Keep Left

Jacob and I had opted for a silent divorce. He tried to talk to me about it, but I reminded him that he had said, if it wasn’t about the kids there was nothing for us to talk about and our divorce didn’t concern the kids. I moved my things to a townhouse apartment. I loved the way townhomes looked. I wanted to originally go back to the States, but that meant putting my children on a plane to come and see there father. They were just too small in my opinion. So, I settle with staying in Paris for a little while and I asked my lawyer to include it in our divorce decree, so Jacob would know that I hadn’t planned on staying here.

He was withdrawn and I knew it was my fault for allowing postpartum depression to cause me to sink so low. I tried to fight it but with Emelia’s death, I found it hard to close my eyes. So I slept horribly and before long I wasn’t sleeping at all. I would watch them all sleep during the night and I fought to stay awake during the day. Jacob tried to send maids with me, but I declined.

I was taking the twins to the park today. They were having a great time playing. They got sleepy after an hour, so I packed up their things and we headed home. I got the feeling we were being watched, but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. I stopped at the bakery on our way home to get blueberry knots. Melody was asleep and Jacobe was fussing about getting in the stroller. I apologized for his outburst. I was heading out the door when I ran into Machen and Yuri. I froze on reflex.

“I’m sorry! We will wait.”

I came to my senses and drove the stroller around them. I thanked him for holding the door open. I cried as I reached my apartment. I pushed the kids inside and locked the door. I got Jacobe out of the stroller and let him run around. He ended up coming to find me putting Melody in her bed. I finished unpacking their stroller and put it away. I heard the doorbell and made my way to it. I opened the door to see Jacob.

“I wanted to see the kids, I hope it’s okay. I should’ve called.”

“It’s fine Jacob. Melody is asleep. Jacobe is full of energy.”

Jacobe ran to his dad and hugged him. I smiled at his excitement. I thought of whether to tell him I saw Machen today or not. He wasn’t going to be my husband for much longer, so I didn’t trouble him. I continued preparing our dinner as he played with Jacobe. Melody started to cry so I paused cooking to go to her. I brought her out of the room. She saw her dad and instantly perked up.

“I’ll take her so you can continue cooking.”

“Thank you. I normally put them in the booster seat and give them fruit. That way I can see them and keep them from getting into much.”

“Chloe, please consider a nanny. You’re putting too much on yourself and you don’t have to.”

“You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I don’t want a nanny. Thank you for your concerns”

“Chloe..”

“I’m not arguing with you okay Jacob, not in my house. This is my place of peace and no one will disturb that!”

“Wh- okay Chloe, I apologize for disrupting your peace. We will be in the living room.”

He left the kitchen with the kids and I was able to cook in peace. I got done much faster than normal. I fixed us all a plate and set the table. I called to them and they came running. Jacob helped put melody in her seat while I got Jacobe in his seat. He didn’t wait for me to set his plate down and snatched it from me causing me to fall forward. I hit my head on the edge of the table causing a pretty nasty cut.

“Jacobe, no! You wait until mommy puts your plate down you don’t snatch it. Chloe are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine. Let me clean it. You go ahead and eat.”

I went to my room to clean my cut. It already started to bruise. I couldn’t get it to stop bleeding. I was about to call for Jacob when he entered my room.

“I called Maribeth to come and stay with the kids. Let me take you to get your head stitched up.”

“Thank you, I was just about to ask if you could stay with the kids so I could go get it looked at.”

“You need stitches and of course I would’ve stayed with them, but I want to accompany you.”

I thanked Maribeth for coming right over. Marco came as well. I told him it was fine. Jacob and I were coming out of the townhouse entrance when we ran into Machen and Yuri. I froze again on the spot. Jacob naturally pulled me into his side and I didn’t fight him. We walked on to his car and he drove me to the hospital.

“Jacob I could’ve went to an urgent care!”

“My wife needs the best medical attention”

“It’s not that bad!”

“Oh yeah? You’ve been working on it for thirty minutes. Yet, it’s still saturating the gauze. You need stitches.”

I registered and waited no time. I got twenty eight stitches and some pain killers. I thanked the nurse and doctor. He drove us back to my place.

“Chloe, I know you don’t want a nanny. I felt you freeze when we ran into Machen. Somehow he lives in your townhouse community. I don’t want you to be afraid. I know we’re going through a divorce, but I still care about your safety and our children.”

“Jacob, I’m just not use to seeing the man who killed my son! It’s traumatic to say the least”

“Then, come home Chloe! I never said you had to leave!”

“And then what Jacob? You wait to explode again on me? No thank you! I rather be scared!”

“You don’t mean that! You were isolating me and then you chose your brother over your husband. I was in between your legs-“

“Jacob, watch out!”

Jacob POV

I was arguing with Chloe when a car pulled out in front of me and Chloe yelled watch out. I crashed into the side of the car and the airbags deployed. We were wearing our seatbelts , but the airbags threw Chloe around in the seat. When I looked up, Chloe was hanging in her seat, unconscious.

“Chloe.. Chloe...”

I got out of my seat and started pulling Chloe to me. She had a pulse but wasn’t responding. I heard EMS heading to us. I cried out for help. I held her in my arms until they got to us. The other driver tried to get away and hit another car.

Her pulse slowly faded just as they got to us. She’s not breathing and her pulse just stopped. They pulled her out the car and started compressions. I watched as they worked on her, afraid, my last memory of her was going to be arguing with her. I thought back to her delivering the twins. This was the second time I almost lost her.

They were able to revive her. I rode in the ambulance with her. I phoned to tell Maribeth and dad we had an accident. I told them I was okay but Chloe was hurt. Once I got to hospital and they got her in a room, I phoned her brothers. The time differences always got to them. I told them about the accident. The doctor said Chloe sustained a subdural hematoma. He said she may have a touch of amnesia and I would have to remind her until her memory came back.

She went two days unconscious. Maribeth and dad kept the kids with them the entire time. I told them they could take them to the nannies but they insisted on keeping them theirselves. They were happy to get more time with the twins.

I stayed beside Chloe’s side the entire stay. She did forget about some things but they could easily be remembered when explained.

We went back to our place, once she was discharged. She remembered our bedroom and the kids. When the twins came home she cried as she hugged them. She played with them the entire day. I joined them. We laughed the entire evening. She gave them baths and I helped her get them in bed. We flowed freely together. I almost forgot I was divorcing her. My lawyer phoned after we got them in bed, stating he was ready to proceed. I told him it was on pause until she regained her memory. Her lawyer understood and mine as well.

I was planning to sleep down the hall when she came out of the bathroom in a towel. She was smiling brightly and looked amazing. She dropped her towel and got ready for bed. I remembered that she liked to sleep naked every since she was pregnant with the twins. She pulled the covers back and turned to see me watching her. Her eyes lit up.

“Did I take too long in the shower? You could’ve just joined me. Do we not shower together?”

“We did”

“Why don’t we anymore? Did I get self conscious after the twins?”

“No..”

I found it hard to tell her we were falling apart. I knew this would be bad later for me. I smiled as she walked around our room without a care in the world, naked.

I got in the shower and returned to find her in the chair reading. She still wasn’t wearing any clothes. I smiled as I went to the closet for joggers. I felt my towel fall and went to pick it up when I noticed Chloe was the one who freed it. Her fingers roamed my body. I had missed this side of her. But I felt wrong.

“Chloe, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“What’s that husband”

She kissed my back and shoulders. I found it hard to concentrate.

“Chloe we were in a bad place before the accident. And you and I weren’t even staying in the same room. That’s why-“

“Well, I’m glad I lost that memory! My husband is delicious and I want him to get out of his head.”

“Chloe-“

“No, turn off your mind. I know you feel the same, your body is responding to me, let it.”

“Chloe, we weren’t even living together. You and I were arguing when I wrecked my car. I had taken you to get stitches for the cut on your forehead.”

“Sounds like you took great care of me. Though I was living somewhere else. Let me take care of you husband. I want to show you my appreciation.”

She wrapped her arms around my body as she pulled me to the bed. I was mesmerized by her hands on my skin. She kissed me and I returned the passion she gave me. We were tangled in our sheets in no time. Her soft moans filled our room with our skin slapping. The more I tried to tell myself I shouldn’t, the deeper I went. We finally gave in as the sun peaked over the horizon. I was sated, but willing to give her more if she could handle it.

She dozed off in my arms. I woke to her still in my arms. She was sleeping peacefully. I rolled over and retrieved my phone. My lawyer was working on pursuing the idiot who caused our crash. I saw messages from her brothers, asking how she was. I replied to them and rolled back over to hold her. She stirred as I snuggled into her neck.

“Good morning handsome, I am sore beyond measure, don’t tell me we weren’t having sex.”

“It’s been awhile since we went like last night”

“I won’t let it get that bad again. Did you sleep well??”

“I did. I haven’t slept that good in months. Thank you wifey!”

“No problem, hubby.”

She kissed me and I was immediately turned on. She climbed on top of me and gave me a performance I’ve never seen my wife give. I could tell she felt awkward but she was exploring and I like it. I thrusted hard, but she asked me to be more gentle. I found myself better pleased with slowing down. I got to learn what she liked. Before I was quick to get her off and maybe she didn’t like that. She never said as much, but she was always pleasing me.

Her releases were more powerful than I remembered from before and she wasn’t afraid to tell me what she liked. I loved this side of her. We showered as I made love to her in the shower. She was glowing when we got dressed. The twins were in their seats having fruits. The nannies were looking after them.

“Good morning, Mr and Mrs DeSantis. Are you hungry?”

“What are you serving today miss?”

“We have eggs, grits toast French toast sausage waffles and fruit, but we can make whatever you’re craving.”

“Honey, what do you want to eat, let me get yours since they’ve fed the children.”

“I can fix mine baby. You go ahead and eat”

“I want to fix yours, please let me. I don’t remember why we were fighting, but I want to make it up to you Jacob. I want to find the love again okay? Whatever, I need to do to make you happy again. I don’t want to lose a man who was willing to take me for stitches and stayed by my side when I lost my memory”

“I don’t want you to regret it when you remember.”

“I’ll remember that you cared for me and I know what my heart feels. I love you. I still get butterflies when you touch me. How long have we been married? Wait when is our anniversary?”

“We’ve been married almost two years. November 27th.”

“That’s in a few weeks! What am I going to get you? Okay now, I hate the memory loss thing because I don’t know what you like or at least I can’t remember right now.”

“It’s okay. Having you and the twins is enough for me. I’d love to fall deeper in love with you Chloe.”

“Then I’ll work on that. Now, what are you eating?”

“What I want isn’t on the menu”

“I will make it then. What is it?”

I looked her in the eyes and when she realized what I meant she blushed tomato red. She smiled as she gasped in response.

“Jacob!”

I placed one of everything on the plate and picked her up. I told the nannies we would be in our room. They giggled at our playful grandeur. Chloe laughed the entire way back to the bedroom. I tossed her on the bed gently. She tried to run away from me and I was actually shocked. I grabbed her by the ankles after putting my plate on the nightstand.

“Mrs DeSantis where do you think you’re going before I get my fill?”

“J-Jacob, have you not had enough? Are you insatiable?”

“I’ve missed you, us. I can’t remember the last time I saw you smile because of me.”

She picked up my plate and started feeding me, taking bites for herself. When we were done, she removed her clothes and spread her legs before me. I lowered my face holding her gaze. I kissed her nub and her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

“J-Jacob!”

She fisted my hair as as I devoured her like the food prior to. She writhed in my embraced as I ate her pussy like a last meal. She cried out my name with each release. I lapped all of her juices, wiping my mouth on my forearm

“You’re so tasty, Chloe”

“I want to return the favor, Mr DeSantis!”

She sat up and I took a step back as she lowered my joggers. She ran her tongue down my shaft. I ran my hand through her hair until the back of her head was in the palm of my hand. When she took me in her mouth it was magical.

“Oh shit! Fuck, Chloe! I’m not going to last long at all”

“Umph umph umph”

“Yes baby! Just like that!”

I tossed my head back as she’s sucked my release out of me. I cried out as it poured into her mouth. She pulled away with a mouth full. I watched as she swallowed all of it. She smiled as I caught my breath and our eyes met.

I pulled her up from her knees. I hugged her as we kissed. I lifted her to my waist. She wrapped her legs around my waist. We continued to kiss as things turned passionate again. I was taking her in our bed when my phone rang. It caused her to grimace and I saw her hold her head.

“Chloe, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine Jacob. Who’s calling?”

“It doesn’t matter, you’re more important!”

“Yeah?”

“Yes!”

“Jacob DeSantis how did I give this up? I don’t even want to get out of the bed!”

“Then don’t! I’m not going anywhere baby!”

The maids brought dinner up to us and left it on the nightstand as we were still engaged. Chloe didn’t stop moaning my name until I had emptied into her for the umpteenth time. She screamed as I pushed in to the hilt.

“Chloe, you’re going to her pregnant at this rate”

“Jacob, am I taking birth control?”

“I-I don’t know”

“Are we ready to have another baby?”

“Chloe, I don’t know. We were in a bad place if I’m being honest. You and I couldn’t even hold a conversation without it turning bad.”

“Yet, here I am with your cock buried inside of me asking if we are ready for another baby. I don’t remember what tore us apart, Jacob but I love you and I’m sorry I hurt you. Whatever I did please forgive me. I’m sorry I hurt you. I can tell it was me.”

“No, Ch-Chloe”

I choked on my words not expecting her to apologize for it all or take the blame for all of it. She kissed away my tears and rubbed the small of my back. I was soothed instantly. I kissed her back as I enlarged inside of her. My phone rang again, but I didn’t answer again. I focused on my wife. She was giving me her undivided attention and I was going to give her mine as well.

**

We celebrated our 2nd anniversary in Greece. Dad had been calling for the twins and I told him I was busy the night he kept calling. I wasn’t ignoring him. Chloe and I agreed to let them get the twins while we were away. She still hadn’t regained her memory fully. She was loving and showed it every chance she got. She would fix my plate and feed me. She always made sure to care for me, even if she had been with the twins all day. I found her studying medicine online.

She told me she doesn’t know how long she had been studying it but she was able to get into the laptop from muscle memory. She said she remembered feeling the loss for someone.

I told her she must be thinking of Yanis, our son. She cried as I relived the events for her memory. She hugged me tightly as her memory came back about the events surrounding Yanis death. I held her until she was exhausted from crying. I carried her bridal style from the beach to our condo. She pulled me closer as she slept. I pulled the loose strands behind her ear. I kissed her and she smiled.

“I love you too Jacob”

I let sleep take over. We spent the entire week in Greece. She shared with me her medical degree progress. According to her transcript she was set to graduate in a year or less. I told her about my expansion plans. She told me my plans were great. She offered advice to help my company better run. I found myself absolutely smitten with her.

We were more in love than we had ever been. I didn’t want it to end. We returned from Greece and visited her apartment per her request. Machen was passing us as we entered the townhouse community.

“Chloe, you aren’t going to flinch today? Normally, you make me feel bad but nothing today?”

“I had a car accident and I don’t have some of my memory. Who are you?”

“I’m Machen Wright, Yanis’ father, our son.”

“Oh, you killed our son? But you’re free of jail?”

“Chloe, I’m so sorry”

“I forgive you Machen. Our son’s life can’t be replaced, but you deserve to live in peace. Do you know my husband, Jacob DeSantis? It was rude of me to continue in conversation with you and not mention him.”

“It’s okay baby,we know each other.”

“He didn’t tell you that you were divorcing him?”

“Machen, my private life is that private. My marriage is private. However, Jacob and I have decided to reconcile. Our kids are flourishing and we are happier than we ever have been.”

“Chloe, you and I were going to get back together. You changed your mind?”

“Max what are you talking about?”

“You sent me this letter a couple of days ago.”

“I haven’t been home for weeks Max, so whoever sent the letter wasn’t me.”

“So you’ve played me like a fiddle? Yuri was even happier. Why would you do this? Talking about you haven’t been home for weeks. Yes you have! You’ve been here everyday! We had sex Chloe!”

“W-what are you talking about? I’ve been with Jacob!”

“Are you trying to piss me off Machen? She’s been with me and our children since the accident! You’re delusional, leave my wife alone! I won’t ask you again!”

“Jacob, I’m not lying. Here’s a photo of us in her bed!”

He showed me a photo of a woman who was similar to Chloe, but she had a tatoo on her back. I noticed it immediately and I also noticed her eyes were different.

“That’s not my wife!”

Just as we were walking off to head to the apartment, a woman opened the door excited to see Machen. She was a spitting image of Chloe. Yuri came running to Chloe.

“Auntie Chloe! You came! I wished you for my birthday! My wish came true!!”

“Hello, little guy.”

“Who the hell are you and why are you in my wife’s apartment?”

“I-I”

“Martyn!”

“On it boss!”

“Let’s talk, Machen! Inside, now!”

We all headed back inside as Martyn held the Chloe lookalike. He pushed her on the couch and Machen took a seat near her.

“Jacob, I thought this was Chloe. She looks so much like her. I-“

“Who are you miss?”

“My name is Zoey, I’m Chloe’s twin sister.”

“Chloe doesn’t have a twin sister. I was her detail for years, it’s always just been her”

“Uncle Mike as you called him, kept me hidden. Just like Emelia. No one was suppose to know there was three of us. I only came to get a closer look at who my sister was. I didn’t expect Machen to be here snooping through your things. I caught him, but he also caught me. So I pretended to be Chloe. My tatoo is how you know I’m not her right, Jacob?”

“Right. and her eyes are different.”

“So, I have another sister? I remember Emelia dying at our pool, Jacob. It’s what made me depressed, but I had just had the twins and was the saddest I’ve ever been. The doctors kept telling me I was depressed and I argued I was just sad. It’s why...”

“It’s why what baby? Chloe?”

“Why, I pulled away from you. I thought you believed what they said over what I wanted to be true.”

“Chloe, you had two babies and your sister died. It was a lot to take in. I knew there would be some fallout, but not us maybe going our separate ways.”

“I’m sorry, Jacob..”

“Don’t, we have made a lot of progress and we’re happier than we’ve ever been.”

“So, I’ve been having sex with her sister this whole time! Zoey is it? Why would you do that?”

“You’re good looking and I was lonely since Emelia and dad are gone. Chloe didn’t even know me.”

“Well, I do now. I’m okay with you and Machen being a thing. I love my husband, Jacob.”

“But he’s the father of your son, Yanis.”

“He killed him and I don’t remember what all happened, so I won’t try to fabricate emotions for him or the situation, but you both have my blessing. I want my sister to be happy. You can keep this apartment.”

“Baby, you sure? You love townhouses.”

“Yes, we have a home and unless you don’t want me there-“

“Of course, I want you at home. What about Yuri?”

“Isn’t Machen his father? He can continue to look after him with my sister, his auntie. Wait, he said he wished me here. Why did you wish me here Yuri?”

“Because, mommy and Zoey have been trying to hurt you. She isn’t nice auntie Chloe. She is using Machen to get to you. He’s going to kill you and I don’t want you to die. They’re the ones who caused your car accident. Please, don’t leave me with them. Take me with you auntie Chloe, please.”

“Unfortunately, I have no grounds to take you from your father, Yuri. However, I can leave guards here for you. Jacob..”

“Already on it baby!”

“If anything happens to him, I’ll press charges on you both. And before you say he’s lying, if he thought I couldn’t help he wouldn’t have boldly told me what you were planning.”

“How do you know he’s not the one playing you?”

“I don’t, but he’s a child and I’m still going to offer him protection. I’m ready to go Jacob, this doesn’t feel like home”

“Yes, baby.”

We left the townhouse once a bodyguard for Yuri arrived. We drove home in silence. I knew she was letting everything play in her head. She took my arm as we walked into the house. She pulled a part from me when she saw Melody and Jacobe. She hugged them both as they giggled. I joined them in their play as the maids and nannies looked on at us.

I saw Gaia take a photo of us and I told her that I wanted a copy. I kissed Chloe when she looked up to see me staring at her in absolute amazement, playing with our kids. She kissed me back and Melody said Mama for the first time. She had only said Dada and other things she babbled, but it was her first time saying mama. Chloe started to cry as she pulled away from my kiss.

“You said mama, Melody!”

“She did, baby. She said mama. Guess we both are in trouble now!”

We spent the rest of the day on the patio watching the kids play. Chloe got in the pool with them and I manned the grill for a little barbeque. The nannies came to get the kids once we saw they were tiring. They took them for baths. We made it up in time to read to them and kiss them good night. Chloe told me she was going to shower. I checked emails and returned a few calls. When I was done, I noticed Chloe was still in the shower.

“Honey, are you okay?”

She didn’t respond and that made me nervous. I walked in to see her staring at a pregnancy test. She wore a shocked expression.

“Chloe?”

“I’ve been feeling sick, Jacob and I thought I was pregnant but it says that I am not. I wanted to surprise you, but I was the one who got surprised.”

“Were you trying to get pregnant?”

“No, but I thought it was the reason I was feeling nauseated and tired.”

“How long have you felt this way?”

“Every since we saw Zoey and Machen and...Yu..Yuri”

“Chloe? Did you eat something?”

“N-no”

I could tell right away that something was wrong. I noticed every time we were near Machen or a relative of hers, she was different. I made a note to watch her more carefully in the future. I pulled her into my arms and ran down the stairs. I yelled for Martyn and he opened the doors and drove us to the ER. Doctors rushed her to the OR after doing a scan.

“J-Jacob, what happened? How long have I been out?”

“You had swelling on your head, so the doctor went in and removed it.”

“What day is it? Why are you looking at me like that? Did something else happen? I remember yelling watch out. Is the other driver okay? I’m sorry I argued with you. Ah...”

“You okay? You in pain?”

“Just a little but I think brain surgery hurts. Jacob, we could’ve died. I don’t want you to think I hate you because I don’t. I just don’t know how to tell you that I love you and it hurts we are going our separate ways for good. I pulled away because I was depressed. I tried to deny the diagnosis the doctors gave me, but it was true. I couldn’t even find a reason to be happy with my own babies. I felt like I was letting you down and that hurt more to see you trying when all I wanted was to be left alone. I’m sorry Jacob, that I broke your heart. I didn’t mean to. I felt hopeless and I should’ve told you-“

“Chloe..”

“Y-yes?”

I love you too!”