The rest of the day moved in a blur of laughter and celebration. Our friends and family gathered around, offering their congratulations, talking about our future plans for the baby, and making bets on whether our little boy would take after me or Leon.
The joy was overwhelming, and for a while, I was able to set aside the fact that Sarah’s presence was making me feel awkward to the back of my mind.
Leon was by my side almost the entire time, holding my hand or keeping an arm around me protectively. I was fortunate for having a partner that could sensed my unease, even if I tried to hide it.
As what Leon had often tell me, the two of us were a team, and today was supposed to be one of the
The days after our baby shower felt like a whirlwind of excitement and preparations. Leon and I were constantly buzzing with anticipation, making sure everything was perfect for our little boy’s arrival. It felt surreal, imagining a whole new life with a child, and neither of us could contain the joy we felt."Do you think this color will be just fine?" I asked, holding up a soft blue swatch of paint as we stood in the soon-to-be nursery. Leon was beside me, nodding thoughtfully as he considered the walls we were about to transform."I think it’s perfect," he said, his voice warm and full of certainty. "Not too bright, not too dull. It’ll be calming."I smiled, my heart swelling. "I want a corner over there," I pointed to the window, "where I can sit and read him stories. Maybe I could have a rocking chair too."Leon’s face lit up at the idea. "I can picture it already. You, with him in your arms, tucking him in after reading. And I’ll stand at the door, listening to you sing him to s
One morning, as I sat by the window in the nursery, sipping on tea, I felt a soft kick. A flutter at first, then a stronger nudge—our baby was moving. A rush of warmth flooded me, and I called out for Leon, my heart bursting with excitement."Leon!" I yelled, unable to contain myself. "Come here, quick!"Leon appeared in the doorway, a mix of alarm and curiosity on his face. "What is it?" he asked, rushing over to me.I grabbed his hand and placed it on my belly. "Did you feel that? He’s kicking."He stood still, his hand resting on my bump, waiting. And then, it happened—a little nudge from within.His eyes widened, and a huge grin spread across h
The separation anxiety hit harder than I thought it would.Leon had only been gone for a few hours, yet it felt like days. I kept telling myself it was just three days, but the thought of him being so far away, flying across the world to Italy, had my stomach in knots.I tried to distract myself by reading books, TV shows, even a long bath, but none of it worked. Every time I thought about him being gone, the tears just came, uncontrollably. I had already tried calling him through Viber, even though I knew he was likely still on the plane. It was irrational, I knew that, but I couldn’t help myself.Eventually, Aunt Lou noticed that my anxiety was getting out of hand. And I appreciate how she tried reassuring me that everything was fine, remind
After Sarah left, the mood at the park was ruined.I could see it in Aunt Lou’s worried expression, Letty’s frustration, and Lena’s quiet glances. We all knew that lingering here wasn’t going to make me feel any better, so we packed up our things and headed back home.And the moment I stepped through the front door of the summer house, I couldn’t help but felt a sudden overwhelming urge to call Leon.Once we were settled inside, I excused myself to my room, pulling out my phone and dialing Leon’s viber, this time I was certain that he would be able to answer. I could feel the anxiety bubbling up again as I listened to the dial tone.
After leaving Regina behind in the waiting room, I stepped into the familiar warmth of Dr. Lou’s clinic. Aunt Lou was already inside, waiting for me with her usual calm, reassuring smile. She stood up from her chair as I walked in, and immediately, the subtle tension I had felt after seeing Regina seemed to melt away.“Margarette, you okay? You were running a little late and I was just about to call you to check if you’re all right.” Aunt Lou asked, her eyes scanning my face with concern. I nodded and sat down beside her, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m fine, Aunt Lou. Well, to be honest, I just…I happen to ran into Regina outside actually.”Aunt Lou raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Regina? You mean Justin’s mistress? What’s she doing here?”“She said she had a bone marrow transplant, and was having her consultation” I said quietly, still trying to process the change I had seen in her. “She looked… different. Not like her usual self who often intimidate me often.”Aunt Lou nodded, sit
As I made my way downstairs to the dining room, the delicious aroma of Letty’s cooking filled the air, instantly lifting my spirits. I could hear the soft chatter from the kitchen, the clatter of dishes, and the occasional laugh from Lena, who had clearly been assigned the role of Letty’s helper for the night.It felt good, being surrounded by family. Despite everything on my mind—Leon being away, my run-in with Regina, and the overwhelming anticipation of motherhood—I found solace in these simple moments.I stepped into the dining room, and Aunt Lou was already setting the table, her usual efficient self. She looked up when she saw me and smiled. “There you are, sweetheart. Feeling a little better?”I nodded, returning her smile. &l
The air was crisp as Aunt Lou and I made our way down the sidewalk toward the pharmacy to buy some of the vitamins I needed.I tried to push away the lingering sense of unease that had settled in ever since I saw Regina at my OB-GYN appointment yesterday by making some habit of going out more often, while I still could.Now that I was out of the house again with Aunt Lou to pick up some medicine, I hoped to shake off the anxiety that had clung to me all day. But, as luck would have it, life had other plans.As we stepped into the pharmacy, Aunt Lou busied herself at the counter while I browsed the aisles, looking for some vitamins and pregnancy essentials. I was trying to keep my mind focused on the present—on the baby and Leon's return—
As we left the coffee shop, Regina and I walked in silence for a while. The streets were busy, and the noise of the city created a buzzing backdrop to the heavy conversation we’d just had. I still couldn’t believe what I’d just agreed to—a potential alliance with Regina, of all people. Part of me was still suspicious, but there was also a part that wanted to believe she was sincere. If she was telling the truth, this could be the key to finally taking Wilma down.When we got closer to the car where Aunt Lou had stayed behind, I turned to Regina.“I’ll talk to my lawyer,” I said, keeping my voice measured. “We’ll see what the next steps are if you’re serious about testifying. But I need you to be prepared for what’s coming. Wilma’s not going to take this lying down.”Regina nodded, her face pale but resolute. “I know. But I’m ready. I can’t keep living in fear of her.”I studied her for a moment longer, then gave a short nod. “Alright. I’ll be in touch.”With that, we parted ways. As