The Fake Wife

Far From Us

Jake

"Her plane just touched down."

"Where did he send her off to?" I whispered to Carlos while getting out of bed.

"Australia." I heard him say after closing the bathroom door behind me.

"Great! That's far enough, and I won't have to look over my shoulder every five minutes, afraid we will bump into her while in Europe."

Carlos cleaned his throat and his voice got serious. "Just in case. I'll leave my man in Australia to see if Gracie is going to leave from there."

I laughed. Carlos ate one cookie baked by Alison and now they were best friends and he wanted to make sure nothing was at risk.

"Wow, those cookies my wife gave you must be magic. I'll ask her to make you an entire meal next time I have my eyes on acquiring a company and I need you to do the due diligence."

He chuckled. "Oh, you shut up! My man is in Australia right now because you pay me well."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure Carlos, and yet I haven't even received the bill for the simple DNA test. Your heart has a special place for Alison now, and we both know it."

He laughed loudly on the other side of the line.

"Why don't you come by for dinner tonight? Alison is always happy to have guests for dinner. You can bring Melissa with you. Alison did not stop talking about her."

"Yeah, sure. I'll check my calendar to see if I can make it." He was trying his best not to sound too eager.

I snorted, knowing he would put everything aside to make it. "OK, 7 p.m. it is, Carlos. See you then."

I checked the time, and it was nearly 5 a.m., but I did not feel like going back to sleep. The good news had quieted the storm inside me, and I wanted to soak in the feeling.

It was a victory. I laughed. Perhaps we should name the baby Victor.

I walked back to the bedroom and looked at Alison. Lately, she was like Tommy. The house could be on fire, and she would sleep through it.

The blinds were closed, and I opened them. I sat on Alison's side, watching her sleep and thinking about all the things we could do in Europe before the baby arrived.

After a few hours of thinking about our lives, I noticed the sun was rising and petted her head to wake her up.

"Is everything okay?" She asked, looking at me with her sleepy face.

"Everything is great, love." I smiled at her, pulling the duvet aside. "Come to watch the sunrise with me."

I wrapped her in a blanket and carried her to the sofa, facing the window. Alison nested on my lap, laying her head on my chest. She still smelled the soothing scent of lavender from her bath the night before.

I inhaled her scent, wrapping my arms around her. "I love you, darling."

Alison wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me tighter. "It means the world to me when you say that."

I glanced at her face and smiled. "Well, then I'll say it more often. Perhaps every five minutes."

"I would love that." Her eyes shone in the dim light room.

As she looked up, I pressed my lips against hers. "Then, you have a deal, Mrs Stewart."

Alison laid back her head on my chest and without speaking, we watched the sun struggling to rise in the cold autumn.