A Sweet Deal (Crimson Romance) (18 page)

“I think you can expect a normal pregnancy if you take care of yourself. Whoever told you that pregnancy after radiation was impossible was mistaken. Sometimes it can be more difficult to conceive, but obviously it’s possible.” He checked the chart in his hand. “Your bloodwork has all come back normal, and we don’t have any reason to think that your pregnancy isn’t healthy. However, if there’s any way you can take more time to relax, especially this week, I’d do it. I’m not going to put you on bed rest just yet, but if things get too serious, that’s what we’re looking at next.” He finally looked over to Richard. “Mr. Cruz, you can help a lot by making sure Yvette doesn’t have too much to do or worry about once she gets home.”

Mr. Cruz.
She didn’t correct him, but bile threatened to rise in her throat. Less than a month ago, she’d wanted nothing more than to become Richard’s wife. Now the mere thought of pledging to spend her life with him turned her stomach. Seeing him nod and agree to care for her made her blood boil. How dare he? This was all his fault. All of it. He reached for her hand, a look of naked devotion on his face, and she snatched it away. No. Her terror at the thought of something going wrong with the pregnancy had distracted her into letting her defenses slip, but no more.

“Of course,” he said, his voice deep, rich with rough emotion. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

“Great. Yvette, you can do all your normal activities, just take some more time for yourself. Let your husband do the dishes, try not to let trouble at work get to you, make sure you get enough water and rest, things like that.”

If he referred to Richard as her husband again, she would lose it. She nodded, ready to get out of the office and away from both of them. Already, the thought of riding in the same car with him again was setting her teeth on edge.

“Thank you so much. I’ll be more careful.” She swung her legs over the side of the table, refusing Richard’s silent offer to help her sit upright. He could play the part of doting husband and father-to-be in front of the doctor all he wanted.

“All right then. I’ll see you at your next check-up. Just call the office if you have any questions or concerns.” The doctor left, and she was left alone with Richard.

She could no longer stomach the charade, and wanted to leave. The sooner they got through the car ride back to her office, the better. Constantly reminding herself why she could never trust Richard again, why her feelings were a foolish mistake, was exhausting. Once he was out of her sight, she’d breathe easier. He’d never be fully off her radar, not with the baby as a constant reminder, but there were blissful moments when she forgot how she’d fallen for him, how she’d been sucked into the fantasy of building a life with him. Then it would come rushing back, all of it. The whirlwind romance, the perfect fit of home life with him, and the crushing betrayal.

• • •

Richard pulled out of the parking lot and stole a glance at Yvette before merging into traffic. She turned towards the window, refusing to look his way, a sheet of dark hair hiding the sliver of her face that he would have seen. Was she angry? Sad? Worried? Her hands clenched her handbag in her lap, and he watched as she tilted her face down. As painful as seeing tears fall would be, he wondered if it might be easier to get through to her if some of her anger dissipated.

With a resigned sigh, she pulled her cell phone out of the bag and tapped the screen. She turned her face towards the car window when her conversation began.

“Hey. Listen, I have a huge favor to ask. I’m leaving my doctor’s office right now,” she paused, listening. “No, no, everything’s fine. Well, it will be. I was having some pain, and Richard took me in.” Another pause. Apparently she’d told the other person about their break up. “My blood pressure was a little high, but other than that it seems okay. The doctor said it was probably just round ligament pain, but I need to manage my stress and limit my activities. I’m supposed to be able to go to work and do everything I need to do, but only if I take care of myself. Otherwise, I’ll be put on bed rest, and that’s the last thing I want.”

Richard turned the radio off and adjusted the air conditioner vent. Yvette steadfastly refused to look his way, and he concentrated on his driving. It might not make much difference, but he’d give her no reason to think he was anything but helpful today.

“Yeah, so I was wondering if you could come and stay with me for a while.” She laughed into the phone and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “No, I’m not trying to trick you into becoming my maid. I just need someone around to help me, to keep me sane. It could even be fun.”

That vulnerability he’d glimpsed when she first announced the pregnancy was back, and it was heartbreaking. She should be joyfully planning for the arrival of their baby, maybe even making wedding arrangements. Instead she was begging someone, probably her sister, to stay with her so she didn’t have any complications.

“Oh. Crap. Okay, no it’s okay. I’ll figure something out.” She shifted in her seat and tugged the seatbelt away from her neck. “No, absolutely not. I haven’t told them anything yet. I’ll figure something out. Don’t call them. Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” She ended her call and tucked the phone back in her bag.

“Was that Veronica?” He shot a quick glance at Yvette’s profile.

She nodded. “Yes. I thought it might be better if I wasn’t alone, so I could have help with regular household stuff and have someone there to look out for me. She’s out of town for work, though.”

“Come home with me.” She scoffed, but he continued before she could interrupt or refuse. “You can have the bedroom to yourself. I’ll stay in the guest room and will give you your space.” They could hash out their unraveling relationship later. For now, she needed to focus on the baby.

“No, thank you.”

“Listen, whatever you think of me, we can’t let it affect your health or the pregnancy. I’ll leave you completely alone if that’s what you want. You won’t have to see me at all, and that’s a promise. Mrs. King will take care of you, and I’ll feel so much better knowing that everything is okay with you and the baby.”

“I’m sure Mrs. King has better things to do than babysit me, and the last thing I want to do is spend even a single night in that bedroom.”

“Then take the guest room. Whatever makes you comfortable. Please, just think about it.”

She was silent for several minutes, and Richard was too afraid to upset the relative peace with more conversation. Finally, Yvette set her bag on the floorboard and angled her body to face him. He turned to her for a quick look before returning his eyes to the road, just long enough to see the resignation on her face. “Fine.” Her voice was stronger, clearer than he’d anticipated. “I’ll take the guest room, and I expect you to keep your distance.”

“Of course.”

It wasn’t what he wanted from her, but it was progress. That seemed like a good start.

Yvette let herself in and listened right inside the front door of Richard’s house. After a few days of tiptoeing around him, she’d figured out when she could come and go without running into him at home. The house was quiet, so she dropped her keys on the table and kicked off her shoes. The cool marble of the foyer felt wonderful on her feet after being on them all day. With Mrs. King looking after her, she was doing less at home, but work wasn’t slowing down a bit. Something had to give, or she’d be forced to give up accounts or worse, end up on bed rest.

She wandered through the quiet rooms, hating the tension she felt every time she saw a reminder of Richard. He’d given her the space she demanded, hadn’t tried to talk her into reconciling once since she’d returned home, but it was clear that he was available when she was ready. He didn’t avoid her like she did him. In fact, it seemed like he was eager to air their problems, ready to get everything out in the open. Strange, considering what he’d done. When they bumped into one another, he was calm, open, and ready to talk. It was as though now that he’d unburdened himself of the terrible secret, he was ready to hash things out and move on. She was the one who skulked around like a trespasser, locking herself in the guest room and sneaking out to go to work in the morning.

Holding her breath, she tried to slip past his office, hoping that it was Mrs. King she heard rustling around in there.

“Hey.” His voice was soft. “You’re home.”

Clearing her throat, she straightened her back and summoned her willpower. That voice wouldn’t melt her today. “Yes. I was just going to my room. See you later.”

“Wait. We need to talk.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.”

He stood, hands on his desk with his head down, and paused for a moment before meeting her in the hallway.

“Yvette, please,” she paused, hating the pull that the sound of her name on his lips still had over her. His hand landed gently on her shoulder and he moved in front of her to look her in the eyes. “What we’ve shared has changed me, has made me believe in love again. When I’m with you, I want to be a better person, and I believe for the first time ever that I can. I want you to be my wife, and I want us to be a family. I can’t change what happened, but we can move forward. What we have together is special, and you can’t deny that.”

“What we had could have been special, but I think we’re through. I’m sorry, Richard, but I don’t think I can move forward. I can’t take any more. I’m not angry, just sad. It’s over.”

She shifted, and Richard held up his hand. “Wait, let me show you something.”

Yvette sighed, weary with the weight of her disappointment. Why prolong this? “What is it?”

A ghost of a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth, and disappeared as quickly as it came. “Come with me. Please.”

Yvette followed him out of the office and through the house to one of the guest rooms, heavy with emotion and ready to see whatever it was so she could leave. The door to the master bedroom was open across the hall, and she looked in as they paused outside the guest room. So many memories lingered there. The late nights together, the beautiful conversations they shared, the amazing moments. Everything that made up her love for Richard started in the bedroom, where they were alone, cocooned in their own private world, and able to break down the walls they’d each built to keep others out. Not so long ago, that room was her sanctuary. Richard was her sanctuary. Now it was a bitter memory.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside, started to hold his hand out to her, but dropped it to his side. She edged past him, telling herself not to breathe in his scent but failing, and sucked in a breath. Hot tears welled in her eyes as her throat tightened.

“Do you like it?” He was so close, right behind her, but she couldn’t face him.

She nodded, afraid she’d lose it if she spoke. The guest room was now a nursery … the most elegant, gorgeous nursery she’d ever seen. Richard thought of everything. The gleaming hardwood floors peeked out only on the edges of the huge plush grey rug dominating the room. An antiqued crib stood against the wall directly across from a matching armoire. He’d chosen grey and yellow bedding in a chic chevron pattern that matched the oversized rocking chair that sat in the corner. Hot tears trailed down her cheeks, and she wiped them away with the heel of her hand. Richard set a tentative hand at the small of her back, and she stiffened but didn’t pull away.

“I can see you in this room, in that chair, or standing over there, looking into that crib. I see you everywhere in this house, but this room is us, together.” His voice was thick with emotion, and something cracked inside her. He was too close, filling too much space.

“There is no us. Not anymore.” The words came out almost a whisper, wavering. He wanted her to see this room as their future. All she saw were broken dreams and everything she’d lost.

“There has got to be a chance we can fix things. This can’t be goodbye.” He tried to take her hand, but circled her wrist with his fingers instead.

A small step to the side gave her the space to escape his touch. She sniffled and looked up at the delicate little crystal chandelier that filled the room with soft light. The chair would be perfect for spending hours holding the baby, feeding the baby, reading to the baby. She could picture it herself, and her heart squeezed with longing. That would never happen, though, because they were too broken now. There was a point in every relationship when things were stretched too much, pushed too far, to come back.

“It’s time to move on.” Her voice cracked, but there was no need to hide her sadness.

“I don’t want to move on. I’m going to keep fighting for us.” His voice was thick with emotion, with a sadness that told her he understood how serious she was.

It tore her apart that Richard wanted them to be a family so badly, but he still didn’t get it. A baby between them didn’t change everything. It didn’t erase the fact that he’d proposed to cut her out of negotiations, and it didn’t help her forget that at the first sign of trouble he’d assumed the worst of her. His first marriage had scarred him, certainly, but she wasn’t the one who could heal him. Not if he didn’t love her, respect her, and know her, and his knee jerk reaction to their misunderstanding showed her that he didn’t. Not like he thought he did, and not like she deserved. She owed it to herself and the baby to provide stability. Living with a man who cared more for his company and legacy than a real marriage wasn’t what they needed.

“I’ve got to go. I’ll send someone for my things, and we’ll discuss custody and visitation another time. Take care of yourself, Richard.” She touched his arm lightly and spared him one sad look before leaving him alone in the nursery.

“Thank you. I’ll take care of him from here.” Richard dismissed the orderly who stood behind his father’s wheelchair. He offered his arm to his father as he rose, and nodded to the orderly as he wheeled the chair back into the hospital. When he refused assistance, Richard opened his car’s passenger-side door for him instead. “Ready to get back to your own house?”

“Oh yeah. A few days in there seemed like an eternity. I can’t wait to get a hot shower and to sleep in my own bed. Without a pushy nurse coming in every fifteen minutes to check my blood pressure.” His father stretched and looked to the sky. “Looks like rain. That should make it easier to sleep.”