Page 20 of Wicked Scandal

“Almost six months,” she says with a smile, noticing my stare at her stomach.

I breathe a sigh of relief, thankful she is pregnant because I would have looked like a fool just staring if there wasn’t a baby there.

“Congratulations,” I tell her excitedly. “Is this your first?”

She nods. “It is. It was quite a shock, but I’m getting more excited as time passes. He started kicking a couple weeks ago and I immediately felt this instant bond.”

“He?” The idea of a little boy bouncing around brings me so much joy for her.

“Yes.” She rubs her adorable bump. “We’re having a baby boy.”

“I’m so happy for you, Beth. Please let me know when your baby shower is, I’d love to send a gift.” I can just imagine a cute little sweater vest with khaki pants. I’m excited just thinking about walking around the baby section to get things for her. She puts up with Troy’s shit and has for four years, she deserves all the gifts.

“Nonsense.” She sweeps her hand through the air. “You have to be there. I’ll be sure to mail out an invitation.”

“That’s so kind of you. I’ll keep an eye out for it.” My chest burns slightly thinking about Beth going on maternity leave. Troy does not handle change well, so it is good to know this is coming up so I can prepare. Maybe I can cook him his favorite meal and buy a new dress he might like to help keep him calm.

I put a hand on my stomach, then quickly drop it and make sure Beth didn’t notice. I’d give anything to be a mother one day.

Unfortunately, a baby is not in my cards because I make sure it isn’t. Troy and I tried for a while before things got bad. Then two years ago, while Troy was at work, I went to a fertility specialist. Turns out, I can have babies. The doctor said the problem was likely with Troy’s sperm.

At the risk of him being wrong, I immediately went to my gynecologist and got birth control implanted. My husband thinks I’m infertile, and he loves nothing more than to throw in my face how broken my body is. He’s even gone as far as telling me God made me infertile because I don’t deserve a baby. That hurt more than his fists ever could, even if I knew it wasn’t true.

Troy’s office door opens and I’m immediately met with the biggest, cheekiest smile. “There she is,” he gushes with wide open arms. Closing the space between us, he wraps his arms around me and I’m forced to hug him back. “I’m so glad you could get away from work, honey.” He kisses my cheek softly.

If only this were real. This charm and adoration. It’s not, though. It’s as fake as the smile on my face. This is not our life. This is a show for anyone Troy thinks is watching. Which is hilarious because Beth is the only person here and I have a feeling she knows our life isn’t so perfect.

I wish it were real. I wish Troy wasn’t a monster and he loved me as much as I once thought he did. I even wish I loved him, too. Maybe this is just a phase he needs to get through and then he’ll go back to being the man who would dance with me in the living room after a long day.

Troy steps out of the hug and grabs my hand. “Shall we, my love?”

I notice Beth walking quickly past us down the hall as she gags, her hand over her mouth. Those pregnancy hormones are probably a bitch.

“It was nice seeing you, Beth.” I speak loudly so she can hear me as she jogs.

Looking over Troy’s shoulder, I watch her wave her hand in the air before she enters the bathroom.

“My car is out back,” Troy says with a nod of his head. I follow him down the short hall, and when I pass the bathrooms, I hear Beth crying.

My gut tells me to check on her, but I don’t want to upset Troy by making him wait. I have no idea what could be making her feel so emotional. Maybe seeing Troy be so sweet to me made her think of her partner and she must miss them.

I debate on asking Troy if we should invite them to dinner, but he would probably just get angry and say it’s not a secretary's place to eat with her boss. He likes to remind me often that women should work in education or serve as secretaries until they become mothers. He knows better than to say that on stage, but behind closed doors, he brags about how ninety-three percent of the workers in this town are men. As it should be, according to him.

When he found out that Wilder’s new stepmother was going to be the new district attorney, he hit me so hard her name felt branded on my skin. He blamed me for having to work in the same building as the woman, as if I had anything to do with the decision to bring her in.

We make it to the bottom of the back stairs when I realize he has been quiet for too long. The air goes rigidly cold around me, as if my body can sense the storm brewing in him before he lashes out.

With a venomous snarl under his breath, Troy shoves the back door open and glares at me. "Could you be any more fake?"

I gasp, stopping in my tracks as he palms the door, holding it open. “Excuse me?”

“It was nice seeing you, Beth,” he mocks me. “Come on, Catherine. For once could you act like you’re not better than everyone else?”

“Wow,” I drag the word, completely dumbstruck. “You are…unbelievable.” I walk past him, knowing damn well he’s not going to make a scene out here on the sidewalk in his town.

Rain falls lightly, and a roar of thunder booms in the distance, so I move quickly toward Troy’s car. In a matter of seconds, he’s at my side, grabbing my upper arm and squeezing the hell out of it as he drags me to the passenger door. He’s seething as he pulls the door open and tosses me inside.

Before I can even get my legs all the way in, he slams the door closed. Fortunately, I kick my foot out just in time to stop it from crushing my shin. While he’s rounding the car to the driver’s side, I pull it closed.

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