Page 158 of The Baby Twist

At that moment, it felt like a piece of me had died.

Stella

“Fuck him. Fuck him. Fuck him,” I mumbled, walking out of the Sculptural Garden.

Tears streamed down my face as I returned to the hotel. I started the bath water, twisted up my hair, and inhaled the lavender-scented bubbles I needed to relax and calm my nerves. Placing my hand on my belly, I held it in place and closed my eyes. The dinging sound of my phone startled me. Reaching over the tub and picking it up, I saw a text from Miles. Shaking my head, I read it.

“Stella, I’m so sorry.”

How I wish I could block him and be done with all of this. But we still needed to go to court. The second the judge granted the annulment, and I walked out of that courthouse, he’d never be able to contact me again. As my phone was in my hand, it rang with an unfamiliar number. I answered it.

“Hello.”

“Hello, is this Stella?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Yes. This is she.”

“Hi, Stella. This is Grant Roman. Miles Bradshaw gave me your number and asked that I help you find an apartment.”

“Thank you, Grant, but I won’t be needing your services after all.”

“Oh?”

“I already found an apartment,” I lied.

“I understand. Well, you have my number if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” I ended the call and sighed.

I thought long and hard about Jordyn’s plea for me to move to Connecticut. As much as I’d love to be near her again, New York was my home. I loved the city and wouldn’t let Miles Bradshaw drive me out of it. I would continue attending NYU for my doctorate, graduate, get a job, and be the best mother I could. Loving Miles Bradshaw hurt me, but hating him hurt me even more.

Miles

I tucked my hands into my pants pockets, lowered my head, and walked out of the Sculptural Gardens. I texted Sean and told him I needed some time alone and that I’d text him when I needed him to pick me up. The chaos in my mind was unbearable. Between work and Stella, it was too much.

As I walked down the city streets, I saw a couple looking at an engagement ring through the window of a jewelry store.

“Let’s go in and try it on. I know it’ll look beautiful on you.” The man smiled at his future wife as I walked by.

I stopped and turned around. “You two are getting engaged?” I asked.

“Yes, we are.” The man smiled. “I already proposed, but I wanted her to pick out the ring she loved the most.”

“Congratulations.” I nodded.

“Thank you,” the woman spoke.

I turned and continued walking. The sun hid behind the clouds, and suddenly, the small raindrops that fell onto my head turned into a downpour. A woman pushing a baby carriage rushed to the bakery where I sought shelter. I opened the door for her and motioned for her to step inside.

“Thank you so much.” She smiled.

“You’re welcome. How old?” I pointed to the small child in the carriage.

“She’s six weeks old today,” the woman spoke.

“She’s cute.”

“Thank you.”