Soundtrack-
Moral Of The Story -Ashe
♤
April
I halt in my tracks gasping. I lean onto a nearby stone pillar.
No, what I just saw couldn't possibly be true. That was not my Weston. No, my Weston wouldn't betray me like that.
But when I close my eyes the memory is burning as it flashes behind my eyelids.
His lips on hers, her hands on him, his moans-
Oh Claire
A sob tears out of my chest.
Weston, my husband, the man I trusted my heart with, the one who vowed his fealty to me, the one I loved- he is cheating on me.
That makes my feet spring into action. I wipe my tears away as the vision blurs before me, stumbling in my heels in my haste to get as far away as possible from that balcony.
I bump into a few people who give me harsh glares and some even curse at me.
I need to get out here. This is real. Weston is cheating. I just saw him kiss another woman. My husband. The father of my children.
My children-
Oh God.
I stop. Do a 180 and bulldoze into the opposite hallway.
I go to search for the hall where all the kids are. I need to get Kayla and Dexter so we can get out of here as fast as I can.
Before I can though, someone catches hold of my wrist.
The despair in my blood is replaced by boiling hot rage.
"Don't touch me!" I shout hoarsely as I whirl.
In the darkness of the dim hallway a pair of mysterious eyes stare back at me filled with concern and anguish.
"It's me, April." He holds up his hands in surrender
I don't know why but a sob tears out of my chest at the sight of Jackson.
"Shh shh, darling."
His arms encircle my waist, leading me to bury my head in his chest, clutching onto the lapels of his jacket.
Another embarrassingly loud wail cones out of me.
How did I come to this? Just a month ago life was peaceful, happy, complete.
Just a year ago I was ecstatic of my new job and glad how much my husband supported me.
Just two years ago me and Weston welcomed Dexter into the world. Bringing another life into this world with him made me love him so much more.
Just six years ago we both had sat down into the doctor's office where he told us we were going to be having a baby girl.
Just seven years ago we got married in a church, our families witness to the promise of our love.
Just ten years ago I had met a boy who performed silly little magic tricks to impress me.
Just a minute to destroy all 10 years of our love.
I clutch the lapel tighter.
A minute for you, who knows how long this has been going on for him, my subconscious sneers.
That thought makes me snap out of my reverie.
I push at Jackson's chest indicating him to loosen his hold on me. Once he does I take a few steps back, putting some distance between us.
I stare down at the blue carpet.
"I...um, sorry for breaking down on you like that." I wipe my tears away with the handkerchief he offers me.
God, could this be more embarrassing?
"You don't need to apologize darling. But right now we need to get the kids so you can go...get out of here. Unless you want to see him and talk."
His voice turns cold towards the end of that sentence.
"Yes. I mean yes to getting the kids and no, I don't want to talk to him. But you don't need to trouble yourself anymore. Thank you for what you have done for me till now, but I'll take it from here." I look up at Jackson.
His jaw clenches, his fists matching the movement.
"April," he pauses letting his words sink in, "I want to help you not because you need me. But I need to, I want to."
We stare into each other's eyes for a minute before I slowly nod.
"Okay."
We silently walk towards the other room, where I confirm my identity as Kayla and Dexter's mother where on they tell me to wait.
A few awkward moments later quiet padding noises of small feet fill the silence between me and Jackson.
"Mommy!" Dex trottles on his small feet to me with a sad Kayla following behind.
I pick Dex up, his baby smell already calming me down.
"Can I stay longer, Mom? Please?" Kayla looks up at me with her doe eyes.
"No sweetheart we need to leave. I am sorry." I soften my hoarse voice.
"But Mom, I made so many frie-" She stops mid sentence when she finally notices Jackson behind me.
"Come on, let's go." I usher the kids, towards the back exit just as I hear the faint yelling of Weston.
"Who's that Mom?" Kayla whispers, clutching onto my dress.
Jackson looks at me with his eyebrows raised. I don't think I can speak, since Weston's yelling has only started getting louder.
We need to move. ASAP.
When Jackson sees that I am not in my mindspace right now he surprises me by taking the initiative.
"I am a...friend of your Mom's, will you wait here for me while I go get my car?"
He squats down to her level while speaking with her.
She gives him a suspicious glare before looking up at me. I nod at her so many times that I am surprised my head is still attached to my neck.
Weston will be out any moment now.
"Okay." She repeats my words from a few moments ago.
Jackson gets up and with a last glance at me he runs and disappears into the underground parking lot.
I usher the kids after him. The more distance I put between us and Weston the better.
Soon Jackson's SUV comes into view and I almost drop in relief. He gets out of the driver's seat just as the back door to the party haul slams open.
Jackson opens the car door for me and the kids.
"Sorry I don't have any of those baby car thingy." He actually looks apologetic, with a frown marring his face.
That's what he's thinking about right now?
"April!" Weston screams.
"That's Daddy!" Kayla tries to hurry out of the car, elated.
"Kay, no!" I drag her back inside just as Weston rounds the corner and Jackson gets in the car.
He quickly starts the car and rolls the car out of the lot, past Weston's enraged form, which now mysteriously sports a bloodied nose.
He bangs his fists on the car window when we pass by him, startling Dexter who starts wailing and Kayla gets even more confused and upset.
A sob starts building in my chest, which now feels hollow.
I watch Weston's reflection in the rearview mirror as he runs after us, getting smaller and smaller by the passing second.
Kayla hugs me from the side and a crying Dexter hangs onto my neck.
The sob finally breaks free.
***
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Here And Now
RomanceWhat do you do when your husband cheats on you? Don't ask April, because she'll tell you to sleep with his boss. Well then, maybe you should ask her afterall. ******** I did something bad. I slept with my husband's boss. And no, this is not a bad p...
