Mark was sitting on the couch of Bella, all stiff and stuff, with his hands wrapped up. The room was much warmer than it ought to be, and the silence that lay between them was pressing his heart to death.
Bella didn't even sit.
She had simply stood there, with her arms crosswise, and with all her keen eyes. No longer that easy smile of which she was usually the possessor. This Bella was all self-possessed, watchful, and no purchaser.
Begin at the very beginning, she said.
Mark frowned. "I've already told you."
"Not enough," Bella replied. "Try again."
Mark sighed and leaned back. "Ava is pregnant. She says it's mine."
Bella threw back her head a little. "And?"
"And her mom called me. Said we needed to talk. I should have taken responsibility, said Said.
Bella's eyes narrowed. "You skipped a part."
Mark looked away. "What part?"
Where this comes in, Bella said in a flat tone of voice.
Mark clenched his jaw. It did occur before our separation.
Bella stepped closer. "When?"
I do not recollect the very day, Mark said hastily.
Bella raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember?"
"It was months ago," he said. "We were still together."
Bella shook her head slowly. "That's strange."
"Why?" Mark snapped.
You said you hardly talked to Ava during this period, Bella said, so then, you are not going to speak with me at all.
Mark opened his mouth and then closed it.
Bella noticed. "You hesitated."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did," Bella replied. "You keep doing that."
Mark rubbed his face. "You're overthinking this."
"No," Bella said firmly. "You're underthinking it."
She went around to the window and returned. "Did you see any signs? Morning sickness? Doctor visits? Anything?"
Mark shook his head. "She said she was stressed."
Bella let out a short laugh. "Stressed?"
"That's what she told me."
Bella stared at him. "And you believed her?"
Mark did not know what to believe.
Bella made a sigh and sat down at last across from him. "Mark, listen to yourself."
Mark looked up. "What do you mean?"
You are imitating someone else, you sound like you are imitating someone, said Bella. "Not your own thoughts."
Mark frowned. "She swore it was mine."
Bella leaned forward. "People swear lies every day."
Mark stiffened. "You're saying Ava is lying?"
"Something is wrong with what she said," I Bella said. "And deep down, you know it."
Mark was quiet.
Bella continued, in a soft yet commanding voice. "Did you ask for proof?"
"No."
"Did you go with her to the doctor?"
"No."
Did you enquire about dates and tests or anything concrete?
Mark shook his head slowly.
Bella leaned back. "And then you are having a claim, but not the truth."
Mark swallowed. "Her mother already has things up her sleeve," he said.
The stare of Bella was a little broadened. "Planning what?"
"A wedding," Mark said.
Bella froze. "A wedding?"
"Yes."
Bella looked, and looked, at him. Then she stood up again.
That does not make sense, you know, she said more seriously.
Mark looked helpless. "What do you want me to do?"
Bella crossed her arms. I would like you to cease being soft and used.
Definitely, they will ruin her unless I do that, Mark thought.
Bella softened for a moment. "And what about you?"
Mark had no answer.
Bella turned and walked back up to him and touched him on the shoulder. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Ask more questions, do not stop," she said. Since, in case it is a lie, it will fail. And there you will be in the middle of it.
Mark nodded, his chest suspecting something.
Patricia was pacing her living room all over and holding her phone up to her ear.
"Yes," she said sharply. "The wedding should be soon. Very soon."
Then, stopping to listen, she resumed. "No, there is no time to waste. People are already talking."
She ceased to pace and lowered her voice. "Quiet ceremony. Family only. No delays."
Marcus dropped his pace slowly in the hallway. He had now gone down the stairs to have a glass of water. He hadn't meant to listen. But the word wedding caused his feet to cease.
Unconsciously, Patricia went on talking.
"There will be the baby, and everything should be right," she said. "I will not allow disgrace."
Marcus's chest tightened.
Baby? he thought.
He came nearer, but was always beyond observation.
And yes, Mark will do as he is told, Patricia said. "He has no choice."
Marcus's heart began to pound.
Mark.
Wedding.
Baby.
None of it made sense.
Patricia took a sigh while on the phone. "I don't care how he feels. This is happening."
She ended the call and turned and froze.
Marcus stood in the doorway.
Their eyes met.
Patricia appeared startled at last.
How long have you been standing there for? she demanded.
"Long enough," Marcus said more to himself.
Patricia stiffened her shoulders. "This is none of your business."
Marcus stepped forward. You were in a conversation about a wedding.
Patricia said nothing.
"And Mark," Marcus added slowly. "You said his name."
Patricia's lips tightened. "You misheard."
"No I didn't," Marcus said.
There was a deadly silence in the room.
Marcus took another step nearer, and his voice was steady and sharp. "Who's getting married?"
Patricia opened her mouth
And there was the truth, between them, pendulum and menacing.