by Mia Ford
“Well, you just have to prove to them you’re more than just money Thomas. I know you can. You are smart and if this company can’t see that you need to leave them or start your own.”
“You give me far too much credit, doll.” He has a shy smile as she takes a sip of water.
“No, Thomas. You don’t give yourself enough.”
I believe the words I’m saying. I think he is smart and while we started this journey to save his inheritance, I truly believe he could make his own way and be just as successful. Now if I can just get him to believe it.
Chapter Fifteen: Thomas
“She’s pregnant!” I tell Mason when I show up unannounced after work.
“You sound excited about this. Is this a good thing, man?”
“Yes, you see I didn’t tell you. My dad is giving away all his wealth. I had to have an heir or he wasn’t going to give me anything to get by. I told him to stick it, but then my mother brought up Dinah not having anything.”
“Dude, this is a terrible idea. She’s going to fall for you and sue you for I don’t know everything.”
“I’m paying her,” I tell him thinking somehow that makes it better.
“Wow, this is just. I can’t believe you’re paying someone to have your baby.”
“I know, but I’m excited too. I’m going to be a dad. Sophia is going to be such a great mother.”
“Are you sure, you haven’t fallen for her?” Mason asks walking to the fridge and grabbing me a beer.
“Yes, I’m sure. She’s cool with the arrangement.”
“It’s not like she’s pretending to be your lover. She’s having your baby. That’s a big deal dude.”
“I’m not taking this lightly,” I say, “I realize it sounds like it’s just a throwaway thing, but I am taking this seriously. Both of us are committed to making sure the baby has a good life.”
“Are you though? You don’t see it right now, but when he’s fifteen or sixteen and wants to know why his parents aren’t together you aren’t going to tell him the truth.”
“Of course, we are,” I argue, but I don’t know if we truly will. Now he’s put some doubt in my mind that I might not be doing the right thing. I don’t think I’ve been thinking of how the child is going to be affected.
My phone rings and I see Julia is calling me. I’d noticed she’d been avoiding me so to see her calling is a bit of a shock. She’d been out of town the month after she talked to Sophia in the lobby at work. This month she’d made a point of not being around.
“I’ve been waiting for this phone call,” I tell Mason showing him the screen.
He raises his eyebrows and nods going to sit in his chair to watch the show.
“Julia my oldest friend,” I start knowing this is not going to be a nice conversation.
“Yes, and as your oldest friend, I want to ask what the hell you think you’re doing. A baby Thomas? Your mother doesn’t even trust you to watch her dogs.”
She’s hitting below the belt, isn’t she? It doesn’t bother me, but in our many years of friendship, I’ve never heard her talk like this.
“Let me just stop you right there. As someone who I thought knew me better than anyone, it’s insane for me to think you’d say what you did. I would never make someone get rid of my child for my image or any other reason.”
“I never said that, Thomas.”
“Yes, you did. You’re someone I’ve always trusted Julia, and now you’ve lost that trust. Lose my number.”
I hang up as she’s saying, “You’ll regret this Thomas, I promise you.”
Mason shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing, man. I’ve always thought Julia was hot, but she sounds insane.”
“I don’t know, it’s like her jealousy has made her a different person. Those things she said are unforgivable. Burning bridges and creating new ones.”
I do feel very protective of Sophia and if Julia even thinks her way I’ll put a stop to it. It’s Sunday and tomorrow I have a meeting that will last all day followed by dinner with my parents. Sophia is going to meet us at the restaurant. It’s been almost two months since Julia broke the news to them that Sophia was going to have a baby.
She was so vindictive she didn’t even give us the opportunity. We’d planned on waiting until we were further along, to make sure everything was okay. Sophia hadn’t wanted me to go to the first ultrasound with her, but I did. There had been paparazzi outside the doctor’s office so the rumor mill had been spinning on all the press outlets. The first visit was just to see if she was truly pregnant and she was. The next one will be after three months to hear the heartbeat.
The meeting goes a little better. The partners listen to my ideas although deep down I think they’re appeasing me to get my money. Neither has apologized for the awkward encounter with Mrs. Bernard, but they did give me the go-ahead to start fundraising for the theater.
Sophia has still been extremely encouraging which I’m happy for. She feels like I can do anything and it makes me feel like it’s true, at least when I’m with her. I call her to make sure she knows where we’re going to dinner. It’s a place my mother likes. My father has been trying to appease her as much as possible while his lawyers go through the best ways to distribute his wealth. He’s already given away a lot according to my mother.
I’ve seen some things in the paper. He gave a lot of money to the hospital which was great and then he turned around and gave a bunch of money to a miniatures enthusiast’s club.
“I just love that they make everything little. It’s like you can own a whole world of mini things.”
Of course, my father doesn’t own any miniatures so it seemed like a strange choice to give charitable donations to. I show up to the restaurant at around fifteen til six and wait outside for Sophia.
“Hey Thomas, is Sophia meeting you here? When are you guys getting married.” The first photographer starts as he snaps pictures.
I try to just ignore them while I stand and wait.
“There’s a rumor she’s pregnant Thomas. Are you going to be a daddy soon?”
I still don’t say anything. I see Sophia drive up and find a parking spot on the street. She’s refused so far to let me get her a new car, but that will be the next thing I get her to give up. I swear that pile of metal could break down any minute.
The photographers don’t notice her at first but when she starts walking towards me they catch on.
“Sophia you look gorgeous tonight. Sophia where’s your dress from.”
She’s gotten pretty good at ignoring them too. The apartment we’ve moved into is gated like my parent’s house so she doesn’t have to worry about them bothering her while she’s at home. I’ve been letting her deal with the movers and decorators and asked her to take responsibility for them when she’s not working.
Another thing I can’t control is she still works at the bar. I don’t want her to think I’m trying to control her life, but I wish she’d work in a safer environment.
“Ready for this?” I ask as I let my hand fall to the small of her back and guide her inside. My parents are already seated so it’s a matter of being led to our table.
“Hello dear,” my mother overdressed in a black cocktail dress and a headband that borders on tiara stands to hug me.
“Hello, mom, dad. How are you two camping enthusiasts this evening?”
Dad says, “Great,” as my mother says, “not drunk enough.”
My father ignores her, “Sophia darling, you’re practically glowing.”
“Thank you,” she says and I look at her to see she is indeed glowing.
“Just beautiful,” I tell her squeezing her hand. She looks into my eyes and I think I catch a moment of something I’ve not seen before, but it’s gone before I can tell what it is.
“I’ve been a little out of sorts because Julia hasn’t been around to watch the dogs. I think they feel lonely.” I try to think of a response that will sound like I care, but I really don
’t.
“She was a,” I start to tell her exactly what I think when I feel Sophia grab my leg and squeeze.
“A bit busy. I’m sure she misses Mintzy and Pepper a lot.”
I don’t question why she interrupted. One look at mother beaming with pride and I know. She loves those dogs much more than her family.
“What about names. Clearly, you’re going to name him Thomas if it’s a boy, but I quite like Gloria if it’s a girl.” Mother says looking at Sophia.
“We haven’t actually discussed names, Mrs. Henry. I like Gloria but I’m just not sure about that for my little girl.”
“It’s her name, Sophia. Mother, we are not naming our child after you.” I tell her pointedly.
“Okay well what about Ophelia? It’s a nice name, sophisticated. Will go well with Gloria in the middle.” She shrugs and takes a sip of wine. Ophelia was her mother’s name.
Sophia looks at me with a look that says over my dead body and I chuckle.
“Like I said we’ll talk about it and let you know what we come up with.”
The rest of the dinner goes the same. My mother makes suggestions for the baby that Sophia politely smiles at. None of them are good suggestions. I’m impressed with how patient she is especially when my mother tells her she wants to be in the room when her grandchild makes its appearance.
“We are going to discuss our birth plan once we get closer to the due date. At this point it’s just me and Thomas in the room,” Sophia says smiling at me. I feel a little chill go through me as I think of being by her side as she delivers my baby.
“That’s just ridiculous. Doesn’t your mother want to be in the room?”
“I’m going to visit my mother once we find out what we’re having and tell her. She doesn’t know we’re pregnant yet.” My mother gives her a look that I can’t quite read.
“You wouldn’t have either,” I say, “If Julia hadn’t told you.”
“Is that why you aren’t speaking to her?” My mother loves to be in the middle of all the gossip.
“Among other things,” I say.
My father starts talking about miniatures and promises Sophia if it’s a girl he’ll have some custom doll house pieces made for her. I sip my drink and watch my mother’s face. If she suspects anything with Sophia and me, she isn’t showing it.
As we part from my parents I walk her to the car. “See you at home,” I smile and love how right it sounds to say that to her.
“See you at home,” she says and gets into her car as I yell at the photographers to back up and let her drive out.
“It’s nice to hear her say that. It’s nice we’re going to the same place. Everyday that passes I enjoy spending time with her more.
Chapter Sixteen: Sophia
We find out the sex today, I’m more than excited. I can’t wait to determine if there’s a little Thomas or a little Sophia inside. I’m a little over four months pregnant now and still not even really showing. I feel like I’m going to be one of those women that pops out at the last minute and looks huge. I am so excited to start picking out nursery colors and little clothes once I know what I’m having. There will be lots of things monogrammed with his or her initials.
Also, it’s my second day at the office. Thomas was happy to help me find a job when I told him the bar made me nervous now. Something about being pregnant didn’t make me want to wink at guys and break up girl fights all night. He got me a job working for a school friend of his as a security. She went out on maternity leave and would return when I was getting ready to go out. It was perfect.
When I walk into work on my second day there’s a strange feeling in the room. Everyone appears to be looking at me. When I get to my desk, my phone beeps and I see a text from Gina. There’s a link to an article that says Soap Heiress Opens Up About Her Bestie Thomas Henry and the Gold-digger He’s Knocked UP.
I didn’t know Julia was a soap heiress, but there’s no way this isn’t her. My heart starts to race and I start breathing heavily. What did she say about me? I’ve been lucky in my life I’ve never really had toxic relationships with other women. I’ve pretty much steered clear of having female friends my whole life, but I have a feeling this could get nasty.
I start to read. Julia Sugarman an heiress to her father’s company Happy Beauty is coming out to talk about her concern over Thomas Henry’s new woman. The reality star’s girlfriend is six months pregnant and Julia thinks it was a fluke. She says Sophia wasn’t even on the radar until Thomas’s father started talking about cutting him out of the inheritance if he didn’t produce an heir. Sugarman says she believes the relationship will end shortly after the baby is born and that it will all have been for nothing.
There’s a video attached to the article. I anxiously hit play and see a guy walking outside a large building that looks like a cathedral.
A reporter was able to talk to Thomas’s fourteen-year-old sister who had this to say, “my brother doesn’t get into relationships lightly. Julia has always wanted it to be her. I think he cares for this woman and I can’t wait to meet her.”
My heartstrings felt tugged at Dinah’s honest response. I hadn’t thought of how all these crazy news stories probably reached her and she had to deal.
My phone is ringing and I stop reading.
“They went after my sister Soph, I’m going to kill Julia. What is her problem?” I haven’t heard him sound so distraught before. The love he has for Dinah warms my heart.
“I know Thomas. She didn’t seem too bothered by it. What a great kid.”
“I’m coming to get you for this appointment, I don’t want you to get hurt or feel uncomfortable. I don’t know if they know where you work, but I’m guessing they do.”
“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
My co-workers are looking at me. Luckily my boss is behind a closed door but there are two other secretaries and a financial manager I share the office space with.
“We’re going to find out if it’s a boy or a girl today,” I tell them smiling.
The chorus of oohs and ahs replaces my anxiety as they all break into questions about names and what sex I prefer. Healthy, of course, isn’t that always the answer? I picture a little Thomas Henry with a suit and tie. The image just pops into my head. I shake it free.
I want a healthy baby, I think again, boy or girl.
Thomas wasn’t kidding about the press. Our appointment is at one thirty and when I walk out at one I am swarmed by cameramen. Some of them are their usual nice selves.
“You look lovely Sophia, how do you like the new job. Over here Sophia, look at me please.”
Then there are some that aren’t being polite at all.
“Gold-digger. How could you do this to Thomas, he loves you. This baby is an abomination.”
I’m getting confused and light headed. They seem to be closing in on me from all sides. All I want to do is go back into the building and hide under my desk. Somewhere out of the fray Thomas reaches for me and pulls me into him protectively.
“What is wrong with you? She’s pregnant and you’re crowding her.”
“Is it true you’re losing your fortune and that’s why you and Sophia are having a baby?”
“I could lose all my fortune and as long as I have her and my baby I’ll be fine.”
“Sophia, do you believe that’s true?” One of them asks. I’ve put my head against Thomas and I’m not even trying to see them anymore as he guides me to the car.
“You guys have it all wrong. I love her. You’re insane, get away from her.” Thomas is frantic as he pulls me towards his car. I’m not surprised Julia has continued her attack on me, but this is getting ridiculous.
The things he’s saying are so nice and romantic. It’s really too bad they aren’t real.
We pull up to the clinic and I’m still so rattled I don’t want to get out. The cameramen have followed us of course, but not as many.
“Back off,” Thomas yells as he comes around to help me out. �
��Let us have our day. We’re finding out if it’s a girl or a boy.”
I feel safe as he guides me inside and we make it into the second set of double doors. The place is used to this kind of craziness. It’s a clinic one of the Kardashians had been to for her pre-pregnancy appointments. The lady at the front desk had told us that last time we were here.
“Going to find out what you’re having today!” The same lady squeals as we walk up to the front counter. Suddenly, I’m nervous. I can’t wait to know, but I’m scared to know. I think part of me realizes once we know, it’s going to be really real.
When we walk into the room and I lay down beside the machines I feel better. My hand goes to my stomach and I look over at Thomas. He’s smiling.
“There she is, look at her moving.” The technician says and points to the screen.
I watch and see some flashes on the screen. It isn’t until the wand moves up my belly and a profile comes into focus I understand what I’m looking at.
“That’s the face!” I exclaim and point to the screen.
“Yes, it is, now I’m going to move down and try to see the little privates. If the baby doesn’t have its legs crossed, we should be able to tell you what it is today.”
She pushes and moves the wand around on my belly the gel slipping around. I hold my breath as I see what looks like a little butt shining out at me.