How did I get here?

Chapter 2

I lock my car and walk inside my families house; still not sure of what is going on. I take out my key and unlock the front door, I hear conversations in the distance so I walk towards the sounds.
"Oh I heard the door open that must be America," I hear May say then I hear feet running towards me and then May appears and crashes into my arms. "Hi Ames!"
"Hey May, where is everyone?"
"Oh follow me," she says.
I love my sister! Sometimes she feels like the only light at the end of this dark tunnel I'm in. 
"Close your eyes," she instructs.
"Okay," I say slightly laughing as I let her lead me through the house. 
"Don't peek," she warns.
"I'm not!"
"Okay open them," she says.
Standing in front of me is a blonde I haven't seen in what feels like forever. Marlee quickly runs up to me and hugs me.
"I've missed you," is all I can say through my happy tears. This kind of surprise is the exact thing I needed today considering everything that happened with Tyler this morning. I really needed to see someone who really cares about me that wasn't just my family.
"What are you doing here?" I say as I pull back from Marlee's embrace.
"Well Carter and I are the palace representatives for the work dinner thing that your husband is presenting at tonight!"
I faked a smile; I was glad for the support Carter and Marlee would bring, but I didn't want them to see the person I've been forced to become. Carter and Marlee gained their freedom when King Clarkson and Queen Amberley died in a mass shooting about a year ago.
"I'm so exited to see your husband again I haven't seen him since the wedding," Marlee says.
"Yeah um but enough about me what about you?" I ask trying to get the attention off of me and especially off of Tyler.
"Oh I have so much to tell you!"
"Let's go in the other room," I say and we go walk downstairs to the tv room.
We sit down on the couch and Marlee turns towards me with an excitement in her eyes.
"Someone seems happy," I say.
"I am everything has been working out lately," she says.
"I'm glad it has for you," I say.
"Well it has for you too," she says.
I look down at my hands, in that moment I debated in my head for what felt like hours if I should just confess everything with my life right then and there.
"Well, hasn't it?" She said as the concern grows in her voice.
"Yeah it has," I lie. I couldn't tell Marlee the truth, that would ruin her good mood. Her life has been getting pieced back together, she doesn't need to know that mine is falling apart, no one needs to know.
"What's wrong," she presses.
I quickly try to think of an excuse that won't damper her mood then it comes to me, "we just have had a lot of stress at our house with his big presentation coming up and all."
She looks at me skeptically but, seems to except my answer.
"So how are Kriss and Maxon?" I️ was curious but, at the same time I️ really didn't want to know.
"They are good I️ guess, they never seem to be affectionate towards each other. They hold hands every now and then, but there always seems to be something Maxon is holding back that Kriss is more than ready for."
"Kids, maybe? It's been a few years, I️ don't know, maybe that's what their missing." I️ say with a pitch of sadness in my voice.
"Look we don't need to talk about this," she starts but she doesn't finish her sentence.
"No it's fine I️ brought it up anyway," I️ say forcing a smile on my face, which feels like something I️ do a lot lately.
"Well I️ think you could use some good news to brighten the mood?" She says and I️ smile and nod.
"I'm pregnant," is all she says.
"That's amazing! Congrats!" I️ say my mood finally lifted, even just for this moment.
"So any little ones for you and Tyler in the near future?"
I️ look down Tyler didn't want kids especially considering me getting pregnant would ruin his hot trophy wife. I️ wanted kids but at this point, I️ can't even remember the last time I️ got something I️ truly wanted.
"Uh, I️ don't know," I️ finally say.
"You don't know! What do you mean?" Marlee asks.
In that moment I️ wanted to tell Marlee everything, how Tyler only views me as a hot trophy wife, how he never wants kids, how every day of my life is never ending torture all because I️ couldn't keep my needy little hands off of a guard. I'm so stupid! When I️ was seventeen all I️ wanted was someone who would care about me all the time. And when Maxon wasn't there to do that for me I️ turned to Aspen and ruined my life. 
"It's not the right time for us to have kids," I️ finally lie even though I️ want to scream and say can't you see how unhappy I️ am in my marriage? Can't you see I️ could have had a fairy tale life but instead I️ had to run my cheating little hands all over a guard.
"Hey your time will come to have kids," she says as she gently rubs my back. "You seem tense maybe you need to do something for yourself. If all goes well tonight, if you do come to the palace, maybe you and me could do a girls day? Or if you don't come to the palace I'll get the day off of work and we can have a girls day anyway."
I️ look up and smile at her then I️ bring her into a hug. "Thanks I️ could really use that."
"Anytime," she says. 
Just then my phone rings, I️ brake the hug with Marlee and look at it. Of course it's Tyler, great just the person I️ wanted to hear from.
"Hello," I️ answer in as calm of a voice as I️ can.
"Where do you think you are! I️ came home from work and your not here! I️ had a rough day and your not even here to make it better with your lips."
"I'm at my Mom's house an old friend came to visit," I️ say as I️ look at Marlee who gives me a half smile.
"So, you didn't think to I️ don't know, tell me where you were going to be!" He says into the phone.
I️ place the phone away from my mouth and say excuse me to Marlee and head into the other room where I️ can't be heard.
"Tyler I'm not a three year old that needs you to take care of them and know their every move all of the time," I️ say.
"Really, is that right, because last time I️ checked you certainly act like a three year old!"
"Excuse you," is all I️ can say.
"Be home in 10 minutes with your lips ready to make my day better," he said and with that he hung up.
With a heavy heart I️ say goodbye to everyone and head home the last place I️ want to be right now.