I had gotten lucky and the school agreed to work with the after school program. We had decided to name it for the district which we resided in. It wouldn’t be linked to just that one district but rather it would be available to all children who needed it. I didn’t like the idea of the program only being for certain people. Not to go into race issues but the idea felt to segregation like for my comfort.
The painting of the interior had to be done and then it was ready for opening. I wasn’t sure if I’d be available to be there for the so called ribbon cutting but I’d be able to read it in the local papers and online if the baby came along at the same time of the opening.
Speaking of the baby, yesterday Blake and I had both been sitting on the couch when the baby moved and we could both see it. I had the thought of if I placed a small glass of water on my belly it would move like something out of that scene in Jurassic Park.
I looked over at Blake and said “It’s your fault.”
“Mine?” Blake asked. I could tell by his face he was both amused and yet so confused by this accusation of mine.
“You’re the one who provided the other half of the baby’s DNA.”
“I did, but you’re the one carrying her!”
“If men had to give birth the human population would drop dramatically.”
Blake raised an eyebrow, “Are you saying that the human race would go extinct?”
“No, but I think men would only go through the labor process once.”
Blake paused and pursed his lips, “There was a short story about that once. I forget the name but I remember the basic outline of the story.”
“That certainly escalated quickly,” I laughed.
“You started that one!”
I did enjoy exchanging banter with Blake like this. I didn’t know how many married or in love couples did this but it was fun. I suppose we all show our amusement and love in different ways.
It turns out the after school program did indeed open before the baby arrived. Technically it opened right before I had to be rushed to the hospital as the baby was now coming!
You never really do forget the doctor’s scientific announcement of “we need a mop in here” when your water breaks.
Why did I suspect something out of an old cartoon where someone walking in was to suddenly slip in it to some old sound effect? Maybe the Wilhelm Scream needed to be added for good measure.
When your body begins to start pushing a tiny body out of itself you begin to think of odd things. At least I did as my mind went to all the things that could happen to a woman when going through labor. Your mind has a funny way of doing things.
At first I had wanted to have a natural birth due to all the stories I had heard about the epidurals and the complications that could arise including a longer labor. By the time I wanted that epidural it was too late so it was a natural birth all the way.
Like my mother before me I screamed at my husband with each contraction. I even went as far as to tell him if he ever entered the same building as me they would never unearth his body.
Blake said nothing, which due to the circumstances, was probably a wise thing. I already had a death grip on his hand.
If it was true mothers would forget about the birthing process after the baby was born I welcomed that idea.
“You did this to me!” I screamed at Blake.
At the time I couldn’t tell if Blake was going to say something or if he was about to faint. Were all fathers to be like this or was it just him? Perhaps it was the threat or the sight of blood?
Birthing a child was not that clean and orderly experience we had all been told it was. The media lied to us! If I had known this was what went into it I might have decided not to go through with it.
When I heard the baby cry I had forgotten what I thought and felt in that instant. Before me now was a tiny baby…that was practically flipping us off. Clearly she was not happy about having been born.
“Well, that’s one that’s not for the baby book,” Blake said.
“Aunt said my Mom said I did the same during her ultrasound,” I told him before looking at the doctor and giving an order, “Give me my baby!”
The baby was average length, weight, and had a set of lungs on her. It would be amazing if the entire hospital couldn’t hear those little lungs screaming away.
“Now, the next one should be easier,” I said. “Ladies usually say the first birth is the longest and hardest.” I looked to Blake, “Why are you grinning like that?”
“I think our mothers were right in that mothers always forget the labor process after the baby is born.”
Blake and I had decided to name her Elizabeth Rose after both of our grandmothers.
She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen and in my opinion that was not just motherly bias talking. She was the most beautiful baby.
Between the after school program opening and the birth of Elizabeth Rose my life felt complete and perfect.
I never would have thought that someone from my middle class background could find and marry such a wonderful man and have such a beautiful child. Yet, it happened and life was perfect.
The Billionaire Cowboys Love
By Joanna Jacobs
Dedication
This book is dedicated to an amazing friend Kath, who has always believed in me and my writing. - Joanna
Blake Nathaniel wore his sunglasses as he made his way out of his personal jet. Blake was a 35-year-old billionaire who was born and brought up in Texas till his teenage years and currently lived in New York. He was an oil exporter, but his money wasn’t the only thing attractive about him. Instead, his manly features, muscular build, and green intense eyes with dark brown hair were the qualities that most women lusted for. He was also awarded to be the most desired billionaire bachelor of New York. Besides his money and good looks, his attitude is what helped him in being successful. Unlike other diplomatic business tycoons, Blake was an outspoken confident man who knew how to impress people. His stare alone was usually enough to make anyone shiver but his personality itself, was very interesting. Despite being too busy in his life, Blake made sure that he visited his hometown, Texas, from time to time. Similarly today, Blake was visiting the town where he grew up to meet his family.
“Sir you have a meeting after a week, will you be heading back to New York by then?” Blake’s assistant, George, asked as he followed Blake.
“Yes” Blake answered as he headed towards his car.
“Good evening sir” the driver held the car door open for Blake and greeted him.
“Good evening” Blake greeted in a rush, as he quickly sat in his car.
“Sir?” George looked at his boss once he sat in the car.
“Yes?”
“I have been working for you since many years, I don’t understand why a billionaire like you, takes out time from his busy schedule just to visit this town?”
“George, you know how important this town is to me. It is where my roots are and I believe no matter how much a person gets successful, he should always stay in touch with his roots. It helps him stay grounded and aware of what is important.”
“And for you, this town is important?” George asked.
“Yes, because this is where my family is from.”
“Sir, but this time you rushed over here so unexpectedly, I mean you suddenly cancelled all the meetings to come over here.”
“Because I received a call from my mother earlier. She informed me that my father is unwell, which is why I needed to get over here quickly.”
“Oh” George spoke in a low voice.
The car finally came to a stop and Blake got off his car. The car was parked in front of a huge bungalow and a lady stood on the door with a welcoming smile.
“Jane!” Blake exclaimed and walked towards the lady. This lady had a sleek structure with beautiful green eyes and her golden whitish hairs were tied in a bun. Her face had wrinkles but her beauty was boundless.
“Blake�
� The lady smiled and walked towards Blake to hug him. They hugged and smiled.
“Oh I missed you my big boy” The lady smiled and looked at her son in admiration.
“I missed you too mother” Blake smiled as he spoke.
“Oh George, how are you?” Blake’s mother saw George standing behind Blake and greeted him in a friendly tone.
“I am well ma’am. How have you been?”
“I am well too “Jane smiled, turned her glare towards Blake and spoke, “Common lets head inside. Your father has been waiting for you”
Blake nodded and headed inside while his mother and George followed him.
“Dad?” Blake spoke in a sad voice as he entered the room.
The room was huge and was furnished with cream-colored furniture. In the middle of the room, a king size bed was in place where an old man was laying and resting. Besides the bed, there was a drip stand with a drip line connected to the man. The room looked bright as it was lighted by the sunlight coming in from the glass window.
“Hey son” Blake’s father, named Mathew looked at Blake and could barely smile.
“How are you, you don’t look well at all” Blake spoke in concern as he sat beside his father.
“Nonsense, who said so? I am healthy as a horse” The man tried to sit straight as he spoke.
“Yes, an old horse” Blake spoke as he quickly approached his father and stopped him from sitting straight by politely holding his shoulder.
“You and your mother worry too much really, I am fine Blake”
“You are not fine, you fainted yesterday Mathew”. Jane spoke in a livid tone, while approaching his bed.
“Honey, I am fine. You didn’t need to worry and I know you are the one who must have told Blake to come all the way here.”
“Yes of course. I called him and told him about your condition.”
“But you didn’t need to do that.” Mathew spoke politely to his wife.
“Dad, I am your son. I have every right to be here. I am glad about mom calling me and telling me about your health.”
“But Blake, what about your business?”
“Leave that worry to me sir. I will take care of that while Mr. Blake gets to spend time with you” George spoke in a friendly manner.
“Thank you George, glad to see that you are still standing by my son’s side.”
George and Mathew nodded and exchanged smiles.
“Besides, I needed someone to handle you since I cannot do that alone. I know Blake and Sara are the only two people who can handle you” Jane spoke as he teased her husband.
“Wait, who is Sara?” Blake asked with a confused look.
CHAPTER 2
“I am.” A lady spoke as she entered the room and stood besides the door. Everyone turned and looked at her. Sara had a tall and slim structure with long dark hair and luscious pink lips that matched well with her dark hazel colored intense eyes and caramel skin. All in all, she was a total beauty.
“Blake, this is Sara Cameron, she is your fathers nurse. And Sara this is my son, Blake and his assistant George” Jane introduced.
“Oh hello.” Sara walked gracefully towards Blake and offered him a hand shake. “I have heard a lot about you from your mother.” Sara’s voice was as delightful as crimson.
Blake stood frozen looking at the beautiful lady standing in front of him.
“Umm Blake, you are staring at the nice lady” Blake’s mother spoke in a low embarrassed voice.
“Oh I am sorry. Hello.” Blake stopped staring and shook hands with Sara.
When Blake did not let go off Sara’s hand for a while and continued to stare, she politely said, “I need to change your father’s drip.”
“Go on.”
“Well I sort of need my hand for that.”
“Of course” Blake blushed a little and quickly let go off her hand.
She changed the drip while everyone stood silently in the room.
“Mr. Mathew you are now going to feel sleepy so you need to rest all right?” Sara instructed.
“But I need to talk to my son.”
“That can wait dad, I am staying here for a long time don’t worry” Blake assured.
“Well, all right.” Mathew agreed.
“I hope nobody minds, but all of you need to leave the room. The patient needs rest now.” Sara spoke with a smile.
“Sure Sara, common Blake let’s get you settled in.” Jane spoke and headed out the room.
As everyone walked out of the room, Blake said, “George cancel that meeting which you were talking about. The one that is after a week.”
“Do you plan to extend your stay sir?”
“Yes absolutely. So just cancel all my meetings until my further instruction.”
“Sure sir.”
CHAPTER 3
Blake tried to rest in his room but thoughts about Sara kept him awake and all he could think about was her beauty. Because he felt anxious to meet the lady again he got out of his room and went downstairs to check if she was still around. As he entered the kitchen, he ran into his mother who was telling the servants about what to cook for dinner.
“How about some ribs? I am sure Blake loves to eat that and…” Blake’s mother was giving instructions when Blake interrupted.
“Yes, I love to have ribs.”
“Hey Blake, I thought you slept” she walked towards Blake as he sat down on a chair.
“No I couldn’t sleep.”
“Oh is something wrong?” Jane questioned in a concerned manner.
“No no, it’s nothing at all. I will sleep later on. By the way, where’s that Sara lady? I mean is she still looking after dad?”
“No your dad is resting now. Sara must be out, at the back.”
“What is she doing there?”
“I don’t know, let’s go and see.”
Blake and his mother walked towards the back door and headed out. As they stood on their back porch, they could see Sara putting up wet clothes on a string in the backyard.
“Why is she hanging up cloths? I thought she is a nurse” Blake asked as he looked at the beautiful lady who did not even notice them standing on the porch as she continued with her task.
“Yes. She is your father’s personal nurse but she helps around the house in different chores.”
“Mom, you have servants for that.”
“I know and I insist her not to perform all these extra tasks but she is an amazing lady and loves working around the house when your father is resting.”
“Oh.”
“Yea, she spends almost the entire day taking care of your father but whenever she is free for even a while, she does not like sitting idle which is why she does small chores around the house. Besides that, she is a good nurse, and takes really good care of Mathew. In a nutshell, she has been a great help really.”
“You say she spends her entire day here?”
“Yes mostly, why?”
“Doesn’t her husband mind that?”
“Husband? Oh no, she isn’t married. In fact, I think she doesn’t even have a boy friend. As far as I know about her, she isn’t the sort of a woman who needs a man in her life to survive.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, I will just check on your father and be right back” Jane excused Blake and headed back inside. Meanwhile, Blake gazed at Sara, who was still unaware that Blake was gazing at her.
“So you are an independent sort of a woman who doesn’t need a man in her life. Hmm, let’s find out more about that” Blake thought and headed inside the house too.
“George?” Blake looked at his assistant who was eating in the dining room.
“Yes sir?” George stood up in respect.
“George I have a task for you, I need you to find information about Sara”
“Sara? You mean your father’s nurse?”
“Yes. Find out everything about her that you can, all right?”
“Right away sir.”
“Thank you.” Blak
e turned to walk away but stopped and spoke in a friendly manner, “and oh George, you can do this task after you are done with your meal.”
“Thank you sir” George smiled and settled down.
CHAPTER 4
Next morning, Blake was still in bed when George knocked on his door.
“Sir may I come in?”
“Yes” Blake spoke in a drowsy voice.
“Sir you have an important call from New York.” George spoke in a haste as he held a phone in his hand and stood in front of Blake.
“Can’t you tell them to wait or call later?”
“Sorry, it’s an urgent call sir,”
Blake laid out his hand without further argument and took the phone from George.
“I will be waiting outside” George headed out of the room.
After a while, as Blake continued to speak on the phone, Sara entered his room without knocking.
“Excuse me?” Sara spoke in a soft voice.
Blake turned and looked at her. He was shocked and delighted to see her standing in his room.
“Yes?”
“I am sorry to disturb you but breakfast is served and your parents are waiting for you downstairs.”
“I don’t need breakfast yet. I am busy, tell them to continue eating without me.”
“I am sorry but I really think your parents would like you to join them for breakfast and I don’t think you should disappoint them.” Sara spoke confidently.
“But as you can see, I am on a very important business call.” Blake pointed at the phone in his hands.
The Alpha Billionaire's Unexpected Baby: A Billionaire BWWM Pregnancy Romance Page 44