2.5: Picking Up The Pieces

Chapter 9: Final preparations.

The next morning, Hadriana is still fretting about what she had found out the previous day, thankfully to everyone else, it just looks like she is having the pre wedding jitters. She is sitting on the edge of the bed when her mother walks in, she sees her with her head in her hands and gets a little worried.
"Are you alright sweetheart?"
Hadriana hangs her head.
"No, not really Mama..."

Sedona sits down next to her and puts an arm around her, Hadriana cuddles into her chest.
"And why not? This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life... you are not getting cold feet are you?"
Hadriana is unfamiliar with that phrase.
"My feet are just fine... Why would I have cold feet?"
Sedona laughs.
"Hahah, you have never heard the phrase? It means you might be having doubts... That is all."
Hadriana thinks for a moment.
"Alright, then possibly, yes..."
Sedona sighs then takes her hand in reassurance.
"I can read you like a book Hadriana... You love him with every fibre of your being... What is wrong really?"
Hadriana sighs heavily.
"Agh... Fine... I will tell you but you must keep it quiet until I can tell Seb myself... alright?"
Sedona puts her hand on her heart.
"I swear..."

Hadriana looks her in the eye. "Alright... I am pregnant..."
Sedona smiles with joy.
"But that is wonderful news sweetheart! Your little family is about to grow again... Why are you so upset about it?"
Hadriana sighs again.
"Now this part you must keep to yourself... particularly until I have had a chance to speak to Seb... I need you to swear on this one... This is quite serious..."
Sedona looks at her confused.
"You are scaring me now sweetheart... But alright, I swear... What else is the matter?"
Hadriana stares at the floor again.
"I am pregnant again... And it might not be Seb's child this time..."
Sedona breaks away from her and looks at her in disbelief.
"I am sorry... What?"

Hadriana keeps her eyes focused on the floor.
"I said it might not be Seb's..."
Sedona puts her hand on her forehead, visibly stressed.
"Dear Gods Hadriana... what have you been doing? Who else is there?!"
She looks back at her mother. "Seb and I had a big fight about three months ago because I had admitted to sleeping with Alexander at Sera's first birthday party..."
Sedona counts on her fingers "Alright... But isn't she nearly two? The timing would not fit..."
Hadriana stares at her favourite spot on the floor again.
"Not for that one time no... I kicked Seb out for two weeks about three months ago... And... well..."
She has a guilty grimace as Sedona sighs with despair.
"You did not... Please say you did not do it again..."

Hadriana just hangs her head in shame, nodding slightly Sedona sighs.
"Oh dear Gods... You have no self control, girl! You are more like me than you realise... What in the world are you going to do about it?!"
Her head still hangs almost limply.
"My timing could be wrong... We had a lot of sex in those two weeks though, I could not keep my hands off him, you wait until you see him, you will understand why... But when Seb was back, I could not keep my hands off him either... So it is a fairly even chance... I think... Oh what a mess..."

Sedona doesn't really know what to think at this moment.
"Agh, damn it... And... Now your brother is practically in love with the man too... I have an idea... Tell Sebastian that you are expecting... Just do not mention him unless Seb does... Then go from there... I would tell Alexander first though... And just ask him to be discreet... There are still over four hours until the ceremony... You have plenty of time to get ready... Go to his place now for about half an hour and discuss it... Let us just hope your brother is not still there..."

She sighs, she knows it's deceitful but she doesn't think she has much of a choice at the moment.
"Agh... Alright, thank you Mama... Give me a moment and I will go... Can you keep things going here for just now please?"
Sedona smiles with reticence but strokes her daughter's hair in reassurance anyway.
"Yes of course, no-one else is even up yet anyway..."