A Fresh New Start

Chapter 1 - Letting Go

After Anita had found out from Ashford that Finn had been cheating on her, she immediately went home and packed up all of Finn's belongings. She had also found out that she was pregnant again. Ashford helped when he came back and so did his brother Matthew. "I can't believe he'd do something like this." Matthew said as he tapped the box shut. "I was suspicious, but thought it was just me. Maybe I should have believed my suspicions." Anita said. Ashton had taken Irelynn out with his daughter Hailey and Ashford's daughter Melanie so Anita could get this done. "Mia, I'm sorry." Ashford said. "Stop apologizing for Finn Bálor's mistake. He chose to cheat on his wife and his child. It's not your fault." Matthew told him. "I know, but I'm the one who told her." Ashford said, sinking to the floor. "He wouldn't even let me bring Melanie. I had to beg Mia to watch her at the last minute and she was headed to visit her family." Matthew rolls his eyes and puts a hand on Ashford's head. "Yeah, but she didn't complain. She loves Melanie." Matthew told him. Anita finished packing the last box and sighed. "We'll put this in the garage since you're expecting." Matthew told her. Anita nodded and sat on the couch. "He'll be home tomorrow." Ashford said. "He'll also be surprised when he opens the garage and finds all his stuff in the place he parked his car." Matthew added. Anita giggled and Ashford smiled. It took another twenty minutes for the guys to put everything in the garage. Anita decided to start lunch when Ashford ran inside. "What?" She asked. "He's here. He came home early." Ashford said. Anita nodded. "I'd come home early too if my brother left without telling me." Anita told him. She heard Matthew talking with Finn while she started chopping up some tomatoes. "Why is all my things in the garage?" Finn asked as he walked inside from the garage. "Because you're moving out." Anita told him. Finn looked at her strangely. "What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly that. You're moving out." Anita said to him. "What is going on with you guys?" Finn asked. "You took me on a spontaneous vacation with your side piece and you didn't think that I would tell her?" Ashford asked him. "What are your talking about?" Finn asked dumbly. "The gig is up, Finn. I know the truth. You're things are in the garage for you to move in with Veronica. I'm filing for divorce tomorrow and I'm asking you not to fight me on this. You can visit Irelynn whenever you want, but I don't want you to take her from me." Anita told him. Finn looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Ashford told me everything. I just wish it was you who told me." Anita sat down at the table and took a deep breath. "Mina, are you okay?" Ashford asked. She nodded. "I'm just trying to calm down is all."
"Yeah. It's not good for you to stress." Matthew told her. "Why? What's going on?" Finn asked. "It doesn't concern you anymore. I'll help you load your car." Matthew said. "I want to know what is going on! I want to talk to my wife!" Finn demanded. The front door slammed shut. "She's not YOUR wife anymore." Ashton said. Everyone looked at Ashton. "She's divorcing you and she doesn't have to explain anything to you. You don't get to know the ins and outs of her life anymore." Ashton said. "What's up, Ash?" Anita asked. "I came to get the girls' swimsuits so we could go swimming. I just didn't expect to find him here." Ashton said. Matthew went upstairs to Irelynn's room and grabbed two swimsuits. "One for Melanie and one for Irelynn. Have fun." Matthew told him. "We will. Get your shit and get out before I bring the kids back." Ashton told Finn before leaving. Finn looked at Anita. "I want to talk about this. I understand that I was wrong to hide this from both of you."
"Yeah it was. Why did you start seeing someone else?" Anita asked. "You were distant. I thought we were drifting apart." Finn said. "I was taking care of our child, Finn! I was never distant with you!" Anita told him. "Why were you pulling away from me all the time?" Finn asked. "I'm pregnant!" Anita said. Finn looked at Anita shocked. "That's why I seemed different to you! I just found out that I am pregnant a few days ago. I'm at least two months along." Anita told him. "I thought you should know that you're expecting another child." Anita said. Ashford kneeled beside Anita and took her hand. "It's going to be okay, Mina. We'll help you." Ashford told her. "I'm not worried about that. I'm just hurt that you would do this to me, Finn. After the countless times it happened to me, you promised you'd be different."
Matthew put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Sweet. Come on, Bálor, let's load your stuff." Matthew said. Finn nodded and followed Matthew to the garage. Anita went outside to the back porch and sat in her swing. Ashford joined her a few minutes later. "You okay?" He asked. She shook her head no and took a shuddering breath. "It'll be okay, Mina. We'll help you."
"I know, but it was supposed to be Finn. Finn was supposed to be my forever. We were supposed to have a family and be together forever, but I messed it up again." Anita cried. Ashford wrapped his arms around her. "You didn't mess it up. Finn is the one who messed it up. He never once decided to ask you how you were feeling during that time. He didn't even want to find out what was going on with you." Ashford told her. Anita nodded and wiped her tears away. "Just know that I'm here for you and you can always talk to me whenever you need to."
"Thank you, Ashford. I really appreciate all you've done for me during this time." Anita told him. Matthew walked out twenty minutes later. "He's all packed up." Anita nodded. "I'm so sorry, Sweet. You don't deserve this again." Matthew told her. "That's my curse. Every relationship I have ends like this. This time I have a child with the guy and she's in the middle of it." Anita said. "She won't be. I asked Finn to not drag Irelynn into the middle of this. She doesn't deserve it." Matthew told them. "We all know what happens in a divorce, Matt." Anita said. "Trust me. He won't put Irelynn through it. If anything, Finn is a man of his word." Ashford said. Anita nods and looks out at the ocean. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you guys." Anita told the brothers. Ashford smiled and Matthew took her hand. She wouldn't be alone through this. Her friends will be there for her.