Page 84 of Abigail's King

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Abigail

It had been twenty-four hours since I had seen Kye again. I was here for another two days. That was a total of forty-eight hours to see if the man I loved truly loved me. I knew he had issues and insecurities in his life. However, I couldn’t think about them. I had to focus on myself and the twins I was carrying. They were the most important thing in my life right now. It may have seemed hypocritical of me to choose the twins’ health over that of the man I loved when I was asking him to choose me and not the twins if he wanted to get back together with me.

But the truth of the matter was, Kye could make that decision. He could look after himself, or at least get the help he needed. The lives that were growing inside me didn’t have that choice. They had to rely on me to keep them safe and healthy. Part of that was making sure that the man I loved came back to me for the right reasons.

The thing was, how would I know that it was for the right reason? How could I be certain that he was choosing me and not just saying he was? It would have been so much easier if I hadn’t been pregnant or didn’t know. But there was no mistaking it now that I was nearly five months. The twins were making sure of that.

I had decided to spoil the ladies in Kye’s life today. Maria, Sofia, and Aliciana were joining me at the hotel, and I had arranged to have the entire spa at their disposal for the afternoon. They could do whatever they liked and have whatever treatments they wanted. We were due to have lunch first and then part way through the afternoon, we were having afternoon tea. I hoped it would be able to bring us all closer together and that I would get to know them. I had spent some time with Sofia and Mateus, but not as much as I wanted with Aliciana and Maria.

They had not long arrived at the hotel, and we were currently enjoying lunch in a private dining area. It paid to be a famous model at times in these places. They would bend over backward to keep you happy, hoping that you would recommend the hotel to all your friends or use it again at another time.

“So, how did things go with Ricardo yesterday?”

Trust Maria to be the one to ask. I knew she was just worried about her son, so I couldn’t blame her for asking.

“It was as to be expected. He was shocked to see I was pregnant. I gave him a copy of the scan picture, so he knows he is going to be a dad to twins.”

“Is he going to come back to you, then?”

“That is up to him. I told him he had to decide what he wanted the most. Me or the twins. And before you look at me horrified, Maria, I need to know that he wants to be with me, not just because he feels obligated to be with the woman who is having his children. It’s important to me. I wouldn’t want him to be with me because of the twins. Those relationships don’t tend to work. We would forever resent each other because we felt we had to be together. I would rather include him in the twins’ life and live apart than live together in a forced relationship that is bound to end up in tears, with us hating each other.”

I could see her contemplating what I was saying. I knew it was right. It didn’t make it any easier though waiting to find out his decision.

“I understand your concern, Abigail. But I’m not sure Ricardo will know how to show you that. I’m not sure I would know myself.”

Like her, I wasn’t sure how Kye was going to show me he loved me. In his own way, he had already done that by pushing me away. At the time, it hadn’t seemed that way, but looking back on it now, he knew he would hurt me the way he was then. It was his defense mechanism, to push those away who were close.

“I’m not sure either, Maria. I won’t know until he comes back to me. Until then, I just have to hope I can see the signs.”

We sat in silence for a moment. I needed to lighten the mood. Today wasn’t about my relationship with Kye. It was about a group of ladies having some fun.

“Anyway, enough of the doom and gloom. Today is about us learning to get to know each other better. After all, like it or not, I’m part of your family now.”

Aliciana had been very quiet when I met her for the first time. I was hoping to pull her out of that today. She had seemed very interested in learning more about modelling, and I would help her in whatever way I could if that is what she wanted. She shocked me, though, when she started to speak.

“Well, I, for one, am happy you are part of our family now. If it means I get to spend the day being pampered, then you can call me your sister for as long as you want.”

All four of us burst out laughing at her comments. Trust the youngest member of the group to think about material things. I knew she didn’t really mean it that way, but to the outsider, that was how it would have seemed. Her speaking allowed me to open a dialogue with her. I wanted to know what she wanted out of her life.

“Aliciana, you are probably the one member of the group I know nothing about. What do you do as a job at the moment?”

“I work in a restaurant. The hours are rubbish, and the pay isn’t brilliant, but it’s a job until I can get over to the UK to do the one job I really want to do.”

“What’s that?” I had a sneaky suspicion I knew what the answer was going to be, but I wanted to hear her say it and see Maria’s reaction before I made my suggestion.

“I would love to be a famous model like you. I have so many magazines with your picture on the front. I couldn’t believe it when Mateus told us you were dating my brother. I was so envious that they had both gotten to meet you when they probably didn’t know how famous you were. Well, Mateus, anyway.”

I had been watching Maria, and she didn’t seem fazed that was what her daughter wanted to do. But I needed both of them to realise that it wasn’t always as glamorous as everyone makes out.

“You do know it isn’t all champagne and caviar? Modelling can be hard work, and it’s a cutthroat industry. There are a lot of jealous people out there that will do anything to make you fall from grace. Plus, all of the hate mail you get. You need to understand that if you are going to go into the business.”

I saw her look at me not in horror as I expected, but in understanding as I told her the truth about the industry. It was something most people didn’t see, but it was prevalent. The fact that she was related to me would also bring the haters.

“I know it’s not easy, but it is something I have always been interested in. I have been building up a portfolio when I can afford to go into the studio. I’ve been working with a photographer here on the island, Joel Bettencourt. He is amazing.”

I smiled as soon as I heard Joel’s name. He was indeed a very good photographer, and very caring towards his models.

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