In Name Only

by Vivian Rose Lee

“What are you doing here Dina?” Ben asked trying to contain his anger.

  “I thought maybe you forgot my invitation, we are after all friends and collogues.

  “Dina this is inappropriate, this is a party for my wife.”

  Dina was fuming. Ben dared put her second to that bitch.

  “Should I leave Ben?”

  “No, I guess not.” Dina took at deep exhaling breath.

  “You know some of the people her, I’ll talk to you later.” Ben said leaving her.

  Dina watched as Ben bent down to hear something Sky was saying to him. He smiled down at her and gently kissed her mouth. Dina’s body tensed. That bitch is in love with Ben, and the way Ben was looking at her he seems to love her too. She had to break this thing up and real fast. When Ben’s attention was elsewhere, Dina went to where Sky sat.

  Sky eyes widened when she saw Dina coming towards her. What was she doing here? She wondered. She looked up at Ben; he was talking to someone else. Dina stopped in front her.

  “Hello roommate,” Dina said venomously.

  “Hello.” Sky replied, anger filling her body.

  “Congratulations, I know Ben will be glad this is over, so he can get on with his life,” Dina said watching Sky closely for her jugular. Sky tensed, Dina noticed immediately.

  “Yeah, well so will I,” Sky replied with mock confidence.

  Dina smiled a nasty smile and bent close so only Sky heard her.

  “If you need the number of a good divorce lawyer, I can get you in touch with one; Ben told me he’s anxious to be rid of the sordid mess.” Sky tensed more.

  “I’m sure he is.” Sky replied with out emotion.

  Dina smiled at her again, a smile that didn’t reach her cold eyes.

  “Oh I brought a gift for the br..., your child.” She handed Sky the wrapped gift. Dina finally moved away, a smug expression on her face. Sky lowered her head, before the tears threatened to fall.

  With her composure contained Sky called to Ben.

  Ben was there at her side.

  “I need to go the bathroom.” She informed him with a shaky smile. Ben took her hand and helped her up. Ben felt the slight tremble in her hands.

  “Sky you okay?” Sky smiled up the man she loved with all her being, a sadness settling around her heart.

  “Yes I’m fine,” she assured him putting on a brave front, when all she want to do, go in her room and cry for the man she knew she would lose in less than a month.

  With the gift still in her hand, Jana came over to her and took the envelope from her hand. Jana didn’t put it with the other guest, what she wanted to do was put it in the trash.

  Ben steered her towards the bath across from the kitchen.

  “Don’t lock the door, I be right out side waiting for you,” he assured her. Sky patted his cheek and smiled.

  Ben went in the kitchen to wait for Sky.

  Dina stood across the room and watch as Ben took Sky down the hallway. She found Ben lounging against the countertop in the kitchen. Dina stood right in front him.

  Ben straightened up when he saw Dina.

  “Dina, why did you come here? Ben asked sternly.

  “I needed to see you. You haven’t been to the Officers’ Club, I’ve missed you.” Dina pouted.

  “I’ve been very busy, Dina,” Ben stated, glaring at Dina.

  “Playing husband?”

  “That’s none of you business Dina,”

  “It use to be my business, Ben, I thought this was a marriage of convenience.”

  “Well things changed Dina.”

  “Meaning what Ben?”

  “Meaning just what I said.

  Just then, Sky came from the bathroom, unintentionally overhearing their conversation.

  “If I get the divorce Dina, did you think you will be the first one to know?” Ben asked sarcastically.

  Dina leaned into Ben, pressing her body close to his. Ben gripped her arms hold her away from him. Her mouth opened over his, and he moved her away from him angrily, but Sky saw it differently. From her perspective, it looked like Ben was holding her to him.

  “I know you love me,” Dina said confidently.

  Sky’s heart sunk in her chest. He still wanted the divorce so he could be with Dina. Sky turned and went back to he party, a smile on her face, which she could not feel.

  Ben pushed Dina away from him.

  “I’m going to say this once Dina, get the hell out of my house!” Ben said through clenched teeth. Dina turned to leave the kitchen, but not before, she saw Sky moving away from the entryway. Dina had satisfied smile on her face. When Dina arrived from the kitchen, she went to where Sky sat.

  “Well Sky, again, congratulations, but I have to leave, another appointment you understand, you will let me know if you need the number to that divorce lawyer, it won’t be long now, before Ben will have put you out of your misery.” She than turned to leave.

  Sky looked over at Ms Georgie; and saw the concern in her eyes. Sky smiled waving to her.

  Ben found Sky sitting in her chair.

  “Why didn’t you wait for me?” he asked concerned.

  “I didn’t want to interrupt you and Dina; you probably have a lot to decide, now that I’m close to delivery.” Sky replied but not vindictively. Ben frowned at her.

  “Hey it time to open the gifts.” Jana called interrupting Ben before he could comment.

  Ben watched her as she opened gift after gift. What could she think Dina and I were talking about, he wondered.

  Everyone was gone, except Nyja, Jana and his mother. Ben had put Sky to bed. They all sat in the living room exhausted. Ben carried the gift Sky received up to the nursery. When he returned he sat beside his mother.

  “Thank for this Mom, I know Sky is very happy.” Ben replied.

  “Yeah, it was a great shower,” Jana commented.

  “Boy she got a lot of stuff for the girls.” Nyja replied.

  “Ben do you love Sky?” his mother asked.

  Ben looked over at his mother. “Mom, I don’t know, I care about her.”

  “So what going to happen after the babies are born?”

  “That’s up to Sky,” he replied.

  “So you don’t want the divorce?”

  Ben got up from the chair. “Like I said that up to Sky.” Georgie didn’t press him more.

  “Well, Goodnight son,” she said hugging him.

  Ben eased into the bed beside Sky, careful not to wake her. He moved close to her, pulling her close to his chest.

  He thought about what his mother had asked him, what he asked himself a thousand times. Did he love her? He knew he loved being with her, he love the love she gave him. He thought about her every hour. When she said she loved him, he felt like he was on top of the world. His arms tightened around her. Yes, he thought, I do love her. He couldn’t imagine her not in his life. Ben smiled and closed his eyes.

  When Sky awoke, Ben had already left. She could hear Clara in the kitchen. Sky rolled out of the bed, and rushed to the bathroom, then joined Clara in the kitchen.

  “Good Morning Sky,” she said smiling. “I was going to bring your breakfast to you.”

  “Morning Clara.” she said sitting in the nearest chair. Thanks, but I am tired of that bed, I’d rather eat at the table.”

  “That was a wonderful shower last night; you won’t have to get anything for the babies for a long time.” Clara comment pouring orange juice handing it to Sky.

  Sky smiled. “I have never been so happy Clara; I can’t wait until these little ones want to come home.”

  “It won’t be long now.” Clara paused. “So things are good between you and Ben?”

  “Oh yes, I love him so much Clara, I just want the time I have left with him to be so good for him and for me, I’ll deal with that other stuff later, right now I just want him to be happy.”

  Clara smiled at her. She was so sweet, she thought, and she hoped that everything worked out for her and Ben.

  The
phone rang, Clara answered.

  “Hello, Ben, yes she right here.” Clara handed the phone to Sky.

  “Good Morning Ben.” she said in the mouthpiece of the phone.

  “How are you feeling Baby?” Ben asked.

  “Good.”

  “Sky, I have to go out of town, and I probably won’t be back until tomorrow, but I’ll come straight home when I get back, I hate to leave you alone, maybe you could go over to Mom’s,” Ben suggested.

  “Its okay Ben, I understand, and I’ll be fine.”

  “You sure Baby?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “Sky don’t over do because I’m not there,”

  “I won’t, I promise.”

  “I’ll miss you.”

  “Me too, see ya.” Sky handed the phone to Clara.

  Sky looked a little unhappy. She would miss him beside her tonight. She knew that sometimes he had assignments out of town. She never asked about what he did because a lot of it was confidential.

  Clara and Sky made themselves busy putting away the babies’ clothes.

  They were getting ready for lunch when the doorbell rang. Sky went to answer the door. Sky pulled open the door. It was Dina. Sky head instantly begin to pound.

  “May I come in?” she asked,

  “Why?” Sky asked.

  “Don’t you think its time we talked, woman to woman?” Sky moved aside and let her in.

  “What do you have to say to me, Dina that I don’t already know?”

  “Well after seeing you and Ben last night, I wondered, did you fall in love with him?” she asked, “I hope not because, it only going to be worse for you when he divorces you, and he is divorcing you.” She replied assuredly.

  Sky looked at her frowning. “What is your point?”

  “You know what the point is, Ben, and I will be together, it was understood in the beginning of this arrangement, I know because he told me, but he felt he had to marry you because of his career, and Ben is an honorable man. Actually, the child you carry should have been mine, not that I want any. If I were in town, I would have convinced Ben not to do this. I know undoubtedly he has been miserable living her with you.

  “How...?

  “How do I know, you want to ask? “Those nights he was out late, where do you think he was?” He told me how you don’t even share the same bed. Ben does not love you, Sky, he never will.” Dina informed her.

  Sky could feel her heart palpitating in her chest.

  “You came out here to me tell this, why? Is it because your not so sure of Ben after all, are you feeling threatened now, because he’s with me more than he is with you. Ben loves this baby,” she would never tell Dina she carried twins, “and he will be a good father, so there is another person you will have to deal with, even with me gone.” Sky declared.

  “Look let’s face it, Ben is the type of man who would love his kid, maybe I may even come to like it” she said grimacing, “because Ben and I will be together.”

  “Again I ask you, why are you here?” Sky asked her voice rising.

  “To tell you to free him, don’t make him suffer any more than he has to in this unhealthy relationship.”

  “Ben could have left a long time ago; I was not holding him to the agreement of having to stay married to me.”

  Dina chuckled shaking her head. “That’s Ben, noble, if you care anything for Ben you will free him when the times comes, it is what he wants.” Dina turned to leave, than turned back to Sky. “Actually I feel sorry for you.”

  Sky wanted nothing more than to slap her face.

  “Feel sorry for me?’ she asked shocked. “Let me tell you this Dina, Ben may want you, but I got the best out of him, now get out of my house!” Sky turned to leave, but Dina threw one last parting shot.

  “Well I have to go anyway; I have to meet Ben this evening.” Dina said opening the door.

  “Ben’s out of town!” Sky replied.

  Dina turned to her a smug smile on her face. “Oh, is that what he told you?” Then she was gone.

  Sky head suddenly started to throb. Suddenly feeling tired, Sky slowly turned and went to her bedroom. Clara heard everything that bitch said. “Sky,” she called, “you alright.”

  “I’m fine Clara, I just need to lay down for a while.” she called back closing the door.

  After a few minutes, Clara went into the room later. Sky was asleep. Before she left, .she wanted to check Sky’s blood pressure.

  “Sky,” she said gently shaking her awaking. Her eyes opened.

  “Let me check your blood pressure before I go.”

  Sky nodded and extended her arm. Clara could see that Sky had been crying. The doctor had told her that Sky to avoid any stress.

  Clara pumped up the cuff on her arm, letting the air out she watched for the reading. It was just a little high, if she rest it will go down.

  “Sky, I left you some dinner in the oven, now you eat it when your ready okay, your pressure not to bad, get some rest and honey don’t worry everything will be alright.”

  “Thanks Clara, I’m just so tired.”

  “See you in the morning Sky.” Sky nodded and closed her eyes.

  Sky awoke later; she went into the living room. On the foyer table was a wrapped gift. Carrying it back to her bedroom, deciding she really needed to lie down. Sitting on the side of the bed, she opened the envelope. Inside it was a card. Sky opened it, her eyes scanning the contents. Tears filled her eyes, spilling over, as she reread the card.

  Commander Benjamin T. Smith

  And

  Commander Dina M. Matthews

  Invited you to join us

  As we celebrate our love

  By announcing our engagement

  1pm

  Hyatt Regency, Virginia Beach

  The card fell from her hand to the floor. Dejectedly Sky lay down.

  Sky awoke again later, with pain in her lower back. She tried to sit up but the pain increased when she moved. She remembered the classes her and Ben attended, and begin her breathing. The pain ebbed some. She was so lethargic too weak to raise her head. A sharp pain went through her stealing her breath. She needed to use the bathroom, but she couldn’t move. Uncontrollable she wet the bed. Hot tears of shamed rolled down the side of her face. Slowly she turned her head, to see the phone. Weakly she reached for it, knocking it to the floor. She wanted to scream. She tried to roll to her side to reach, but the sharp pain returned vengefully.

  “Please Clara hurry,” she breathed.

  As the pain ease, her eyes closed and she sank into a fit full sleep.

  Chapter Eleven

  Clara opened the front door. Sky must still be asleep, she would let her sleep a little longer, God knows she needed to rest. Clara eased down the hallway, and peeked in the room. The phone had fallen on the floor. Clara rushed to her bedside. She lifted her arm feeling her pulse. Sky still asleep but her breathing in short pants. Clara grabbed the pressure pump to take her pressure. Sky awoke groaning, her breath rapid.

  Clara put her hand to her stomach, feeling the hardness there and the movement of the twins. She was in labor. Clara took her pressure quickly. Her eyes fluttered open.

  “Relax Sky, you’re in labor; I need to get your pressure.”

  Clara startled at the pressure reading. “My God, we have to get you to the hospital.”

  Sky looked up at her tears rolling down the side of her face.

  “Call Ben,” she panted out.

  Clara pick up the phone and dialed Ben’s cell number; beside the phone she found a card. Clara read it.

  “That bitch!” she cursed sticking the card in her pocket.

  “Who am I speaking to?” Clara asked.

  “Commander Matthews, can I help you?”

  “I need to speak with Commander Smith.”

  He’s not available can I take a message,” Dina said.

  “This is the nurse, can you have him call home as soon as possible,” Clara hung up.

  Sk
y must be in labor. Dina heard the nurse say, “Hold on Sky!” before they disconnected. She smiled shrewdly. Well little Sky that’s one Daddy that won’t make that birthing.

  Clara call 911, then she called Dr Yancy.

  “Clara, I wet myself,” Sky said weakly, after the pain passed.

  “I think your water broke,” Clara said patting her hand.

  Another contraction. Sky grabbed Clara hand, but she was too weak to squeeze.

  Clara lifted the phone to call Ben’s mother, telling her to meet her at the hospital.

  Moments late the ambulance arrived to transport Sky to the hospital. Dr Yancy was waiting when they arrived. Clara followed telling the doctor her symptoms.

  Georgie and Jana rushed in behind them.

  “Call Edmond, Jana maybe he could tell us something,” she said frantically. A minute later Clara came out. Ms Georgie rushed to her.

  “How’s Sky?”

  “Its not good Mrs. Smith, I knew I should have stayed with her last night, I knew it.” Clara said sadly.

  “What happened, where was Ben? Ms Georgie asked.

  “He was out of town, but that wasn’t it. That Dina came by, she said some things that upset Sky earlier that day, although Sky assured me she was all right, but I knew she was upset, this morning when I came she was very lethargic, and in labor, her blood pressure is dangerously high. That woman caused this,” Clara accused.

  “Did you call Ben?”

  “Yes, that woman answered his cell, she said he was busy, I left the message for him to call home, but I doubt she’ll give it to him, why was she answering his phone anyway?”

  Georgie shook her head. “I don’t know, Clara, I don’t know.”

  Jana joined them. Edmond said he would go see about Sky and let us know.”

  “Mom she’s going to be fine, where’s Ben?” Jana asked concerned

  Georgie told Jana what had happen. Jana started wringing her hands. “We have to get in touch with Ben now!” Georgie called Ben’s cell.

  “Commander Smith”

  “Ben, Sky’s in the hospital, get down here now!”

  “Mom, when?”

  “Ben just get here!”

  Clara, Jana, and Georgie sat waiting for word of Sky’s condition. Finally, Edmond came out looking worried.