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Chapter 7

“I really hate this you know.” She pulled the satin sheets over her body and rolled to her side to get a better view of him. Her eyes began tracing his every movement as he picked his pants off the carpeted floor.

“From your reaction a few moments ago, I would have thought differently.” He’d successfully pulled his pants up, secured the button and closed the zip. “You should have said something if you weren’t enjoying yourself.”

She propped herself up at his words. “You know that’s not what I meant, Gabriel.” She held the sheet tightly at her chest. Her hands trembling. She wanted to believe that it was due to the air-conditioning.

“How would I know what you meant?” he’d draped on his shirt and his eyes were now scanning the room for his tie. He glanced at his wrist watch, his lunch hour was coming to an end and he had deadlines to meet. “I am not a mind reader, Taylor.”

Taylor was on her feet now. She picked up his tie from the floor and stood in front of him. “I hate having to meet like this.” She out-stretched her hand so that he could take the tie from her.

“Where is this guilt coming from all of a sudden?” he looked at his reflection in the mirror as he worked on re-doing the buttons on his shirt and fixing his tie. She turned to face his reflection as well.

“Not guilt, Gabriel.” She sighed. “Irritation.” His eyes found her eyes in the mirror staring back at him, waiting...calculating. His hands momentarily pausing in their work but he didn’t say anything while he waited for her to elaborate.

“We have been doing this for years.” she emphasised the word ‘years’. Her tone dragging the one syllable word into three. “I can’t be your mistress for ever.” She placed her palm on his shoulder.

“Is that what you consider yourself?” Gabriel questioned, turning away from their reflected images and towards the real woman beside him.

“That’s what people will call me if our affair is discovered before your marriage is over.” She shrugged, tiny droplets forming in her eyes. A year ago, he’d got her this apartment for their meetings and to ensure no one discovered them. It was too risky meeting at her house, or so he said. He also said it was temporary, just until his divorce was finalised. She’d been waiting, dreaming of the day she could walk with him in public. She was tired of hiding. Tired of watching him parade around Mia.

“My marriage?” he echoed. Momentarily zoning out of their conversation, his mind hanging on to the last words he heard in an attempt to revive the memory of their conversation.

“You told me you wanted me, that you loved me, Gabriel.” Her knuckles were turning white from grappling onto the sheet.

“I know what I have said.” He responded, “I meant it.” He searched her eyes. “Do you not trust me anymore?”

She shook her head. It was a futile attempt to clear the emotions away and have her concentrate. “Then what is taking so long?” her voice came out in tiny cracks.

He sighed, the sound causing her heart to constrict. “Darling, I told you. Mia is making things difficult for me to leave the marriage.” He turned away from her and made his way over to the bed, he sat at the edge of the mattress.

“You don’t need her permission to get divorced from her.” Taylor turned around to face him. Her throat throbbing.

He pulled on his socks and set to work on his shoes, “I know, but I prefer to have a consensual agreement.” He was on his feet again, pulling his jacket off a chair in the corner of the room.

Taylor’s eyes continued to follow his movements. “If it’s contentious, she will drag our names through the dirt in court. We don’t want to start our new lives with people judging us and our future family.” He indicated, coming to stand next to her again.

“I am thinking of you here.” He cupped her face with both hands. “I am still working on Mia. Give me more time.” He insisted, his eyes coaxing her to accept.

“I don’t know, Gabriel. I am getting tired. I have nothing to show for our relationship.” She pulled his hands down from her face.

Gabriel straightened, “If you question my sincerity towards you, you can choose to take a break from me or we can end this if you cannot wait, I will understand your decision.” He offered her options. “I hate to think I am forcing you through hell.” He shoved his hands into his pants pockets and lowered his gaze.

“I love you, Gabriel. Do not disappoint me.” She begged, snaking her arms around him. “I gave up everything to be with you.” She nuzzled her head against his chest.

“I have everything under control, trust me.” He returned her embrace.


Mia laughed at the scene in the back seat of her car. Amber and Amiyah were playing with slime. Amiyah had begun spreading the material across her arm, her reactions and giggles were overly dramatic that Mia and Amber couldn’t control their laughter.

“Ahhhh soo cold.” Her tiny voice rang out she pushed back in her seat and laughed.

“She is a riot.” Amber said, taking the opportunity to tickle her Amiyah.

“Thanks for spending the day with us.” Mia said her eyes on the road. She’d never much like driving but when the baby came she knew she had to be more independent just in case. It was a decision she never regretted, especially since she was essentially a single mother.

“Please, you think I would miss out a chance with this cutey?” Amber turned her attention to Amiyah and made funny faces at her. Amiyah rolled around laughing.

“Are you happy Aunty Amber came with us today, Amiyah?” Mia asked.

“Me likes,” she inhaled, thinking of her words. “aunty Ambee.” She laughed.

Mia and Amber laughed at the way Amiyah referred to Amber.

Mia pulled into her driveway, the sight of another car parked on the corner next to her house alerting her. It wasn’t a vehicle she was familiar with.

“Is that you’re boyfriend’s car?” Mia asked Amber, as she parked and switched off the ignition.

Amber gazed at the car and immediately shook her head. “No, plus he’s picking me up tonight.”

“Alright, perhaps one of my neighbours has a visitor.” Mia said more to herself. She exited the car and went around the other side to help Amber and Amiyah out. Amber picked up the bags from the back seat and exited.

“Mia, Amiyah kicked off her shoes so you’d have to lift her up to the house.” Amber notified her as she walked over to the front porch to drop off some bags.

“Come Amiyah, let mammy carry you.” Mia out-stretched her hands for Amiyah for come to her.

“No, I want to walk.” She immediately began crying.

“You can walk if you put on your shoes.” Mia said patiently, Amiyah’s tears continuing.

“Can mommy put the shoes on and you can walk?” Mia picked up Amiyah’s shoes from the ground of the back seat and waved it in front of her.

Amiyah sniffed and nodded, she allowed her mother to put the shoes on her foot. Mia lifted her off from the seat and put her down on the lawn.

Mia held her daughter’s hand while she closed the car doors and locked up.

“Is there anything else to take out?” Amber was at their side again.

“No, we got everything.” She responded.

“Ah, is that Amiyah walking in her big girl shoes?” Amber teased her and she laughed.

“Mia.”

Amber and Mia turned around at the sound of the voice. Amber and Mia turned silent.

“What are you doing here?” Amber was the first to speak. Her voice dripping acid.

“This has nothing to do with you.” Taylor immediately responded.

“What do you want?” Mia broke her silence. She had momentarily become confused at the sight of Taylor. For a moment she wondered if she was at the wrong house.

“I want to talk to you.” She walked closer.

“You can call me like everyone else. My number hasn’t changed.” Mia responded, turning her back on Taylor.

“I am not leaving until you talk to me, Mia.” Her voice chilling Mia. Mia turned her attention back at Taylor and then to her sister and daughter.

Mia knelt on the lawn and looked at Amiyah, “Go inside with Aunty Amber, okay? Mommy will be there in a bit.” Amiyah fussed for a second and calmed down once Amber took her hand. Mia nodded at Amber and she carried Amiyah inside.

“What do you want, Taylor?” Mia questioned as her sister and her daughter disappeared inside.

“We need to have a talk woman to woman.” Taylor crossed her arms and stared at Mia.

“Well, talk.” Mia encouraged, her eyes drowning Taylor in a sea of fire.

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