My Peace (Beautifully Broken 5)

“I’ll be back for your tray a bit later,” she tells me before she leaves again.

I sigh as a I take a bite of juicy melon. No, having Natasha here doesn’t suck.

When she leaves, I realize that I don’t even know if she lives here, or off the premises. This house is really that big.

I sigh, as I think about everything I’ll have to learn.

It’s ok, though.

This is a blessing, I remind myself. A blessing.

So is the baby in my belly.

I lay my hand on my abdomen, and imagine the life that lives within. Will it be a boy who looks like Pax? Or a girl who looks like me? I don’t want to tell Zuzu until I’m further along. Not with my track record.

But Maddy though… I can tell my sister.

And I do… when she brings Zuzu home later in the day.

Eli and Zu are running through the empty corridors, and Maddy sits next to me on the couch.

“Spill it,” she says, examining me. “You want to tell me something.”

I stare at her, dumbfounded. “How do you always know?”

She laughs, pushing her blond hair back with a manicured hand. “I know you, Mi. You know that.”

I take a breath.

“Ok. Well, I’m pregnant.”

Maddy stares at me for a second before she shrieks and launches herself at me, wrapping herself around my neck. Her grip is like a vise, and it’s actually hard to breathe.

“Should I call for security, m’am?” Natasha says wryly as she comes in to get my tray. I grimace.

“Maybe.”

Maddy swats at me. “Bite your tongue. When are you due?”

“I’m eleven weeks,” I answer. “So I’m being cautious. Don’t tell anyone, Mad. I mean it. You know what happened last time.”

She grabs my hand. “You know that miscarriages happen, sweetie. It will be ok this time. I feel it. Pax knows, right?”

I nod. “Of course. And Natasha, and William knew before he passed. That’s it.”

“Do you need anything else, Mrs. Tate?” Natasha waits. I shake my head.

“No, thank you.” She turns, and I speak again. “Wait. Do you live here?”

She twists back around. “M’am?”

I feel silly. “I mean, do you live in this house?”

She smiles. “Yes. I have a room off of the kitchen.”

She disappears, and Maddy turns to me. “Do you really have security?”

I laugh, and lift my tea cup. “No.” I take a drink. “I don’t think so anyway.”