AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My father speaks up quietly. “She was heartbroken. I have never seen her so upset. She ran out of here like we were all going to hate her!”
It shocks me that he knew we were making it up, but he didn’t say anything. I didn’t know they all knew. How did I think we were getting away with something?
“Well, that doesn’t make sense to me. I didn’t think she wanted me anymore. She seemed like she wanted out as fast as she could, so I let her go. Then I realized that was a mistake. I was planning on telling her my real feelings for her. I was even going to propose! But now I can’t find her!”
Debra’s voice joins the conversation as she chimes in for the first time. “She’s gone to her mother’s,” she says.
“Did she tell you that?” I ask, wondering why they’re just now pointing me in the right direction.
She shakes her head. “No, but a girl being as upset as she was when she left only has one place to go. And that’s to her momma. Believe me.”
I’m silent for a moment, processing what I’m hearing when my grandfather cuts in. “Well, damn, Kaden! You better hurry and get your woman before you’re too late! A woman like her only comes along once in a lifetime! You need to fix this to be a good husband and father,” he says.
I start to agree. “I know, I just… Wait a minute!” I say, pausing once his last word reaches my point of processing. “What did you say? Father… Amber’s pregnant with my child?”
“Shit, he didn’t know….” my step-sister Catherine says, looking worried. “Don’t tell her we told you. We didn’t know you didn’t know!”
“Who gives a damn about that, Kaden? Go find her!” my father yells from beside me. I jump up and run for the door, thinking about what they’re telling me the whole way to the car.
There’s no way… There’s no way…
40
KADEN
Holy shit, Amber’s pregnant? That’s why she’s been acting so different… But why won’t she just tell me? Why is she keeping it from me? It’s like she’s scared of me or something…
Suddenly, a memory of a few days ago pops into my head, and I remember the conversation when she asked me if I dislike kids.Oh my God… I told her I didn’t want them, and it wasn’t even true! If I’d have been honest when she asked, she would have told me.
The thought of her not feeling safe confiding in me breaks my heart. She feels so unsafe and insecure with us that she even signed the divorce papers. She was so scared that handling it that way seemed easier than just talking to me, all because I’ve never given her enough reason to trust me.
Why should she? I’ve never once been honest with her about my own feelings. I’ve danced around them all this time, not wanting to admit it. All she knows is that we have a fake marriage, and as far as I’m concerned, she’s paying back a favor.
Tears fill my eyes as I drive, and I can’t stop them as they gush down my cheeks. I try to compose myself as I pull into the parking lot of her mother’s apartment. I race to the door, only to find that she’s already gone.
“She’s gone home to get her things,” Amelia explains, and my heart sinks. I’m speechless. My eyes look at the floor, trying not to cry again in front of her.
“I love her, Amelia. I love your daughter with all my heart,” I say, surprised by my own words.
“Kaden, I know you love her. Amber told me it was all fake, but I’m a mother. I can see the love between the two of you with my own eyes, and that’s not something you can fake. Go get her!”
I kiss her cheek and sprint back to my car. I’m racing around everyone, trying to reach Amber before she packs her things. The drive feels like it’s taking forever, and my road rage keeps making a not so subtle appearance as I try to get around people.
“Move your ass! I’m trying to save a marriage and a family here!” I scream. The words leaving my lips sound scary but exciting at the same time. It’s incredible to me that I’m finally in a place where I have something to fight for.
“I will not lose her because you don’t know how to use the right lane!” I yell at another car.
Finally, I reach our driveway. Gravel flies as I speed down it, racing to the door and our bedroom. I’m panting as I enter and find Amber packing her luggage neatly on the bed. It stuns me to see her actually packing her belongings to leave me.
“You’re pregnant?” I ask quietly. Her eyes dart at me for a moment as shock appears on her face.
She forces her anger to resurface when she responds. “Yes, Kaden, I am. But it doesn’t change anything between us. I’m sorry, but I can’t continue with this fake marriage.”
She returns to loading her suitcases, and I watch for a moment. I’m trying to calm my breathing down while dealing with my heart trying to jump out of my chest at her admittance to carrying my child.
Once I’m able to catch my breath, I step toward her. “Neither can I. I don’t want to pretend anymore. I’m sick of living a lie.”
I see tears well in her eyes as I speak, not knowing if they’re good or bad. She stares at me, looking like she wants to talk but no words come out. I decide to take a leap of faith.
