Judge Me Not ...

Chapter 18

As her due date approached June was filled with a sense of longing. Her sisters May and April had been too busy to be her birthing partner so Gared had volunteered.  May had to go to France and April was doing her final exams of law school. Gared had been a real trooper especially when she revealed to him who her baby's father was, he had been shocked at first but had encouraged her to tell Dmitri like everyone else. However he understood her feelings and reluctance to tell Dmitri since he had met the man himself. 

Similarly, her parents had put extreme pressure on her to tell Dmitri about the baby as well. Her mother although supportive had not been pleased that Dmitri was still unaware of his child's impending birth. June knew she was being a coward but also selfish. However she was afraid to tell Dmitri the truth now. How would he react? What would he do? Would he take her child away because he was angry? This fear prevented her from telling him anything.

Consequently by the time she reached her eighth month her duplicity gnawed at her. Dmitri was in London and after Jay told her that he had stopped by the office June knew that she had to confront him. It was her last chance to come clean. Dmitri had a right to know even if he would be angry at first he should know that he was going to be a father. 

June finally called him to arrange a meeting face to face. Maybe seeing her would soften his anger which she knew would surface but she was ready. Franco had sounded wary on the phone but after consulting his boss she had been granted a few minutes with her child's father. June had insisted the meeting be held at her home not wanting any drama at his office. Dmitri had been stubborn and they had finally agreed for her to visit his home. The baby was low and walking was now a chore but she finally caved realising that this was her final chance to be honest with Dmitri. 

She had been on maternity leave for the past three weeks and had barely left her house. She took a cab to his Belgravia home. She read the text he had sent her earlier.

I can only give you ten minutes.

Dmitri had been cold in his message, no greeting, no names,  just a simple commanding statement. June was a bit rattled by his tone but she swallowed it because what she was about to do was worse.  Since this was the first direct communication they had between them and not through Franco at least he was willing to meet her some way not quite half but some. She did not blame him, over the last few months their interactions had been non existent. Dmitri had not acknowledged her when they would meet at her workplace; he would stare at her growing belly and the fire would blaze in his eyes. So many times June had wanted to shout out the truth but she held back each time. Today she was going to do it. 

June rang the doorbell of the opulent house. A maid she had not seen before opened the door and guided her to wait in one of the reception rooms. She was standing near the windows looking out at the well-manicured back garden, the roses were lovely all neatly blossoming in vibrant colours. 

"June." Dmitri said from behind her. She turned around in her a double layer black swing maxi dress which swished with her movement. Dmitri stared at her piercingly. His expression was stony and hard but he still looked dashing in a brown pair of trousers and beige v neck jumper with a  white shirt.

"Hi" June said softly her feet barely able to stand anymore. She had been in discomfort all morning but lately that had been the theme of her days. She rubbed her stomach as it felt heavier and heavier.

Slow down little one she mentally cooed to her unborn child as he was pushing against her already painful stomach.

Her back was really hurting. She needed to sit down.

"Can I sit?" She held her back and navigated her way to the nearest sofa. "My feet are killing me." He gestured to the beige sofa near the window. June sat down but with great difficulty.