A Little Too Late

Chapter 8

"What?" Jessica asked shocked.

"I swear I didn't know he was married, Momma, I swear!" She shook her head and Erica pulled her into a tight hug which made her cry again.

"I know Dear," she said soothingly. "I know. You aren't a homewrecker, he is. He is the one that stepped out of his marriage. This isn't your fault, do you hear me?"

"Yes Momma," She sniffled.

"That asshole," Jessica shook her head. "How could he get mad at you when he's the one that is cheating?"

"He...he...he said he doesn't want any children," She sniffled. "Tha...tha...that's why he came to America, to start over." She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. "He doesn't want the burden of a family."

"A burden?" Sean asked shocked. "He thinks a family is a burden?"

Nicole looked at up at them shocked and paled, "Oh god," She burst into tears again into Erica's arms.

"Leave the room Boys," Erica said shaking her head, "She doesn't need to hear any reprimanding from any of you."

"We would never, Momma," Victor shook his head.

"Just...not now," Jessica shook her head and they nodded. Nicole's phone started ringing causing Jessica to pick it up. "Hello? Nicole Cattell's phone."

"I swear Momma, I didn't know he was married, I swear," Nicole sobbed. "He never wore a ring, I swore I didn't know."

"Nikki," Jessica said softly kneeling down to where Erica and Nicole were sitting on the floor. "You need to take this."

Nicole sniffled and wiped her face. "Nicole Cattell."

"Miss Cattell, this is Elizabeth Davies," A woman's voice came through making Nicole tense up.

"Hello Mrs. Davies," Nicole said sniffling.

"Exactly how long have you been seeing my husband?" She asked calmly.

"Six months," Nicole answered honestly. "I swear I had no idea. He never wore his ring or said anything."

"How could he when I flushed it down the toilet?" She chuckled. "I have no animosity to you Miss Cattell. You aren't the first woman he was with in the midst of our marriage and you won't be the last."

"I'm so sorry," Nicole sniffled.

"Don't be," Elizabeth said. "I am only reaching out to let you know not to depend on him for your pregnancy or raising of your child. Am I right to assume he yelled at you saying you were ruining everything by becoming pregnant?"

"Yes," She sniffled.

"Figures," The woman scoffed. "He is most likely already packing his meager things to leave. You will not hear from him again. If I were you, I wouldn't put him on the birth certificate. He's running because has hasn't been paying spousal support or child support and the courts here are looking for him. He hasn't seen his children in five years, Miss Cattell." She sighed, "He seemed like prince charming at first, am I correct?"
"Yes," Nicole sniffled.

"He got me the same way," She admitted. "He's really the villain but rest assured, there is no ill will towards you. You didn't ruin my marriage, he did. I had a private investigator searching for him so I can get out of this marriage and he gave me your information. That's how I was able to reach out to you. I only ask for one thing, please. Can I please have all the information you have on him so I can try and serve him? I am tired of this, I want to start over."

"I will send you everything," Nicole cleared her throat. "He's going to pay."

"Thank you," She said then hung up.

"Come on Dear," Erica patted her back. "Let's get cleaned up. You need to rest."

"How far along are you?" Jessica asked. "Have you started taking those vitamins?"

"The doctor says I'm around seven weeks," Nicole sniffled. "I just found out today." She scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Who would have thought my first time with him would end up like this?"

"His loss," Jessica waved her hand like dismissing it. "You got me and Momma. I'll be Aunty and Daddy."

"Thank you," She sniffled and hugged her tightly then pulled away and rushed to the bathroom.

"And it begins," Erica chuckled, "Go make her some toast, Jess."

"Yes Momma," Jessica said standing. She turned to the boy. "Not a word." Gabe raised his hand and she rolled her eyes, "What Gabriel?"

"Can I decorate the nurseries, pretty please?"

"Nurseries?" Jessica asked.

He shrugged, "I figured she would have one at her place and one here."

"No cussing? What's wrong with you?" She asked.

"Not right now," he shook his head.

"We'll figure that out later," Jessica shook her head. "One thing at a time."

"I'll go get her some prenatal pills," Sean said pulling his car keys out of his pocket.

Jessica pointed her fingers at them, "You aren't stepping in and taking over. You aren't using this to push back into her life."