Chapter 6 #2
Wrapping the blanket around her, she sniffed and reached for the phone. She could not afford to sit around feeling sorry for herself. She had work to do and her assistant was awaiting further instructions.
*****
"Antoine made some lentil soup, which I think would soothe Leanne's stomach very well. Your papa and I wondered if we could stop by on our way to the play."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Putting aside the blueprint and notes for the floating palace, he stretched his legs out. He hadn't been so caught up, that he did not take the chance to check on her. He had taken the coward's way out and done so via the housekeeper.
The woman informed him that 'the missus' had finished her soup and turkey sandwich.
"It's on our way. And we spoke to Dr. Henderson, and she told us about the high blood pressure and swollen ankles. Also, that Leanne is planning on going to work next week."
He did not bother to sigh at the clear invasion of privacy.
"Isn't that some sort of HIPAA violation?" He asked resignedly.
"The dear woman is so pleased at the additional hefty contribution the girls and I plan to donate to the research arm of the clinic; she was willing to put aside her ethics and give me the answer I needed."
"You could have asked me."
"You were unavailable or your phone turned off and Leanne wasn't answering hers. And I needed answers."
"Mother, you're incorrigible and that's not a compliment."
"I'm taking it as one. Darling, are you all right? The doctor also told us you were arguing about her going back to work."
"I see I'm going to have to find a new doctor." Pushing from the chair, he strode over to the window. "Mother, there's an absolute limit to the amount of interference I will allow. This is between Leanne and me. I want you to stay out of it."
"I can't. I've never stayed out of my children's affairs, especially when it comes to them becoming parents and I certainly will not start now. You happen to be my baby."
"I'm not--" Closing his eyes, he leaned against the cold pane of glass and considered banging his head against it. Taking a deep breath, he tried for calm instead. "Mother, we're fine. Leanne is just in one of her moods because I insisted on going on the ship."
"But of course, that's the right thing to do! You have to be near her at a time like this. And darling, please don't worry about the meetings you had lined up. The boys are shuffling things around to accommodate your absence and if necessary, I'll step in."
And just like that, he felt his frustrated anger melting away. He was also reminded what a supportive family he had.
"I love you, mother."
"I know you do. I love you too darling. Tell you what. We'll just drop off the soup and be on our way. Petros Kostas! We're running late." Sighing, she continued. "If you follow that man, he primps in front of the mirror all evening. As if he's getting any prettier."
"I have to be on high alert in order to compete with a woman of your outstanding beauty." His father's voice filtered through the line. "Hello son."
"Hi dad."
"Is she giving you a hard time?"
"Not more than usual. I will see you when you get here. Bye."
He hung up from them, feeling a whole lot better.
*****
He approached the bedroom warily. It had been two hours since they returned home.
During that time, he had gotten some work done and left her to her own devices.
His parents had stopped by as promised with a big, covered dish of lentil soup with warming instructions.
His mother had been especially disappointed that she did not see Leanne.
The housekeeper had left for the day, and a light snow was falling, giving everything a distinctly dreamy look. She had showered and was wearing leggings and an oversized sweater. Her hair was brushed and styled into one thick braid on her left shoulder. Her face was scrubbed clean.
She was sitting up against the mound of pillows, her knees drawn up to her chin and painting her nails.
"Hi."
She had sensed his presence the moment he came in but chose to ignore him. She was still mad, not as much as she was before, but the mad was still there.
"Hi."
"My parents stopped by and brought lentil soup."
She could smell it from a mile away.
"Oh?"
"I told them you were resting." He came further and wished she would lift her head.
"Okay."
Walking the few steps to the bedside table, he put the tray down and sat on the edge of the bed.
"How much longer are you going to punish me?"
Swirling the last of the cranberry crush color on her toe, she capped the bottle. Using the book cover, she fanned it vigorously to hurry up the drying process before turning to look at him. Her treacherous heart did the familiar slow dive.
He had changed out of the sweater he had worn for the doctor's visit and was wearing a white t-shirt that clung to his wide chest and shoulders. His thick dark hair was tousled as if he had spent time dragging his fingers through the strands.
"I haven't decided yet. Your arrogance is pissing me off."
But he had seen the softening of her expression and decided to test it.
"Sorry?" His unrepentant grin had her narrowing her eyes.
"You think this is a joke?"
"Absolutely not." He responded with sham gravity. Before she realized what he was doing, he was scooping her and plopping her on his lap.
"You moron!" She cried. "I just polished my nails."
"I'll do them over for you. How hard can it be?"
She yanked at a lock of hair hard enough to have him yelping.
"Okay, now that's war." Tumbling her back on the bed, he rolled until he was covering her body with his.
"You're going to pay dearly."
"Make me."
Smiling at the challenge, he crushed her mouth with his. Minutes later after they were both pleasantly exhausted, he pleasured himself by continuing to explore her body with his hands and mouth.
"You're beautiful." He murmured huskily as if reading her mind.
"I'm fat and my ankles are swollen. I'm no longer thin."
"You never were." His hands were fascinatingly shaping her bulge. She had gained weight rapidly, mostly in her belly and breasts. "I always loved your curves."
"Very soon I'll be shapeless." She moved restlessly when he continued to rub his fingers over her bulge.
"And you'll start looking at some desirable blonde with smaller boobs.
" She shrugged when he lifted his head from his task to stare at her.
"And then I'll have to kill you and leave these babies fatherless. "
"We would not want that to happen." Easing up, he abandoned his exploration reluctantly, sensing she was serious. "You think I could be with anyone else after this? After what we're sharing now?"
She shrugged again. "I'm pregnant and hormonal and, and fat."
"Not fat."
"I'm not pleasant to be around. I get angry at the drop of a hat. I'm a bitch from bitchville, I crave odd things, I sweat and piss and fart and I smell. Don't you dare laugh!"
He swallowed the mirth quickly and tried to look sober.
"You're as sweet and precious as the dawning of a new day and you smell like the dew gathering on the grass." He said tongue in cheek. "And I would not exchange any of this for anything else."
"You're a bad liar." She stared at him with narrowed eyes. "I bet you're thinking you could do better."
He inclined his head and pretended to consider her remark. "Possibly. But then I've gotten so used to your waspish tongue that it's starting to grow on me. And being from 'bitchville' is not so bad." He ducked when she threw a pillow at him.
"You're an idiot."
"That too." He took her hand, lifting it to his lips. "If you'd just marry me--"
"Please don't start that again."
His eyes narrowed. "I'm only just beginning. I want to marry you Leanne and will not stop until you say yes. What the hell are you afraid of?"
She tried to tug her hand free, expelling a breath when he simply held on. "You know why I'm cautious." She corrected. "Marriage is a big step and we're already in something huge. I'm pregnant with triplets."
"I'm aware of that. It's just one more step."
"For you, maybe." She moved restlessly. "I'm a lousy bet. I'm pretty sure I will be a lousy mother, considering where I'm coming from. You're from a loving home and your family is normal. Mine was the opposite of normal."
"You're just pissing me off by selling yourself short." Temper darkened his eyes.
"I'm a product of my upbringing and environment." She insisted. "You can hide your head in the sand all you want, but it's true."
"That's just BS and you know it." He visibly tamped down the anger. "You're smart enough to know that a person can rise above all of that. You're telling me that an abused child cannot turn out to be an excellent parent? That person is doomed to follow that trend? Is that what you're saying?"
She held up her hands in supplication, realizing that this had the potential of turning into a full scale argument.
"You're right, it doesn't have to turn out that way, but I'm still not ready." She shook her head when he opened his mouth to rebut her statement. "Please let's just leave it like this for now." Deliberately playing on his weakness, she climbed on top of him. "I have something better in mind."
"If you think you're going to use--" He whispered, "Christ!" when she simply reached between them and found him already hard. "Damn you."
"Just shut up." Her eyes held his as she sank down and sheathed him.