Where There's Smoke

The Face of Betrayal

Roman's POV

It had been almost a full week since I have seen Janae or Eva. I was surviving off of the screen shots I took of Eva when she let me facetime her. Alicia had sent me a few pictures of Eva and her. She had told me she was with Dontae and that got me to leave her. My favorite one that she had sent me was one of Eva trying to nurse Janae's cheek. I've stared at it every day since she sent to me for hours. After a while she blocked me on everything so I no longer could contact her directly. I had been isolated in our house. I wouldn't sleep in our bedroom if I slept at all. I would either stay in my office or the guest room if I made it upstairs. It was late when I had decided to go take a shower after spending another full day in my gym. I looked at the time and saw it was 1am. I had been in there since 9 this morning. I took the long walk upstairs to the guest room. I walked past my empty bedroom and the empty nursery. I tried not to think about it. I stripped and got in the shower and stood under the water. I closed my eyes and all I could see is was Janae crying burned into my memory. The last thing Dontae said to me kept playing through my brain. I leaned my head against the wall. I got out of the shower and dried off. I slipped some sweats on and sat on the bed. The silence of my house was starting to get to me. I leaned back on the pillow and closed my eyes. I rolled over to my laptop and watched one of the videos that Janae used to make me do while she was pregnant. "Can you put my hair in a bun for me? My arms are tired from blow drying it." She looked up at me.

"The things I do out of love." I laughed brushing her hair out and putting it in a bun.

"We still only have Jordan for her name." She smiled.

"I found a perfect name. What do you think about Evangaline Alaina?" I asked.

"That's really pretty. What do you think about that for your name cupcake?" She rubbed her belly. "She is kicking me, so that is a yes. Your name is officially Evangaline Alaina Jordan Marchetti." I smiled at the video and the next one started playing too. We had gone shopping and she gave into getting maternity clothes since she couldn't fasten her jeans anymore. I was sitting in the big fitting room with her. "How do I look?" She asked.

"What makes them maternity clothes again?" I asked.

"This supports our baby girl." She lifted her shirt revealing a spandex panel attached her jeans. "This rouging on the shirt also makes for room for her." She smiled.

"Oh, that's cool." I came up behind her in the mirror and she grinned. "You look amazing in anything. You look really beautiful pregnant." She leaned her head shoulder.

"I never knew I could be filled with so much joy and love. You and our little girl make me happy." She kissed my jaw.

"Don't go soft on me Jackson." I kissed her forehead.

"Never that Marchetti." I shut my laptop and it was hurting. Everything hurt. I closed my eyes and covered my ears with the pillow. I thought I could hear music faintly playing, but I just shook my head. Being alone was starting to get to me. I could still hear it though. I sat back up and listened closely. I was hearing music. I got out of bed and walked toward it. It was coming from the nursery. I peaked in there and heard rainbow connection playing. The music notes and stars mobile were turning above the cradle. I went to turn it off and I looked in the cradle that was supposed to be empty. I saw Eva in it smiling up at the mobile. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. I reached in the crib and held my daughter. I kissed her and just held her. I missed her so much. She put her little face in my neck. "Daddy missed you so much Eva." I was trying to process how she could have got here. I walked past her room I should have seen her. I didn't look in it though. I held her up so I could see her face. She had grown since I saw her last. Not a lot, but enough for me to notice. "I miss you and your mommy so much." She just looked at me. I walked out of the nursery and went to my room. I walked in and saw something that I missed so much. Janae was fast asleep in our bed. I sighed and just looked at her. I eased to her side of the bed and saw she had tear stains on he cheeks. I automatically went to her and kissed her cheek. I never wanted this to happen. I didn't mean for this to happen. She stirred and opened her eyes. "You're home." I whispered.