Max The party began winding down a little past midnight. Jessy and Samson had already retired upstairs to tuck the kids in, while Ryan and Elaine gossiped in low tones as they shuffled their feet on the dance floor. Everyone was exhausted but happy, and while I observed things from my position beside the bar counter, I realized that for the first time in years I was enjoying this, and it was all thanks to the lovely woman whispering in my best friend's ear at the moment. “Well, this is sickening,” Manny snorted, no doubt following my gaze to the dance floor. “I haven't seen you look so smitten over a woman before. And it's...quite odd.” I turned to him with a glare. “Shut up.” He nudged my side. “Can't blame you, man. She's lovely.” I shrugged. “Tell me something I don't know.” We both lapsed into silence once again, watching her. “It must be a weird feeling for you, right? I mean, falling in love with someone wholeheartedly for the first time.” “Yeah,” I nodded without looking
Elaine I lay naked beside Max, listening to him snore softly while my heart hammered wildly against my ribcage. It was a dreary Monday morning and we'd just gotten back from San Francisco where we had fun over the weekend. I'd called Cora before we alighted the plane to sleep with Finn for the night and make sure he didn't come out while I figured out a way to tell Max. I couldn't hide it from him any longer. The bond we shared at this point was too sacred, too important for deception. All through last week, working beside him at the office was bliss. He became more understanding, more patient, and more professional, and we snuck in a lot of kisses between edits. It had become natural to wake up beside him every morning. It felt more than right. I sucked in a deep breath, bracing myself for what I was about to do. I even muttered a silent prayer before shaking him lightly. “Hey, Max.” “Huh?” he replied sleepily, turning to face me. “Sweetheart. What's wrong?” I swallowed a hard lu
ElaineIt was a little past five when I left the house with Finn for some fun time at an amusement park nearby. Cora was flunked with work, and needed the space. I needed to clear my head off my wandering thoughts about Max. He still hadn't called, and I wasn't expecting that he'd listened to my voicemail as well. Right now, I was trying to see the bright side of things and spend time with my little man.I'd also called up Jessy to narrate what had transpired between Max and I, as well as promise to have the dress she borrowed me washed, ironed and returned tomorrow. She was sympathetic, and offered to help talk to Max but I declined. I needed him to truly forgive and come for me this time, and not because he felt pressured to do so.“Careful, sweetheart,” I called out to Finn as he raced around with little, gangly kids his age. The evening breeze soothed my skin and helped me process my thoughts more clearly. Plus, I felt a certain kind of peace I'd never experienced before, even tho
Max Thirty minutes later, I pulled up in front of Samson's mansion and got out, taking the elevator up to the top floor. It was almost seven PM so Jessy was preparing dinner in the kitchen, while the kids were probably sleeping in their room, judging by how peaceful the entire house was. I met Samson perusing some paperwork in his study. He glanced up when I walked in. “Have a seat, please.” I rolled my eyes as I plopped down on the swivel, leather chair across. “Make it snappy, I need to go rest. What did you want to discuss with me that you couldn't wait till tomorrow?” He smirked, then gestured to the leather couch at the corner. “Father?” I jumped in fright when I detected a movement in the darkness, Dad's mischievous face was the first thing I saw. “Holy fuck. Good evening, Father. Didn't see you when I walked in.” “It's fine," he nodded, placing a hand on my shoulder. I stand still as he turned and sauntered over to the window, taking a peek out at the vast compound below. “
Elaine I blew out a breath as I glanced out the window, and down the road, anxious. We just finished having dinner, and Cora was helping Finn with his homework. It was a little past eight, but I was still holding out hope that Max would show up. I'd sent him two texts already, asking if he could still make it, and although he didn't reply to them, the two arrows signified that he'd seen it. I'd have preferred it if he'd just called and we discuss things on phone. But this situation required a physical meeting. At least, I thought it did. I was almost half-dozing when I heard the sound of a car pulling up just outside the fence, close to the gate. I peered out the window, relieved to see the familiar Aston Martini. He made it! I couldn't even find the right words to express my relief. As well as the sudden spike in adrenaline. Fuck. I quickly ran into the kitchen and tapped Cora's shoulder hastily. She whipped her head from Finn's book to me and I leaned down to whisper in her ear
ElaineIt was a little after nine before Cora and Finn got home from Ma's. I'd dozed off on the sofa after a good three hours of crying and now as I stood up to go open the entrance door for them, my head throbbed wildly as though I was having the worst hangover. Finn screamed in glee and jumped into my arm, while Cora shut the door behind her and turned to me with a frown.“Easy, boy,” I smiled weakly, ruffling his hair. “Momma's not feeling too good.”“How did it go, girl?” I glanced up at Cora who stood, staring at me worriedly. I shrugged, taking Finn with me to sit on the couch. “It went...well, horrible. God, I don't even know how to say it, Cora. Everything is a huge mess,” I blew out a deflated breath, running a hand through my hair. She sighed and came to plop down beside me, taking my head to rest it on her chest as she stroked my arm. “I'm so sorry, dear. I understand how how this is for you.”I beamed sadly in the darkness. “You have no idea.”My phone chimed on the tabl
ElaineThe testing was scheduled for Monday of the new week. I left for the hospital with Finn at exactly 8AM, after I'd taken permission from his teacher. We waited till ten for Max, which didn't surprise me one bit. I knew he'd could've gotten here sooner, but didn't want to make small talk with me or Finn. He still couldn't face us.As I scanned the half-filled waiting room, my heart pounding wildly in my chest, I wondered if there was a woman like me among these people. One who'd kept the news of a child away from the father for two, probably three years and now she told him, he wanted a paternity test also. God, I would never wish that sort of fate even for my enemy. The only thing that kept me afloat was my little man beside me. He was so engrossed in the book he was reading to be aware of his surroundings, or the gravity of the situation that brought us here.My eyes flicked over to the door, locking with Max's familiar cerulean blue ones. I had no idea how long he'd been stand
Max “You need a drink, man,” Ryan said, patting my shoulder as he stood and strode over to the living room's bar section. We were seated on the couch; Ryan, and Manny, awaiting the test results together. I figured I needed them to be here for support, and also to help me process the outcome, whether good or bad. “God helps her if it's negative,” I hissed, running a hand through my hair nervously. “I'll get her locked up the second I read that word. I already know it's negative because there's no way in hell I didn't wear a condom that night.” “It's positive, man,” Manny said flatly. “I'm more than sure. Elaine isn't a liar. I mean, she has no reason to pin this on you after everything you've been through together.” “Still,” Ryan passed a glass of Scotch to me, then Manny, “I'm not in support of her keeping this away from him for this long. Who knows if she'd told him much earlier, the test wouldn't have been necessary at all. Nothing hurts more than being kept in the dark, which is