Chapter 10 Broken hearts and jaws

James set his glass down on the kitchen bench, concern etched over his face.

"What is it Lea? Are you ok?"

She motioned for him to sit down and he did.

Her stomach was filled with nervousness, and a part of her just didn't want to go through with it.

But she knew that it wasn't fair for any of them.

Maybe it was a selfish thing to do… but she felt that she had to.

"James… it's about the baby."

James titled his head slightly to his left, a sign that he was really paying attention.

Lea swallowed nervously. It was time to tell him for real now.

"The baby… it's… it's not yours."

She turned away at the look of his face: shock, horror and disappointment. She was sure that there was anger to soon follow.

"Wait, what?"

Lea took a deep breath and repeated what she had said. "The baby, it's not yours."

The look on his face let her know that he knew who's it was.

How could she do this to him? And with him, of all people!

James could feel his blood boiling. "That bastard!" he spat.

Lea shrunk away from him. "I'm sorry-" she began, but he stopped her.

"Why?" he asked softly.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, James," she sobbed. "It just… happened and…"

James laughed in disbelief. "I know how these things work Lea. It doesn't just happen." Then, "Wait till I get my hands on him," he muttered to himself.

"No, James, you can't."

He looked at her. "Does he know?"

---

Lea knew that she would have to lie about this one. Otherwise James would take it upon himself

"No, he doesn't," she lied, hoping he wouldn't catch her out on that one.

Thankfully, he wasn't paying that much attention.

"Lea, I thought that we… before we got married we were best friends. Did that not count for anything?"

She wiped away her tears. "It did... It does," she corrected.

"And what about him? Huh? What does that mean?"

Lea buried her face in her hands.

"Answer me!" he yelled at her. "You still love him, don’t you? After all this time, you still love him and so you went and slept with him and got yourself pregnant. Well, just brilliant Lea." He paused. "And to think that I thought you were my best friend," he said, his voice void of all emotion.

"James..." Lea said pleadingly.

"Look, forget it." And with that he walked out the front door, the force of his slam rocking the house.

---

Standing outside Chad's house, James was still fuming. He knocked hard on the door.

"What's up with you?" Chad asked as soon as he'd opened the door.

James just pushed past him and sat down on the couch.

"Honey, who is-" Emma saw James on the couch. "Oh."

"So, what happened this time?" Chad eyed his brother.

"I'm gonna kill the bastard, I swear."

Emma glanced at Chad who shrugged.

"Who?" his brother asked, calmly.

"Dean," he whispered.

The story spilled out, while his brother and sister-in-law listened on sympathetically.

"Well, it's not wonder she said that she couldn't have the baby with you," Chad said bluntly, as Emma nudged him in the ribs.

"James, I'm so sorry," Emma said apologetically. "I never thought..."

"That makes two of us," James spat bitterly as Chad slipped a beer into his hand.

James sculled it down, a hard set frown set on his face once he was done.

"I'm gonna kill him. Honest to God."

Emma rolled her eyes. "What good's that going to do?" she reasoned.

James turned on her, his eyes blazing. "He knocked up my wife. My WIFE!"

Chad punched him in the jaw.

"Don't you ever talk to Emma like that again," he said coldly, as James fell to the ground.

James half-laughed as he looked up at Chad. "Chivalry isn't dead in some people at least."

"Go to the guest room," Chad ordered his older brother. "Sleep it off. We'll talk in the morning."

He turned and retreated to the kitchen, hoping that his brother would be better in the morning.

---

Chad groaned as he heard the shrill ring of the phone.

Emma nudged him. "You get it," she mumbled. "I'm not getting out of bed."

Chad rolled his eyes and rolled over to kiss her on her forehead. "I'll be back soon."

"Hello?" he answered, the sleep evident in his ovice.

"Chad? Thank God it's you. Sorry to wake you, but is James there?"

Chad rubbed his eyes. "Hey Leanna. Yeah, he's staying in the guest room."

"How is he?" she asked worriedly.

"Leanna, don't pretend that you care. How could you?" he accused her.

She sniffed. "I... I..."

---

What could she say to that? Chad have every right to think the worst of her.

"I'm leaving," was all she said. "Tomorrow. Can you tell James?"

"No Lea. You can tell him yourself." And then he hung up.

It's been a fair while since I've started writing this story. Lol. But I'm back writing, since I've realized that I tend to leave stuff all the time... So here's another chapter. I think that this story can end soon... But yeah... We'll see. )

yinks: you be confused. Hehe…

Romaces-Luv529: Thanks.

Black Feather Quill: uh yeah… thanks for your reviews. They made me .

p-y-a: you forgot… but I think you've remembered now… SC is all over. Weeee…

penami: I wonder too…