Accidentally Perfect (35 page)

The fear I felt so strongly has melted away. I feel like I’m able to breathe again.  I don’t know why I ever doubted him, ever doubted his love. I have not once questioned
it; he has never given me reason to,
and this should be no different. This man loves me, all of me. He loves my girls. Why would I ever doubt his love for a child that he and I created together?  “Sorry to interrupt you two, I look up to find Stella standing in the doorway, “but the girls are getting restless about their presents. Are you two done sucking face and celebrating the new
baby
because if you aren’t, tough shit, my girls want to open their presents.  Get your asses out here, pronto.”   She turns and walks back outside. 

“I guess we need to finish the party,” I say.

“Yeah, we do. Um, I have to get my presents for the girls. That’s what I was on my way to do before I got sidetracked.”

“What did you get them?”

“You’ll find out sweet girl, just as soon as they do.”

“You didn’t get them instruments did you? I can’t handle instruments, Nathan. They will be permanently at Auntie Nat’s if that’s what you got. I am not dealing with two five-year-olds banging away on metal.”

“No instruments. No drums, no saxophones, no guitars. It doesn’t even make a sound.”

“Alright, I can do no sound.”    

I’m sitting on a chaise lounge with Laney on my lap.  My hands are resting on her stomach. I know it’s
early, and I know I won’t be able to feel the baby move, but I am already in protective mode. The girls have just about gone through the mound of presents. I made sure when I invited everyone they knew they didn’t have to buy for both. The girls are great at sharing everything, so one present for them to share was good enough. If they did want to buy for both, I made sure it was something small. This party wasn’t about the girls getting loads of gifts; it was about them spending time with their friends
and playing. 

Natalie places the boxes from me in front of the girls. She tells them the gift is from me, and they both look at me with huge smiles on their faces. They rip open the wrapping and then open the box. They each pull out a pair of riding pants, boots and a helmet, all pink of course. They look at me questionably. “That’s riding gear, girls,” Natalie explains, “For horses.” They both turn their heads and look at me, eyes wide with excitement.

“I thought you girls would like to learn to ride, here at the estate on the weekends.  Would you like that?”

“Yes!”  They scream. 

“If you really like it then maybe we can get you both a horse of your own to help raise.”

Amanda comes running and jumps on Laney’s lap. I immediately block her stomach making sure my hand take the impact and not Laney. “Careful Bear, you need to be care with Momma, okay?”

“Why?”

“Just because, baby. Just because.” Laney answers.

“Thank yous Nafin, thank yous for the things.”

“You’re welcome, Mandy.”

She gives me a hug and a soft kiss on the cheek. “That’s from Bug toos.”

“Okay.”

“I loves you Nafin,”
she
whispers in my ear. “That's from mes. I don’t knows if Bug does, but I knows I do.” She gets off Laney just as fast as she jumped on and continued
with opening her presents. 

We watch as the remaining kids continue to play. Some of them have left right after the cake was served,
and their gifts bags were handed out.  “It’s quite a production son.” My father walks up to me and Laney. 

“I wanted the girls to have a good birthday.”

“It amazes me how easy you can spend the Whitmore money, but yet you refuse to actually work for it.”

“It was their fifth birthday. It’s going to be something they will always remember. I remember each and every one of my parties.
  Don’t you father
? Oh yeah, that’s right. You weren’t there to celebrate with me.”

“It seems that you and I have lived two completely different lives because I remember your birthdays very clearly.”

“You remember the cleanup, you were never there for my actual parties.”

“What are you doing here Joseph? Can you not give Nathan at least one day of rest?
  This is my daughters’ day.”

“And from what we all walked in on, your day as well. 
Such a production in the announcement that you’re expecting. I give you credit;
you do work fast.  Like mother like daughter.”

I go to lift Laney off of my lap because I am seconds away from throwing my father into the pool and hoping his drowns. “Don’t.” She tells me. “He isn’t worth it, Nathan. His words don’t bother me. He is just a pathetic man who is miserable and just wants those around him to be just as miserable.”

“Such words of wisdom Laney. Did your high price education get that for you?”

“No, Joseph, it wasn’t my high price education that allows me to have a mind of my own.  It was the teachings of my father. He taught me to be the person I am today and to not let the wicked tongue of those who are pathetic, affect me.”

“I hear your girls are going to attend the academy.”

“Yes, they are. They start Monday.”

“Good, that’s good.” He walks away without another look in our direction. The bastard feels he has the right to intrude on my family’s day and doesn’t even bring the girls a present, typical.    

“Yes, Rebecca, I’m positive. I know, believe me, it was a hard decision for me, but this is the best. I have an opportunity that I can’t pass up. I know. This doesn’t mean that I’ll be gone from the hospital forever, just for the near future. Alright, I will. You take care as well. Bye.”

Well, I have officially resigned from the hospital. It’s been almost two months since I had stepped foot in the hospital to actually work. I’ve been there a few times visiting my patients and fellow co-workers. “Are you okay with it? With stepping back so you can work on Nathan’s House?” Nathan has been quiet when it comes to the project. He has allowed me to make this decision on my own without his input or influence. The fact of the matter is I’m pregnant, and the thought of me running around the hospital during my pregnancy is not something I’m looking forward to.

“Yes, I am. I think this is something that I want to do. I want to make this happen, and I want the girls to witness it. I want this to be a part of their lives so it will teach them to give to those who aren’t as fortunate as they are.”

“As long as you’re sure. I know nursing was something you worked hard for. This was what you wanted, your dream career.”

“That’s true, but it was a dream before I had you as my reality. Things change, right?  Are you a firm believer of that?”

“Yes, Bear, I am. A very firm believer of it.”

“Well, now that I’m free from the hospital, I guess we can get the developers going on the land and everything that needs to happen to
it.” 

“I’ll make the calls on Monday then. What’s your plan for the day?”

“Well, the weather’s still nice. I wanted to take the girls to the park for a while.  Do you want to join us?”

“I will after I make some calls.  We have a high profile client coming into the city
tonight,
and I need to make sure everything is set for when they arrive.” 

“Alright, take your time.”

I watch the girls play with the other kids at the park. Addie is doing so well with her walking cast and hopefully in the next few weeks she’ll be able to take if off.  She hasn’t had any problems with the other kids at school giving her a hard time because she isn’t able to do a lot right now. Amanda is doing really well, and her speech is improving. Not only does she have a therapist at school, but Nathan has hired someone to come to the house once a week to make sure the school is doing everything they can. 

My mother is warming up to the idea of my pregnancy. She isn’t insulting me every chance she gets now. I still haven’t attempted to invite her over to the house yet. I’m not sure that would be respectful of Nathan. When I told her that I planned on leaving nursing for a while, she basically laughed in my face, spouting off about how I’m allowing a man to take care of me and rule my life. I knew it was a bad idea to tell her what my plans were, I could have just quit the hospital and she would never have known since she doesn’t make it a habit of coming by to see me while I’m working. “Laney?” I turn to see Michael standing next to the bench I’m sitting in.

“Michael.  What are you doing here?”  I haven’t seen or
heard from
Michael since Nathan threw him out of my house. Even with the gossips rags reporting the story he never did respond or try to make the situation worse that what they were already reporting. 

“I’ve been trying to catch up with you for a few weeks now.”

“Why didn’t you just call?”

“Because I wanted to see you in person. I needed to see you face to face.”

“Why? I don’t understand.” 

“I know Laney.” He walks closer to me. My eyes scan for the girls, and they have both seen Michael talking to me.

“You know what Michael?”

“I know you’re pregnant, Laney.”

“And?”

“Were you going to tell me? Were you going to let him raise my child?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about Michael, but you have been given some extremely wrong information.” I stand up facing him.

“Momma, are yous okay?” I see Addie and Amanda walk up to me.

“You are having a baby Laney, my baby,
and you thought I didn’t have the right to know?  You thought I would be alright with that bastard raising my child?”

“Mommy?”
 

The girls look at me with questions in their eyes. We haven’t told them yet because we wanted to wait. I wanted to make sure I was further along just in case something were to happen. I didn’t think they would understand if I lost the baby. I didn’t want them to have to feel the pain of the loss of their brother or sister. 

“Yous hafin a baby momma?” I look at the girls

“Answer me Laney?” He takes another step toward me. There is fury in his eyes.

“Like I said Michael, you have been given some wrong information. I’m not having your child. I’m having my husband’s child.”

“Bullshit. That’s total bullshit.”

“I suggest you take a step back away from my wife and my daughters.”  I turn my head and see Nathan standing there. His hands are strained at his
sides; the muscles in his neck are strained and his eyes are locked dead on Michael.