Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
LEAH
T hree weeks have passed since Gabriel’s mother’s impromptu visit and we signed the co-parenting contract Gabriel had drawn up. Life has pretty much returned to normal. Gabriel is all business. The man is undeniably a workaholic, his phone or laptop always close at hand. He comes home, has dinner and then disappears into his man cave for hours. When I’m in the apartment, I spend most of my time in my room, reading or watching television. If not, then I’m making the most of the well-equipped gym or fifty-metre swimming pool. When Gabriel pointed out that I wouldn’t be in his way, he wasn’t joking.
The flood damage to the apartment has been fixed, but we’re now waiting for the new furniture to be delivered. It’s being shipped in from Italy and various other places in Europe. Not sure why a rental needs a twenty-thousand-pound sofa, but it’s his place, so who am I to argue. It’s not like I’m slumming it in the penthouse of the El Castillo. The only issue is I wish he’d kept it quiet. I’m going to be terrified to sit on it, or let Stella or Nat anywhere near it. I’m going to ban red wine permanently from the apartment .
My phone rings, and I look down at the caller ID. Mum?
“Hi, Mum,” I answer. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you?”
We discussed when they left, that we would either video link or send emails. We have managed one link since they arrived, but with the time difference and their travel home’s limited Wi-Fi, we’ve mainly stuck to emails.
“Hi darling,” she says. “I’ve been trying to reach you. I finally got hold of Vince, and he said you and he... What’s going on, Leah? Vince said that you’ve moved out.”
Damn Vince, he could have given me the heads up. My heart sinks.
“Er, yes. We split up a while ago,” I say.
“And you didn’t tell us?”
The hurt in my mum’s voice makes my heart clench.
“I didn’t want you and Dad to worry. And, honestly, it’s for the best,” I add, needing her to believe it.
“But Leah.” Her tone changes to my super-efficient mum. “Where are you living? Have you found somewhere safe to stay? I know some places in the city. They’re a nightmare.”
“I’m fine. I’m staying in El Castillo,” I say, holding my breath, waiting for the fallout.
“El Castillo? As in the El Castillo, on the waterfront? How? What’s going on?”
Of course, Mum would remember the El Castillo. It was being built when she and Dad came to visit Vince and me. Even in the early stages, the building was impressive, making its mark. It was also one of the first buildings to embrace smart, sustainable architecture. It had been big news when Jaxson Lockwood and Caleb Frazer joined forces to transform the city.
I take a deep breath and begin to fill her in on what’s been happening. From Vince and I breaking up, to Gabriel offering me his apartment to live in. I miss out the part about Vince getting someone else pregnant. She doesn’t need to know that when she’s halfway around the world. Instead, I tell her we fell out of love. A conclusion I’ve come to over the past couple of months. I don’t miss him and realise we were already living separate lives. Yasmin had merely been a catalyst for us to do something.
“Leah Walker. Are you in a relationship with your boss?”
Wow. How did she jump to that conclusion?
“Er...” the door to the apartment opens, and Gabriel walks in.
“Why would you say that?” I ask my mother, my heartbeat speeding up to painful levels. Gabriel looks over and raises an eyebrow.
“Your boss offers you a multi-million-pound apartment. No one does that out of the goodness of their heart unless they’re after something.”
I flinch, knowing Gabriel can hear her words. The fact he offered me the apartment out of the goodness of his heart rankles.
Gabriel shrugs and walks towards the door. Why the next words escape my mouth, I’ll never know.
“You’re right. I just didn’t want you to worry. It’s such early days. We’re trying to keep it low-key.”
Gabriel pauses and turns to face me, his expression questioning. I told him I wasn’t prepared to lie to my parents, and now I find myself doing exactly that.
The phone falls silent for a moment. “Is it wise? You know the saying about never messing around on your doorstep?”
“I do, but I promise this is different.”
I sigh, needing to put her mind at rest. I know my mother, she’ll be cutting her trip short and flying home if she thinks there is something wrong. “It’s not like I haven’t known Gabriel for years. When Vince and I ended, things changed between us.”
“But you and Vince had so many plans.”
I know she’s talking about our wedding and grandchildren.
“We did, but there was always an excuse. Vince and I should have ended about five years ago,” I tell her truthfully. That’s when I wanted to begin a family and Vince began his barrage of excuses. He pacified me by placing an engagement ring on my finger but looking back.
I let the past unravel in a way I’ve been too blinkered to see until now. Talking things through with my mum is opening my eyes.
“I just worry about you. It’s a mother’s prerogative,” she says.
“And a father’s,” my dad chips in from the background.
“I know,” I sigh. “It’s one reason I haven’t said anything.” The guilt of that decision weighs heavy, now she’s finally on the phone.
“We may be over fifteen thousand kilometres away, but we’re still your parents. You don’t need to hide things from us. We just want you to be happy. If Gabriel makes you happy, then we look forward to meeting him. We love you, Leah.”
“I know. I love you both, too, so much. I have everything under control.” For the first time in months, I feel that is true.
“I’m glad. So when do we get to meet this new man of yours?” Mum asks, the tone of her voice becoming mischievous.
I cover my eyes, not wanting to look at Gabriel.
Gabriel’s hand encloses mine as he extracts the phone from my hand .
“Mrs Walker,” he says, my eyes lock on his. His lips tilt, and he moves the phone out of my reach.
“Of course, Louise.”
I sit in silence as Gabriel schmoozes my parents. First my mum and then my dad. I’m not sure what I’m more surprised about. The ease with which he talks to them, my awkward boss, or that he’s talking to them at all.
Eventually, he hands me back the phone.
“Mum?” I say.
“Oh Leah, he’s lovely, what a beautiful deep voice. I can’t wait to meet him. Maybe we can talk face-to-face next time we arrange a video call.”
“Er, I’m sure you can—” Gabriel took my phone off speaker while he spoke to them, so I’d only been able to hear one side of their conversation.
I shoot him a quick glance, but he goes into the kitchen area and concentrates on pouring us both a glass of wine.
I’ll need one after this conversation.
“Perfect,” she says, sounding much more vibrant than at the start of the call. I have Gabriel to thank for that.
“Okay, well, I better go. Keep sending me pictures and let me know when you want to video call,” I say.
“We will. We love you, Leah. Say goodbye to Gabriel from us.”
“I love you too,” I say, my throat tight. “I will. Bye.”
I disconnect the call and take the glass of wine Gabriel is holding.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It’s the same wine we had the other night,” he replies, misunderstanding.
“No, I mean, thank you for helping to put my parents’ mind at rest.”
Gabriel sits down on the sofa opposite.
“They’re halfway across the world. I get you not wanting to worry them. I’d be the same with my mum.” He surprises me by saying.
“Well, thank you anyway.”
He nods before placing his glass down and getting up. He leaves the room, returning with a large brown box.
“This was downstairs waiting for you,” he says, handing it over.
I stare at the box, before realisation dawns on its contents. I ordered artificial insemination kits online. They promised discrete delivery, and they haven’t failed.
“It’s the insemination kits,” I say, heat emanating from my cheeks.
“Great,” Gabriel says. “Let me know when you need me.”
I take a large swallow of wine, praying not to choke and spit it all over the white rug and sofa. My lower body contracts at the thought of what needing me means.
I drop my gaze, unable to look at Gabriel, instead letting out what sounds little more than a squeak.
“Is there a timeline?” Gabriel asks, his voice calm.
“Timeline?” I say, my voice still higher than it should be.
“When you’ll need my sperm?” Gabriel says as if we’re talking about the weather. “It’s just that I read I’d be better off abstaining for several days before giving a sample.”
Ground swallow me up.
We’re discussing him relieving himself. My clothes instantly feel hot and uncomfortable. The thought of Gabriel in the shower or in his bed, dick in hand. What does he think about? Oh hell, my mind needs to stop.
I cough, trying to clear my throat and adopt the same matter-of-fact tone. “I’ve stopped taking the pill. My period is due in a couple of days. I’m tracking my temperature and using an ovulation app and kits.”
We are doing this together, after all.
“Let me know, and I’ll do what is needed. ”
Unsure what else to say, I get up, carrying my wine towards the kitchen area, needing to put some space between us. If we do this, I’ll be giving up my evening glass of wine. That thought does strange things to my insides.
“Are you ready for dinner?” I ask.
I stare at the thermometer. It’s happening. My temperature has increased. The ovulation kit is saying it’s time . My heart is pounding in my chest, and my insides feel like they’re vibrating. I stare at the bathroom door. What am I going to do if he changes his mind?
“Grow up, Leah!” I say, giving myself a harsh talking to. Gabriel is not going to change his mind. The man took you out to dinner after we signed the contract. We both knew this day was coming. I’d had my period, so everything has been leading up to this. I already opened one kit and read the instructions. Everything was straightforward and clear. I just need Gabriel to provide his sperm, and then I can do the rest... and pray for nature’s kindness.
I’m thankful it’s Saturday morning as I head downstairs in search of Gabriel, unsure if he’s around. He usually swims early, so he may be in his home office.
I knock on the door and wait. There’s no reply.
I leave and walk back into the living room to make breakfast.
An hour later, I hear the door click, and Gabriel walks in.
He throws his bag onto the unit. “Morning,” he says.
“Morning,” I reply, unsure how I raise this. It’s not like we’re in a relationship.
He stops and looks at me. “Is everything okay?” he asks.
I bite my lip, drawing his eyes to my mouth.
“Leah?” he says again, stepping closer .
“It’s time,” I say, watching his brows furrow before the realisation hits. I watch as colour floods his cheeks. Oh no, is this where he tells me he’s changed his mind?
He coughs and nods, his face growing serious... an expression I’m used to seeing in the office, less so at home.
He inhales. “What do I need to do?” he asks, coming to stand in front of me. My body responds to the heat radiating from his. I tell myself it’s my hormones, my body wanting to create a baby.
I pick up the container that arrived with the kit and hold it out to him.
I feel my colour rise as our fingers graze.
“If you can...”
He nods, taking it from me and turning away.
“I’ll be in my room when you’re ready,” I say, as he heads for the stairs.
A flush of warmth hits me as I watch him leave. A tingling ache floods my body as my mind wanders to what he’s about to go upstairs and do. Will he be watching porn? Read some girlie magazines? Daydream about the weather girl he likes? Think about me?
Shit. I’m being ridiculous. My skin tightens, and a flush of warmth spreads through the lower half of my body. I bite down hard on my lip, squeezing my thighs together. I shouldn’t be horny. I need to get ready.
I make my way upstairs and pull back the covers. I grab the hip-raising pillow I purchased. It’s a sex pillow designed to help your partner hit your G-spot, but I hope the angle will help the sperm find its way home.
I sit on the edge of the bed and wait. Gabriel’s been gone a while. Is there a problem? I make my way to the door as a knock sounds.
He holds out the container. “Here you are,” he says.
I reach out and take it. Our fingers graze, my awareness skyrockets. “Thank you,” I say breathlessly, hoping I don’t look like a beetroot. I need to be professional and not think about what he’s just handed me.
“All yours,” Gabriel says, before he turns away, walking back towards his own room.
I exhale the breath I didn’t realise I was holding, and make my way to the bed and the syringe I have waiting for me.