Ethan's Desire.

Twenty-two

Venus Cavannaugh

Throughout the plane ride, I had just been silent, the only thing consoling me was Zara's hand that had been holding mine every step.

I couldn't even shed a tear, I had loved Liam but for him to do this, it was unspeakable.

Three years of our lives had been a lie, so whenever he said he was going overseas for work, it meant that he was still in the country, in Florida, with her.

  The plane descended, throughout the hustle and bustle of getting our luggages,I was still unable to say anything, to do anything, I was numb.

She led me into the awaiting cab just outside JFK airport. My head was low, still unable to comprehend what had just occurred the day before.

"How are you going to break it to him?". Zara asked.

"I don't know". Which was all I said, she got the hint and left me alone. My main concern was Marie tearing away the perfect family she envisioned wasn't my plan for her at all.

  She would be affected by all this, it could affect her psychologically as well as her social life, how was I going to tell her that she wouldn't be able to see her father how she wanted.

  Dread filled me as the cab turned and drove into my street, I was counting how many houses it would take before mine came to view.

The cab suddenly stopped, the large storey house stood proudly waiting for my entrance. I stepped out of the cab weakly, my nerves frantic and disturbed. The driver helped to bring out my luggage.

Zara peered out of the window and asked,
"Do you need me to stay?".

"No I'll be fine, don't worry". I answered shakily.

"How can you not expect me to worry?". She answered. "If anything goes wrong, please call me".

I nodded and watched as the cab drove off, I picked up the luggage and opened the door, I went inside straight up to I and Liam's room, it's not even ours anymore.

  I dropped my stuff and went down to the living room to await his return.

  I just waited for hours still sitting in that same position before the door opened and I turned to see Liam entering.

"You're back, how was your trip?". He asked as he turned away from me to drop something.

"It was fine".

He came close and laid a peck on my lips before turning away and left the room.

My palms became sweaty and I wiped them by the side of my jeans, he entered into the living room once more after seeing me, his expression changed.

"Are you alright?". He came towards me and held me, "What's wrong? Did something happen?".

  I looked up to him, my eyes teary with unshed tears.
"Why Liam?"

"What do you mean, you know I can't understand you like this?". He said frustrated.

"I know about Katherine, I know about your son, Connor. How could you do this Liam? How could you!!".

   I couldn't care less at this point if the whole neighborhood could hear me, what he did was unjustifiable.

"Couldn't you think of Marie!! What's she gonna think. All this years that you've been overseas, when you've been in Florida". I spat venomously at him, my voice increasing at every word.

"How could you Liam? Why? Wasn't I enough for you?! Or your dick needed fresh entry!!!". I yelled furiously.

  All of a sudden, he grabbed me and pushed me against the wall. His fingers digging into my flesh causing dark bruises to form later.

"You have no fucking idea how much I didn't want to!!". He screamed in my face as if I lured him to cheat on me on purpose.

"It's not my fault, I didn't want this!!". He yelled again.

"Oh and it's mine!!". I yelled back. "You have no fucking clue how glad I am to get you out of our fucking lives, you whoring prick!!!".

"Fuck you, I don't need this shit, I'm better off without you". He left me as I crumbled to the floor.

Charged with anger, I stood at  my comeback, "I deserve better than you, you turned your back on your own family!!! Where are you going to go, back to your mistress!!!, Bitch!!!". I screamed at him.

  After that, a loud smack was heard throughout the living room, the intensity of the slap made me fall to the ground hitting my side hard on the table.

  I held my stung cheek and looked at him, refusing to let him see my pain, my lips quivered, tears threatening to fall.

  His body still shaken in anger, his chest heaving to allow more air into his lungs.

  My gaze turned to the little figure just standing behind him staring at what had just happened before her eyes.

Everything I had tried to hide from my daughter, it had just unfolded in her sight.

"Marie...". I mumbled silently, my heart shattered.

  Liam started walking towards the door as he passed her, he patted her head then opened the door and left. The sound of rising engine soon faded away.

I looked back at Marie whose gaze never left mine. I held out my hand motioning for her to come. She didn't even waste time to run into my arms.

"Mommy it's okay". She says in my ear as she held me tightly.

  Tears just flooded my face, it fell freely without any restraint, she left my embrace and ran out of the room while I still sat on the floor and cried out.

Minutes later she came in with my phone and knelt down beside me. Her little fingers wiping away the fallen tears. I drew her into my arms,

"We're going to be okay, just you and I, baby".