Chapter 184
It’s not the expected oue; grown woman turning to childish puppy dog mush, pawing at her angry
husband like a devious minx; I find myself eye rolling at themest form of female maniption there
is.
“You knew? You met her?” usatory tone as she tries to regain some footing. Alexi sighs loudly and I
nce his way to see him turn and butt himself against the table, throwing me an unreadable look
before he downs another drink and I try not to count how many that is. By the look of his suddenck of
trying, I guess he has been prone to scenes like this before, where his father had to steamroll in to
defend him, and Alexi mentally goes off on a cruise and leaves him to it. I just stand here like an idiot, a
third wheel and in no way wanting to witness this shit.
“He’s my son. He has no secrets from me, he never did. Unlike you, he confides in me andes to
me often!” It’s putting her in her ce and any other mother might feel a little appalled, maybe some
guilt over that, but not her.
“He’s broken my heart and ruined my dreams of a big white wedding for him. A nice Italian girl with
morals and a beautiful future with angelic babies. It’s all ruined … how can I exin her to my friends?”
She sobs unconvincingly, trying to w back some of her stance in the eyes of her master. I have to
curb the urge to mutter ‘Oh, give over’ in a sarcastic knee-jerk response.
“Pretty sure the only thing I ruined is your ability to tell your friends your son is married to a notable,
worthy female from the churchmunity. Beyond that, my rtionship with Cam is none of your
business and her past is nobody’s but ours.” Alexi snarls her way sarcastically, and I have to stop the
giggle that threatens to break free at his obvious true statement. He catches my eye and I get a tiny
little hint of warmth in the look. I badly want to go over and curl up in his arm, but I have a feeling that
might make her mentally snap. I stand my ground instead.
“You have no idea what you have done!” The little sweet and broken act snaps nastily, and her outburst
at her son erupts like a speeding bullet once more. The woman is positively nuts. Spitting usations
at him for ruining her fake as fuck life, she clearly has a screw loose and forgets her family is the
fucking Mafia.
“ENOUGH!!” Alexi’s father ms his hand on the nearby desk to where he is standing, almost between
them, eliciting another jump from me and literally kills thest of my nerves. These people have me all
kinds of a nervous wreck and I need a drink as much as Alexi does. This has gone so much worse than
I thought it would, by a long shot. I’m visibly trembling while my innards vibrate so heavily, I almost chip
my teeth. I’m sweaty, mmy, breathless and obsessively ncing at Lexi for a signal as to what I
should do, but he’s too preupied with holding a ss of booze and trying to focus on that instead.
He’s out of his depth. Mr in control, who knows how to handle most situations, doesn’t know what to do
here and I get the feeling he’s lost in his own head struggling to hold on to that famous rage. He’s
battling himself from not crossing a boundary concerning his mother while his brain wants to defend me
in the way I know he does. He’s simmering and the waves of rage and energy bounding this way do not
bode well. I think I’m the one who needs to get him out into the air for a little respite. If he stays here,
he may consume half the bar and then beat his mother around the head with an empty gin bottle.
Not that it would be a bad thing.
“Alexi. Take your wife and go join the family in the greenhouse until Ie down. I need to speak to
your mother upstairs, alone.” It’s a sane, controlled, cool tone,pletely loaded with intimidation, I
recognise only too well. Guess he too realises his son is fighting a losing battle with himself and can
sense he needs space. He loves and knows his son well, and I throw him a warm smile to
communicate my agreement.
N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.
I obediently walk to him and coax him gently to take my hand and follow me. I slide the ss away
from him andy it down, knowing he has already consumed too much, and he needs to stop.
He doesn’t argue, falls into obedience like a child beingmanded by a parent and I get to see my
sweet little boy in the depths, d someone else is taking control. He just nods, pats his father on the
shoulder as we pass him and follows me out of that room silently. My heart is hammering through my
chest and Alexi’s tight grip on my fingers trantes just how riled up he really is, even though he isn’t
showing it dramatically. I can feel it oozing off him in waves because I’m tuned into it.
When we get out the first door, he walks ahead of me taking control and leading the way. Finding his
head, I guess and reverting tomander of all things. He says nothing.
I wait until he leads me through an airy sitting room to a set of huge ss patio doors and out into a
massive, gorgeous garden before I break the silence.
At the far end of a hugewn, I see people milling around an open ss building that is keeping them
warm in this cooler weather, sets of tables and lots of children running in the manicured grounds with
various garden toys, balls and hoops. Looking a lot like a picture postcard for rich happy families on
this unusually bright day.
“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself. Are you really mad at me?” I whisper meekly as we fall into a slow
casual step to make our way across the garden. Looking up at that face and worrying that we are
heading for an almighty fight ourselves, but Alexi just blows out some air and grimaces, shaking his
head and fixing a look on me that trantes frustration and simmering anger that he is trying to expel.
“No baby. You reacted exactly as you always do. One of the reasons I love you is that sassy mouth and
take no shit attitude. I’m amazed my mother didn’t choke to death swallowing that mouthful you threw
at her. Fuck her. She deserved that and more for what she said about you.” He leans into me to throw a
quick kiss my lips, almost tripping me up in the process and removes his hand from mine tosso an
arm around me instead. Pulling me in against him and hugging me in a way that tells me he needs it.
My touch is a balm for him and he’s aching all over from that ugly scene. I can’t imagine how
emotionally traumatic that was for him and the aggressive nature in which he squeezes me tells me he
is far from getting it out yet. He’s wound up, inwardly agitated.
“To be fair, I only got the English bits, but I can imagine it was along the same lines of what she did let
me understand.”
“Yeah,mon, cheap, whore, unworthy, foreigner, gold digger, manipting devious tramp … you get
the gist.” He frowns and throws a dark look over his shoulder back at the house, anger obviously
stirring in the pits of that mind, but I’m piqued by one word.
“Cheap? Fucking cheap? Are you kidding me? This dress probably cost more than her entire fucking
outfit. I have expensive tastes and a lot of ss. How dare she call me fucking cheap. Goddamn bitch!”
My free hand goes to my hip with attitude, stopping us mid-walk to pout and rage over that tiny detail,
and Alexi bursts outughing. Unexpectedly cute and it seems to even surprise him.
“In all that, cheap is the only one which bothers you?” He looks at me like I’ve lost the plot, slowly
losing the heavy weight from his shoulders, and that furrowed brow straightens out to a happier
expression.
“Well, I can’t really argue with the rest, can I? I meanmon …” I tick it off on one finger with my
other hand.
“Whore. Unworthy. Foreigner—sort of. Gold digger … well, it was my original intention many moons
ago, and I have been known to exploit a few rich men. Manipting devious tramp sounds like a pretty
urate summary of my skills. Tick, tick, tick.” I motion and wave my fingers around and he just
shakes his head at me again, a smile widening across his face before he pulls me back to him and
wraps his arms around my waist so we’re facing each other. Snuggling me close, bringing him back out
of orbit so easily.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. None of them applies to my wife. She’s a perfect angel who
can do no wrong in my eyes.” Humour and affection are back, and the tension finally seems to leave
his body in one fell swoop. Nosing me with his and getting all smoochy and sweet, a massive
turnaround to moments ago, and I realise that maybe I’m the stress reliever for him nowadays. All tied
up in one package. Sex, love, tenderness. Everything he needs to let off steam rapidly.
He kisses me firmly for a few seconds and I can sense thest traces of his anger ebbing away through
me. The way he tightens his hold and kisses me chastely but with intent and inhales my perfume
before letting me loose again. Almost like an exhale to let it all go.
The worst is over. She knows; there was drama and now it’s done. Anything else, well, can’t be worse
than that, and we can leave now his father knows.
“Hmm. Now I know you’re talking shit.” I press him on the nose in a little bop way with my finger and
curl up in his arm when he turns me so we can walk again. Heading to that little picture-perfect group of
people who haven’t noticed us yet and are oblivious to what just went down.
I can see Alessandra in the distance dressed in a very conservative summer dress for her, toned-down
hair and makeup, looking very Stepford wife. Seems like impressing Mother Carrero is the aim of the
game and all I can see is people dressed in Sunday best, looking groomed and proper while I’m
rocking up in slutty shoes and a tight dress that leaves very little about my body shape to the
imagination. Its only redeeming quality is that it’s knee-length and high cut across my bust.
I guess it’s why she so quickly picked up what a dirty, unworthy slut I was.
Walking on grass is killing my shoes though and I stop to kick them off when Alexi’s cell phone starts
ringing. He too stops to hold my arm and give me bnce while he answers it, waiting patiently for me.
“What’s up Mico?” He listens quietly, nodding for what seems like an age while I pick up my shoes, feet
sinking into the cool grassy surface rather deliciously and dangle them in one hand by the back of the
trademark red heels.
“Tomorrow morning, what time?” Business tone engaged; Mr Mafia Kingpin resumed. Whatever Mico is
saying has Alexi forgetting our current dilemma and taking on hismander and chief persona. He
looks at his watch, letting go of my arm and nods us onward towards the lunch party now I’m barefoot. I
start walking, feeling the slightly damp grass between my toes and listen to him continue his
conversation.
“So, who will be there? And does my father know, I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.”
When we are almost upon our group, he catches my wrist quickly and holds me back from walking the
last few feet. No one is looking this way, and he waits while he finishes his call, obviously not wanting
anyone eavesdropping.
“We’ll get a flight tonight and get back to Manhattan for it. Finally, an end to this bullshit. The nerve of
the woman. I’ll talk to my father before I leave here and figure out the best way to proceed.” He sounds
clipped and a tad agitated once more, and I can guess which woman he is talking about. I haven’t
forgotten about her.
Ice my fingers through the hand he is holding me with and use my other hand to wrap ours together
snugly, dropping my shoes at my feet, suddenly feeling insecure with the mention of that Marianne
bitch and needing his touch. I use my toes to draw patterns in the grass as I wait for him, so I’m not
staring his way and making my upset obvious while lightly swinging his arm with me from side to side.
Alexi’s eyes are on me, watching me amuse myself, his expression softening slightly as he follows my
movements.
“Yeah. Do that. You know the drill, and I will call you after I speak to my dad. Set it up. I’ll sort flights
when I get off the phone.” Alexi lifts our joined hands up and looks at the way I have threaded both sets
of my fingers in his one hand with an adoring smile before pulling me over firmly and nting a kiss on
my lips softly. A smile and a look that says, ‘you’re the cutest’.
“Yeah Sure. Soon, okay. Bye. See you tonight.” He hangs up on Mico and stares at me for a good ten
seconds with such an odd expression before saying anything.
“I love you.” It’s a sweet, soft promation born of finding me adorable at the moment, and I break into
a huge smile in return, warm and fluttery butterflies rising inside me with that insane way he just makes
everything feel perfect.
“I know you do. I love you too.” It’s my turn to lean up on tiptoes and deliver a kiss this time. A pause
before I get to his mouth and a tilt to the side, teasing him before he loses patience and yanks me the
last tiny inch to sink a kiss that’s less PG on me. Tongues and passion inducing. Arms sliding around
me, and he picks me up to embrace me properly. My feet automatically lifting behind me, so we get full-
on body contact and have ourselves a mini make-out session in full view of whoever looks this way.
Held up like this he rests me against him when we break, and we just gaze at each other for a moment.
Completely content when with him this way, lost in that grey gaze as he floors me with a look that never
ceases to win me over. My heart giddy and mood once again soaring from his attention.
“I’m sorry about your mother and how this has ended up.” I truly mean it. I may think she’s a toxic bitch,
but she’s still his mother, and that scene was ugly, even by my standards. I know it had to have hurt
him, and even though he seems fine now, he will simmer for a while yet.
“I don’t care anymore.” Alexi slides me down onto my feet and keeps me close, tracing his fingers
across my cheek and then my bottom lip before brushing my hair back from my face and kissing me on
the forehead affectionately.
“Yes, you do.” I nudge him lightly, a half smile and rest my head against him. I know him better than he
thinks, and this is obviously getting to him.
“I spent my life believing no one could ever love me the way you do because of her. She drummed it
into my head that I was a monster, sick and twisted, wed, and nothing but a source of pain and
disappointment for her. You know what … she doesn’t know you and yet I saw that same venom in
there she always aimed at me. My mother is wrong. I have people who care about me and love me,
and I don’t need her approval or her love anymore. I have you now. I never had it and nothing I do will
ever earn it. I would rather be happy with you than bend over backwards to earn her twisted version.
Leave her to my siblings, they fare better than I do, and she will never understand what we have.” He
gazes off towards the people and looks far away and wistful for a second. Losing himself in his
thoughts and I squeeze him tight.
“We are both products of shitty mothers, guess that’s why we fit. We get it. We understand the mess it
made us,” I state, watching those grey eyes set on his family as they all chatter andugh and watch
their kids y.
“If I was that bad, that unlovable, I wouldn’t have found you. You are worth more than fifty of her, any
day of the week. That’s all I need. Like I said, fuck her. I had to grow up sometime and realise my
mother isn’t all that.” Hees back to me with onest soft smile and releases me once more, hand
coming out to take mine and he finally pulls me towards the others. Leaving the drama in the house as
he obviously wants to see these people ahead of us, all smiling and looking warm and weing.
Typical Carreros.
“Yeah, fuck her. Fuck my mother too. We are the ones who deserved better. Not them. Look at us …
the unlovable found something amazing, so we can’t be all that bad.” I smile up at him and get that one
thousand-watt Hollywood grin right back. A kiss to my temple as we walk together, and I know I’m
exactly where I should always be—by his side.
For the first time in my life, I actually mean it. I know what I endured in my life at her hands was never
my fault, and I won’t live my life continuing to live in the shadows of the cruel things she made me
believe about myself anymore.
Alexi has shown me that I am worthy. I am lovable, and I deserve my own happy ever after with a man I
can trust. Even if he was probably the worst candidate at the start of this crazy journey. He deserves it
too, and he is more than worthy of my entire heart and soul.
When we get to the table Gino spots us from further into the garden where he is kicking about a ball
with some very small humans. It takes only minutes to be enveloped by the group and introductions are
quickly made from people with a severe obsession with cheek kissing and bear hugs. I’m introduced
rather proudly as Alexi’s new wife, and, of course, a lot of mock shock and outrage at missing the
wedding ensues.
It’s a flurry of people for a solid ten minutes as the news spreads that yes, themitment-phobic,
womanising cousin has, in fact, got himself hitched. I must be some sort of goddess, angel, a saint with
patience, yadda yadda. I endure a lot of jokes at his expense but it’s all in good form, and it’s obvious
these people are truly happy for their ck sheep of the family cousin. Alexi takes it all in his stride with
a smile, and his mood from his mother’s behaviour flitters away on the breeze as quickly as mine does.
They have infectious happiness that sucks you in and makes you forget your dark clouds.
I don’t feelpletelyfortable surrounded by all these touchy-feely, overly nice people but it
doesn’t take long to rx enough in his arm to sit and pick at the cold buffet that’sid out for lunch in
this huge greenhouse. Not that I would call it that, as there are barely any nts and it’s more of a
social building filled with seating and tables. I would hazard his mother hasn’t got much of a green
thumb and uses this for functions and lunches with her church-going friends. I wonder if she had it built
to keep up with the neighbours and then failed miserably at any botanical raising.
Before long, his parents appear in the distance and make their way towards us, noticeably apart and
stiff in posture. His mother has a pinched pped expression on a face that looks like it’s been sucking
lemons for thest half hour of her absence. She has clearly had a major dressing down and Alexi’s
father approaches us with a smile and a handshake, looking much happier than she does. I can’t help
the little smug uprising in my belly when I paste on my gracious smile and aim it at the sour bitch. Her
strained mirroring smile and overly polite behaviour signal a woman who is seething inside.
I hope it chokes her.
She knows how to y the game though and nods our way begrudgingly. Alexi looks away, avoiding
her eye contact and smooths his shirt down trying to distract himself. Her husband makes a beeline
right for us, no longer in his full suit and tie but now, like Alexi, in shirt and trousers, while she hangs
back and tries not to re. Appearing busy with her guests while side watching us coldly. You can feel
the hostility and poor Lexi continues to ignore her, breaking my heart for him even more. I personally,
don’t give a toss about the crotchety old tart.
“Alexi, finally. Congrattion my boy. I’m thrilled to find you’ve finally put this poor girl out of her misery
and made her one of us.” He shakes his son''s hand heartily, smiling widely with genuine warmth on
that normally serious face, before pulling him to his feet for a manly hug and a lot of back-pping. It’s
weird to see Alexi so physical with someone, but I guess that gentler touchy side had toe from one
parent at least. I guess Daddy is affectionate, and the intimacy I get from my husband stems from
having some real love and warmth from someone in his childhood.
Alexi says nothing, just smiles in that subtle way of his, pleased with himself and not overly verbal. He
pulls me to my feet gently so his dad can hug me too. Somewhat awkwardly as I never know how to
take genuine human interaction like this, especially not with men.
It’s weird, the embrace and the pat on the back, very Alexi like and when he steps back, he kisses me
on the cheek. I blush stupidly, for no reason other than it feels strange to be greeted and epted this
way. A paternal greeting rather than the sleazy ‘let me fuck you’ that I get from most men. It knocks me
off a little and I revert to a gawky child with no grace in her movements and a sudden urge to fidget and
stand oddly.
“Wee to the family Cami. I’m sorry I didn’t see my son get hitched, but I want you to know I’m
very proud of him for his excellent choice. Ady to tame my wild child is just what he needs.” There’s a
low chuckle from him and Alexi shakes his head, his expression hard to gauge but I think it’s
amusement. He’s aware of his mother’s presence and I can tell it’s making him keep that aloof and cool
mask he wears so well. I smile warmly at that little statement though.
“I think the only wild one in this rtionship, is mydy.” He points out with a smirk that earns him an
elbow nudge, and he pulls me into the crook of his arm once more. My favourite ce to be and
snuggle into familiar and safe which instantly chills me out.
If I could, I would be glued to this man’s body twenty-four seven.
“I think you bnce each other out when you’re not causing mayhem and chaos. It will be an
interesting marriage for sure, never dull when you pair two fiery, passionate souls. I envy you.” He
winks at me, heavy truth in his observation and pats his son on the shoulder as he nods to the figure of
Alexi’s mother, who’s now padding off towards her other guests. Making a great show of removing us
from her presence, and I bet it doesn’t go unnoticed among the others. His father leans in, lowers his
tone and with a scarily Alexi, serious deadpan voice, utters words for our ears only.
“She won’t say another word about your union, and you are both wee in our home whenever you
wish.” It’s followed with a grim apologetic smile, a softening of his face that somehow makes my
stomach flip over and my throat ache. I guess a lot of feelings are stirring in the depths and I’m not
entirely sure it’s for me. I think it’s for Alexi and what he must be feeling right now. Knowing his mother
would banish him for good for simply falling in love.
Makes me sick.
“Good. I think it’s finallye to the point where mother and I should just avoid each other for the sake
of the family. If she can’t ept my wife, then I’m done trying.” Alexi adds a little forcefully, that hint of
stubborn him in the husky growl and his father sighs. I blink his way, uncertain if he means his words
when I know how much he yearns for her approval deep down.
“Give her time. She will get over the fact she couldn’t force your hand or choose your marriage partner.
You know how she is when things do not go her way. She is obsessed with appearances.”
Oh yes, I can imagine. I live with her son who has the same charming disposition and equally stubborn
vile streak.
“We aren’t staying. I need to talk to you about somethingter this evening when the family have gone.
We need to be in the city for an early meeting with Giuseppe, so I cane back when everyone
leaves.” Good old business tone back on and Alexi is closed up tighter than a vacuum sealed package
once more.
Alexi’s father frowns and I too turn and look at him sharply, instantly winded by this revtion. I’m
guessing that’s what his call with Mico was all about. I’d just assumed it was some sort of meeting
about her. Now my head is spinning and reeling with the fact he is going to sit down with that woman,
face to face, so soon. No ns in ce.
And do what exactly?
I throw him a shady questioning look to try to get him to borate but a child runs up and throws
herself at his legs, killing the conversation t. A noisy bubbly intrusion of a mini person and I step
away quickly, for fear of being wrinkled or made sticky by the little grabby blonde thing. Itpletely
distracts me from the conversation as I shield myself from being infected by a child.
Ugh.
Alexi automatically bends without hesitation and picks up the little girl, resting her on his hip as he
continues to talk to his father, but Ipletely zone out what they are saying and stare at him with a
semi-shocked gawp. Not really seeing the easy fluid movement as a reality I ever expected from him. It
throws me a massive curveball. Fixated suddenly with just how easily he lifted that kid up like it was a
natural response and he didn’t even flinch or think about it. The guy who hated a stray cat enough to
think of shooting it and is generally a cold bastard to most people—male or female!
I watch them intently. A slow-churning knot of something building inside me that feels a lot like anxiety;
I bite on my lip and be more unsettled as I watch him with her.
Alexi bounces her on his hip and then lifts her little ragdoll in her hand up to wave at her while he talks.
Homed in on his conversation but expertly distracting the little one. Bouncing her until she giggles and
then he nts a kiss on the little chubby cheek of a child that looks no more than three years old,
maybe. It was so automatic I don’t even think he realises he did it. He looks way toofortable and at
ease with little people, and I find itpletely rming. Nausea swirling inside me in disturbing ways
and my stomach drops to my feet, taking my good mood and sanity with it. I try to stop openly staring,
but I can’t.
He just looks so … paternal.
“Cam?” his voice snaps me out of my weird hazy daydream, and I realise he is both looking at me and
talking to me. A strained expression and a confused tone as to why I’m nkly gawping like an idiot.
My face is cold and I’m sure my blood has drained to leave me white as I sheet.
“What?” I flinch and spin my head around to see what or where I’m meant to be paying attention.
He nods to my left and I realise someone is stood holding something out to me with a bright smile. A
presence I did not have an inkling was there.
“I said can you hold her while I nip to thedies’ room?” The woman in front of me is one of his cousins,
all dark hair and green eyes and very much a Carrero DNA candidate, and I blush to the roots of my
hair. Embarrassed to have been caught off my social game. The thing she is holding out to me is a little
tiny human baby wrapped in a nket, blinking at me expectedly and I instantly stop breathing.
I freeze, eyes widening in shocked disbelief that someone would hand me one of these strange things,
and I make a really poor attempt at trying not to ept the awkward bundle on automatic pilot while my
brain is screaming a refusal. She’s caught me off guard and there seems to be several pairs of eyes on
me.
She doesn’t wait to see if I’m capable of not dropping her offspring on its head. Ignores my hesitation
and fumbling mumbles and practically tosses it into my arms before sauntering off in search of the loo,
while I’m left holding this bundled blob of baby smells and noises like a bag of dog poo. I hold it away
from me, fear of being puked or drooled on, and so awkwardly that Alexi looks immediately distressed.
I’m barely grasping it in fingertips and its weight pulls it down below my boob level where it was first
thrust, arms straining with this sudden mass. I catch his rmed fleeting look of shock at my
mishandling of his rtion and he quickly deposits his own miniature human on her own feet to rescue
the poor baby from my inexperienced hands.
“It isn’t a bomb, London. You know it can touch you without causing damage.” He bundles it up in his
arms fluidly, saving its soul, smiling gently, voice oozing with amusement and instantly lookspletely
at home holding someone else’s mini-me once more. My heart just dissolves into ashes. Standing as
awkwardly as before only now with the added shell-shocked aura around me.
“You like kids?” I blurt out almost absentmindedly as that internal fear takes over; my hands turn
mmy and my mouth goes dry as this brand-new information I never once thought of asking him
before, hits me in the face like a shovel. Kids were never a topic we gravitated to, and now I’m staring
at him cradling some little smelly thing like it’s the most precious object in the world and my whole
happiness shes before my eyes.
I just stare at him cooing and cuddling it, popping a dummy in its mouth like it’s something he does
every day, and he looks up at me calmly. No hint of anything at all to help me sort out the tidal wave of
crushing emotioning over me, threatening to drown me with insecurity.
“I guess. I mean I don’t mind them. I grew up around a constant stream of kids of varying ages, so I
guess they are just part of life and what I’m used to.” He looks back down and nuzzles its tiny little face
with his nose, creepily cute and gentle for him when it makes a little gurgle, soothing instantly and he
again rocks it from side to side. Paternal instincts strong and I baulk, panic rising, nausea swirling as
hysteria starts to hitch.
He just looks too damn proficient at this baby nonsense and as my eyes scan around me at the happy
couples and the children of the Carrero family, a picture-perfect scene of what society expects,
something hits me in the gut with painful precision.
Maybe he expects kids toe now we’re married and looking at a life together?
Oh, shit!
The blood drains from every cell in my upper body, leaving a cold wave in its trail and I sit down so
suddenly, breathless and instantly lightheaded so it’s a flop rather than a gracious movement. Aware
suddenly his father has moved on and we are now alone with this bundle between us.
I never for one second factored children into a life with him. It’s not something we ever brought up or
talked about or even thought about. It’s never crossed my mind in any way because I made my peace
with it so long ago.
If he wants kids, then he can’t have them while married to me. I can’t have children. I don’t want
children. I never did.
I feel sick, nausea waving over me, and I fan my face as my entire worldes crashing down on me
with this one unforeseen detail that could destroy everything. All the visions of our happy future and
perfect life draining away so cruelly and I realise this was inevitable. It was bing too real, too true,
and I should have known I never really deserved a happy ever after. That some splinter in our
rtionship would ease out and infect it all.
The world would crash, and I would end up back in the gutter, because that is what life decided was for
me from the day I was born.