The Ten Year Affair (16 page)

“Let’s not concern yourself with all that right now,” Julia suggested.
“You need to concentrate on keeping yourself and your baby healthy. Now, I want
you to get some rest. You may find that you really like being a lady of leisure
again.” Julia kissed Alex and left her to her thoughts. Alex drifted off to
sleep dreaming of what a life as the wife of Ian Foster would have been like.

***

Alex had spent a week in bed resting and her blood pressure had returned
to its normal level. Don had taken over the Jacobs trial and consulted with her
often but Alex had been anxious to get a chance to sit in on the action and see
how the trial was progressing. Ian had visited her every day. They had decided
that it would be best if Alex stayed with her grandparents at least until the
baby was born. They were both afraid of her being alone in case of any further
problems or of being alone when she went into labor. Alex had looked forward to
his visits and enjoyed his company. They’d discussed their plans for their
baby. They’d laughed and shared their worries about raising their child. He
never touched her.

The tension some nights was so great Alex thought she would explode.
Throughout their whole relationship Ian had always touched her and touched her
often. She could tell that he was making a conscious effort not to come near
her. It was for the best she knew but it didn’t make it any less frustrating.
His visits had become shorter and shorter as the frustration grew. The physical
attraction between them still existed even though her belly was growing. Last
night he’d started to come nearer to her then stopped. His deep blue eyes had
become so dark and intense as he looked at her. He told her she got more
beautiful every day and then he’d abruptly left without explaining why. He’d
not needed to explain.

Alex had made up her mind that she was going to get out of the house
today and start living again. Now that her blood pressure was normal there was
nothing keeping her at home. She was going stir crazy and wanted to do what she
could to help Don through the Jacobs trial. From all Peter had told her Don was
doing his usual expert job with the case.

Alex entered the courthouse and was quickly greeted by several members of
the bar who had heard of her ordeal. They all wished her well and congratulated
her on her impending motherhood. She was sure word had spread by now that Ian
was her baby’s father. Alex entered the courtroom and immediately caught Ian’s
attention. There was no mistaking the look of concern on his face. Alex hadn’t
even got halfway down the aisle before Ian reached her grabbing both her hands.
Touching her.

“Alex what are you doing here? Are you sure you should be here?”

“I’m fine Ian. I can’t stay in bed forever and you know Dr. Robinson said
my blood pressure is normal and that the baby is fine. Quit worrying. I’m not
going to do anything to endanger our baby. You’re really giving the gossip
mongers an eyeful right now.”

“Do you think I care what people say Alex? All I care about is you and
the little guy.”

Alex arched her right brow. “The little
guy
, huh?”

Ian grinned revealing his gorgeous, straight, white smile.

“Or little gal. You know it doesn’t matter to me.”

Ian noticed Peter fidgeting out of the corner of his eye.

“Seems your colleagues are anxious to see you. I better let you go. See
you at the lunch break?”

“Actually Ian I’m having lunch with Peter and Don. I need to be brought
up to speed on all that’s been happening at the office while I’ve been gone.
Even though I won’t be working much I’ve got to try to relieve them of whatever
responsibilities I can to lighten their workload. I’ve really put them in a
bind with my absence.”

“Okay but promise me you won’t overdo it. Promise?”

“I promise. Now get back to work.”

She teasingly gave him a little shove towards his seat and took a seat in
the row just behind the defense table after greeting Coach Jacobs.

The scene he’d just witnessed perturbed Peter and despite his good
judgment he leaned back to speak to Alex.

“Do you really think it’s wise to be so cozy with the prosecutor in the
courtroom Alex?”

Alex gave Peter a puzzled look then realized he was probably right.

“You’re right Peter. It won’t happen again. I guess I wasn’t thinking.”

Peter swiftly turned and mumbled under his breath.

“When it comes to Foster you never think.”

Once the words were out he’d regretted them. He hoped she hadn’t heard
him but could tell by the look on her face when he glanced back at her that she
had. She was pissed. But damn it so was he. He had to remember that Alex didn’t
need to be stressed out about anything. The last thing he wanted to do is hurt
her or the baby. He was going to have to learn to reign in his jealousy.

As testimony began Alex found herself torn. She knew if she were a juror
she would have a hard time deciding the innocence of Coach Jacobs. Ian was such
an excellent examiner. He knew just how to exploit the weaknesses of the
defense witnesses.

Ian finished his cross-examination of a witness and as he took his seat
he noticed Alex flinch and grab her stomach. She looked like she was in pain.
God please...no! She flinched again and rubbed her belly. He couldn’t take it
if anything happened to the baby or Alex. He knew she shouldn’t have come here.
Alex squirmed in her seat again and rubbed her belly but this time she was smiling.
Before Don could call his next witness Ian requested a short recess and the
judge granted it. He immediately rushed to Alex’s side.

“Baby what is it? What’s wrong?”

Alex was still grinning and rubbing her tummy.

“It’s nothing Ian. Calm down.”

“But you looked like you were in pain? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m just fine Ian. I’m wonderful.” Alex grabbed his hand and rose to
leave. “Here, come with me.”

She led him to one of the conference rooms outside the courtroom and as
the door closed behind them she placed his hand on her rounded belly. He looked
at her strangely.

“Now be quiet and wait,” she instructed.

A few seconds later Ian felt a little flutter.  He looked into Alex’s
eyes and they were glazed with tears but she was still grinning from ear to
ear.

“Alex?” He didn’t know what to think. There it was again! It was much
harder this time. “Alex is that...?” Now he was grinning just as wide as Alex.

“Yes, Ian that’s our baby kicking. This is the first time I’ve felt the
baby move! Isn’t it great?”

“Oh, baby yes. There it is again!” They stood there for quite some time
just grinning at each other. Both so happy and both so in love but neither one
able to speak. Neither one brave enough to say all they were feeling. Ian
finally broke the silence.

“Alex I...I,” he stammered. He almost said he loved her. He almost said
he wanted nothing more than to be a family...almost.

“Alex I need to get back to court.”

“Sure Ian I know. You better get back.”

She was disappointed. She had felt sure he was about to say something
more. The look on his face was of pure joy. She imagined she looked the same.

“I’m going to hang out here awhile until junior here settles down some.”

Ian drew Alex to him with his hand still pressed gently to her belly. He
brushed a soft kiss across her lips.

“Alex I...”

“What Ian? What is it? What do you want to say?”

She looked at him with eyes full of love and...hope. He wanted to make
her happy and utter the words but he couldn’t.

“I’m very happy. That’s all. You’ve made be very happy by giving me a
child. I never thought I’d be a father. Thank you.”

He kissed her again but it was more than a simple brush of the lips. His
tongue parted her lips and he gave her a long, deep kiss that made her head
spin. When they finally parted for air he left abruptly leaving her standing
there dazed and confused. He was just reacting to feeling the baby kick Alex
thought.
“Did he kiss all his lady friends like that?”
Alex wondered.

As far as she knew he didn’t have any other lady friends right now. He’d
been practically living at her grandmother’s with her and surprisingly grandmother
never complained. But she knew all too well how quickly that could change. Ian
Foster was a puzzle she would never figure out.

As Alex expected Ian’s visits to her grandmother’s home dwindled down to
practically nothing. She was lucky if she saw him once every two weeks although
he did phone at least once a week to ask how she and the baby were doing. Word
at the courthouse was that Ian had been seen sporting the beautiful Jennifer Lewis
out and about town again. Alex put in just a few hours each week at the office
doing research and Peter and her were seeing a lot of each other much to her
grandmother’s delight. Alex was now in the eighth month of her pregnancy and it
had been very uneventful since the morning sickness passed and the bleeding
scare. She had only put on twenty pounds and swore she had more energy now than
she had had before the pregnancy. Her parents were due to return soon to the
States. She had missed them so much but was grateful she had had her
grandparents to depend on.

The Jacobs trial had come to an end with Coach being acquitted. It had
been a huge victory for her firm. When she had spoken to Ian following the
trial he almost seemed relieved. He’d never wanted to charge Coach and as good
a job as he had done, there simply wasn’t any hard evidence to convict. Of
course, regardless of the jury’s innocent verdict, Coach’s reputation had been
ruined. Although he had resigned his position as principal, everyone was sure
the school corporation had forced him into early retirement.

While Alex was no longer trying any cases, she still occasionally sat in
on some trials for entertainment. Peter and Don had been clearly overworked and
unfortunately had had to hire another attorney to replace her. She understood.
She couldn’t expect them to keep working so hard. So, with her blessing, they’d
hired Angela Henderson, the gorgeous red head from the prosecutor’s office who
she remembered had a thing for Peter. Alex continued to help in whatever
capacity she could. She spent a lot of time doing research and writing briefs,
which both she enjoyed doing very much, but she did sometimes miss the
excitement of the courtroom.

Today Angie was trying her first case for their office and Alex had
agreed to sit as second chair with Angie for moral support more than anything.
Angie was kicking butt already on Day 1 of questioning and was quickly gaining
confidence. They broke for lunch and Alex went to the attorney lounge in the
courthouse to grab a snack and say hello to whomever happened to be hanging out
there. As she started to enter the room she heard Ian’s name mentioned and
paused.

Two voices she didn’t recognize were talking about Ian. She couldn’t make
out all they were saying but what she did hear was not good.

“Who does that son-of-a-bitch think he is? He acts like the election is
all sewn up and that he’ll be our next boss. I’m sick of taking orders from
him.”

“Listen. If Foster wins that election it’ll be hell in that office. He
thinks he’s god almighty of prosecutors. We’ve got nine months until the
primary election. That’s plenty of time to do what we have to do to ruin his
chances.”

“Hey, you know that babe defense attorney that used to be with Grainger
& Anderson? I think maybe she still does some work there. Alexandra Morgan
I think is her name. Word is Foster knocked her up. Yet I’ve seen him out with
some other woman. If the press got wind of that story that’d be sure to lose
him some votes, wouldn’t it?”

Alex couldn’t stand there and listen to it any more. She walked into the
room and when each man saw her their jaws dropped to the floor.

“Hello gentleman. I don’t believe I know you. I’m Alexandra Morgan. I
believe I heard you mention my name?”

Ian was in the washroom off of the lounge and had been listening to his
colleagues’ conversation. The last thing he felt like doing was confronting
them over their words. He was trying to figure out how to tactfully leave
without things being awkward when he heard Alex’s voice.

Both men stammered through hello to Alex and then there was silence. The
tall, pathetically thin, pasty white man finally broke the silence.

“I’m Alan Gathright Ms. Morgan and this is Stuart Mayes. Yes, we did
mention your name. We were talking about the fact that Angela Henderson formerly
of our office took over for you at Grainger’s office.”

He slanted a quick glance at his cohort who was visibly nervous,
loosening his tie and shuffling his feet. The silence once again was awkward.
The other middle aged, bald, stout man finally spoke.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. Morgan. I’ve heard a lot about you and
what a fine defense attorney you are. It’s a shame you’re not practicing any
more. Are you expecting soon?”

“You tell me. From what I heard you seem to know all about my pregnancy.”
Alex gave each man an icy glare.

“Uh, oh,”
thought Ian. He knew that tone and Alex had obviously
heard the mens’ conversation too. Although unlike him, she seemed ripe for a
confrontation.

“I don’t know what you have against Ian Foster gentleman but I’ll tell
you this. You would do well to listen to what he tells you. There is no finer
prosecutor in this whole state, maybe in the whole country and I believe that
he
is
‘god almighty’ of prosecutors. If he’s criticized you, you better
listen to what he has to say because you’ll become better for it.”

Alex could feel the heat rise to her face. She knew she shouldn’t allow
herself to get this upset but she couldn’t let these idiots talk that way about
Ian.

“I want you to know that it’ll take a lot more than an indiscreet leak to
the press about my baby’s parentage to bring Ian Foster down. He deserves the
impeccable reputation he has because he’s not only a good prosecutor but also a
good man. You’ll find that out with your little campaign to ruin him because
you’ll find it very hard to get anyone to go along with your little scheme.
People like and respect Ian too much. Instead of spending time plotting against
Ian and being jealous of the man you ought to take advantage of the chance you
have to learn from him.”