by Rachel Burns
“Eve, you were amazing. I loved the play, and you were wonderful in it.”
Eve hadn’t expected to see him again. At least, she didn’t expect to see him here. “Thank you.” She turned away from him and signed autographs for other fans.
“I’ll take you home, darling.”
“No, thank you. I know the way.” She wanted to blow him off.
“I’m not trying to insult you. I just think that we need to talk.”
“Why? You don’t even remember me.”
“Yes, I do. I remember meeting you now. I was out with my friends, and I told them that you were the one for me.”
Eve’s jaw dropped. “And then you never called again.”
“I swear I would have if I’d remembered you sooner. As a joke, they gave me something to drink to make me forget the evening. They were upset that I was spending my time looking at you and not talking to them. We only see each other twice a year, and they took it personally. So they wanted to punish me.”
“You seriously expect me to believe that crap?”
“Yes, because it’s true. I talked to my friends, and they feel terrible about everything. They’ll tell you the truth.”
“Your friends who supposedly drugged you are your witnesses? How stupid do you think I am? Why can’t you just admit that you’re a jerk who sleeps with so many women that you see them as meat and not as real people?
“I don’t understand why you care any way. I’ll sue you for child support when the baby is born. You won’t hear from me until then. You’re off the hook until then.” Eve laid her hand over her tummy. She felt dizzy and a little sick. This had been too much for her.
“Are you all right, Eve?” Joshua laid his arm around her. He flagged down a cab and gave the driver his home address.
“I’m taking you to the doctor’s.”
“You can’t. It’s after midnight. I don’t have a job anymore. I can’t afford to go to the doctor.”
“You don’t have any insurance?”
“That was the last night. Usually, I’d have my next role lined up but –”
“But then I came along,” he finished her sentence.
“I’m tired. That’s all. Let go of me, so I can go home and sleep.”
Joshua ignored her protests. “A doctor lives in my building. I’ll explain, and if any costs arise, I’ll pay them.”
“No, you won’t. You already proved that I can’t trust you.”
Her words hurt him, mostly because they were true. He’d let her down.
Would he have called her if he’d remembered her?
Were his friends right when they thought that he deserved to be treated like this?
The thing was Eve deserved better. That meant that he had to be better and improve himself for her.
Chapter 13
Sebastian woke up and rubbed his eyes. Someone was knocking at their door.
He glanced at the clock and saw that it was three in the morning. That could only mean that it was an emergency. Usually, his cell woke him when there was an emergency.
Carefully, he pulled his arm out from under his wife’s warm body. “I have to go to work,” he told her, fearing that she’d wake up alone and not know where he was. He didn’t want her to get scared.
“Okay, I’ll be right here.” Robin smiled at him for a second, and then she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
Thanks to Sebastian she’d been able to find the balance she needed in life. She was a power-woman by day and his little girl by night. He made sure that she never worked too long or got too overwhelmed by her work. When they found out that they were expecting their first child, she told him she didn’t want to give up her job. She loved it. He immediately told her he’d work part-time, so he was home with the baby, and she could continue to do what she loved.
“That’s perfect,” Sebastian told her before he gave her a kiss and went to the door. He wasn’t surprised to see Mr. Johnson at the door.
“There’s a bit of an emergency, Doctor.”
“Do I have time to get dressed?”
“I don’t know. A woman in her second month is having abdominal pains. She’s an actress, and this evening was her last performance. She doesn’t have insurance.”
“I see.” He slipped into a pair of slippers and wrapped himself up in a bathrobe. “Is she already in my office?”
“No, sir. She’s across the hall in Mr. Anthony’s office.”
Sebastian had to grin. “Is he trying to sell her health insurance? Very clever,” Sebastian joked.
“No, he’s the father.”
“Oh, I see.”
Dr. Kennedy introduced himself and quickly checked Miss Temple to see if she was having a miscarriage. Thankfully, she wasn’t. However, it was obvious that she was upset.
Sebastian hooked her up to a machine to measure her heart rate, which was dangerously high. He did an ultrasound of the baby and was grateful to see that the baby was still alive.
“What we have here is a high risk pregnancy. I fear that any stress could cause you to lose the baby. The first three months are very risky. I need to see you once a week to make sure everything is as it should be.” Sebastian looked at Eve, who looked like she might be sick with worry. “I understand that you don’t have insurance, so I won’t charge you, but it would be better to get some as soon as possible in case you have to go to the hospital. It’s often the case that insurance companies won’t insure you when you’re already pregnant. You may have to shop around, or consult an expert.” Sebastian looked at Mr. Anthony, wondering what the story was.
“Really?” Eve’s heart rate went up immediately.
“No, no. You have to calm down,” Dr. Kennedy warned her.
Eve’s tummy started to clench up.
Joshua took hold of her face and smiled at her. “I’ll see to it that you get insurance. That’s what I do, remember?”
“No stress and complete bed rest for at least a week. She needs someone to take care of her,” the doctor warned Joshua.
“I’ll do that. That isn’t a problem,” Joshua promised.
“No, I’m moving out at the end of the month,” Eve protested. She certainly didn’t want to stay with a man who didn’t even know who slept with and who he didn’t.
“Please reconsider, Miss Temple. I fear that you’ll lose the baby if you try to do a large undertaking like that.” He gave her a kind smile. “I don’t want her to lift anything.” He looked at Joshua in the end.
“Oh, she won’t. She’ll be staying with me.”
“I can’t do that.” Eve shook her head. This doctor visit was scaring her.
“Yes, you can, and you will for the sake of our child. There are only two ways you can get insurance. Either you marry me.” He let that hang in the air. “Or you let me employ you. Which will it be?”
“Employ me to do what?” she asked.
“I’ll employ you to be my little girl companion. I’ll feed you, wash you and dress you.”
“What?”
“See it as a role. I’ll employ you to let me take care of you.” Joshua looked at Dr. Kennedy for support.
Dr. Kennedy nodded along with a grin on his face. Being a little, well cared for little girl was exactly what Miss Temple needed. “Of course the role of wife is the role of a lifetime, but if you don’t feel up to it, the role of little girl is a good starting position. You could work your way up to the role of wife that way.”
Joshua knew that Dr. Kennedy and his wife had a similar lifestyle. His wife was often a demanding little girl who acted like a twelve-year-old.
A few other families in the building also had unique marriages that went in that direction. For example, Marcy and Todd also had such a relationship. Marcy’s age changed depending on her mood and Todd went with the flow, whereas Gina and Alexander had clear lines. Gina was a baby who still needed diapers, and Alexander took care of her every need. They’d be having a baby any day now. She was overdue. Then Alexander woul
d have two babies. They’d never looked happier.
Eve would be his sick little bedridden girl until the doctor said otherwise. Joshua took hold of her hand. “You came to me because you had very important information to share with me, and because you needed help. It’s time to except that help. I haven’t given you much reason to like me, but perhaps, you can let me help you for the sake of our child.”
“I don’t know you.”
“You know me better than I know you. You have to see this as a chance for us to get to know each other. If you leave, we’ll never get a chance to be a family.”
“I don’t know you well enough to be your family. What I’ve seen up until now makes you seen crazy.”
“That’s fine.” Joshua smiled at her. “You can give me a chance to redeem myself in your eyes this way.”
“Mr. Anthony lives here in the building. I could check on you often. This does seem to be the safest thing to do for your baby.” Dr. Kennedy saw a woman much like his own wife in front of him. Robin often needed a push to take care of her health too. In fact, usually a push wasn’t enough. Robin needed a good spanking to behave.
The odd thing was the moment Robin had slowed down at work and kept normal times, she’d made partner. Her workaholic ways had scared the others. People wanted to surround themselves with happy people.
Sebastian saw it as his job to keep her happy and healthy.
Eve wasn’t happy. She wanted to leave with all her heart, but now she had a baby to think of. “I don’t want anything to happen to my baby, but I don’t want to do anything stupid either.”
“You wouldn’t be,” Joshua assured her. “We’d live together, and I’d see to it that you and our baby got as much rest as you need. I’ve been following you for over a week. I know you aren’t good at resting.”
“You’ve been following me?” Eve shook her head. She had the feeling that she was being railroaded.
“Of course, I have. You can’t come into my office and tell me you’re expecting my child and think that I wouldn’t care.”
“You should have cared for me before I told you I was pregnant.” Eve was getting loud.
“If I’d been able to remember impregnating you, I would have.” Joshua responded even louder.
Eve remembered that it was late at night, so she dropped her voice. “Why would I live with a man who has a history of forgetting me?”
“Because our child’s life depends on it.” Joshua was completely exasperated. “Isn’t that reason enough?”
“Excuse me for interrupting, but it’s very late at night, and I’d like to return to my bed and to my wife who is also pregnant. Miss Temple, I’d feel better if you stayed with him while you get your blood pressure under control.”
“I’m sorry you were called down here on my account, Doctor.” Eve felt terrible about everything. The only reason her heart rate was up was because of Joshua and everything that happened since the evening she met him.
“Then go with Mr. Anthony, so I can rest easier. He’s a good man. I like him. And it’s cheaper to stay with him than it would be to go to the hospital.”
“You like him, but not enough to call him Joshua,” she stated. Eve sat up and stood. She looked at Joshua. It was clear that he was calling the shots now.
“I’ll bring you to bed. You’ve had a long night, darling.”
“I know.” She wasn’t sure what to do.
“Come with me, darling.” Joshua laid his arm around her waist. He walked her out of the office.
Mr. Johnson was standing in the hall waiting. The man who watched the door at night was also looking at them.
“Thank you for getting up because of us.” Joshua gave him a nod.
Mr. Johnson grinned because Joshua used the word us instead of me. He was referring to Miss Temple and himself as us. “Shall I call a cab to take Miss Temple home?”
“No, thank you. Dr. Kennedy wants her to lie down. She has very strict bed rest rules to protect her and the baby.”
Sebastian came out of his office and turned off the lights. It seemed a bit anti-climatic after the speech, claiming Miss Temple. “Yes, very strict. She needs rest, and she shouldn’t be lifting a finger.”
“Is there anything you need, Miss Temple,” Mr. Johnson offered.
“I need someone to pack up all of my stuff and move it out of my apartment by the end of the month.” Eve meant that sarcastically, wanting Joshua to know that she wasn’t going to stay with him for very long. She had other problems that only she could see to.
“Of course, Miss Temple. I’ll have your things brought here.” Mr. Johnson bowed to her a little.
Eve looked at Joshua. “Is he serious?”
“Welcome to the apartment building, Miss Temple. Your wish is their command.” Sebastian pushed the button for the elevator, thinking that if the powers that be wanted her in the flock, then she’d end up in the flock.
It had been the same with him.
Word had it that the flock was almost complete now that Joshua had Eve. That only left the nice single mother in 5A. Before long they’d all be paired up with children.
Joshua walked Eve over to the elevator too. He thanked Dr. Kennedy on the way up and apologized for ruining his rest.
“If she’s staying here, I’d like to see her again tomorrow. Bring her by every day,” Sebastian said before he stepped out.
“Of course. Thank you.” Joshua patted Eve’s hand.
Once they were alone, Eve turned to Joshua. “You’re crazy, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m just not going to let you go. It was a misunderstanding, a childish prank that wasn’t my fault. You got hurt the most by it, but I’m fixing things. I’ll prove myself. I promise you that I’ll take care of you, and you’ll never have to feel that I don’t love you again.”
“How can you say you love me? You don’t know me.” He’d said that before and then promptly forgotten her.
“I believe that children are gifts to their lucky parents. They’re signs of love. You’re carrying my child, so it means I love you. I must.”
“I think it means that you were too drunk to think about a condom, and I thought I was in love with you. I was stupid enough to believe you when you told me your lies.”
“What lies?”
“You told me that you loved me and wanted to marry me.” Eve couldn’t look him in the eyes. Remembering his words hurt her..
“Love and marriage are no problem. If I do those things, I won’t be a liar.” Joshua finally had a good feeling for the first time since she walked into his office.
“This is my apartment.” Joshua held the door open for her.
“I know. I’ve been here before.”
“I’ve apologized for that several times, and I’m certain that I’ll apologize for it many more times in my life, but I’d also like to point out that you sound like a sulky little girl.”
“I’m tired of people calling me a little girl.” Eve was scared for her baby, and she felt like she was little red riding hood being left to the wolf.
“You’re tired, darling. I’ll give you something to wear, and then you can go to sleep.”
“Why can’t I go home? I swear I’ll go directly to bed.”
Joshua was getting tired talking to her. “This is faster, my dear. My bed is right through that door.”
“Again, I know that.”
“Eve, you’re pouting, and it isn’t very becoming. I’ll put you to bed now.” He took hold of her hand and walked her into her bedroom. “I’m sure you know where the bathroom is.” He let go of her and opened a drawer. He handed her one of his plain white t-shirts and a pair of his boxer shorts. “Go change.”
“Where are you going to sleep?”
“Next to you.” He looked at her to see what she’d say about that.
“I think you should sleep on the couch.” There was no way that she was going to sleep with him again, ever.
“You do, darling?” he asked her disappointed.
“Well, I think it would be better if I were close by, in case you need anything.”
“I won’t need anything.” What was going on here? They talked to her like she was a child, and she responded like she was one. Why was she doing that?
“Then we’ll both sleep through the night.”
“You were different before,” Eve stated.
“Go on, Eve.” Joshua removed the pillows from the bed that were just there for decoration. The maid came by every weekday and cleaned for about an hour. Joshua didn’t need much cleaned, but he liked to have everything maintained.
Eve went into the bathroom and undressed, but not before she’d tested the lock to make sure that he couldn’t walk in on her.
She was wondering if the doctor meant it when he said that the baby was in danger, or was this another trick that his friends had helped him play on her?
This seemed wrong. She felt so guilty for letting herself go out that evening. She’d even gotten rid of him, and then she went to his table.
Why had she done that? It was clear that she couldn’t trust her own judgment.
Eve laid her hands over her belly and thought that she couldn’t do anything to risk losing the baby.
He had her over a barrel.
Chapter 14
Eve gulped as she came out of the bathroom. She knew that she was swallowing her pride. It was huge and wasn’t a tasty thing to swallow.
Joshua could read what she was thinking from the look on her face.
“You showered. That’s great. I want you to continue to do what you want and need while you’re here. This is your home too.”
“Do you expect rent or something?” Eve sassed him, rolling her eyes.
“Young lady, watch your tone,” he warned her. “As your future husband. I’ll clearly be the one paying the bills. That’s what a husband and a father does.” A dad was someone you can depend on. That was what he’d be.
“I’m an adult. Not a young lady.” Eve folded her arms over her chest and looked away from him.