His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Sam picked me up at noon. The first thing I noticed about him was how awfully dressed up he was in his khaki pants and branded sweater, and I wondered if it was just to pick out the babies’ beds with me or if he had something going after that. but I didn’t want to offend him by asking

“Two? Why do you need two?” Sam asked me when we were walking through the aisle of one of the only two maternity stores my hometown had, and some eyes turned towards us. I could see realisation flicker in an old lady’s eyes when they set on me and then going to my belly, but she looked away just as quickly.

“Twins need two beds,” I remind him.

“Twins?” His eyes widen.

“I didn’t mention?”

“No.” A little smile spreads over his lips, “Two. Wow. Double trouble.”

I smile, walking over to the white beds, just the kind I had imagined, and check the tag hanging. The colour of my face drains when I see the price on them: 350USD.

350USD wasn’t a lot and I was well aware there were cots that cost much more than this, but it was a lot to someone trying to save every last cent. I had expected 400USD for both, but this was one at the price of t

two.

“Is everything okay?” Sam asked, probably noticing how the happiness in my eyes faded.

“Yeah” I pass him a meek smile, “I was buying a cot instead of a crib to save down the line, but I can buy just one. It’s too big for an infant. They can share for the first few months and when they begin to outgrow the space, I’ll just buy another.”

“Or… I can buy the second one for you,” he offers.

“Nonsense!”

“No, really. I obviously missed your baby shower or a gender reveal party or any of those things they do these days, so consider this my baby shower gift?”

“I didn’t have a baby shower.”

“Blasphemy,” He teased, “We should totally have one now”

“Party of three? Luna being the third, by the way.”

“Come on, you’re not that lonely.”

“I am.” I raise my shoulders, walking to the baby clothes section. hadn’t bought any yet, and I figured this was as go time as any to start collecting some clothes. I didn’t know the geaders yet, so I was picking out only the gender neutra onesies. “I mean, I can always call Alice, but…

My voice fades and when it doesn’t pick up again, he quietly adds. “I don’t think you should do that.”

“Why not?”

דיי

may

night that you’re back here and she may have not reacted to that very

us as I process

she’ll come around,” he quickly says, passing me a pastel yellow onesie

1/4

nod, pushing back the heaviness making its way to my chest. I was hurt, so I hurt the people around me. I knew apologies. were due, but

make it two.

buying one. Scratch that, I’m buying

part. “Absolutely

have to

an expensive

and now you are having kids. You really think gifting a cot is expensive?

at him reluctantly. “Are you

offer if

smile, and he smiles back as we head to the billing counter with my cart full

be $1250, The cashier says, her grey eyes flickering from me to

for the cots separately.”

the

him a notepad. “Please write

Sam says, and I hand her my

“Twins?” She asks.

little smile making its way to

about fifteen years ago.” She smiled back while processing my cart,

trying to be as prepared as I can

to take a job overseas wh months pregnant, can you

as quickly as my expression.

you.” Sam cuts me off, handing her the notepad with a tight lipped smile and puts his hand around my should lightly, guiding me out with the

should be Gabriel. This

into my mind, I get silent

back.

shopping bags outside my front door. It was just

didn’t even

2/4

“I just lost appetite.

on the stairs by the wooden porch outside

“What’re you doing?”

next to

it was getting harder and harder. It really was a miracle that I count contain my pee from the diner till

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