Chapter 10
“I-I-I...” Marc trailed off not really knowing what to say.
“Troy, please calm down.” I soothed. “Go to the other room and take Rose. I don’t want her alone even if she is asleep.” I said. My words seemed to have snapped him out of his blinded rage. He stepped into the bathroom and quickly put on a shirt and loose pants. He rushed to the other room and came back a few moments later with Rose snuggled comfortably in his arms. He walked over to me and placed her into my waiting arms. “Now, tell us what happened Marc.”
I said when I had Rose settled comfortably in my arms.
“Christina called.” He started.
“Oh? Isn’t she Jake’s sister?” I asked.
“Yeah and she told me she’s…” he trailed off, not knowing how to say what he really wanted to say.
“She is…?” I urged him to continue.
“P-p-pregnant.” He finally said, stumbling over the word.
“What? How can she be? Wait, let’s call her back so I can talk to her and make sure.” I said.
“That’s just it her number was hidden so I can’t call her back. But I have no idea how she can be pregnant with my child. Al, I swear I didn’t touch her.” He swore.
“Wait! She said she’s pregnant with your child? But how come, it isn’t possible. How are you even sure it was she that called you?” I asked him. He didn’t answer. He seemed to be contemplating my question. His face was a clear mirror of emotions as he thought about the conversation. How come, out of the blue, the girl he didn’t even know that well called him to tell him she was pregnant with his child? He was confused; we could all see it on his face. Fear, was it true? Was she really pregnant? But what does he have to do with anything? And then finally, the pieces of the puzzle fit. The call, the person, my reaction, Bea’s reaction and most of all the way everyone reacted to Bea’s outburst.
“You didn’t…” he said as his mind raced to complete the puzzle.
“What makes you think I did?” I replied.
“It was you! Oh my! How could I have been so stupid to believe everything she said… or you said, in this case?” he asked himself.
“I told you before, don’t mess with me.” I told him with a smirk as I held my child in my arms. “I was just giving you a taste of your own medicine.” I finished.
“Right, you’re trying to get back at me for taking Rose from you, someone whom you care about. And you did that by making me feel like I lost Bea when in actuality I didn’t.” he said. Then suddenly he grinned as he seemed to think of something. “And, I’m pretty sure you were so worried about Rosalie last night, or the night before that and of course just this morning.” He said then looked at Troy with a knowing smirk. “Am I right Troy?” he asked.
“Well what can I say? I just have that calming effect on people.” Troy replied. He then started walking toward me with predatory grace. Bea took the cue and got off of the bed. “Isn’t that right, babe?” Troy then asked me.
“I don’t really know. Would you like to try your ‘calming effects’ on someone else?” I asked.
“What?” he asked; his face turning into a mirror of confusion.
“Oh… I don’t know, I was thinking that since Bea is feeling so betrayed right now, that maybe you could try to comfort her.” I said my eyes glimmering with amusement. Marc growled at my statement then pulled Bea towards him.
“Oh? But wouldn’t you be jealous?” Troy asked, teasing.
“Not really, since it’s for a friend. And besides how am I supposed to know if you haven’t actually done anything of the sort yet, seeing as you’ve been gone for over a year.” I said, the bitterness returning to my voice while the teasing edge disappeared. Both Bea and Marc realized that it was time they left and so they did silently without neither Troy nor I noticing that their presence had gone. Troy walked towards me his joking demeanor gone, turned into worry.
“Al…” he started but I cut him off with a hysterical retort.
“How am I supposed to trust you again after what you did? Am I supposed to just let you back into my life? Am I really supposed to believe that during that missing year, you didn’t have any other relationships?” I ranted. Then I broke down into sobs, holding my child closer to my chest as I tried to control my overflowing emotions. He wrapped his arms around my shaking form. “I don’t know what to believe anymore Troy. I don’t know who to trust. And I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing with letting you just come back to me with open arms.” I said before my sobs turned into all-out crying. I cried as he held me while I in turn held our child. The one person who was the glue that held my family together.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He repeated over and over again as he tried to soothe me. It took some time before I finally calmed down. During which time, I thought about the past year.
Rosalie had become my lifeline along with Marc. I wanted to stay in my room and wallow in self-pity but the knowledge that I had a daughter who needed me and a best friend who was trying his hardest to keep me sane and keep me going, led me to strengthen my resolve and try to move on. But, no matter the face I showed outside, no matter what everyone else thought, I still couldn’t get over Troy. He was my husband and nothing would ever change that.
My sobs died down as I reminisced. I thought about all my memories over the past year, both the good and the bad. I remembered how I was before Troy came back into my life, how I acted when he abruptly returned. Somewhere in my mind I knew that I shouldn't have accepted Troy but there was also a part of me that couldn't resist him. I wondered if I was doing the right thing but deep inside I knew that I wouldn't be able to change my mind even if I wanted to, which I didn't. And finally I thought of everything that had happened in the last three days then I realized that I didn't need to worry because Troy was back and this time, he was back for good.
