Her Awakening

Chapter 15: An Uneasy Peace

I sat in the back of the taxi, staring at the city lights as they blurred past the windows. My mind was a tangled mess, reeling from the intensity of my time with Jalal. Absentmindedly, I touched my lips, still tingling from the kiss we had shared.

What are you doing, Melissa? I scolded myself silently, my hands curling into fists on my lap. The guilt hit me like a wave, heavy and unrelenting. Jalal was intoxicating, a magnetic force that made me forget everything—my marriage, my responsibilities, my family. But now, in the quiet of the taxi, the reality of what I had done began to seep in.

By the time I got home, the guilt had settled firmly in my chest. I paid the driver and stepped out, the evening air cool against my skin. Unlocking the door, I stepped into the quiet house and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The twins were still at Joshua's parents' house, and Joshua wouldn't be back from work for a while. I had time.

Desperate to distract myself, I headed straight to the kitchen. Cooking always helped ground me, pulling me back to the person I was supposed to be. Why do I even feel guilty when he's got a whole mistress? I thought bitterly, but I pushed the thought aside.

I decided to make Joshua's favorite meal: egusi soup and eba. It was labor-intensive, but I knew he'd appreciate it. As I moved through the kitchen, gathering ingredients and chopping vegetables, my hands worked on autopilot while my mind swam with memories of Jalal. His words echoed in my ears, his promises lingering like a forbidden melody. "I'm not going anywhere, Princess." My cheeks flushed as I remembered the way his hands had felt, the way his presence had consumed me.

I shook my head, forcing the thoughts away. The rich aroma of egusi filled the kitchen, and I glanced at the clock. Joshua would be home soon. I checked the eba, ensuring it was the right consistency, and set the table. Moments later, I heard the sound of his car pulling into the driveway. My heart skipped a beat. Quickly, I composed myself, wiping my hands on a towel as the front door opened.

"Babe, I'm home!" Joshua's voice rang out, cheerful and full of energy.

I turned to see him entering the kitchen, his arms full of shopping bags. He looked exhausted but happy, his face lighting up as he set the bags on the counter.

"I went shopping for the twins!" he said excitedly, pulling out tiny shoes and clothes to match their birthday outfits. "Look at these! Aren't they perfect?"

I forced a smile, my chest tightening with guilt as I watched him. This was the man I had vowed to love, the father of my children, bubbling with excitement over their birthday. And all I could think about was Jalal.

"These are adorable," I murmured, running my fingers over the little shoes. "They're going to love them."

"I know, right?" he grinned, pulling out more items. "I even got some toys and extra decorations for the party. It's going to be amazing."

"You really did your thing," I said softly. "I'm impressed."

Joshua finally noticed the smell of the food. "Is that egusi soup?" he asked, his eyes lighting up. "You made my favorite?"

I nodded, trying to smile. "Yeah. Thought it'd be nice."

"Thank you, babe," he said, leaning over to peck my lips. "You're the best."

We sat down for dinner, and for the first time in what felt like ages, things felt almost normal. We talked easily, mostly about the twins and the upcoming party. I filled him in on my parents' plans, and he chimed in with ideas for games and cakes. It was... nice. Almost too nice.

After dinner, we FaceTimed with the twins. They were bubbling with excitement, their little voices overlapping as they told us about their adventures at the restaurant.

"Mommy, we helped Grandma cook!" Melody squealed.

"And I counted the monies!" Markie added proudly.

Joshua and I laughed, their joy contagious. It was moments like these that reminded me why I had fallen in love with him. He was an amazing father, fully invested in our kids and their happiness.

Later, as we cleaned up from dinner, Joshua surprised me by asking about my books.

"How many books have you written now?" he asked casually as we settled on the couch.

"Seven," I replied, a little caught off guard. "Why?"

"I was just thinking," he said, a curious glint in his eyes. "You write romance, right? Like... Fifty Shades type of stuff?"

I laughed, genuinely this time. "Not exactly Fifty Shades, but yeah, they have romance and... some steamy parts."

"That's cool," he said, his tone sincere. "I don't think I've ever told you this, but I'm proud of you, Mel. You're doing what you love, and that's amazing."

His words warmed me, and for a moment, I let myself relax. It had been so long since we'd shared a moment like this—just us, talking like we used to. But then his phone buzzed on the table, pulling me back to reality.

I glanced at the screen, my stomach twisting when I saw the name: Emma.

Joshua picked up the phone without hesitation, his fingers already typing. My mood soured as I watched him.

"How's Emma?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

"She's doing okay," he said absentmindedly, still typing. "Her ex really messed her up, but she's making progress."

I bit my tongue as he continued talking about her, his words spilling out with an enthusiasm I hadn't heard in a while. He even mentioned how much Emma wanted to make amends with me.

"She really cares about you, Mel," he said earnestly. "She wants to fix things between you two."

I forced a smile, nodding. "I'll... try," I said, surprising even myself.

Joshua smiled, clearly relieved. He leaned over and kissed me softly. "Thank you, babe."

As he held me that night, his breath even and peaceful, I stared at the ceiling, my mind tangled in thoughts of Jalal's kiss and Joshua's words. Two men. Two worlds. And a heart stretched far too thin.

-----------------------------------AUTHORS NOTE--------------------------------

Hey my lovelies! so they kissed!!!! is that cheating? let me know...