"Please mother, I need to be alone."
She watched as he strode off, shoulders hunched.
"Where's Christos?"
Mary-Ann crossed the room with her daughters-in-law behind her.
"We have five minutes and then we need to leave you to get some rest. My son stormed out, said he needed to be alone." She sat on the side of the bed. "My dear, I cannot imagine what you're going through. None of us can. We're used to carrying one baby at a time."
Tears flooded her eyes. "I took my frustration out on him."
"Emotions are running high." Lilly came over to rub her arm. "He's scared and so are you."
"But you need each other right now." Lori piped in sitting on the end of the bed.
"I cussed out Andreas when I was in my first trimester and cried a hell of a lot. I felt sorry for myself and blamed him for everything."
"We've all been there honey." Grace picked up the glass of water and brought it to her. "The crazy hormones and everything that goes with carrying humans inside you."
"But you have to find a way to be united." Mary-Ann told her.
"You're right and so is he." Taking a sip of water, she sniffed. "I accused him of always hovering when I should be grateful I have a guy who's constantly there for me."
Mary-Ann rubbed her hand. "He's hurting and as much as I would like to fix the hurt, you're the one who's going to have to attend to him. He needs you every bit as you need him."
"I know." She sighed. "Can you get him back in here, please?"
"In a minute. We want to stay until our five minutes are up."
*****
"Hi." She lifted a hand as soon as he came into the room. "I just want to say that I was a bitch."
"And?"
He stopped just short of the bed, staring at her, his hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers.
Okay, she thought. He was not about to make it easy for her.
"And I want to apologize. I'm sorry."
"And?"
She bristled. "Want me to go on my knees?"
"That would be a miracle." He unbent enough to sit on the edge of the bed. "You can start by marrying me."
"I..."
"No more excuses Leanne. It's time."
Chapter 8
He would not listen to reason and there was no moving him. She tried pleas which fell on deaf ears. When she resorted to anger, it was met with stony silence.
"This is not up for negotiation. We're getting married." His implacable tone told her that it was final.
"You don't know what you're getting into." He simply lifted a brow and continued to stare at her in silence.
