Bitter Hearts (A Southern Loving Book 3) Read Free

I got to veto you because you said, and I
quote ‘I’m considered two people because I’m pregnant.’ Well I’m vetoing your
decision not to stay the night.” She rubbed her round tummy for measures.
    “No
honeybun, it doesn’t work like that,” Austin chuckled. “I said you can veto
food choices, nice try baby.”
    “Well
since you didn’t clarify yourself, my veto stands, but next time I know the veto
only means for food.” She winked at him, tossing Austin the towel. Farrah
walked back to the kitchen singing a happy tune.
    “You
win this time Farrah McBride,” Austin laughed.
    ***
    Hank
could hear them laughing in the other room. He envied what they shared
together. He sat there on the bed, in the dark room, emotionally drained. His
mind continued to drift back to the past three years with Natalie and the love
they had. There was no value and commitment to each other. Was he destine for
people to always leave him?
    Maybe
he haven’t been the best husband in the world. God, how could he have been so
blinded? Natalie was distant and he should’ve known she was having an affair.
Picking up the photo of them at a much happier time, he threw it across the
room. Glass shattered and the metal frame slid across the floor. Hank wanted to
cry, he wanted to rush out the house and go after Natalie and punch the hell
out of Dwight Brooks.
    A
knock sounded on the door. “It’s me,” Farrah called out. “Can I come in?”
    When
he didn’t say anything, the door to the bedroom creeped open slowly. He looked
up to see Farrah standing in the doorway holding a tray of food.  Hank could
smell the steamy contents, and his stomach growled from just inhaling the smell
of buttery cornbread.
    “I’m
not hungry,” he lied.
    Farrah
ignored him and turned on the light. Hank groaned, adjusting his eyes to the
brightness.  He missed the darkness, at least in the darkened room Hank didn’t
have to worry about seeing everything that reminded him of Natalie.
    “Yes
you are,” she said softly, sitting the tray in front of him on the night stand.
“Eat and listen.”
    “No
disrespect, Farrah, but I’ve been through an emotional rollercoaster tonight,”
Hank mumbled.
    “There’s
nothing wrong with wanting to bawl your eyes out, or rip pictures up.” She
nodded to the mess on the floor.
    “Are
you about to tell me all those girly clichés?” he said, rolling his eyes.
    Farrah
chuckled and nodded her head. “I could, but you’re a man and I know you have
that macho man persona running through you. ‘Guys don’t cry’ but that’s a lie.”
    “I
don’t know what I did wrong.” He leaned back in bed and stared up at the
ceiling.
    “Nothing.”
Farrah sat on the bed next to him and laid back. “You can’t blame yourself.
Believe me when I say that it’s easy to point fingers at yourself.”
    “I
should have known.”
    “Know
what?” Farrah said as she looked over at him. “Shit, maybe Natalie did you a
favor. I’m sad because she broke your heart, but a part of me is happy that
Natalie’s gone. Weren’t you the one who told my husband he deserved better than
Rebecca?”
    Hank
covered his eyes with his arm. There was an endless film of their relationship
flashing before his eyes, the good and bad with Natalie.
    “Some
people marry for love, some for companionship and some for convenience. You my
dear cousin, have to figure out which one Natalie married you for.” Farrah sat
up and walked to the window, and watched the rain that was coming down harder.
“Whatever she told you, I want you to know that you are worthy of being loved
and bring cared for. Her feelings may have not been genuine and true. Believe
me when I say there is nothing wrong with you.”
    “Farrah,
I don’t need an Oprah moment,” he grumbled.
    “I’m
not.” She sounded offended. “Hank, you don’t need to be blaming yourself, we
have to face facts and realize that sometimes relationships don’t work out. You
gave it your best