Page 108 of Choosing Hope

I brush her hair back off her forehead. She nods but I notice she’s hotter to the touch than usual, and I suspect she’s had a nightmare. I opt for distraction.

“We’re at Auntie Nicky’s,” I say, trying to inject some excitement into my tone when I’m actually still seething.

Immediately she wiggles her legs, trying to escape her confines. We don’t see Nicky a lot, so when we do, she always spoils Lily rotten.

As soon as my daughter’s released from the car, Lily runs into Nicky’s outstretched arms. As if we hadn’t seen her for months, when in fact it was only a few days ago.

I watch them, enjoying seeing the love they share, which helps to soothe a little of my previous fury. But I’m still stinging at my friend’s words.

Nicky ignores the animosity between us, leading my daughter upstairs. Lily and I rarely come here because Nicky’s in the habit of coming to us. So, it’s all exciting for a curious three-year-old.

They disappear into the sitting room, where there’s a small toy box used primarily by Nicky’s sister’s kids. I hear the television flick on and then listen as my friend explains to Lily that she’s going to make me a cup of tea.

The moment Nicky had filled the kettle, her phone rang. She glances at the screen.

“Spencer,” she tells me, her voice flat. I don’t have time to tell her not to answer before she’s connected the call.

I roll my eyes.

“Hi Spence,” she greets him in her usual chipper tone.

She listens, eyeing me carefully as she does.

“Yes, they’re here.”

There’s a momentary pause.

“He’s been frantic; he wants to speak to you,” she says, holding her handset out toward me.

Where’s her freaking loyalty?

I shake my head, snatching the phone in frustration and muting it for a second.

“If I’d wanted to speak to him, I’d have turned my phone back on,” I hiss at her.

“Hello,” I say, my frustration oozing out in both syllables.

“Sophie, Kalie isn’t pregnant.” Spencer blurts out. “Baby, she’s toxic. I warned you. She’s just trying to cause trouble.”

I can hear the desperation in his voice; my stomach drops, and the sense of guilt that’s been troubling me earlier returns.

Shit!

During my drive over here, my gut told me I was doing the wrong thing. For the last few weeks, I’ve worked tirelessly to show Spencer Iwouldn’t give up on him, but one run-in with Kalie had me doing exactly that.

“You’ve told me repeatedly that you barely touched her. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have run off,” I whisper.

“Sophie, I get it. I’m sure she was very convincing. I also told you the night Carlo met her, his presence seemed to drive me to have intercourse with her. But sweetheart, I’ve told you everything.” His voice dips. “You need to speak to me first in the future.”

“In the future?” I squeak.

“I think after our conversation today I’ve gotten rid of her,” he sighs. “But I can’t be a hundred percent sure with Kalie. A few months ago, she allowed Travis to record video footage of her in some very compromising situations. Her father is an extremely wealthy, traditional, and religious man. Learning about his daughter’s lifestyle would horrify him. So we have some ammunition to stop her, but she’s a spiteful bitch. She’s threatening to ruin me yet I honestly can’t see how she could. I’ve told you everything. As long as I have you, Lily, and Carlo, I don’t give a fuck about anything else.” My head flops back with a groan. “I know this is shit. I’m sorry.”

As he ends his speech, I can hear his voice quivering with emotion. Nicky steps forward and takes my free hand, squeezing it in a silent gesture of support.

“When are you coming home?” He presses me.

I sigh. “We’ll be back later. I just needed some space for a bit. It was a shock. She made me question everything.”