Chapter Thirty-Eight

Alexander

"They look so good together and really happy," Suzy said. I nodded my head in affirmation of what she said.

She saw what I saw too. In the little time I have known Lia, she was not her usual self where Kevin was around, same with my tough-skinned Kev. He seemed to smile a lot and throw casual cute glances at Lia, it was pretty obvious that something was going on between them.

They left for their dinner date, giggling like teenagers with Kev's arm were across Lia's shoulder. When I locked the door behind them, I went back to sit with Suzy on the sofa. She looked up at me and tilted her head.

"You were saying something before they came in," she said. She was not letting me off the hook that easy. I smiled at her.

"Let's take the girl's bed first." I offered because my arms were already aching me from carrying Katie for so long. Both of them were already asleep so it's best to lay them in their cribs so they can be comfortable. When we were done, we went back downstairs. She went into the kitchen and set up the dining for us to have dinner. I think she just wanted us to discuss it over dinner so that it won't feel awkward. Well, I was starving so I don't have a single problem with that.

"Julie committed suicide, few weeks after she gave birth to our baby," I said. Suzy was still for a second.

"Why did she do that?" she managed to say in a trembling voice. Was she scared? Well, I have not even a clue about why she did that.

"I have no idea, she overdosed on anti-depressant drugs. And I discovered it when she was already long dead with Kasey crying on her body. It was Kasey's cry that made me find out." I said as chewed on my food.  She looked at me somehow, what was going through that head of hers? I wonder the next question she would ask me now.

"How was it even possible?" she finally said. Was she doubting me? I told her about how Julie moved out of our room after her third month and how she shut out everyone when she gave birth including her mum.

"She was battling with something that the rest of us did not know. She hardly talked, neither did she smile. When I asked her or tried to have a simple conversation with her as my wife, she just shut down and made me feel like I was a disturbance. She could stay up in her room without coming out for a full day which made me go into her room at intervals to carry Kasey out because I sensed the poor girl was bored of seeing that room." I said. Remembering all these made me sad.

"I tried my best to help her, I know I did but she could not let me in and the day I involved her mum, she said she was fine just for me to find her dead body that night." I was just talking out of maybe frustration and anger.

"I'm so sorry that you had to go through such." She said. "Alex, look at me." She said then she came around to where I sat and raised my face till I was looking at her. "You tried your best Alex, don't you dare blame yourself for her death. You are a good person and it can't be because of you that she did that." She said with a smile on her face when she kissed me lightly before she went back to where she sat to continue eating.

"I had this big-time crush on Justin, during my high school years," she said quietly. I looked at her, she did not look happy. She stopped eating her food. "He did not seem to notice me after everything I did so that he could at least smile at my jokes but nothing, and I graduated from high school without him even talking to me. Then I'm busy at the store and my high school crush appears before me after how many years and I stood there, gawking at him shamelessly. Then from there, we started eating together at restaurants because I can't call it a date. Then I finally end up with a baby." she said then she looked away from me. She wanted to cry, I wonder what this fucker did to her. I was so angry and pained to see her this way.

"What happened Lily?" I asked and she sniffed and looked back at me.

"Well, he was avoiding me, refused to answer my calls and texts so I and Lia went over to his house. I told him that I was pregnant. He called me a bitch, said I was a liar that thinks I could tie him down with a baby that was not his, and that was it. He was a fuckn' player and I was so ashamed of myself because Lia warned me against him. She never liked him. I thought I loved him, but what I felt for him was never love, maybe teenage lust because he was one of the hottest boys in school then. I haven't heard from him since then though and I'm not even bothered, he can go to hell for all I care." she said then she smiled at me and continued eating her food. She was sad inside, she wanted to act strong but I knew what she felt and I was sad to see her that way.

"Lily, I'm so sorry for what he put you through. Just know that I'm here for you okay." I said to her and her eyes watered immediately. She struggled to stop the tears from falling off her eyes but they betrayed her. She was crying and I went over to where she sat and stood her up. I hugged her tight and all I just wanted now was to console her. I was pained that she went through so much. We sat on the sofa and I put my arms across her shoulder while she placed her head on my chest. At least I could comfort her. I wanted to do everything possible to make sure she was happy. I loved her so much and knowing that she liked me too gave me so much hope for a better future with her l. One thing was for sure, Katie got herself a very good mum.