by E A Price
*
Harold stormed through the restaurant. Wait staff leaped out of his way, which was good because he was not planning on stopping.
He came to his family’s table and was a little gratified to see their nervous expressions.
“My wife had a scan. We’re having a daughter.”
His grandmother’s face hardened, while his mother looked even more nervous. Strangely his father seemed pleased. His father hadn’t been in a particularly good mood recently, particularly as Harold had been missing dinners and meetings to spend time with Christine.
They decided to decorate the nursery together, rather than asking someone else to do it, and honestly, he loved doing it. To think all these years he’d shied away from this kind of thing. Well, he’d never really had time. But he liked painting and putting the baby’s furniture together. He also found that watching him work had a very stimulating effect on Christine. Progress was slow with the baby’s room as Christine kept getting stimulated.
Harold held up a hand before any of them could say anything. “Save it,” he snarled, surprising all three of them.
He turned to his father. “I am not leaving Christine, so you can forget trying to use this as a reason to break apart our marriage.” He turned to his grandmother. “We are most definitely keeping our baby.” He turned to his mother and paused. “I have no quarrel with you at this time.
“Now, if any of you have anything to say, why don’t you leave a message with my assistant and I’ll get back to you when I can. For now, leave my marriage, my wife and my pup alone.”
He then stormed away with the same fervor with which he entered.
*
“Oh my, so many to choose from,” muttered Christine eyeing the donuts. “You all look so yummy. Eat me! Who said that?”
Christine grabbed a donut in each hand and spun – or rather lumbered – around to find a young woman giggling behind her hand.
Christine blushed fiercely. “I didn’t think anyone else was here.”
She probably should have scented her, but she was too preoccupied with the delicious smelling donuts.
“I’m pretty stealthy,” murmured the girl walking over and eyeing the donuts.
“I don’t usually talk to food…” Christine started.
“No, eat me,” said the girl out the side of her mouth. “Okidoke.” She picked up a coconut donut and took a huge bite.
Christine smiled. “I’m…”
“Christine Buchanan,” supplied the girl.
Christine raised an eyebrow.
The girl shrugged. “Everyone knows who you are. You’re the wife of our master and overlord. Plus I saw your picture on his desk when I was updating his computer. Your wedding dress was enormous.”
“It certainly was,” she agreed, wondering when Harold had put the picture on his desk.
“I’m Misty. I work in IT. I just come up here for the snacks and to perform updates and to get viruses off computers whenever some bozo decides to watch porn at work.”
“That happen often?”
“More often than I’d dare admit to your husband.”
“Probably wise. Nice to meet you, Misty.”
“You too. Aah, you’re killing me! Sorry, that’s just the donut talking.”
Misty winked and Christine walked away chuckling. She slowed as she reached Harold Sr.’s office – she always walked past there on tiptoes, lest he try to stop her and talk to her. But when she came closer, she recognized Nora’s unmistakably sexy drawl.
“This really isn’t working out,” she said.
“You’re not trying hard enough,” he groused.
“I’m wasting my time here.”
Christine leaned a little closer to listen and then gave herself a mental slap. Eavesdropping? Again? Hadn’t last time taught her a good enough lesson? She almost left her husband after she heard something not meant for her ears. No, she would not make that mistake again.
Loud enough so that they could hear, Christine walked past the office giving them a wave. Harold Sr. gave her his usual irritated glance, while Nora merely scowled.
She hoped that what she had overheard meant that Nora would be leaving soon. Hopefully because she was moving to Alaska or something. But it didn’t matter anyway. She could bat her eyelashes so hard they induced tidal waves and Harold still wouldn’t notice. If there was one thing Christine was coming to realize about her husband, it was that he only had eyes for his wife.
Chapter Forty-One
“Harold, can you do my zip?”
Christine waddled towards him, her stomach leading the way.
He gave her a quizzical look. “My love, I doubt even Hercules could do that zip.”
Christine’s stuck her tongue out. “This dress fits me perfectly,” she panted while trying to prove her point by dragging the zip up herself. It didn’t seem to want to budge.
Harold gave her a doubtful look.
“Esther shrank it when she was doing laundry.”
Another doubtful look.
“Oh, shut-up, you!” she snapped while standing in front of the mirror, hands on hips. She looked like a bloated whale, and the yellow sundress was not helping.
Harold chuckled and came up behind her kissing her neck.
“My darling, you need some maternity clothes – why not simply buy them?”
She grumbled and muttered while Harold gently bit her neck. Almost seemed like that was admitting defeat. Her clothes would fit her! With only six more weeks to go, it seemed unlikely she could get any bigger. Right? Christine sighed.
“Fine, I’ll get some more clothes. Seems like a waste of money though.”
“Maybe you’ll need them again,” he murmured.
“Hmmm, already planning pup number two?”
“Indeed. You are lovely when you are pregnant… and lovely when you are not, of course.”
“Mmm, nice save. You haven’t been taking lessons from Jonathan, have you?”
Harold growled, vibrating against her. “Certainly not.”
Christine giggled as her mate grumbled. Though that stopped as the baby gave her a firm kick.
“Ooh.” She rubbed her stomach. “This one’s a kickboxer.”
“You should stay home,” he complained.
This was an argument they had been having for a while. She tolerated it because Harold was concerned for her health, but she was fine and staying at home all day would drive her bonkers. He didn’t push it, probably because he was worried that might stress her out even more.
“I’ll be fine.” Plus her presence at work definitely discouraged Nora from getting too feely with her husband – there was a woman who was trying to sleep her way to the top. But not with Christine’s husband.
Her phone rang before Harold could launch into his objections and Christine gratefully snatched it up.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Button nose, how are you?” asked her father.
“Feeling fantastic,” she gushed, more for Harold’s benefit than his.
Her husband rolled his eyes, and she threw a cushion at him. He dodged and smirked.
“Is everything okay?” her dad asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“Everything okay with Harold? Everything okay with him at work?”
“Yes,” she sighed.
Over the past few weeks her father had been very anxious and nervous sounding – and always asked if Harold was okay at work.
“Dad, is everything okay with you?”
“Oh yes, everything’s going well at the moment.” He paused. “You are… happy, right?”
“I am,” she replied sincerely.
Particularly given that both Harold Sr. and Marie had been keeping their distance. Marguerite had visited and was thankfully a little more subdued than usual, and was actually getting excited about the birth of her first grandchild.
“I’m glad,” he said quietly.
“Love you, Dad.”
“You too
, button nose,” he muttered before hanging up.
Harold gave her a quizzical look. “What was that about?”
Christine shrugged unconcernedly. “He’s becoming very mellow. Now, I guess I better change into my stretchy pants.”
*
Christine tried to tiptoe past Harold Sr.’s office – but her center of gravity was way off and tiptoeing was no longer as easy as it had once been.
Curse him for having an office so near to the break room!
Harold Sr.’s voice wafted out of his office.
“It’s too late for cold feet now, Cole.”
Cole? Was Harold Sr. talking to her father?
Christine inwardly scowled. Why oh why did she have to hear these things? Why the heck couldn’t Harold Sr. close his office door?
“This is happening and soon, whether you like it or not!”
The phone slammed, and Christine tried to hurry away, though her speed of hurrying was akin to that of a snail’s, and she bumped into Harold Sr. as he stormed out of his office.
He growled and then stopped as he saw it was her.
“Hey Harold,” she said with forced brightness.
“Christy,” he said with a wary look. “What are you doing up here?”
“Working in my husband’s office today.”
Harold wanted her close – it appeased his worrying slightly. It was an argument she was content to let him win, mostly because at regular intervals he would give her foot rubs.
Harold Sr.’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Excuse me.”
He stomped away, and Christine considered it to be one of their better interactions.
But was that really her father he was talking to? No, it couldn’t be – had to be some other Cole. Right?
Chapter Forty-Two
Harold tapped his foot impatiently. Christine had been feeling uncomfortable, so mere minutes ago he had managed to persuade her to go home. He had found an employee he could tolerate – the silver-haired female, Misty – to take her home, and arranged for one of the cars from their car service to collect her. Esther would also be at home when she arrived. From next week, Christine’s mother and younger sister would also arrive to take care of her. He had nothing to worry about, and yet he did.
If he wasn’t with Christine, he couldn’t be assured of her safety, and that rankled. But, he had a meeting that he had been postponing for a month now, and their clients were starting to get just a wee bit impatient. Christine insisted he stay, though he was already considering leaving and she probably hadn’t even made it to the ground floor yet.
He looked up expectantly as his door opened, hoping to see his lovely wife. No, it was Nora. He growled slightly and stared at his computer.
“I brought the letters you asked me to type,” she said brightly.
So, what did she want? A medal? He grunted and pointed at his desk. He expected her to leave immediately, but she didn’t.
“What is it?” he asked impatiently.
He heard some rustling and looked up to find that Nora had stripped to her underwear.
“What the f…”
“You’ll thank me later,” she cooed before leaping on him.
*
“Ah, Christy.”
Harold Sr. oozed to her side as she and Misty waited for the elevator to arrive. Misty gave her a comical look.
“Harold.”
“I’m glad I caught you, my son needs you back in his office – now.”
Christine frowned. Five minutes ago he was practically carrying her out of his office. She had a few twinges in her back and stomach, and Harold ordered her to go home. Then he asked nicely, and she agreed.
She wrinkled her nose. “Are you sure?”
“Of course – he said he needs you.” He looked down at Misty with a sneer. “You can run along back to your job.”
“I guess I’ll do that,” said Misty with sugary sweetness. “See you later, Christy.”
She gave Christine a sympathetic look before scarpering. No wonder either - Harold Sr. was smiling so widely he looked as smug as if he was going to huff and puff and blow her house down.
“Come along.”
He took Christine’s arm, and while she didn’t like him touching her, if her husband needed her, she would go.
*
“Harold!”
Harold looked up from the lady-shaped octopus trying to maul him.
“Christine.”
He tossed Nora to the ground who growled, and he faced his wife who was gaping at him from the doorway.
He was not prone to violence of any kind – particularly to women, but when Nora came at him, all half naked flesh and fishy lips, he had forcefully pushed her away. Unfortunately, she was like a she-wolf possessed, and no matter how many times he knocked her down, no matter how many bruises she took, she got back up again. He was about ready to wring her neck.
But given Christine’s arrival, some of the verve seemed to have left her. Now his underwear-clad assistant was merely grinning.
“Christine, this is not what it looks like,” he snarled.
His wife stared at them both in shock.
“We’ve been having an affair for months,” cooed Nora.
“What?!” he snarled, training blazing eyes on Nora.
She flinched, but it didn’t stop her.
“Every chance we got, we’ve been together,” she lied remorselessly.
“She’s lying!” howled Harold in disbelief.
“We laughed about how you had no clue,” sneered Nora.
Christine closed her eyes, and a look of pain crossed her features.
Harold growled. “Christine, I promise you, she is lying.”
Christine bit her lip.
“Christine, I…”
“Yes, Harold,” his wife interrupted sharply. “I know she’s lying.”
“No I’m not!” hissed Nora.
Christine opened her eyes and looked at Nora dispassionately. “Sweetie, my husband adores me, and for the record, no one else makes him laugh but me – so you just royally slipped up with that little detail.”
“You little…” started Nora.
Harold stepped towards Nora. “Enough,” he snarled, glaring at her until she looked away from him.
Pain crossed Christine’s features, and Harold growled at Nora to get dressed and get out before rushing to his wife.
“Christine, I assure you, nothing she said…”
“I know!” she virtually yelled. “I have one or two other concerns right now.”
“Christine?”
She looked at him with fear and worry in her eyes. “Pretty sure the baby’s on her way.”
“Oh. No! It’s too early!” Harold’s whole body went into panic mode. “I’m not ready.”
“Luckily, you’re not the one giving birth,” she said wryly before letting out an “ooh!”
“What do we do?”
“Well, I’m no expert, but maybe we should go to the hospital.”
“Yes, yes, good idea.”
Christine let out an eep as Harold swung her into his arms and ran to the elevator.
Chapter Forty-Three
“I’m going to sue that doctor,” grumbled Harold.
Christine smiled down at their baby boy. “She just wasn’t wearing her glasses, and it didn’t help that our little angel was trying to moon her.”
It had been quite a shock when their little boy arrived, but certainly not a disappointment. Though, all the pink clothing they had bought wouldn’t be much use. No, it would – they could be modern and dress him in pink. No reason pink couldn’t be worn by a boy!
Harold leaned over her shoulder and gave his son a proud look.
“It’s just a pity that this little guy is going to make your grandmother happy – or as close to happy as her species ever gets.”
He chuckled. “At least it might get her off our backs for a while. The last time I saw her, she questioned whether I was capable of producing a boy. She had
some very choice comments about my manhood.”
Christine sighed. “You don’t believe anything she says, do you?”
He pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “Not anymore. I used to think I had to prove something to my family, but now I think this is more important.”
He flicked his finger between Christine and the baby. He meant family. Their family. Their beautiful, little family.
“I would have been just as pleased by a girl,” he murmured.
“I know, me too.” She paused. “Let’s not let your grandmother too close to the baby, hmmm?” No need for all that maliciousness to rub off on their bubs.
“Luckily, she hates children.”
Christine leaned back against her husband, happily exhausted. They hadn’t spoken about the incident with Nora, and she didn’t really want to spoil the moment by bringing it up. She did trust, Harold. He was the best man and wolf she had ever met, and she was glad that almost a year ago now, she was pushed into mating him. It hadn’t felt like it at the time, but other than the bundle of cuteness in her arms, he was the best thing to ever happen to her.
They looked up, and Harold stiffened slightly as her family bubbled into the room. Her mother and youngest sister squealed and simpered over the baby, while her brothers and father kissed her and exchanged stiff greetings with Harold.
Her female relations fired questions at her while Christine beamed and answered.
“My goodness, he is large considering how early he is,” exclaimed her mother.
Harold stroked the baby’s head proudly. He had a ‘that’s my boy’ expression on his face.
“What happened? How come he came so freaking early?” asked Hannah.
“Hannah,” admonished their mother.
“What? Freaking isn’t cursing,” she pouted.
“I just had a small shock, is all,” said Christine. She looked up at Harold and smiled. “Harold’s assistant surprised me.”
Her mother shot an accusing look at her father. “Tell them,” she hissed.
“Tell us what?” demanded Harold, squeezing Christine’s shoulder.
Her father gave them a guilty look. “I thought you were unhappy,” he said hoarsely.
“Dad?” said Christine slowly.
He looked at Harold. “Your father said it was for the best.”