He Never Did

With All My Heart

It's just past Jacob's bedtime and I'm changing into my nightwear as I hear knocks on the front door. Checking through the peephole I see Lindsey. "You have a key," I remind him as I open the door.
"I didn't want to be invasive."
"Well...Thank-you, Jacob's already in bed though, it's past seven."
"I know."
I take a deep breath.
"Then why are you here Lindsey?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"I've heard it a hundred times. Go home."
"No, I...I know the situation is difficult right now, with Kristen and the baby but..."
"Spit it out Lindsey."
"Just let me explain."
"I've not got time to waste."
"Please...Angel." I roll my eyes.
"I'm not your fvcking Angel Lindsey we're not teenagers. Stop turning up to tease me, then going home to fvck your wife. I may seem strong because I'm successful and iconic, the kind of person tonnes people think is perfect but I'm not and you know it! I have feelings, I have needs, and you can't make any of them better anymore. Just...Stop using me." I gasp for breath, my cheeks wet with tears.
"Stevie please!"
He follows me as I run for the kitchen, pouring a glass of water and popping some pills.
"Are you leaving now?" I ask, dabbing at my face. "You're not getting any, and you've embarrassed me enough."
"I didn't come here for any of that, I came to make you a promise."
"Oh you've made me plenty of those."
"Look," he hands me a wad of several documents from his pocket.
"Divorce papers?"
"Yeh," he rubs his forehead.
"But..."
"We've made an agreement to divorce after the baby is born."
"Your children..."
"I want them every few days. I don't understand men who see their kids every other weekend it's pathetic."
"Uh, yeh."
"I got you something," he scurries around in his other pocket, retrieving a little navy box and placing it on the counter.
"Well, open it."
Inside I find a fine silver ring with a miniature heart in the centre.
"It's a promise ring. I hope you don't think I'm silly."
I stare down at it.
"Stevie you haven't said anything, please say something," he sighs.

I fly into his arms and he picks me up, my legs circling his waist.
"I thought..." I croak up at him as my feet land back on the floor, still holding him as he hold me back just as tight, tears in his own eyes.
"So did I."
We stand like this for a long time until I start to tire of standing.
"Let me take you to bed," he insists, taking my waist and hand.

We kiss chastely a few times when we reach my room, then he lowers me onto the bed, running his fingers through my hair as I moan involuntarily against his tongue. "I love you with all my heart." He tells me.
"I love you too goldfish, always have, always will."
He shakes his head at my cheesy reference.
"The sentiment is mutual. I'll go fetch some drinks." He winks.
"Let me," I offer. I feel spoiled by his care and attentiveness, a walk to the kitchen the least I can do to repay him. He kisses my hand before I leave. I peep through Jacob's door, pleased to see him fast asleep as I shut it firmly.

Once downstairs, I hear a door slam shut somewhere and jump, almost spilling the glasses. Before I can call for Lindsey, I turn to see the perpetrator.
"Kristen!?" I hiss worriedly, not wishing to think the worst immediately. I assume she could need something important. "Is the baby OK? How did you even get in here?"
"Lindsey left his spare keys around."
"What's wrong? Should I call an ambulance?"
"You're what's wrong Stevie."
"I'm sorry?"
"Why is he even here?"
"He's seeing his son, why are you here?"
"We all know he doesn't just come here for Jacob, not after that miscarriage of yours."
"Kristen please."
"How does it feel to see him crawl back to me? I'm young enough to give him ten more children if he wanted it."
I bite my lip.
"He do-doesn't want it."
"What?!"
"He doesn't want more children with you."
"That's not his decision, I know how to stop taking birth control, it's worked a miracle before."
"Don't speak about your children like that, like...Pawns in a game of chess. It's childish and cruel."
"Just like you, a saggy, wrinkly woman in her fifties trying to snag a guy that left her high & dry years ago."
"Kristen sit down, you're heavily pregnant for goodness sake."
"I'll sit down when you know your own place. Leave Lindsey be."
"No."
I state simply.
She lurches herself at me and my reflexes kick in. Before I even realise I've touched her she's screaming on the floor.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I fret, crouching beside her.
"My baby...You bitch I'll kill you!" She whines as I straighten up, about to head for the telephone.

"Stevie?" Lindsey speaks confusedly as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
"She pushed me! She fvcking pushed me!"
My eyes meet his briefly but there is no time for me to speak. I am frozen as he dials an ambulance, helping up his sobbing wife, listening to her bump as he sits her down on the couch in the hallway, spotting a few drops of blood down her thighs as she shrieks. He carries her out of the door and into the care of the paramedics without a second glance.