Chapter Seventy-Six
Marella had watched Lee leave, taking a piece of her heart with her. She looked at the empty spaces he’d left in the cupboard and in the bathroom. Watching him from the window had crippled her, the pain had lanced through her and she wasn't sure how she'd survive it. She didn't understand his reaction, he'd never yelled at her before and the fact that he had now just made the truth of the matter so much clearer to her.
She made up her mind and pulled clothes on, she needed to understand what had just happened. She climbed into her car and drove to Kelley’s house. The streets were quiet because time had escaped her. She'd sat on her bed for hours, just crying.
She wiped her red, swollen eyes and climbed out of her car. She'd given Lee seven years of her life and had loved him for all of those seven years. She wasn't going to let go so easily. She pounded on the front door, feeling the hysteria well up inside of her. The front door opened and her eyes darted around the empty foyer.
“Marella?” Connor looked like he’d been asleep as he stood barefoot wearing only sweatpants at the front door.
“Where is he? I know he’s here.” Marella pushed past Connor into the house and looked around.
Connor frowned as the took her appearance in. “Who?”
“Lee!”
Connor took a step forward and grabbed Marella’s elbows. “He’s not here, Marella.”
“I’ve got her, Connor.” Kelley walked towards them looking equally dishevelled.
Connor nodded his head and left them at the front door as Kelley reached them and pulled Marella inside the living room. Marella’s eyes looked wild, her hair knotted and standing up on the left side as Kelley guided her with an arm across her shoulders.
Marella realized how late it was since Kelley never went to bed early and she lowered her gaze and wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m sorry …”
“What’s going on?”
“Lee packed a suitcase and left.” Marella lowered her head and started to cry.
Kelley pulled her down to the couch and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into him and he knew that she needed the physical contact, something she never got from Lee. He hated when women cried, it reminded him of his mother’s weakness.
“You told him you want the baby?”
Marella sniffed and nodded her head against his chest as he rubbed his hand up and down her back. Marella looked up at him, her hands on his chest, emotion swimming in her eyes. She closed her eyes and leaned forward slightly, their lips touching.
Kelley stiffened and pushed her away gently. “Marella … you’re emotional.”
“I’m sorry … I don’t know why I did that.”
“You’re not thinking clearly and you’re hurting.”
Kelley pulled her closer again and more tears flowed as her head hit his chest. Kelley caught the movement on the stairs and saw Milana’s back as she retreated up the stairs. He closed his eyes briefly and sighed.
“Why can’t he love me back, Kelley?”
Kelley’s arm squeezed her back lightly. “He does love you, Marella. It’s hard for him to voice it but I know Lee loves you, probably more than he loves himself.”
“This baby is a gift … why can’t he see that?”
“He has a lot of demons, you know that. The idea of a child took him back to his own childhood, he’s afraid.”
“Afraid of what, Kelley? I can’t get rid of this baby but I can’t lose him either.”
Kelley sighed and shifted. “You know what happened in his past but you don’t know everything, Marella. Lee’s buried his past so deep that he’s carried on with his life, pretending that those things never happened to him but now he was forced to relive it. He’s afraid of awakening whatever demon took hold of his parents and that he’ll turn out just like them.”
Marella’s eyes widened as she looked at him. “He thinks he’ll lock our child in a cage. He really believes he’s capable of such evil?”
“He truly believes that.”
“That’s ridiculous! He’d never do something like that!”
Kelley’s eyes filled with sadness. “He also thought he’d never be capable of killing anyone. That just cemented it for him.”
“He won’t change his mind, will he? I’ve lost him to his past.”
“You have to focus on you now, what you want to do. I’m always here for you and for your baby.”
Marella sat quietly, looking at Kelley’s chest. Kelley left her to think and they sat in that position with her half on his lap, leaning against him.
Kelley moved his foot as something nudged against it. When it happened again he opened his eyes and looked at a frowning Connor. His arm felt numb and his chest heavy as Marella lay half on top of him. They’d fallen asleep on the couch, with him still holding her tightly.
“What time is it?”
“Shit … sorry, Kelley.” Marella pushed herself off Kelley and looked at Connor who looked amused.
“No harm, no foul.” Kelley sat up straighter and wiped his hands over his face.
“I crashed your wedding night! I’m awful!”
“Morning.” Milana looked rested and fresh. Her hair was in a ponytail, she had showered and dressed in jeans and a button-up shirt and she looked as uncomfortable as hell.
“This day just gets better and better.” Kelley’s mumble was heard by Connor who stifled a smirk and straightened up when Kelley glared at him.
“I should go.” Marella dragged a hand through her hair and stood up, adjusting her t-shirt and grabbing her keys from the coffee table.
“Call me when you know what you want to do.”
Marella nodded her head and fled from the house without another word. Kelley turned to look at Milana who stood a few feet away from him with an expression he couldn’t quite decipher. Connor cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable.
“I can explain, Milana.”
“There’s no need, Mr Alexander. I’m just a name on a contract.”
