Whatever the Price by Jules Bennett

Had he been so stingy with his compliments over the years that one had her unsure of how to respond?
    “What do you say we go shopping today?” he suggested, trying to break some tension.
    “Shopping? You hate to shop.”
    He smiled and shrugged, spooning up another bite of rice. “Not with my two favorite girls, I don’t. Besides, we can get Lily some pool toys and we can grab some lunch at that little café you love.”
    Charlotte was silent for a moment and Anthony feared she’d say no.
    Please, Charlie. Take the olive branch.
    Ironic—he was afraid his own wife would turn him down for a date. Could he be more pathetic?
    “I’d love to,” she told him. “Let me grab a shower. Just bring her on up when you’re done and I’ll get her ready.”
    Once Charlotte was gone, Anthony put down the spoon, grabbed one of Lily’s pudgy hands and mocked a high five.
    “Score one for the home team.”
    * * *
    “I seriously don’t think Lily needed this many pool toys,” Charlotte exclaimed as she watched Anthony blow up the last of ten toys. “She’s only one kid and we’re just here for twelve more days.”
    He tossed the inflatable elephant into the pool to lazily float around with the others. “What if she gets bored with one? She needs options.”
    “I hope you get this spoiling out of your system.” She laughed.
    He stared at her, making her aware they were once again out here alone while Lily took her nap. “Are you feeling okay? You weren’t this morning, but your coloring looks better now.”
    Warmth spread through her at his sincerity. “I’m fine. But I do need to talk to you now that we’re alone.”
    “Something’s bothering you.”
    She nodded. “Yes. I’ve kept something from you for a while. A year actually.”
    Anthony placed his hands on his narrow hips. “A year?”
    There was no room for guilt now, only the truth. She walked over to a chaise and took a seat. When Anthony sat on the end of the chair, she adjusted her feet to give him more room.
    “I had a miscarriage,” she told him. “Last year when you were in Belize filming.”
    He sat up a little straighter, eyes wide. “A miscarriage? I didn’t even know you’d been pregnant.”
    “I didn’t know either until a few days after you’d left. I took a test and it was positive.” She remembered the excitement, the joy of seeing those two pink lines. “I couldn’t wait until you got home. I didn’t want to tell you over the phone so I planned a surprise. I bought this silly little T-shirt that said #1 Dad.”
    Tears welled in her eyes and Anthony rubbed her bare leg. “My God, Charlie. How far along were you when you miscarried?”
    “Seven weeks.” She wiped her eyes, trying to force out the pain of the previous loss. “I miscarried a week before you came home. I only knew I was pregnant for a couple weeks, but certainly long enough to plan in my head. I had the nursery decorated, I had us on playdates at the park and with other parents. But one morning I woke up to serious cramping and I knew something was wrong.”
    Anthony stared at her, his hand still on her leg. He didn’t speak and she could only imagine the anger he held now. She’d lied to him, taken an important part of their marriage and kept it hidden.
    “Why are you telling me now?” he asked. “You could’ve kept it to yourself your whole life and I never would’ve known.”
    “You’re right,” she agreed. “But I see that you’re trying to work on this marriage and I can’t let this lie hover between us. You deserved to know.” Just like he deserved to know about the baby she was carrying, but she needed to take this one step at a time.
    Anthony eased closer, moving her legs up over his lap. “You were angry that I wasn’t there.”
    Charlotte bit her lip, forcing the rest of her tears back as she nodded. “Yes,” she whispered.
    He reached out, cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “To say I’m sorry is really inadequate now. I’m