Merlin looked to Liesl sadly,“you got pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Why Liesl.Why couldn’t you–’
“I bet it was New York,”Isaias said laughing cutting off Merlin’s beginning of a speech nobody wanted to hear.“I pretty much kidnapped you.Your habit of doubling up birth control pills the next day has caught up to you,sweetheart.”His kiss to her temple and squeeze to her hip told her he was teasing.
She giggled,blushing,and nodded rubbing her head against his shoulder.
“You knew she messed up her pills and didn’t use extra precautions?”Merlin accused furiously.
“Well,no.Not in New York.I figured it out when I moved her into my place when you broke into hers.”
“You trapped her then,”Merlin glowered at him.“You fucking trapped her knowing she thought she was safe with her pills?”
“She’s a grown ass woman,Merlin.”Isaias laughed at his fury.
Liesl scowled at him,“Merlin,I know you accuse Sandy of trapping you but don’t think for one minute I’m feeling trapped or duped.It takes two to tango.I could have told Isaias to wrap it up at any point.I didn’t.I’m happy.”She looked to Isaias,“are you happy?”
“Fucking thrilled.”
“Liesl,”her mother whispered softly,“are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes.More than anything in the world.”
“I can’t believe this,”Merlin moved to sit down in a chair as if his legs had given out.“I thought,”he rubbed his forehead in disbelief,“I thought once you had this need for revenge out of your system you would come back to me.”
She lifted her eyebrows at his comment,ignoring Sandy’s howl of fury,“Merlin,what on earth made you believe this when everything I have said and done said otherwise?”
“You want her back?”Sandy screamed.
“Yes,I want her back.The minute this baby was born I intend to divorce you.I’ve said it a thousand times.Which part did you not comprehend?”Merlin’s voice was quiet and dejected as he looked to Sandy.“I despise you.I loathe you with everything in me.I made one stupid mistake and lost everything for it.”He stood up from the chair and looked to Liesl,“if you told me right now,you could forgive me,you and I could walk out of here and I will never look back.I will take you anywhere in the world you want to go.I will raise your child as my own.I know there is still some love for me in there somewhere.”
“Stop,”she cut him off holding her hand up.“I love Isaias.I love him completely and absolutely.But even if he didn’t feel the same way,even if by a horrible circumstance he didn’t want me or our child,I would rather do this alone than do this with you.I appreciate you were only following directions of your family and trying to keep Sandy from aborting your child,but Merlin,I can never,not ever forgive you.As much as you say you loathe Sandy,I feel the same intense feelings for you.You cheated on me with my sister and didn’t have the decency to even try to cushion the blow.Your behavior in the aftermath of everything which transpired has made me realize how much control you thought you had over me.You truly believe you can manipulate my emotions and my heart to conform to your will.It doesn’t work this way.I don’t work this way.I don’t love you.There is no love,none,not an ounce,left in me for you.”She didn’t back away from his stare,“your version of what love is does not match mine.I would rather have the scraps of Isaias’love than all of yours.”
He took a deep breath and gave a single nod,“I understand.I’ll take my leave.Sandy,my lawyer will be in touch.Don’t leave the country,please.I’ll remind you the prenup contents indicate if you are caught with another person during our marriage,you get nothing in terms of monetary compensation.No alimony.All you had to do was keep your knees shut.”
“You’re leaving me?”Sandy rose from the table and chased him.“You can’t.I love you.You love me.”
“I have never once said those words to you Sandy.”
She started crying pitifully.As he walked out of the house she started running after him begging him to wait for her.
“She has more personalities than an entire psychiatric ward,”Granny muttered.“She hates him.She loves him.She hates Liesl.She loves her.Lorraine,you better stick to your guns this time.”
Liesl’s mother nodded and gave a sad sigh,“I know.My therapist is helping me with it.”She looked to Liesl and gripped her hands softly,“I love you and I am happy for you.”
“Thanks Mom.”
Fred walked over and clapped Isaias on the shoulder,“congrats dude.”
“Thanks man.”He slapped his shoulder back.“I know you were all supposed to be having dinner and the house smells incredible,but I would very much like to take Liesl.We have things we really need to discuss.”
“Yes,but,”Granny pointed at him,“you owe me a dinner.I want to go to the fancy place Elsie’s sister owns.I can’t afford it,but you can.”
“Deal,”he winked at her.He nodded to her painting,“I have time to hang this for you if you like.It’s too beautiful to be sitting on the floor.”
Fred gave his shoulder a shove,“hey,do not encourage her.We don’t want to be looking at this over Thanksgiving.”
“Why not?”
“It’s Granny!”
“She’s not my grandmother,”he laughed at Fred’s slack-jawed glared.“Hey,if Liesl is looking this good at Granny’s age,I’m going to be one hell of a happy man.”
“Oh,I like him,Liesl,”Granny grinned at her.“He reminds me of your grandpa.I bet he’s naughty in the sack.”
“Granny,”Liesl chastised her trying not to giggle as Isaias fist-pumped her grandmother before taking the old painting down and putting up the new one.He hung it easily on the same hardware and Liesl felt a surge of pride at the image.
“Have you heard of those restaurants where you eat in the dark so your senses can be heightened?We should try that at Thanksgiving,”Fred ducked away from Granny’s smack as he chuckled.He hugged her to his side.“Kidding Granny.I’m proud of you for being so brave to let Liesl paint you.I sure as hell couldn’t do it.”
Granny grinned,“I look gorgeous.”
“Yes,you do.”Isaias held his hand out to Liesl,“what do you say my love?Can I steal you away?”
She smiled at the tender expression in his gaze,“yes.Of course.”
