Marriage Mistake

Chapter 3- Meetings And Tears

-Picture of Chris-

Today the plan  is to drop the girls off to school, go to the mall to meet Natasha and later go to an emergency council meeting about the Carnival tomorrow. We do a carnival around this time every year. It's a fun thing for the kids to do and it gets people out and about. The mall is a 30 minute drive outside of town. I walk in and see Natasha sat where she said she would be, a coffee in her hands. Her hair is full of her natural curls and she has a smile on her face. 

"You ready to shop?" She asks, standing up when I get to her.
"It'd be better if I was actually shopping for myself."
"Hey who doesn't love shopping for community events." She chuckles. Not me. I'm the one stuck with the shopping every year. Prizes, decorations. I'm even in charge of hiring the vendors and getting sponsors. I'm good with money I guess.

"So how is everything?" She asks, looking at some shirts. A tie dye station is a new thing we're adding this year. 

"Well I'm pregnant." I say, grabbing a pile of shirts from the rack.

"Does Brad know yet?" She asks, glancing at me. 
"No. Only me and you know."
"How do you think he'll take it?"
"I have no idea." I sigh. 
"How are you gonna tell him?"
"Once again, I have no idea." That's not something I really wanna be thinking of right now.

****
Town Council meetings are sometimes interesting and sometimes boring. Depends on what happened since the last meeting and what event is coming up. I get out of the car and grab my purse before shutting the door. When I turn around I'm surprised to see Brad there. But he isn't alone. Macy Willows is in the passenger seat of his car. She's on the council.  She's actually vice president. If I can't make it to a meeting she takes over. Didn't realize that meant husbands too. I realize I'm staring when they both look at me. I walk over to the car and Brad rolls down his window.

"What are you doing here?" He asks.
"I'm head of the council. Or did you forget already?" Awkward. "Will you be staying?"
"No. I have somewhere else to be. Just dropping her off."
"Well while I have you hear I may as well tell you two love birds the news."
"What news?" They ask at the same time.
"I'm pregnant."
"What?" Brad asks, a guilty look coming over his face.
"I'm having your child. But don't even worry about it. You just continue what your doing and I'll continue what I'm doing." I say.
"I am worried about it!" He yells.
"I think you've lost that right." I say, walking away and into the building. If acting tough is what I have to do in front of him that's what I'll do even if I'm falling apart on the inside.

I sit down at the head of the table and Macy sits down next to me. Great. Just what I need. Some people whisper while others stay silent. Everyone has to know by now. Brad's truck hasn't been in the driveway lately and we haven't been in public together. 

 Hardly anyone talks unless they have too and it's actually the quietest meeting I've been too since I became the head of this thing.
As soon as the meeting is over I jump out of my chair and head for the door, ready to get home to bed. Before I can step outside, Macy stops me, a look on her face I can't read.

"I hope we have no hard feelings." She says, smiling at me.
"What?" I question.
"I don't want us to hate each other for this little thing." She says, grabbing her coat off the rack by the door.
"Are you delusional? Your sleeping with the father of my kids. My husband. And you think I'm gonna have no hard feelings?"
"Well yeah." She chuckles.
"Go to hell."

I open the door and see Brad stood there, about to walk in.

"You can follow." I say, pointing to him as I walk away.

I get in my car and a tear rolls down my face. What has my life come too?

****

I pull into the driveway and go in the house. I throw my bag on the bench and throw my shoes in the corner by the door. I creep into the living room and see Josh sleeping on the couch. I asked him to watch the girls since he was the closest person to the house. Not only that Natasha was busy. I lay a blanket over him and go upstairs. Sleeping the day away would be perfect.