Chapter 9

A FEW WEEKS LATER...

Dawn stared at herself in the mirror, a light blush on her face as she analyzed the bright red burns evident on her neckline.

Last night was amazing...

Her hand instinctively brushed against her slightly swollen lip, allowing the image of their heated foreplay replay itself in her head —  his kisses, whispers of sweet nothings, his teeth melting into her skin, tongue over her nipple, finger inside her deep sex.

It was tremendous, she thought, utterly fantastic and beyond wonderful to have a husband who was so mad for her.

They didn't usually see one another during the day for he had his work and she had hers, but at night, he pounced on her like a horny lion possessed with the need to release its pent-up desires. His energy seemed endless — always trying new things, positioning her in new ways, teasing and tormenting until she was screaming and begging, never sure whether it was for him to stop or keep going.

Speaking of the devil,

David awoke to the bliss of early morning sun, greeted by the sight of his wife standing against the full-length mirror. Cocooning himself in the sheets, he gazed upon her perfect, naked shape, his eyes drawn to her glistening ivory skin and polished hourglass figure.

She was a masterpiece...

And it wasn't just about her curves and smoking-hot body, there was something more, something about the total package; it was the entirety of her femininity which totally captured his imagination. It didn't matter how many times he had seen her naked, he never got tired of the sight. She was more beautiful every passing day with a sexiness so potent that the mere thought of it made him gibberish.

His hand reached down and rubbed over his length, easing his sexual frustration as he tossed off the comforters and lifted himself to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Dawn? He mumbled casually.

"Hmm?" She murmured, turning around to face him.

"Come back to bed, I wanna cuddle " he requested, releasing a sluggish pout that made her smile.

She swayed her hips towards the bed.

"As much I would love that, I can't"

"Why?" He frowned, tugging her down to sit on his lap.

Dawn straddled him, her breasts bouncing on his face as she swung her hand to wrap his neck. He was naked, just as naked as she was and it didn't help because now, she could feel his bulge harden against her opening, the feeling of it, so familiar and yet so foreign.

"Well," she began, brushing his morning bangs away from his puppy grey eyes. "Paula's baby shower is just around the corner and I promised mum I'd help out today"

"Can't you just change plans" he sighed, burying his head deep in the crook of her neck.

"I'm sorry baby. I really wish I could" she raked his hair gently.

David groaned and then relented. "It's okay I guess. Just send my regards to mother and well, Paula for me"

"I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear from you" she joked, fully aware of the predicament that surrounded her husband and sister's soiled relationship.

David snorted with a little eye roll. "I think it's pretty clear she doesn't like me"

"Not everyone can like you, David. I'm sure she has her reasons"

He huffed "if she thinks that I'm going to cheat on you or something then she needs to have her mindset polished"

"You did have quite a reputation, you know"

"Come on. It was a bad time for me and I only slept with a few women" he shrugged defensively.

"I'm surprised you made it out without STDs" she joked but he didn't find it funny.

"I'm a changed man Dawn" he frowned. "I would never hurt you on purpose. Never"

"I know honey" she smiled, cupping his cheeks into her palm "And I love you for it"

***

WHEN DAWN PARKED HER car at her house and stepped in, Marcello, their family pet raced to the door, springing up and down like a little crazy Dog.

"Hey buddy," she cooed, lifting him into her arms. "Missed me?"

As if he'd understood what she asked, he wagged his tail and proceeded to lick her face. She chuckled, setting him down and stroking his fur gently. "I missed you too..."

"Dawn, is that you?" Martha asked as she momentarily stepped out of the kitchen.

"Hi mum" she greeted, a big smile on her face as she walked into her mother's open arm.

"How have you been my darling?"

"Not too bad," she said, basking in her motherly warmth.

"Now that you're here" she pushed a piece of her hair behind her ears, and pointed to the kitchen "you can tell your sister to stop eating all the bread toppings"

"Paula's home?"

Martha nodded and Dawn broke away, walking to the kitchen where she met her sister stuffing her face with sweetened toppings.

When Paula caught sight of her, she lunged out of her seat and tackled her into a suffocating hug.

"Oh my fucking God I've missed you so much, Dawn!" She shrilled, clutching tighter.

"Language Paula" Martha corrected, walking back into the kitchen to stir the tomato sauce.

"I'm sorry mum but I just can't help it after she got married to that nutjob, she disappeared"

"My husband is not a nutjob, Paula"

"Sure sure" she chuckled, painting a million kisses on Dawn's face.

"I'm not twelve anymore, stop kissing my face" Dawn laughed, pulling away slightly.

"I'm sorry it's just, I feel so energetic right now like I could jump off a roof or something"

"Must be the hormones" Martha chuckled and Dawn's eyes darted down to her cute baby bump.

"Probably" Paula smiled, rubbing her hand on her slightly swollen stomach.

"Why don't you both go upstairs and catch up while I round up with the cooking " Martha suggested and Dawn turned.

"You work too hard mother, the whole point of having a maid is for you to relax, you know"

"Te preocupas demasiado, I'll be fine," she said with a dismissive wave of the hand and Dawn sighed, knowing full well that her mother was as stubborn as herself.

"Come on! We have a lot of catching up to do" Paula chipped in, pulling her out of the kitchen.

They'd stayed up, catching up on past events and planning the best baby shower and after what seemed like hours of endless chattering, Paula finally fell asleep, allowing Dawn to use the restroom as she had been feeling an ebbing dull ache in her abdomen since she arrived.

She walked into the bathroom and locked herself, sitting on the toilet and looking down at her underwear only to find that it had been stained with bright red marks that indicated she'd gotten her period.

Her head fell in her hand and she inhaled deeply. She'd expected this month to be different, but it was the opposite and like the rest, she was utterly disappointed.

For a few minutes, she sobbed gently and then arranged herself before leaving the bathroom (with a little less hope than she'd walked in with) and heading to the kitchen where she joined her mother instead.

"Help me stir the butter" Martha beckoned and Dawn stirred slowly, watching her mother as she graced around the kitchen.

If there was anyone who loved cooking more than her, it was her mother. Just like others found calmness of mind in yoga and painting, she found comfort in cooking and could do it all day long.

It was more of a lifestyle than a hobby; it was part of her life routine. She'd cook large meals and share it amongst the neighbors, earning her the title chef de camp because she was always so gracious when it came to things like this.

You never could tell if she had a life outside it because she was never away from the kitchen and it most especially came in handy when her husband eloped. Rather than throwing baseless tantrums or crying over a failed marriage, she just cooked, using it as a source of solace as well as a form of revenue to raise her two beautiful daughters.

"What's all this for?" Dawn asked, looking over the table festooned with fresh pastries.

"Mrs. Alberto's son, Callisto is throwing a surprise baby shower for his wife and Mrs. Alberto gave me the deal breaker"

Her stomach retched. She forced a smile. "That is so nice"

She nodded. "It is. After 5 years of trying they are finally expecting a child"

Dawn sighed softly and continued to mix the butter.

A part of her wished she would've gotten pregnant. She loved her current relationship with David and was more than happy to be married to him but she wanted more, something different from the sex and constant show of affection couldn't give — she wanted to carry their child, their proof of love, she wanted to know how it felt to have the evidence of their love grow inside her.  She'd stopped the pills, took stimulating drugs, and did everything necessary but it all led to a dead end.

"What's troubling you, Araceli?" Martha asked, pulling her out of her strangled thoughts.

"It's nothing mum" she smiled.

"I'm your mother and I know when something isn't right" she tapped the empty stool beside her. "Talk to me"

Dawn sat and sighed.

"It's just ... mum" she lowered her head and bit her lip, trying very hard to hold him her second wave of tears. "I got my period today"

"Oh, sweetheart…" she leaned forward, caressing her shoulders. "Does it hurt, do you need me to massage your belly?"

She shook her head. "It's not that mum. I just... I just really wanted to have a child with David"

Martha smiled softly. "Don't worry too much about it honey. It may not be today or tomorrow. But you're going to have a child someday"

She chuckled bitterly. "David doesn't seem to want any"

"Did he say that?"

She nodded. "You know what hurts? he won't tell me why. He'd rather let me overthink myself to death than give me straight answers. It's disheartening and frustrating and I keep wondering if it's because he doesn't think I'm good enough or maybe he just doesn't love me enough" she let out an exhale, wiping her cheeks as she felt a tear drop on them.

"My child" Martha pulled her into a warm hug. "David loves you, don't you ever doubt that" she stroked her hair gently. "Everybody has a reason for doing the things they do and I strongly believe David has his own reasons for holding back"

"But I'm tired of waiting. I desperately want to know his reasons Mother, because I'm losing it"

"He's your husband, if you are not happy then go to him and demand answers"

"You don't think I've tried that too? He shuts me out every time and the last time we had an argument it didn't end so well"

"Should Invite him over and talk to him?"

She shook her head. "That would just make me look incompetent"

"Then talk to him alright, make him understand how much you love him and want to share that love with a child. It's going to be just fine, confía en mí mi amor. Trust me "

"I really want this mum... I just wished..." She sobbed softly and Martha pulled her closer.

"It's bad for you to keep it all in" she gently patted her back. "I am your mother, you can cry on my shoulders"

Dawn clutched her tighter.

"It hurts... God, mum. Why does it hurt so much?" She gave in to her tears and once the floodgates opened, everything came pouring out.

"It's okay my child, it's going to be okay"