Bear My Babies

Melissa sat on a chair with Rosy and Leona flitting around her. They’d braided her hair in several different braids and had picked small flowers from the yard to place in it. He couldn’t help but laugh.

“Girls, you made her look even more beautiful. I didn’t think it was possible.” He crouched down in front of Rosy who threw her tiny arms around his neck.

“She’s a princess,” she said and spun in circles so her dress flailed out around her.

“You’re the princess, sweetheart,” Melissa said and stood, giving Leona and then Rosy kisses on their heads.

She really was beautiful. Thomas’ heart beat a little faster as he watched her skip through the yard with his nieces to get some cake. She was going to be a wonderful mother.

“That’s a good woman you have, brother.” AJ came up and clapped him on the back.

“I need to let you know someone isn’t happy we are using treatments to make this baby. They trashed her office and I was attacked by two large men in suits at work. Someone is trying to get us to stop. I don’t think they’ll come after Mom and Dad, but I’m not sure if it’s a were thing or just a political agenda.”

“Are you serious, why didn’t you call me?” AJ puffed up his chest, his protective big brother instincts kicking in.

“I’m just not sure what’s going on, but I need to get to the bottom of it before she shows she’s pregnant. I’m worried they might try to hurt her or the baby.”

“Anything you need, brother, you call me. I don’t care what time. I need to know about stuff like this.”

“You got it.” The two hugged and went to enjoy some cake with the rest of the family.

Thomas felt a little better about the situation now that AJ knew what was going on.

Thomas came up to Melissa, who had wandered over to where his parents were sitting watching everyone. He sat next to her and she leaned her head on his shoulder with a wistful sigh.

“I love it here,” she said to nobody in particular and it made his heart beat rapidly in his chest.

“Now that you secured the Hilary Dalton account, will you be able to take some time off?”

Melissa, of course, didn’t know not to mention the socialite in front of his dad, but Thomas closed his eyes as he felt the anger push off his dad.

“Why would Hilary Dalton be a client of McMillian and Company?” Harold roared from his place next to his mother. He’d been mostly quiet the whole time they’d been there.

“Because, Dad. I’ve expanded the company to include product launches. Hilary is now our biggest client in that department, but after her launch, I can see that branch becoming one of our most profitable branches.”

“I told you no when you pitched it to me. Are you deaf?  Do I need to take my father’s, your grandfather’s, company back so you don’t run it into the ground? I can’t believe you would do something so disrespectful. I knew you wanted to rebel against me, but I never thought you were going to go behind my back and purposely disregard me.”

Thomas was leaning toward his dad, and he noticed Melissa leaned into her chair as she stared in horror at them yelling at each other.

“Enough,” Alma yelled over their shouting. “We have a guest. This is something we will discuss later.”

Thomas looked around and noticed that everyone was staring at them.

“Who’s ready for cake?” he said, putting the fight away for his niece.

“I am!” both girls cried and the adults laughed, breaking the tension.

Once Melissa and he had filled up on cake, they said goodbye to everyone. Melissa had to promise Rosy three times she’d come back before the little girl would let her leave.

“You are really good with them,” Thomas said as they got back into the car.

“I love kids, always have.” Melissa beamed. “I’m sorry I brought up the Hilary account. I knew that your father didn’t want to expand the business, but I didn’t realize he didn’t know.”

Thomas grabbed her hand over the center console. “It was going to happen eventually. I’m glad it is out in the open now. My mom told me she would work on him tonight. Don’t worry about it.”

“I still feel awful. The day was so perfect. I adore your family and I don’t want to be the one to cause a rift.”

“Hush, you’re fine. Besides you’re a part of our family now. And you’re going to be an incredible mother to our baby. Maybe it’s already starting to form in there.” He looked at her stomach.

She blushed and put a hand across her abdomen. “Maybe so.”

When they got to her apartment, he looked to make sure there weren’t any men in suits or suspicious cars outside.

“It was a really good day, Thomas. I think we can do this friends-having-a-baby thing. It might not be that difficult. You’ll have to tell your mother the truth so she doesn’t wonder why we’re not getting married or living together, but I think we can do it.”

“It was a good day. Let’s get through this part first. So what’s the next part? I don’t really know how this whole thing works.” He smiled and got out to go open her door. He really connected with her at his parents. He loved seeing her interact with his nieces.

“I’ll let you know. It’s about a week until my next period and then of course you don’t really take a test until two weeks after that so we can check in periodically, but there won’t be any news for a little while.”

“If it didn’t take?” He knew he didn’t mind trying again, he’d be happy to try again at that moment.

“Then we’ll plan to try again.” She smiled and turned to walk in the door. “Talk to you soon.”

“Good night, Melissa.”