Besides, Veronica didn’t even know for certain if he wanted to marry again. What if Frank was done with marriage and never asked her for her hand? She wasn’t sure if she wanted to spend the rest of her life just as somebody’s girlfriend. Despite how much she loved the girls, Ashley and Kaitlyn, she also still wanted her own children. What if Frank didn’t want any more kids?
Veronica slid her legs off the bed and stood up, swaying a little on her feet. She could still feel the sensitive spot between her thighs throbbing, where Frank had driven into her with much force the previous night. At least, that wasn’t a dream, she thought and smiled.
Then the guilt came flooding in, all over again. Calvin had truly changed his ways. He had taken all her complaints and tried to make a positive change in his life and a positive change in their relationship. And how had she rewarded him? By cheating on him, and avoiding seeing him as much as possible.
Veronica stepped into the bathroom and splashed some hot water on her face and began brushing her teeth. Despite all the thoughts in her head, she still had a day to get on with. She realized that she had overslept, so she wouldn’t have the time to go for a run this morning. She still had a breakfast to prepare nonetheless, and get the girls up and ready for school.
She stared at herself in the mirror for some moments longer than necessary. She still hadn’t come to a final decision about what she was going to do, but she knew, deep in her heart that she was leaning towards Calvin. Towards giving him another chance, towards saying yes. Frank had said that he would respect whatever decision she made…but every time she thought of Frank, about ending it with him, she felt her heart break a little. What would her life look like without him in it? For the past four weeks, her life had revolved entirely around him, his home and his children. She was happy here, she wanted for nothing.
She knew she was falling in love with Frank too, it had transcended sex. It wasn’t just lust any more, it was more than that. Like he said, they connected on an emotional level. The sex the previous night for instance, blew her mind…but saying yes to Calvin was the right thing to do. The right way forward.
Marrying Calvin would give her the stability in life she needed, and also keep her parents happy. It was the right decision for the future of her life. Perhaps in the long run, she would be happier if she spent her life with Calvin…and perhaps Frank could not give her more than what he was already giving her.
Veronica took a quick shower, changed into a pair of tight slim jeans that accentuated all her curves, and a floral blouse; before stepping out of her room to go downstairs and prepare breakfast. The grandfather clock on the landing told her that it was time for Frank to come back from his run. Which meant that it might give them an opportunity to talk in private before the girls woke up.
Chapter 7
Veronica was flipping pancakes when she saw Frank enter the kitchen through the pool doors as usual. She jerked her head up to look at him and noticed how good he looked. The t-shirt he had worn for his run was sticking to his body, she could see the sweat trickling down the sides of his face. His hair looked damp and his eyes were bright and narrowed.
“Morning,” she said cheerily, recognizing how he made her feel just by entering a room. She was still stressed over all the thoughts in her head, and the big decision she needed to make, but she was sure that she would feel better once she spoke to Frank.
He grunted and turned to one of the cupboards to take a glass out. In silence, he filled it with tap water and turned away from her to drink it.
Veronica stared at the back of his head blankly. She couldn’t understand what was going on. He was usually happy and cheerful after a run, and on other days she would have been in his arms by now, embracing in a tight hug.
“Pancakes?” she forced herself to ask, which made him turn sideways a little, only to look at her over his shoulder.
“I’m good, thanks,” he said in a deep voice that startled her. Veronica was now getting the feeling that she had done something wrong. She remembered the way he had made love to her the previous night. He was rougher than usual, like he was trying to prove something…even though she had enjoyed herself, she couldn’t help but wonder if Frank was still jealous of the fact that she had gone on a date with Calvin.
“Frank, is something wrong?” she asked him, stopping the work she was doing.
He finished drinking the glass of water and smacked it on the kitchen island, before turning to her. She saw the rage in his eyes. His face was darkened and she could see that he was clenching his jaw.
“Nothing is wrong, Veronica,” he said, in that same deep voice that scared her a little. She licked her lips and met his eyes nervously.
“Did you spend the night in my room? I was surprised to find you missing in the morning,” she said in a meek voice, hoping that he might care to explain. She knew for certain now that he hadn’t slept in her bed.
“No. I was in my room,” he said flatly, without any intention of continuing the conversation.
“Frank, something is wrong. You’re not yourself. Please tell me what’s wrong,” she cried and walked around the kitchen island towards him. She was surprised to find that Frank took a step away from her. As though he didn’t want to get too close to her incase he got burned!
“Nothing is wrong, Veronica. Everything is exactly the way it should be. I hope you have a nice day. Say hi to the girls for me,” he said and with that he was out of the room in seconds. Veronica remained standing there in silence, watching him leave. She still hadn’t moved, even though she heard his shoes on the stairs, then the opening and slamming of his bedroom door upstairs.
She was completely at a loss now. He seemed fine the previous night, even if he admitted that he was jealous of Calvin, he hadn’t taken out his anger on her. Veronica gulped, still confused and a little hurt now as she went back to stacking the pancakes on plates. Wiping her hand on a kitchen towel, she went up to the girls’ bedrooms.
Ashley and Kaitlyn were never any trouble to wake up. She went through the usual routine with them, of helping them brush their teeth and wash their little faces. She brought them down to the kitchen after that, the whole time trying to keep a cheerful face on, for their sakes.
“Where’s daddy?” Kaitlyn asked after a few minutes of chewing her food. Frank usually came over to say bye to them before leaving for work, even if he didn’t have breakfast with them.
“He was in a rush. He told me to say hi,” Veronica told her, taking a seat across from them at the breakfast bar. Kaitlyn looked crestfallen as she ate, while Ashley hung her head over her food.
“What’s wrong girls? You’ll see him in the afternoon again. I’m sure he misses being here,” Veronica said, realizing that a lump had formed in her throat.
Ashley looked like she was hesitating to say something. She kept exchanging looks with her younger sister. They were too young anyway to successfully keep secrets, and Veronica gave them some time. She knew Ashley was going to spill eventually.
“We’re just sad that maybe daddy is going to go back to before,” she said in a sad voice.
“Go back to before? What do you mean, sweetheart?” Veronica asked, and reached for Ashley’s hand.