Regrets

Chapter 2

"Elena?" Adam enquires in the room.

"Shhh!" I just put the children to sleep. What is he doing here? I don't want to be around this man. We have nothing to talk about.

"Sorry, I just thought we needed to talk" he now whispered.

"There is nothing we have to say to each," I say trying to keep the quiver out of my voice. I reach for the divorce papers. "I have signed your divorce papers."

He looks devastated, why? This is what he wanted. He reaches for the papers but I pull my hand back. I was up all night setting out my plan.

"I am not going to let you have these papers yet." He looks confused. "I have 3 conditions" I am impressed at how confident I sound.

"What are you conditions?" Adam is now in business mode, he is serious about negotiating. I see the glint in his eye.

"I have 3 conditions." I pause and look at my ex husband. He nods for me to go on. "Number 1: you let me and the twins stay at your house for one year. We will have separate bedrooms." I look at Adam he is staring at me still waiting for my two further conditions. "Number 2: I will need you to help me with the Isabella and Archie, while I finish my final year of law school. Remember I dropped out for this marriage thinking it was for real." I scored a direct hit there. I saw my implacable husband wince. Good. "And finally Number 3: I will need your support for 3 years to help with expenses. That will allow me to finish law school and get a stable job. This will include paying for school and books. I will move out of the house after school so rent also. If I can get a good paying job sooner your obligation will end then." I am looking down at my lap at this point. I feel so vulnerable asking for this help. Especially from this man I hate. How could he have made an agreement with my parents. I shiver thinking of those people they were never my parents... they were cruel.

Adam has moved closer to my bed. He reaches over to place his finger under my chin and lift my face up. He moans in despair when he see my tears. He moved both his hand to my face cradling my cheeks and wiping away the tears. Why is he being so gentle? He clears his throat, "I agree to your conditions but with a few exceptions."

Oh god. "Wh...what exceptions?" He is too close to me. I can't think straight.

He smiles, my business husband is back. "Well, for one we will sleep in the same bedroom while you live in that house. I won't touch you sexually unless you ask though." I blush red. "And 2 you stay in the house, living with me until you find a stable job and then we will revisit living arrangements." He takes a pause still looking into my eyes. "3, I will support you in perpetuity. And finally 4 you will give me a second chance."

I gasp in surprise. "I can't .... I can't. You worked with them. With the people who hurt me most. You never loved me. I can't!" I look over at children to make sure my outburst hasn't woken them. Luckily they are sleeping through it, unaware of the turmoil of their mother.

Adam is still to close to me. He is on the edge, "I made a terrible mistake and I am not asking for you forgiveness just that you allow me to show who I really am and you show me. I know you don't trust me. You are right not to. But if I can't make this work in the next year we can revisit our arrangement. Please El please let me try to fix this." He is holding his breath waiting for my answer.

Oh god. I want this so bad. But how can I trust him.

"Okay but we revisit this after a year and if it is not working we go back to my conditions." He lets out his breath in a sigh of relief. "I will not have sex with you." I hasten to add.

He smiles and kisses the tip of nose. "I am going to fix this and be the best husband ever"

Then he steps back in shock and says, "wait! Did you just say Isabella and Archie. You named them?" He looks at our children in awe.

"Yes I did."

"They are beautiful names." He whispers and looks up at me. I see tears in his eyes.

"They are awfully common." The cold voice of my mother chills the hospital room.

I start having a panic attack.