Chapter 30: Chapter 30

The lemon and pink combo for Haley's birthday seemed to be the best idea.

Her cute lemon princess gown with the matching wings and crown was just breathtaking.

In addition to the floating pink and lemon balloons and the pink and lemon frosted cake, it was by far one of the sweetest celebrations I had ever seen.

As Josh carried a sleeping and exhausted Hailey inside, Maya and I stayed behind to clean up after the party.

"What's this?" Maya's voice draws me from my dazed dreamy state and I turn to her, trying to balance my armful of gifts.

She is talking to a delivery guy while signing the paper and behind him is a big box, huge even, and completely wrapped in a pink wrapper.

"To the sweetest kid I know. Thank you for being one of the reasons that brought love into my house...and my heart. Love, Kyle." Maya reads out loud.

"Kyle..." I say and she looks up at me.

"Is it okay if I open it?" She asks and I just shrug because I don't trust myself to say yes or speak.

While we planned and organised Haley's birthday, I did everything I could to get him off my mind.

Get the image of him off my head but I cant.

Get the memory of our hug at the supermarket off my mind but its almost impossible.

And ever since then I-

"Oh my goodness...." Maya's breathless exclamation brings me back. The huge box is invincible and we can see the gifts inside.

There was a big golden brown stuffed teddy bear with a big pink heart on his belly and the word, Haley inscribed on it.

The second gift leaning against the teddy was a tricycle. It was lemon and pink and just perfect for Haley.

While Maya was bursting with excitement, I took the card from where she kept it and opened the glittery pink object.

'Thank you for being one of the reasons that brought love into my house and my heart'

I cant think of an excuse why I'm still holding the card, so when Maya walks over to me....I dont hesitate to speak first.

"I miss him...."

"I know." She says calmly as she sits next to me, maintaining eye contact.

"I want to see him so bad."

"I know."

"But after all that has happened.....its so hard to decide." I say, staring at the card.

"I dont know what to do..."

I look up at her and she studies me for a moment.

"You know what? Get up." Maya says and instantly pulls me up.

After successfully pulling me to stand up, she marches inside.

"What's going on?" I ask and she walks out and tosses me my jacket.

"Where are we going?" I say but I slip it on anyway and follow Maya to her car.

"We...." she says as she starts the car,

"Are going out." And she pulls out of the driveway.

I have the urge to ask her but my mind keeps wandering to the card in my hand. To the letters written.

And then when I look up, Maya pulls into a club.

Not just any club... Kyle's club.

I turn to her and I can feel the blood drain from my face.

"No." I'm saying to her but she turns off the car and looks at me.

"Yes."

Kyle's P.O.V

It was one thing to miss Marcy and think that she wasn't in Orlando.

Think that she had left.

But now...now it's all different.

She is still here.

She misses me.

I still have a chance. I just....

I turn around now from where I'm sitting in the living room to watch Kelsey ranting on the phone and rubbing her belly.

I just need to get rid of her....the one difficult task.

And how can I? She is carrying my child. I won't have a child of mine born outside my house.

Outside my watch.

Kelsey hangs up now and walks up to me.

"That was Dr. Robert. He says we can come to the hospital today if we'd like to find out the gender of our baby." She says and bites into an apple.

"What do you think?" She asks with a mouthful and I can't stop staring at her baby bump.

When did it get that big?

"I hope it's a girl, someone that'll get on your soft spot and--"

"I don't want to know the gender." I say simply and she glares at me.

"Why not?"

"Because it's my baby. And that's my decision."

"It's our baby." She hisses. "And I have an equal right to accept to see the baby's gender."

"Adorable." I mutter.

"Hey! You don't talk to me like--"

"And you do not raise your voice at me." I say to her as i get up.

"When I say I don't want to see the gender, that's final. You're under my roof, you're carrying my baby, and you will do As. I. Say."

Kelsey looks like she would kill me...if looks could kill.

"This is about Marcella, isn't it? Ever since you met her at that baby shop you've been defensive about everything!" She accuses and I walk past her and head up the stairs.

"You're delusional, Kelsey."

"I'm delusional? Look who is talking. The almighty Kyle Robinson waiting for the one that got away. Face it Kyle! She left you!" She yells.

"I swear to God, you say one more word about about Marcella and you'd regret it." I say and march up to her face.

"Go on. I dare you." I say and she scoffs as she folds her hands.

"Marcella left because you were stupid enough to leave the file of the baby in the kitchen! We had a deal and you blew it!"

"I blew it?!" She retorts, "Marcella left because she was threatened by me! Face it."

"Threatened by you?" I ask.

I don't believe this.

"Yes. That file in the kitchen was just a push and if she wasn't so nosy, maybe...." she trails off now and I blink at her.

"You left that file on purpose....didn't you?" I say and she opens her mouth to speak but her jaw just hangs like that.

"Get ready to leave." I say and head up the stairs to her room.

"Leave?!" She demands as she follows me.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"That's not up to you. We had a deal. You would stay in my house so far as you didn't tell her about the baby!" I say and open her room door.

"You are NOT going to chase me away Kyle!" She yells and stand in my front to block me.

"Look at you Kelsey. So desperate to get rid of Marcella whom you consider a competition, you'd just about do anything."

"I am not desperate!"

"If that's what helps you sleep at night." I say and walk past her to her wardrobe.

"Don't touch my things! I worked too hard to get here-"

"You're leaving! Case closed! You'd have been out of here months ago if it hadn't been for the fact that you're carrying my baby!"

"Your baby?! I moved in here before I even got pregnant!" She yells and gasps.

I stop what I'm doing to turn to her.

"What did you just say?"

Kelsey is pale as a ghost now. She is staring around like she wants to disappear but I read her mind first and shut the door before she gets to it.

"Let me out." She says quietly, looking down but I place the lock.

"Kyle let me out!" She demands but I grab hold of her arms and sit her on the bed.

"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to tell me everything from that night and how you ended up in my bed--"

"Or what?!"

"Or I arrest you and that doctor that help you make that fake pregnancy test you showed me."

She looks up at me with shock.

"Please don't. That's my sister. I forced her to help, she had nothing to do--"

"Then start talking."

Kelsey covers her face with her hands and I wait patiently, trying not to smile.

It's not my baby.

It's not my baby.

"The day Marcella left you, I was there. I didn't plan to, honestly. I just happened to be there because it was usually the day you would call me to....."

She looks up at me.

"...you know." She says.

"Have sex." I conclude and she nods.

"Yes. The first Wednesdays of every month. But you hadn't called the last month and since I didn't get your call that day, I just decided to show up. But it started raining. So I called you and you didn't pick for hours. And when you finally picked, the first thing you said was...

"Marcella." We both say together as that piece of memory dawns on me. I remember picking a call by 1, thinking it was her.

"Yes." Kelsey says. "And I told you no, that it's me...Kelsey. and you just hung up."

I watch her expression go from remorse to anger.

"You hung up on me and it was because of Marcella? I couldn't believe it. The way you said her name, I knew you had feelings for her and it killed me. How could you have feelings for her? We've been having sex for a year and she works for you for some months and suddenly she was all you could think about. So much that you thought I was her."

Kelsey glares up at me now and I can see the same anger I saw in Molly's eyes that night I called her Marcella.

The envy.

The jealousy.

"I was furious and jealous and I got the first cab to your house. But the gate was shut, so when I pressed the buzzer and you asked who it was, I lied that I was Marcella because I could tell you were drunk and you won't be able to recognise my voice."

Kelsey is crying now, but I can tell they're furious tears because she looks like she can whack something at me.

"So you let me in, and the minute you saw me, you asked me to leave. I tried to seduce you, I took my clothes off, I did everything but you wouldn't even kiss me! You were weak and drunk but you still pushed me off and told me that you were going to bed, and you wanted me out before you woke up. And I wasn't going to leave! No way. That was my night and you were refusing me because of Marcella! So I waited till you were asleep and I just took off my clothes and climbed into bed with you." She says and shrugs.

"And you let me believe I had sex with you." I say to her and she just shrugs.

"It was an opportunity and I wasn't going to pass. And after you kicked me out that morning I went straight to my sister and made her make the fake pregnancy test. And she gave me the sonogram of some other pregnant lady....so I just waited until it matched the time of the sonogram before I called you. I had to make sure you believed it was yours and that you bought it. So after I left you at the cafe, I went to a sperm bank and....you know the rest."

I sigh now as I stand straight.

"You know, I have got to give you praise for that mastermind plan. And here I was thinking I was the devil. So now we have your confession, you're going to pack your bags, get out of my house and--"

"No, Kyle, please! Don't send me away, please." She begs as she stands and I can see she is scared of the humiliation.

"Just wait till the baby is born, then I'll leave and you just tell people that---" she is begging but I cut her off.

"I'm not telling people anything Kelsey. That child is not mine. I didn't have sex with you. You made me lose Marcella because of your jealousy and lies. Pack your bags, and I'll call an uber to take you home. That's final." I say and leave the room.

The minute I get downstairs, I hesitate between calling an Uber and calling Marcella.

It feels like the opportunity is smiling at me, and all this while she thought I deceived her.

Resisting the urge, I call an Uber first. The quicker Kelsey was out of here, the better.

And after that, its a plan to see Marcella.

***

A nostalgic feeling overcomes me when I sight Maya's car park in the parking lot, then she and Marcella step out.

I can't help thinking that I owe Maya a debt of gratitude. Not just accepting to set up a meeting between Maya and I but also for giving me the grace of a second chance.

As much I suggested a restaurant, Maya emphasized on the club, being the first time I met Marcella.

This time I was ready to see her.

This time I know the truth.

This time....this time she won't leave me.

"Any requests sir?" Jon asks, gesturing to the multiple brands of wine that was just brought in.

"No, I'm good. Is she here?"

He looks out the dark window and turns to me.

"Coming up the stairs now." He says and I nod.

"Alright. When she gets here I want complete privacy. Don't let anyone in." I say and he nods.

"Sure thing boss."

Almost immediately, there's a knock and Jon gives me a half smile and a nod.

"Goodluck." He says and opens the door.

There she is.

Pink card in hand and eyes filled with emotions. The moment we share staring at each other gives Jon the opportunity to slip out and shut the door.

"Marcy..."

"Kyle." She says and I can see her struggling to hide the shake in her voice.

"Marcella, I have so much to tell you--" I say as I approach her but she moves back.

"No, Kyle. I...I have to say this first." She says twirling the birthday card in her hand.

"I was battling with so much emotions. I hated the fact that you could do that to me and lie about it--"

"Marcy--"

"Just let me finish." She says, teary eyed.

As painful as it was to watch her crying and hurting for something that was just a big jealous lie, I let her continue.

"But what I hated the most was how much I still loved you despite everything. I tried to ignore it, I tried to keep my mind occupied. I thought if I continued like that, I would eventually forget what happened. But then I met you at the Mall, and I knew I couldn't deny it. I was hurt, but I love you so much and I missed you." She is full on crying now.

"Marcella-"

"I didn't know what to do. And then I saw this card..." Her voice breaks now and I realise I can't do this.

I cover the space between us and hold her close, regretting why I let her go first.

"I missed you Kyle. I missed you so much and I don't want to leave you anymore. I know you made a mistake and you are having a child but I can't help the need to be with you..." She is saying and crying.

"Marcy, baby look at me." I say to her as I wipe her face.

She looks at me, sniffing.

"Its not real. It was all a crazy plan that Kelsey did. The baby, the whole issue was a lie." I say as slowly and as reassuring as I can.

Marcella stops sniffing and blinks at me.

"Its not? So Kelsey isn't pregnant?" She asks with a cute furrow between her brows.

"She is, but its not mine. I never had sex with her that night."

"But...the pregnancy test, the results... The sonogram."

"She set it all up. She wanted to get rid of you. That envelope you read, it was all part of her plan." I say and Marcy still has a slight frown on her face, so I sit her down and explain it in details.

And to make sure there were no more lies, I include the story behind the night Holly left. The first time we got passionate.

By the time I'm done, Marcy looks at me.

"Oh my God, you must hate me for believing you could do that." She says, covering her face.

"What? No. Of course not. For God's sake even I believed it. But now,..."

I tilt her chin to look up at me.

"Now I know I deserved that. It was a wake up call to how much of a treasure you are to me. The idea of even losing you scares the shit out of me Marcy. I'll bend over backwards for you, and I would always treasure your worth in my life. I mean....even with all that, you were ready to forgive me and still come back to me. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I will always put you on top of my world...where you belong."

Marcy let's out a short laughter.

"Kyle, you jerk. You're making me cry again. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Anne." I say and she laughs.

Then I kiss her like its way overdue. The sincerity of her feelings reflecting in her response.

And I know that she completes me.