Kate
I let Alex enter the apartment ‘ Hi.’
He replied ‘ hi how are you ‘
‘ I am good but where’s Emma, you did not bring her’
I said in disappointment … Its more than a week when Alex comes daily with Emma, and he let her sleep here and then Alex picked the girls and took them to school … it was some sort of routine we had adopted
He said ‘ she is with your father… today He came and wanted to take her for the weekend Mona was missing her… so I cannot say no to them… and I told him about us’
I looked down then said ‘ he must be very happy about it… he has told me before I won’t stay forever with you’
Alex flinched and said ‘ For the first time I found him to be very worried and when I said that Max pushed Emma not Aria, he looked incredibly sad and guilty…. he told me that you did not tell him anything otherwise he would keep you and Aria in his home’
I said with a sad smile ‘ that was never my home Alex… I was just a mistake … so I would not go over there’
Alex looked sad and said ‘ I know… We never genuinely appreciated and consider you for your love, kindness and all the sacrifices made by you for others…’
It was an awkward moment, we both were silent then we heard Aria’s voice and saw her running towards us ‘ Daddy, Daddy … you back’
Alex face changes to a big smile and he picked up Aria and kissed her then said ‘ Hi my princess how is you… I missed you so much… and I brought something for you… I hope you will love this’ He kissed her forehead and Aria’s face beamed with happiness
Daily Alex brings something for her… sometimes it is sweets, sometimes butterfly colouring. books… one day he buys an iPad for her…. that day Alex becomes a best daddy in Aria ‘s eyes when she said that… I saw Alex eyes shines with moisture and happiness… I thought to go home with Alex but still I am giving time to them to understand that is not temporary …
I said to Alex ‘ you are spoiling her with all these gifts’
He softly smiled then looked at Aria and said ‘ I will buy her the world if I could because she deserves so much more’
My eyes become moist, and I know at any moment I am going to shred tears, so I control myself
I saw Emma was sitting on Alex’s lap, opening her present then when she saw the doll, she stopped and said ‘ Daddy… it is the same doll Mama and I saw in the toy store, mama say that I will get it for Christmas …. but you got it for me now…. daddy you are best, it is such a pretty doll… more pretty than the first…’
Alex’s eyes were guilty he said ‘ yeah… you know daddy was incredibly sad and angry with himself that he broke your doll… I am so sorry Aria for that, but I brought a new one for you …. And I will buy you hundreds of dolls any you want to have’
Aria said ‘ really daddy ‘
I replied ‘Aria daddy will buy you a doll for special occasions not every day… OK Alex … now come both of you, dinner is ready ‘
Alex grins ‘ I loved it when you are bossy’
I blushed but said nothing
After dinner Alex was going but Aria stops him and said ‘ no mama… please say daddy stay… I want daddy… Daddy please do not go’
Aria was crying now… she was so attached to Alex in brief period, that all the time she needs her daddy
Alex wiped her tears, ‘ hey my pretty girl does not cry… I love you so much, but daddy must go…’
Aria tightly put her hands on his neck then said ‘ Daddy stay with us and we will sleep together please… mama please say to daddy’
I said ‘ Alex If she is saying so much then stay…’
He said ‘ if that’s OK with you’
I replied ‘ yes… She really wants you to stay’
I was arranged the bed and I get Alex his own night shirt which I brought with me, when I left the house… I awkwardly said ‘ I used to wear this shirt maybe I brought it without thinking’
He smiled ‘ well now it’s coming handy’
Aria and I was laying in sofa cum bed then I saw Alex… he tries to lay on it, I said ‘ you may not be comfortable, but I can’t buy bed right now’
He said ‘ I’m good so no need to buy a bed because you’re coming home soon’
I looked at Alex how confident he was, but it is my decision to make and no one else’s…
Aria was in middle then she changed her side and laid her head on Alex’s chest she said ‘ It’s so cool that we are in same bed… daddy I’m happy you’re here’
Alex laughed ‘ me too princess … OK tell me what story you want to listen ‘
Alex was reading a story book, and he was running his hands on Aria head so that she can sleep…
I said ‘ Alex she has fall asleep ‘
Alex looked at Aria sleeping face then tenderly smiled … he kissed her head and gently put her in the middle he turned to me and softly said ‘ she is beautiful Kate… exceptionally beautiful a fun-loving kid but I am an idiot to ignore her for years … I mean I was so dense that I did not appreciate the beautiful gift God has given me in the face of Aria…. I am so sorry Kate, I hurt you and Aria beyond words’
I replied ‘ Alex I always believed one day YOU will love her and understand her… I thank God for showing me this day… so whatever is in the past stays in the past… but I am really trying to move forward and make the best decision ‘
He gives me an understanding look,’ I respect that, but I have to hope that you will come back home ‘
I sighs ‘ I don’t know when, Alex… let’s sleep we both are tired’
Alex
I was knocking at the door for 5 minutes than I saw Aria in her school dress when she opened it… I said ‘ hi babe… how did you opened the door ‘
She pointed at the chair ‘ I climbed on it… it took me some time to open the lock’
I replied ‘ where is your mama’
Aria said ‘ Mama is sick… she is vomiting… she cannot even help me to tie the shoes’
I looked at her shoes and become worried about Kate
‘ OK where is she is?’
Aria shakes her head; she takes me to the washroom … I saw Kate was sitting in the floor of bathroom holding her stomach … I run to her and hold her ‘ Kate… shit… you look so pale … come on let’s go to doctor’
She replied ‘ Alex I cannot move… Aria it is getting late for school… just drop her please… I cannot move right now’
I hurriedly replied ‘ Kate, I cannot leave you… you are clearly so sick…
She stopped me then said ‘ take Aria to school and come back then take me… I just need some minutes to settle down my stomach and take a bath… please Alex’
I shake my head ‘ what if you need me…
She tries to smile, ‘ I’m OK Alex just little tired … please take Aria she is getting late and if I need you, I will call you’
I sigh ‘ OK. (I kissed her head) I am back coming in few minutes … just call me right away’
I picked Aria to put her in the car… Aria said ‘ Daddy … my shoes ‘
I remember then said ‘ oh give me your foot’
I tied her shoelace and then take her to her school and see off her in her class…
I raced my car to Kate’s apartment; I opened the door with the key I had taken with me…. when I reached the living room … I saw Kate is freshly showered … but she looks so weak and tired
… her eyes were covered with black shadows … I said ‘ Kate… are you OK now’
She replied ‘ yes but still feeling nauseated a little … I do not know why… I mean I was OK in the morning when I woke …. I was getting ready and cooking breakfast than suddenly, I feel dizzy, and my stomach torn up … It was then I started vomiting … that is why when you reached here, I could not open the door… I send Aria to open it’
I replied ‘ you are so tired all the time with the job and all other stuff… come on let us go to doctor… I am sure it has to with do with your daily stress, lack of appetite and sleep’
Kate protested but I was determined…. when we reached doctor … they start taking her BP, Blood sugar test and other tests needed…
They told us to wait for the test results… after half an hour doctor came, I said ‘ Doctor … is she OK …
Doctor smiled ‘ Kate is lacking some of the nutrition’s… but she and the baby are fine’
I nodded, ‘ oh thank god… (then I stopped) wait a minute you said baby … what baby’
I saw Kate’s shocked face, the doctor said ‘ oh you do not know … Kate is almost 8 weeks pregnant… congratulations to you both’
My face paled and it looked like I stopped breathing…. Kate said ‘ I think… its misunderstanding I am taking birth control pills … I was using them for the past 3 years … How could this happen?
Doctor said ‘ well pills are never 100% protected… sometimes they stop working because of your stress levels’
I do not know what happened next because I stopped at Kate’s parking lot and wait for her to get out…. fuck… I cannot believe … Kate is pregnant again…. and I do not know how to react
Kate said ‘ Alex… please say something… you’re freaking me out… just say it whatever you want to say… so that I can properly decide what happens next’
I sighs ‘ I don’t know what to say Kate… its… its unexplained and we have not had sex in a long time … so this news clearly blows my mind’
Kate looked upset, angry, and said ‘ what are you trying to say… that this is not your baby… are you trying to treat me like this again? Like when I was having Aria… if you are then I am telling you we are done for good
I replied ‘ for God’s sake Kate… I am surprised here too for fuck’s sake… I was just saying stuff
But Kate stopped me ‘ if you remember what the doctor said… I am almost 8 weeks pregnant… so let me remind you when we had sex last time… it was day before Aria birthday when you come to apologized me for snapping at me in the dinner table when I stopped Emma from eating chocolates…’do you remember?
I remember that night when I was desperate enough to have Kate’ … to stop her and so she would not leave me … but what the fuck who knew we will conceive a baby too
I replied ‘ of course Kate, I remember… And I know this baby is mine… but, it is too much for me…’
Kate said ‘ well it is for me too… especially now… but Alex if you cannot make up your mind then we are seriously done… I will not let this baby be treated like the way Aria has been treated by you’
I replied ‘ Kate I loved Aria more than anything and you know that… I know I was a fool to ignore her, but now I have her I am not letting her, and you go anywhere’
She replied ‘ then what about this baby’
I replied ‘ Kate, I want you… but I came with some baggage that I want to solve out… give me time’
She said ‘ take some time but I want to know soon so that I can decide where I stand’
And with that she was gone.
Kate
Tonight, Alex did not come… I was so nervous, but I know that I will not let the past repeat it’s self again, this time if he does not want this baby then good for him because I am totally done with him… it was quite late, and Aria was sleeping then I heard the knock-on my front door
I saw it was Alex… I said ‘ Alex … what are doing at this time of night’
He looked so disturbed, and he said ‘ I was waiting to talk to you in the morning, but I can’t control myself and I came to tell you’
I nodded ‘ and what is it?’
He replied ‘ after I dropped you, I thought about a lot of things, realising how you brought light in my life, how you let me truly live again and because of Aria we are together for the first time… how I fell in love with you more than anything… being pregnant and having another child again with me does not make me feel guilty but contented and happy like this is the sign for us to be together ‘
He holds my face ‘ Kate, I love you … I always thought Emily was the love of my life but no … Emily holds the part of my life and heart but Kate you are the life in my heart…. I was terribly broken when I lost Emily but if I lost you, I would not survive Kate… please come back… I want Aria back, my newborn baby back’
Now he was crying, and I started crying too ‘ Alex… oh Alex… I love you too… I will come back but you are happy for this baby truly? ‘
He kissed me ‘ Kate I swear to God yes, I am … I mean when I thought we are about to have another child, I feel so calm and felt love for this baby…’
I smiled ‘ I am coming home Alex’
He kissed me hard ‘ oh god Kate… I love you …. thank you so much for giving me a chance’
Epilogue
1. 5 years
Kate
I saw our son Leon aka Leo was sleeping peacefully on Alex’s chest… I had this bundle of joy at Christmas and he was the exact image of his daddy except he has my black hair but everything else is Alex … Alex was very supportive to me my pregnancy and he still helps me whenever Leo wakes up in the middle of night… Leo is 7 months old and very active we can’t keep him in one place… Alex and I every time run for him to stopped him going to pick dangerous stuff… my girls are so happy that they had a brother … but my poor Leo is very scared of them… because both the girls dress him up in make-up and girlie clothes….
When I came home 1-year ago … Alex profoundly changed he put mine and his portrait in the living room… when I asked why he did that he said ‘Kate… I must move on, I loved Emily, but she is gone, and she is not coming back … so, she would want me to be happy and I am happy with you … this portrait makes me happy’
He even changed the will and pre-nup … now all the children are to get equal Robbins assets…
His relationship with Aria is so changed that both of then cannot stay one minute away from her… and the same with me and Emma…
I came back from my memory lane and softly wake Alex… his eyes opened then said ‘ hi pretty girl’
I replied ‘ hi handsome … Leo is asleep let me take him’
But as soon as I hold him… he stirred and opened his blue eyes, then cries…’ well now he is hungry ‘
I unbuttoned my blouse to feed him
Alex was looking at me and said ‘ you know it’s so sexy to watch you right now… you really a hot and sexy mother’
I blushed and shook my head… than Aria came running ‘ Daddy look… I got A in math’
He smiled he picked her up and kissed her cheeks ‘ wow princess you are so smart… well you deserve a treat don’t you think… tell me what you want’
I just look at them both and I forget to tell he spoils her way too much…
I said ‘Alex… you are spoiling her’
He smirks, ‘ hey its between me and my beautiful daughter does not get jealous’
Then Emma. came and said ‘ mama, can we take Leo now to play please’
Alex and I laughed… we know what play really means
I replied ‘ if Leo is in a good mood than why not’
Leo was done with feeding, then he looked at every one and put his chubby hands in his mouth … and said ‘ ma. di … di’
In our language he wants to be down on the ground… he starts calling me ma recently… I loved it when he does that…
I put him down, then he starts to crawl… and my girls start following him
Alex laughed ‘ I wonder what they will do with him this time ‘
I put my head on Alex’s shoulder ‘ I’m more worried that he will put all the make-up on their room walls ‘
Alex laughed then he said ‘ hey did I said I love you? and thank you so much for giving me this beautiful family… it’s because of you I’m living Kate ‘
I said ‘ well your kind of involved too in making this family so I can’t take the whole credit ‘
He grins then said ‘ oh really… how about we do a little more practice’
I said ‘no I have call to make to my office ‘yes, I keep the job and now I am promoted to editor post… and Alex is also happy, because that was my dream to work in this field…
He said ‘its weekend you can do it afterwards … I am not letting you go’
Then he attacks me with his mouth, I laughed
I thank God that he makes my dream come true, for giving me my family, three beautiful children and finally my one-sided love was now reciprocated.