Someone New

Chapter VIII

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" Zachary questioned Melissa as he pulled a sleeping Zion out of his booster seat and into his arms. Though he came around to accepting the thought of having a second child, Melissa kept him at arms length if it involved the baby growing within her.

"I'm positive. Plus the class is geared towards single mothers. So it'll help with making friends and having someone to talk to who's going through the same thing as me." Melissa watched as Zachary's frown deepened at the term 'single mother'.

"But you're not a single mother. We're married." Zach emphasized the last term this time causing Melissa to frown. She couldn't get upset because what he said was the truth. She was indeed married though she'd stopped wearing her wedding ring and removed herself from his accounts at the bank; that truth still lies there that she was still legally tied to Zachary.

"Don't remind me about that issue." Melissa stated with a deepened frown. Her therapist had given her the idea to become legally separated and her mother-in-law agreed that it fit the situation. She'd approached Zachary with the decision and he panicked giving a definite no.

"Melissa," Zachary said with a sigh as Melissa closed the back door of her G63. "When are you coming home?"

"What are you talking about? I came from my home." Melissa stated referencing to the home that she purchased a few months prior. Melissa opened the driver's door and used the step to hop into her car.

Zach released another breath as he looked back at the home Melissa had chosen for them more than six years ago when they'd finally discussed the idea of starting a family. The memory of the smile that spread across her face when they received the keys to the home made his heart hurt. Giving up on another attempt to move his family back into a single home he stepped away from the vehicle that was identical to the one housed in his garage.

"Are you at least going to start driving your car again?" Zachary asked with hope filled in his voice. Melissa could see that the steps she'd taken since they'd separated was finally getting to Zach. When she'd stated that she didn't need his money for Zion and the little one growing inside of her - she meant it.

Any clothes or toys that Zachary bought Zion after the move stayed at his home. Melissa replaced the midnight black magno G63 that she'd just received a few months before the separation with the identical one that she was currently driving. Melissa covered the price of everything she'd gotten for her baby boy thus far and anything given to her by Zachary was sure to stay at his place. It wasn't solely for her sake, but for Zach to realize that though they were having sex multiple times a week it was just that - sex.

"You can sell it if you'd like." Melissa stated returning to his question. "I have to go before I'm late. I'll see you tonight when I pick up Zi." Melissa took the short nod as his acceptance and closed her door as she watched him easily carry the forty-five pound four almost five year old inside. She hated that Zion had to witness what was going on between Zachary and herself but was soon smiling at the memory of their talk three months ago.

"Wow Mommy look how big the room is." Melissa watched as Zion ran around the perimeter of the room.

"How would you like it to be your new room?" Melissa questioned causing Zion to gasp and run back to Melissa; the shock evident on his face.

"You mean I'll have this gigantic room to myself?" Zion asked with his arms spread wide to emphasize how big he thought the room was. Melissa refrained from telling him it was almost half the square footage of his current room.

Melissa nodded answering his question which caused a dramatic gasp before his little arms were wrapped around Melissa's hips embracing her.