Thick: A Stepbrother Romance (23 page)

              I got up and started pacing the kitchen, seemingly deep in thought. “Well you have to promise to always be by my side. That you will never let me go through this alone. There’s going to be a lot of doctor’s visits, checkups, screenings, all of that. Promise me first.”

              “Claire, fucking out with it already,” she scolded giving me the evil eye.

              I stopped pacing, looking her in the eye. “I’m pregnant,” I whispered.

              She sat in absolute shock trying to take in my news. Hell, I’d been the same way. I even asked if she was the one that put them up to this. However, that hadn’t been the case. I watched as she began putting everything together. All the information from the doctors about how many months I tested to be, to the multiple of doctor visits in the future. When she pieced it together, it showed. I should say her complete unadulterated happiness showed.

              “No fucking way?” She asked, still unbelieving.

              I nodded. “Yes, I am about a month and a half. I need some advice about what I should do. You’re the first person that I told. In honest, you’re probably going to be the only one I tell.”

              “But why?”

              “No one else will get it the way you do. You knew he and I were in love, you won’t dispute it.”

              She chuckled. “You have to tell your mom, Claire. You just have too. A girl in this situation no matter who they have by their side, will need their mother.”

              If only it were that easy. If she found out then Brad would find out. I didn’t want him finding out, at least not yet. I wanted to be greedy and keep the baby all to myself for a little while. However, I knew that sooner or later I would have to give in a tell them. I just didn’t know when would be such a good time. They were just now starting to get used to the idea of Cherish having Brad’s baby, or so I guessed.

              I didn’t necessarily keep up with Brad, but my mother did fill me in on what was going on. So I did know a little something. But I guess Alex was right, I would need my mother. Since she’s been in this state before, she would have the best advice. I told Alex my thoughts, and she agreed, but told me not to do it tonight. But to make sure that I had a good night of sleep so nothing would be fogging my brain. So I took her advice and we sat down, watching a little television, and let the night wind down that way. Thoughts were still plaguing me, but now I had some direction.

              I can’t believe I let her talk me into this. The thought of calling my mom wasn’t bad at all, but doing it, however, terrified the fuck out of me. What the hell was I going to say to her? ‘Yo, mom, I got a bun in the oven. Oh, and its Brad’s.’ Yeah that wasn’t going to frigging work. She’d kill me through the damn phone.

              “Just do it already. Damn, you’d think you were going to the electric chair instead of calling your mom,” Alex joked.

              How right she was, and she didn’t even know it. My mother would personally tell me to come visit her just so she could murder me. Have you ever saw where those people just snap at the flip of a switch, murdering hundreds of people. Yeah, that would be my mom. I could lie and tell her it was Brett’s but then she would figure it out anyway. That’s how my mom was, she was like a fucking drug dog, and she could sniff a lie out of anything.

              “Oh, how little you know.” I sighed, reaching for the phone. “My mother would make the electric chair the best alternate out of the two.”

              “She can’t be that bad,” she scoffed.

              I turned wide eyes on her. “You have no idea. My mother is the epitome of a crazy bitch.”

              Rolling her eyes she waved to the phone. “Then just get it over with and hang up. Even if she was going to kill you, she couldn’t over the phone.”

              “You seriously underestimate my mother’s ability.” I chuckled, dialing the number.

              I put my finger to my lips when the ringing started. I hated Alex for making me do this. But today was her only day off this week and she wanted to be here for moral support. I could understand that, because I would do the same thing for her. However, the one thing I couldn’t understand was why she was laughing at me.

              “I’ll throat punch you if you don’t cut it out,” I scolded.

              She stuck her tongue out at me and continued to laugh. Well I could always count on her being the life of the party. While I was over here having a heart attack, she was over there laughing so hard she was turning red. I so couldn’t wait until I got to pay her back for this. Payback will be such a bitch. I glared at her, just as mom picked up the phone.

              “Hey sweetie,” she greeted, happiness very evident in her tone.

              Fuck. I was about to ruin her day, she was going to fucking murder me for sure.

              I breathed deeply. “Hey mom, how are you doing?”             

              “I’m doing great.” She exhaled into the phone.

              “That’s awesome. How’s married life?”

              That got her going. She squealed happily into the phone, causing my ears to ring from the pitch. “Oh, it’s so wonderful. Henry is so great. He is the best husband any woman could ask for. He’s been even happier now a days though”

              I knew that I couldn’t put it off anymore. I had to tell her and get it over with. There was no way that I could play around the bush anymore. I steeled my resolve, swallowing the lump that was slowly growing in my throat and I just went for it.

              “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you?” I said that the same time she said. “Claire, I have wonderful news.”

              I figured my news could wait a bit longer, so I let her tell her news first. “I know you don’t like her, but Cherish is five and a half months pregnant. With a baby boy I told you, or at least I think I did. Anyway, guess what her and Brad are naming the little tyke? Shawn Dewayne Titan. Isn’t that so cute, there’s going to be three generations of Titan men now. That’s not even the best part. She wants me to be in the delivery room with her and Brad when she delivers. I’m so excited. My first grandbaby.” Her complete happiness making me inwardly gag.

              Her words literally took the air from my lungs. She was excited because of Cherish. She wasn’t excited that I called, or excited that I had news. No. She was excited because the little bitch was taking the one thing from me that I had left. My mother. It was like she was trying to turn everyone against me. I may be in New York, but I do live on the same fucking planet.

              “Mom, that’s great,” I bit out between clinched teeth.

              She sighed. “You don’t sound so happy about it. I know that you and Cherish have your problems, but she is going to be your sister in law sometime soon.”

             
Sister in law?
I bit my lip until blood welled. “Sister in law,” I seethed through the phone. “You cannot be fucking serious. The baby probably isn’t even his, mom. Have you stopped to think why in the fuck she would come to him four months after getting pregnant? She was fucking showing mother. She wasn’t newly pregnant. Not like m…not like other moms are when they tell their husbands or boyfriends. I am telling you this now, she is fucking lying.”

              I was thankful that she hadn’t caught my slip in the middle of my tirade. That would have been a lot worse, because then she would be throwed for another loop. If she wanted to be a traitor and get buddy-buddy with Cherish, then that was her prerogative. But I wouldn’t be back home if that happened. Hell to the no, I was not going to put myself through that fucking torture. Never in a million years.

              “I know the way she told Brad is not conventional, but at least she told him. She even said the reason she hadn’t was because she wanted to make sure the baby was ok. With what happened last time, I get where she’s coming from. Claire, why are you so mad? I know you can’t stand her, but sweetheart, she is having Brad’s baby. The sooner you accept that, the better.” She ended on a frustrated sigh.

              I growled. “You know why I hate that bitch. You. Fucking. Know. Why. But if you can’t see that through your new role as a grandmother, then maybe you need to go play house with your soon to be daughter in law some more. You are my mother, can you not see the only reason she wants you in that room is to take another stab at me. You are my fucking mother! The only delivery room you’re supposed to be in, is mine! This is bullshit, good bye!” I yelled hanging up the phone, throwing it across the apartment, shattering the screen.

              Alex broke the silence, speaking in a warm, comforting tone. “Is your mom really going to do that to you? Just because Brad is with a woman screaming it’s his child.”

              I nodded, tears brimming my eyes. “Yes. Yes, she is.”

              “That’s not even right.” She stated, walking over to wrap me in her arms.

              “It’s not fair, Alex. I was supposed to tell her my good news. I was expecting her to be ecstatic, and want to be in my room with me. But no, she’s completely turning against me because of Cherish. It’s always because of Cherish. That bitch stole everything from me, and now she’s trying to take more.” I sobbed.

              “Well honey, I’m still here for you. I’ll be in that room if you want me too. Ha, scratch that. You just try keeping me out of that room. Unless Brad is in there with your mother, my spot is going to be right beside your head.”

              I barked out a laugh through my tears. “You are not going to be in there, Hun. I may love you like a sister, but you’re not seeing my twat.”

              She chuckled. “Fine you meanie.”

              We sat there for several minutes just holding each other. I really needed to comfort of someone right now. I had been a really big bitch to my mom on the phone, something that I never did. But I was acting out of defense, or so it felt like it. Cherish was stealing everyone around me. Next she would take Henry, since she already had my mom and Brad snagged. It wasn’t fair. She was my mother she was supposed to hate the people I hated, right along with me.

              She wasn’t supposed to like my arch nemesis. She was supposed to laugh with me and ask where we should hide the body. At least that’s what it had been like until I left the last time. Maybe it was my fault. That she was turning to Cherish because she felt I had abandoned her. It made sense, but then again that just broke my heart even more. That my mother needed me as much as I needed her, and I ran away. Again.

              I didn’t know Cherish or Brad’s view on all of this. As much as it pained me, I wanted to. I wanted to know what she was getting out of all of this. I also wanted to know how Brad could be so fucking stupid to believe her. I mean, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that Cherish is a lying bitch.

              “I want to ask you something?” Alex asked, as I untangled my arms from her.

              I wiped my eyes, looking at her. “Shoot.”

              “I want you to move in with me.”

              My mouth hung open in shock. It wasn’t that I had much to move anyway. Every piece of furniture belonged to the apartment, but sharing a house with Alex. That was her safe haven, she barely brought anyone there, let alone have someone live with her. Was she frigging insane?

              “Seriously?” I asked, my brow arched in curiosity. “You barely let anyone in the house, let alone have someone live with you.”

              “I’m a dead serious, Claire. You’re going to be going through so much in the next few months, and I want you somewhere close by.”

              “Alex, I know you want me close by, but think about this carefully. Are you sure you want me living with you? I’ll be there twenty-four hours a day. You won’t be able to have any time alone with Bo, because I’ll be there.” I said.

              Her anger spiked, eyes beginning to dilate. “I’m fucking serious. I have already thought it through. I want you near me just in case something happens, not ten fucking minutes away. Now get out of the lease you have here, pack your shit, because Bo and I will be over here in a few weeks to help you move. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

              I chuckled, holding my arms out to wave her bitchiness off. “Ok, ok. I’ll see what I can do. I’m so glad I have you for a friend. You’re there for me whenever I need you.”

              “Damn, straight. You’re my sister Claire, I love you. So if you need help, I’m so there,” she said, hugging me.

              When she left, I sat looking around my apartment. I’ve spent the last ten years in this apartment, thanks to Henry. It was the only other home that I knew in my short life. I would miss it a lot. But the thought of moving in with Alex, thrilled me. I would be near someone that would watch over me and little bean. She was a bitch, but that’s why I loved her. She would never let anything happen to me or the baby.

              The thought of telling Brad about the baby drifted into my mind. I knew that I had to tell him sometime. He was the only other person besides Alex that wouldn’t let it slip. The only thing stopping me was if Cherish over heard. If she did, that could cause a big mess. However, the more I set and thought about it, the more I wanted to do it.

              I hadn’t spoken to him since that first night. But I was no longer the sad depressed girl I had been. I wasn’t necessarily the strongest, but I was getting there. Just remembering the way that Alex talked to Brad the last time he called made me laugh. She’d give him a run for his money.

              I knew if I asked Alex what I should do she would tell me to let him in on it. Of course she was right, just like most other things. But that didn’t stop the apprehension I felt about it. What if he turned me and the baby away? What if he said I was lying and just trying to pin it on him? I did the same thing at the reception when Cherish told him about baby Shawn.

              But he didn’t listen to me. Instead he took Cherish’s side. I didn’t want him to take my side, I just want to see what he would think of the whole situation. I could probably catch him while he was at work. Maybe say it was a friend of mine that needed the advice, and since he was in the situation with Cherish, he would be able to tell me.

              It was such a bad idea, but I couldn’t stop myself from calling his phone. I needed to know. Would he reject me and the baby if he was put in that situation, or would he open his arms and embrace us? I sighed as the phone started ringing, on the second ring he answered.

              “Hello Claire,” he greeted in his gravelly voice.

              Fuck. I didn’t think this was going to be that hard. But damn, his voice just brought back so many images of our last time together. I was completely hell bent over this man, and didn’t know the damn reason why. Love wasn’t supposed to feel like this, was it?

              “Hey Brad.” I replied, my voice choking up a little.

              “God, love. Your voice is still so beautiful,” he groaned, like my voice was sex to his ears.

              “Brad. Please…don’t,” I exhaled in a shaky breath.

              He cleared his throat. “Sorry, that was over the line. What can I help you with? This is kind of a surprise considering the tongue lashing I got a few weeks ago,” he chuckled through the line.

              Why did he have to say tongue lashing? That stupid fucker.

              “Well I admit you deserved every bit of that, but that’s not why I called. I wanted to know something. I have a friend that’s pregnant with her ex-lovers baby, but he just found out that his other ex-lover is pregnant too and he took her back already. What would you do if you were this guy? I know it’s stupid to even come and ask you about it. But I figured that since the bitch is pregnant you would have some insight.” I held my breath waiting for his answer. Please don’t let him put two and two together.