The Grief

Gordon had his father and Michael drag Calvin out. Anna forced Julia to go with him.

"You should check on Charlotte." His mother admonished.

"Why?!" Gordon growled.

"Because she was attacked by that pervert at her mother's funeral and you falsely accused her." Anna didn't mince her words.

"Do you really think your wife would throw herself into his arms. You are younger, better looking, more handsome, more successful, and definitely a better man than Calvin. Why on earth would she cheat on you with him?" Anna was a voice of reason.

"Than you." Gordon told his mother as he rushed up the stairs to find her.

Gordon walked into their shared bedroom. Charlotte was face down on the bed, sobbing.

Gordon crawled into the bed beside her and pulled her to him. She immediately started resisting, but Gordon wouldn't let her go.

"I'm so, so, so sorry." He whispered in her ear. "I don't know why I said such hurtful things. Well, actually maybe I do. I'm crazy when it comes to you. It's all my fault. Please, please forgive me."

She no longer fought his hold but still she cried. He was angry at himself knowing he was the reason she was hurt so badly.

Finally, she was so exhausted that she fell asleep. She actually slept until the next morning. When she awoke she didn't mention the incident from the day before. In fact, she mentioned very little at all.

Over the next few weeks she remained this way. It made Gordon anxious. He wanted his happy, talkative wife back. He tried to get her to come back to work as well, but she just replied that she wasn't ready yet.

She spent a lot of time walking around the garden that her mother enjoyed so much.

If coaxing a woman was unnatural to Gordon, comforting one definitely was. His attempts were stiff and awkward and he felt inadequate to reach her. Most of the time he'd walk with her in the garden just staying silent. He wanted to be near her. He missed her so much.

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Gordon was early for a lunch meeting with an important client. As the waitress led him to a VIP box he caught sight of a familiar face.

Sara!! He immediately turned and walked toward her. He noticed a little girl sitting with her as he got closer.

"Sara. Long time no see." Gordon said.

"Gordon. Um, what brings you here?" She asked, surprised to see him.

"Business. Who's this little one?" He asked glancing down at a little girl who seemed vaguely familiar.

"This is my daughter, Bella." She said quietly.

"Sara, was James the father?" He asked softly, referring to his brother. Sarah had been his girlfriend at the time of his death.

"Yes." She said simply.

Gordon was stunned. His brother had a daughter. He had a niece.

"Sara, I need to go, but can we meet to talk further?" Gordon asked.

"As long as it's you and not your parents." Her voice held a trace of bitterness. She still blamed them for James's death.

"Deal. Give me your number."

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Charlotte felt like a shell of the former person she had been. She knew it was grief but she couldn't seem to shake the dark feelings inside her. Ever since Calvin had grabbed her and Gordon accused her of cheating she had felt an added burden. She knew he said it in a fit of anger and that he was sorry, but she couldn't seem to let go of the fact that when she'd needed him the most, that he'd believed the worst of her.

She started losing weight because she hadn't been eating well. She didn't sleep well anymore either. When she started feeling nauseous every day, she was worried.

She made an appointment to see the doctor at a hospital rather than alert the Zhou family doctor.

She sat alone in the waiting area until her name was called. They performed several tests and sent her to a room to await the doctor's diagnosis.

Soon, the doctor appeared smiling. "Mrs. Zhou, the cause of your stomach upset is from pregnancy! You're about nine weeks pregnant."

"What?" Charlotte was stunned. She felt this was the worst possible time to be pregnant. Her marriage was at its worst and she was grieving the loss of her mother. Why now, of all times?

"You need to take better care of yourself. You need to eat and drink well and get some sleep. I'll give you some herbs that are beneficial for pregnancy health." The doctor announced.

She left the hospital in a daze. She didn't plan to tell Gordon next. She didn't want to tell anyone. She supposed she'd have to eventually though.

She called Rachel and asked if they could meet for lunch later that week.