ANASTASIA


    I watched as Aiden lowered himself to Amie''s height and held out his hand to her.


    Amie eyed his hand wearily.


    Aiden smiled. "Come on, Amie, would you like to go?"


    Amie nced up at Dennis then at my face and back to Aiden.


    My gaze wandered to Dennis'' face. I could tell that he didn''t like Aiden''s presence. He was about to say something when Aiden took Amie''s hand. "Remember we''re friends, right?" Amie just looked at him without saying anything.


    "Remember that time you collided with me?" The corner of his lips quirked up in a smirk.


    Amie frowned. "You ran into me," she blurted. "I hope you haven''t done the same to someone else?" She eyed him, "I went easy on you that day doesn''t mean another person would."


    Aiden chuckled lowly and as I watched them, my lips curled into a smile. He was good with kids. I always knew he would. Amie would have been the luckiest child on earth if I had let him know about her but I tried not to go down that path.


    Dennis was also great with her. Even though he was busy setting up some of his bars and we were just friends, he included himself in our lives and took very good care of Amie and I.


    "Okay, ma''am Amie. I''ll be careful. I''ve been careful actually. Except that I almost ran into someone today again," he winced as he said thest part.


    Amie shook her head and turned down her lips at him like an adult scolding a child. "You really need to take lessons."


    "That''s also why I want to go on a stroll with you. You could teach me how to walk the right way and also how to be polite."


    She eyed him while tapping her fingers on her lips. "I can teach you how to be polite but I think you run into people because you''re so big. I can''t help you with that." Aiden pouted. "That''s so-"


    "Drop it, Aiden," Dennis stepped forward, interrupting their moment. "This is unnecessary. If my child wantspany, her father is here, I''m here."


    My eyes widened as I whirled around to face Dennis. "Why would he say that?"


    But his gaze wasn''t even on me, it was fixed on Aiden and I could tell that he was only fighting the re from his face because of Amie.


    Aiden didn''t look like he appreciated the interruption. When he slowly rose to his full height, I knew I had to step in.


    I clung to Dennis'' side while whispering, "Leave her to him." Then I turned to Aiden and Amie with a big smile.


    "Go give him some lessons, sweetheart, he''s quite rude."


    Amie looked appalled. "Even to you, Mummy?"


    "I tell you."


    Amie looked up at Aiden and shook her head. "That is very bad. You can''t be rude to my mom or dad."


    I hid the smile on my face as I said to Aiden. "Be very careful with her, please. And it would be better if you stay around the hospital so Dennis can easily find you guys when her time is up." "Alright." Then he hoisted Amie in his arms.


    As he walked them out, I heard Amie''s sharp voice, "Look where you''re going, stop staring at me." Then she kissed her teeth. "That''s why you keep running into people."


    I turned to Dennis, my arms crossed across my chest.


    "We need to talk." Then I swirled around and walked to my ward. He followed without another word.


    In the room, as I lowered myself into my seat, I felt a small contraction that made me wince and freeze for a moment.


    The doctor had warned me about the possible contractions.


    Suddenly, Dennis was by my side.


    I quickly brought my hand up. "Please, I''m fine."


    Then I sat down and faced him, "What''s going on with you?"


    "I''m sorr-"


    "Stop saying that! Stop saying that, Dennis! It''s not going to solve anything."


    He ran his fingers through his hair and turned his back to me. When he faced me back, he looked like he was about to say something. But I didn''t want to hear him. I didn''t want to hear whatever he had to say. "I don''t think you realize how hurt this makes me." I jabbed my fingers against my chest.


    "I''m sorry-" his voice broke but I refused to let it get to me.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "I am so disappointed, Dennis. And I am mad at you."


    "Ana please-"


    Let me finish talking, Dennis. Listen to me. I have a lot to say."


    After that, he said nothing. I remained silent for a few minutes, neither of us said anything.


    "This isn''t how it should be. We


    didn''t n it this way. You were supposed to be by my side. I was literally dying, Dennis..." my chest rose and fell as I tried to regain my breath. "I miss you, Dennis," my eyes watered. "You''ve changed and it hurts me that you don''t see that. You''re so wrapped up with the fact that the baby is Aiden''s and you''ve changed because of that.“


    I swallowed. "I miss the man I got married to. I miss the man that cared so much about me. I miss the man that was so-" I broke off and took a deeper breath.


    "Things aren''t going to get easier if


    you continue this way. Things will not get better if we don''t!" With each word, I found my voice got higher. I couldn''t help it. "Things will not get better if you''re not there, if you are unavable!


    "Things are scary as it is. This point in our life is crucial, we need to stick together. Things are hard and you''re making it worse by not being there want to hold my hands through this all. I want to look to my right and see you, Dennis. I want to look to my right and see you. I want to see you everywhere I turn. I don''t want to turn around and see Aiden or ra."


    I jabbed my direction in his direction, "I want to see you!"