Chapter 50 Proud
Maddie's POV
Mariko didn't allow me to continue with my studies last night, because of my morning sickness. It is awful. He tucked me into bed before he had taken a shower. Bella had shown me all of her sketches that she had done. I was also a bit confident about writing my test today. I spent a lot of time going through it.
I was dressed in a floral sundress and sandals. My hair was loose as I got ready to go to college for my test. I walked down the hallway towards the lounge. I could hear Bella being all excited. When I got to the lounge, Mariko walked towards me from the kitchen and Bella was sitting on the sofa. I saw a bigger bag that was next to the sofa.
"Maddie!" Bella got off the sofa and ran to me. I crouched as she ran into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Amber is going to have her for two days. She had been calling me and texting me about it. She will be going on a vacation soon," Mariko said as I craned my neck to look up at him.
"Oh, she was here the other day. She was looking for you but you weren't here and then Bradley happened."
He nodded, "I'm just happy that you and the baby are fine."
"I'm going to be away for two days," Bella chimed in as she looked at me, showing two fingers.
"That is great. I hope that you have a lot of fun with your mom," I smiled at her.
There was a knock on the door and I stood up as Mariko walked away to open it. Amber came into view, "Mommy!" Bella ran to her and Amber crouched to embrace her.
I smiled at them, placing my hand automatically against my flat belly. In a few months, our baby will be here and he or she will be just as happy and have a spring in the step. Bella will be an amazing big sister.
"We better get going. I don't want to keep your father up," Amber said to Bella, who ran to get her backpack from the sofa as Amber stood up. Mariko took the bigger bag and gave it to Amber.
We all said goodbye and Bella hugged me one last time before leaving. "Are you ready?" Mariko asked me. He was in his suit ready for us to leave.
"Yeah," I replied as I took my satchel from the sofa where I had left it earlier. As I walked towards Mariko, he stopped me again. Resting his hands on my waist.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm okay, I don't feel nauseous this morning. I am ready for the test because I know that I can do it," I told him and he smiled.
"That is what I love to hear," he leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on my lips.
When he pulled away, I said the following: "I will be going to work tomorrow."
"No, I won't allow that," he said.
"I need to get away from being in this place, so please allow me to work. I promise that I will take it easy even if you have to help me."
"Fine, but if you do not feel well, let me know," he was stern.
"I promise," I said.
I was happy to be getting out of the apartment for work, besides the therapy and college test. I wanted to go back to work because I am used to working hard. I can't just sit around and relax, I need to do something. I wasn't feeling too passionate about fashion at this moment to be working on that instead. I started to love Sternpoint and what I was doing there. Mariko dropped me off at college and went his way. Perhaps tonight we can have an intimate evening.
Mariko's POV
I was not keen on Maddie going to work tomorrow but if that is what she needs, then I will allow it. I am also happy that I have a little break from Bella so that I can have my full attention on Maddie. I was concerned about her last night when she was pale and had morning sickness. It was the first time since she fell pregnant that she threw up. I remember Amber having morning sickness in both pregnancies but it wasn't worse.
I knocked on Bradley's apartment door, and waited a while until the door opened. "Dad?" he said groggily as he rubbed his eyes with his hand. He had just woken up. His chest was bare and he wore a boxer brief.
"Are you alone?" I asked. I didn't want to intrude if there was a woman.
"No," he opened the door wider, stepping aside so that I could enter.
He closed the door behind me and I took a seat on the recliner. "Do you want anything? Coffee?" He asked.
"No, I want to talk to you," I said as he sat down on the sofa.
"What is it?" he asked.
"How do you feel about going to London? I mean...your grandfather is there and there are also a lot of opportunities. Jordan is there too and you won't be alone," I said.
He took in a breath as he thought about it. "Well, I have been thinking about it last night and I think that it could be a great thing for me after everything that has happened. I can't have the woman that I want because you have her and you are having a baby with her. I cannot force her to be with me because that is not the right thing to do. I don't want to force a woman to love me. I want a woman to love me for me. I think that London is the next step for me and to get away from all of this. I will be going to therapy there too." he said. I was relieved about it, I thought that he would be against it.
"I'm happy that you have been thinking about it. It is for the best and this does not mean that you should stay away. You can visit us at anytime. I will also visit you whenever I do have to go to London for work purposes. You are my son and everything that I have done was for you and your sister. I know my job has been very demanding and took most of my time away from you. But I never stopped loving you and to be the best father that I could be."
"I know dad, you are great. Some circumstances...it just breaks a person," he looked at me and there was pain in his eyes.
"You mean your mother," I stated.
He nodded, "Yeah. She was the one that hurt me so many times. Well, not to my face or physically, but emotionally and mentally. Those words that she would throw at you in an argument at night was when I heard it all and that just made me the person that I am. It broke me. She wore a mask in front of me, knowing that she never wanted me from the start. It was never your fault, dad, because you always loved us. I saw your love despite you having to be away because of work. That I do understand, but mom is a whole different thing, but I know she is more for Bella than me, even though she didn't want her either." he shrugged.
"Please know that you are always welcome to contact me and to talk. I will be happy to listen and advise you where I can," I said.
"Thanks, dad."
I stayed for a while before I went back to Sternpoint. I was happy that my son was starting to make the right decisions. London will be great for him. I am proud of him for doing this and heading in the right direction.