Authors: M. Dauphin
12-
Molly
Damn he can cook. He claims that is the only meal he really knows how to make, but I would beg to differ. I need to thank his mother if I ever meet her. Tatum has been weird ever since I got home. I feel terrible for keeping my secret from him, but I can’t spread any hope until I know for a fact. I still don’t even know how he is going to react, hell he could be pissed and leave me to raise this baby on my own.
Before my thoughts start to run away from me my work phone rings. Tatum grabs it before me and I hear him answer professionally, then his face gets tight and he holds the phone out for me.
“It’s for you” he states, then stomps away to leave me wondering what the hell just happened.
“Hello, this is Molly.”
“Molly, wonderful to hear your voice, this is Rob.” What the hell? It’s 8pm, why is he calling me this late?
“How can I help you, Mr. Delany?” I sighed. Something tells me this man is going to be harder to please than I originally thought. Why is he so serious about his cousins wedding pictures?
“I was hoping to meet with you. I need to speak with you and you alone about something that I’m not comfortable speaking about over the phone.”
Ugh.
“Can it wait until tomorrow? It is late and we have a busy week.”
“No.”
Wow, that was it. No explanation.
“Well then, okay. Where are we meeting?”
He rattles off an address, a 24 hour coffee shop, and hangs up promptly. Shit, I really wanted to go to bed. This nausea has been eating at me all day.
“Tatum!” I yell up the stairs.
He comes to the top, not speaking, obviously trying to calm himself. What the hell has gotten into him tonight? Maybe it’s a good thing I’m leaving him alone tonight.
“Hey, that was Rob. Something came up and he needs to meet to talk about something urgent tonight. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I’m going with you.” He decided and started to walk down the stairs. I could feel the nausea rolling through my stomach, damn nerves. Damn baby. NO..not damn baby. Happy thoughts.
“I’m not sure that’s what he meant when he called me. He made sure to mention he needed to talk to specifically me. Something is going on that he’s uncomfortable with, and I can’t lose this client because they aren’t comfortable with me. Please, stay here and I’ll be back soon.” Come on stomach, why always in front of him?
He stopped at the bottom step and glared at me. I stood my ground and stared back. I was going to win this.
After I ran to the bathroom and spilled his mother’s spaghetti into the toilet. Damnit.
“Babe I’m worried about you. I think you have something, please reconsider leaving tonight.” He said as he rubbed my back while I knelt on the cold floor of the bathroom. If he only knew what I had…
“I’m fine, my nerves are shot. I’ll do this meeting then be home before you know it. If it makes you feel better we will work from home tomorrow, okay?”
That seemed to help, though I could tell he wasn’t happy about me leaving. Well, me neither buddy but duty calls!
***
The café is practically empty, other than some teens hanging out in the corner. I wait at a table near the bathroom, just in case my stomach decided to disagree with the awful smell coming from the kitchen. Ugh.
He walks in and heads straight for me, like he owns the place. The polo shirt, the shorts, all make him seem so carefree and harmless. If it weren’t for the pitch black eyes he would look like he was transplanted here from Malibu. Something about the darkness in them tells a different story, though.
“Thank you for meeting me so soon, Molly.”
“All a part of the job, Rob. What’s up?” Hopefully this goes quick. My stomach really was not agreeing with the smells in this place.
“Ah, well. This is awkward, but it needs to be said. I’m not comfortable with your relationship with ...Tatum is it? Your ‘assistant’. I’m not sure my cousin would appreciate your relationship with a coworker. The display I saw in your office makes me worried that your mind will not be on the wedding if he is tagging along.”
My eyes are huge, I’m sure, and I think my mouth is open. What the hell is he saying? Oh God…it’s coming up. My mouth starts to water but I push it back. Mind over matter, right?
“I’m sorry you feel that way. I can assure you we will be professional for the shoot, Rob. There is no need to worry.”
“We are Delany’s, Molly. There is always reason to worry.”
“I’m sorry y-” nope, it’s not going to wait. Fuck me. I practically run to the bathroom and slam the door before I start puking what was left in my stomach out in the nasty toilet. Dear lord it was not this bad the first time…this sucks! Taking a minute to clean myself up, I wash my face, my hands, my arms, and wait until the puffy eyes recede before returning.
I sit back down and before I can get another word out he speaks.
“How far along are you?”
“Excuse me?” all of the men in my life have officially lost it tonight.
“Your complexion is perfect and glowing, you are only drinking water, and your urge to run to the bathroom can only be matched by an equally pregnant woman in the midst of morning sickness. By the looks of it, however, you have more than just morning sickness. I’ve seen my share of them. Don’t lie to me.” He glares at me like I owe him something. I don’t owe him shit.
“You know what Mr. Delany. You are my client. I will respect your wishes when it comes to the wedding that is rapidly approaching. However, don’t think you can meddle in my personal life. I draw a very bold line between my personal and professional lives, and I’d like to keep it that way.” Well, at least I used to.
He chuckled and looked at me like it was cute I was trying to stand up for myself.
“Does he know?”
Damn him.
“No.” I sated simply. It was implied by my look that I didn’t want him knowing, though. He nodded and looked away for a minute, as if thinking carefully about this next words.
“Then Ms. Ward,” he slyly added, “You will leave him at home during the wedding. End of discussion.”
“I understand you are worried, but without an assistant I am completely unable to shoot this wedding. And I don’t appreciate you attempting to manipulate me like that, either.” I snapped. Maybe it wasn’t really worth the money. He acts like everyone here owes him something. Kind of like my first impression of Tatum. Expect more broody and mysterious. And built. He was staring at me, stone-faced, unmoving. He lowered his voice and practically growled the next words at me.
“Ms. Ward you don’t have a choice in the matter. You do the shoot with one of my assistants, or you lose the contract, you lose the trust you had from your boyfriend, and you put your unborn child in danger. We wouldn’t want that again, now, would we?”
I should have slapped him and done away with the contract, but I was more shocked than anything. Money was money, there will always be money. I was more afraid of my reputation and the studio’s reputation failing because of losing such a big contract so close to the wedding. Add in the threat about the baby and I should have been finished with him right then. Should have, but I wasn’t.
“I’ll be in touch. Tomorrow. Go get some sleep, Molly, you look like you need it.” He added, then walked out into the dark night. Wonderful. How in the world was I going to convince Tatum to stay home that weekend? Today has already been tough between us, this is just going to make things between us even more strained.
13-
Tatum
I sat on the porch the entire time she was gone, thinking about how much has really changed in the last month. I called my dad and filled him in on the blanket incident, then he needed to go take care of some things so I was left here all alone. I felt empty when she wasn’t here, which is a very strange feeling for me. I’m used to being on my own, not having anyone to answer to. Now, with Molly, I want to be with her every waking minute. I want to spend my life making her happy. I want to be the one that helps her out of tough situations. I want to be the one that celebrates with her, the one she thinks to call first in good times and bad. Hell, I was becoming a hopeless romantic. The men I used to make fun of under my breath, the ones that I swore I’d never be. She’s my everything.
Breaking my thoughts, I see her park the car in front of the house. She doesn’t get out right away, and I’m not sure if she knows I’m sitting here. I watch her from the porch, the streetlight lighting up the inside of the car just enough to make out her movements. She just sits there for a minute, then puts her hands over her face. They stay there for a moment, like she’s troubled, then when she lowers her hands I notice her wiping under her eyes. Like she’s wiping away tears.
My face starts to get hot, thinking of all the awful things he did to make her cry. She’s so tough, though, what could be so bad that she would be crying by herself in her car? Why isn’t she at least crying on my shoulder? Do I go down there to her and let her know I saw her, or should I stay right here and play dumb? Why are relationships so difficult!?
I chose option 2, staying put in my chair afraid that if I did get up I wouldn’t stop until I was beating the face of Mr. Robert Delany. That would be bad, though. I think.
Molly finally gets it in her to crawl out of the car and come up the sidewalk. She stops on the stairs and gives me a weak smile, puffy eyes and all.
“Hey” she said.
“Hey you, mind telling me what has you so upset tonight?”
“Oh, you saw that?” She looked down at her feet, almost embarrassed that she was caught crying in her car. Alone.
“Yea. I didn’t like the fact that you were meeting him tonight, and then you come home and have a tear storm in your car before coming in to me. What’s going on babe? I’m starting to get worried” And Tatum Savage doesn’t worry about things like this. At least that’s how it used to be before his heart was overtaken by a wild haired, green eyed beauty.
Molly sighed and dropped down on the step with her back facing me. Why was she being so distant tonight? It took her a minute or two to start talking, but I was going to be patient. She’s tough on the outside, but I know there is a lot more than a soon approaching wedding on her mind.
“He is worried that we aren’t going to be professional at the wedding after the display he saw in the office.” She finally said quietly.
“Okay. I can see where he is coming from, maybe, but he has to know your business better than that. You obviously told him we would be nothing but professional, though. I mean, we are going to be insanely busy all three days, so what is he so worried about?” I didn’t have a good feeling of where this was going.
“His cousin would hate to be overshadowed by our passion for one another.”
“She’s the fucking bride, no one will be able to overshadow the bride in a Delany wedding.”
“That’s not what he thinks. He says you are out. Staying home this weekend.”
Now would be a good time to continue breathing Tatum.
“And you told him to fuck off, correct?” I growled out.
“Tatum, I need this wedding. It’s the biggest name I’ve ever had as a client. It will do wonders for my business and my bank account.”
“Molly, tell me you told him no.” I’m starting to get the feeling she didn’t stick up for us like I’m hoping she did.
“I tried.” She whispered.
“FUCK no. That’s what I say about that. You are not spending three days with the Delany’s without me right by your side!” I feel sick. She is not spending all weekend with this family. I didn’t like the thought of it being a Delany wedding, but I was living with it since I’d be able to be there and watch over her.
She turned and looked at me. Not really looking at me, though. It was like she was looking through me, like she was trying to detach herself from the situation.
“I’m very sorry you feel that way, Tatum. However, the client is always right. If this is what they want and they are paying me for it, then I have to listen.” It was like I was talking to a fucking robot!
“Like hell you do. Molly I have all the money you will ever need, how much do I need to tell you that?!”
She didn’t reply, just got up and walked in the house. Shit!
14-
Molly
I feel so sick right now. Unsure if it was the hormones or the recent addition of the threats and blackmail from the Delany family, I tried to lay down and go to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes I saw the horror that I lived through just a few short weeks ago. I don’t know where Tatum went or if he is still here. I know he’s pissed at me, but he’s going to need to get over it. I need this wedding. I just wish there as a way for him to be there with me.
Laying there I imagine what life could be like if I really was pregnant. I let my mind wander aimlessly through dreams of babies, diapers, middle of the night feedings. All of the things that parents complain about, I wanted so badly to enjoy. I hadn’t really given thought to getting pregnant again since no doctor ever gave me hope that it would happen, but ever since those two little lines showed up on the test I can’t stop myself. I know it’s probably not the best thing to be doing, but it just happens.
I should tell him. I know I should. I think I’m more scared, though. What if he doesn’t want any more kids? What if having one and losing one was enough for him to not want any more? I don’t think I’d be able to take that type of rejection from him. This man walked into my life a very short while ago and stole my heart. I never thought I’d love again, never thought I’d have the prospect of a family again, but here I am. What if it’s not what he wants?
Honestly, I should be more worried about the fact that Robert Delany is blackmailing me, threatened my unborn child, and is forcing my hand at the decision to go into a wedding as big as it is without my assistant. I should be more worried that I’m wrapped up in drama with the Delany family. I should be, but the thought of Tatum leaving me scares me more. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t turn into this woman, but here I am. Lying in bed, unable to sleep, worrying over a guy I just met. Granted, I don’t feel like I had much of a choice in falling in love, though. It just happened.
There is a soft knock on the door and I realize I’ve been sitting here in the dark crying about things that are out of my control. This isn’t me! I wipe my eyes, thankful that it’s dark and he can’t see the red puffy circles around them, and tell him it’s open.
Tatum walks in, not angry but looking more like an injured puppy. Like someone broke him.
“You still awake?” he said, slowly walking towards the bed.
“Yea. Can’t sleep.” He knows all too well the trouble I have had with sleeping lately. The only way I’m able to fall asleep anymore is in his arms, and he wasn’t here tonight to hold me. It hurts, actually, thinking that one man can cause so much pain in my chest.
He stretched out on the bed next to me, hands under his head, staring at the ceiling. We both knew we needed to talk about this, but neither of us made a move to start the conversation. God I don’t want to hurt him.
“I tried, you know” I started. He didn’t move, but I knew he was awake, taking in everything I was about to say. The only way out of this mess is to tell him the truth. My past was so full of lies, I didn’t want any more lies clouding our relationship.
“He threatened me.” I felt him tense next to me, his breathing hitched while he tried to control his response to my admission.
“I told him I couldn’t do the shoot without you. I told him we would be professional. He wouldn’t listen. He told me he would pull the contract, which would ruin my credibility. ” Okay so not quite the truth, but I was getting there.
“I don’t get it, Molly. Why does this wedding mean so much? Why can’t you just back out?”
I sighed. He didn’t understand my need of being able to take care of myself.
“You don’t know what it feels like to lose everything you had. To lose the love of your life, the one you had depended on since you were 18 years old. When everything happened, I promised myself I would never become dependent on another man. Ever. It’s hard for me, what we are doing.”
By now he has turned on his side, staring at me in the dark. It was well after midnight, but I wasn’t tired anymore. I was ready to put it all out there. Maybe if he knew, then Rob wouldn’t have such a hold on me when it comes to the terms of the wedding and Tatum would be able to join me. That’s all I wanted, really. I wanted Tatum to accept happily the possibility of having a baby and be able to continue on with the photography business with him by my side.
“I feel like you are hiding something more, Molly.” He spoke gently but I could tell he was trying his hardest to stay calm. I got up, walked to my purse and grabbed the test. Knowing how his ex-girlfriend sprung her pregnancy on him I was trying to be as gentle as possible.
My hands were shaking as I walked across the dark room. This could very possibly be the end of us. He could see the results and run.
I sat on the edge of the bed with my back to him. I felt him move to sit behind me. The room was dark so he really couldn’t see what I had, but he knew something was up. His hand rested on my shoulder and that’s all it took. One touch told me everything. No matter what, he was here. He wasn’t going anywhere. That one touch gave me my courage to do what I had to do.
“I took this yesterday, Tatum.” I said, barely a whisper as I handed over the test.
I heard his breath rush out and his hand went from my shoulder to the test I was handing him. It was dark, but he got it. He understood exactly what it meant.
“Are you serious, Molly?” His voice was like gravel. Hard, rough, and void of emotion.
I nodded.
“This isn’t some cruel, sick joke?” It was a silent plea.
I shook my head. “I’m so sorry.”
The words came out before I even know why I said them. Once they were out there was no taking them back. I wasn’t sorry that I was having a baby (possibly). I wasn’t sorry that I was finally going to get what I thought I always wanted. I was sorry, though, that Tatum was going to feel trapped. I never wanted that. I started rambling.
“You don’t have to say anything. I don’t expect anything. I don’t expect any money. No expectations. I don’t want you to feel trapped, that’s not what this is.”
“Stop Molly.” His voice boomed. I felt his hands wrap around me and he hugged me tighter than he ever had before. We sat there, tears formed in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. He didn’t say anything for a long time, but I wasn’t worried. This wasn’t the reaction that I was bracing myself for. This was way better.
He finally sat up and placed his hands on my face, staring at me. The moonlight and streetlight coming in through the window lit up enough of his face to see the glow in his eyes as he stared at me with an adoration I didn’t think possible.
“Thank you, Molly” he whispered.
“Don’t, Tatum. I don’t want to get your hopes up. I wasn’t going to tell you, but I couldn’t keep it from you any longer.”
“You weren’t going to tell me?” He dropped his hands and looked at me, confusion replacing the adoration from earlier.
“I wanted to meet with a doctor before telling anyone. With the news I got after I was shot, I didn’t think I’d ever get pregnant. I really wanted to get an ultrasound done to confirm everything before I got my hopes up, along with anyone else’s. I wasn’t going to keep it from you permanently...just until I was 100% sure…” I trailed off. He knew what I was going to say. Just until I was 100% sure it wasn’t a false positive. They happen all the time.
“Baby, I don’t even know where to start. Molly, before you I never thought I wanted any of this. The house, sharing everything, caring for someone as deeply as I care for you. I never thought I wanted a family. Now. This. It’s…ahh!” He grabbed my face again and kissed me harder this time. “You are giving me everything I thought I never wanted…and I couldn’t be happier!”
This is why I didn’t want anyone else to know. My body could still fail me. I would be a failure now in his eyes if this pregnancy wasn’t legit. If my hormones were so jacked up it just made the test read positive. Now, more than ever, I was hoping for a miracle.