My fingers tighten around the phone 126

Aria’s POV
Vicky drove us to a quaint restaurant with outdoor seating sheltered by massive umbrellas. Warm sunlight filtered
through the gaps, creating dappled patterns across our table. The menu was refreshingly simple, and we placed our
orders quickly. Our drinks arrived almost immediately, barely giving us time to settle in.
I watched Lucas enthusiastically devouring his appetizer while I could only manage tiny sips of water. The smell of fried
food made my stomach roll unpleasantly. Across from me, Vicky leaned back in her chair, nursing her tea with unhurried
grace.
“When my friend was pregnant with her son, she couldn’t stand the smell of anything fried either,” she said, the corners
of her eyes crinkling with her smile. “I thought choosing a soup-focused restaurant would be better, but I see they have
everything on the menu here.”
I returned her smile politely. “It’s fine. Everything makes me nauseous these days. Any food, any smell. It was the same
when I carried Lucas—those nine months were brutal, but I survived.”
“As mothers, we do whatever it takes to make sure our children are cared for,” Vicky said, her tone free of judgment, filled
only with admiration. Her words caught me off guard. I’d always felt like I was fumbling through motherhood, yet this woman made it sound like I was doing something remarkable.
Vicky set her teacup down and regarded me with casual interest. “Lucas mentioned sisters earlier. Twins? And you know
they’re girls already?”
“No, it’s too early to tell the gender, but I did just find out yesterday that they’re twins.” I ruffled Lucas’s hair
affectionately. “Lucas is just hoping for sisters. Besides the son you mentioned, do you have other children?”
“No, just the one. He was quite enough to handle,” she said, studying Lucas for a long moment that made me tilt my
head in curiosity. “Your child is adorable. He reminds me of my son at that age. Those pale green eyes are quite unusual,”
Vicky remarked, fingers tapping lightly against her teacup as she observed me. “Does his father have the same eyes?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know who his father is,” I admitted softly, my fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the
tablecloth. Every time I spoke this truth aloud, it became a little easier to carry. “That night is just… a blank space in my memory. But whatever happened, it gave me Lucas, so I can’t regret it.”
Vicky’s eyes flickered with something—curiosity, perhaps compassion—as she glanced at my still-flat abdomen. “And
these two little ones?”
A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it, warmth blooming in my chest as my palm settled protectively over my
stomach. “These two? I know exactly who their father is.” I exhaled slowly, the words catching slightly. “We’re just not…
together. Maybe we never truly were.”
“Hmm,” Vicky hummed, the sound somehow both knowing and gentle. “You must have found something special
between you to create twins.”
The unexpected observation startled a genuine laugh from me, tension I hadn’t realized I was carrying melting from my
shoulders. “I guess we did get something right, at least. Even if everything else is a disaster.” I shook my head,
remembering the electricity that had always sparked between us. “He makes me absolutely crazy, but there’s this… pull.
Like gravity.”
Vicky sipped her tea thoughtfully, studying me over the rim with eyes that seemed to see right through me. “Let me
guess—another woman complicating things?”
My spine stiffened instantly, and I darted a quick glance at Lucas, but he was completely engrossed in his food, tongue
poking out in concentration as he carefully separated each item on his plate. I leaned forward, voice dropping to barely
above a whisper.
“I think I stumbled into being the other woman without realizing it,” I confessed, heat climbing up my neck. “Found out
later they had history. Though he swears they weren’t actually together.” My teeth caught my bottom lip. “Ironically, our
fathers had arranged for us to be paired off years ago, so technically, maybe she’s the interloper? I refused back then
because—” I cut myself off, suddenly aware of how much I was revealing. “God, I’m sorry. Here I am, dumping my entire
complicated romantic history on a total stranger.”
Vicky’s laugh was warm, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she waved away my apology. “Sweetheart, sometimes a
stranger is the perfect person to talk to. No judgment, no history.” She tilted her head, something knowing in her
expression. “But it’s clear as day that you love him.”
“I—” The words lodged in my throat, and I felt heat creeping up my neck. The denial I’d been about to voice evaporated
as Vicky’s knowing gaze held mine. What was the point of lying? I glanced at Lucas instead, watching him carefully
demolish a french fry, buying myself a moment to compose my thoughts.
“Love was never our problem,” I finally admitted, surprised by the steadiness in my voice despite the flutter in my chest. I
tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, a nervous habit I’d never managed to break. “It’s everything else that gets in the
way.”
Vicky leaned forward, genuine surprise crossing her features. “You don’t believe he loves you?”
The question hit a tender spot I thought I’d protected better. My fingers fidgeted with my water glass, turning it slowly as
I watched the ice cubes clink against each other. I could feel my cheeks warming, and I ducked my head slightly, using my
hair as a partial shield.
“I don’t know if he loves me the way I need him to,” I said softly, tracing a water droplet down the side of the glass with
my fingertip. I bit my lower lip, embarrassed by how vulnerable I suddenly felt. “Enough to choose me over everything
else. Enough to stay.”
“I see,” Vicky murmured, something strangely sad flickering across her face.
The silence between us stretched, not uncomfortable but weighted with unspoken thoughts. Something about this woman—her warmth, her complete disconnection from my messy life—made me want to share more. Before I could
think better of it, I straightened in my chair.
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
“Would you like to see them?” I asked impulsively, reaching for my bag. “The ultrasound pictures, I mean. I just had my
first appointment yesterday. Nobody’s seen them except Lucas.”
Vicky’s entire face transformed, lighting up with such genuine delight that any doubt about my impulse vanished
instantly. “Oh! I’d absolutely love to.”
With fingers that suddenly felt clumsy, I extracted the strip of black-and-white images and passed them across the table.
Vicky handled them with such reverence, holding them carefully by the edges as if they were precious artifacts. She
studied each grainy blob with an intensity that made my throat tighten unexpectedly.
“Look at them,” she whispered, her voice catching slightly. When she looked up, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
“They’re absolutely perfect, Aria. What a gift.”
As she handed the pictures back, our fingers brushed, and an unexpected sense of connection passed between us. I
tucked the images carefully back into my bag, feeling oddly validated by her reaction. Glancing at her watch, I suddenly
realized how much time had passed.
“Oh god, we need to go!” I exclaimed, scrambling to gather our things. “Lucas has homework, and I’ve got a million
things to do before tomorrow.”
“Wait!” Vicky caught my wrist gently as I started counting out bills. She was already scribbling on a small notepad, her
handwriting elegant and flowing. She tore the page free and pressed it into my palm. “My number. For anything—advice,
a listening ear, or just someone to have lunch with. Please use it.”
I stared at the paper, caught off guard by such freely offered kindness. My fingers closed around it slowly. “But you hardly
know me,” I said, my voice barely audible.
Something soft and almost maternal crossed Vicky’s face as she smiled. “I’ve always trusted my instincts about people.
This isn’t charity, Aria. It’s one mother seeing another doing her absolute best.” She squeezed my hand lightly.
“Sometimes we all need a little support.”