Page 79 of Beyond our Forever

“Are you speaking from experience?” I challenge him, raising my eyebrows. “If you don’t know anything about that.”

My brother-in-law finishes the contents of his bottle, gets up lazily to go to the garbage and from there says, “I have slept with many angry women, they talk more than you think. I pretend not to be paying attention, though…”

“Warren, it’s your sister who has to decide, I’ve done everything, everything. Now the ball is in her court.”

We talk a little more, I tell him about other things that I have kept quiet about before and he, in silence, listens. Although sometimes he raises his eyebrows, somewhat incredulous, I suppose.

“Take Ilythia to the hospital,” I say at the end. “I’ll take my children to the movies.”

I want to be with them, I need it. Besides, the poor kids will surely be confused, wondering what has happened now. Going out is going to offer me the opportunity to talk to them and try to reassure them.

They do not know it yet, but next Saturday my sister will come to pick them up, we have organized a fun vacation with my parents. I had planned all that in detail, looking to stay a couple of weeks alone with their mother and make her understand, even if it were without sex, that the best thing for us was to be together.

Now I just don’t know… a man can’t live with Damocles’ sword hanging over his head, mistrust is a very cunning ghost and I’m not used to having it hanging around. I’ve never given my wife a single reason to doubt me, that is the worst part. You can blame me for focusing my attention on other things, work, money, and even my children, but never on another woman. I’m not a womanizer, I’m a rather reserved, homebody kind of guy.

And, Angelique? If Ilythia knew the kind of ideas the woman put into my head, instead of feeling hurt, she would be grateful to her. Ah, what an imagination the French have.

France, if Ilythia knew the plans I have… I had. Jesus Christ. If she knew what was going through my head.

When I get home, I find my three children in the kitchen, with sad faces, waiting for the worst.

“Why do you look so downhearted?” I say, pretending to be happier than I actually am. “We’re going to the movies.”

“What about my uncle Warren?” Ava asks. “He promised to buy me a bunch of candy.”

Oh, my girl.

“And you promised to be good,” I remind her. “Your uncle is going out with mom.”

First I need to make a quick stop at the apartment I’ve been living in the last couple of months. They hate coming over, because they have nothing to entertain themselves with. Just a couple of photos taped to the fridge, a folding table that doubles as a dining room and desk, and an air mattress on the floor.

I never thought I’d spend so much time there, my hopes were always pinned on coming home soon, to my home, to my family. However, time passed and I’m still there.

God knows how long.

After filling my children’s bottomless bellies, we go to the movies. I put my phone on silent, but my eyes have not left the thin screen. I keep waiting for Warren’s call.

We are leaving after watching a movie that I have no idea what it was about, when the news finally arrives.

“The blood test was positive,” he announces, as I suspected, but I had to be sure. “Now they are going to run another test. The doctor asked her if she wants to press charges, she’s thinking about it.”

Ilythia… if it were my decision, the police would be already taking the statement. But, as I told Warren, this is on her. She must find what she wants to do for herself.

“I’m going to hire a detective,” I inform him. “That Mikel must be hiding something else.”

The sun has already set when I go back to the house with the kids. Warren’s car is still there, so I get out to talk to him. I want to know what my wife has decided, even if I have to leave her alone, at least for now.

“I think she’s in shock,” he lets me know once we’re in the privacy of the study, behind closed doors. “She still doesn’t believe Emilia is involved.”

“From that woman you can expect anything,” I add. “I have never liked her, something about her has always bothered me.”

“Do you have a theory?” he asks.

“Several, but I hope the detective helps me clear up that matter.” I run my fingers through my hair several times, trying futilely to calm myself, my head spinning. “Is Ilythia sleeping?”

“Since we arrived. They were hydrating her in the hospital, now she just has to rest.”

“Can you stay a few days with her? I don’t trust anyone else.”

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