Strangers by Iris Deorre Read Free Book Online

but I wanted a life, I wanted a life with a wife and I wanted children. My wife can’t give me that. Unfortunately the doctors have said that it’s going to get worse. The part of her brain that’s been damaged is continuing to deteriorate.’
    ‘Oh my god, I’m so sorry Mark.’ I began to tear up. ‘I’m sorry I never gave you a chance to explain.’
    ‘It’s not your fault, I should’ve been honest from the start. I guess any woman who found out the guy she was dating was married would’ve left.’
    I nodded.
    ‘Things got so bad after the night we went out and I was advised by the doctors to rethink about putting her in care facilities. They’d spoken to me about that years ago and I’d refused to do it. She was my wife, but she isn’t anymore. She isn’t there anymore when she looks at me she doesn’t know who I am. At times she does but now more than often I’m a man who scares her daily. And so I made the decision to do it.’ He squeezed my hand. ‘When you came into my life, I saw a future, I saw children, I saw the family I wanted to have.’
    ‘Oh god.’ I burst into tears.
    ‘Have I upset you?’
    ‘No, no it’s just.’ I tried to keep it together for the sake of the people around us. ‘Oh Mark, I don’t know what to say.’
    ‘Say you’ll give us another try? I will still have my responsibilities to my wife as her guardian but if you could bear with me and give me a chance I would be the happiest man on earth.’
    I just couldn’t hold back the tears. It was all too overwhelming. I wanted him so much and yet I was so scared. Even after the explanation he’d given me I was still weary.
    ‘Please don’t shut me out. I’m willing to give it my all.’ He was so serious I could see the pleading in his eyes.
    I pursed my lips together, I’d almost forgotten the reason I’d asked to meet him in the first place.
    ‘First you have to know why I asked you here.’ I tried to smile.
    ‘Okay.’
    I took his other hand and squeezed them both.
    ‘Don’t freak out,’ I said.
    ‘Okay, I won’t.’ he smiled gently. Mark had a beautiful heart as well as beauty on the outside.
    ‘I don’t know how to put this or say it.’
    ‘Just say it, I can take it.’
    I took a deep breath.
    ‘I’ll be fine.’
    ‘Mark.’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘I’m...’
    ‘It’s okay.’
    ‘Mark, I’m pregnant.’
    His face tilted and he looked at me like I’d just announced I was carrying a bomb.
    ‘Say that again, I didn’t quite catch that.’
    ‘I said I’m pregnant.’
    There was a slight curl on his lips, ‘Again, I didn’t catch that.’
    ‘I said I’m pregnant.’
    He sat in silence for a minute and then a wide grin appeared on his lips.
    ‘Again.’
    ‘Mark.’
    ‘Again or else I’ll scream.’ He giggled.
    ‘Okay, okay. I’m pregnant.’
    ‘We’re having a baby?’
    I hadn’t even thought that far but hearing those words come out of his mouth made my body feel warm all over.
    ‘We’re having a baby?’ A tear slid down the right side of his eye.
    ‘Yes Mark we’re having a baby.’ I began to cry too.
    ‘This is super crazy!’
    ‘You can say that again.’ I took in deep breaths.
    He turned to the elderly couple besides us, ‘We’re having a baby.’ He boasted.
    ‘Oh congratulations!’ they said.
    ‘Mark.’
    He stood up and helped me out of my chair.
    ‘Come here you.’ He took me into a warm hug and I finally let go into him. ‘I promise I will be the best dad ever.’
    ‘We’re going to have to start from the beginning.’
    He looked at me.
    ‘You’re going to have to ask me out properly.’ I smiled.
    He turned around and looked at the shop and then took my hand.
    ‘Ms Jacobs, will you go out with me?’
    ‘No.’
    He was taken back.
    ‘I’m only messing, of course I will Mr Hirst.’
    ****
    S o this is my life now! I’m with the most attractive man I’ve ever known and if you think love can’t happen in an instant, think again. You see if I hadn’t