Talking Things Out

Talking Things Out
Sofia pov 

Sofia pressed her hand to her stomach.
The nausea had subsided, but the ache remained, the kind of ache that came from not being able to talk to Marco. He was so close but still 

She sat up slowly and reached for her phone checking what the time was. It was already 3pm and Alyssa would soon be back from school. While she hadn't gone to school today because she didn't have any lectures. 

She wondered how she was going to continue her education without the pregnancy limiting her. 

She would have to find a way to work things out, probably discuss with her lecturers. 

But first, she had to eat, she was feeling extremely famished. 

After freshening up, she made her way to the kitchen to get some food. After heating the food, she ate to her satisfaction and then made her way to the garden.

She sat cross-legged between rows of mint and basil, the scent grounding her. Her hands brushed the soil, cold and rich. It reminded her of home, of her mother’s garden. It was a nice feeling, connecting to the earth will help her think properly. 

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered aloud.

She thought about everything and Marco. She knew she couldn’t keep waiting for Marco to fix what she had largely contributed to breaking the fragile bond between them.

Lost in thoughts, she didn't notice until it was too late that she was watched. A snap of a tree branch startled her. 

She turned to see Marco standing behind her. They held eye contact for a while before she looked away. It was an awkward moment between them and she reasoned it was best if she left. 

Her chest tightened as she stood ready to take her leave.

“Sofia, wait.” Marco called after her. 

She paused in her getaway movements. 

“I just want us to talk.” His face was grim. 

“Alright.” She nodded and gulped in anxiety wondering how this conversation was going to end. 

Marco surprised her by joining her on the ground.

“Marco what are you doing?” Her eyes were rounded in shock. 

“I'm sitting down.” He placed his hands by each side of his body. He was amused by Sofia's reaction to him sitting on the ground.

“Aren't your clothes going to get stained?” She frowned.

“I don't care about that. And I can change my clothes later after taking my bath. So it's no big deal.” He assured her with a smile which was refreshing because she hadn't seen that smile for days now. 

“Oh ok.” She sat down back on the ground. 

“So how have you been?” He asked, looking at her.

“You want the honest truth?” She bounced the question back to him. 

“Yes, I do.” His face creased in all seriousness.

“I haven't been fine for the past few days.” She confessed. The past few days have been horrible for her because she had been blaming herself for messing up her budding relationship with Marco. 

“Is it because of the, the baby?” He directed the question as he stared at her tummy. 

“Yes but also I have missed us.” Sofia answered honestly. She wasn't going to mince words, she wanted to actually communicate her feelings to Marco.

“I have missed you too, Sofia.” He murmured looking down.

“So you said you wanted to discuss something with me?” Sofia asked ready to get right to business. 

“Yes, it's about us and what happened that night. I want us to talk about it.” Marco cleared his throat. He was nervous about how this conversation was going to end. 

“Okay.” Sofia waited for him to continue. 

“I'm curious, I want to know why you didn't tell me that you were pregnant.”

“Okay. I didn't tell you that I was pregnant because,” Sofia looked down toying with her fingers, it was the only thing distracting her from Marco's unnerving gaze. 

“Tell me,” Marco said. “Tell me what’s going on inside your mind. Please.”

He moved to touch her, but stopped, afraid his hands might make it worse.

“I didn't tell you because I was scared of how you were going to react. We have never discussed about children and if you wanted one.” Sofia said.

She remembered the conversation she had with Marco on their wedding night when she had stated her rules. That she wasn't going to let him overrule her life. But here she was pregnant with his child. 

“Oh Sofia. And I proved you right by acting like a jackass.” 

“I didn’t want you to look at me like a problem,” she whispered. “I didn’t want this to become another reason for you to control me. Or protect me. I just wanted time.”

“I’m angry because I care. Because if something happened to you” His voice broke. “I won’t be able to survive it.”

They both kept silent before Marco got the courage to speak again.

“I'm sorry Sofia for how I behaved that night. I shouldn't have scared you. I was scared and took it out on you. I'm sorry for stupidly questioning the paternity of the baby. I shouldn't have reacted that badly.” He apologized, reaching over to hold her hand. She let him, they both needed to reconcile. It was the smallest gesture, but it felt like forgiveness.

This was the first time since they were married that they were discussing their feelings as adults. 

“It's fine, Marco. I'm also sorry for not telling you about the baby and going behind your back to the hospital and seeing Kristoff without letting you know.” She apologized too, refusing to let only Marco take the blame for she was the one that had caused most of the issue by keeping secrets. 

“It’s fine, Sofia. I just want you to be safe. I want to protect our family and especially now that our baby is on the way, I can't take risks and make any mistakes.” 

Sofia nodded, understanding his need to protect them. 

“That's why you need to avoid Kristoff, he isn't a good man.” Marco eyes hardened at the mention of Kristoff's name.

“I will.” She nodded. She would try her best not to sneak out or hide anymore secrets for now. 

I don’t know what’s going to happen to us,” he said quietly. “But I know I won't let anything tear us apart.”

Sofia didn’t speak.

He cupped her cheek with the gentlest touch. “I can’t undo what brought you to me. But I would burn this whole world down to keep you now.”

And then he kissed her, not like before. This kiss was slow and deep and warmed her from inside out. 

Sofia's eyes flickered open as she blinked when Marco pulled away from the kiss. She didn't know how long they had kissed but she enjoyed it. 

“Come here.” Marco made space for her to come and sit next to him.

Sofia shifted closer to him and rested her cheek on his shoulder. They stayed quiet for a while and just enjoyed the serenity that the garden brought to them.

After a while, Sofia asked a question that had been on her mind.

“Do you think Alyssa would be happy about the baby?” Sofia's voice was low. She was worried if Alyssa would welcome the baby as her sibling.

“She wouldn't just be happy but also enthusiastic too. She's being asking for a sibling for a long time now.” Marco smiled understanding Sofia's worry.

“I'm glad to hear that. When do you think we should tell her?” 

“Soon. She will be falling over in excitement.” 

“I hope so.” She smiled.

In her mind, Sofia wished that things would go well.