I do not own JE's characters.
A/N: Thank you for your reviews. I am on a roll a little bit, but I will bring this to a close soon. I have the wedding to finish. Thanks for reading!
Valerie POV
I am so mortified. I open the oven and put the lasagna inside. All these years and my mother never told me that I was a Morelli. Now her grounding me when I told her I had a crush on Joe all those years ago made sense. My phone has not stopped ringing. People who claim to be sympathetic just want more gossip.
Gosh, is this how Stephanie used to feel? I cannot believe she never came back? How could she just leave? She never appreciated what she had. She just left. Oh well, good riddance. I cannot fathom why she did that interview. If she is not living here, why stir up trouble? I knew she must have been adopted. She was horrible at dance class when we were little and all of that superhero stuff. She always messed up her dresses. She was not a good girl like me.
I still have to leave the house to go and get the girls from Mary Lou's house. She said they could come over after school, so I only had Lisa and she was asleep. I would have to drive back through the Burg to get them. Won't that be an experience? There were whispers this morning and Mary Alice would not stop neighing, and Lisa was crying so I could barely wave Angie off without chaos. Those girls really take it out of me. Maybe this one would be a boy. Maybe I could make a pit stop first. I smiled to myself.
I told my mother that she could stay with me for a while until she got the insurance check. They had lost everything. Daddy said he would stay with Uncle Joe Juniak. That was fine with me. How could he hit her like that? If he did not know for all of these years that he did not sire me, why make a big deal about it now? I am a grown woman with my own kids.
I just hope Angie Morelli does not call me to come and see her "grandchildren". Sheesh, she probably thinks I named my daughter after her. Come to think of it, Ma named Angie. I do not need a confrontation with the Morellis. That is something I am trying to avoid. Now I will not be able to go to the bake sale this Friday. I already had a sitter for that time, so maybe I would use the time another way. Maybe I should have a spa day or something. I deserved it.
Albert has not said anything to me. Instead of being supportive, he has been silent. He has been distant ever since I told Lisa that she would be a big sister. That was three months ago, once I knew I was out of the danger zone, so it was when I was three months along. That night, I smiled at him and reached for his hand and he just stared at me and said he had work to do.
He should be thrilled to be a father again. I know things are tight right now, but it will get better once he closes his "practice" and takes a better job like I suggested to him. I have an inside scoop. Heh heh. I am not just a housewife. I am deeper than that and I am not even gaining a lot of weight this time. I can thank my new regimen. I get lots of exercise nowadays.
The front door opened and closed and I knew it was Albert before he said anything. Geez, he actually shuffles when he walks. I am slightly embarrassed by him. I would never admit it out loud, but still. I chop the lettuce for the salad and check on the chocolate cake I am baking for dessert.
I hope Albert will just go and change or whatever he does and leaves me alone for a while. I have had a rough day. Wait a minute. I look at the clock. It is only 2:30pm. Why is he home already? I take the cake out of the oven and turn it on slow for the lasagna and go looking for him.
I find him in the bedroom and he has changed into a long sleeved grey tee shirt that says Rutgers and jeans. Huh. He looks taller and thinner and are those muscles? He is wearing boots like those Range guys. How is he all kinds of buff and I did not notice?
I rub my stomach and wonder when the last time was we had sex. I count backwards. It had to be about 8 months now. First, I was not in the mood. I made up excuses not to do the deed with him. I had told Albert that I was not feeling well for a while, and too tired. I used a lot of excuses.
Once I was sure of the pregnancy and I was out of the danger zone, I told him I needed to be careful of the baby. He never asked again. He worked late most days. That is why I am concerned now. I clear my throat and he turns to me. When did he get a haircut? His hair is all thick and wavy. Is it my imagination or is Albert hot now?
"Yes, Valerie?" He just stares at me like I am a stranger. What is this calling me Valerie? he always calls me Val.
"Why are you home already?" He just laughs a little, and goes back to what he is doing, which is packing. What?!
I grab his arm and he sighs. "Yes, Valerie?" He is acting like I am trying his patience or something.
"When did you start working out, Albert?" He laughs again.
"Oh, you finally noticed? I have been working out for almost a year. At first I did it for you, and then I did it because of you, so thanks, Valerie. Also, my name is not Albert, it is Alphonso. All this time, you have introduced me by the wrong name." He is lying. I know his name!
I told you my name when we met and I guess I thought it was like an inside joke or something between us, but I realized when we did Lisa's paperwork that you really think that is my name. You can still call me Al." He picks up a duffle bag and starts putting shoes inside. What?
"Don't be ridiculous, on Lisa's birth certificate, your name is there as Albert Kloughn." I glare at him. This is not funny and why is he packing? He turns to me again.
"Valerie, maybe you should sit down." I sit down. He stands in front of me. "Valerie, I know." What? He knows what?
"What, Albert?" I just stare at him. What is he talking about?
He sighs. "I know that Lisa is not my child. The reason I know is because I had a vasectomy a long time ago. When I was eighteen, my father died and it was from hereditary disease. I don't have it, but I did not want to pass that on to a child. I have become better about my health and I have really embraced my fitness program. I know the child you carry is not mine either." Oh no.
"In the beginning, when we met, I thought it was great that you had kids already. I figured if things worked out, I could adopt them or we could adopt more. Then you said you were pregnant and at the time we had not had sex. You passed out before anything happened and weeks later you were telling everyone you were knocked up. I will admit I was a little miffed, but we were not exclusive so I said nothing." I frown and he sees it.
"If your sister did not help us, we would not be married to this day. You turned into a bridezilla and you gained so much weight. That was when I knew I needed some help. It took me a while to get up the courage, but I got help and now I am the man you see standing before you." I was gob smacked. He had thicker hair, he was not wearing glasses, and his clothes fit him like those Rangeman guys' clothes. He knew he was not Lisa's father?! Oh dear.
"So, what do you want me to say, Albert?" I was not admitting to anything. He just shook his head at me.
"I don't want you to say anything, Valerie." He hands me an envelope with several documents inside.
"I have been thinking of leaving you for some time. I actually was on the fence about it until you announced to Lisa that you were pregnant. You never even told me, you told the eighteen month old baby." He levels a glare at me. So what? I thought it was cute and it said in Cosmo that it was adorable and that men would like it.
"I realized that you were cheating and I documented your activities with a private investigator. I got medical proof that Lisa and the child you are carrying cannot be mine. Now, you may try to say that I knew Lisa was not mine and married you anyway and this would be true." I sat there satisfied that he could not bring that up. He keeps talking.
"I will counter with exposing that the child you carry now is not mine and I also know you cheated on Steve, not the other way around. People will know. You don't like being gossiped about do you, Valerie?" He just stood there. If he told people about what really happened in California on top of this news, I would be a pariah! I tried to stay calm. There was no way he could leave me.
"So, why are you packing, Albert?" I tried to sound pleasant. My mother would be here soon after all. I need to get this resolved and get dinner on the table. He picks up his bags and starts to walk out of the room. I grab onto his arm. "Answer me, Albert!" I scream at him.
"Valerie, I am divorcing you. I will no longer be in a relationship with a woman who is not supportive of me. I won't stay with a woman who belittles me and acts like she is doing me a favor by being with me. I definitely won't be with a woman who won't sleep with me, but must have a thing for lawyers." He smirked at me.
"Sign the papers or you will not get a settlement. I am not heartless. I have left a trust for Mary Alice and Angie. You cannot touch it. It will be administered by Mary Lou Stankovic. Let Lisa's father take care of her."
I watch as he loads his car while it is still in the garage. He gets into the car and looks at me one last time. "This house is paid for and you cannot sell it. I put it into the girls' names and you will have to go through Mary Lou if you try to mortgage it or sell it. Read all the papers and sign and mail them. My name is Alphonso. Get it right. Goodbye Valerie. Tell Dickie I said congratulations."
I just stood there numb as he left in a brand new jeep trailhawk that was silver. He beeped the horn like it was a normal day and drove off. He left me. I am six months pregnant and he left me. I am getting a second divorce! He said he had proof! I raced back to the bedroom and opened the envelope.
There were pictures of me and Richard. They were dated. There were pictures of Richard playing with Lisa and with him at his mother's house with Lisa and with his arms around me and covering my stomach.
I cannot believe he knew! Who the hell is Alphonso?! What am I going to do?! Mary Lou knows? I slide to the floor and cry. It is at that moment that the oven dings and I hear my mother come into the house. Why me?!