The Ten Year Affair (17 page)

“Ms. Morgan please...”

“Are you always so polite Mr. Mayes to women who get themselves knocked
up?”

“Please Ms. Morgan you shouldn’t get so upset. We’re sorry you overheard
our conversation. You’re right. We’re just angry and jealous. We were just
blowing off steam. We didn’t mean any harm. Really. Please calm down.”

Stuart could see Alex was not looking well and he’d heard her pregnancy
was high risk.

Alex’s breathing was ragged and she felt sweat trickle down her spine.

“I need to sit down,” she gasped.

Gathright swiftly pulled out a chair for Alex while Mayes helped her to
sit. Both men looked worriedly at each other over Alex’s head. Mayes mouthed to
Gathright, “Get a doctor,” and Alan silently slipped out of the room. Ian
busted through the washroom door forgetting he’d wanted to escape without being
noticed.

Mayes had hold of Alex’s hand and was gently encouraging her to put her
head between her legs.

“Breath in slowly and out slowly Ms. Morgan. You’ll be just fine. You
just need to get your breath back. Come on now. Keep it up. In slowly, out
slowly.”

Ian glared at Mayes and knelt beside Alex taking her other hand and
softly stroking her head.

“Alex? Are you okay baby?”

Alex raised her head and tried to form a smile.

“Ian. I’m glad you’re here. I’m not feeling so good.”

“It’s all right baby. When you get your breath we’ll get you to the
hospital or Dr. Robinson’s office so she can take a look at you.”

Mayes awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Alan went to call a doctor Ian.”

“Thank you Stuart,” Ian said through clenched teeth without glancing the
man’s way. “Don’t let us keep you. I’m sure you’ve got work to do.”

“Yes, I suppose I do if you’re sure you don’t need my help.”

“Oh, I’m sure Stuart. Please go.”

It was all Ian could do not to smash the guy in the face but he knew that
would only make matters worse. He should have come out of the washroom sooner
but he had wanted to hear the wonderful things Alex was saying about him. He’d
been so surprised at her words that he hadn’t thought about what her anger was
doing to her. He shouldn’t have allowed Alex to get so upset.

Alex raised her head once Mayes hurriedly left the room.

“I’m feeling much better Ian...” As she spoke a huge cramp pierced
through her abdomen and she winced and tried to breathe through the pain.

“Alex? Talk to me honey. Where does it hurt?”

Once the pain subsided Alex said what Ian feared

“I’m not sure Ian but I think I’m in labor.”

“But that can’t be Alex. You’re not due for another month yet.”

Alex started to smile but the smile was interrupted by another sharp,
searing pain. The pains were way too close for just the start of labor. When
the pain ended Alex looked at Ian and he could see the worry in her eyes.

“Ian babies do come early so I could be in labor but my pains seem to be
awful close together right now. I’m scared something’s wrong. I’ve had a back
ache all morning.”

At that moment Gathright came through the door leading some paramedics
carrying a stretcher.

“Thank god!” Ian thought. He backed away as the paramedics took over.

“Ian?”

“I’m here baby. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

As the paramedics took her vitals Ian paced the floor. She was having
another pain. Ian checked out the time on his watch. The pains were only three
minutes apart. Alex was right. According to the pre-natal books Ian had read that
wasn’t normal for the onset of labor.

The paramedics finally had Alex strapped to the stretcher and were
wheeling her out through the courthouse with Ian close behind. Tom spotted Ian
and rushed up to follow the commotion and speak to Ian.

“Ian what’s going on? What’s wrong with Alex?”

“I don’t know Tom. I just don’t know,” Ian stammered trying to remain
calm. “It looks like she’s in labor but she’s not due for another month. I need
to go with her Tom. You’ll need to cover for me the rest of the day.”

“You don’t need to worry about that Ian. You do what you have to do. The
prosecutor’s office will manage.”

“Thanks Tom. I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I know
something. Could you please get in touch with the Fairchilds? Let them know
we’ll be at St. Mary’s?”

“Sure, I’ll take care of everything. Don’t worry. You just take care of
Alex.” Angie Henderson walked up just as Ian was climbing into the ambulance
with Alex.

“Oh my god Tom! What’s going on?”

“Looks like Ian and Alex are about to become parents.”

Alex was loaded in the ambulance and Ian crawled in beside her and
grabbed her hand. Tom and Angie looked at each other and smiled and Angie said
exactly what Tom was thinking.

“It is so utterly obvious to everyone but those two how much they love
each other.”

Tom and Angie watched the ambulance pull away and Tom nodded in
agreement.

“I know. We can only hope that things work out for those two like they
should.”

***

She was so tiny. So unbelievably tiny. So beautiful just like her mother.
Ian gazed lovingly upon Alex and their new little treasure. Alex had come
through labor like a trooper and Ian would never forget the moment his daughter
Lauren Elizabeth had come into the world. Even though Lauren was one month
premature she was a healthy six pounds and was having none of the usual signs
of a premie’s distress. He was so proud of both Alex and his baby girl.

Alex held Lauren in her arms while tears streamed slowly down her face.

“She’s so beautiful isn’t she Ian?”

Ian moved onto the side of the bed and cuddled close to Alex softly
stroking her tousled hair and smiling.

“Yes, Alex. She’s the only one who even comes close to possibly being
more beautiful than her mother.”

Alex giggled. “Yeah, right. I suspect I’m looking really ravishing right
now.”

Ian thought so. Her golden hair sparkled and was mussed giving her that
sexy, rumpled look. It was hard not to look at her and become aroused. Alex
might not think so, but she was sexy as hell even after six hours of intense
labor. He wanted her right then and there and his body felt as though it would
burst if he couldn’t have her and soon. But he knew it wasn’t going to happen
any time soon or at all if he wanted to keep his priorities in order. But what
about those priorities? Looking at these two lovely ladies made him wonder if
he wasn’t crazy. Maybe he needed to rethink those priorities.

“Alex you will always be the most beautiful woman in the world to me no
matter what and right now I want you so bad it hurts.”
“That was probably
not the smartest thing to admit right now,”
Ian thought.

Alex wasn’t surprised at his words. She had seen the desire in his eyes
and the love? Yes, there was no mistake that Ian’s eyes were full of not only
desire but also love. But was it love for her or his daughter? Whatever it was
she knew he was happy. She had made him a very happy man by giving him a child
and she was proud and happy herself to have given the man she loved such a
gift.

“Ian I...I want you too. I only wish...it were possible. Can I take a
rain check?” she teased.

The doctor had advised them both, much to their embarrassment, that Alex
should not make love for at least six weeks after the baby was born or maybe
longer if the doctor felt that Alex’s body needed the extra time to heal. Ian
and Alex had not made love since the day Alex had told Ian about her pregnancy
and until now they’d never even discussed it because they’d decided that the
physical side of their relationship was over. Alex was sure the only reason Ian
had brought it up now was because he was just as elated as she was. But she
knew he would likely go home tonight and make love but it wouldn’t be to her.
According to courthouse gossip, Ian’s relationship with Jennifer had been
heating up. He’d never choose her child weathered body over the beautiful
Jennifer’s svelte hips and gorgeous breasts. Though the way he was looking at
her now...maybe...then his expression quickly changed.

“I spoke out loud when I shouldn’t have Alex. But you are so damn
beautiful I...I... I need to go. Jennifer and I have dinner plans.”

Ian’s words abruptly woke Alex up from any dreams of happily-ever-after she
had been having.

“Sure Ian I understand. Go on. Don’t let us keep you,” she said bitterly.
“I would hate for your plans to be ruined.”

“Now Alex please. I thought we understood each other.”

“You know what Ian? I thought we understood each other too. But then you
say something like you just did and then you look at me like...like... Just
quit leading me on Ian! Either you want me or you don’t. I’m tired of you
giving me mixed signals.”

“I’m sorry Alex. I can’t help but long for you sexually. For gods sake
Alex have you forgotten what it was like with us? As much as I know it can’t be
I can’t stop myself from thinking about it. Can you? I know I’ll never
experience with another woman what I had with you I just...aw hell Alex I’m
gonna go.”

He leaned down and gently placed a kiss on Lauren’s forehead.

“Bye little one. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Ian turned to face Alex his lips coming so close to touching her own. He
started towards her as though he was about to kiss her than she saw a change in
the expression on his face and he pulled back and rose to leave.

“I’ll come by tomorrow morning on my way to work. You take care of our
baby Alex.”

Alex was still trembling with fury.

“I’ll take care of her don’t you worry
daddy
. You can go lie with
your girlfriend and not worry about us. We’ll be just fine.”

Ian was shocked at the severity of her words. It was not like Alex to be
so crass. He’d been stupid to bring up Jennifer.

“When you come by in the morning I don’t want to see you. You can see the
baby in the nursery.”

“Now Alex...”

“I mean it Ian. I can’t take this any longer.  I can’t keep seeing you
because you get my hopes up that you want a real relationship with me then
knock the wind right out of me again and again. If I’m ever going to move on
with my life I need to start and now is a good time. A new beginning for my
daughter and me. I won’t keep you from seeing Lauren Ian but I can keep you
from seeing me. I think it’s for the best otherwise I’ll...”
Never be happy
.
“Just go Ian!”

Chester and Julia knew as soon as they walked through the door they’d
picked an inopportune time to visit. They could feel the tension in the air.
Ian and Alex simply stared at each other not speaking. Ian awoke from his
trance, greeted the Fairchilds and said his good-byes.

The dam broke when he walked out the door.

Julia hugged her close and didn’t say a word. Chester cleared his throat
uncomfortable with what was happening.

“I love him so much Grandmother. I’m dying inside. He’s on his way to
meet Jennifer for dinner. After what we shared today I thought...I thought
things would be different. I still hoped we would be a family.”

Chester had heard enough. He stormed from the room and after Ian.

“Foster! Foster!” he yelled down the hall.

Ian stopped abruptly and turned around to find a red-faced Chester.

“You miserable son-of-a-bitch!” Ian heard and then his jaw was connecting
with Chester’s fist and Ian found himself laid out by the elderly gentleman. Chester was standing over him rubbing his fist and glaring as Ian sat up and stared at the
old man in disbelief.

“For gods sake Chester what was that for?”

“I’ve seen my granddaughter cry her last tears over you Foster. She is
heart broken and you don’t seem to care. You are a selfish bastard and I hope
you spend your life as a miserable, lonely old man.”

Julia had heard the commotion and came out just in time to see Chester
slowly turn and make his way back towards the room with Ian sitting on the
floor. She gave Chester a warm smile as he came up beside her.

“That felt damn good Julia.”

“I’m sure it did dear. I can only hope you knocked some sense into the
fool.”

Julia gently kissed Chester’s throbbing knuckles.

“Come on dear. Let’s go visit our granddaughters.”

Ian visited Lauren in the hospital twice a day while they were there for
the next three days but he had respected Alex’s wishes and stayed away from
her. Peter had visited just as often and never missed an opportunity to
pressure Alex into making up her mind about marrying him. Alex couldn’t see
accepting Peter’s proposal while she was still crying herself to sleep every
night over another man.

Meanwhile, Alex wasn’t the only one fretting over the state of her
relationship with Ian. Ian’s every waking moments were spent thinking of Alex
and his daughter. Every lonely night was spent thinking of what it would be
like to have Alex snuggled next to him in his arms; to have Lauren warmly
tucked away next to them in the beautiful bassinet he and Alex had bought all
those months ago.

He wasn’t getting any sleep and he’d become increasingly difficult to
work with according to John. John had warned him that if he expected to win the
election, he’d better lighten up if he wanted his colleagues’ support.

And then there was Jennifer. She had broken off their relationship and
Ian had not even cared. She told him she was tired of playing second fiddle to
the mother of his child. Ian hadn’t even tried to deny what she said. Whether
he was ready to admit it or not to Alex or anyone else, he was in love with
Alex and he couldn’t bear to live without her in his life. He hadn’t spoken to
Alex in three months and had only seen a few glimpses of her at the courthouse.
She was still working very few hours and from what he heard through the
grapevine she was thriving as a mother. How is it everyone else knew more about
the mother of his child than he did? He knew why. Because he was an idiot. An
absolute idiot. And he was going to change that as soon as he could.