Page 81 of Abigail's King
“No, Kye. If you are going to say you love me and think that is going to make it all better, you’re wrong. I need to know you love me. That it’s me you want to be with.”
My voice sounded angrier the more I spoke, and I guessed I wanted that to sink in before I continued. What I had to say next, though, was important for him to hear. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, which were on edge, along with slowing my heart, which was almost beating out of my chest.
“I also need you to admit you need help. The man I saw the day I left was the polar opposite of the man I walked in on playing the piano with tears pouring down his face. You have to know that isn’t how a normal person functions daily, and from the sound of things, this has been going on for a long while. Everyone in your life wants to help you, but you have to want that help. Before I can even consider coming back to you, I need to know you’re going to get help. The cold robot that stood in front of me and sent me away scared me.”
I watched as a tear rolled down his face. This was the man I loved in front of me now. The one that wasn’t afraid to show me his vulnerable side, no matter who could see.
“I know I need help, Bonita. I’m just worried what remembering my past will do to me. I’m scared. For the first time in my life, I’m scared of myself. Of what I have done. What I have lost.”
He looked up at me as he said the last few words, I guessed hoping that I would immediately say that he hadn’t lost me. But I wasn’t going to say that. I still wasn’t sure that he really wanted me. I picked up my bag from the floor and pulled out the envelope that I had for Kye. It contained two pictures. One of the scans of our twins and one that Joel had captured of us together in the caves before Bianca had shown up. I had a copy of it at home, it was a beautiful picture and you could see how in love with each other we were. I wanted Kye to see them both so he could decide which was more important to him, the twins or our relationship. I knew it wasn’t something that he should have to choose between, but his answer would decide our fate: friends or lovers. Either way, we would still have our children bonding us, but it would determine what kind of bond we had.
I set the envelope on the table and slid it over to him. As he went to take it, I placed my hand over his.
“When you open that envelope, you need to decide. Do you want me back because you truly want to be with me? Or do you feel obligated to be with me because of our children?”
I finally let out the secret I’d been keeping, that I was expecting more than one child. He opened the envelope and looked at the photos in front of him.
“Twins? You’re expecting two children, for me?”
I nodded. “I’m not going to let you answer me today, but before I leave, I want to know what you want. Do you want me or the twins? Just know one thing. I love you, and always have and will, no matter what your decision is. Goodbye, Kye.”
I got up from my seat and kissed him on the cheek, then walked away. I couldn’t look back, as the tears were pouring down my face. It was the hardest thing I had ever done, and I felt as though my heart was breaking in two again. I saw Davi and Mateus walking towards me. I was immediately engulfed in Mateus’s arms as the tears continued to fall.
“I’m guessing you didn’t make it easy for him,” Davi said.
I smiled up at him. “I’ll let him tell you, but basically, I said it was me or the twins.”
“Ouch. I will go and speak to him. Don’t leave the country without saying goodbye, will you?”
“I won’t. Look after him, please. Get him the help he needs.”
He smiled, nodded, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and headed off in Kye’s direction. I just hoped that he did get the help, along with deciding that it was me he really needed.
“Come on, the guys are waiting for you to say goodbye,” Mateus told me. “Then I’m taking you back to the hotel. I think you’ve had enough for one day. You can have a girls’ afternoon with my mum, Sofia, and Aliciana another day. I think Davi and I’s plan was probably a bit too much for you both. I’m sorry.”
I had my answer as to whether this was a setup. But I couldn’t be mad at either of them. It had given me another chance to see the man I loved. I just hoped that it wouldn’t be the last.
