LOGINI open the front door and smile widely. “Let me take that!” I insist. Lily and Pedro come into the house carrying drinks and snacks. “No need to upset the baby!” “I’m barely pregnant, Esme,” my best friend taunts. “Two months is nothing.” “As someone who’s had two babies, I can promise you that yo
“Save the kissing for your personal time!” I hear Annie prodding at me. We look over at her and Guillermo. Annie, to her credit, wasn’t lying about trying to get pregnant. Four months ago, she called us to say she was six weeks pregnant. Now, her bridesmaid dress shows off her baby bump. "How are
It’s a little more than a year later that Derek and I walk down the aisle. With Bea as our flower girl, Tris as our ring-bearer, and all the people we love watching, Derek and I say our vows. “What can I say that I haven’t before? You’re stronger than any woman who’s gone through the trauma you hav
“Thank you.” I take my time to get out of the car, but Derek is fast. He unbuckles Orchid in one swift movement. He hands over the baby and grabs my bag from where he left it next to her. Then, after locking his car, he holds out one hand to me. I’m touched by his sweet gestures today. He must kn
Esme Derek picks us up from the hospital a couple of days after giving birth. Walking again has been very challenging, but nothing beats holding my daughter in my arms after all this waiting. Bea and Tris both got to hold Orchid. Annie and Lily came to visit their little “niece.” My mom cried her
I’m overthinking this. I don’t even have a ring yet. Hell, I don’t know what kind of ring Esme would even want. Guess Annie and Lily are going to be helping me more than I thought. Hmm. She’s going to be here for at least a day or two. Maybe I’ll wait until she gets home. I pull out my phone to t
Derek has been by my side pretty much constantly the past few days. When we went to the hospital so that the baby and I could be checked, when the police finally questioned me, and then again when I came back to the apartment. When I manage to sleep, he does whatever it is he needs to do. He brings
There’s a feeling that I used to struggle with in my childhood. I’m still unsure what that is. Maybe it’s just a form of dissociation. I’m barely able to stay in the moment, to hear those around me. The adults would always work in groups to find whatever world I hid in. The hard part was bringing m
“You’re going to keep making things difficult.” He sounds foreign to me. The bastard then pushes me up against the wall. I avoid nearly colliding my nose with the wall, turning at the last second. “You need to learn a lesson, Esme. I am your husband. I am the world you abandoned!” I’m struggling
“Tell me you have some good news, Daniel.” I move through the throngs of people, phone to my ear as I go. My ankles are killing me. My back is so sore. I need to lay down now. The joys of pregnancy. “I don’t know what to tell you, Esme. I’m pushing the restraining order; I’ve been struggling to ge







