She was standing at the stove trying to cook four things at once while Grace sat at the tiny table coloring.
She had called Burt and asked him if he would come over for dinner before taking Gracie for the weekend she told him they had to talk but she couldn't bring herself to tell him why. She had told Gracie who was thrilled.
"Mama?" She turned a little and something started to burn she began fanning it when she spoke.
"Yeah Gracie?"
"Are you going to tell daddy about my little sister?" Gracie had her heart set on a sister even though Heather wasn't sure which she would have.
"Yeah...Grace but you have to promise to let mommy tell him alright?" Gracie nodded and went back to coloring.
Heather tried to take a deep breath but she felt ready to take a stroke. This was the hardest thing she ever had to do. Running was hard but it was nothing compared to facing him. It didn't help that last month she noticed his wedding band go missing. Almost as a sign to her he was done with her.
She glanced at the clock she had two hours before he'd show up.
"Alright, Gracie come on I need you to set the table and take a bath" She turned off the stove and turned to start picking up crayons while Grace got some plates out.
"Thank you for helping me...you're such a good girl" Heather smiled at her and Gracie grinned and continued to set the table.
"So does that mean I don't need a bath?"Heather laughed.
"No, you're still taking a bath...with soap"
Gracie sighed like it was the end of the world and went back to folding napkins and Heather shook her head glancing again at the clock time seemed to be moving awful fast toward the inevitable.
Gracie, Burt and Heather were halfway through dinner and there had been an uncomfortable silence for almost the whole meal except when Gracie would talk to either of them.
"Daddy?" Gracie set her fork down and Burt glanced at her.
"Yeah sweetie?"
"This is really nice isn't it?" Gracie smiled and Heather looked at her wondering what the little girl was aiming at.
"What 's nice?" Burt asked and Gracie sighed.
"This dinner...with mommy...and me together" He smiled at her.
"Yeah sweetie it's nice" Heather shook her head but didn't say anything.
"So...why don't you let me and mommy move in with you? We can be a family all of us"
"Gracie...sweetie...why don't you go start packing to go with Daddy and me and him will talk alright?" Heather asked and Gracie gave a sad smile before sliding off her chair and walking to her room.
Burt glanced at Heather when she stood and started quickly clearing the table.
"What's gotten into her?" He asked and Heather shrugged moving to the sink with a pile of dishes.
She glanced down to make sure her baggy shirt covered the slight bump.
"Hey, is everything alright? You both seem a little odd" He stood bringing over his plate and she took a steadying breath.
"We're fine Gracie she's...well...we have been talking about us...me and you..."
"Is something wrong? Is one of you sick?" He put his plate in the sink and she shook her head.
He put a hand on her shoulder then moved.
"Hey, You're shaking. come on sit down" He took her over to the chairs by the table sitting her down in one then turning the one beside it to face her he took a seat.
"What's wrong? You can tell me is it Gracie?"
"No, It's not Gracie...she's fine...it's me...I.." She took a deep breath.
"What? What is it?"
"I'm pregnant"
Burt didn't say anything he didn't even move and after a second she looked away waiting for him to say or to do anything. When he finally spoke she was shocked.
"Is it mine?"
She stood up so fast he jumped and she stormed over to the sink running water she just needed to scrub something.
"Of course it's yours...I'm three months along it happened that night in the hotel" She said and he stood but didn't move.
"Oh, You don't take anything? I thought for sure you'd be on the pill"
"No, Why would I be? After Grace I didn't have time for anymore kids and you weren't around I told you I haven't been with anyone since you"
"Alright, I'm sorry you're right of course it's mine"
She slammed the plates into the sink and he moved towards her.
"I wasn't even going to tell you but I figured you would notice eventually"
"I shouldn't have even asked that I didn't mean it"
"Look, I don't want anything from you, I don't want money or a bigger house I just didn't want you to miss out on this...if you want to be...if you don't want anything to do with this baby it's fine"
"No, No, I want to be around this time" He turned off the water running in the sink and turned her to face him.
"That was why I had you over for dinner...I wanted to tell you...I had my suspicions but I didn't want to admit it...the doctor confirmed it though...I told Gracie and she got this idea that you and I were going to move in together and...I'm sorry she put you on the spot like that"
He laughed and shook his head moving away from her his back to her.
"Well, Heather the funny thing is that's not why Gracie brought up the family thing"
"Yeah it is...she wants a sister.." He shook his head interrupting her.
"No, I told Gracie something the last time she stayed with me and...I guess I should have been more clear on keeping it secret" He shrugged.
"Oh...what did you tell her?" She automatically feared the worse.
"I bought a house...on the other side of Las Vegas" He turned to face her.
"But...that's two hours away.."
"Yeah it is"
She looked at his left hand no ring. Her heart sunk he must have met someone and he was moving in with her. He was going to want a divorce.
"Gracie...she can't make that long of a trip as often once school starts" Heather pointed out.
"I know...I was planning on taking her with me...and now this new baby..." He motioned at her but she cut him off.
"No. Absolutely not...you're not taking Gracie anywhere I won't let you and you can't have my baby" She felt tears in her eyes.
He was going to try and take Grace and the baby away from her. She thought her heart was breaking as the sinking realization hit her that he could do it easily. He had money and a house he was supporting her if he cut her off of child support she would have no way to raise Grace and a baby the court would give them to him.
"Heather please..." He reached for her.
"No, No...I'll fight you every step of the way..." She backed up instinctively covering the small bump with one hand.
"Listen to me...I"
"I'll run...Do you hear me? I did it before and I'll do it again so help me God I will run and you will never even lay eyes on this baby and you'll never find us" She threatened even though she was crying.
He moved towards her she backed up until she hit the counter and could go no further. He reached her and pulled her into his arms. She fought him but he was stronger then she was even though he was careful not to crush her and risk hurting the baby she was so fiercely protecting.
"SHHHH, Just listen...alright...I'm not taking Gracie from you...I'm not taking the new baby either" She didn't relax or move but she seemed to be listening.
"I want you to come with me...all three of you"
"You can't be serious" She said looking up at him finally and he smiled.
"Why can't I be? We're married...we have a beautiful daughter and a baby on the way"
"Because...You don't really..."
"What? Love you?" She nodded.
"Heather...I love you as much today as the day we got married I never stopped loving you"
She pushed at his chest but he didn't budge.
"Stop that...you're just saying all this because of Grace and the baby"
"No, I'm not...that was the secret I told Gracie...I was going to ask you to come back to me"
"You want me to come back to you?" He nodded.
"I...Called Allison and she told me you sold your engagement ring when Gracie was born...but you kept your wedding ring because we were still married"
"I did, but you took your wedding ring off...It's been gone for weeks" He glanced at his hand.
"Yeah, and you took yours off after we spent the night together...I lost mine when you were in the hospital. I took it off to wash off the blood and lost it"
"Oh..."She felt stupid and he reached into his pocket pulling out a black small velvet box he stepped away from her and with a reluctant sigh her got down on one knee.
"This for the record is slightly humiliating...But I wanted to ask you...Be my wife again? Not just with the name and the rings but...my wife...I want to have dinner every evening with you and the kids, I want to be able to make love with you and wake up in the morning with you asleep next to me I bought the house because I want Gracie to have a back yard she'll be safe in. I bought a big house because really...I want to have another baby with you I wanted to before I even knew about the one you're carrying now."
"I...I don't know what to say..."
"Just say yes. We'll pack all your stuff tonight and leave...Heather..If you still love me this is our chance to start all over"
"I..." She hesitated.
"Just say yes mommy" They both turned to see Gracie peeking out of her bedroom at them.
"Gracie..."Heather shook her head and Grace came running over to her side.
"Say yes mommy...please..."
Heather looked down at Gracie then at Burt and took a deep breath...
Don't know when I'll be able to update again computer keeps doing weird crazy stuff.