Fulfillment Golland, M. (best classic literature TXT) 📖

“I’m not theone who has changed, Lexi.”

“Yeah I guessyou’re right. Maybe I just didn’t know the realyou in the first place.”

“Don’t labelus and our marriage as not ‘real’. You’re mad, I get that, but youand I were ‘real’. You can be angry with me all you want—I deserveit—but you can’t take it out on Claire like you did. You’ve movedon—clearly. I’m just trying to do the same.”

I moved to thekettle and switched it on. “Well, I’ve made an appointment to seeBerny. I suggest you find a lawyer as well. We both can’t trulymove on until we’ve legally gone our separate ways.”

“If that’swhat you want, Alexis, fine. I’m done.”

“Good. I wasdone a long time ago. I just didn’t know it.”

Rick and Iwere staring each other down when Bryce walked in with Nate andCharli behind him.

“Hi, Dad,”Charlie said with a small smile while looking from Rick’s face tomine. We both snapped out of our showdown and switchedpersonalities.

“My Princess,I’ve missed you.” He lifted her up. “Ready to go to Grandma andGrandpa’s?”

“Yes,” shesaid excitedly.

I blew Charlia kiss and cuddled Nate. “Have fun. I’ll see you after schooltomorrow.”

“Wednesday,after school on Wednesday if that is okay. I would really like tohave them for the extra day this week considering I missed out overthe weekend.”

I breathed indeep and closed my eyes momentarily. Bryce came around behind meand put his hands on my shoulders. I exhaled.

“That seemsfair,” Bryce added. He gave my shoulders a gentle squeeze. “We’llboth pick you up after school on Wednesday. How does that sound?”he asked Nate and Charli.

“In the limo?”Nate suggested.

“No,” I saidat the same time as Rick. Hang on a minute, where does he getoff saying ‘no’ to the limo. I should say yes now! No,Alexis you’re just being bitter. “We’ll see you Wednesday.” Ikissed Nate’s head.

As they walkedout into the foyer, I waved, then headed upstairs to my shower—myemotion-venting, steamed-filled, head-clearing shower.

CHAPTER NINE

Riding a rollercoaster ofemotional highs and lows had been a regular occurrence for me overthe past month—mainly riding the lows. Rick and I had continued totake nasty stabs at each other which afterwards left me feelingpained and angry, but more so incredibly hurt. The beautifulrelationship we once shared was gone, seemingly never to return andit saddened me. I tried desperately to get back that calm, thatblah feeling I had felt in the beginning when I had found out thetruth about him and Claire, but for some reason I was just so angrynow. Surely it was my hormones, it had to be.

I hadn’tproperly spoken to him since our 14th wedding anniversary, whichhad been one week ago when he sent me a text during that day:

What do I say to youon a day like today? - Rick

My responsehad been:

Nothing, what can yousay? - Alexis

I’d never meant it tocome across as nasty or harsh, instead, my intent had been morelike ‘it is what it is, so maybe not say anything at all’.

Rick obviouslytook it the wrong way and replied with:

I can’t fucking winwith you. I don’t know why I bother. - Rick

It had made mefeel completely awful the entire day, having been pissed off to thepoint where I had taken it out on Bryce which was completelyuncalled for. After I had explained the significance of theday—which was no excuse for taking it out on him—we had made upwith fiery sex on the stairs. Needless to say, his sexual abilityto make my mind stop thinking about Rick and our anniversary wasincredibly successful.

Gareth hadalso triggered my emotional rollercoaster ride, because during thepast week he had been unbelievably kind, and I guessed somewhatnormal. Normal, to the point that sometimes when he was in mypresence, I would forget that he suffered from DID in the firstplace. I was starting to think that maybe his medication and visitsto Jessica were really helping him, which deep down I really wantedbecause, regardless of Gareth’s alters, Bryce really did love hiscousin and felt that he owed him infinitely.

With all theups and downs with Rick, Gareth, and even Bryce to an extent—yes,he had still been overbearingly protective and aggravating attimes—the main reasons for my feeling uptight, frustrated and angrywere mainly due to the fact I was fourteen weeks pregnant and stillkeeping it a secret. It was increasingly stressful and difficult todo, especially around the kids. Thankfully, the time for our babysecret to be revealed had come. Tomorrow was my birthday, and Brycehad organised a party for me at the apartment, inviting our closefriends and family. He had also organised hotel rooms for all ofthem to stay in which was not only convenient but wonderfullythoughtful. We planned to announce our happy news at the party, butnot until we had let Nate and Charli know that they were going tohave another brother or sister first.

I don’t knowwhy I was so terribly nervous about telling them, especially afterthe positive reaction they gave us when Bryce had tentatively askedthem during that stupid game of Truth or Dare. I guess it was justthe thought that deep down inside there was a possibility that thenews could disappoint them in some way. Regardless, the time hadcome, and we had come up with the best idea of how to reveal theinformation.

“Nate andCharli, come here. We need your help with something,” I called fromwhere I was standing at the bottom of the staircase. Both of themcame out of their rooms simultaneously. I motioned them down thestairs. “Remember how we came up with that idea a couple of monthsago of a treasure hunt for children staying at City Promenade?Well, we want to test it out on the two of you before we make itinto a permanent thing. So we thought we’d have a little practicein the apartment. Does that sound good?”

“Cool! I lovetreasure hunts. What’s the treasure? Is it gold?” Charli asked,excitedly.

“Is it money?”Nate queried, hope in his eyes.

“No, you sillyduffas, it’s just a practice. Here, this is your first clue.” Ihanded them a card which Nate began to read.

“Say it outloud Nate, I can’t read,” Charli