Build And Break novel Chapter 51

Steven must have thought that she didn't remember because Daniel was in hospital and because she'd been having long stressful days caring for the boy. But the complete truth was that even if Daniel was with them, she still wouldn't have remembered. She had long brainwashed her own mind in forgetting that date, the day of their wedding, and the memories it brought back.

Steven pushed his food away from him and stood from his seat. With a leisurely gait, he went to the music player sitting on the unit beside the sofa. When he hit the play button, a beautiful piano and violin song vibrated through the speakers surrounding the whole floor.

"Do you remember this?" Steven asked her.

An immediate smile formed on her lips. "Our first dance at the wedding."

As much as she had buried the memories, they came flooding all back to her in a instant.

Their wedding had been like a fairy tale. No pop music, no vocals. Just a piano and a set of musicians playing their string instruments. And for a few minutes, for their first dance, Angela in her billowing Cinderella dress and Steven in his perfectly tailored tuxedo were lost in another world, an incandescently perfect world and it was just them under the curtains of a thousand flickering white fairy lights.

Steven offered out his hand to Angela. "Dance with me."

"Our first dance was our first and last dance. You know I can't dance."

"I can. Come on, I'll lead you... Again." Steven remembered of the number of times Angela had stumbled her feet onto his during their wedding dance.

She smacked her hand playfully at him at his last comment. His hand remained outstretched for her until she reluctantly accepted his offer and his hand.

Just as expected, Angela stomped onto Steven's feet multiple times. Until Steven had removed his hand from hers and instead wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into him. Just like during their first dance, Angela had seemingly melted to his body and their bodies began moving as one.

"Who knows how we would have been celebrating this anniversary if we hadn't divorced and Daniel was here with us, huh?" Steven mused.

"Who knows?" Angela whispered.

"Well, if I could take a guess, in a perfect world, we would take Daniel out to a park to play soccer, then we'd take him for a movie. And then, we'd go for a long, long drive until we watch the sun set before us. When we'd return home, Daniel would be so tired he'd be in bed by eight."

"Daniel not once sleep that early."

"But that day, he would have. And then we, you and me, we sit on the carpet before the fireplace. We would eat dinner that I cooked."

For long minutes Angela and Steven remained frozen still. Just them and the piano playing in the background.

Until Steven took a step back from her. Silently, his eyes to the ground, he retreated away to sit on the sofa. His head buried in his hands. All of a sudden, the guilt he felt, the anger he felt for his own self was taking over him.

Angela approached him without making a sound with her footsteps. As if he felt her closeness, Steven looked up to her. A sort of sadness clouded his eyes. "I've never apologized for everything I've done to you." His hands reached for her hips and pulled her forward. His head nestled to her stomach, his arms went around her to hold her close. "I'm sorry."

Unable to speak, unable to move, Angela could only cradle his head, his face close to her. She was completely sure he was speaking his true heart. That was a side of Steven Morris only she could recognize. She'd never doubt that side of him.

A tear of sadness was quick to escape fast down her cheek, to her jaw and dropping onto Steven's arm.

As he felt the droplet touching his skin, Steven surprised her by pulling her down to sit on his lap. He saw the wet trail on her face. His thumb wiped it dry. "I'm sorry, Angela."

Though she'd never doubt an admission from Steven, that was the first time Angela was hearing a multiple apology from him. And she could see the true apology written plainly on his face, in his deep grey eyes.