Two

Thomas grabbed the blankets and covered himself up as he attempted to splutter some stupid excuses while the woman he had been thrusting into sat up with a huge smirk on her face, she tossed her hair over her shoulders and didn’t even bother to hide the fact that she enjoyed seeing Delia catch them out. 

“Delia. Please. It’s not what it looks like.” He clumsily fell to the floor as he tried to pull his pants up. 

“Do you think that I’m stupid or blind? I can see myself what’s going on here,” Delia growled at him and clenched her fists angrily. She didn’t want to cry and give them the satisfaction of seeing her hurt by their disgusting actions. 

“Oh, darling. My love, let’s not hide away so shamefully any longer. We need to give her some dignity.” The blonde woman suddenly stood up and pulled her clothes back on. Delia turned to the woman and wanted to punch her in the face but she didn’t dare move from her spot. She recognised her from somewhere but couldn’t put a name to her face. 

“And you? What the hell are you doing in my bed with my husband?” Delia screeched seeing red she thundered towards the woman shoving Thomas out of the way. He scrambled up to try to stop her but she ignored him. The woman’s eyes widened and she shrieked, jumping onto the bed and cowering away from Delia dramatically. Delia wanted to kill her.

“Don’t touch me please, I’m pregnant.” The woman screamed hysterically, holding her hands out to protect herself, causing Thomas to rush to her and hold her in his arms. He soothed her as she held onto him tightly and cried her fake tears. Delia was even more shocked by the way her husband hurried to his mistresses side to defend her.

How can she be his first priority? Didn’t he love Delia enough to worry about how she felt?

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Delia glared at the pair of them and wondered how she could have been so stupid. Thomas didn’t deserve to know she was pregnant. How could he treat her like that and have another woman in their bed? Delia realised that this must have been going on for months and clearly not a one off if this woman was stating she was pregnant.

“Delia, let’s go and talk about this like adults.” Thomas tried to calm the situation finally realising how out of control things were becoming. Delia scowled and grabbed her suitcase, pulling out drawers and throwing her belongings into it, she refused to look at either of them. The woman was crying harder so Thomas held onto her and she felt smug that he hadn’t shown any loyalty to his wife. She didn’t want Thomas to sway from her reach.

“I’m so sorry that you had to find out this way, but me and Thomas. We are in love.” The woman wiped her eyes and shot Delia a look that spelt triumph.

“Delia we will talk about this later.” Thomas piped up, holding the woman’s hand and leading her out the room. “I’m going to take Samantha home.” He looked disgusted at his wife as she threw a bag at his head and narrowly missed as he ducked and rushed out the room with his mistress.

Delia felt sick at the sight of them together. Sinking to the floor she allowed the tears to finally flow down her face and placed a protective hand on her belly as if she was assuring her unborn baby that everything would be okay.

How could he do that to her after everything that she had done for him? She heard the front door slam and the engine whirl to life from the open window. Getting up, she looked out the window to see her husband pulling off the driveway with his mistress in the red bmw she had seen when she arrived home not even an hour ago. Biting her bottom lip, Delia drew in a deep breath and turned back to her half packed suitcase.

“Never again will I waste my tears on you.” She muttered under breath as she picked up a photo of her and Thomas on their wedding day, she threw it across the room shattering the glass instantly and shards landed all over the brown carpet. Delia didn’t care about that. She hated Thomas for what he had done to her. She knew that he could never have loved her because his actions proved otherwise.

“I want a divorce, cheating scumbag..” she glowered and closed the suitcase. Picking up her phone Delia dialed a number and after a couple of rings the phone answered.

“Can you come and pick me up?” she said and the voice down the other end of the phone immediately agreed. Hanging up the phone, Delia grabbed her last few belongings and took off her wedding ring and placed it on the dressing table where she knew that Thomas would see it. Pulling out her bank cards she placed them next to the ring and left the room for the last time. She wanted nothing more to do with the man who has broken her heart.

As Delia stepped into the dimly lit hallway, her heart felt heavy, each beat echoing the finality of her decision. She could still hear the phantom sounds of Thomas and Samantha—their laughter and whispers now tainted with betrayal. Wrapping her arms around herself as if that could provide some semblance of comfort, she walked down the corridor and out the front door.

The chill of the evening air hit her, but it was a refreshing contrast to the suffocating atmosphere she had left behind. The dark clouds overhead mirrored her turmoil, thick and looming, ready to unleash a storm that had been building within her. She leaned against the railing of the porch, waiting for her ride, trying to gather her thoughts amidst the chaos of emotions swirling inside her.

A car pulled up shortly, the headlights illuminating her figure. Delia recognized the familiar silhouette in the driver’s seat—her best friend, Rachel. With a gentle smile, Rachel stepped out and rushed over, concern etched on her face.

“Delia, are you okay?” Rachel asked, enveloping her in a warm embrace.

Delia melted into the hug, allowing the warmth of friendship to envelop her. “No, I’m not,” she admitted, feeling the tears threaten to spill again. “I just caught him cheating on me... in our bed.”

Rachel’s expression hardened, anger flashing in her eyes. “That bastard. You deserve so much better, Dee.”

“I thought I knew him. I thought we were happy,” Delia whispered, her voice trembling. “And now there’s a baby involved.”

Rachel pulled back slightly to look into Delia’s eyes, searching for clarity. “You don’t need to worry about that right now. What’s important is you.”

Taking a deep breath, Delia nodded. “I’m done. I’ve wasted enough time crying over someone unworthy of my love. I want a divorce, and it’s time I finally put myself first.”

“Good! Finally, some self-love!” Rachel beamed, her voice steady and supportive. “Let’s get you out of here and somewhere safe. You can stay at my place until you figure things out.”

With a grateful smile, Delia climbed into the car and glanced back at the house one last time. The familiar façade now felt foreign and unwelcoming. As they drove away, leaving her old life in the rearview mirror, she couldn’t shake the sense of loss mixed with relief.

“So, what’s your plan?” Rachel asked, keeping her eyes on the road. “I mean, in terms of divorce... do you have a lawyer?”

“I have someone in mind,” Delia replied, thinking of Clara, her tough-as-nails lawyer friend who had been there for her through tough situations before. “But I haven’t reached out yet. I wanted to make sure I was certain.”

“Well, you are certain now!” Rachel asserted, determination in her tone. “And I’ll be with you every step of the way. You’re not alone.”

The words wrapped around Delia like a lifeline, buoying her spirits even as she anticipated the long, painful journey ahead. What had felt like a trap was now an opportunity for freedom.

As they drove through the city, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue on the streets. It reminded Delia of the possibility of new beginnings—the promise of a life that was hers alone.

“Let’s grab some ice cream and binge-watch our favorite shows tonight. It’s the least I can do for you, considering the day you’ve had,” Rachel said, her voice breaking the contemplative silence.

Delia chuckled softly, her heart warming at the thought. “You know me well. Ice cream sounds perfect.”

Moments later, they pulled into the parking lot of a cozy little ice cream shop adorned with neon lights. As they approached the counter, Delia felt a fire ignite within her, fueled by her resolve to reclaim her life.

“Single scoop of ‘New Beginnings’ for me,” she declared with a hint of a smile, the name of the flavor feeling more significant than ever.

As they left the shop, cups in hand and laughter bubbling between them, Delia knew this was the start of something new. She could feel it deep within, a flicker of hope igniting her spirit. The road ahead would be tough, but she was ready to face it—one moment at a time, with her best friend by her side. And, for the first time in a long time, she felt free.