Desiring the Enemy

by Lavelle, Niecy

The doctor checked the monitor and frowned. He called the nurse to the side and Wade saw the concern on her face. He tried to be nonchalant as he walked over to the doctor, the last thing he wanted to do was worry Jenna.

  “What going on doctor?” he whispered.

  “Her blood pressure is dangerously high, and the baby is in some distress. We won’t be able to wait for her to deliver normally, we’ll need to perform a C-section immediately.”

  “Are their lives in danger?” Wade asked, the pallor on his face betraying his emotions.

  “If we don’t act quickly they will be. I’m going to contact the anesthesiologist and we’ll get her to the O.R. as soon as possible.”

  “Doc, please don’t let anything happen to them.” He had finally found her, he couldn’t lose her again.

  “We’ll do everything we can. The important thing is to get the baby out, once that’s done everything should go back to normal.”

  The doctor walked over to Jenna. He explained what was happening as Jenna’s eyes widened in fear.

  “Please doctor, save my baby.”

  Wade’s heart constricted as he heard her plead for the life of their child.

  “Let’s get you ready, the sooner you deliver the better.”

  Wade stood beside Jenna, holding her hand as the doctor explained the procedure. When the doctor walked away he kissed her hand.

  “Everything will be okay honey, you’re in good hands.” He tried to be reassuring, but he was scared to death.

  Jenna began to speak but a contraction forced her to scream instead.

  “Oh my God, the baby’s coming!”

  The nurse ran out to get the doctor as Wade tried to soothe her.

  The doctor went back in the room and examined her. “You’re ten centimeters dilated, and the baby’s crowning. You’re delivering right now.”

  When the doctor positioned himself before Jenna and asked her to push she had Carol holding one hand and Wade holding the other, encouraging her to be strong. It didn’t take much pushing and at last, after one final push, the doctor pulled the baby out. Jenna, Wade and Carol waited to hear the baby’s first cry, but none was heard.

  “What’s wrong, why isn’t it crying?” Jenna cried out.

  Finally they heard the most wonderful wail as their baby took its first breath.

  “It’s a boy, and he has some set of lungs,” the doctor said as their son cried in protest.

  “Thank you God,” Jenna cried, looking up to the heavens.

  The doctor handed Jenna the baby and Wade saw through his own tears as his beloved took their son in her arms and cried tears of happiness.

  Jenna tenderly nestled her son close to her heart, at that moment she had eyes only for the beautiful child that she had been blessed with. She would think about the circumstances surrounding his entry into the world later. The nurse walked over to her and gently took the baby from her arms.

  “I’m sorry dear, but we need to take his measurements and clean him up.”

  Jenna reluctantly let him go. She finally looked at Wade, who had been quietly watching mother and child bond.

  “He’s beautiful,” he finally said, as tears sprang to his eyes again.

  “I know,” Jenna said, softly sobbing. The emotions finally took over and she let the tears flow. She was so thankful that he was alright, and at that moment that was enough, but soon the reality of her situation overwhelmed her. What would she do now? What kind of future awaited her and her child? At least when she thought Wade would have no place in their lives she felt like she could give him a stable life full of love, she would be mother and father to him. But now that Wade was back in the picture she had no idea what to expect, and she was terrified.

  “Please don’t cry baby,” Wade said as he cradled her in his arms. He wanted to say more but just then the doctor came over and asked him to leave the room while he examined Jenna.

  “I’ll be right outside if you need me,” he said as he left the room.

  ***

  Carol was outside the room when he walked out.

  “I don’t know what your story is, or why you’re here, but Jenna has become very important to us, and we won’t see her get hurt, again,” she said pointedly.

  “I don’t want to hurt her, I love her.” Wade didn’t know why but it was important to him that she understand this.

  “That’s not what I heard from Jenna, and I have no reason to doubt her word.”

  “I was awful to her, you’re right, but it was due to a terrible misunderstanding. As soon as I can talk to her in private I’m going to explain everything, and hopefully she’ll forgive me,” Wade said, a pained expression etching his face.

  Carol looked at him, and in spite of her misgivings decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. The man she had seen at the diner was a broken man, there was no doubt about that. Maybe he had come to make amends.

  They paced for a while as they waited for the doctor to give them the okay to go back in. When he finally came out they went in just as a bassinet was being wheeled in.

  “Oh Jenna, he’s perfect. Look at those blue eyes,” Carol said. She looked at Wade and realized they were his eyes.

  “Thank you. I can’t believe he’s finally here,” Jenna said, looking adoringly at the little bundle before her.

  “Have you decided on a name?”

  “Not yet, I have to get to know him a bit. This name will be with him for the rest of his life, it has to fit,” Jenna said, looking lovingly at her baby boy.

  “You’re right about that.” Carol looked at the clock hanging over the door, “Listen sweetheart, I’m sorry I have to leave, but I have to go back to work. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, okay?” Carol said apologetically.

  “Of course. Thank you so much for being here for me, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

  Wade cringed at the thought of Jenna going through her entire pregnancy alone, without loved ones around her. He was glad that she had found friends to help her.

  Carol walked out the door and Wade saw his opportunity to talk Jenna. Just as he was about to explain what had happened the lady he had seen at the house came into the room.

  “Hi honey, didn’t I tell ya it was a boy?” Midge said proudly.

  “Hi Midge. You guessed right,” Jenna said, smiling.

  Midge walked over to the bassinet and oohed and aahed when she saw the baby lying there so peacefully.

  “What a sweet baby, congratulations sweetie.”

  “Thank you. I can’t believe I’m a mom,” she said, before remembering that Wade was in the room. What did he think of the fact that he was a father? Jenna was sure that this was the last thing he had expected when he set out to find her. Why, she wondered, had he wanted to find her? What did he want?

  Midge looked at Wade, then looked back at Jenna.

  “Are ya okay? Do ya need anything?” she asked Jenna, as she looked suspiciously at Wade.

  “I’m fine,” Jenna answered, giving her a look that said everything was okay.

  “Ya let me know if ya need any help at all, ya hear? I can have Bubba here in five minutes, if ya know what I mean.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll let you know if I need help,” Jenna said, smiling at hearing the very thinly veiled threat.

  Midge seemed satisfied with her response and sat down. She stayed for a while then said her goodbyes.

  “Do ya know when yer going home?” she asked.

  “Probably a couple of days, that seems to be the norm.”

  “I’ll come see ya tomorrow then,” Midge said, planting a kiss on her forehead.

  “Thank you for everything,” Jenna said, remembering all the support she had received from her new friends.

  “Don’t mention it.” Midge looked at the baby one more time before she walked out. “Beautiful, simply beautiful.”

  Wade watched her leave the room and thought he could now talk to Jenna. Again he was interrupted before he could begin.

>   “Hey Jenna. I brought you some magazines,” Corbin said, handing her a small stack.

  Wade looked at him, not hiding his distaste. He saw the camaraderie between Corbin and Jenna and couldn’t help the feeling of jealousy that crept up inside him. Who was this man? He seemed to be important to Jenna, was he a friend or a lover?

  Corbin made himself at home, showing no intention of leaving. When he finally did leave another visitor came into the room. Between the nurse interruptions and the visitors Wade didn’t find a chance to speak to Jenna. He finally decided to wait until she was home before speaking to her, what he had to say was too important to be interrupted.

  He visited her the next day, trying to make himself useful, but Jenna didn’t need his help, she had her friends there for her. He felt like a third wheel but refused to leave. He knew Jenna was wondering what he wanted, and he couldn’t wait to tell her, but he needed to wait for the right time.

  ***

  Jenna watched as Wade summoned one of the nurses to help her go to the bathroom. He had been so attentive since he had gotten to the hospital. What was his story? After the way he had treated her before she left the ranch she would’ve thought he would want nothing to do with her. What made him look for her in the first place? It wasn’t the baby, he knew nothing about him. So what was it?

  She was exhausted. Having a baby was draining enough, but dealing with Wade made her doubly tired.

  “Wade, I need to get some rest, can you please leave?” she finally said.

  “I’m sorry. Sure, I’ll leave. You get some rest. I’ll come by tomorrow to take you home.”

  “You don’t need to do that, Corbin is driving me home.” Corbin would be off the next day and had graciously offered to take her home.

  At the mention of his name Wade felt the anger rise in him.

  “Is he your lover Jenna?” he said, color rising to his face.

  “Of course you would think that, I’m no more than a whore who’ll sleep with anyone according to you!” Jenna said, remembering his hurtful words.

  “No Jenna, I don’t think that. It’s just that when I first got here you told me he was the baby’s father, then he was the one you wanted with you when you came to the hospital. What am I supposed to think?”

  “To tell you the truth, I don’t give a crap what you think! It’s none of your business who I’m involved with!” Jenna felt herself getting angrier the more she thought about it. What a nerve he had, thinking that he had any rights when it came to her.

  Wade saw that she was getting upset and decided to drop the subject. He would talk to her tomorrow.

  “Okay Jenna, I’m sorry. Corbin can take you home, but I’ll see you as soon as you get there. We have to talk.”

  Jenna knew he wanted to talk about his rights when it came to the baby, and it frightened her.

  “Okay, we’ll talk tomorrow,” she finally said.

  Chapter eighteen

  Corbin drove Jenna’s car to the hospital to pick them up. She had already installed a car seat and she gently placed the baby inside, strapping him gingerly. Per Jenna’s request Corbin drove slowly as she admired her perfect son. When they got to the house she unsnapped the carrier and walked in, carefully removing the baby from the seat and laying him on the bassinet by her bed.

  “Thank you so much for driving me Corbin, you’re such a good friend,” she said when she walked back into the kitchen.

  “That’s me, your good ole friend,” Corbin said wryly.

  Jenna wished she could feel for Corbin what she felt for Wade, he was so much more deserving of her love. She couldn’t control her heart, but she could control her actions. When she saw Wade again she would tell him in no uncertain terms that he could not be a part of their lives. He could see the baby when he came to visit, which hopefully would be rarely, but he would have nothing to do with raising him. She hoped with all her heart that he would just accept this and go, but she knew him too well. He would put up a fight, and she would have to meet him head on.

  ***

  Wade went to the diner and nursed his coffee as he waited for Jenna to get home, ignoring the hostile stares he was getting from the staff and some of the customers. He saw that Carol wasn’t there and thought that she might be helping Jenna get ready to head home from the hospital. After a while he looked at his watch and figured she must be there by now. He paid the bill and headed toward the bungalow.

  As he approached the house he saw Corbin driving away. The man seemed to be a big part of her life and he had to wonder what feelings Jenna had for him. The thought of another man loving her killed him inside, but after the way he had treated her he could understand her finding solace in another man’s arms. He tried to put the thought out of his mind as he reached the door. He rang the buzzer and Jenna opened the door, the sight of her again making his heart skip a beat. This was the woman he loved, and he would do anything to get her back.

  “Come in,” Jenna said, stepping back as he entered the room.

  She closed the door behind her and he followed her to the living room.

  “Jenna, I need to explain…” he began.

  “You did enough explaining back at the ranch, I know exactly how you feel about me. I’m assuming you’re here to talk about the baby.”

  “Jenna, I know my treatment of you was loathsome, but I need for you to understand the reason I did it.”

  “What possible reason could you have for calling me a whore? Just because I slept with you? Well you can be sure that will never happen again!”

  “No honey, that wasn’t the reason. I know there’s no excuse but you have to hear me out.”

  “Wade, I’m tired, I don’t want to sit here and listen to your banal excuses. What happened? Did Stanley and Rose force you to come apologize to me?”

  “No Jenna. The reason I was so terrible to you was that I was under the impression that you were Uncle Stanley’s mistress.”

  “What!? That’s just sick, Stanley’s like a father to me!” Jenna couldn’t believe her ears.

  “If you will just listen, I’ll try to explain what brought me to that conclusion.”

  Jenna crossed her arms across her chest. “Okay, explain.”

  Wade told her about the phone call Uncle Stanley had made to him. How due to a bad connection he had heard only parts of what Uncle Stanley had said, and how he had concluded that he was having an affair with her.

  “I tried to fight my attraction to you, but failed miserably. My body wanted you and I couldn’t stop myself. When you told me that the relationship was over I assumed it was your relationship with Uncle Stanley. I finally allowed myself to pursue you, and I was the happiest man alive. For the first time I knew what real love was.” He swallowed hard as he continued. “Then that one day I came home and heard you telling him that you loved him and missed him, that you couldn’t wait to see him. I thought that you had lied to me, that you never broke up with him. I became enraged and wanted to hurt you. I’m so sorry,” he took his head in his hands as the tears streamed down his face.

  “Wade, that day my world fell apart. I watched as the man I loved looked at me as if I were trash. You’ll never know how much you hurt me, I don’t think I could ever forgive you for that.”

  “Jenna, please give me a chance. I promise you that I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you,” Wade said, going down on one knee by her side, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips.

  Jenna looked down at him, her mind racing. For so many months she had tried to make herself hate him, to cast him off as another mistake in her life, but seeing him now she knew that hating him was impossible. Still, how could she just forget those hateful words?

  “Wade, a lot has happened in the past few days. I can’t think clearly now, I need time.”

  “Okay, I understand sweetheart. I’ll leave and give you some time to think, but first, can I go see my son?”

  “Of course you can. He is your son, and I want you to know that w
hatever happens you can come see him whenever you want.” As much as Jenna despised what he had done to her, she did realize that a boy needed his father. Having a relationship with him would be important in his life, even if it was a long distance relationship.

  Wade didn’t want to just come see him, he wanted them to be a family. He would give Jenna some time to think, but anything less than them living as a family was inconceivable to him. Still, the final decision rested with Jenna, and he would abide by it, he had hurt her enough to now fight her.

  ***

  Wade had called Stanley and Rose and explained the situation. They were relieved to hear that Jenna was okay, and ecstatic about the baby.

  “I’m so happy you’re finally together,” Aunt Rose sniffled.

  “We’re not together, Jenna hasn’t made a decision about us yet. She’s been hurt so much in her life, Aunt Rose, I don’t know that she can forgive me.”

  Rose heard the anguish in his voice and her heart ached for him, and for Jenna.

  “You can’t give up, honey. I’m sure that once she has time to digest what has happened she’ll make the right decision.”

  “You can’t be a quitter, my boy,” Uncle Stanley admonished from the extension. “We Wilkinsons fight for what’s ours, and Jenna is yours just like you’re hers, you just have to make her see that.”

  “I hope I can,” Wade said softly.

  “I know you can, son. Now go fight for your woman,” Uncle Stanley said as he hung up the phone.

  Stanley looked at Rose with a furrowed brow.

  “Darlin’, I think we need to pay our Jenna a visit.”

  “I’m right with you, those kids need our help. I’ll go start packing,” Rose said as she started up the stairs.

  ***

  Jenna hadn’t been able to sleep for the past two days. Wade had given her space, allowing her to come to a decision without interference from him, but she was so confused. She decided to try to take a nap when she heard a loud rap on the door.

  “Stanley, can’t you ring the doorbell like normal folk?”

  She heard Rose’s voice and flew to the door.

  “Rose, Stanley, I’m so happy to see you! I’ve missed you so much,” she said, enveloping them both in her arms.