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.

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

care of my the garden after I had to

laughs, his laughter making my heart beat rapidly. “I

and tomatoes and even limes. There were

know.” He looks disappointed. “And I’m out

yourself?” I asked, “The Gabriel (knew

I am not the Gabriel you

example, six weeks with you,

Tue, Jun

Chapter 83

quite a change, yes, mumble even though I can’t really hear my own voice over the distance

don’t step back, he

I don’t step back, he would kiss

He doesn’t kiss me.

He steps back

was little, you know,” I say in hopes he wouldn’t notice the red hue that creeps on my cheeks. “A small house. Four rooms. Five max. A wrap around porch. A garden where I grow flowers and vegetables, overlooking the kids play area. Maybe having a roof seating

his lips turns upwards “And what about a husband

weeks. How much longer are you going to be here

speak

for

I’m here for the

of us

on**

gaze snaps to

the twins are small but once they grow a little and we can move out and about.” I ignore the pain that

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

in

to assume I didn’t rip those papers in a hundred pieces when I found them.” He stares at me with a firm and hard gaze. “And even if we were divorced, bold of you to assume I