Silverspoons Series: Another Billionaire Baby - Book II (8 page)

“Hello, hello? Ayana? Is that you?” the voice called out.

“Atticus. Yes, it’s me. Did you just call?”

Oh my god, what is he going to say? Please, no more hurtful things. Just let me be.

“Yes, I did. I want you to meet me for dinner alone, just you and me. I had some time to calm down and I think we should talk this mess out rationally.”

“Alright. Where do you want to meet?”

“Let’s see if we can get our relationship back on track, or at least talk about it. Meet me at Nick San Duraznos. Do you know the address?”

“No, but I’ll GPS the directions in my car.”

“
Si
, meet me there in an hour.”

“OK, I’ll see you soon.”

Man, I can’t believe he wants to see me. Slow down, girl, let’s not get too excited. We don’t know the outcome so let’s not sound the alarm until we know for sure his intent.

After Ayana changed her clothes, she left Tess a note and left for the restaurant. She arrived and became aware from the lobby area that Atticus was already seated.

Hm, he must really want to talk and work this mess out…I hope it’s not because Tess talked to August and August talked to Atticus. But why else would he be so eager? Is it out of obligation, and not because he really loves me, but because I’m having his baby?

She continued to stand in the lobby in the dim lights and shadows as if she was waiting for someone so the hostess wouldn’t ask if she wanted to be seated. The dark colored walls gave the restaurant a murky atmosphere, which acted as a cloak for her. After a minute or two passed, Ayana noticed a woman at the table next to Atticus. Where he was sitting, he had full view of the woman.

The woman got up and sat at the table with Atticus. She passed him a note and smiled. He opened and read it. Ayana keep observing in amazement. Atticus smiled and shoved the note in the inside of his suit pocket. Her heart felt as if it was going to fall out of her chest. Gasping for breath, she ran out the door to her car and didn’t look back.

Hurrying to her car, she jumped in and sped off before she could be noticed. After she cleared the scene, she pulled over to assemble her emotions.

No! I don’t think so. Ayana Simmons, no more crying. You have to be strong now for your unborn baby. You’re still in a sensitive trimester and need to take it easy from now on. You’re in control and no one else.”

It was time to let go and move on. She decided to move back to the States with her mother. Hating the idea of her mother being a part of her life, but knowing there weren’t any other options available as she knew she was going to need someone when her due date got closer.

Feeling drained and hopeless, she gathered her things from Tess’s and stopped by to pick her mother up. When she entered the house, her mother stood in the doorway of the living room quietly. Her mother ran to her side, suddenly displaying a sudden interest in her well-being.

Through gritted teeth, Ayana snarled at her mother and made her demands known. “Don’t! Don’t say a word to me, Mother! I can’t take anything else right now.”

I can’t believe this. This is all bullshit.

“Alright, darling. I’ll do whatever you say. I’m really sorry, babe. Maybe I can go talk to him,” her mother replied nervously.

“No! Haven’t you done enough! I don’t want you to do a damn thing, Mother! There’s nothing here for me anymore. Pack your things, you got what you wanted. I’m going home with you to have my baby.”

Her mother packed quickly. She then tried to make amends by helping Ayana and carrying her bags.

“I promise I won’t say a word to you all the way home unless you speak to me. I swear it to you. But I just want to say I’m truly, truly sorry for my actions, darling.”

Ayana suspected that her father must have really chewed her mother out. He was the only one who could bring her under some kind of control. She drove to the airport with her mother and called Tess on her cell.

“Tess! Hey. I called to say goodbye. I’m leaving with my mother to go back to the States. There’s nothing here for me. I need some time to think and heal. I’m a wreck right now.”

Tess became very concerned.

“No! Cousin, I don’t think you’re thinking straight right now. I understand you’re in a lot of pain and confused about what to do. Come talk to me first. You need to talk to Atticus.”

Ayana paused to gather her strength. “No I don’t. Atticus and I were going to meet a couple of hours ago, but when I got to the place we were to meet, I realized that this is just not meant to be.”

Tess wept a little over the phone. “I don’t want you to leave. Aw, Cousin, I’m going to miss you!”

“And don’t forget your promise, Tess! Do not share my secret with anyone, especially the Escobar family! I’ll call you when we get in and settle down. Goodbye, Tess, love you.”

“I love you too, Cousin,” Tess responded sniffing.

Chapter Five

Two months had passed since Atticus had seen Ayana. He was longing for her and still wondering why she stood him up if she really loved him the way she said she did. He thought she just decided not to pursue their relationship, but to run to the arms of Josh, who was a better suitor for her according to her mother. Atticus was spending the Thanksgiving holiday with Tess and August.

He sat out on the patio and watched Tess and August’s interactions with each other. Everything they did reminded him of Ayana. For the first time, his heart felt hurt and bruised, finally realizing that that kind of interaction was what Ayana was asking for. His anger was transferred to the plastic cup he was holding in his hand with an instant squeeze. The cup was no longer identifiable. So engrossed in his thoughts, Atticus didn’t hear August call to him or walk over to him.

“Atticus! Brother, Tess just shared something with me that slipped out. She has some information for you about Ayana. It’s something I think you need to know.”

Atticus was concerned when he saw August’s brow lowered and his jaw tight. He began to get upset.

“What? What’s wrong? Why do you look upset, August? Is something wrong with Ayana? Did something happen to her?”

August reached for his shoulder to calm Atticus. “No. No. Not like that. Come inside and listen to what she has to say. I think you should have a seat.”

Rushing inside to find out what was going on, Atticus refused to sit. August went over to the bar and started pouring drinks. Tess looked nervous and took a seat on the couch. Her belly was as big as ever. She could no longer see her feet.

“Tell him now, Tess! How far are you in your pregnancy?” August demanded.

She took a deep breath, “I’m eight months!” she yelled with her eyes quenched closed.

Atticus listened and watched the two of them carefully. “Come on, what is it?! We all know this already!”

Please guys, come on, please don’t tell me something happened to the woman I love!

“Tess, and how many months is Ayana?” August took a drink and put a drink on the bar counter for Atticus.

She yelled out and then covered her face with a pillow from the sofa.

“She’s about three and a half months, maybe close to four months now. And you should be able to tell what the sex of the baby is at this point of her pregnancy.”

Atticus’s jaw dropped. He froze for a second, then slowly sat down in the chair staring at August. Everyone was quiet. Tess sat up on the couch as she supported her stomach with a hand while moving around to get more comfortable.

Fuckin’ no way! Don’t tell me she’s pregnant by that fuck, Josh. Please don’t tell me she let him touch my pussy! No! I can’t believe this! I won’t listen to this shit!

“Atticus, it’s your baby! Ayana was pregnant before she left here. She made me promise not to say anything because she thought you didn’t love her. And she didn’t want you to feel pressured to be with her because of the baby. I’m sorry for keeping this from you and your family, but she’s my family too!”

He got up and walked over to take the drink August made for him. His gaze fell on Tess’s belly. Thoughts of his and Ayana’s intimacy rushed to his mind, especially the moments when the condoms had broken, the crackers in bed, the flat ginger ale, and the nausea pills.

Damn! She really is having my baby! My baby! This shit is blowing my mind! My baby!

“The nausea pills! That’s how she hid it from me! I thought she was picking up weight, but you know how you women are, so I never mentioned it.”

Tess threw a pillow. “Shut up, Atticus.”

Atticus started pacing the floor with excitement. “Oh my god, I’m going to be a father, August! I thought I wasn’t ready, but this is the best news I’ve had in a long time!”

August pulled out cigars and refilled Atticus’s glass. Tess tried to jump up. They both ran to her side to help her out of the chair. She immediately snatched the cigars from their mouths.

“No! No! I don’t think so. You two are not smoking that around me. You can do it outside when I’m not around, but, Atticus, what are you going to do? Remember, she left. She moved back to the States,” Tess asked with her hands on her hips.

August turned to his brother to hug him. “Bro, the will of our grandmother may be extended to your baby too. You have to find out what she’s having! If it’s a girl, according to the will, we’ll have another billionaire baby.”

Tess walked to the kitchen and returned with a glass of milk to drink and a whole box of Oreo cookies under her arm, and sat back on the couch. August looked disturbed, Atticus noticed as he watched them both.

“Babe, that’s not good for the baby. I had the chef prepare you healthy snacks. You shouldn’t be eating that.”

Tess kept on dipping her cookies into the milk. “Damn healthy, this is what me and the baby want and this is what I’m eating. Look at you, you’re getting fat too! Where’s your baby? You’re not pregnant.”

Damn, bro, you probably shouldn’t have went there with Tess. You should’ve known by now that these ladies are fast with the mouth. We can’t win, bro. We just can’t. Oh, I miss her!

Atticus started laughing and yelling with his fist held up in the air. “Yes! This is what I want! I want my family! I want to marry her and have a lot of babies with her.”

Tess chuckled at her husband and Atticus. “Now hold on, Atticus. Have a seat. Let’s talk. My cousin is not here so I have to speak for her.” Tess continued eating.

The buzzer from the main gate went off. August went to check the monitor to see who their visitor was while Tess continued talking to Atticus. They heard August yell out.

“It’s Antonio! I forgot he said he might stop by. Tess, I don’t think we’re going to have any left overs tonight.”

“So, Atticus, do you love her?”

He fell back into the chair gabbing in forehead, then sliding his hand across his head, pushing his hair backward. “Love her? Do I ever, I’ve always loved her! I just was afraid to express it or say it. But I’m going to tell her every day from now on.”

“How?! She’s still at her parent’s house. She’s staying there because she didn’t want to be alone when it was time for the baby to be born.”

“I’m going to go get her! At some point I had to go to the States anyway to set up the new satellite company sites. I’ll just leave before the scheduled time. I might just move there permanently with my family.”

Atticus stood up to walk over and help Tess get up. They continued talking as they walked to the kitchen.

“What if Josh is in the picture now? And how are you going to get her to believe you?” Tess drilled.

Atticus threw up his hands in the air. “Tess! Am I on trial here? My god, sister-in-law! You’re one damn good lawyer. You don’t miss a beat do you?”

They both laughed. August and Antonio joined in the laughter.

“I know, she’s an awesome woman. That’s why I married her. I love this lady and I’ll yell it at the top of the world,” August proclaimed.

“I understand, brother, because I’m about to do the same with Ayana! Her mother better get ready because I’m coming like a storm to take back what’s mine.”

Tess turned around to face everyone after having finished basing the turkey.

“Listen! Dinner is almost ready. But let me say this, Atticus. Remember something, despite our differences between the Simmons and the Escobars, at the end of the day, we’re all still family. We just have to find some common ground.”

“Thank you, counselor. I promise I will keep that in mind. Now, can we eat?! I’m starving!”

“Yes, we can eat now.”

“Do you want me to say grace, Tess?”

They all burst into laughter again.

Tess threw her hand on her hip and pointed her finger at Atticus with the other hand. “Now, now, let’s behave. This is a time to give thanks for our families, new marriages, extended business and partnerships, and babies.”

They all simultaneously bowed their heads when she’d finished speaking, then shouted, “
Gracias
, Amen Señor!”

Tess reached over to give Antonio a hug. “Hello, Antonio. We haven’t seen much of each other, but you’re always welcomed here.”

“
Hola
, Tess!
Gracias
.”

Plates and silverware were already arranged on the dining room table and food covered all the counters. Tess cooked her favorite dishes and her chef finished all the additional preparations.

While they all were eating, Atticus made an announcement. “I want to propose a toast! I love you guys, my unborn niece, my unborn baby, boy or girl it doesn’t matter. And to Ayana, I’m coming to get you, babe,
papi
is on his way!”

“¡
Salud
!” they all yelled.

“So what’s the plan? When are you leaving for the States?” August asked.

“Tomorrow. Antonio’s going with me. I brought him up to speed to what’s going on. We weren’t going to leave to handle business, as far as the ventures are concerned, until another four months. But, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity for us to just go ahead and relocate since Ayana resigned and moved back to the States, if that’s what she wants.”