Deceitful Vows

by A. Mackin

  ***

  Kayla got home in just enough time to shower and change for dinner. In the beginning, she was doing well with the pregnancy but now, in the third trimester, it was really starting to take a toll on her. She had to go shopping for a whole new wardrobe because even things from her second trimester didn’t fit anymore. Her face was getting fat, and her feet were constantly swelling. She only had three pair of shoes that she could fit, and none of them had a heel. It was also getting hard for her to keep up with her new found sex drive with Mark, but she refused to give up. He loved the new her, and the truth was she did too, but lately she hadn’t felt as attractive and that basketball size belly she was carrying around was making it virtually impossible. Knowing that her marriage was still in a delicate place, she sucked it up and began applying her makeup for tonight’s event. Whether she felt like it or not, she was going to be there for her husband in whatever way he wanted her to.

  ***

  After finishing up at the office, Mark headed home to get ready for the evening. He kept thinking back to earlier in the day when he got caught with Monica’s face in his crotch. He was glad to know that Monica wasn’t out to destroy his marriage. She assured him that whatever story he wanted to tell about what happened she would confirm it. They knew it was both of their words against “hers.” And since she would have to explain why she was there in the first place, Mark knew she wouldn’t be too quick to open her mouth. He made a mental note to be more discreet about things and definitely make it a habit of locking the door to his office. Ironically, after being caught, cutting the affair off altogether never crossed his mind.

  Mark found Kayla sitting at the vanity applying her makeup. He stood for a moment, and took in the sight of his now glowing wife. He could tell that the pregnancy was taking its toll on her. She wasn’t complaining, but he could tell that she was uncomfortable. Truth be told, so was he. They still had sex, but he didn’t feel that it was natural because her growing belly was always in the way. Though he appreciated her efforts, he wasn’t as turned on as he had been in the beginning. And because of his lack of attraction for her, he still would go back to the photo in order to be with her.

  Noticing him standing there, Kayla spoke up. “Are you just going to stand there and watch me, or are you going to come say hello?”

  Mark couldn’t help but smile, wondering how she knew he was there with her back turned to him.

  As if she was reading his mind, she said, “I smell your cologne.”

  Her senses were severely heightened. With the pregnancy and, even though, the scent was nine hours old, he knew that it was still as fresh to her as when he’d gotten out of the shower.

  Walking over to greet his wife, Mark felt guilty for the first time in months about seeing Monica. Watching Kayla trying so hard to satisfy him while carrying his son, should’ve made him want to do right all along. Instead, it allowed him to selfishly add another conquest to his list of infidelities.

  Mark leaned down to hug her and kissed the top of her head. Extending her arms as best she could to return his embrace her heightened senses kicked in again. This time instead of smelling just his Polo Blue cologne, she smelled the feminine scent of Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana. Immediately, her suspicions and hormones went into overdrive, and the rage was coming on strong. She took slow deep breaths to calm her nerves. Mark mistook her breaths as pain.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  While she wanted to respond, all she could say was, “It hurts,” as she cried a pool full of tears.

  Not knowing what was wrong, Mark asked, “Do you want me to call the doctor?”

  In between sobs, she managed to say, “No. I just need to lie down.”

  He helped her over to the bed and out of her dress so that she could lay down. Initially, she declined water, tea, and food and opted to just lay there in her own tears as thoughts of her husband being back up to his old tricks weighed heavily on her mind. Eventually, she took the offer for water in order to get a moment to herself.

  Mark headed downstairs to get the water that she’d asked for. One minute, they were talking and Kayla was doing her makeup. The next, she was crying hysterically saying it hurts but not saying what hurts or why. Kayla knew that Mark’s frantic pace confirmed that he had no idea of what had just happened.

  By the time Mark returned with the glass of water, Kayla had cried herself to sleep.

  Chapter 10

  Waking up to a painful headache, Kayla was reminded of the last night’s events. Her already fragile marriage seemed to be on the rocks once again. Kayla knew she wasn’t going crazy. She smelled the perfume, clear as day, on Mark’s chest. Because the fragrance was so common she had no problem pin-pointing exactly which scent it was. The questions in her head was should she question Mark about it or wait to get more evidence? As she wobbled to the shower, she thought about what she would do. Once she was out in the hallway heading to the bathroom, she could tell Mark was still home from the smell of coffee being brewed downstairs. That was a surprise. Usually he’d be gone to the office by then. Instead of inquiring about his late start, she headed to the bathroom to get showered and to plan her next move.

  ***

  Her: Is that why I haven’t heard from you? You’re with the cheap slut now!

  Her: You need to meet me at the Marriott at 1, or I’m sending the photos to your wife.

  Her: You know I’m serious, so don’t try to play games with me.

  Mark couldn’t help but to shake his head and let out an exasperating sigh after reading the messages. Not only was “she” still trying to be with him, but now she was blackmailing him. Of course, he had to go meet her. He couldn’t let his precious Kayla see those photos. Of course, she knew about the affair, and it was old news, but if Kayla found out who she was he would never get his wife back, and his marriage would officially be over. He didn’t know how, but he had to find a way to make her leave him and Kayla alone for good.

  ***

  She felt confident after sending the messages. Of course he would come; he didn’t want his precious Kayla to find out who she was. The shock would be if he found out the photos weren’t of them two together, but instead of him with Monica. Her true intentions for meeting him today were to seduce him. They were supposed to talk about the past and how they once felt about each other. She would bring up old places and things they did before he would have her for lunch on his desk. Meanwhile, she would have her phone recording everything from the minute she got off the elevator. She would then have the recording for the future in case she needed it to get him to leave Kayla once and for all. To her surprise and benefit, Monica was already having lunch with him, and her recording cell phone got an eye full. Seeing Mark with another woman hurt her to the core, but in her mind she thought he was lonely since they hadn’t interacted in a few months. Undoubtedly he had been with Monica was before she had to “leave.” Her mom had taken it upon herself, once again, to contact her doctor to find out how she’d being doing. Once she’d found out that “she” was off her meds again, the doctor insisted that she go back to that God awful “resort” to help make her better. When were they going to realize that she didn’t need that resort or those meds? After all, she’d been doing just fine without them. Thanks to her mother and Shady Pine Mental Resort, she had missed the last four months of being with her man, and now he was finding comfort with another someone else.

  ***

  Kayla headed to the office to meet with two patients before her doctor’s appointment later that afternoon. She had forgotten to tell Mark about this one and accepted that she would have to go alone. Going into her office, she thought it would be a good idea to see if maybe he would come with her on his lunch break. Reflecting back on the perfume incident, she’d decided she would play her cards and see what proof she could get before confronting him again. Either way, if he told the truth and confirmed her suspicions, she knew her marriage would really be over this time. So instead of going of
f on a whim, she decided to get concrete proof before she tore her marriage apart.

  Before she could get into the building good, Melissa called. She was calling to talk about the baby shower again. Kayla asked her several times to just call her mom since Vivian would know exactly what Kayla liked and didn’t like, but Melissa insisted on calling her every other day. The shower was in two weeks, and Kayla couldn’t wait for it to be over. The event was now up to one hundred guests and was at a banquet hall more suited for a wedding reception than a baby shower. Melissa even took the liberty of setting up registries at almost every store imaginable. The baby shower was way too much for Kayla’s taste, but no matter what, she knew that Melissa always had an excuse as to why the event had to be so fabulous. Kayla just hoped that when she and Mark had more children, they didn’t have to go through this every time.

  With all of her morning patients seen and all notes finalized, Kayla headed out to get to Mark’s office to see if he could go to the doctor with her. She already made up her mind that if he couldn’t, it would be okay since she knew it was a last minute thing. It didn’t take long for her to pull up to the office and head inside. It was twelve-forty, and her appointment was for one-thirty, so she had plenty of time to convince Mark to come and still get over to Dr. Gallant’s office to be on time.

  After getting off the elevator and heading to Mark’s office, Kayla got a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. She thought her mind was playing tricks on her, but it wasn’t long before her nose confirmed that her mind was right. She locked her eyes on Monica and the scent of Light Blue perfume.

  “Hey, Monica, how are you today?” Kayla asked with her nose turned up in the air.

  Monica had a flash of discomfort before she presented a cool, calm, collected tone. “I’m doing well, Mrs. Barnes. Was Mr. Barnes expecting you? Because he just left for a 1:00 appointment,” Monica stated calmly not missing a beat.

  “He wasn’t. I thought I’d surprise my husband today,” Kayla said slowly, putting emphasis on the word husband as if Monica didn’t know they were married.

  “Oh, well I’m sure you can get him on his cell. He has the rest of the afternoon blocked off,” Monica said. This time Kayla could sense a lingering discomfort in Monica.

  “Of course I’ll try his cell. I’m his wife. He’ll always pick up,” Kayla said cockily as she winked at Monica before she waddled away.

  She walked to the elevator with so much anger in her steps that one would’ve thought she was a kid stomping to her room. Kayla knew that scent was familiar and couldn’t believe it was right there. The affair that she’d cried herself to sleep over. The one that practically tore her marriage apart was not only right in her face all this time, but also right under her nose, and she had no idea. She never bothered to ask who it was. In her mind, who it was didn’t matter. All that mattered was that it was someone else. She racked her brain on her way to Dr. Gallant’s office, wondering why she never saw it before. She had been in that office in Monica’s presence dozens of times and never once thought she was having an affair with her husband. Now it was all out in the open, and she couldn’t wait to confront Mark about it.

  ***

  “Is this what you wanted?! Huh?! Tell me you want it!”

  Smack!

  The smacking of the ass cheek caused it to jiggle just like Mark liked. This turned him on even more and caused him to go deeper.

  Mark was pounding her from behind and enjoying every minute of it. He didn’t know how he got here.

  Actually, he did. He knew that meeting her at a hotel was a bad idea, but a part of him needed the release as bad as she wanted it. He still had no idea what picture she was planning to send his wife nor did he care at the moment. He was only concerned about the orgasm building inside of him. Not being able to control himself any longer, he released himself in the condom and slowly pulled out of her. Collapsing on the bed, he couldn’t move if he wanted to. The two had been in the hotel room for hours, going at it. He missed all the wild freaky things she would do to and with him, but mostly he missed having sex without a belly in the way. He had to apologize to her for catching him with Monica to get the special attention he craved. He even went so far as to tell her that she was the best he’d ever had so she would lighten up. To his surprise, she forgave him and said she’d known that it was because she was gone for months. He made a mental note of the “gone for months” part but decided not to push it. Finally getting up the energy to release his bladder, he grabbed his cell phone on the way to the bathroom. He had thirty-seven missed calls and nineteen text messages. He opened the first one and saw it was from Monica.

  Your wife came here. I think she knows. Call the office.

  He shook his head, confused as to why she would think that. For the life of him, he couldn’t imagine why she would think Kayla knew about them. He was always so careful, and they never talked outside of work. Quickly dismissing Monica’s text, he opened the messages from Kayla. It was several of them, but the first one caught his attention and had him racing to get out of the hotel room.

  “What the hell happened?!” she asked out loud as Mark sped by her.

  One minute he was going to the bathroom, the next minute he was throwing his clothes on and running out the door. He didn’t even give an explanation. He just said he would call her later. She lay on the bed and wondered what was going on. The ringing of her cell phone interrupted her thoughts. She thought about not answering, but then decided that maybe the caller could help with her recent thoughts.

  Her suspicions were confirmed when Kayla screamed, “I’m in labor! Please come down here!”

  Rolling her eyes at Kayla’s dramatic yelling, she took her time getting up and showering before heading out of the hotel. She was in no rush to get to Kayla, but at least she knew where Mark rushed off to.

  Chapter 11

  Screaming was all you could hear as Mark stepped off the elevators at Mercy Hospital. The messages from Kayla caught him off guard completely. She was only seven and a half months, so the baby wasn’t due yet. To the best of his knowledge, she wasn’t being induced, and the pregnancy was normal, so he couldn’t understand how or why she was in labor. The fact that she had been trying to reach him for hours was unnerving. He had no business being in that hotel room with Stephanie and to know that he was there with her while Kayla was having his son made him feel horrible. If anything happened to either one of them, he would never forgive himself.

  Making his way to the nurse’s station, he couldn’t control his sweating or his hands from shaking. He was not only nervous about the delivery, but also about becoming a father and what would happen to his marriage. The walls were closing in on him, and he didn’t know which way to go. After getting directions from the nurse and being escorted to a scrubbing area, he cleaned himself up, according to the directions he was given, and was escorted into the room just in time to see his son come into the world. Kayla was crowning when he walked in according to the nurse. There was so much commotion in the room that nobody seemed to notice his presence. Kayla was laid back on the bed with a nurse holding her hand while another one was wiping the sweat from her forehead and a slew of doctors and nurses standing by calling out numbers and directions. Mark’s feet were glued to the floor and he had no idea what to do or say. In a matter of minutes, he began to see his son’s body slide out of Kayla while she was screaming bloody murder. He wondered if she had gotten that epidural thing he’d heard women talk about. The way she was screaming was as if she was going cold turkey. The second Mark Anthony Barnes Jr. was out of her womb, the doctors started yelling things that he had no idea what it meant. All he noticed was that baby Mark was blue and something wasn’t right. Parental instinct guided Mark, as his otherwise glued feet sprang into action and he was rushing to the doctors and nurses who were ushering his son out the room. Desperate for someone to say something, he grabbed the arm of the doctor who performed the delivery and asked what was wrong with his son.


  “I’m sorry, sir, but he’s crashing. We have to get him into emergency surgery.”

  And just like that the doctor rushed out the room leaving Mark behind.

  ***

  Kayla didn’t know what to do or say. There she was lying in a hospital bed after she’d just given birth to her son almost two months early. She went to see Dr. Gallant as scheduled, with thoughts of Mark’s affair on her mind still. After examining her, Dr. Gallant informed her that her blood pressure was too high and the baby was in distress. She told Kayla that she had to induce her and deliver Mark Jr. today or he was in danger. Kayla immediately began calling Mark, but couldn’t get a hold of him. She even called the office and told Monica what was going on and told her she needed to get a hold of Mark. Monica could not offer any information since there were no details on his calendar about where the meeting was or who it was with. Kayla thought that it was weird that Monica didn’t have any information, but she didn’t want to assume that she was so heartless that she would keep Mark away from her while she delivered their baby. Kayla also felt better knowing that Mark wasn’t with Monica so she assumed Kayla’s reasoning it was on the up and up.