Page 28 of Never Have We Ever
Marlene nodded. “So the world turns.Around a man’s cock.”
Valeska spent the rest of her visit home with the strangest sense of dread. Whenever she was with her son, whom she had brought with her because he was still so young, she felt oddly at peace with her situation. She didn’t even care if she had given up the past decade to be with a man who inevitably didn’t cherish her as much as he claimed. Somehow, she knew that going in.It didn’t matter how much she loved him or wished to stay true to André. The man would do as he pleased no matter what.
Yet when she was alone, whether sitting in her childhood room or visiting the old haunts of her city without her baby by her side, she fell into a darkness that both angered and humiliated her.
André had lied. For years. How hard would it have been to open up their marriagetwo years in? Before Valeska completely gave herself over to her love for him? Before they had children and built a false marriage around them? How hard would that havebeen?Why did he lie about only wanting to be with her? Was it an ego thing? Did he get off on treating her like that? Was her husband a monster?
There was only one explanation that didn’t completely make Valeska want to crawlinto a closet and die. André had told the truth all those years ago. Back then, he had wanted to be with Valeska. The dalliances and growing careless was a more recent thing. Probably since their son’s birth, when Valeska exited the hospital no longer the same, no matter how many times André told her she was still beautiful.
Maybe he had fallen in love with Lena. Maybe the blond Dane was a redherring. Lena would make an excellent second wife or mistress. The kids already loved and trusted her. And, apparently, André had vetted how compatible they were. It was only a matter of time before Valeska was served divorce papers or told to suck up having the nanny elevated to the title of full-time mistress.
Like hell she would share the bastard!
“Thomas,” she told her son late one nightin her old bedroom, where the young boy slept in his crib and the Austrian night chilled Valeska’s skin through the open window, “you must promise me to not turn out like your father.” She opened a small notebook she kept in her purse. A pen clicked against the desk she once wrote her innermost thoughts upon. Now wasn’t so different. “If you ever get married, don’t be a cheating bastard.”
Sheopened to a fresh page and began a list of her demands.
***
The Parisian townhouse reeked of deceit. It didn’t help that Lena had stayed there with Daniela while André checked in for a few days in between business trips. Valeska caught him when she returned from the airport, Thomas hanging onto her skirt as he made a grand attempt to step over the threshold on his own.
“Thought I heardyou upstairs!” André was on the staircase before Valeska could assess the state of her house.He can have this place. I’ll take money to buy my own flat in Vienna.Or maybe she would move to Switzerland or Germany for a change of place. Either way, she would no longer struggle with a language she couldn’t speak. “How was the trip?”
André picked his son up and planted a kiss on Valeska’s cheek.She remained frozen in disparate feelings while the housekeeper brought in the luggage from the car. “It was lovely,” she said, colder than she anticipated. “My mother sends her regards.”
“How aboutmon petit chou?”
“He was a good boy. He walked for more than five minutes wherever we went.”
“Ah, so strong!” André hugged Thomas until the child turned red with anxiety.He’s a delicate boy. Comeon, André.Thomas would one day become a mama’s boy, and Valeska didn’t care. André had his daughter to spoil.I’m taking her too, though.The children could visit their father when Valeska felt like having some time to herself. Full custody was on her list of demands burning a hole in her purse.
Valeska bypassed her husband in favor of heading upstairs to their room. She met Lena halfway up.
“Welcome back!” she greeted in German. “I was about to head out and pick up Daniela from her English lessons.”
What were you doing up there with my husband, if my daughter isn’t home yet?Valeska knew the answer to that question. She also did not wish to dwell on it. “You go ahead and do that. I need some time alone with André.”
Lena shared with her a knowing smile. “Of course. Take your time.Monsieur asked me to take Daniela for some treats if she behaved well in class, so we may be a little while. If that’s all right with you, of course.”
“Go ahead. Text me when you’re heading back.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
André patiently waited for the two women to stop speaking in a language he likewise did not know well. When Lena departed and Valeska was left to stare at her husband and son, she said,“We need to talk, André.”
“Oui,I agree.” He readjusted his hold on his son. “Let us go upstairs. I hope that you are not too tired to converse?”
“I’m fine, but Thomas should take a nap.”
“Oui, oui.”
André carried Thomas upstairs with Valeska trailing behind. She lingered in her son’s bedroom doorway while he was put down for a nap. The boy was already half-asleep when his head hit the mattress.
His father left a kiss on his forehead before he turned to Valeska. She gestured for him to follow her into the master bedroom.
Bastard probably thinks he’s getting laid.For all Valeska knew, that’s what her husband was doing before she returned home an hour earlier than scheduled.
“Mon cherie.” André closed the door behind him, face lit up with whatever he desired to share with Valeska.“You won’t believe what has happened…”
