“Maria, where do you think you’re going?”
“Use your brain. Oh I’m sorry that’s asking too much.”
“Watch how you speak to me,” he said grabbing Maria’s arm.
“Carter, get your hands off of me,” she said breaking free from her husband’s grasp. “You don’t run me, and you damn sure don’t tell me what to do.”
“You’re my wife, and the mother of my child, I can tell you anything I damn well please. Do you understand me?”
“NO! You understand this,” Maria said pointing her slender finger. “As far as I’m concerned this marriage is a farce. You did bless me with a beautiful daughter but beyond that, this marriage has been a nightmare. As soon as I get myself together I’m leaving and taking Ella with me.”
“I guess that won’t be anytime soon, since you’re pregnant with our second child.”
“What the hell are you talking about Carter?” she asked with anger in her eyes.
“Your doctor called while you were out doing who knows what. At first she didn’t want to let me know what the call was about but since I’m your husband she made an exception. She told me congratulations that you’re expecting.”
“You lying sonofabitch. There is no way I’m pregnant.”
“I’m afraid so. I couldn’t be happier. Now Ella will have a little brother or sister to play with.”
“Hell no! I’ll never have this baby. We can barely take care of Ella and now you want to bring another child in this world.”
“All you think about is money. All a child needs is love.”
“That’s why you’re broke now, because of dumbass thinking like that. Love don’t buy pampers, milk or clothes to put on a child’s back. I won’t be struggling for the rest of my life.”
“Maria, I’ve always provided for you and our child. I will do the same for this one. Maybe we don’t live in a big mansion and have fancy cars but we love each other. Everything will be all right. I promise we will have a good life you just have to trust me.”
Maria walked over to Carter and stared at him for a long hard second. Then out the blue she raised her hand back and slapped him so hard, his head actually whipped around. Maria was a little woman, but with all the anger she had brewing inside she could’ve knocked him across the room.
“Damn you Carter! I thought I was finally through with you, that I was this close to freedom. This child will never see the light of day.”
Carter griped Maria’s chin tightly. “If you ever kill a child of mine, so help me God--”
“So help you God what?”
“Don’t push me Maria,” Carter said trying to get a hold of himself. Carter released Maria from his grasp and realized how hard he was breathing. He had never put his hands on Maria or any woman for that matter. But Maria had a way of getting under his skin. He loved her more than life itself and the thought of losing her was too much for him to bear. “Maria, I’m sorry. Let’s talk about this.”
“There ain’t nothing to talk about.” Maria said gathering her stuff so she could go out.
“Maria, please don’t kill my baby, our baby. I promise I’ll work two, three jobs if I have to, so you can have everything you want in life. Fancy clothes, jewelry, furs, I’ll give you all that. Just give us another chance, you, me, Ella and the baby growing inside you,” he said putting his hand on her stomach.
Maria brushed Carter’s hand away. “I have to finish getting dressed. I left Ella’s dinner on the stove. We’ll finish discussing this tomorrow.”
“You’re still going out, even in your condition?”
“I’m pregnant, Carter, not on my death bed. Whether I decide to keep this baby or not, you or nobody else is going to stop me from living my life. The sooner you understand that, the better off we’ll all be,” Maria huffed as she stormed out the bedroom. Carter watched in despair as his wife left him all alone. He bent down on his knees more confused than ever about the future of his marriage.