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I got her comfortable on the living room couch with blankets, and I set up a romantic comedy for her to watch.
“Call me if you need anything else from the store,” I told her, giving her a forehead kiss.
“Thank you.”
“Always.” I began to walk away, and Stella peeked over the edge of the couch and called out my name. “Yes?”
“Maybe some tacos, too?”
“You got it.”
“Okay, thank you.” She slipped back down on the couch, then popped up again. “Oh, and Damian?”
“Yes?”
“I’m so grateful for you.”
I didn’t know if grown men could get butterflies, but if we could, they showed up every time she gave me any kind of compliments or words of affirmation. “I’ll be right back.”
When I returned home,I was shocked to see Jeff’s car parked outside of our house. The front door was wide open and alarm hit me instantly as I rushed into the house at the sound of him shouting.
“You’re drunk, Jeff,” Stella said shakily as she stood in the foyer, backed up against the staircase.
“What’s going on?” I asked, shooting my stare toward Jeff, who was clearly blasted out of his mind. He was standing in front of Stella, looking insane. Within seconds, I stepped between the two of them and tossed him to the side. He stumbled backward, wasted out of his mind.
“Screw you, dude. I’m here talking about my child with Stella. This has nothing to do with you,” he slurred.
“It does when you get in her face.”
“I’m not here for drama.” He shrugged, reminding me of the person he was when I first met him all those months prior. “All I’m saying is, I deserve a chunk of Stella’s money if she’s going to have this baby. The kid deserves the same quality of life when they stay with me.”
“There’s no way the baby is going to stay with you if you’re this drunk, Jeff. You need help,” Stella calmly stated even though I could see the fear in her eyes.
“Fuck off, Stella. This kid is mine, too.”
“I know, and we can work with lawyers to—”
“Screw your lawyers!” he shouted. “You think you get a right to tell me what I can do with my kid? You already took my last one away when you killed it, and now you’re trying to keep this one from me. Damn, Stella! After everything I did for you! I took out those loans for us. I borrowed all of this money for our future, and now you’re trying to start a new life with this dickhead with my kid!”
“That’s not it at all, Jeff. You’re not thinking clearly,” Stella said, still trying to talk sense to his nonsense.
“You’re not better than me, Stella,” he told her.
She frowned. “That’s not what this is, Jeff. Listen, maybe you should rest and sober up a bit. I can get you water—” As she started for the kitchen, Jeff lunged toward her as if he was going to grab her. Before he could, I reacted without thought and slammed my fist into his face. He hit the ground and was knocked out.
“Oh, my goodness!” Stella gasped with tears in her eyes.
“Shit,” I muttered. I shook my head, staring down at Jeff. “I’m sorry, Stella. I just thought he was going to hurt you, and I reacted…”
“It’s fine. Maybe we can put him in the back room for him to sober up. I didn’t want him to drive in that state anyway.”
She was so caring even to those who didn’t deserve her gentleness.
I carried Jeff to a back room and tossed him into the bed. He began to snore, which was a good enough sign of life for me.
When I headed back to the living room to check on Stella, she was standing, filled with nerves as her hands moved up and down her forearms.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
