Chapter Three

Annabelle's POV

“I don't understand what's wrong with him, Venny,” I clutch my purse closely, trying so hard not to panic tears well in my eyes.

I sniff pushing them back.

“Has he done anything suspicious that feels like he's cheating?”

I pause. Really thinking about it.

“He's just been ridiculously busy these days.. Our chats have also been put on disappearing,” My stomach rolls from the scent of baked donuts in the coffee shop.

Damned morning sickness.

“He didn’t even notice when I gagged at the smell of his cologne. I blamed it on stress. He didn’t ask.” I sip on my sparkly water.

“He just drops me off at work with a ‘head home before me, I'll be off work late’ then zooms off,” I choke back tears, I can't cry _ at least not without proof.

“What if I'm just being paranoid? What if I'm not? I can't afford to be wrong either way_ not with a baby on the way.”

“Calm down, Anna. He just might be busy,” you know how busy work can get sometimes,” My cousin rubs my shoulder, soothingly.

“I know… but," I'm still a little bit suspicious.

Vanessa's face lights up which makes me pause to look at her skeptically. She’s never up to any good anytime she looks like that.

“How ‘bout you drop by his office tomorrow. You'd get to see him and you can confirm your suspicions,” She says, a little too brightly. “I'm sure he's not cheating”.

“Well, he traveled for a business trip. He won't be in town till next Friday.” I pout, eyeing the woman at the other table eating the donut beside me murderously.

“And you really need to tell him about the pregnancy. We need to hasten up the wedding preparations”. Vanessa suggests.

“True that”.

“You know what? You could come stay with me and Miles before he gets back from his trip,” She offers sweetly. “You wouldn't have to go through the stress of driving everyday to work. You and I could go in together. God knows I also need help with the kids,”

I laugh at her baby doll expression. “I thought Miles helps with the kids?”

Vanessa sighs wearily. “Yeah, but he's been out of town for three days now for a business conference. I'm literally drowning,”.

“Okay, okay… you know I can't say no to those angels of yours anyway.”

“Wait till yours finally arrives then tell me if they're really angels”. We both laugh heartily that the other breakfasters look at us.

At Vanessa's I fall into a comfortable routine aside from bouts of morning sickness of course. I help her get the kids ready. She drives us all to work then drops them in the daycare at the hospital. After work, we pick them up, go home , order takeout then sleep. Life's good.

It's a Saturday morning, I wake up to a text from Walter_ we were texting last night when he went quiet and he'd said yesterday would be hectic. Guess I should’ve believed him.

It's a voice note, apologizing for falling asleep yet again. I watched a reel he shared to me from Facebook and I don't find it funny so I executed a mental shrug.

I'm about to reply with a reel of my own when I feel the sudden urge to throw up. I fling my phone in the room and run to the dry heaving till my eyes start to water.

When I feel a little bit better, I head to the kitchen to grab a toast. I'm suddenly famished.

“Good morning,” I called out to Vanessa who's feeding Adrianna her one year old baby.

I make small talk while popping a toast.

Charlotte, her three year old, comes over to me. “Good morning. Auntie”

I pick her up with my spare hand, “Good morning, sweetie”

She beams. She loves it when I call her sweet names…

“Auntie, we go pwease to the park?”

She asks, sweetly.

I look at Vanessa questioningly and she nods her approval.

“Of course, baby.”

Let auntie go freshen up okay then off we go to the park.

On the drive to the park I'm riding behind with little Adrianna and Charlotte. Suddenly something or someone catches my eye.

“Vanessa stop the car immediately!” I yell, too shook to believe my eyes. The car screeches to a stop when Vanessa steps on the brakes hard.

“What the_” I hear Vanessa saying.

I jump out of the car crossing the road in a sprint and almost get hit by a car.

I stop in front of a female saloon staring at the couple just a few feet ahead of me passionately kissing.

It's Walter I'm absolutely sure of it kissing another woman. I'm rooted to the spot as I watch the two disentangle his arms still around her waist…

Walter.. I say but no sound comes out of my mouth.

My legs move before my brain can catch up like my heart’s trying to outrun the truth.

Walter turns towards me, he looks stricken but he quickly composes himself and pushes the lady in the car who gets in after her and drives off.

Without a second glance.

I take a step back visibly blown. I'm too shaken to cry nor even blink.

My heart is thudding so loud I can’t hear anything else. The sky looks too bright. My hands are shaking. Or is it my knees? My chest is caving in. Someone is screaming_ oh. It’s me.

My breathing comes out fast and sharp.

Oh my God. I can't breathe. Air. I need air.

My vision grows blurry. I hear someone_ a man asking “ma’am are you okay?”

I turn to face her gulping breaths, trying so hard to dislodge the feeling in my chest.

Despite my pain I laugh. I laugh long and hard. “Am. Am. Am I okay?” I yell, even I flinch from how harsh I sound.

“Amen I fucking okay?” I ask, laughing. I run my hands through my hair. I can't see. Why are my eyes blurry!

I run my hands through my face and I realize they're tears. I'm crying! It makes me laugh harder.

The feeling of breathlessness returns again and I struggle to breathe.

Just before my body hits the pavement, I hear Vanessa's panicked voice calling my name.

Vanessa's POV

“Anna?” I crouch beside her, pressing my hand to her face. She’s ice-cold. My mind’s racing, but all I can do is whisper her name over and over like a prayer. *

“Please don’t do this,” I say. ‘Not like this.”