?Chapter 0503


    "When did you get so mature?" I tease, bumping my shoulders with hers. "I''m older, I should be wiser."


    "Maturityes with experience, you know." She shrugs her shoulders and smiles. "Love drives us to do what is best for our children. So as long as you are driven by love, you''ll always want what''s best for you kids, and you will make decisions based on that."


    We are silent for a while, as I just d******d what she told me. It makes me feel less like a failure knowing that even Ava has doubts when to me she''s the epitome of a perfect mother.


    "Where is Iris, by the way?" I ask looking around, noticing that I haven''t seen the little one since I arrived.


    "She''s in her room with Rowan, ying tea party." Her answer is apanied by a grin.Content belong to N?velDráma. Org.


    I couldn''t help it when I burst outughing. "Rowan? ying tea party?"


    It sounded so weird. So out of the norm, it felt like we were talking about a different person. A different Rowan.


    I can already imagine him with badly put-on makeup, nail polish and a skirt. The thought alone makes meugh harder and Ava joins in.


    That aside, I admire his rtionship with Iris. It takes a different kind of man to raise someone else''s child and love her unconditionally. You wouldn''t even know that Iris isn''t his biological child. He loves her just as much as he loves Noah. That girl has a special ce in Rowan''s heart.


    "Are sure you don''t want something to drink?" Ava asks once again after ourugh dies down.


    "I''m sure," I smile.


    "Maybe you can stay for lunch," she insists


    "I don''t know, Ava," I reply. "I don''t want to intrude."


    "Come on, you won''t be intruding. Have lunch with us and then you can go."


    I look into her eyes and I can tell that she really wants to me to stay. I never thought I''d ever enjoy Ava''spany but I do. I actually do. So, I nod my head.


    "Let me just let the cook know to prepare for one more person... I''ll be back," she tells me, standing up.


    When she leaves, I take out my phone and check if I have any messages or emails. Mom wasn''t around when I left and I''d forgotten to tell her that I''d being to Ava''s the previous night.


    I am looking forward to moving into her former house. I am looking forward to building a rtionship with Gunner and getting to know him.


    "Emma?" The deep voice pulls me from my thoughts.


    I look up to find Rowan looking at me in something simr to shock and maybe a bit of apprehension.


    "Lipstick?" I ask in amusement, pointing to the wet wipe that was close to his lips and pink in color.


    "Yeah," he replies sheepishly. "Iris thought I''d look pretty in her mother''s pink lipstick. Plus, it would make me blend in with the girls. She didn''t want her dolls to know she''d sneaked me into their tea party."


    I couldn''t help it, honestly. I tried holding it back, but it was too funny, so I ended upughing. I haven''tughed like this in a long time. It felt strange yet exhrating at the same time.


    "You''ve been good?" Rowan asks after myughter dies down.


    "Yes, Rowan. I''ve been good, just hanging in there."


    Rowan nods his head. The atmosphere bes awkward all of a sudden. I don''t like it. I don''t like being in such an awkward situation.


    "Rowan." He was about to turn when I called him.


    "Yeah?"


    "I just wanted to say that I am sorry. I am sorry for the lies I told about Ava. I am sorry for the things I said about Noah. I am sorry for trying to cause trouble between you and Ava. I was so obsessed with getting you back that I failed to see that the path I was taking was leading me down a rabbit hole."


    He takes a deep breath and releases it. He then takes a seat on the opposite side.


    "I forgave you a long time, Emma. In fact, I am the one who should be apologizing. If I had realized my feelings earlier, I wouldn''t have led you on. I am sorry for giving you hope when my heart was already imed."