Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Making a decision

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Elena's POV

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I have always imagined what it would be like when Anthony returned with Emma, the thought had kept me going for all these years.

I planned to ask him for forgiveness and beg him to take me back. But as days went by, the possibility of his return began to diminish. My heart started turning cold towards him, sometimes I blamed Anthony for our failed marriage, and other times I blamed myself.

Anthony's return opened up old wounds but as we started spending time together with the kids I began to heal again, the fondness I had for Anthony resurrected back.

Recently, Anthony asked that we come back together and I have till Monday to give him feedback and today was Saturday.

Emma had requested that Anthony take her back home with him when she was sick. I was so hurt, daughters are supposed to be close to their mother especially when they are ill. But I had not been a part of her life, I was still a stranger to her, and it would take time for her to become used to me.

My heart is torn between making my children happy and massaging my bruised ego.

"What are you thinking about Elena, you have been out here for a while now." My mother joined me on the patio. She looked happy this morning. She was glowing.

"About my marriage." I didn't plan on saying that, since I knew how she hated the man I married. But the words just fell out of my mouth.

"What about your marriage? I thought you had filed for divorce."

"I planned to, but Anthony returned suddenly."

"His return doesn't mean anything." I saw a dark look cover my mother's face.

"It does mother."

"It doesn't, and the earlier you begin to understand this the better for you."

"He asked me to move in with him," I replied, hoping for her support, somehow knowing it wouldn't come.

"Meaning?"

I heaved slowly, trying to commute the right words. "He wants us to reunite as husband and wife."

"Over my dead body." Mother squealed.

I was taken aback by her outburst "what would you have me do mother, I have to think of my daughters too."

"That's not a valid excuse to go back to him. He deserted you for ten years."

I looked away from my mother hurt from the outburst. But the more I thought of it the more I saw my contribution to what happened between me and Anthony.

"It wasn't entirely his fault mother, he asked me to come along, he begged me to, but I refused. I should have gone with my husband, I was supposed to be his wife and build our family together."

Sneering at me "You were right in staying behind. If he loved you he should have waited and convinced you more."

Remembering the hurtful words my mum said to Anthony before he finally left me, I shuddered to think of how we had hurt his ego "you said mean things to him, mum, you bruised his ego."

"Blame everyone but yourself."

"I blame myself more," I replied softly, shame washing all over me. Just then my father came to join us.

"What are my two favorite people in the world talking about." He looked from me to mum. I didn't reply to him nor did my mum.

"Elena, what is the problem. Did Anthony do anything to you?" He sounded angry.

"No father."

"Then why the gloomy faces."

He asked that we get back together," I replied

"That's good news dear, when are you moving in with him." He drank deep into his coffee

"I'm still thinking about it," I replied.

"Thinking about what exactly, reconciling with your husband! giving your children a happy home; Being happy.? What is there to think of."

"Let her be Desmond, that boy left her for ten good years and he still wants her to go back to him."

I've never seen my father get so angry before, he flared up at mum. "And who's fault was it Vera? you bashed the young man's ego every single day. You didn't allow Elena to make decisions for her marriage. Now here we are."

"You can say whatever you like, but over my dead body would Elena go back to that boy."

"That boy is her husband. Well unfortunately for you, you no longer have a say in the matter."

"Listen to me, Elena." Father held my hands as he spoke. "I watched you this ten years become a shadow of yourself, the only thing that kept you going was Ava, but this few weeks since Anthony and Emma returned, you have changed, you look happy, you have started thinking about the future again, I won't force you to go back to him. But listen carefully to this."

Mother hissed and tried to interject, but father shunned her. "Your mother here is living with her husband, me. Why is she not staying with her parents? But you are taking her advice and staying with us. I am not saying you can't stay here but you can come for visits, spend the weekends but at the end of the day your place is with the man you took vows with and still love. You must work on your marriage, no marriage is without problems but the effort from both spouses makes a huge difference."

When father rose from his chair, his white robe wrinkled at the sides from sitting for too long, as he walked away he turned back to face me, obviously, he still had more to say, "you have had ten years to think of what you want out of your life, you are old enough to make your own decision and I hope you don't make a mistake this time because you might live to regret it your entire life."

Fathers words and the cold breeze coming in through the garden sent chills and goosebumps all over me. Mother didn't say a word but left me and walked away, to confront my father.