Chapter 1
PHILIP AND BELLE’S HOUSE
Roman finally dropped Belle and Philip off at their house. The drive home from the cabin in the woods had seemed interminable. Belle was constantly looking over at Philip but he wouldn’t meet her eye. She took his hand a few times but he pulled away each time. If Roman hadn’t been in the car, they surely would have had it out.
Philip couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened last night, how he learned that Belle was cheating on him with Shawn, that his marriage was just a sham, and that it was essentially over. But most of all, he couldn’t stop thinking about Chloe. In his wildest dreams, he never expected the night of the reunion to turn out the way it had. To wind up making love with Chloe again and again until the sun came up. To hear her tell him she loves him and to let himself feel the feelings he had suppressed for so long. It was quite possibly the best night of his life. And, in many ways, it was also the worst, because the thought of not seeing Chloe for months, or maybe longer, seemed unbearable to him, and he had no idea how he was going to get through it.
Now inside his home, he felt like a stranger. All he knew is he didn’t want to be here. He would pack his bags and move out tonight, and contact his lawyer in the morning. Belle: I’m so relieved you’re home and safe. I was sick with worry about you. And I felt so guilty about sending you out into the storm.
Philip: Forget about it.
Belle put her arms around Philip but he was rigid. From her conversation with Chloe that morning in the cabin, she knew Philip suspected she was having an affair, so she needed to try to convince him otherwise. She looked at him with doe eyes and threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling him toward her for a kiss. But he didn’t bend.Philip: Isn’t there someone else you’d rather be kissing?
Belle: What are you talking about?
Philip: I’m talking about the man you’re having an affair with. Shawn Brady.
Belle: What? Where did you get that idea?
Philip: Are you denying it?
Belle: Look, I’m sure Chloe must have said something to you, but she misinterpreted what she saw at the hotel. Shawn and I are just friends.
Philip: You’re a bad liar, Belle. You always were.
Belle: And what about you?
Philip: What about me?
Belle: What about you and Chloe, stranded in that cabin all night? She was your first love. You were hers. I can smell her perfume on you. I saw how you helped her put on her coat like you were sharing a private joke. What happened between the two of you?
We made love half the night and it was the best night of my life. Those words nearly escaped Philip’s lips, but he contained them, knowing that if he said anything to Belle, she’d go running to her big brother with the news, and that could be dangerous for Chloe.Philip: It was cold. We shared a blanket.
Belle: Is that all you shared?
Philip: I know what you’re doing, Belle. You’re trying to deflect the real issue, which is you and Shawn.
Belle: Philip, that’s not true. It’s not. I love you. You’re the man I love.
Philip: Bull!
Belle: Philip, please, I’m telling the truth. I swear.
Philip: I’m moving out. Tonight. I’m going upstairs to pack.
Belle: Philip no! You can’t leave.
Philip: Watch me.
Belle: Philip, wait! I’m having a baby. Your baby.
Philip stopped dead in his tracks and he turned to look at Belle.Philip: You’re pregnant?
Belle: Yes, I can’t believe Chloe didn’t tell you. She seemed to want to tell you everything.
Philip: Chloe knew?
Belle: Yes, I confided in her.
Philip: It can’t be mine. We ... I use protection.
Belle: Nothing is 100 percent.
Philip: I’m not convinced. How do I know it’s mine? How can I be sure?
Belle: Because I’m your wife. Because I love you.
Philip: I’m gonna need more proof than that.
Belle: Of course, anything you want.
Philip: I want to get a DNA test. Tomorrow.
Belle: We can’t.
Philip: That’s what I thought you’d say.
Belle: No, you don’t understand. We can’t because it’s too early. You have to be 10 weeks before you can get a reliable DNA test.
Philip: How do you know that?
Belle: It’s Salem. Everybody knows that here.
Philip: So 10 weeks. How far are you now?
Belle: I just missed my period, so probably no more than four weeks.
To be continued ...
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Copyright ©2012 kpatch. All rights reserved.
This story is the sequel to Reunion:
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