The Best Mistake

Prologue

I stared out of the window in the kitchen as I washed the dishes slowly. My stomach quivered in knots as I watched him play with Spot in the yard. He always look so happy when he's here. Having him home, even for a little while, is the best thing that could happen at the worse possible time. I sighed softly and looked at the plate that I was washing for at least the third time. I hated doing the dishes, hell I avoided it at all cost. I practically forced Royce to install the dishwasher just so I wouldn't have to do them, and even then I hated loading it. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't notice when Royce came inside. He wrapped his arms around me gently and placed a soft kiss on my neck. "You're actually doing the dishes?" He laughed shocked. I smiled sadly before drying my hands and turning in his arms. "Yea, there was nothing else to do." I said shrugging, as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I've watched you done everything in this house besides the dishes." He chuckled. I smiled looking into his soft dark eyes. I brought my hand up to his dark hair to brush it off his forehead, before slowly pulling away. I moved to the kitchen table and started to remove all the condiments that were left out from dinner.
"Baby, what's wrong?" He asked gently. I wanted to shout it out just to get it over with, just to see his reaction and accept the consequences of my actions. He was always so forgiving, so understanding and loving, it makes everything that much worse. I swallowed the lump in my throat as the knot in the pit of my stomach felt that much heavier. My lips trembled gently as tears pooled in my eyes and I turned to face him. Seeing the look on my face his expression went from curiosity to concern.
"Ava....Ava, what is it? What's wrong?" He took my sweaty palms in his dry ones and urged me to talk to him. I looked up at him and opened my mouth slowly as my heart continued to pound in my chest. His eyes were captivating, full of love and understanding, something I didn't deserve, not even in the slightest. I looked away from him, breaking that connection, trying to force the words out of my shaky lips. But...how could I? How do you tell the man that you love, the man that you're afraid to disappoint, the man that you can't imagine being without, that you're pregnant with someone else's baby? Pregnant by someone you don't even know? You can't....