by Ancelli
“She loves you too.” He kissed the top of her head. “She will be with you soon.”
She rubbed her stomach, and he couldn’t help it, he placed his hand over hers—and for the first time, felt their baby move.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
They’d been back for two days now, and John was worried about Sophia. She hadn’t eaten or said a word since they arrived to his condo. Neither choice was like her.
“Sophia, you need to eat.” He sat next to her. She didn’t answer, her hands kept rubbing her stomach. “Kay is on her way.”
He’d called Kay and Jason to tell them everything he thought they should know, from Sophia being pregnant to her parents taking Cara.
His doorbell rang. “Kay, thank you for coming.” He opened the door wider, letting her in.
Kay dropped her purse on the side table, rushed over to Sophia, and hugged her. “I’m so sorry, Sophia.”
John couldn’t take seeing her so emotional. He grabbed his keys. “I’m going to get Johnny. I’ll be back later.”
“Ashley, are you okay?” She sat next to her.
“It’s Sophia,” she said. “Ashley died a long time ago.”
“Sophia, your parents will take care of Cara.” She wiped her face with a Kleenex.
“I know.”
Kay got her purse, pulled out her cell, dialed a number, and handed it to her.
She took it. “Hello? Cara?”
“Mommy, Grandma took me to the same beach as last year. It was so much fun.”
“Was it?”
“Yes, and Grandpa enrolled me in a private school today.”
“Did you like it?”
“Yes, I did. I miss you, but I’m having so much fun. Mommy!”
“Yes?” She wiped her tears.
“Don’t worry about me. Grandpa said we’ll be together soon. I love you.”
“I love you more,” she said before hanging up. She jumped up and hugged Kay. “I don’t know how you did it, but thank you.”
Kay hugged her back. “You’re welcome, but John arranged it.”
“She sounded so happy.” She smiled. “I miss her.”
“Of course you’re going to miss her. She’s on her yearly vacation with her grandparents.”
“You’re right.”
“I’m so happy it lifted your spirits.” She put her hand on Sophia’s stomach. “How’s my god-baby?”
“The baby is okay, but her mom is hungry.”
Kay chuckled. “John said you hadn’t eaten since you got here, so I got your favorite.” She stood up and gave her a paper bag.
“Mmm, turkey BLT.” She ripped the bag open and started eating. “Oh, this is so freaking good,” she said with her mouth full. “Sorry I didn’t tell you about the baby.”
“I understand why you didn’t. I acted a fool when you told me what happened between you two, but I had a feeling there was more.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Why aren’t you talking to John?” Kay asked her.
She swallowed. “Because he should be at home with his family. I can take care of myself.”
“He knows you can take care of yourself, but you are pregnant with his baby.”
“I don’t want to be a burden on him. He needs to go home.” She took a sip of water.
“He is home.”
She arched a brow.
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“John lives here. He and Amy are going through an ugly divorce.”
“What?” Sophia’s eyes widen in surprise. “He’s getting divorced.”
“Yes.”
“What happened? Last time I spoke to you, you told me they were working on their marriage.”
“He walked in on Amy and Charles. Together.” Kay said archly. “Half the time she was away, she spent it with him.”
Sophia covered her mouth with her hand. “What? Why would she hurt him that way again?”
“I don’t know, but she finally broke the last straw. He’s done. They share temporary custody of Johnny.”
“I didn’t know. I was so involved in my own misery.” She got up. “He’s helping me. How could he work with Charles after all this?”
“He took a leave of absence from work.”
“Why?”
“After he saw them together, he assaulted Charles and broke his jaw.”
“Good. What was she thinking?” She grabbed her purse. “He has nothing on John, believe me. I saw what he is packing and he doesn’t come remotely close to John in any category.” She shook her head and smiled.
“Stop! TMI!” Kay’s face scrunched up.
Sophia dug for her cell phone, and found it.
“Who are you calling?”
“John. He’s been so good to me. I didn’t know what he was going through. Kay, he loved that woman.” She rolled her eyes. “He deserves a good woman.”
“Like you.”
She got serious. “What? No. I’m damaged goods.”
“You’re not. I’m sorry about the way I treated you when you told me about John. Jason made me see how wrong I was. But please be careful. He is hurt, and I don’t want you to be the rebound.”
“Don’t worry, that won’t happen.” She took Kay’s hand. “And you’re okay, I understand. I couldn’t ask for a better friend and sister.”
“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Don’t. I couldn’t be with someone who loves someone else.” She dialed.
“Hello?”
“Hey, John.”
“You’re finally talking to me?” he chuckled.
“I never stopped. I just wanted you to go home to your family.”
“I guess your time with Kay was what you needed.”
“We need to talk.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing now?” His laugh was boisterous.
“Funny.”
“I’ll be home soon.”
“I’m hungry.” Kay covered her mouth, laughing. “Can you get me some vanilla ice cream, and Goldfish?”
“Goldfish and ice cream?” He chuckled. “Okay, baby.”
Baby. She blushed. “Bye.”
***
Holding Johnny’s hand, John walked in through the door.
“Ms. Sophie!” Johnny yelled, releasing his dad’s hand to run into her arms. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” She smiled, looking at John, as she kissed his son’s fat cheeks.
“Did you talk to Cara?” John asked, going into the kitchen.
“Yes, I miss her, but I know she’s safe and sound.”
“I’m happy you’re feeling better. Did you eat?”
“Yes.” She played in Johnny’s brown hair. “Look at you! You’ve gotten so big.”
He pointed at her. “You too. Ms. Sophie, you got fat.” He poked her stomach.
“That’s not a nice thing to say,” John said, returning from the kitchen.
“But it’s the truth.” Sophia giggled.
The baby kicked hard. Little Johnny didn’t expect that movement and he jumped back, staring at her stomach. “Daddy, her tummy moved.”
John had two bowls in his hands, one for his son and one for Sophia. They sat on the couch next to her, but Johnny was weirded out, still staring at her belly.
“Come here, Johnny.” John moved closer. He took his hands, placed them on her stomach underneath his, and the baby kicked.
“Daddy, it moved again.” Johnny chuckled, now finding it amusing.
John and Sophia stared at each other, and he nodded, encouraging her. “That’s a baby.”
“Baby,” repeated Johnny.
“Yes, Sophia is having a baby.” John ruffled his son’s hair.
They didn’t expect what Johnny did next. He moved forward and kissed her tummy. “My baby.”
John’s lips curled into a smile. “Yes.”
“Does Mommy have a baby in her tummy, too?”
“No
.”
“Uncle Charles said he loves mommy.”
Sophia could see John’s face getting red. “Uncle Charles?”
“He has sleepovers with mommy.”
John stood and walked to his bedroom.
Sophia tried to smile. She patted the sofa next to her, waited till he sat, then handed him a bowl of ice cream. She turned on a cartoon. She would let John cool down, and then she’d talk to him.
He took a big spoonful. “Yummy!”
“Yes, yummy.” She also began eating her ice cream.
***
Half an hour had passed and John still hadn’t come back in, so she decided to look for him. She found him on the balcony off his room. “Are you okay?”
“Yes…” he answered.
She stood at the sliding doors. “We haven’t talked about what’s going on with you.”
He gripped the railing. “Because you weren’t talking to me.”
“Well, I’m talking to you now. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You never asked.”
She moved beside him and took his hand. “John, you’ve been more than a friend to me. Talk to me. I thought you were back together.”
He sighed. “I listened to your advice and tried, but our marriage was already damaged. I wasn’t what she wanted, and to be honest, she wasn’t what I needed. Sometimes you can’t fix what’s broken.”
“John, are you sure you can let four years go down the drain?”
He glared at her. “What four years? She cheated on me half of our marriage. It’s him she wants.” He sighed. “I knew something was wrong but I ignored it, when she went out. I wondered who she was with, and what she was doing. A marriage is supposed to be built on trust, and she broke it over and over again.”
“You did too.”
“What happened between you and me was a ripple effect of what she did. If she hadn’t abandoned her family, I would’ve never been on that road. Your life wouldn’t have been in danger.” He paced. “What happened between us was innocent.”
“Did she get help?”
“According to him, she did. She hasn’t touched liquor since she’s been back, and I have to admit she’s been a good mother to our son.” He turned and stared into her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me she was fucking Charles? You knew all this time, and you even told me to go back to her.”
She didn’t know what to say. She broke their connection. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“So instead you make me look like a fucking fool.”
“I never thought that.”
“I gave her a second chance against my better judgment.”
“But you just said you knew she was cheating on you.”
“I thought it was in the past, part of her sickness. I didn’t know she was having an affair, that she was in love with someone else.”
“She’s the fool for breaking your heart.” She met his stare. “I know I shouldn’t be saying this, but she doesn’t deserve you.”
They gazed at each other.
“The divorced is almost over, end of story.” He looked at her stomach. “We haven’t talked much about the baby. I know you’re due in two months.”
She leaned against the railing. “Yes, on the fifteenth.” She rubbed her belly.
“Do you know what you’re having?”
“No…”
“You didn’t want to find out?”
“I wanted to, but the baby hid.” She continued to rub her stomach in a circular motion. “One things for sure, it’s a big baby.”
He chuckled, and touched her belly. “This little thing.”
“That’s what the doctor said.”
She put her hand on his, and the baby kicked her with force. “Damn.”
She giggled.
“Names?”
“I haven’t picked any yet.”
His large hands cupped her face. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
He took her hand and they both walked back into the living room, where Johnny was watching Dora the explorer. They sat next to him, and he moved beside Sophia and laid his little hands on her belly.
Chapter Thirty
Two weeks later, John listened and observed Sophia from the doorframe of her bedroom. He couldn’t take her crying every night. He’d tried everything to make her smile, but it only worked for a few minutes. She was usually the one that made him laugh, and now he couldn’t return the favor.
The phone rang, and she grabbed it. “Cara, I miss you…”
He closed her door and went to Johnny’s room.
Johnny sat on his bed, playing with his trucks. He looked up when his dad walked in. “Hi.”
John sat on the bed. “You know I love you?”
“Duh, Daddy.” He giggled and kept playing. “Is Mommy coming to get me?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you like Mommy?
“Do you know what a divorce is?”
He put down his toys, and gave him his full attention. “Yep, Grandma told me. She said you and Mommy don’t love each other no more.”
He picked his son up and set him on his lap. “I will always love her because she’s your Mommy, but we can’t live together anymore.”
“Is it because of Charles?”
How did his son get to be so smart at four? “No, we just grew apart, but we love you.”
“Do you love Sophie?” His big, brown eyes sparkled. “I love Sophie.”
He chuckled. “You approve.”
“Yes, she is fun.” He jumped down and grabbed his toys. “Mommy’s fun too.”
John stood. “She is.” He combed his son’s hair with his fingers. “You’re going to be a big brother.”
Johnny giggled. “I know, Daddy.”
“You know?” he asked, surprised.
“Ms. Sophie is having a baby.”
He just stared at his son. He didn’t know the boy would put two and two together at such a young age, but his doing so made it easier. “I’m going take a shower. If you need something, go get Sophia.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
***
Johnny came running into the guest bedroom. “Ms. Sophie, someone’s at the door.” He grabbed her hand and pulled.
She followed him. “Where’s your daddy?” she asked, not wanting to open his door.
“In the shower.”
Sophia looked through the peephole and sighed. It was Amy.
“John, open the door. It’s my weekend with him.” She rang the doorbell.
John came out of his room in a pair of shorts with no shirt on. Sophia admired his body. Damn, he was sexy. She finally spoke. “It’s Amy.” Sophia backed up and started walking to the guest room.
John captured her hand. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t want any issues. She can’t stand me, and the feeling is mutual.”
“You don’t have to hide.” He swung the door open.
“Mommy!” Johnny yelled, and ran to her.
She shot daggers at John and Sophia.
“What the fuck is she doing around my son?” Amy asked, stepping forward.
John spoke. “Watch your mouth around him.”
In one swift move, Amy stepped forward and slapped Sophia across her face, making her stumble back.
“Sophie!” Johnny cried out, and then turned to his mom. “You hurt her.”
John grabbed Amy’s arm. “Are you crazy?” He pushed her to the door.
“You put your hands on me because of that trash.” She pointed at Sophia.
Sophia could feel her anger boiling over. She wanted to hurt the woman so bad, but then she saw Johnny’s face. “You better be thankful your son his here, because pregnant or not I would’ve kicked your ass.” She turned and left, with Johnny running behind her.
“Johnny!” Amy yelled, but he simply followed Sophia.
“No!” screamed the boy.
She went to move around John, but he stopped her. “Leave. Now
!”
“Not without my son. I can’t believe you have him around her.” She tried to free herself from his grip. “So you finally found out she’s pregnant.”
“You knew all this time?” He released her.
“She’s a criminal,” shouted Amy.
“What is wrong with you? Why would you say that?” John shook his head. “Look, I’ll take him to your mother’s tomorrow.”
“No. He is leaving with me.”
“Amy, I’m really trying to control myself.” He clenched his jaw. “You had no reason to touch her.”
“I do. She needs to leave this condo now.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are, telling me who I can have in my home?” He grabbed her arm, and opened the door.
“I’m your wife!” she shouted, getting red.
“My soon to be ex-wife, who is not welcome in my house.” He pushed her out and slammed the door.
He took deep breaths to calm himself down. He snagged a t-shirt from his room and pulled it on. After several long moments, John walked to Sophia’s bedroom, and opened the door.
Their eyes met. She held Johnny on her lap. “I’m okay.” She kissed the boy’s nose.
Johnny touched her swollen cheek. “I’m so sorry.” He kissed the red mark as softly as he knew how. “Mommy didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.”
“Baby, it’s not your fault.” She rubbed his back. “I promise I’m okay.”
“And the baby?” He put his hand on her tummy.
“The baby’s okay.” She smiled at him when the baby kicked right on cue. “You see?”
He started giggling and rubbing her stomach. “I love you…”
“I love you, too.”
He watched in silence as she rocked Johnny to sleep.
He picked up his son, carried him to his room and laid him down in his bed, then kissed his forehead goodnight.
He went into the kitchen and put some ice in a Ziploc, and then moved to Sophia’s room.
Her back was turned to him. “Are you okay?” he asked, getting closer.
“She hits like a girl.” She tried to smile, but her eyes didn’t sparkle like usual.
He sat next to her on the bed. “She won’t be hitting you again.” He placed the bag to her cheek.
