Chapter 45: Called them manipulative.
{Finally a third person.
Point of view.}
Tracy laid comfortably on William's chest. There was enough uncomfortable silence between them. Tracy could tell he was truly hurting, he had not been himself ever since his return. He seemed happy and excited until she broke down the news. He had plans to have a quick shower then go see her. He had many plans but none of them came to life.
-
Tracy heard William come in through the front door. She immediately put on a poker face. Tears cascading down her cheeks. She had made sure to ravel her own hair to look distressed.
"Tracy?" William said slowly trying to figure out what was going on.
"When were you planning on telling me that y-you—" she hiccuped. "You hurt me William and I have done nothing but love you..." she spoke softly, not faltering her facade.
"What are you speaking of Tracy?" William replied genuinely confused.
"She came and pushed me down the stairs... I-" Tracy broke into more tears. "She said you were planning to leave me for her and that she wanted me to miscarry our child."
A part of William backtracked, Panashe would never do that. She was a nice, sweet girl, never violent but he refused to say it out loud for Tracy to hear. Furthermore, why would Panashe reveal this? They had not agreed to revealing anything.
"She pushed you down the stairs?"
"...luckily Wilkins came in right on time to save me. She was acting bigoted. That girl wanted to kill me if, Wilkins had not stopped her."
William immediately took a seat down, feeling awfully confused.
"She is such an adulteress, she was having an affair with Wilkins and convinced him, she was carrying his child. I'm sure she convinced you and Elliot as well. I do not know whether to feel hurt that you cheated on me with a negro or that she tried to make me lose our child and you weren't there to protect me, William!!"
"What?! Wilkins?!"
"It's Wilkins child that is why she wanted me to lose mine. She knew that, I was giving you what she couldn't. What has my life come to? My father made a negro pregnant and the girl took my spotlight throughout my childhood... and now my husband was busy with a negro yet again. Am I cursed? Do you not love me William? because if that's the case, I will gladly leave my bags and my son. You will never see him again. He will know that his father is a disgusting cheat. He will know that you ruined his perfect family. Your father will be so disappointed and you will never see the child that I'm carrying."
William had not said a word, trying to process everything. His eyes moist with an aching reaction. Anger riled up... perfidy felt familiar and close to home.
"I need to speak to Wilkins." He finally stood up.
"Is it because you do not believe me?" Tracy wallowed.
"No, frankly your I do not know what to believe and you seem to be speaking with your hostility towards my infidelity which I do take account for and I apologize. It was never my intention to hurt you."
"What was your intention then? To make her pregnant and runaway with her leaving me a single mother of two."
William took a deep breath massaging his temple. "No, I'd never do that and you know that."
"So then what was your intention because clearly you had one? She told me herself that you told her that she would be the new Mrs. Gallagher and that you would chase me out. You told her that, you only needed some time to get rid of me? Get rid of me William? You convinced that girl that you would marry her."
"I never did that." He spat.
"Are you calling your mistress a liar?"
William never recalled making such promises to Panashe. He did not recall this at all. It made his head hurt. "Never! Not even when I was drunk!"
"She really played us then..."
William decided to ignore Tracy's last line. Marching towards his neighbors door... he abhorrently knocked, his jaw clenched and hands bawled in a fist.
"Ah Gallagher—"
"Enough with the pleasantries, you know exactly why I'm here!"
The man chuckled lightly. "Oh... that!"
"Yes... that!"
"She is expecting my child. She told me it was better to pin it on you because you're well off and before you become too mad. It was only a couple of times. She claimed you always wore her off."
William felt—
disgusted.
"You taught her well... with the riding. You taught her a lot. The first few days when I paid her a couple of pounds for some favors, she was awful at it especially with my having such a big belly but—"
"Shut your bloody mouth, Wilkins!"
"Oh I must apologize, I suppose it is a touchy subject." The bald man chuckled clearly entertained.
"Go be with Tracy, she needs your support after everything she had to go through with that girl. William you clearly raised a wild one with absolutely no morals if I had not made it time, she would have killed your wife. I found her trying to strangle Tracy with a dish towel right after pushing her off the stairs. I have never in my life met anyone so vile. She always seemed sweet. Ofcourse she served me for money but she was still always sweet."
—
William heaved a sigh, replaying this scenario. He still could not believe it, which is why she deserved everything that he had coming for her. "Did you feel that?" Tracy chuckled.
"Feel what?"
"The baby moved!"
"Oh-uh-yes, I felt it." He faked a laugh. He was not happy but he was trying to make everything go back to normal. To have everything the way it was before she came and ruined their lives. Before she ruined him for any other woman.
"Do not think about her William...!"
"I am not."
"But you're."
"I do not care about her at all, I was simply in need of a release and she was there. It was all lust. I do not care not even a tiny bit about her. She can die, for all I care. I have nothing against Wilkins but I pray his child dies as well!"
"That is cruel of you, William!" Tracy smirked, loving the sound of what he was saying.
"I loathe her with all my might."
"Spare her, she does not deserve even your hate or any emotion from you."
"It astounds me, how she plays innocent and plays victim."
Tracy nodded. "She will probably make up lies about me, if you ask her for an explanation. She is probably just waiting to make up lies about me. I swear—"
"I reckon, she hasn't said anything. Infact, she has been quiet and to herself. I wonder what she has up her sleeves."
"I wonder as well." Tracy sighed. "I'm just happy, you're here with me and you came to your senses."
"Ofcourse." William said clearing his throat.
"We should move! To a new city, a new start with our child. Let's leave before she gives birth and pins it on you. Let's start over... in Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, Sheffield any city of your choice. We don't need to be here. You already hate the Gallagher ranch as it is. Let's just leave and never return... maybe later maybe just maybe but let's leave."
"I have always wanted to settle in Nottingham. Far away from here." From her.
"Settled then, Nottingham it is."
"Are you serious?"
"As serious as can be! We deserve a new start! You can practice being a doctor, your passion and leave this slave shenanigans that your family has going on. It could just be us and our little family. I'm excited for us. Far from your annoying extremely annoying brothers and your hostile controlling father."
Skeptical at first but at the mention of making his brothers and father disappear after having spent months and months at eye proximity with them, this had him convinced. Heaving a heavy sigh, he replied, "I would love that."