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

back here

as I

says, passing me a pastel yellow onesie with various animals scattered around it. “It’s just that your disappearance

1/4

hurt, so I hurt the people around me. I knew apologies. were due, but would she really not want me to

two. It was my quick way to change the topic, and Sam took

one.

part.

to gift

such an expensive

now you are having kids. You really think

looking at him reluctantly.

even offer if

smiles back as we head to the billing counter with

$1250, The cashier says, her grey eyes flickering

for the cots separately.” Sam tells her for

of the cots.” I

notepad. “Please write the address at which

Sam says, and I hand her

“Twins?” She asks.

nod, a little smile making

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

trying to be as prepared as I can be,” I tell her,

alone because my husband decided to take a job overseas wh months pregnant, can you believe it? But, don’t

My smile falls just as quickly as my expression. “We’re not

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

should be Gabriel. This should be

as the thought finds its way into my mind, I get silent and I remain so for the

back.

I tell Sam when he keeps the shopping bags

mad. You didn’t even eat

2/4

“I just lost appetite.

He buzzes, sitting on the stairs by the wooden porch

“What’re you doing?”

next to him. “Sit with

was getting harder and harder. It really was a miracle that I count

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