AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And that's when I finally realize. Delilah told me that her mother was very strict growing up and it suddenly makes sense. Also why she is so against our relationship.
I see the realization dawn on Delilah at the same time.
All her mother's rules and her controlling nature were simply to protect her daughter from predatory men. The ones she had experienced when she was young.
“Get the fuck out of my house,” she says. “And if I see you around here again, I’m going to make you sorry, you bastard."
Roger is frozen for a few seconds, then he gets to his feet. He doesn't do it without wincing, though, much to my satisfaction. “You know what? I don’t need this." He gets to his feet and walks out of the front door, slamming the door behind him.
Delilah's mother slowly lowers the gun and her shoulders slump in exhaustion. There is sorrow in her eyes as she approaches her daughter. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."
Delilah's face crumples up as she tucks herself into her mother's embrace. The two women hold each other and start weeping softly.
Over Delilah's shoulder, her mother meets my eyes and beckons me over. I go to join the hug.
"Thank you for protecting her. Don’t hurt her," she whispers to me.
"Never," I say back.
Chapter Twenty Three
Delilah
Thenextday,Olivergets us an appointment with one of the best OB-GYNs in the county. To my surprise, Oliver drives me there and joins in on the appointment.
“So,” Dr. Santos walks in and eyes both of us as we sit there. He's scanning through a folder as he sits, then he reads it for a little bit and nods.
“You’re definitely pregnant,” he says. “The blood test confirms it.”
Elation jumps in my chest. It's funny the complete shift that my emotions have taken over just a few days. When I first found out the news, I was hoping it was just a false positive, but now I'm glad I'm pregnant.
I’m actually looking forward to having a child with the man I love.
I glance at Oliver, wondering how I could ever have though badly about him. Even with Jane, it all turned out to be a huge misunderstanding on my part. According to gossip around town, the woman practically stalked him and threw herself at him the night I got kidnapped. Oliver also showed me some security camera footage of her begging him on her knees and him trying to throw her out.
“I don’t want there to be any confusion,” he said when I asked him why he was showing me this. “I love you and no one else.”
This morning, he also announced that his restraining order against her was granted, and he couldn’t be happier about it. And while I do feel a little sorry for Jane, I can’t feel too sorry simply for that fact that she can’t seem to respect the word no.
“How's the baby, though?” Oliver asks the doctor as he holds my hand in his lap.
“Looks healthy for now,” he says. “The first few weeks are kind of crucial, so it’s important to take care of yourself in the meantime. It’s not rare to have pregnancies end with a spontaneous miscarriage in the first few weeks, so it's also important to know what to do if that happens."
“Yes, I read all about that,” Oliver says with a solemn nod that confuses me for a second. He sees my look and concludes, “I bought a few books about pregnancy. I want to know everything that’s going on at all stages of the pregnancy.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Of course.” He looks insulted at the question. “How else was I supposed to know how to take care of you?”
My heart warms and blooms with sheer affection. I almost want to cry.
“Ah, good.” The doctor says and smiles. “It’s a difficulty sometimes to get the husbands on board with the entire thing, so it's good that you’re this accepting."
“I feel like this is the bare minimum, though." Oliver gives the doctor a confused look as he holds my hand.
"Yes. It is." Dr. Santos smiles at both of us and gives a list of instructions we both pay diligent attention to.
And then we’re on our way.
