Read Online Promises (New Beginnings Book 2) by Michelle Lynn - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michelle Lynn
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had been killing him. His marriage had fallen apart because his wife claimed he loved Maggie more than he loved her. She was right about that, so she left him after only a year.
But Maggie was still married to Jake. Once upon a time, the three of them had been best friends. That changed about six years into their marriage, when Maggie had her first miscarriage. She’d been devastated, but Jake was too busy drowning his sorrows at the bottom of a bottle of gin to notice. So she’d turned to Elijah.
Things had always been platonic between them, despite Elijah's feelings. Maggie was too scared of losing him for it to be anything more. Jake didn't believe that.
His drunken rants had turned into jealous rages. Maggie started to see her father in him. She wanted to help him in the way she never could help her dad. Jake never hit her. Elijah would have killed him if he did. But there are other forms of abuse.
Elijah tried to convince him to go to rehab. He even offered to help pay for it. Jake refused. He didn't think he had a problem. He didn't see what he was doing to his wife.
When she lost the second baby, Jake took away the only support system she had. He made her choose between their marriage and her friendship with Elijah. She’d been in tears when she told Elijah she needed to try to make her relationship work.
Elijah didn't know much about that year he didn't see her, but when she showed up at his house, he knew it hadn't been good. He knew he should have fought to stay in her life. He should have fought to keep his promises.
###
Four Years Ago:
"I’m sorry, Maggie," Dr. Murray said. "After this last pregnancy, you will not be able to conceive again."
The doctor went on to explain her diagnosis. She had an abnormally-shaped uterus, but it all sounded like a bunch of medical mumbo jumbo. All Maggie heard was her dreams crashing to the ground. She felt dampness on her face, but didn't bother to wipe it away. She was frozen in her seat, the doctor's voice just noise roaring in her ears.
This wasn't her first miscarriage. In fact, it was her third. But it would be her last. There was no more trying. All she’d wanted for years was a child to call her own. Someone she would love with all her heart. She’d vowed to give the child the life she never had.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and realized Dr. Murray had walked around the desk that had been sitting between them, and now stood in front of her. She looked up slowly. Dr. Murray tilted her head and gave it a sad shake.
"I’m so sorry," she said. The look in her eyes told Maggie that she knew how empty those words were. But what else could she say? There was nothing that could soften what Maggie was feeling.
Maggie stood slowly and followed the doctor from the room. She suddenly had the desire to get out of the office as fast as she could. The lady behind the desk slid Maggie's credit card through the scanner and handed it back to her.
"Thank you," Maggie said in a daze.
She practically ran from the building, gulping fresh air as soon as she was outside. Inhale. Exhale. She breathed in too fast and started coughing.
Jake should be here, she thought once she was breathing normally again. But, no. He didn't show. She let out an angry growl, receiving odd looks in the process, and walked towards the parking garage.
By the time she was inside her car, she was openly sobbing. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped off the tip of her nose. She waited until she could see more clearly before starting the engine.
Jake wasn't home when she got there, but he’d left practically every light on. She went from room to room, shutting them off and cursing him. She needed something inconsequential to get pissed about.
The truth was, she was sort of glad Jake hadn't shown. They’d been married ten years, and each year had been worse than the one before. He wasn't the person who would support her. No, she’d let Jake drive that person away.
She’d
But Maggie was still married to Jake. Once upon a time, the three of them had been best friends. That changed about six years into their marriage, when Maggie had her first miscarriage. She’d been devastated, but Jake was too busy drowning his sorrows at the bottom of a bottle of gin to notice. So she’d turned to Elijah.
Things had always been platonic between them, despite Elijah's feelings. Maggie was too scared of losing him for it to be anything more. Jake didn't believe that.
His drunken rants had turned into jealous rages. Maggie started to see her father in him. She wanted to help him in the way she never could help her dad. Jake never hit her. Elijah would have killed him if he did. But there are other forms of abuse.
Elijah tried to convince him to go to rehab. He even offered to help pay for it. Jake refused. He didn't think he had a problem. He didn't see what he was doing to his wife.
When she lost the second baby, Jake took away the only support system she had. He made her choose between their marriage and her friendship with Elijah. She’d been in tears when she told Elijah she needed to try to make her relationship work.
Elijah didn't know much about that year he didn't see her, but when she showed up at his house, he knew it hadn't been good. He knew he should have fought to stay in her life. He should have fought to keep his promises.
###
Four Years Ago:
"I’m sorry, Maggie," Dr. Murray said. "After this last pregnancy, you will not be able to conceive again."
The doctor went on to explain her diagnosis. She had an abnormally-shaped uterus, but it all sounded like a bunch of medical mumbo jumbo. All Maggie heard was her dreams crashing to the ground. She felt dampness on her face, but didn't bother to wipe it away. She was frozen in her seat, the doctor's voice just noise roaring in her ears.
This wasn't her first miscarriage. In fact, it was her third. But it would be her last. There was no more trying. All she’d wanted for years was a child to call her own. Someone she would love with all her heart. She’d vowed to give the child the life she never had.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and realized Dr. Murray had walked around the desk that had been sitting between them, and now stood in front of her. She looked up slowly. Dr. Murray tilted her head and gave it a sad shake.
"I’m so sorry," she said. The look in her eyes told Maggie that she knew how empty those words were. But what else could she say? There was nothing that could soften what Maggie was feeling.
Maggie stood slowly and followed the doctor from the room. She suddenly had the desire to get out of the office as fast as she could. The lady behind the desk slid Maggie's credit card through the scanner and handed it back to her.
"Thank you," Maggie said in a daze.
She practically ran from the building, gulping fresh air as soon as she was outside. Inhale. Exhale. She breathed in too fast and started coughing.
Jake should be here, she thought once she was breathing normally again. But, no. He didn't show. She let out an angry growl, receiving odd looks in the process, and walked towards the parking garage.
By the time she was inside her car, she was openly sobbing. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped off the tip of her nose. She waited until she could see more clearly before starting the engine.
Jake wasn't home when she got there, but he’d left practically every light on. She went from room to room, shutting them off and cursing him. She needed something inconsequential to get pissed about.
The truth was, she was sort of glad Jake hadn't shown. They’d been married ten years, and each year had been worse than the one before. He wasn't the person who would support her. No, she’d let Jake drive that person away.
She’d
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