His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 83

The house did not have enough space for the number of clothes and gifts that Gabriel’s parents and grandparents brought for the twins. Leila cried, and Alister held both of them with trembling hands. He had lost so much weight and I avoided talking to him much because it reminded me of the way my Grandpa first shrunk. They were happy great-grandparents though. Ralph spent every moment deciphering what the perfect name would be for the twins to call them since Grandpa seemed too boring. Flise stuck with me though, making me promise I wouldn’t leave them again, and then told me that if 1 didn’t plan on shifting to the city, the entire family would buy houses in the neighbourhood and end up shifting here for the

little ones

I had laughed it off, but I wasn’t entirely sure that she was joking,

Two weeks after that, I woke up to Gabriel in the garden again. He spent an awful amount of time there every morning and told me he was working, so I never disturbed him.

Today, however, curiosity got the best of me and I went to the garden, even if to just watch him work.

He wasn’t working.

He was… gardening.

I clear my throat to get his attention. What in the world are you doing?”

“Gardening, he replies with a grin like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Do you care to join?”

“No!” I responded and he sprayed a little bit of water on my face in reply, then laughing. I flinched behind, and then glared

at him.

“Gabriel what?”

“A little birdie told me that this garden used to be filled with flowers before Jim got cancer. He gets up from his place. walking towards me.

Warmth spreads over me as I smile. “Alice told you?”

“Mh-hm.” He nods standing in front of me with his hands crossed in front of his chest, his gaze laser focused at me.

look in his cotton punts that were folded so they don’t get soiled and the knitted vest he was wearing. I suddenly felt conscious of my baggy sweats and the messy bun situation I had going, but he still looked at me like I was

to take care of my the garden after I had to take up two jobs, so

laughter making my heart beat rapidly.

grew capsicums and tomatoes and even limes. There

“And I’m out

“Why were you doing it yourself?” I asked, “The Gabriel (knew would’ve hired someone to come

am not the Gabriel you knew anymore.” He

weeks with you, and

Jun 4

Chapter 83

even though I can’t really

don’t step back, he

I don’t step back, he

He doesn’t kiss me.

He steps back

small house. Four rooms. Five max. A wrap around porch. A garden where

upwards “And what about a husband who comes home

me, what about your work: You ve been here for six weeks. How much longer are you going to be here and not go to the office? It

than I need my kids. I’m going to be here when they crawl, or when they speak their first words. I’m going to be here, every step of the way, for as

here for the rest of

for the rest of my

of us want to move

on**

snaps

once they grow a little and we can move out and about.” I ignore the pain that rises in me by the thought of me with someone else. We’ll

am not moving on.” I hated the way his jaw tightened

in that.

a firm and hard gaze.