A wife for my brother

The day was rainy and wet and a little chilly. Deanna was returning from picking up the kids from school when she received a message on her phone:

-Hi Deanna how are you, we haven’t talked in days, come to the apartment for coffee -.

It was Laura.

– Laura! I’d love to, but Daniel is out of town and I’m alone with the kids, why don’t you come to the house? –

And Laura went despite the rain. She arrived pale, with a sad face and with difficulty to walk. Deanna hurried to greet her.

While the children were each doing their own thing, they sat down with a cup of tea in the kitchen. Laura’s belly had indeed grown quite considerably in a short time.

-I’m sorry to have taken you away from your stuff, Dean, but I really wanted to talk to someone-

– Not at all, thanks for coming despite the day… What’s going on? –

Laura grabbed her belly with both hands, as she used to do before talking about Harry.

-I don’t know what to do, Deanna, or who else to turn to… I feel more and more sad and tired, I don’t know how I managed to get to this point… What will I do with Harry? –

– With Harry? What’s the matter with that boy now? –

– The usual: indifference. You know Dean? I think there’s another woman –

– What?! No, Laura, of course not! –

– Yes, I feel it… You have no idea how much Harry has changed in these months… He drinks at night, he dawns sitting in the living room thinking… He tells me he can’t sleep, that he’s worried about work… But I know he’s not like that-

-It can’t be, Laura. Harry wouldn’t do such a thing. That fool needs a good beating to get him back to his senses… –

-Dean… I can’t take it anymore…

She covered her face with both hands and began to cry in sorrow. Deanna felt so bad for her, hugged her very tightly. What the hell was going on with this man? How could he do this to his wife after all they had been though together?

– Don’t cry… Do you want me to talk to him? Or I’d better punch him until he reacts… – Laura half smiled at hearing that.

– I apologize, forgive me for bringing you my problems… I feel so lonely… I don’t remember when was the last time we laughed with Harry or had a conversation about the baby girl… She’s going to be born and he still hasn’t decided which name to give her… I think we’ll end up divorced… I’ll be left alone with my daughter, Deanna! –

– Of course not, don’t think like that. Harry can be a moron sometimes, but you know him like I do, Laura, he’s not that kind of guy… Let me talk to him, will you? –

– Yes, Deanna, please… If anything happens with another woman I’m sure he’ll tell you… –

– Yes, and I’ll kill him –

Deanna was mad at Harry, at that silly boy who was making his pregnant wife suffer like that. After all the lies and all the trouble along the way so that they could get married, he was behaving this way. Something was wrong, very wrong. Would Harry really have another woman? That little boy who needed to set 4 alarms in the morning so he wouldn’t be late for class? No way.

The first thing that crossed her mind was Alice Reed’s face. What if the same fate awaited Laura? Spending her life in a loveless marriage, with Harry jumping from woman to woman. An icy chill ran down Deanna’s back. No, that wouldn’t happen, Harry was nothing like Leonard.

In the evening, the next day, Daniel would stop by Beverly’s room. They would be having dinner at the hotel with some local businessmen who were trying to close a deal with his company. And she didn’t spare any elegance.

It was true what used to be said before their marriage, Daniel and Beverly looked great together. They both fit together perfectly; classy, sober, the same manners. They got a few glances at each other in the hotel restaurant.

Dinner went off without any further problems. And they were at dessert when Beverly’s phone started ringing insistently. Daniel was a little annoyed. She excused herself for a moment and then returned with a grim face.

– Is everything all right? – Daniel asked.

– Yes, of course… –

There was something Daniel still didn’t know how to use because he simply wasn’t that interested; he didn’t see any utility in it and didn’t understand how it could be something so widely adopted nowadays: social networks. While the local businessmen were arguing across the table, Beverly discreetly passed him her phone.

“Harry Crusher walks with his sister-in-law while his pregnant wife waits for him at home.”

The photo was of Deanna and Harry walking down the street. He was noticeable with a clouded look on his face, while Deanna’s face appeared to be red. And the post was going viral within the social circle.

He said nothing and handed the phone back to her, but his face spoke volumes. He waited for his companions to leave and quietly got up from the table. Beverly watched him and also stood up, she waited until they were alone in the elevator before she said a word.

– Daniel… –

– Yes? –

– Are you all right? –

– Yes – He answered her dryly.

Deanna had made up her mind to confront Harry, seeing Laura crying and so sad angered her so much. The next morning she dropped the kids off at school and went back to the office to meet him. She was determined to find out what was happening with him.

The secretary told him that his sister-in-law was there to see him. So early? He was glad to see her again, but when Deanna came in her face was serious.

– Deanna, come in… What are you doing here so early? –

– Are you busy? I need to talk to you –

– No, sit down… Tell me –

– Forgive me for coming unannounced… But I’ll be honest with you; yesterday I had a conversation with Laura… Can you tell me what’s going on with you? –

– What are you talking about? –

– I don’t want to pry into your marriage, that’s not why I’m here. I need to know what’s wrong with you, Harry. Why don’t you talk to me? You always have… Suddenly I have Laura crying in the kitchen heartbroken because you seem to have forgotten that you are married and that your daughter is coming soon… –

– Did she go to see you? I don’t know what she told you, but she’s exaggerating –Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

– Harry, she was crying painfully, she wasn’t exaggerating… Look at me… I don’t want to know what’s going on between you two, I want to know what’s going on with you, why are you like this… Let me help you –

What was he going to tell her? That he was still mourning her? That he couldn’t find a way to move on and forget her? What for?

– There’s nothing wrong with me, Deanna… I’m still adjusting to all this… You know me, you know none of this is for me – He said pointing around the room.

– Yeah, I know, but isn’t that what you wanted? –

– Yeah… You don’t have to worry, Deanna –

– Do you have another woman? –

– What?

– Do you have another woman, Harry? –

– I can’t believe she told you that! –

– Do you? –

– No, I don’t! What the hell?! –

– Don’t be mad at Laura! What’s she supposed to think if you ignore her all the time?! –

– My marriage isn’t what I expected, can’t I be frustrated too?! –

-You were in love… I could always tell… –

Yes, but not with Laura.

Harry didn’t want to discuss that with Deanna, precisely. He was beginning to be overcome by that feeling of despair, of hopelessness, of sadness. He was afraid that if they kept talking, he would end up confessing everything. He had to find a way to comfort her so that she would go away.

-Deanna, I’m in love with Laura… Very much… That doesn’t mean that married life suits me… I feel overwhelmed… And as you say, the child will be here soon and that also scares me –

It was partly true.

– Why didn’t you talk it over with me, kid? I really thought there was something very wrong between you two –

– You have your own problems now, what was the point of adding mine to yours? –

– What nonsense! I’m always there for you, you’re my friend –

Again the pain.

-Let’s do this: I’ll leave after noon, let’s have a coffee and talk more quietly. Here there are always ears everywhere