CHAPTER 69: SHOCKING NEWS; AFTERMATH II.
Diana went to the bathroom and took a quick bath, on coming out, she saw the girls in her room.
"Hey baby", Monica called out as soon as she came out. "Here we picked you some clothes according to your husband's wishes. Hurry go change. Monica placed the dress in her hands as she shoved her gently towards the place she just came out from.
Diana emerged from the bathroom, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. The girls were arranging a tempting spread of food on the table.
Diana offered a weak smile, her mind still reeling from the day's revelations. "Thank you, Monica. Did James ask you to bring food as well?"
Sandra shook her head. "We took it upon ourselves dear. We all know you need to be strong right now. So you just relax and eat."
Diana smiled and settled into bed, the delicious aroma filling the room. She drew the table closer to her and began to eat as the girls chatted amongst themselves.
As she nibbled, a thought struck her. "Ladies," she began hesitantly, "I have something to tell you."
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to her.
"I'm pregnant," Diana blurted, a mixture of nervousness and elation in her voice.
A stunned silence followed. Grace's eyes widened. "You are what?"
"Pregnant" Diana responded, a bit more firmly this time.
Valerie chimed in before Grace could finish, "We thought…"
Monica shot her a sharp look, pinching her in the process, and Valerie immediately clamped her mouth shut.
Diana felt a pang of betrayal. "You all knew, didn't you?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
Grace reached out, but Diana drew back. "It's okay, Grace. I understand."
Monica, however, wouldn't let it go. "No, you don't understand. We have to tell you why we didn't say anything."
Diana looked at their resolute faces, a flicker of curiosity replacing her hurt.
"Our husbands… they were told a long time ago about James' infertility," Monica began, her voice low. "They swore us to secrecy, threatened us even, claiming James would have our head if this secret was found out". He can be… intense, you know."
"Yes, he's capable of that," Diana conceded.
"My point exactly", Monica continued. But after meeting you, Diana, after everything you shared with us, we got home and agonized over what to do. We struggled with keeping this from you and it just felt so wrong. We were scared of your reaction, afraid of breaking your trust. You could say we were protecting you from the truth."
"Yes we were protecting you, but it wasn't our place to do that. It was selfish. You deserved the truth," Grace continued sheepishly, her voice filled with remorse. "You welcomed us with open arms, trusting us from the very beginning. We should have done the same for you. And for this we are deeply sorry."
Diana met each woman's gaze, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.
Sandra nodded resolutely. "No more secrets, from any of us." She held out her pinkie finger. "Pinky swear?"
A genuine laugh escaped Diana's lips, as well as every other persons'. The tension eased as they all linked pinkies in a moment of shared understanding.
The ladies didn't really know much. Diana figured it out when they started telling her all their husbands told them, which were all things she had heard before. They didn't know anything which could only mean those men were indeed, extremely loyal.
The women spent the next few hours catching up, their conversation flowing like a warm current. They talked about their children, and the joys of motherhood, their hopes for the future, and of course, Diana's pregnancy.
As twilight painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, the women began to gather their things. Diana walked with them to the door, her heart brimming with a newfound sense of sisterhood.
Alone again, she picked up her phone, her finger hovering over her mother's contact. The urge to share the news was strong, yet she hesitated. Maybe… not yet.
With a sigh, she scrolled through her contacts, her eyes landing on James's number. An internal battle raged within her. Did she call him? Did she wait? Her finger hovered over the call button but doubt held her back.
Lost in her sea of emotions, exhaustion won the fight, and Diana drifted off to sleep.
At midnight, a sharp pang of hunger woke her. Disoriented, she scanned the room, ready to call for Harry. But across the dimly lit space, she saw a figure slumped beside the bed, James's head resting against the mattress.
A wave of tenderness washed over her. Unthinkingly, Diana stretched out a hand, her fingers brushing against his soft hair.