Page 136 of Through You
Ares massages his face, looking frustrated. Apolo tries to hold back his tears. And our father simply gives us a sad smile.
“I, too, owe you an apology. Your mother is not the only person at fault. I chose to stay with her in spite of everything that happened. I chose not to get a separation when I should have, so I am partly to blame.”
“It’s okay, Dad,” I reassure him.
Ares rises and exits the study without saying a word. Father sits next to Apolo and comforts him. And I need to get out of there.
I climb the stairs, heading to my room. I feel the eyes of everyone waiting in the living room directly on me. But I don’t look back at them. I sit on my bed and run my hand over my face and hair. The image of my mother’s flushed face haunts me.
Someone opens the door, and Claudia enters. She closes the door behind her and studies me with worried eyes. I release the tension from my shoulders and let my guard down. I don’t need to hide how I feel when I’m with her.
She slowly makes her way over. “Are you okay?”
I grab her by the hips and hug her. I rest my face on her stomach; the smell of her relaxes me. “I’m going to be a good father.” I make a promise I know I will keep. “I’ll try my very best, Claudia.
I promise you.”
Claudia strokes my head gently. “Of course you will, Artemis.”
My goals in life, now and forever, are to love this woman and give my all to raising my baby. I can’t change the past or erase the wounds it has inflicted. But I can forge a different future for us.
Thirty-seven
I’m already a mess.
CLAUDIA
I have successfully avoided hospitals my entire life with the exception of the time I had my appendix removed, and for my mother’s appointments. Unfortunately, those days have come to an end. Now that I’m pregnant, checkups and ultrasounds will be frequent events in my life. Surprisingly, I feel more ready and calm than I thought I would be. Who is not feeling quite the same is Artemis, currently pacing back and forth in the gynecologist’s waiting room. He runs his hand through his hair and keeps loosening his tie while I let out a sigh.
“Artemis, can you sit down?”
He comes to a halt in front of me, his chest puffing. He takes a deep breath and exhales. His beautiful brown eyes watch me.
They appear to be searching for the serenity he needs to calm his nerves.
I don’t get why he’s so nervous. Perhaps one of the reasons
I’m calm is because he’s so wound up. It wouldn’t work out if we were both panicking. Come to think of it, I’ve always been better at handling my emotions. Artemis, on the other hand, only knows how to conceal them in order to avoid dealing with them.
Or unravel, like he’s doing at this moment.
“Please,” I tell him, and he sits down next to me.
“I don’t know how you can be so calm.”
“It’s only our first appointment.” I take his hand and turn to him. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“I should be telling you that. But no, look at me, I’m already a mess.”
“No, you’re not.”
I caress his cheek, and feel his light beard against my fingers.
I can’t resist his lips when I move in closer, so I kiss him. I enjoy being able to kiss him whenever I want to. I no longer have to hold back or hide the attraction and affection I’ve always felt for him. I’m free to pull Artemis Hidalgo by his tie and kiss him with all my heart. He slowly opens his eyes when we come apart.
“You should have calmed me down like this from the beginning.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
