The door burst open with such a blast that I screamed.
“Fuck, Amelia, fuck. What was that bang?” Henry looked and saw the can on its side.
“Sorry, if I woke you. I kicked it over, being half asleep.”
“I thought you’d collapsed.” He spat out. “I don’t know why you’re smiling. There’s nothing amusing about any of this.”
My temper erupted.
“You’re dead right there isn’t, Henry. I totally understand your fears but you’re out of control. I’m not going to drop dead like Vee. I have a clean bill of health, you had me thoroughly checked out a week ago. Please stop fussing, you are driving me insane.”
“Well, sorry I care.”
“You’re suffocating me, Henry. I feel like utter crap most days and today I’ve woken feeling okay. I wanted to go enjoy some fresh air and breakfast, and instead I’m dealing with an angry, paranoid man. Has it crossed your mind that this overprotective macho alpha shit isn’t good for me, or the baby? Back the hell off, Henry. I’m not Vee.”
“Do you get what this is like for me?” Henry shouted, his own temper having combusted. “We were happy. Everything was perfect. I was going to become a dad and then I had nothing.”
“Oh my God, Henry. Everything was not perfect. You and Vee weren’t some kind of fucking angelic pairing. You were two people in a normal marriage. You’ve made her a saint since she died, Henry. It’s a lot to try to live up to. She was just a regular woman.”
“We were happy that we were having our baby. We’d got our dream house. Life was so fucking cruel.”
“Are you sure about that Henry? Or had you got your dream house? Because the Vee I’ve learned about wanted to work and wasn’t all that enamored about having children.”
“Take that back.”
“No. The truth hurts doesn’t it, Henry? You wanted her home didn’t you, and she didn’t want that. She wanted to work. So you bought her a house in the Hampton’s near family to try to make sure she was far enough away that she couldn’t work. Not until you felt she should go back.”
“Where’s this coming from, Amelia? Did she tell you this?”
“No. My mom told me about her fucking diary.” I told him. “She wrote that she didn’t want the baby. That it wasn’t the right time. She’d not told any of us she was pregnant, did you know that?”
Tears fell down Henry’s cheek. “You’re a liar. And so unbelievably cruel, and now you’re carrying my child. What a goddamn fucked up mess.”
He turned and walked out of the bathroom. I heard him get dressed and then he left the apartment and I sat on the bathroom floor and wept.
He was right, what a goddamn fucked up mess.
Chapter 12
Henry
I got in my car and drove. My mind knew where I was going. I had Ralph’s address in the Hampton’s and I knew where it was. I immersed myself in driving. I blocked out everything that had happened, something I had had far too much practice in, and I didn’t stop until I pulled up into his driveway, hoping to God he was home.
Ralph answered the door and stood there for a moment staring as if he couldn’t believe who was on his doorstep.
He walked out of the doorway, and put his arms around me, slapping me on the back.
“Well, I never. Henry. I guess you got my letter then?”
I nodded.
“Well, come in, come in.” He said, gesturing inside. “Hey, Belle, honey. We have a visitor. Could you fix some fresh coffee?”
I walked inside and found a heavily pregnant woman standing in the hallway. She was small, with medium length dark-brown hair and a welcoming smile on her face. “Hey, I’m Belle.” She said, moving forward to shake my hand. “Henry.” I told her.
Her expression changed to one of recognition and surprise. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you, Henry. Now you go through to the living room with Ralph and I’ll make us some refreshments.”
“I don’t want to put you to any trouble.” I said, nodding towards her condition.