The Billionaire’s Risky Pregnancy

The drop offs were already under way, and Tasha delighted in the smiles and a few hugs as she admired Katie’s striped socks and David’s new coat. Her students always seemed to love the ways that she caught the little things, and Tasha resolved to brave the commute for the rest of her days when the sound of a metal gate coming to life around the next lot crashed into her reverie.

“What the—?”

“You think they could hold out until Spring break.”

George’s voice turned her head, and Tasha groaned as she arched her back and cracked her knuckles.

“Is it a done deal then?” she asked. “What happened to the PTA taking a hard line?”

George shrugged his shoulder under his long blonde hair as he centered his guitar case against his back.

“They’re meeting again tonight,” George said. “Don’t know how much good it’s going to do.”

“Let’s hope they argue long and loud,” Tasha said. “That’s supposed to be an extension of the playground.”

“In our hopes and dreams,” George said. “But me thinks that a cold corporate arm is about to get in the way.”

Shaking her head, Tasha pushed the worst case scenario aside and walked with George into the teachers’ lounge as she lowered her bag and noticed a light in his eyes.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“What’s up yourself?” she counted. “I see that smile. Something you want to share with the class?”

George blushed as he pressed his hands into his pockets and pushed forward on the balls on his feet.

“Zachary popped the question,” George said.

“No way!” Tasha squealed as she leapt into his arms and hugged his neck tight. George lifted her feet off the ground as she bathed his face with an array of kisses as he sat her on the sofa.

“This is huge!” Tasha continued. “So how did he do it? Tell me everything.”

Stretching back, George’s stare turned soft.

“It was simple,” he started. “I came home and he had lemon herb chicken and wild rice on the table.”

“And candles?” Tasha asked. George shot her a sly smile as he nodded his head.

“How romantic! And then he… oh did he sing you a song?”

She had known George for years and watched him waft from one man to another. Sometimes her friend seemed nothing if not superficial, and Tasha had struggled to hold her tongue when he spent his time with skinny boys who were only interested in one thing. How many times had she nursed his broken heart over a pizza and more than one bottle or wine? She never told him that he was looking for love in all the wrong places, but somehow George got the message when he laid eyes on Zachary. The man was big with a bald head and slight stomach that hung over his belt. But he had the sweetest voice, and it worked in perfect harmony with George’s guitar. Tasha often hoped that George would bring the song to the best conclusion.

“He hummed a little,” George confessed. “Got down on one knee. And I said yes.”

“Good on you,” Tasha said. “I would have had to beat you down if you’d said no.”

“I wouldn’t want that. You can be pretty mean when you set your mind to something.”

Rolling her eyes, Tasha sat back, and her eyes flickered at the idea of the details.

“So when’s the big day?” she asked. “Can I do a shower or something?”

“It’s not like I need another Keurig,” George said. “We already have two between us.”

“But I want to do something!” Tasha whined.

“We’ll have you over for dinner,” he promised. “And there’s no one else that I want to stand up for me when the time comes.”

That was enough, and Tasha hugged him close as the room started to fill with the other teachers. Mrs. Turner glared at them through her glasses, but Ms. Morris laid out a plate of brownies and asked why they were all smiles.

“George is engaged!”

Tasha couldn’t hold back her joy, and Ms. Morris joined in the celebration and nearly pressed the whole plate into his lap when the bell rang and Mrs. Turner stamped her foot to the floor.

“Are we here to work or make googly eyes?”

“That’s your ideas of a comeback?” Tasha challenged. “Weren’t you happy when Mr. Turner asked for your hand?”

The woman seemed to slowly consider the fact as she fluffed her bob, and she downed an entire cup of coffee in one gulp as she slowly shook her head.

“It was the only thing he could do,” she said. “That’s how it was.”

And that was the wrong reason to bring a child into the world. Two people having fun until there was a happy accident. Tasha almost felt pity for the older woman, and she started to offer her a brownie when Mrs. Turner smirked.

“Plenty of people still say that it’s a sin,” she said. “How are you going to handle that?”

Ms. Morris gasped and Tasha fumed. But George showed no fear as he stood tall and stared the woman down.

“We’re going to turn that lot next door into a bathhouse,” he teased. “Turn the whole school gay if we’re given the chance.”

“You sick—!”

“You fool!”

Tasha burst into laughter, and Ms. Morris got in on the joke as George took hold of their hands with a sigh.

“It’s not like that,” he said. “But let your small mind think the worst things.”

“And you wonder why no one likes you!”

Tasha and George turned their head in unison at the sound of Ms. Morris’ voice. Waiting for more from the mouse that roared, the room stayed silent, and Mrs. Turner stalked off as Tasha rubbed the other teacher’s back.

“Nice job,” Tasha said.

“It… it was nothing,” Ms. Morris said. “I just want everyone to be happy.”

George held her hands and assured her that he was.

“I’ll bake some banana bread tonight,” Ms. Morris said. “Just for the two of you to share.”

The little woman headed into the hallways, and Tasha grabbed George’s arm.

“Sorry,” she said.

“It is what it is,” he said. “Not like it’s going to stop me.”

George was on the verge of following Ms. Morris’ lead when he turned back and shrugged his shoulders.

“Love is never easy,” he said. “But when it’s true, it’s worth all of it.”

Tasha considered his words as she munched on a brownie. Her friend spoke the truth. And Tasha had gotten close a few times. Andre liked her curves and said that she was beautiful. That was nearly enough until he refused to bring her around to meet his family. That’s when she knew that she was nothing more to him than a bit of fun. Kurt might have made the grade. But he was always hitting her up for loans that he would never pay back.