His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 72

One. And. A. Half. Month. Later.

“You’re thirty-three weeks pregnant, Luna’s voice chimes through my earphones, because I get too tired too fast to be able to hold the phone to my ear, “You shouldn’t be out all by yourself. What if you have contractions?”

Thirty-four, I wanted to correct her, but I don’t because it would only freak her out more. I chuckle while adding strawberries to my grocery cart. “I’m just at the supermarket, and I’m completely okay. I remind her, “If everything goes well, I’m not due for another few weeks.”

Anytime after the thirty-sixth week is considered okay, my doctor had told me, but we prefer waiting till the fortieth week.

I could almost hear Luna frowning through the phone. “If you were really craving strawberries and that st*pid whipped cream so much, you could’ve told me. I would pick some up for you after work.”

“You already do too much,” I reply, “Besides, I’m already done here. I will bill this and be home in like the next fifteen.”

“Hm..” She buzzes, “My shift is almost done. I’ll see you home?

“See you” I disconnect the call, putting on some old Beyoncé music, letting it play through the earphones as I walk through. the aisle of junk foods, and the urge to grab a packet of cheetos overcomes me.

I couldn’t though, because it wasn’t a necessity, and it definitely wasn’t healthy for the babies. I was awfully over budget and despite the little job that the old couple who owned the lodge had offered me, to make calls to previous customers and gather feedback. I think Sam had something to do with it, because I had mentioned my finances to him in passing the day he came shopping with me, and one week later, this couple offered me a job out of good will, something I can do from home and earn a little extra money.

I didn’t complain at all. I jumped at it. The money wasn’t a lot, but I surely needed it. Who knew giving birth in America was so expensive?

I didn’t

taking me tens of thousands of dollars, and that was leaving aside the anticipatory NICU stay one of my babies would need because of the complications I had been

kind. Too kind

was still on thin ice with Sam. Things weren’t completely okay between us after what he said, but he had made effort in the past few weeks to earn my forgiveness and I had no option but to let go of it. But I couldn’t forget it, so I putting as much safe distance between us as

more because of the fear of his words being

I really being

accidentally bump my

I realise, when

familiar stranger’s eyes widen when they set on

her eyes flickering

her, holding her close. “Alice… I missed you.” I didn’t know why she was crying, but hearing her

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them away when she pulled away. She sniffed, holding my face between both her palms as if I’d disappei left.

remember? And you told him I

She blinked. “What?”

said he

picking up my calls, he dodged my texts and I thought he’s taking your disappearance hard, we all are. I came

he told me that I shouldn’t call you because you asked for that for space. I was rambling, and she just stared at

painfully, “Did he

my heart beating so fast I could

we need to call him.

me