HOPE WELLINGTON

I smiled to myself as I spread the butter on the toast and served it to him.

"Hopeless! You can stop smiling now or I will put a tape on your mouth."

That only widened my smile and i looked at him and winked.

"Are you 'jealous' of my smile??", I said stressing on jealous.

My dear husband scowled at me, but stayed silent. From days, he has been following me, asking me about my 'lover' and at the same time trying to convince me how he was an asshole, a bastard, a coward, a chipmunk and what not, for not reciprocating my love. It was today that I realised he was actually jealous. I'll not name it anything with my hopes held high, but ofcourse some husband instincts had him feeling so. Whatever it was, it amused me alot, and now I love how much it is irritating him. It's rare I get an opportunity to irritate. It is always the other way round.

"Fuck off!"

I laughed and served him another toast. Begrudgingly, he kept on eating whatever I served him. And I liked it that way. Even the fruit salad.

"Oliver is coming after his vaccination. Eric and Erica had to take Evie, so they offered to take him too."

I nodded and ate my own breakfast. Once we were done, he went to take a shower, while I arranged some stuff in the closet. I don't let the servants enter in my closet. I keep a lot of important stuff here, and I like a corner of my home dedicated to myself. Yes, I do share this closet with David, but he's harmless. He never remembers where he puts his own things, so it is hard for him to meddle with mine.

Once I had arranged my clothes, I moved towards the jewelry part and then my eyes fell on a purple box. When I opened it, I saw a beautiful butterfly charm, hanging from a rose gold chain. This has to be my second most favourite piece of jewellery. First is that little ring my father brought for me when I was still one. It doesn't fit me anymore but I wear it in a chain on my important days.

"What are you looking at?", he whispered near my ear startling me.

I sighed, "Behave!"

Then to startle me more I feel him hugging me behind.

"What are you wearing David?"

He chuckled making me aware that I am not going to like the answer, "Nothing, just a measly, slippery, and barely hanging towel."

That had my body turning stiff. This guy has no shame left. He has probably sold it all to afford the alcohol that damaged his liver. I tried to wiggle out of his arms but who am I kidding!

"Wear some clothes David!"

"See Hope...if you move too much, my towel is definitely going to fall."

That turned me stiff as a rock, and I stilled not wanting to make things worse.

"Ohh! You are looking at this.", he rested his head on my shoulder and looked at the box in my hand, "...I never see you wearing this. Don't you like it?"

I cleared my throat, "I like it."

"Then wear it.."

He moved back, thankfully, and pulled the chain out of the box. Then removing my hairs from the back, he clasped the chain and then pulled be aside, where the mirror was.

"Look how beautiful it is. I got it with a Ruby because of your red hair. And they told me, Ruby brings love."

My heart skipped a few beats as I stared at myself in the mirror. I wore this on my wedding day. At the reception. Not after that.

Then my eyes diverted to look at him, and the guy behind me was grinning widely. When our eyes met, his grin turned into a smirk and then I looked down, only to see him wearing his lowers. Like he was already wearing his lowers but only scaring me away. This daft!

I turned and hit him squarely on the chest.

"Duffer! I hate you!"

He laughed, "I love you tooooooo."

As I left the closet, I heard him yell, "You are disappointed I am not in the towel!"

I shook my head and moved out.

*

I had met with Oliver before going ahead with my day's schedule. Today was all about work. David was working from home, and going to take care of Oliver at the same time. I asked him again and again if it was fine, or should I stay. But he said, 'Go and earn money. I don't earn enough to  sustain you and your sneaky son.'

Rebecca was helping me schedule the impending concerts that are planned to take place in the next few months. By the next month, Erica too is going to go on a tour. Eve was three months old and we will be taking her with us, but it is going to take a lot of persuasion from Erica to convince Eric. I have several managers looking at the work of celebrities and managing them, but there are few who I personally take up.
Apparently, the celebrities associated with us have a cleaner image and a hassle free life.

I was just getting the work done, when Rebecca came in with her phone.

"Hope? You have a call from Mr. Hills."

I nodded and took the call.

"Hey Hope? How are you?"

"I am good Austin. You? I sent my congratulations for you baby boy. Did you get them?"

He laughed, "Ofcourse I did. Yours and David's gifts came right in time, when my wife was having a post labour breakdown."

"Is she okay now?"

"Yup..better than before."

If he called, it must be something important because he's been busy taking care of his wife.

"Hope? I have this guy Jacob Robinson, who's a perfect candidate for the manager post that you wanted for your home branch. He's been into basketball for a long time, so he'd be able to manage Valerio and Rodrigue."

Valerio and Rodrigue were two sportspersons with the worst reputation in Italy, outside their sports. There coach approached me three months ago, begging me to take them under my company's wing and manage their public affair, but due to the lack of my experience in sports, I could not accept it and promised to see what I could do. It was in this case that I asked Austin to find someone capable of managing sports person. That can help me in my own expansion and ofcourse can help improve reputation of Italy's basketball team.

"Is he related to you?"

"No! Not related, but my wife knows him. Some mutual friend. I met him last week.
He left his education in the middle hoping to pursue a career in basketball but it didn't work out. But he has aced in management courses. Talked with him and felt he could do it. He will be applying for on company's website."

"Okay. I will consider him."

The name looked familiar but I couldn't pinpoint exactly where have I heard this name. I guess only time will tell.

*

ONE MONTH LATER

We were bidding bye to Garcia as her evaluation period was over for now. The next hearing was scheduled tomorrow, and we were all having a last dinner together. Eric and Erica had also joined. And I can safely say that Garcia is leaving as a happy soul. She would most probably provide a positive review in the court.

"So Hope? After the court case ends, where do you plan on going for a honeymoon?"

Her question had my eating halted. I couldn't contain my shock at its suddenness. I felt eyes on me, too many eyes. Concerned.

"Uh..Garcia.."

I couldn't answer her but moment laters I hear a chuckle, "Garcia...the problem is...Hope is very choosy. She has a few places in her to-do list but she still can't decide what place deserves an appreciation as a honeymoon destination. Ofcourse Oliver is also going...so we have a lot to think about."

Garcia nodded understanding, "Figure it out fast Hope. The beginning of your marriage was really hectic. Make sure you enjoy the first year, the best."

I nodded smilingly. She wanted our best. In the course of her staying here, she has become our friend. We even invited Mr.Clinton over for a dinner when we came to know it was her birthday last week. Even Oliver now calls her 'Nonno' which brings out a lot of affection from her.

David is doing well. Even physically. His reports are showing a positive trends and he has improved his eating habits a lot. The doctors have prescribed lesser medicines in comparison to the start, and now more focus is on his lifestyle.

When Garcia finally left, David sighed in relief making me hit him. I got attached with the lady in the two months of staying together. The kids were asleep and so we adults settled in the balcony with the baby monitors. We had steaming coffees in our hand, and me and Erica were gossiping together. The two men, however, were staring at the building, or the moon, occasionally passing each other glares and then getting back to the sky. There friendship has not improved at all. And that was not all. There was a profound and significance tension between them. Tomorrow will bring with it the conclusion of the case, but I guess it would still not bring the conclusion of their fight.

My thoughts were mirrored in Erica's next words as she spoke up.

"I am glad the two months got over peacefully. Now, after the hearing and result tomorrow, I want both of you to hug out your differences. Oliver is fine and safe between us, and that alone should be your concern. Nothing else."

The men seemed to disagree because Eric looked at her in disapproval and David went further with a reply.

"It is no more just about Oliver Erica. I had to involve Hope in my mess. That alone is reason enough for me to resent him. Hope didn't deserve this."

Eric chuckled unamused, "Have you ever asked Hope about this? Oh well! How will you?"

"She is my friend and my wife. I know what I have to ask her and what not. Just because she doesn't have any issues involving herself in all this mess, doesn't mean I have to be negligent of her newfound problems."

I had enough of this. I was sure it would escalate if not interrupted at an appropriate time.

"Eric? David? I am Hope. And I am sitting right here."

Eric rolled his eyes and turned away to focus on his coffee. David too, stopped further but not before glaring at me, like I offended him.

Erica had a fallen face seeing all this. Her attempts to reconcile them were futile. And nobody was more upset than her.

*

They left as soon as Eric finished his coffee. It looked like he didn't want to stay anymore, and Erica left behind him because she had no point staying here anymore.

When we were finally alone, I turned to him.

"David...liste..."

"No Hope!", He snapped, "I am not listening anything. Why did you shut me up? You should have allowed me to show him his place. Look at him claiming to know more about you than me! I know this marriage, however much we try to accept it, is an inconvenience you had to endure because of our friendship. And he was the sole reason for that!"

That angered me. I have made it clear to him, time and again that this marriage is fine. I do not regret it. And I definitely do not think of it as an inconvenience.

"If after all this, you still think that this marriage is an inconvenience for me. Then Eric is right. You really do not know me enough."

I left the balcony. Only because I did not want to fight with him.

He will never accept this marriage whole heartedly. For him, it was a necessity he had to endure in order to gain Oliver's custody. And thankfully, he's going to get that tomorrow.

*

DAVID WELLINGTON

By the time, the night ended, I was holding my head in my hand due to exhaustion. Nothing weighed me down more than the argument with Eric, and then with Hope.

She left the balcony, most probably in anger. I didn't go in immediately because I had to deal with this calmly. I needed to understand her perspective. I needed to see the positive I was gaining from all this. But I couldn't. Hope lost her chance at marrying someone she loves. And I have not seen people around me indulging in arrange or contract marriages. Atleast I had a marriage out of love with Venus. It was a first for Hope, and she insists on keeping it the last too.

I sighed and went back to the master bedroom, only to find Hope sleeping on her side. Is she already asleep? So soon? I didn't even have my medicines.

When I went closer to my side of the bed, I saw a glass of water, and my pills kept on the nightstand. A smile automatically made its way, and the uneasiness seemed to settle.

I gulped the medicines and then laid down. Sparing a glance at the silent crib, and the silent woman beside me, several thoughts started running in my mind.

I feel greedy for all this. The family life. Hope feels it's okay to live like this. But my biggest drawback is that I cannot love her. It's not that I am incapable of loving, but love has scarred me for life. The one time I loved, I was abandoned. I do not know if it was Venus' bad luck or mine. But if it was mine, I do not to pass it on to Hope.

This past month, we have come closer. Closer as in we don't sleep on two sides of the bed. She has grown comfortable sleeping in my arms. And me, like a greedy bastard, I look forward to her feminine warmth every night. It gives me peace. It settles all the chaos in me. I do not want to leave her. And it feels like home. This is what scares the shit out of me.

"Hope?", I whispered to check if she was really sleeping or just angry.

She did not reply. And so, I shifted closer to her and hugged her from behind. Her body stiffened for a moment, but soon enough, she relaxed. She was awake. And angry.

I hid my face in her hair and sighed.

I do not want to be selfish with Hope. I may get my happy ending, but if I will not be able to love her fully, I'll regret my existence till the day I die.

*

I woke up next day only to find the bed and crib empty. It was late, but as soon as I heard them speaking from downstairs, I calmed down and went to get ready for the hearing. When I finally got ready and left the room, both of them were sitting on the dining table.

Hope was feeding Oliver his baby formula with some finely chopped fruits. My son was making faces, but was eating everything because Hope was the one feeding. If it was me, he would have smeared my Armani suit with his gooey sticky baby formula and sprayed his milk all over the dining table.

"Good morning...", I mumbled, still feeling sleepy. I needed a coffee to become a little alert.

Instead I was served with a glass of mixed fruit juice and a sandwich.

"I need coffee Hope.."

I avoided her gaze as I could feel her glare at me. The constant and vicious glare forced me to gulp the stuff kept before me, and then I looked up only to find her gone.

Minutes later, a cup of coffee was kept before me, followed by some sugar free cookies. She kept the same before herself and started eating.

"Hoooopppeee", I sang and Oliver looked at me grinning. He found something fun in this and so began singing with me, "Hoeeeeee.."

"Hoooopppeee!", I changed my tone, looking at the subject of my concern.

My son laughed, and between his laughter continued, "Hoooeeee.."

I saw Hope rolling her eyes, and then picked up her phone.

"It is 9 now and we have to reach the court by 11. Get ready."

"I am soooorrrryyyy...", for snapping at you.

Oliver copied me, "Sooowwwyyyy.."

I saw a hint of a smile on her face, making me feel at peace. She leaned down and kissed Oliver on his head. The little shit grinned widely showing me her small pearly teeth.

She picked up Oliver from his seat to change his clothes and was about to leave the dining area when I stopped her by holding her hand.

"Where's my kiss?"

She looked at me bored, but slowly her expressions softened. She didn't reply though, forcing me to ask the question again, "Where's my kiss?"

"In the dustbin!"

I don't know if it was the way she said it, or my son really understood the meaning, he laughed loudly, making her chuckle. I cursed under my breath but looking at these two laughing at my expense, really put me at ease.

*

This day was not at all complicated. The court proceeding flowed smoothly. Everyone was cheerful, unlike the last time. And me and Hope were officially declared Oliver's parents. We had the 100 percent custody of him and from today onwards, he'd be living with us permanently.

Mrs. Garcia Clinton had a lot of positive to say about us, and she assured the jury of our capability to take care of Oliver. Surprisingly, she also claimed that me and Hope although married, are still in the process of falling in love. But other essential elements of marriage, like trust, respect, understanding, everything was profoundly evident in our relationship.

So it was clear that our over acting didn't fool her, but she saw some natural chemistry between the two of us.

I was glad, whatever it was, it gave me the positive results and that Hope has the biggest role in uniting me and Oliver.

I sighed to myself when Erica hugged me, "Happy becoming an official father!"

"Thank you little one.", I hugged her back, finding comfort in her presence.

"Your husband isn't sad? Is he?", I hated how I still cared, but I know I can never hate him as much as I pretend to.

She looked up from my embrace and smiled cheekily, "He's sad because Mr.Carter is speaking too much."

"He's irritating."

"Who? Carter?"

I shook my head, "No! Your husband."

She smacks on my stomach and backs off, "Now...tonight...we shall celebrate Oliver's official homecoming."

"You?"

"Yeah...I am his aunt. Ofcourse I will."

*

The celebration was on. It was light and intimate, at Nonna's mansion. I was lying down on the sofa with my head on Nonna's lap. I could hear everybody enjoying but I decided to join my most favourite human on this earth. She was sitting on the sofa sipping on her corn soup.

"Hope is hot. Isn't she nonna?", I voiced out watching my dear wife laughing with Erica as she commented something over Eric, who scowled in return.

"She is. Are you getting laid? Because I don't see you acknowledging anybody being more beautiful than you."

I sighed and looked at her, "No babe. Me and Hope are just friends."

She chortled, "No you chipmunk. You are just not man enough to be more than friends with Hope."

The age difference between me and Nonna is more than forty years, but yes, we talk like this. We have always talked like this. She never disciplined us. I'll admit she doesn't have such relationship with Eric also. When I was twenty, I asked her once, 'I call you Nonna...but you don't behave like my Nonna.' We are more like partners in crime.

She replied to me, 'You'll find many Nonna's in the world. James and Jessica discipline you enough to not let you feel the absence of your parents. And me, I only don't want you to ever feel like you lack a companion. Yeah... Eric is your friend and all...but let's admit, he's too stuck up in his head.'
And I agreed to that.

"Do you feel sexual tension with Hope?"

I made a face, "I don't know. I usually act upon sexual tension. You know me Nonna. But Hope feels too pure, like completely out of my grab...I don't want to corrupt her."

Nonna took her time to analyse my situation. Yes, the little party were going on, but we were engrossed in our 'very intellectual conversation'.

"You know what David. When you were with Venus, god bless her beautiful soul, you did not worry much about corrupting her or about her feelings. Why is it so with Hope?"

I scratch my eyebrows, "May be because she was my friend before all this. And Eric warned me in school that she's not like other girls, and I shouldn't sleep with her unless I am ready for a lifelong commitment."

She chuckled, "My grandson is too intelligent. He basically runs your life."

I looked at her narrowing my eyes, "What do you say Nonna?"

She shook her head, "You see you little doofos Wellington, Eric is a manipulator. He has always been except when it came to his own life. And you are too ignorant. I can see everything as a third party. You tell me, why don't you analyse stuff from Hope's side. May be she feels the sexual tension too. And may be she wants to be more than friends. Like grow some balls David, you are her husband now!"

Her 'motivational talk' made me rethink all, but there was another thought pulling me back. Hope was not a random woman, and I can't indulge with her to make my dead wife despise me. What I did in the one year, is not something that I am proud of. And those women, I didn't care about them at all. Hope is different. Her place in my life is different. She's definitely not a replacement for Venus. And the most important thing, she deserves love. Something that is really difficult for me to give.

I made up my mind, but my mind and heart were all in conflict.

"Grow some balls David!", Nonna told me again as I sat up.

*

As Nonna suggested, I grew some balls. After putting Oliver to sleep, I sat down on the balcony couch where Hope was working. I needed to address this.

"Hope! We need to talk."

She looked up from her laptop and then closed it.

"Yes?"

"Ifeelsexuallyattractedtoyou."

"Huh?"

I scratched my eyebrow, feeling embarrassed. I haven't done this before. And I hate it. When I like a woman, I throw two or three punch lines, and they fall in my arms.
I don't go ahead and tell them what I am telling this woman in front of me.

I took a deep breath, gathering courage, "Hope! My dear wife and friend, what I am telling you is not my declaration but my problem. I feel sexually attracted to you."

I have seen Hope, genuinely shocked, twice. Once when I asked her to marry me, and second, right now, at this moment.

*

Mr. Carter was in a bad mood tonight. First because he lost his case, a first for him. And second, association with Eric Ashton was a headache for him. The man didn't care of him being Italy's best lawyer. The lost case is already getting him a lot of bad publicity, but the amount Eric Ashton offered was too much to refuse. He knew he grew greedy, when he shouldn't have. Also, he held his own set of grudges with David Wellington. He thought he would thrash this man, even after losing the case. But things did not go his way. And he knew he had to do something.

His men waited for his orders, and he finally seemed to formulate one.

"Find the weakest link of Eric Ashton, and David Wellington. I shall break them in the worst way possible."

*