be difficult,” she tutted disapprovingly.
“I apologise. But what exactly do you want to talk about?”
“Us, this dark cloud, and…Emmett,” she informed me hesitantly, and with good reason. Just hearing my depraved uncles’ name made my skin crawl and the rage boil away inside. If I’d known ahead we were venturing down such a difficult road I would have swiped the bottle of bourbon off the table, forgetting the glass intentionally.
I tugged at my collar and loosened my tie. “What about – Emmett?” Christ, even speaking his name felt like acid on my tongue.
“We’ve not discussed the aftermath, not civilly anyway and that’s mostly down to your anger management issues,” she reminded me reproachfully.
“Yeah,” I scoffed, dropping my elbows to my knees and leaning into the palms of my hands. My head hung in shame as I judiciously recalled my latest outburst, “not my proudest moment admittedly. But in saying that, there were several reasons behind my abysmal behaviour, not that I’m not trying to justify my actions either,” I clarified as Teddy opened her mouth to argue the point with me. “Just hear me out, okay?” Once she nodded, I began my explanation, “Firstly, learning my uncle was the culprit was quite the shock. Then the realisation that he, along with your bloody mother, were behind us remaining apart all these years. Compounded by everything else they’ve put you thorough recently, I simply couldn’t take anymore and just lost it.” As I uneasily purged my feelings, Teddy remained quiet, my heart quaking at the flow of tears streaming down her pale, hollowed cheeks. “Ignorance, selfishness, whatever you want to call it, I wasn’t thinking. I simply reacted every time, never giving a thought to your feelings.” Her tightened sob was enough to break me. I reached out and slipped our hands together, my voice trembling as I expressed my remorse, “If it’s any consolation, I sincerely regret every aspect of how I’ve acted and responded; from that initial day at the island up until now.”
Her voice a croaky whisper, she shared her own sorrow with me, “Carys blames me for the discord in the family, and still refuses to speak to me whenever I try to make amends. Bryson, mercifully still picks up when I call.”
Peeved by my oldest sister’s indifference, my lips thinned. “Don’t worry about Carys; she’ll come around eventually.”
She snorted, wiping away her tears with the pads of her fingertips. “I’m glad you’re the optimist. Currently, I feel anything but.”
“Carys was always close to Em…he and his family. He doted on her, being the first-born and all. I suspect it’s just the shock causing her odious behaviour. Give her time, okay?”
She stiffly nodded before casting her saddened gaze downwards.
“What else is bothering you?” I quietly asked, my head cocking as her trembling lips clammed up. As per usual, she compelled me to ask again, “Teddy, what else?”
“There’s another reason I look awful.”
I eyed her quizzically; she cocked an eyebrow. The penny eventually dropped. “Ah, your weight loss.”
“Yeah that. I saw the frown on your face when you first came in, not to mention over dinner. I’ve also been sick, and not just from stress either….” Teddy paused before tentatively speaking, “…I’m pregnant.”
My jaw fell open. What the? Pregnant? I licked my drying lips before swallowing the shock. “How? I mean, I know how, but how? I thought we were careful?”
“Not careful enough, apparently,” she stated flatly. “The doctor explained it only took one time without the use of a condom. I have a feeling it was the night I instigated our lovemaking, remember?”
How could I forget? That lovemaking was beautiful in every sense of the word. That aside, I wanted to kick myself for my carelessness, more so after not heeding to Doctor Montgomery’s advice, sternly given to me only weeks before.
“Aren’t you happy about the news?”
“Y...Yes, yes, I’m thrilled, actually.” As I pathetically stumbled over my words, she snatched her hand away.
“You could have fooled me!”
I inhaled sharply and ran my clenching hand through my already dishevelled hair. Why was it, no matter which way I responded, it was seemingly the wrong way?
“I’m just worried about the impeccable timing – you know, with all that’s going on currently.” I held Teddy’s misty-eyed gaze and swallowed. The tension between us felt palpable, and not in a sexual nature for a change.
“You’re right, the timing isn’t great,” she replied quietly, sagging against the backrest, and rubbing her flexing fingers across her forehead. “I’m only a few weeks along, so I guess having an abortion isn’t entirely out of the question.”
Teddy’s abhorrent answer to the ill-timed nature of the pregnancy sent me flying out of my chair. “No! No abortion! We shall work through this. I know we can….unless that’s what you want?” I knelt in front of her, searching her troubled face with pleading eyes. “Please, tell me that isn’t so?”
A feeble smile formed as she sifted her fingers through my hair. “No, the thought never crossed my mind. I guess we just got our wires crossed.”
I sagged as the relief washed over me. “You have no idea how pleased I am to hear you say those words.” I brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and clasped her sweet face as I locked our lips together in a gentle embrace. Our foreheads touching as we parted, Teddy’s voice trembled, reciting her fears.
“What if I can’t be a parent, Ari? What if I’m far too damaged? I’d hate myself if I inflicted –”
I immediately tilted her chin, my gaze intent as I quietly assured her, “Hey, hey, stop, right there; you shall be an incredible mother to our child, and like always, I shall be right alongside you telling them so. So no more of this self-doubt, okay?” Her head reluctantly bobbed, causing my brow to furrow at the untold worry, but as she was already fragile enough, I remained just as silent. “Everything shall be fine, you’ll see.” As I urged her towards my embrace, my voice shuddered regardless of the optimism I attempted to convey, “Everything shall be fine.”
After further and in-depth discussion regarding the rest of our future, we crawled into bed and made sweet, sweet love. An all too consuming feeling that radiated through every responsive touch and languorous kiss, leaving me yearning for more. Even now, as we snuggled tightly, and my fingertips lightly caressed along her sticklike torso, I had another erection. But as part of my conscious effort not to overdo the sex, I raised a subject guaranteed to leave me limp.
“I’m buying earmuffs, and not just for our ears, your belly too – I refuse for our child to ever be subjected to or deafened by mother’s high pitch squeals.”
Teddy snorted derisively. “Your poor mum, she thinks none of her children appreciates her enthusiasm.”
My lips twitched in suppressed amusement. “We do; sort of.” I scoffed. “I just wish mother wouldn’t hurt our ears with all that blasted excitement.” I peered down at Teddy just as her beaming smile faded and she rolled away from me, flopping an arm across her creasing forehead. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to
