Taking her advice, I leaned back into the chair as I people-watched silently. However, my eyes widened as a familiar person came into view. My heart raced in my chest: it had been more than four years since I’d heard from him.
“Brent… hi,” I said.
He cleared his throat as he smiled. “Rosenna, it’s good to see you. You look well.”
I returned the small smile. “Pregnancy glow will do that to you…” The words felt a bit odd to him given our history, but he seemed unfazed. If it did bother him, he didn’t show it.
“Congratulations, by the way. Looks like you’re due any day now.”
“Been hearing that all day… hopefully it’ll go smoother the second time around.”
Brent only nodded his head in agreement.
He seemed to be torn, the obvious tension between us growing by the second.
In an instant, he spoke, his words flowing out of him like he’d ripped it off like a Band-Aid.
“Listen, now might not be the best time to say this, but I truly am sorry, Rosenna.”
I shook my head. “It’s in the past, Brent.”
“Being reminded by your suffering each and every day is my present and potential future,” he muttered.
I could only sigh. I patted the seat beside me, and Brent sat, elbows on his knees.
“I left the firm a while ago. Basically told Gavin he was on his own after your divorce settlement. There was nothing left to tie me to him for much longer. Not when you had already moved on.”
I didn’t hate Brent… nor did I hate Gavin. I had many more responsibilities, opportunities, and plans to focus on rather than to fuss or wallow in pity over the two men who wanted to make my life a living hell.
I put the blame on Gavin one hundred percent, but in my gut, I always knew Brent just didn’t want to lose me or our friendship if he went against Gavin. Over the years, our friendship diminished because of this, but I knew he simply acted out as a last resort to hold onto me. If he hadn’t given me the evidence to back my separation from Gavin in court, maybe things would’ve ended differently.
“I’m still in love with you, you know,” he said, looking over to me, his voice tinged with regret.
“I know,” I whispered, rubbing his back as I mustered up another sad smile.
Hearing a distinct pattern of little feet running through the gallery, I looked over to see my little girl coming over to me happily as if her father and I didn’t scold her every day for running through the gallery.
“Hi, Mommy! Hi!” Seraphina screamed, and I shook my head as she threw herself into my embrace. Happily, I kissed her face and hair as I pulled her closer.
“Hello, my sweet girl. Did you and Daddy have fun at the park this morning?”
She nodded enthusiastically before she began telling me all about the ducks she met by the pond and the butterfly she wanted to capture and take home so Beckham could draw it.
I would’ve been more inclined to listen to her babbling; however, I was more focused on Brent’s eyes, which looked down at her silently. His mind looked like it was racing, and I was curious to know what he was thinking. Before I was able to ask, however, he looked over at me.
“It’s good to see you thriving in a way you’ve always dreamed of. I’m happy Garcia was able to give you that,” he said truthfully, and I could only give him a sad smile as he stood, bidding me a silent farewell before making his way to the exit.
Feeling a soft kiss on my forehead, I was pulled out of my thoughts as my handsome husband stood before me. He allowed me to force him into a casual suit for today’s event. However, seeing his suit jacket hanging lazily over his shoulder with his hand as his sleeves were rolled up deliciously, I had no further complaints for him.
It scared me how attractive he was, how easily I was able to swoon over him, how effortlessly he turned me into something soft, pliant…his.Given my inability to say no to him, one could only conclude that we’d have our own mini-league baseball team with how much he loved seeing me pregnant. I had no doubt I’d spend the next few years exactly how he wanted me, swollen and round with his child… not that I was complaining too much.
“Wanted to give you some time to talk to him… but someone couldn’t give Mommy a minute to herself, now could she?” he asked, looking down at our daughter as she buried herself against me, content with being in my arms.
Although I probably had much more to say to Brent, I could only thank Sera for pulling me out of the conversation, as if she could sense I was ready to end it.
“It’s fine… he was just checking in. Says he’s happy for me even though he looked absolutely miserable.”
Beckham hummed. “Any man would be miserable if they let the woman they loved get away.”
