Seasons of Change

25

The weekend following Victor's return home, Fernando held a Welcome Home party for his son at Gladys' home. He and his mother made carne asada, chicken, a pot of pork pozole, beans, rice, and flan.

Everyone was coming, Rocco included. Marisol hadn't had room in her car and Nina was not going to be an option so it was agreed that Atira and Krist would bring Rocco over.

"They're gonna peer pressure you to come in, you know," Krist pointed out, knowing Fernando wasn't one to let someone out of his family functions.

Atira sighed, leaning her head back on the seat, "I really don't want to see...her," she said, closing her eyes.

It had been nearly a year since the infidelity had happened and even though Krist had been doing well to earn her trust, she wasn't sure if she could ever look Nina in her fat face without wanting to bash it in.

Women in her online mom forums would always attack each other for being upset with the other woman and not the unfaithful spouse and she understood that. However, she was willing to forgive Krist, and to do so, she had to move on.

Now Nina was abso-fucking-lutely not an innocent party in this situation. It wasn't like Krist neglected to mention that he was married, she knew that and she knew Atira had not only just had his freaking baby but she was pregnant again. And the nasty bitch still eagerly spread her legs for him.

Just that thought made Atira's insides burn with anger. Anger towards Nina and anger towards her cheating freaking husband. She shot him a furious glance from the passenger seat.

Unfortunately, he happened to catch it and knew exactly what prompted the burning look. Cautiously, Krist reached out and took her hand in his, "Baby, if we do go in, you know you ain't got nothing to worry about. Fernando said there's gonna be a shit ton of people anyway and we can just avoid her. I don't want to see her either."

Atira found herself fighting back hot tears, her stomach in knots. Instead of replying, she pulled out her phone and scrolled absently through Facebook. She could hear Krist sigh in defeat, his eyes glued to the road.

Realistically, she understood there wasn't anything that could change what he had done but boy did it still hurt and she was uncertain if that hurt would ever fully go away.

And the thoughts would creep up on her at the most inopportune times, not that there was ever a good time to imagine one's spouse naked, writhing on top of another woman. She couldn't watch her drama shows that had elements of infidelity. If she saw a woman in public who resembled Nina, her eyes would stay glued to Krist to make sure he wasn't looking at her. Sometimes when they made love, her mind would wonder if that was how he'd touched Nina as well.

It made her legitimately ill, physically ill to where she felt like she was going to vomit. And as they headed towards Gladys' house, she felt nauseated, her legs trembling. If Atira hadn't still felt so threatened and insecure over this woman, she would have simply said to leave her at
Home with the babies and to go with Rocco alone but she couldn't bear the thought of Krist being around Nina without her, even if there were a dozen people and Rocco present.

"I'm just gonna make up an excuse and say we got shit to do," Krist forced an uncomfortable smile, not wanting to have Atira upset with him.

Atira exhaled, "You don't need to do that."

"Maybe they won't even invite us in?" Krist asked hopefully.

She looked at him skeptically.

"On the positive side, you know you want some of Gladys' bomb-ass cooking."