

Smiling, I got our of the vehicle with Adian's assistance.

I reached out for Emmy's hand, but she was already dancing off to Adana's side, staring up into her face with the most radiant smile, dancing on her lips.

Without asking, Emmy holds Adana's hand to walk into the ice cream parlor, but just as instantly, Adana shakes her hand off.

Emmy stopped and looked back at me, her smile and joy disappear in a split second.

Grinning, Adian and I walked up to meet her, where she walked in the middle of the both of us, but her sad eyes remained on Adana, who was already opening the door ahead of us.

Adian opened the door for Emmy and I to walk ahead of him and since I stepped out of the vehicle, I didn't make eye contact with him, but as our eyes met, I remembered why I kept my eyes averted from his.

I quickly looked away from Adian's enquiring eyes and looked around for a table of four, eventually finding one at the corner booth.

Pointing to the booth, "there's a table over there, if you want to keep your baby clean from Emmy's ice cream party." I suggested.

"Yeah that'll work for me" Adian chuckles, lifting Emmy in the air and walking in and around the tables to get to the empty table in the corner.

I slid into a seat, ready to give my aching feet a rest from these beautiful, uncomfortable heels, I constantly need to wear for confidence.

"Come," I stretched out my hand for Emmy, but she looked at Adian instead.

"Can I come and choose my flavors with you?" Emmy pouted, giving Adian the most angelic smile, ever.

Shocked, I stared at her already using her baby traits to soften my husband's heart.

"Of course," he agrees with her, looking at me, "what flavour do you want?" He asks me but before I could respond, Emmy shouts out.

"I know, I know." She tells a smiling Adian, "Come, I'll show you," she drags him along with her to the counter.

I looked around the colourful decor of every ice cream color and blend, with pictures drawn on the wall of the different ways they serve their specials.

I looked up when I heard a thump on the table, to see Adana's purse and ice cream on the table as she slides into the seat opposite me.

I smiled as she settles in.

"Hey," I acknowledged her.

Scuffing at me, "oh I'm not sitting here, because I want to" Adana responded rudely.

I quickly looked downwards, at my exposed thighs and started praying the serenity prayer we were taught at the home.

Chuckling, "ah you are doing that mad people thing, talking to yourself" Adana chuckles, "mom is right, all those pills and therapists. How could Adian choose you over Kristin, or even Samantha?" Adana mocks me but I kept my eyes downwards, because I didn't want her to know how hurtful her words were and how wrong she is."

My silence seem to aggravate her, "mom says you're as pathetic as your loser mother and we look forward for the day you end up like her!" Adana spits her poison at me, but this time when I didn't raise my eyes, it wasn't because I was sad, but because I was strengthening my mind set, building my determination to win this war. I will win, but not for me, but my mom.

Genuinely satisfied, that I am doing the right thing by bringing my mother's murderer to justice.

Smiling I lifted my eyes and met Adana's hostile glare.

"I will changed my destiny, starting with bringing my mother's murderer to justice," I chuckle humorously, watching Adana's hostile glare turned to confusion.

Frowning, "what are you talking about?" She was quick to ask nervously, "I was told she was running and fell down the stairs." Adana was asking, but I have already given her enough information to feed on.

I looked to the front to the counter, to see Adian's attention is turned on me, his eyes narrowed in worry.

I smiled, to reassure him that I am fine and I will be fine, once I find out what happened to my father and then I can bring mom's murderer down.

"Hailey" Adana interrupted my thoughts, "Hailey" Adana says again and I slowly look away from Adian to meet her troubled gaze.

Tilting my head, I stare at her, unwilling to add more to the comment I already made to her.

"What are you talking about?" She persisted.

With my eyes on her, "your ice cream is melting" I said, smiling as Emmy slides beside Adana and Adian comes to sit beside me, drawing close to me.