Chapter 32 MORE
~Haven.
Exactly two weeks had passed and that was the last time I saw Walter.
He was barely home, but he constantly sent texts to check on how I was doing. He'd delete them right after……maybe because of Hannah…I wasn't so sure.
His kind gesture that evening stuck like a birthmark– how he carried me into the room carefully like I was glass that shouldn't break. And how he's promised to get married to me if the child was his.
Each morning would come with images of my union with Wlater running freely in my head. The kind of life we'd live and how he'd adore our child.
….
I stepped out of bed, my legs dragging lazily on the ground. My throat felt like they'd dry up and stick if I didn't drink water soon.
I walked downstairs and found mom sitting with Hannah.
Mason stood at a corner. Our eyes met and I immediately looked away.
I still wondered what Hannah saw in him.
I cleared my throat and mom finally looked my way- not that I wanted her to.
“Good morning, mother,” I said, hastily walking away….but her words caught up with me.
“Harrington,” she started. “He hasn't shown up in two weeks now. He cares about the child. Right?” She asked, her voice dripping with hatred and a hint of mockery.
I forced a smile and nodded. “He has only been busy with work,” I answered.
Mom heaved a sigh. “There's a party tomorrow night. One you should attend with Harrington. Your father commanded that,” she casually said.
What the fuck?
“I think I'd pass on that. I do not feel too good,” I said. I knew it wouldn't go well. Everything with Harrington being the supposed father of my child was supposed to be kept a secret. Even away from his own family….. attending a family gathering with him wasn't just it.
“And why?” Mother asked. The disgust in her tone couldn't be left behind.
“I just….do not feel too good,” I answered. And not that I ever attended one.
“I wasn't asking, Haven. Inform Harrington about it and show up. Everyone will be waiting,” she said before turning away. I thought that was all until….. “Haven?” Mother called, after Hannah whispered something to her.
“Yes, mother?”
I leaned on the kitchen counter. Her steps were slow and steady as she approached me. She was calm…. calmer than she was minutes ago.
It was…. suspicious.
“You know, Hannah is sick and she…..she doesn't look like herself at the moment.”
“And how does that have anything to do with me?” I asked, not sparing her a glance.
She sighed. “Be as simple as you can, Haven. Do not….do too much when you dress. I don't want Hannah looking…..you understand what I mean, right?”
I felt irritated.
I was constantly made to belittle myself for Hannah's sake. The old me would have fought. But that morning? I just didn't want trouble and neither was I ready to put up with mom's drama.
I had a child growing inside of me….. it was enough reason for me to want peace.
I nodded, grabbing a glass of water before leaving.
……
Each time mom and I crossed paths, she'd ask me if I'd informed Harrington about the party. I'd nod and promise he was coming. I knew he wasn't. I wouldn't dare to inform him…not after everything that happened.
Not like he was going to agree anyways. Who would want everyone thinking he owned a child that belonged to his married best friend.
I sat nervously on the living room floor, my phone laid in front of me.
My eyes were staring deeply into my screen….. I was caught between texting Harrington and just letting things be.
But the drama at the party…one where they'd ask about Harrington and I'd stutter scared me more than anything else. I finally picked up my phone, typing in words that made almost no sense.
“Miss. Haven, keep shaking like that and you might birth that child tonight,” Mason's voice sounded in front of me.
I flinched.
“Are you okay?” He asked, his face remained stiff.
I nodded…. nervously.
His presence sent chills down my spine..but I kept staring. Trying to find why Hannah loved him so dearly.
“You're scared, aren't you?” He sat on the ground next to me.
I shook my head. An obvious lie.
And plus…why would Mason care about whether or not I was okay.
“Does it have anything to do with the child?” He asked…..
I couldn't bring myself to say anything….then we heard footsteps coming from the entrance. Mason immediately stood up when he set his eyes on Walter.
Walter halted when he saw how close Mason sat next to me. His eyes met mine and I immediately looked away.
“Good evening sir,” Mason greeted.
Walter caught his arm before he could leave. “Anywhere. But not next to her,” he warned.
Mason nodded.
I gulped. Hard.
“What were you both talking about?” Wlater asked.
“It's been two weeks,” I answered with my gaze down. “You didn't show up.”
“I texted….didn't?” His voice hardened. “What were you talking to Mason about?”
I took a deep breath. “Mom and dad want me to attend the dumb gathering tomorrow with Harrington. I got scared and didn't know what to do. Mason saw me panicking and….he came to ask what was wrong with me….”
“So you thought confiding in the cook was the best thing for you to do? After finding out what a snake he might be? What if he's trying to get words out of you then he'd feed them to Hannah?
And since when did you get so comfortable sitting next to him? He touched, you didn't he? Do you even know what he is up to……”
He spilled those words and I slowly got up. I walked towards him and wrapped my hands around him.
I couldn't…. I couldn't help it.
I concluded it was the child who wanted the hug and not me.
Walter's words seized.
I felt him flinch.
“What…..what are you doing?” He whispered.
He didn't push me away.
“Can I just…. stay like this?” I asked, resting my head on his chest.
“I…..I needed this more,” he whispered, wrapping his hands around me.