“Why would you come here and tell me this?” His fists are clenched over his chest, looking at the poor woman like she’s a piece of gum stuck to his boot.
“Because the baby is yours Donatello.”
I go off into another round of laughter, bent at the waist so I can’t even see the look on his face. I’m clearly having some kind of manic episode unable to get myself under control.
“You’re lying.”
It’s all he says and my chuckles just continue, as I use my palms to wipe the tears off my face. I’m able to stop long enough to get her attention with a hand on her arm, “How far along are you?”
She’s eyeing me, like I’m crazy, which honestly I might be. “Seven months.”
I fall apart at her answer, laughing so hard I can barely breathe. Seven months ago I was in the middle of depression; failing classes, losing weight, and on the verge of suicide. While this man who carries half of my heart, was fucking his secretary and apparently got her pregnant.
“Vita Mia, stop fucking laughing.”
I straighten at his words, my laughter turning into angry bitter tears. “Vita Mia!” I scream it at him, spitting them at him like they’re vile. “I am not your life. That… ” I point at Olivia’s belly, which now that she’s not fussing around it, I can see the bump hiding behind her sweater. “Is your life. Quite fucking literally.”
Olivia’s arms wrap around herself as I stare at Donatello. He shakes his head, his eyes moving from her belly, to my face and back. “She’s lying. And even if she’s not, I don’t want it.”
Her face drops at his words and even though I hate her with every fiber of my being, it tugs at my heart. She didn’t deserve that. “I think you should go Olivia. Donatello will call you when he’s had time to process this.”
She stares at me in surprise, her own eyes shining with tears. “You believe me?”
I look at Donatello when I answer. “I wish I didn’t.” My eyes flick back to meet hers. “Please leave.”
She starts shuffling toward the door, and Donatello steps out of her way, purposefully putting space between them. I can tell it bothers Olivia but she doesn’t comment, quietly slipping out the door. We stand there as she leaves, me watching her car drive away out the window. The second she’s out of sight I grab the lamp next to me and smash it onto the floor.
“Baby, she’s lying.”
I ignore him, walking straight to the bedroom as he follows. I start grabbing my clothes, shoving them in one of Donatello’s duffel bags.
“Delaney, stop.” He grabs my arms, spinning me to look at him. “Stop. That baby isn’t mine.”
“Did you sleep with her?” He doesn’t answer right away, so I ask it again, louder. “Did. You. Sleep. With. Her?”
“Yes, but we used a condom every time, it can’t be mine.”
I closed my eyes with the first word, trying to keep myself from cracking down the middle. There’s only so much a heart can take and mine has already suffered so fucking much. At this point I just feel numb. Broken and shattered so many times that not all the pieces were found, my heart super glued back together with so many missing parts I can’t even feel the pain I should be right now.
“Baby, we weren’t together. You told me you didn’t want me, that you wanted space. I thought I’d never have you again.” He grabs my face, forcing me to open my eyes. “If I had known you were coming back to me, I never would have touched her, never would have even looked her way. She means nothing to me. She is nothing.”
“That’s your baby.” It’s all I say, staring into his russet reds as he strokes my face with his thumbs. I don’t care that we weren’t together, he took Jessie from me and made me suffer alone, and then he goes and fucks someone behind my back.
“We don’t know that. I’ll make her take a paternity test.”
“That’s your baby and she means nothing to you?” I blink at him, swallowing hard. We both know that’s his baby. “What about when that baby shows up in two months? What about when that baby has the prettiest brown eyes that look red in the sun? What about when that baby cries for its daddy after a bad dream or needs to learn how to ride a bike? Will she still mean nothing to you?” I slap out of his hands, grabbing more clothes to shove in the bag.
“Vita Mia, you are the only thing that means anything to me.” He’s desperately trying to get me to look at him, grabbing at my hands that I rip away.
“Now. Donatello.” I stop, turning to face him. “I’m the only thing that means anything to you now. But I know that I won’t be forever, I could never top the woman who carries your child and you’re lying to yourself if you think I can.” He grabs for me but I sidestep him. “You said you wouldn’t share me, and now I understand how cruel and selfish that was of me because I won’t share you.”
“Delaney.” He finally gets a hold of me, pinching my upper arms between his fingers as he drops his forehead to mine. “I want to marry you. I want you to have my children. I want you to be the one I come home to everyday. I want to see your beautiful face every morning when I wake up. I only want you.” He presses his lips to my forehead, speaking against my skin. “You don’t have to share me, baby. I’m
