Ana
I sigh in frustration when I check the balance in our bank account. It's been quite low for the last few months, and it only seems to be getting smaller and smaller every week.
We went ahead and put the five-hundred we got from Leila into our savings account, but we had to take it out a few days later to pay Christian's truck payment. We literally spent all our paychecks for the month to pay our mortgage payment, which was ten days' late to begin with.
The electricity and car insurance are due tomorrow, and we barely have enough to pay those bills. Usually, after all, our more significant bills are paid, we have just enough left to buy groceries and a little spending money for the rest of the week. Now, we barely have enough to the pay bills and get groceries.
I put my head in my hands and try to think about what we are going to do. If we get groceries, we won't have enough to pay the electricity. If we pay for the power, we won't have any food for the week.
I groan and rub my head before looking back to the computer screen. I bite the inside of my cheek when my mind goes to my mother. I know she wouldn't mind helping us out for this month, but I don't think Christian would approve of me doing that.
I look at the bank balance again and deflate when I know I am going to need to call my mother and ask if she can loan us some money. I know Christian is going to go ballistic, but there is nothing else we can do right now because the bills are due tomorrow.
I pick up the house phone and dial my mother's number. She picks up on the third ring.
"Hi, honey," she says cheerfully.
"Hi, mom. I'm sorry are you still at work?"
"Yes, but I'm not too busy right now since it's the end of the day. I just got back to the office from court. What's going on?" She explains.
I take a deep breath and look at our balance again before blurting out, "Can we borrow some cash?"
I squeeze my eyes shut when I hear silence on the other line. After a few seconds, she says, "What's going on, honey?" I can hear the concern in her voice.
I sigh and look down, "It's nothing. The garage is still having trouble, and with everything going on, were a little behind these last few months," I say thoroughly embarrassed.
"Oh, honey. I can tell by your voice your embarrassed. Don't be because everyone has trouble now and then. Of course, I can give you whatever you need. You know I will always help you out when you need it," she says gently causing me to tear up.
"Thank you, mom, I really appreciate it," I sniffle and wipe my eyes with my sleeve.
"You don't have to thank me, sweetheart. Your father and I are always here. I will get online now and transfer the money," she says matter-of-factly.
"Okay. I'll let you get back to work. I love you, mom."
"I love you too, honey. Let me know if you need anything else," I can hear her smile before she hangs up.
I sigh and put the phone down. I sign off our bank account, and while I am waiting for my mother to transfer the money, I decided to google some money saving tips.
While looking at the website, I write down several things we can try. One of the recommendations is to get rid of your house phone. Since Christian and I have our cell phones, we really don't need the house phone, so I make a mental note to talk to Christian about canceling the phone plan.
The next one that I write down is to start using coupons, price comparisons, buy generic brands, and prepare meals at home instead of going out for lunch. I snort when I get to the stop smoking one. I know Christian won't quit, and I learned to try to let him decide to quite himself if he wants, but on the other hand, we could save a lot of money if he stopped buying the packs of cigarettes.
I sigh and decide not to bring that conversation up again because I know he won't quit until he is ready, and I don't want to start another argument about it.
I exit the page and sign onto our bank account once more. My eyes widen when I see that my mother transferred more money than I expected. I smile in relief when I pay our electricity and car insurance bill.
When that is done, I quickly make a grocery list and look at my watch to see that Christian will be home in about an hour which gives me enough time to run to the grocery store.
I pick up my purse, phone and keys, shut and lock the front door before walking down the street towards the local grocery store which is less than a mile away. I grab a cart and go through the aisles, picking up various types of food, and lastly a gallon of milk.
When I'm done with that, I stand in line and wait for my turn to check out. The cashier, an older lady, named Maria, rings up my purchases before I hand her my debit card.
"Have a good day, Ana," Maria smiles at me while giving me back my debit card.
"You, too. Say hi, to Burt for me," I smile before putting away my card.
"Will do," she smiles before ringing up the next customer.
I pick up all the grocery bags and walk out of the store, back towards our house which takes me about ten minutes with all the bags.
When our house comes into view, I see that Christian is home earlier than expected since his truck is in the driveway. I frown when I see him glaring at me from the front porch.
"What's with you?" I say while walking up the steps.
"Why did you ask your mother for money, Ana?" he snaps.
I stop walking and look at him dumbfounded for a few seconds, "How did you find out about that?" I sigh as I walk past him and into the house.
"Your father called me. Said I wasn't doing a great job of providing for you, once again!" he hisses while stomping into the kitchen where I'm putting the groceries away.
I roll my eyes and sigh while putting away the milk. "I'm sorry, Christian. We needed to pay the electricity and insurance bill. It was due tomorrow," I turn around and see him leaning on the kitchen island.
"I'm so sick of your father telling me how much of a fuck up I am. Your father always hated me," he scoffs.
"Christian, he doesn't hate you," my eyes soften as I walk towards him.
He snorts, "Oh, yes he does. He never gave me his blessing to marry you. Every time we are in the same room together, he always brings up how I'm not good enough for his daughter. Hell, he always shoves how much money he makes right in my face," he snaps and runs his hand through his hair.
Why didn't he tell me my father was acting like that? I stand in front of him and run my hands up his chest. He sighs and takes one of my hand into his and kisses my palm.
"Christian, I love you. I don't care on how much money you make. I don't care if you were dirt poor, I would still love you. You are good enough for me and I'm sorry about my father and the things he said to you. I know how protective he is towards me, but that's no excuse for him to act that way. I'll talk to him, okay?" I rub his cheek as he gives me a small smile.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'm just frustrated about work," he puts his forehead against mine.
"I know," I murmur before I press my lips against his.
I don't want to talk about my dad anymore. I'll deal with him later, but right now I need to distract him, and sex is just what we both need right now.
"Your tense, Mr. Grey. Let me make you feel better," I nip his bottom lip causing him to moan.
Christian kisses me fiercely for a few seconds before leaning his head back. "Why don't we take this to the bedroom," he whispers against my neck.
I smirk, "Race, ya!" I back up and run to the bedroom giggling while Christian chases after me.
"Hi, pumpkin," my dad picks up after the second ring.
"Why the hell did you call Christian? Daddy, what were you thinking telling him that he doesn't deserve me?" I snap.
Christian and I just got through eating dinner after our evening thrust. He went outside to have a smoke while I called my father to see what the hell gave him the right to call Christian and talk to him the way he did.
"Because he doesn't. Sweetheart, you can do so much better than that lowlife," he growls.
"I can't believe you right now. Dad, Christian is a good man, and so what if he isn't rich? You know I don't care about that!" I almost shout into the phone. I can't believe he is acting like this. I knew dad was impartial to Christian, but I didn't know this is what he really felt about him.
"Dad, I knew it took you awhile to warm up to him, and I thought you got over whatever reason why you didn't like him. So, why are you acting this way towards him all of a sudden?"
He's silent for a minute which causes me to become more frustrated. Just when I am about to speak again, he hisses, making me grimace. "He can't even provide for you, Anastasia! Hell, he can't even give you a baby!" he shouts.
My mouth opens in shock at what he just said. My dad found out that we were having trouble conceiving, but he doesn't know all the details and for him to just assume it's Christian's fault that we can't have a baby causes me to jump up from the bed and yell into the phone.
"You want to know what! It's not Christian's fault that we can't have a baby. IT'S MINE! I'm the one who can't give him one! But thank you for assuming it's my husband that is the problem!"
I throw the phone across the room and fall to my knees while I burst into tears. The pain and disappointment of not being able to have a baby hit me again full force after weeks of trying unsuccessfully to put it out of my mind.
I put my head in my hands and weep bitterly before Christian takes me into his arms and gently sways me back and forth. I cry against his shoulder as he tries to comfort me. I cry harder when he says that everything is going to work out, but for the first time since we started trying, I don't believe it will.
AN: Here is the next chapter. Thank you for all the reviews on the last chapter. I appreciate all your thoughts and opinions on the story.
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