Heat flooded my face before ice replaced it, and I couldn’t keep up with my emotions as they slammed into me from all sides.
A baby.
A fuckingbabywith mywife.
“Fuck, baby…” I whispered, and for a brief second, I saw her. My wife. My Lila. My world. “Wow.”
“Yeah.” Lila crossed her arms over her chest. “Also, the payment is due on the mortgage. There hasn’t been much interest in the house.”
I blinked, unable to think of anything other than the fact I was going to be a daddy.
Lila was carrying our child, and nothing else mattered.
“I’m back at the house now,” Lila continued. “It’s still on the market, but I can’t afford to move until it’s sold.”
“Right,” I said, my voice coming out all croaky and shit. “Are you…how are you doing? How far are you?”
My baby. Lila is carrying my baby.
She frowned at me. “Around ten weeks. I have a scan in two weeks?—”
I imagined seeing my baby for the first time, hearing the heartbeat?—
“Can I come to the scan?” I blurted, as she stared at me. “Please?”
“I don’t want anything to do with you, Victor. The baby doesn’t change a thing. I’m just telling you because you’re the father. You have the right to be in the child’s life. Not mine.”
Reality slammed into me as Lila looked around. My shoulders sagged, and my chest felt like it was going to explode.
“Lila…”
“No, Victor.Youdestroyed our marriage. You don’t get to be inmylife.”
Those words sliced into my throat, cutting the tendons and vocal cords, leaving my love for her pouring from the wound.
“I will send you a photo of the scan image, and I’ll keep you up to date with everything. Please make sure you make the mortgage payment.”
I can’t breathe.
“Jesus, please. I—please, listen to me.” My words were broken. I was stammering.
Lila hesitated, and I seized the opportunity.
“I fucked up so bad. I can’t walk away from you Lila, I can’t. Without our baby?—”
Baby.
“I can’t live without you. I don’t want to. Please, I love you so much.” Then I panted—fucking panted—the exertion of trying to get my words out before she walked away was too much.
“Have you finished?” Lila whispered.
My eyes scanned her face, but there was no emotion.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I was stupid?—”
“Clearly, your words mean nothing. I mean, look at our marriage vows.” Lila sighed and looked at me. “There’s nothing else for us to talk about. Goodbye, Victor.”
She turned and walked to the door, opening it delicately like she was scared of catching something. She stopped, one shoulder out of the door, and my heart jumped.
