VELMONT’S VEIL

CHAPTER FOUR - F*CK MY LUCK

THREE WEEKS LATER

I was hysterical, crying silently in the bathroom as I sat on the toilet bowl.

It had been three weeks since my sister’s wedding, three weeks since I discovered that I had slept with her husband, and three weeks since Nathaniel Steele said those words to me.

This secret had been eating me up inside and I hadn’t been able to bring myself to tell Sophia because somewhere in my f****d up head, I knew Nathaniel was right.

Sophia was never going to believe. What exactly was I going to say? “Oh hi, Sophia. I f****d your husband the night before your wedding!”

I cringed at the thought and groaned when I stared at the five used pregnancy test strips that all read the same thing…

Positive!

I was f*****g pregnant for my sister's husband!

Fuck my luck!

“C! I'm off to work. Are you okay? You’ve been in there for too long. Do you need anything?” Bethany called from the other side of the door and I turned on the tap so she wouldn't hear my cry.

I cleared my throat, “Yeah I'm fine Beth! I just have a stomach bug.”

“Sorry C. Would you still be able to pick up groceries and the laundry from Sally’s?”

“Yes, I will of course. You just have a nice day,” I called after her as I heard her shuffling around my room.

“Alright C, bye!” she called out and I heard her retreating footsteps.

Just then, my phone suddenly rang and I saw the receiver.

Bruce Gallagher!

He had been calling me nonstop, blowing my phone for the past two weeks and it was getting tiring.

I did owe him some money but I didn’t have it and I was not ready to hear him threaten me.

My eyes drifted to the test strips and fresh, fat tears rolled down my cheeks.

How was I pregnant?

I couldn’t do this to myself, I couldn’t do this to Sophia. She deserved to know the truth. I had to tell her.

Determination set in my mind, I picked up my phone and dialed Sophia’s number. I had tried keeping in touch with her since the wedding but she has been cold towards me.

“What?” Came her brisk tone that caused me to wince.

“Can I come and see you? I have something very important to tell you,” I held my breath, waiting for her rejection.

“I think it’s about damn time. I have something to tell you too. I will email the address to you,” she said with so much finality in her tone and I felt my heart lurch into my mouth.

Oh my goodness! She knew? I was done for.

I prepared and left the house, driving one of Beth’s cars. I made a list of the things Beth wanted me to do. She was housing and feeding me, the least I could do was run a few errands, right?

I placed a call to Sally, “When can I come for pickup?”

There was no need for a preamble, she knew who was talking and she gave me a time. 7:00pm

I swerved onto the mall, picked out the groceries, and then stuffed the items in the trunk of the car before driving to Sophia’s house.

My phone rang. Bruce was calling again but I ignored him. I would return his calls later

Thirty minutes later, I was ringing the doorbell with a bottle of champagne and a strawberry-flavored cake I had picked up on my way. Strawberries were her favorite and I could only hope they still were.

“You brought gifts. Like that’s supposed to erase the years of trauma you’ve caused me,” she scoffed as soon as she opened the door. She allowed me into the house and my jaw nearly dropped to the floor when my eyes beheld the splendor that was her home.

“Your house is beautiful!” I complimented her with as much candor as I could muster as she ushered me into the patio.

“I’m aware. I chose the decor and my Nate loved them so much.” She responded so casually before pointing to a couch. I sat down, dropping the present on the table. I noticed how her eyes glanced at the strawberry cake.

“I got your favorite, strawberry…”

“Yes, it also happens to be Nate’s favorite” she interjected, crossing her legs. “We have so much in common.” Her eyes had a glazed look to them as if she was reminiscing. It was evident that she was in love with him and the guilt I had felt tightened its grip around my neck.

“Anyway, I’m sure you didn’t come all the way to listen to me gush over my husband. You had something to tell me?”

“Well yes, um but you wanted to tell me something so you go first,” I solicited, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans. I was a nervous wreck.

“Champagne is a highly inappropriate gift to give to an expectant mother,” she said and my head shot up to her. I saw a mixture of trepidation and elation in her eyes.

“You’re pregnant?” I whispered out the words, afraid that if I said them too loudly, it’d spook her.

She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “Six weeks pregnant.”

“I’m going to be a mother, Celeste!”