Breach of Honor by Naomi Porter

51 Miranda

SJI WAS THE absolute last place I wanted to be today. Not that I knew if Will was in the building or not. I tried to not care either way. Tried. But as the meeting with Claire neared the end, I was ready to run out the doors.

I was tired, emotional and heartbroken.

Peeing in a cup and a positive pregnancy test seemed to unlock every imaginable pregnancy hormone. I’d woken this morning with the urge to vomit, but I hadn’t given into it, breathing through the roiling in my stomach. A quick search on my phone had prompted me to nibble on crackers while I got ready for the day. In the hour it took me to shower and do my hair and makeup, I’d peed four times.

That was only the beginning.

During the breakfast meeting with Melissa Asher, I’d excused myself twice to run to the toilet. The second time, Tessa had followed me. I’d assured her I was okay and blamed the two glasses of water I’d drank during the meeting. She’d accepted my answer, but I could tell she was leery.

Despite Will not coming home last night, I’d handled the meeting with poise, refusing to let my personal life affect my work. The final details for Melissa’s wedding in three weeks were finalized, and she was beaming with excitement.

This event was one I’d been looking forward to for the past year. Sadly, with my relationship taking a nosedive into the Pacific Ocean, I dreaded the day I’d see my creation in the venue I’d secretly coveted for my future wedding to Will.

What would life be like in three weeks? I’d asked myself that question several times last night while I waited for Will to get home. When midnight had arrived, exhaustion had hit me hard and I gave into it.

At three in the morning, I’d woken with an urge to pee. Will’s side of the bed was empty. After I relieved myself, I’d checked my phone for a message, but there wasn’t one from him. I’d tiptoed out to the living room to see if he might be asleep on the sofa. He wasn’t.

It was then I decided I wouldn’t tell him or anyone else about the baby. I needed time to process what I’d do if there wasn’t an us.

Each time I tried to imagine a life without Will, an excruciating pain pierced my heart.

“Miranda? Are you okay?” Claire’s voice snapped me out of my reverie.

“Oh… I’m so sorry. Just a million things on my mind today.” My face flushed with embarrassment. I looked sidelong at Tessa staring at me suspiciously. Her eyes moved toward my ear, and I realized I was rubbing my earring. I released it instantly, steering myself back on track with the meeting. “I think the picnic is going to be delightful. I love the nautical colors and seafood buffet.”

My stomach turned. The thought of raw oysters did not sit well with me. I cleared my throat and swallowed a few times.

“I love doing this event for our employees, clients, and their families. So many times, the families aren’t included in our functions, but this one is all about them.” Claire smiled. “Now, on a personal note, if you don’t mind me asking… Have you and Will talked about the future?”

I shifted in my seat as Tessa listened with intrigue. Thankfully, Claire’s two assistants weren’t present at this meeting. “No, we haven’t.”

“Oh.” The disappointment in her voice was telling. Nine months together meant something to her, as it did to me. At Easter she’d shared how she and Willaim feel in love. After six months she knew he was the one. In return, I had confessed that I hoped Will would propose soon because I knew he was the one. We’d hugged, both hopeful and excited. Not long after our intimate conversation Will had changed and his affair began.

I gazed at my bare ring finger. “We’ve both been swamped.” A half-truth. I had been busy and so had Will, going out with Jason… and with her.

I didn’t want to believe I’d been wrong about him being the one. The state of confusion I’d been in for months had kept my head spinning. Nothing made sense. The way Will made love to me, the look of adoration in his eyes, the words he whispered in my ear when he thought I was asleep… It all haunted me. “I love you, never forget it. Never doubt my love for you,” he’d whispered more times than I could count.

Last night had blown it all out of the water. When he hadn’t come home, my heart sank to the bottom of the ocean.

“Of course. I don’t mean to pry. I’m just happy you both found each other.” Claire patted my hand.

“Yes, well, we should be going. I have a full schedule as the end of summer quickly approaches.” We all stood. Tessa and I gathered our things, and I hugged Claire goodbye.

I was going to bypass Will’s office until Claire looked at me oddly when I went toward the elevator. “Too busy to stop in for a quick hello?” she asked.

“Um, actually yes. Will isn’t expecting me to drop in.”

“True, but here we are.” His voice made me whirl around. His bloodshot eyes stared at me grimly, his messy hair and yesterday’s suit mocked me.

“Will, good heavens, you look horrible.” Claire spoke my very thoughts. She glanced from Will to me.

I said nothing to avoid creating a scene. I didn’t want Claire to find out Will hadn’t come home, but one look at him told the truth. I wouldn’t lie for him if she asked questions. This blatant disrespect was on him.

“Do you have a minute?” he asked.

I glanced at Tessa.

“Please.”

I could feel Claire’s eyes on me, so I inhaled, nodding. “Tessa, please wait for me in the lobby. It was lovely to see you, Claire.” I waved, turning on my heel, and briskly walked down the hallway toward Will’s office.

All the hurt and anger grew inside me as I pushed open his door. I pulled out my phone to text Lily that I’d be a little late returning, but she’d already messaged me.

Lily: I’m sorry sweets. Dump his ass.

An image of Will kissing a blonde pummeled my heart. I felt the blood drain from my head, and the room swayed. The picture she’d sent was on Twitter, so I had to assume it was everywhere.

“Miranda, I want—”

I spun around at the sound of his voice behind me and slapped him across the face. His hand went to the spot where my red handprint lay, his eyes wide. An unbearable pain was in them.

“Why, Will? How could you?” I showed him the picture and he paled taking a step back. “I assume this is the other woman. The one you slept with last night!” I bolted to the door, but he grabbed my arm.

“Wait!”

“Why? What is there to say? You don’t want me. You’ve made that photographically clear. I’m done.”

He wouldn’t let go as I tried to jerk my arm away.

“Let go!”

“No. We’ll work through this. We will. Just don’t do anything hasty.” He pulled me to him and captured my mouth, and dammit if I didn’t kiss him back with as much desperation as he unleashed on my lips. We devoured each other, hands pawing, tongues fighting for domination to the frantic beat of our hearts.

Images of him kissing the blonde flooded my mind, along with thoughts of our baby growing inside me. My precious baby deserved to have two parents and one home.

Even with the betrayal and all the lies, I loved Will with every cell in my body. Would it be enough for the sake of our baby? Could I sacrifice my self-respect and heart for my child?

I needed to try.