Fifteen

Alicia's POV

The family was seated, on both the right and left sides of the room while the lawyer sat in the middle. So many familiar and strange faces at the same time. I'm only here because Grandma wanted me to and because my ex-husband and pretend husband refused to be here today for the reading.

Even though I could recognize a few faces, so many others who I don't even know or haven't seen ever were there. When I walked in earlier, I was greeted with a wide smile that glued to Nathan's mom, Rose's face.

I wouldn't be lying if I say I was scared to the bones. That was the first time she would be acknowledging me not to talk of smiling at me.

"Nathan's not here?"

"He's at church. He didn't want to miss the New Year's service," I replied, lying through my teeth.

Before I left home this morning, I met him at the dining table, eating some hard cereal. If we had a better relationship, I would've asked him why he decided to suffer by eating stones. I asked him if he would be coming,