In the nights that followed, he was on her every night. He wasn’t gentle or patient with her. Instead, it was rough and perfunctory. She made up her mind to leave him . . . and then she found out she was pregnant. How could she leave when she was expecting his children? She told herself that he would settle down now that he was going to be a father, but he didn’t, at least not with other people. He wouldn’t touch her once she had begun showing. Instead, he continued to bring strange women into their home and take them upstairs while she was busy cleaning or preparing his dinner. It was only after the girls were born that he stopped and began “working late at the office” again.
Constance had never told anyone about this part of their marriage. She didn’t have any friends. He had managed to drive anyone who had tried to continue the friendship they had with Constance prior to marriage away by being unpleasant in a variety of ways. Even if she did have friends, she was too ashamed to admit she had let him treat her like that. It was too hard to explain that she had just kept hoping things would get better, that he’d settle down. It had always been a stupid hope, but it was what she had told herself to excuse her own inaction. Now, she was done with that.
There would be no more wallowing in pity or self-loathing. This whole thing with entering some sort of fake relationship with someone was pretty out there. She knew that, but it was a means to an end. Whatever she had to endure to get the money that would help her get far away from Blane and get on with her life and that of her children was well worth it. They were still young enough that she wouldn’t have to explain it to them. Instead, she could just focus on helping them grow up healthy and happy once it was done.CHAPTER FOURThe Taylor girls were more than happy to come and spend the day with the triplets. It was their summer vacation and any work they could get to help them achieve their mutual dream of buying a shared car for the fall return to school was a priority.
“Do you have something fun planned?” one asked.
Constance glanced at her neck and smiled. “Yes, Lara. Just a bit of shopping.”
It was impossible to tell the three of them apart, unless you knew the secret. It was a necklace they all wore. Each one was identical, a small silver heart-shaped locket, but the center of each one was engraved with the first letter of their name. It made Constance wonder if their own parents did it because they couldn’t tell them apart. It also made her wonder how often they exchanged lockets to fool the people who depended on that piece of jewelry to keep them straight.
“Sounds great. Well, don’t worry about things here. We have it all under control. Take your time and enjoy yourself,” Lara replied, echoed by the two others.
Constance thanked them again for helping and went out to her car. Her heart was racing wildly as she sat behind the wheel and contemplated what she was doing. It was terrifying. Staying here was even more terrifying. Exhaling slowly, she started the car and put it in reverse and backed out of the garage to leave her home, something she rarely did anymore. Since the triplets had been born, it was too much to get them out and about without any help. If she had a nanny, or even a husband willing to pitch in, it would be one thing, but it was too much to manage on her own.
Being out by herself was almost exhilarating, despite the anxiety she was feeling about the meeting she was going to attend. It was almost like being single again - free like she had been before she met Blane. It was funny how she had once seen meeting him as being the most wonderful thing to ever happen to her, when it was now clear that it had been the worst. For a few seconds, she considered that she could just not go back. She could drive and keep on driving. She had no money and didn’t know how far she could get, but she could just keep going until she couldn’t anymore and then maybe sell the car.
It was only the triplets that ended this thought as quickly as it had occurred. She would never leave her little girls with that monster. How could she even think of beginning a new life knowing that they were left behind with a man who would never love them as she did? How would she ever find any peace without them? They were a part of her. Whatever she did, it had to include them. That was not up for negotiation.