Chapter 40 :
"Come on, babe, the kids are waiting for you," Maria said excitedly as she clapped her hands together.
It surprised her when she saw him sitting in their room when she came home yesterday.
'It's been months,' she thought dejectedly. It was very hard for her, with her being in and out of the hospital and taking care of the kids.
"There she is," she heard and smiled as her husband wrapped his arm around her waist from behind her.
"How is my baby doing?" he asked as he rubbed her slight bump.
Giggling, she leaned into him while releasing a smile.
"He's doing ok," she said as she turned around and wound her arms around his neck and gave him a small peck.
"The real question is, how are you doing?" she asked while playing with his hair at the back of his neck.
"Hmm..... let's see," said her husband as he squinted his eyes and slightly rubbed his chin.
"I have a beautiful wife," he said while looking into her eyes before continuing, ��I have two amazing children and a third child on the way.... so I'm doing fantastic," he said while spreading his arms out.
Maria was so happy that her husband looked past the fact that they were both forced together to strengthen their family's reputation.
'It's nice to see him smiling again,' she thought as she watched how he talked animatedly.
"I love you A," she said while hugging him.
She felt like she could just die right then and there when she felt him froze.
'Ouch,' she thought as she tried to keep the grimace from her face.
"I... Umm, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.... can you watch the kids for me?" she asked nervously as the confidence she had was nowhere to be found.
"Ahh yes... No, I'm going to hire a nanny... I have to leave the country again tomorrow," declared her husband as he continued to rub her bump.
"Do you really have to though?" she asked while putting his hands to a stop. She watched as he sighed and shook his head as he dragged his hands from her tight grip.
"I'm sorry-" he started, but paused when he noticed that Maria was crying.
"H-Hey... W-Why are you crying?" stuttered her husband as he reached out to her and watched as she moved from his reach.
"Stop trying to act as if you care," she said while placing a hand on her belly subconsciously.
She was tired of being the pushover in both the families. First, they forced her to have his kids. And now the guy that's supposed to be her rock is finding every excuse to be away from her.
"What do you mean, stop trying to act as if I care?" he asked in an incredulous tone.
"I fucking care about you guys.... even though I don't always show it, I do Maria!" he shouted while banging his hand on the table causing Maria to jump in shock.
"You always do this.... accusing me of everything, then pretend that you're so righteous," he said while pointing his finger at her.
"Look," he sighed as he pinched his nose, "I apologized for my behavior and tone just now," he continued.
And this made Maria cry even harder, making him groan in frustration.
"What your problem now?.... Is this your plan?.... to get all emotional and try to get me to stay?" he asked while throwing his hands in the air.
"No, that's not my intention at all.... please, believe me, it's just my emotions," said Maria while wiping her eyes.
"I won't try to stop you.... y-you're free to do whatever you want," she said while giving him a strained smile.
'Even if it hurts me,' she finished.
"Yeah... umm thanks... didn't you mentioned something earlier about the kids waiting for us?" asked her husband while pointing towards the house.
"Yeah," she answered softly as she moved past him into the house.
He watched how dejected and pale she looked and while his subconscious scolded him, 'You idiot, she's carrying your baby.... why were you so hard on her?'
"Dammit," he cursed as he hurried behind her, "Babe" he called out while holding her hands.
"How about this?" he asked while rubbing her belly, "You, me, and the little plus dinner tonight," he said as he watched his wife's face lit up.
Nodding excitedly, she threw her arms around him while chanting, "Thank you... Thank you... Thank you."
He laughed slightly as he ran his hand through her hair.
"Is my baby feeling okay now?" he asked in a soft, affectionate tone.
The two stayed like that for a while, with Maria in her husband's embrace and her husband showering with sweet words and soft kisses.
The sound of Maria's stomach growling brought the couple from their little world.
Pulling from each other's warmth, Maria's husband released a loud chuckle and said, "Someone sounds hungry."
Maria looked at him and gave him an embarrassed smile.
"S-Sorry," she apologized while scratching her arm, "Don't be sorry... it's totally normal and proves that our baby is alive and well."
Maria tilted her head to the side while still scratching her hand, "You're right.... I-I guess," she said as she gave him a pained smile.
"What would my baby like to eat?" he asked as he went to rub her belly.
'This would be nice if it happened every day,' she thought while scratching her hand.
'It hurts,' she whimpered mentally. She did not want to pressure her husband with trivial problems like her health.
"Babe? are you okay? You kinda zoned out for a while," her husband stated.
"Oh, yeah... I-I'm fine there's nothing wrong at all," replied Maria while laughing.
Her husband opened his mouth to say something, but she spoke before he got the chance to.
"About that food, I'm feeling for some Indian Cuisine," she started, "And Ice cream and some green mangoes," she finished while clapping her hands excitedly.
"Okay, that's a lot of things to buy... I'm just going to get those quickly," said her husband as he gave her a quick peck before heading out.
Maria waited until he was out of sight before looking at her bloody skin, "Guess it's time to go to the doctor."