“You’re all adults, Jake. Let the past stay in the past. Emma is here with you. You have all got to get it together, for the sake of these babies, they will be siblings after all.”
Her comment hits me this time and I swallow hard, tears threatening. She’s right, as much as this is killing me she’s so very right; my baby has a sibling already and as much as I hate the girl in the next room I can’t hate the part growing inside of her that belongs to Jake. His eyes on me as I stare at my stomach and a tear rolls down my cheek involuntarily.
“Go see her, Jake. I’ll be upstairs.” I pull out of his arms and head away, but he catches me and hauls me back against him, lifting my face to his with that no-nonsense expression set in.
“Hell. No.” He kisses me gently on the nose and wipes my face with his thumb, keeping me close, reassuring me with his hold. “I’m sorry, Mamma, but I’m not changing my mind in this. Emma is my priority. If Marissa wants to talk, then fine, let her hang around or come back later. But right now, I’m taking Emma upstairs and I won’t be down until she’s ready to come with me. The pregnancy is making her ill and she needs rest. She needs me beside her to take care of her like I promised I would always do.” His eyes are steady on mine, so much transpiring in those green depths. He’s making a stand, showing me that no matter what it’s always me first, and whether I knew it, it’s what I needed and I’m grateful for the way the pain in my heart let’s go a little.
“I knew I raised you right.” Sylvana smiles, patting his shoulder. “Marissa can come back for dinner and you’ll talk to her before she leaves. I’ll send food to your room if you prefer not eating with her but at some point, you’ll sit down and be adults. Enough of all this foolishness now.” Jake grits his teeth and narrows his eyes before he finally nods.
“Fine. I’m sure we can all handle dinner without anyone throwing a few steak knives.” His jaw is still rigid and his body still solid. He may be agreeing but he’s not happy in the slightest.
I really hope the glance at me was not in any way related to his comment.
Although, come to think of it, I better make sure he removes anything sharp if I’m to sit at dinner with her.
I don’t have a clue about how I’m going to handle this.
ignorant leaving her this long. Go to your room, it’s all made up.” She smiles, waving us off, then bustles away toward the long wide marble corridor leading to the family room. Jake leads
all of this I mean?” He looks worried. No. He looks scared and it
but your mom’s right, Jake. This isn’t about any of us anymore.” I hate that I’m even agreeing to it, agreement doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt like hell, but here we are. Being pregnant has changed my outlook so much in such a short time despite the fact I don’t even know how to
my hair and his
in me.
“I don’t want you looking at her and thinking about …” He closes his eyes, the regret shining all over his face. I can’t say I’m not thinking the same thing, but
about,” I
kiss on the lips, soft and gentle, everything I need right now. I sigh against him and
right thing but I’m not feeling it. I’m overemotional and just a slight bit insecure. Nerves getting the better of me, yet all that aside I do mean what I say. He’s stuck with me, whether he still wants it or not, I’m
watching daytime TV, about everything and nothing. Idle chit chat
lay eyes on her for the first time since he touched her. I gulp softly and quell the nerves running through my stomach which
okay.” I try to reassure him, even though I’m far from it. I smile back at him from our reflection. I’m looking better, less pale, no more rosy cheeks from a high temperature. My black shift dress clinging in all the right places and my flat pumps making me a little less formal. I look right for a dinner in a family home; just not right to face the woman who is crazy in love with my Jake. The woman he betrayed me with not so long ago and my stomach lurches with a stab of
kissing me on the neck, burying his face against me and smelling me.
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XNq3u4HXSOW0kw3Lm6rXH1WjewGHL8D/8lH5ElWxsDXRVC+leBYxAEtkltiJ491COTBTysIQ0Fk4nLV0L786ZpSba0PRIoOfvL3JD3DmDBsWxlOWRewvv5EVNHu/O4/N2cpQuOeSeDnlAKJTvRL7iXjn2sfRyfOfncAQPnbcEQyNTrvO64Odgm9+pT8yTlhE72uqc58cu9F5WTQz3r5uqu8QuxUR5SFqDCZjXJraoo+tSVnul4wFiBSIFMX5czPvTk308vnMN/Z3YM/cdnF/L9+aSvNtKpATpIFvEo4AI59MZoQ42Gc=
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