"You know, I didn't think you would call me out like this. Me shopping baby clothes with you ...are you provoking me or what " Florence looked back at Andriana who was checking out the baby overalls.
She blinked looking up at Florence.
"What do you think of these , should I go with pink or blue " .
Florence sighed moving closer to her.
"If he's a boy I think these will look cute and if it's a girl who I think will take your beauty, these will work ' she suggested.
Andriana giggled taking both her choices.
"Thank you ' she muttered.
Florence frowned and realised what she had done.
"Don't you have your friends ...those two that are always hovering around you " she commented.
Andriana chuckled.
"Mira and Samantha are both busy and they have their own lives . I don't think they are always hovering around me ".
"Yes they are " she grabbed two dresses and placed them in the cart Andriana was holding.
"I didn't do this to provoke you I just thought since you were always stalking me and I had no one else to go with me, I could ask you to tag along " she followed Florence to the bedding section.
"Stalking ...." She scoffed, "Karlye seems to have made things difficult for me. All the people I could have used to watch you rejected my offers so I had to do it myself "
"That is stalking ...and as for Karlye. I think he found out it was you who had been spreading my information and photos. He didn't seem happy about it, so I advise you to stop doing it "She bent down to admire the little pillows inside a displayed cradle.
Florence watched her then pulled her back.
"That looks nice but I suggest you choose the other. It's bigger and easier to assemble with your partner "
"Oh really ...I had not thought about that. Karlye would love that " Andriana beamed.
Florence scoffed.
"You're really hopeless . I'm surprised they let you go shopping alone ".
"As I said everyone is busy " she let out.
"Even Karlye ...I doubt that . He might be around here already watching you ". Florence looked around.
Andriana chuckled.
"If he did that, then he would have found out already about your nightly visits to my home . And right now his away on a trip"
Florence stopped spotting something.
"Let's head to the toys section " she said.
Andria nodded and followed her.
"Since we don't know what gender it is ...let's get every type of toy. And as for teething toys we will use from this manufacturer, they make baby-friendly ones".
Andriana listened and took everything Florence chose.
After they were done Andriana asked to sit and rest her feet as the driver paid for the things.
Florence chose a cafe nearby and she agreed
"Can I ask you something ?" Andriana sat down.
"What is it ?". Florence made their order.
"How come you know a lot about babies and the things needed to take care of them ?" she asked.
From the type of diaper to the last toy, Florence had chosen items that were the best and even offered advice on some.
She took a deep breath, "well because I almost became a mother ".
"What ?!". Andriana frowned.
The sadness in Florence eyes said everything, "You almost what do you mean by that ?".
Florence sighed, "I was pregnant once in the past ". She noticed Andriana's worry on her face and scoffed. "Don't worry this was before I had anything with Karlye ".
"Oh ..." Andriana blinked.
"Karlye was aboard at the time so he doesn't even know about it "the waiter returned placing her orders in front of them.
Andriana got a chocolate cake with milk while Florence got a coffee.
"Go ahead " she told Andriana who seemed more than happy to start eating.
"Thank you " she smiled taking a piece of it into her mouth and her eyes widened with happiness.
Florence smiled watching her eat another piece.
"It's that good ?" she asked.
Andriana nodded.
"Please go on " she licked the corner of her lip.
Florence took a sip of her coffee and went on, "I had this boyfriend, we had been together for three years, my father didnt approve of him cause of his social status. He wasn't even the son of any prominent figure. So I went behind my parents' backs and got engaged to him ".
She breathed.
After a month of us getting engaged, I found out I was pregnant. He was so happy and promised to work hard to provide for both of us.
But soon that seemed hard when the debts bills kept mounting and my pregnancy wasn't making it easier, I kept getting sick during my second trimester, so I turned to my mother who started to secretly help us financially.
But after my father found out, he took me away, beat me up so bad that I lost consciousness and then locked me up.
When I woke up I was in the hospital, I had lost the baby due to heavy bleeding caused by beating .
Andriana stopped eating and gazed back at Florence. Whose face held no emotion as she went on speaking.
"I could feel it the moment I woke up, I felt so empty and I guess it was visible too " she muttered.
"What about your fiancée?" Andriana muttered tears already in her eyes.
"I found out that he had died in an accident as he tried to get to me after I was admitted to the hospital. He died on the spot just like that " she breathed.
Andriana bit down her lip trying to hold her tears back.
"So I lost both the man I loved and my child in just a day. I didn't even get to bury him, since his family didn't want anything to do with me".
Andriana burst into tears and got up walking to Florence's seat.
"Why are you crying ...it was a long time ago" Florence's face was pale as she tried to hide her pain.
Andriana pulled her into an embrace.
"It doesn't mean if it was long ago ,I can't imagine what you felt at the time ,but just the thought of losing this baby kills me. You can't say it was a long time ago, I don't think that pain just goes away like that ".
She looked down at Florence , her tears still failing "That child was a part of you and you loved it so much. You loved them both so much to have easily moved on I don't believe that. So if it still hurts then don't hide it and just cry it out, I'm here ...I will hug you so it hurts less " Her tears fell.
Florence who had been quiet burst into tears.
"What are you saying ...who said it hurts. I am only crying cause your crying " she wailed.
Andriana sniffed.
"I know ..it's all my fault am sorry. So cry with me ...you will feel better soon ". She cried.
Florence hid her face in her arms ,crying even more. Andriana ran her hand over her head, as her own tears fell.
...
Karlye and David glanced back at each other while Mira and Samantha sighed.
They had been stalking Andriana and Florence movements since the baby store.
Mira had placed a listening and tracking device on Andriana without her knowledge as she left her office before she set off to meet Florence.
David had forced her to do it , claiming it was the only way to keep Andriana safe if Florence did anything to her.
"How can she bond with someone who has already done her harm ?" asked David
"Didn't you hear what she said or are your ears clogged with earwax?" Mira glared back at him.
"No ,I do feel bad for her but that doesn't change what she has already done to Andriana " he replied.
"I guess maybe that why she is bitter about Andriana coming between her and Karlye. If she sees him as her second chance to having a proper family , she won't give up easily " said Samantha .
"I don't care about all that . She tried to harm Andriana and will pay for it ' muttered Karlye .