I arrived home, walking into the condo to see Vivie and Amelia talking.
Immediately, Amelia rose and rushed over to me. "What is going on?"
I jerked my gaze to Vivie, annoyed that she’d told my business to Amelia. If she noticed my irritation, she didn't acknowledge it. Instead, she took the groceries from me and brought them into the kitchen.
Amelia took my hand and dragged me back to the couch, forcing me to sit as she sat next to me. "Is it true you’re pregnant? And you left James? I don't get it. What's going on?"
"You haven't talked to James?" To be honest, I resented her coming to me instead of him. Then again, James wasn't an open book. He was more like a diary with a lock and key, and everybody had to keep out and away from his secrets.
"He hasn't returned my call." She reached out and took my hand. "I love James, but I know how he can be. I love you too, Reyna, and I want to be here for you."
I know her well enough to know she was sincere.
And because she was, emotion welled and tears fell. "It's all a mess. He wasn't happy to find out I was pregnant, and then my ex showed up and insisted the baby had to be his. James decided that had to be true. He thinks because you didn't show in your pregnancy until you were farther along, I couldn't possibly be only three months."
"Tell her why you're showing." Vivie returned from the kitchen and plopped down in a chair.
I was surprised she hadn't told Amelia about the twins, considering she told her that I'd left James.
"I'm having twins."
Amelia's smile was quick and then faltered. "I'm sorry. I know this probably isn't a happy occasion for you. But I think that's lovely. And I'm sorry that my brother is being such a jerk.” Her smile slipped through again. “Andrew is going to have two new cousins."
I scanned the room. "Where is Andrew?"
"He and Max are off on some sort of daddy-son adventure." She squeezed my hand again. "James will be a good father."
I shook my head. "He doesn't want them. He won't even acknowledge them."
"Tell her about the papers."
I shot Vivie a glare.
Amelia looked from Vivie back to me. "What papers? Divorce?"
I nodded but hesitated whether I should tell her the other. She wouldn't like it. "I'm going to serve him papers so he can absolve himself of the responsibility of being a father."
Amelia jerked back, looking at me with shock. "What?" She released my hand, and her concern morphed into anger. "You're going to take his children away from him?"
"I can't take something away from him that he won't even acknowledge is his. I told him I was going to do it and he didn't argue. He doesn't believe the babies are his." I swallowed because it occurred to me then that by cutting ties with James, the babies would have no link to Amelia. Not unless I wanted to risk the kids finding out their father didn’t want them.
"Well, tell him they are until he believes you. Have a paternity test. Do something. Don't take this opportunity away from James." She reached out with both her hands, taking mine. "Please don't take this from him. I haven't said anything because I hoped that as the year went on, everything would turn out for the best. You’re good for him, Reyna. I know he's a difficult man and stuck in his ways, but I have seen him change over the last few months. You can help him see that there's more to him than business. Even though our parents didn't love us and he never met a woman who loved him more than his money, you're different. Because you do love him, don't you?"
I wanted to lie. "Yes. But he doesn't love me."
"Oh, but he does. I know he does. Maybe he doesn't know it, but I see it."
I withdrew from her, standing. "I'm sorry, I can't do this. I'm exhausted."
"Of course. You go rest."
I headed to the extra bedroom, relieved that they were allowing me to go lie down. I wasn't lying, I was exhausted. But it wasn't just fatigue. I was emotionally fatigued as well.
As I lay down on the bed, I replayed Amelia's words and could feel hope trying to bloom. But I stamped it out because there was no hope. The way James had looked at me last night, it was clear that he despised me. I knew that when he received the divorce and the relinquishment papers, he'd be relieved to be rid of me and the babies. My heart broke again.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
James