Three Months Pregnant, I Left With His Twins Chapter 10

Three Months Pregnant, I Left With His Twins Chapter 10

“Elodie is being sued by the Westburys. Did you know?”

Maeve’s call came out of nowhere.

“Sued for what?”

“Misappropriation of property.”

“When she moved out, she took some valuable items from the flat without permission. Margaret is using that as an excuse to sue her.”

“It’s really just a way to settle scores.”

“Margaret found out about everything Elodie had done behind her back and realized she had been used too. She turned on her completely.”

“What about Nate?”

Maeve paused.

“He handed off some of his projects. He’s barely involved in daily operations anymore.”

“Colin says he’s not doing great.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s canceling all his regular weekly dinners.”

“He’s still the last one to leave the office, but he’s not actually getting anything done.”

I stayed quiet.

“Margaret’s been a lot more subdued.”

“I heard she spent three days in her meditation room eating only simple meals.”

“Not sure if she’s genuinely sorry or if the Sedona spiritual advisor gave her new instructions.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“So you know what’s happening.”

“I don’t need to know.”

“Okay, fine.”

She changed her tone.

“Then let me tell you something serious. I looked into Julian’s background.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

“I did it anyway.”

“His family background checks out, his résumé is solid, and there are no messy exes. His colleagues all say he’s reliable but quiet.”

“Maeve. What are you doing?”

“Caring about you.”

I sighed.

“I’m not looking to be with anyone.”

“I’m not saying you should be with him. I’m just saying if one day you want to, this guy is at least safe.”

I didn’t respond.

She was quiet for a few seconds, then said:

“You know what makes me happiest?”

“What?”

“You sound like yourself again.”

“When you were with Nate, everything you said was fine, but I always felt like you were holding part of yourself back.”

“It wasn’t one specific thing that made you unhappy. That whole relationship was draining you.”

“And now?”

“Now when you say you don’t need to know, I believe you.”

I leaned against the window.

Outside, Fiona was hanging laundry on her balcony.

She saw me and smiled.

I smiled back.

After I hung up, I went to check on the babies.

Iris was sleeping with her fingers in her mouth.

Eden was awake, staring at the little wind chime above her.

I stood by the bouncers and watched them for a long time.

Some things only become clear when you’re further down the road.

Nate’s problem might not have been that he didn’t love me.

He gave his kindness out evenly.

He remembered what I liked to eat.

He also remembered Elodie needed company when she couldn’t sleep.

In his mind, those two things weighed about the same.

But in mine, they didn’t.

I didn’t want evenly distributed kindness.

I wanted someone whose first instinct, in every choice, was me.

Not choosing me after thinking it over.

Not choosing me after weighing everything.

Instinct.

Nate’s instinct was hesitation.

Hesitation was his answer.

Once I saw it clearly, it didn’t hurt anymore.

That evening Julian brought pasta.

When he knocked, Eden was fussing.

I called out:

“Door’s unlocked.”

He pushed the door open, saw baby clothes all over the floor and me rushing around, and paused.

“Need help?”

“Do you know how to change diapers?”

“No.”

“Then just stand there and watch.”

He set the takeout bag on the table and actually stood there watching for a while.

Then he crouched down and started folding the scattered clothes neatly into the basket.

He didn’t say much.

When he finished, he stood up.

“Pasta’s on the table. Eat it while it’s hot. I’m heading out.”

“Wait.”

He turned back.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

“I’m going to the supermarket tomorrow morning. Send me a shopping list if you need anything.”

After the door closed, I sat on the couch holding Eden.

Nate’s last message was still in my phone.

“How are the babies?”

I replied with two words.

“They’re good.”

Short.

But true.

That night after eating the pasta and getting both babies to sleep, I sat by the window alone.

Vancouver nights were quiet.

Lights glowed in the distance. Fiona’s window was already dark.

I remembered telling Nate once that I wanted to see the Northern Lights.

He said okay.

He planned it three times and canceled every time for work.

Within the first month after Elodie came back, he took her to Iceland.

It used to hurt.

Now I just thought, when the girls are a little older, I’ll take them myself.

I don’t have to wait for anyone.

My phone lit up.

Julian sent a shopping list template.

I typed a few things and sent it.

“Milk, eggs, size M diapers.”

He replied:

“Got it.”

I turned off the light and lay down.

Iris turned over.

Eden let out a soft little hum and fell back asleep.

This wasn’t running away.

It wasn’t closure.

I had simply walked far enough, into a new place.

Looking back from here, the road I came from was no longer clear.

“Good night.”