Chapter 19
Marley
I heard the shower running. Sitting in bed, I placed one hand on my belly and the other over my mouth. The nausea was there, but the feeling and my stomach were different. Throwing back the cover, I climbed out of bed and stood in front of the full-length mirror, taking note of the sudden expansion that happened overnight.
“What are you doing?” Charlie walked into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“It’s happening.”
“What’s happening?” He opened the dresser drawer and pulled out a clean pair of underwear.
“This.” I pointed to my belly.
“I didn’t see you run into the bathroom while I was in the shower. Did you finally listen to me and use the other one?”
“No. There’s no need this morning.” I smiled. “I’ll go make you some coffee and me some peppermint tea.”
I grabbed the bottle of prenatal vitamins from the kitchen counter and took one. While the water was brewing for the tea, I made Charlie a cup of coffee and set it on the island.
“Thanks for this.” He grabbed the cup and held it up.
“You’re welcome. Don’t forget dinner tonight at my mom’s house. We have to be in Long Island at six-thirty.”
I heard him sigh.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I inconveniencing you? You know what, Charlie? Just forget it. You don’t have to go. I’ll tell my mom something came up, and I can’t make it.”
He stood there momentarily, narrowing his eyes at me with a smirk on his lips.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re trying to start an argument so you can blame me and use me as an excuse to cancel. I wasn’t sighing at you. I sighed because of an email from a client with a problem.” He held up his phone.
“No,” I pointed at him, “you were sighing at me.”
He let out a chuckle, walked over, and gripped my hips. “No, I wasn’t. But if you want to believe it in that crazy little head of yours, go ahead. I have to go.” His lips pressed against my forehead, and my brows furrowed.
“Why did you just do that?” I asked.
“I’m not sure.” He smiled, grabbed his briefcase, and stepped into the elevator.
“Don’t do it again!” I shouted.
“He kissed my forehead this morning before he left for work,” I told Olivia as we walked down the street to the bookstore.
“Ah, that sexy McBillionaire. You loved it. Admit it.” She shoulder-bumped me.
“I did not.”
“You did, you liar.”
“Okay, I did.” We stepped into the bookstore and headed to the pregnancy section.
“I know the man likes you. What’s not to like? You’re beautiful, fun, smart, and pregnant with his babies. And we know you like him too. Perhaps you’re falling in love with him.” She pulled a book from the shelf.
“Stop your craziness. I am not falling in love with him. He’s the father of my kids, and that’s it.”
“With whom you’re regularly having sex with.”
“So? We sleep in the same bed. Of course, things are going to happen. It’s human nature. It means nothing.”
“Whatever you say, my hormonal little minx.”
I pulled a book from the shelf titled Holy Shit I’m Having Twins and thumbed through it.
“Here. This is for Daddy McBillionaire.” Olivia handed me a book titled Dad’s Guide to Having Twins.
“There is no way Charlie Stone will read this book. He doesn’t even want his children.”
“Just buy it. You never know. Maybe he’ll surprise you,” she said.
Grabbing a few more pregnancy books from the shelf, I took them up to the counter and checked out. The cashier smiled at me as she rang up each book.
“I can’t believe fall is here already,” Olivia said as we left the bookstore. “You’re going to have to go shopping for clothes.” A smirk crossed her lips. “No more baggy dresses for you. Leggings and oversized sweaters for the pregnant mama.”
“Thanks for reminding me.” I rolled my eyes.
When I arrived home, I took the books out of the bag. Setting my stack on my nightstand, I took the book for Charlie and put it on his. Wouldn’t he be surprised when he got home?
I was a nervous wreck as I touched up my makeup and ran a brush through my hair. Telling my mother I was pregnant should have been exciting, but it wasn’t. I was filled with nothing but dread.
“There you are,” Charlie said. “Let me change my clothes really quick, and we’ll go.”
I followed him out of the bathroom and saw him walk over to his nightstand, pick up the book, and look at it.
“What’s this?”
“I picked it up for you at the bookstore.”
“I’m not reading this, Marley. There’s no need.”
“Whatever, Charlie. I don’t really care. Olivia made me buy it.” I walked out of the bedroom.
A few moments later, he emerged and asked if I was ready to go. We stepped into the elevator and headed to Long Island.
“What else did you do today besides going to the bookstore?” he asked.
“Why do you care?” I glanced at him.
“What’s with the attitude, Marley?”
“I don’t have an attitude, Charlie. You never ask about my day. And the one time you decide to, I don’t feel like sharing.”
“You’re stressed about having to tell your mother about your pregnancy, aren’t you?”
“I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, and I’d like you to be there,” I said, changing the subject.
“Why are you just telling me this now? I can’t tomorrow.”
“That’s fine.”
Mateo pulled up to my mother’s house, and I sighed.
“Let’s get this over with.”
I opened the door and stepped inside. My mother walked into the foyer and stopped when she saw Charlie.
“Marley, it’s good to see you.” She hugged me. “Who’s this?”
“Mom, Charlie. Charlie, Maddie, my mother.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.” She extended her hand.
“The pleasure is all mine.” A smile graced his face as he placed his hand in hers.
“You look like you’ve put on some weight since the last time I saw you,” my mother said.
“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it.” I rolled my eyes and went into the kitchen.
“Hi, Marley.” Peter walked over and hugged me.
“Hey, Peter. This is Charlie. Charlie, Peter.”
They shook hands, and my mother announced dinner was ready. We gathered in the dining room and took our seats at the table.
“I made your favorites.” She smiled.
“Thanks, Mom.”
I picked up the bowl of grilled asparagus, set it down, and placed my hand over my mouth.
“Excuse me.” I flew out of my seat and ran to the bathroom.
When I was finished, I sat back down, noting the look on my mother’s face.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m pregnant, Mom.” I yelled out to get it over with.
“Pregnant?” She cocked her head. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone. Is Charlie the father?”
“Yes, he’s the father. And that’s not all. I’m having twins. Thank you very much for telling me that twins run in our family.” I picked up a glass of water and took a sip.
“Twins?” Peter smiled. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations to the both of you.”
“Marley, I don’t know what to say. Are the two of you planning on getting married?”
“Does it matter?” I furrowed my brows as Charlie sat there in awkward silence, eating his dinner.
“Well, no. Congratulations. I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandmother. How long have the two of you been dating?”
“We’re not dating. It happened one drunken night. I just thought you should meet him.”
After we ate, Charlie went with Peter into the living room while I helped my mother clean up the kitchen.
“You know I’m here for you, Marley,” my mother said.
“I know, Mom.” I placed the plates in the dishwasher.
“It hurts me that we don’t see each other very often. I hope that will change when the twins are born. Even after all these years, I know you’re still angry with me. I’m not stupid.”
“I never said you were, Mom.”
“At some point, you have to forgive me. You act like you had such a terrible childhood.”
“Seeing your mother in bed with someone other than your father is pretty traumatic. And then being told not to tell Dad was even worse.” I looked over and saw Charlie standing there staring at me.
My mother turned her back and walked over to the sink. “I’ve apologized to you for that.”
“Thanks for dinner, Mom. It was really good.” I grabbed my purse. “Come on, Charlie.”
“You never told me you found your mother in bed with Peter,” he said as we climbed into the backseat of the car.
“I was supposed to go to Penelope’s house after school, but her mom came down with the flu that day. So, I went home. When I walked into the house, I couldn’t find my mom anywhere, which I thought was odd because her car was there. I heard noises coming from upstairs, so I quietly walked up and stood outside her bedroom door. When I opened it, I saw them in the middle of having sex. My mom’s eyes widened when she saw me. I shut the door and ran to my room, crying and not being able to understand what was happening. My mom came in shortly after and told me that she made a mistake and that my dad could never find out. She told me that if I told him, it would destroy our family, and it would be all my fault.”
“You told him, anyway, didn’t you?” Charlie reached over and grabbed hold of my hand.
“Yeah. I did. But not until two months later. It ate away at me every day I kept her secret. To give your eleven-year-old daughter that kind of responsibility was wrong on so many levels. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt my dad, but he needed to know. So, one day, I asked him if he could take me to the park. I told him what I saw, and I’ll never forget the look on his face. Tears fell from his eyes, and he hugged me tight, telling me it wasn’t my fault and everything would be okay. When we got home, he told me to go up to my room. I acted like I would but sat on the top step as he confronted her. There was a lot of screaming and crying. My dad flew up the stairs, packed his suitcase, kissed me on the head, and left.”
“I’m sorry, Marley.”
“So now you know even more why I don’t have a great relationship with my mother.”
“It’s totally understandable.” His hand squeezed mine.