The Second Wife by Melinda Mulera (book club reads .txt) 📗

Sunday

"So, I heard you can't have coffee while you're pregnant or any caffeine related drinks, so you need to cut down on those or you'll miscarry." He said as he continued to toss countless milk cartoons in the basket. "Plus, I think they mentioned not to have papaya. Do you like papaya?" He asked as he glanced over his shoulder to me while I count the number of boxes he just tossed in mindlessly. Nearly 12 and one gallon.

"No." I shook my head in denial. "I don't hate them either. I can eat and enjoy it if it's sweet."

"Well you can't have some." He said as he switched to the box of juices, grabbing a whole  bunch. "Which reminds me, are you going to be staying at your place during this?" He asked and I blinked a bit as I glanced up at him. "Won't you come over at my place?" He smiled slightly. "I have a maid and she cooks great. She had also been a mother before so she might help you out when you have questions to ask."

"I've never seen your place before..." I clicked my tongue as I glanced up at the fridges. "As long as I won't have to pay rent. I'll move in." I smiled at him as I heard him chuckle before turning and tossing more juice boxes.

"Why are you getting so many of these? Is it going to fit?" I asked as I pointed sharply at the cartons.

"Well you need to stay hydrated and I don't know what your tastes will be like, better get them all in three." He winked and I sighed out before he began to push the trolley over to the 'yet another collection of pregnancy' foods.

"I have a feeling I'll have trouble with pregnancy weight." I pouted my lips ad I glanced towards him.

"Which is a good thing." He said. "Means you're eating the right stuff. Our baby will be healthy and round." He said as he squatted to the ground to look at the packet of peanuts. "Are pregnant women supposed to eat peanuts?"

"I haven't done my research yet." I smiled awkwardly and he sighed out before standing up, dropping the largest packet on the shelf and into the trolley.

"We'll look into it later." He said as he sighed and smiled softly. "You really look different. But in a good way."

"Was I bad before?"

"No. You were fine other way." He said as he began to push the trolley towards the till. "Sh*t, of all people to meet-"

"Hazel!" I gasped in fright at the sudden scream in my ear before I could see Tina walking towards us from the side. She was wearing a rather expensive suit and looking expensive as always. Behind her was one of the workers here holding her basket. "And Iris. Funny meeting you here."

"It's a mall. Why wouldn't we be here?" Hazel asked and I giggled a little, getting her to frown slightly before brushing it off and grinning.

"Thought about it yet?" She asked as she smirked at him.

"Thought about what?"

"Your surname. You don't have one. Dad can't remember your mother's surname either. And I doubt she had a family before us." She said shamelessly and I shot her a glare, not wanting to hide the fact that it annoyed me.

"Brown." He said without thought and I blushed at the name. "I'm taking Iris's name."

"Why? It's not like you'll ever get married-"

"We are. In fact." Hazel said through greeted teeth as he shot daggers at her. She stared at him for a moment, looking bedazzled before she shut her eyes for a moment.

"Oh." She chuckled. "You just met a fee weeks ago-"

"What do you want?" Hazel demanded through his sudden deep voice, a voice that I kind of found attractive.

"Psh." Was all she said before she turned her eyes to me. "Feeling any better Iris? No sicknesses we need to know?"

"Why are you asking that way?" Hazel asked and I shrugged my shoulders, confused as well.

"The pills worked, didn't they?" She asked and I blinked at her for a moment, almost confused when I realised she sabotaged me.

Clear as daylight.

"They were fake?" I asked as I glanced at her. "So what were they for?"

"Oh just painkillers." She smiled and chuckled a little. "After I heard Hazel and you were becoming too serious, I figured since you and my brother had a connection, he would end up stealing you from him if he somehow got you pregnant. What I didn't expect was the nitwit Hazel had already had played his fair share in the game." She sighed out as she rolled her eyes. "Nonetheless, I haven't lost yet. Iris belongs to Avery and you know it Hazel."

"Iris doesn't belong to anyone like some product. She loves me and Avery-"

"Should we go there, Hazel?" She suddenly cut him short and I glanced at him, only to notice his shocked glance. As though he was about to say something terrible. "Should we, unravel the past you're trying to bury?" She chuckled louder, catching a few glances from the people around. "I don't think so, at least not yet. I see you haven't even put a ring on that finger of Iris. So before you try to open that big trap of yours, remember we have something against you too."

"Have what?" I asked in a whisper towards Hazel who glanced down at me and sighed out turning to Tina.

"You have a point. Just leave." He said and I could notice his hands shaking a bit on the trolley's handle.

"It was good to see you, Iris." She smiled at me before turning and leaving.

She wasn't nice before. what happened?

"What's past are you trying to hide?" I asked as he began to push the trolley towards the till.

"Not now Iris. Just forget that." He whispered through a dry throat and I nodded slowly before sighing out.