by Jessica Marx
The technician enters the room and asks some general questions. Samantha gets up on the table and lays back. I stand beside her and hold her hand. She flinches when the cold instrument touches her stomach.
“Are you the husband?” she addresses me.
“Not yet.”
“Sorry,” she answers, embarrassed.
“Don’t be. I will be - soon enough.”
Samantha squeezes my hand and smiles nervously. We both watch the screen as the technician points out each detail. It doesn’t really look like a baby yet, more like a gummy bear at this point, but it’s incredible, and it’s ours.
The technician wipes the gel off of Samantha’s belly, “everything looks perfect,” she beams, “you can get dressed. The doctor will be in shortly.”
As soon as the door closes, Samantha starts crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sure you do. How can you be so upset? We just saw our baby for the first time.”
“I’m not. I mean, I am. I mean, it’s beautiful.”
“Everything is going to be fine. The technician told us it looks perfect.”
“I know,” Samantha says through tears.
“Then what’s got you so upset?”
“Your father.”
“My father?” I ask, confused.
“He’s an asshole.”
“I know. Are you just realizing this or did something happen?” What could he have possibly done to make Samantha so upset? I will kill my father with my bare hands if he did anything to her.
“Ugh,” she sighs, “he thinks I got pregnant to make you stay with me. When I told him that wasn’t true, he said I must have done it for the money,” she explains, more angry than upset now, “I told him he was wrong and that you loved me, but…”
“But what?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“He said I should be careful. He told me you don’t love me.”
“He said that?”
“Not in those words, but he was pretty clear in getting his point across.”
“And what did you say?”
“I told him he was wrong - also not in those exact words. I’m pretty sure I won’t have a job come Monday,” she begins to cry again, “I really like my job. I would never talk to my boss like that. He just made me so fucking mad.”
“It’s one of his greatest talents.” The storm brewing in my head is something awful. My father and I have gone head to head before, but this is bad. How dare he intervene in my personal life.
“You will not lose your job, I promise. Remember, I own just as much of that company as he does now.”
“How could he think those terrible things about me?”
“Because he’s an asshole. He only sees the negative in every situation. Don’t let him get to you. Fuck him. Seriously, why is he even talking to you about it?”
“I don’t know. I think he’s worried about what I’m going to do. I’m pretty sure he wanted to offer me a deal to leave you alone.”
“Bastard.”
“I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want to upset you.”
“No more secrets, remember?”
“Yes,” she agrees softly, “I’m sorry. This isn’t the time or the place. I shouldn’t be ruining this.”
The doctor knocks and enters the room, “I see we’re a little emotional today?”
You could say that.
“Yes. I’m fine. This is all just overwhelming,” Samantha answers, pulling herself together.
The doctor goes over the results of the sonogram with us and informs us of what comes next. By the time he’s finished, Samantha seems to be back to normal. I’m sure she’s still upset, but getting the shitty conversation with my father off her chest must have been a relief.
Samantha gets up to put her clothes back on, but I stop her, “how about that sonogram? Pretty amazing stuff.”
“Yes, it is,” she replies, gazing back into my eyes.
“There’s really a baby in there.”
“Yes, and he’s making me eat everything now.”
“‘He’? What makes you think it’s a boy?”
“I don’t know, I just feel like it’s a he.”
“It’s not,” I say with confidence, “he’s a she.”
“Oh yeah?” she giggles, “and what makes you so sure he’s a she?”
“I just know. She’s going to be beautiful, and smart just like her mommy.” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind Samantha’s ear, “now get dressed before I decide to ravage your body right here in the office.”
She gets dressed and we leave the way we came - hand in hand.
I cannot wait to see my father. Literally - I can’t. I ask Dan to drop Samantha at the apartment. I tell her I’ll be back in a little while with some dinner. I need to make stop at the office. This can’t wait.
Garrison is sitting in his office. The dark wood and rich leather make it feel like a pretentious leftover from the last century - which technically - it is. It feels stuffy and drab which is fitting to my mood right now. I walk in without knocking. His ‘assistant’ is sitting provocatively on his desk with a legal pad.
“Can you excuse us, please?” I say looking at her, “and close the door behind you.”
She quickly leaves the office without a word, “so much for dipping your pen in the company ink,” I comment, taking a seat in front of him.
“Oh, please, I would never. She likes to try her hardest to make me change my mind though - and that - I don’t have problem with,” he replies with his usual cockiness.
“You’re a real piece of work, you know that?” I ask.
“I’m not sure exactly what you’re referring to, but I like to think so sometimes.”
“Don’t fuck with me right now. I’m not in the mood.”
“Testy. Problems with your girlfriend? That’s why I choose not to have one you know, it…”
I interrupt him before he continues, “you’re the problem with my girlfriend.”
He raises his eye brows at me.
“What gives you the right to talk to Samantha?”
“She’s the mother of my grandchild. Why wouldn’t I talk to her.”
I run both of my hands through my hair, “you know what I mean.”
“I’m just trying to help you, son. Cut her off before it begins. I know you don’t love her. You’ll be over Samantha soon enough - just like the rest - except this time there will be a baby to contend with.”
“Jesus Christ!” I slam my fist down, “what is it you don’t understand? I love her. I love Samantha. I’m not going to be over her - ever. This baby will be a pleasure to contend with because we made it. It may not have been planned, but we couldn’t be happier. Can you just accept that? What are you, jealous? Are you mad because I have the one thing you never will? LOVE. I found love and you’re so scarred - so jaded - you just can’t accept that and be happy for me?”
The look on my father’s face is one I’ve never seen before. I think I might have struck a chord. Is he really jealous?
He doesn’t respond so I continue, “if your money and this company are more important than me, my happiness, or my soon to be child, then you can keep it. I would rather sell my shares and cut my ties than spend the rest of my life dealing with this shit.”
I sit back in my chair. I don’t have anything left to say, but I’m not leaving without hearing his response. We remain silent for a few minutes, the look on his face suggests that something profound is about to come out of his mouth.
“I just think you should be smart and have your girlfriend sign some paperwork before things get out of hand. There’s no harm in protecting us from a possible shit storm,” he advises smugly. So much for having a breakthrough.
“You’re impossible.” I stand and walk toward the door.
“Better safe than sorry,” he adds as I leave, “or maybe I should have given you that advice before you got yourself into this mess.”
I glare at him, trying to think of something to say but, I have no more words. I slam the door and storm out.
25
Samantha
“I need to speak to Mr. Grant. Garrison,” I tell reception.
“Do you have an appointment?” Kim asks from the other side of the desk.
“Obviously not. I’m sure you would know about it if I did,” I reply in a snippy tone.
After spending the weekend with Mason and dealing with the aftermath of his father’s accusations and assumptions, I’m not in the mood. It’s one thing for him to insult me, but seeing Mason so upset about it is unacceptable. Mason may be used to his father’s intrusion on his own life, but getting involved with me took things to a whole new level.
“Mr. Grant says he can see you now. He has some time before his next appointment,” Kim announces. I bet she wishes she could have told me to go away.
“Thanks,” I wink and walk to his office.
Garrison is sitting behind his desk. He knows very well I’m here, but keeps his head down in his paperwork until I speak, “Hello, Mr. Grant.”
“Hello, Sam. Have a seat,” he gestures at the chair in front of his desk.
“No thanks. This won’t take long.”
Garrison shrugs, “what can I do for you?”
“Look, I get that you and Mason don’t get along. I understand why you said what you did to me last week,” I sigh, “you’re obviously not going to change your mind regardless of what either of us says, but I want to make everything easier for all of us.”
Garrison raises his eyebrows. I can tell by the way he’s looking at me, that he thinks I’m going to ask him for money or agree to one of his deals, “and how are you going to do that?” he asks sounding very self satisfied.
“Mason told me that you wanted me to sign some sort of agreement. I would like you to know that I have no problem with that.”
“Really? And what are your terms?” he asks suspiciously.
“I don’t have any terms. Whatever it is you would like me to sign, I will.”
Garrison ponders my response, “That’s very kind of you, but I’m not completely unreasonable. I’m willing to listen to any ideas you have.”
“I don’t have any ideas. I don’t care about whatever you’re looking for me to agree to or forfeit because Mason and I love each other and we’re happy together. I’m content knowing that he will be there for me and this baby. His word is all I need. I’m not looking for anything in return.”
“That’s very noble of you, Sam,” he begins, “but just help me understand; if my son decides to leave you, as he has many other women in his past, how will you take care of this child on your own?”
I snort, “unlike your son, I have a parent who is willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure her grandchild is well cared for and raised with love. My mother may not have a billion dollars, but she has a lot more to give than a fucking monthly payment,” I cover my mouth, surprised I let that slip, although I don't really care, “pardon my French.”
It almost looks like I’ve insulted Garrison, but I’m not quite sure. He responds quickly, “No need to apologize. I respect a woman who can speak her mind. I just choose not to bed them.” He chuckles to himself. I roll my eyes.
“How does Mason feel about your decision?”
I look down. Busted. “I haven’t told him yet.”
Garrison smiles, “we can keep it our little secret for now. I’ll have something drawn up but I would suggest you tell him about it yourself. Wouldn’t want him hearing about this from someone else too now, would we?”
“I will let him know today. I wanted to speak to you first before he could talk me out of it.”
“Wise decision.”
“Yeah. Thanks for your time. I should get back to work now.”
Garrison stands up, “thank you for coming to your senses. I’m glad we can all move forward now.” He reaches his hand out. I return the gesture.
I feel like I just made a deal with the devil. I’m not looking forward to telling Mason, but I’m hopeful that it will keep Garrison out of our business and let us go on with our lives without further comment. Mason deserves happiness and if this helps, why not?
* * *
__________________
* * *
“You what?” Mason asks.
I expected him to be upset when I told him about my conversation with his father, but I still don’t like seeing him this way. I did this to make our lives easier but I guess we have to get past this part first.
“I just wanted to appease him - so that we can move on. I don’t want him to always think I’m with you for any reason other than love.”
“I don’t give a shit what that man thinks,” Mason yells, “who cares?”
“I do,” I reply passionately, “you don’t realize how much his actions effect you. I saw how upset you were after he spoke to each of us. I don’t care about money or signing a paper. I just want us to be happy. Maybe if I just agree to whatever his terms are, he’ll see that it’s not about that - it’s about us - you, me, and the baby.”
Mason paces back and forth a couple of times, thinking about what I said, “I love you for doing this, I just think it’s ridiculous. He’s so stubborn, he’ll never see anything other than what he wants to see.”
“It is what it is. The papers mean nothing to me. If it makes him feel better, then he will leave us alone. He’ll get off your back. That’s what matters.”
“I really wish you would have discussed it with me first,” Mason replies, disappointed.
“I’m sorry. I knew you would tell me not to though,” I look down, ashamed that I didn’t let him in on my decision.
“I’d just like to think about it. I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I know my father best and I want to decide what will work to our advantage when all is said and done.”
“That’s fine,” I agree, “I just want your father to know I love you - not your money.”
“I’m sure there are some other things you love,” Mason says slyly, sidling up to me, “you want to tell him about those too?”
I smile and roll my eyes at him, “I’m a lady. I will keep those other things to myself. Right now, dinner is the only thing turning me on,” I wink, “baby is hungry again.”
Mason touches my stomach, “I’m glad you got your appetite back again, but it’s killing my mojo.”
“Oh, don’t worry, my appetite for sex is just as strong - that is - as long as I’m not hungry.”
“Fine, let’s eat then,” Mason says. He sounds like he’s back to himself again. I’m glad. I hate seeing him like that. That’s how this all started in the first place.
“Perfect. Can we forget about Garrison for tonight? He seems to put a damper on things.”
“Absolutely,” Mason agrees.
26
Mason
It’s still early in the morning, but I’m pretty amped up. I was up half the night trying to decide the best way to handle this whole situation with my father. I don’t want Samantha signing any agreement with him. He has no right to suggest such a thing. He really needs to back off.
I storm off the elevator and past the reception area and head straight to his office. He’s not there. He may take weeks off at a time, but when he’s around, he’s always the first one here in the morning.
I walk back to reception, “where’s my father?” I ask without bothering to say good morning.
“He told me yesterday that he was probably not going to be here today or tomorrow,” Kim replies just as coldly.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know. I don’t ask. It’s not my business.”
“Thanks,” I say, already heading to my own office.
Typical. It’s just like him to cause an uproar and then disappear. He’s probably off somewhere, gloating, thinking about how he is right. He’s probably thrilled that Samantha came to him behind my back. I wish she hadn’t, but
I understand why she did. I can’t blame her for trying to make things right for all of us.
I send my father a text, but I don’t expect him to answer. He’s going to let me sit here and sweat it out, get myself more worked up, just so I can blow up on him and feel like an asshole. I’ve been down this road with him before.
I spend the next few days pouring myself into my work. I try hard not to think about my father or what he has planned. I can’t wait to see this agreement he’s working up. If he wants to protect the company - fine - but otherwise he has no business getting involved. He’s such an asshole.
Samantha appears to be walking on eggshells, waiting for Garrison to get back as well. She knows I’m not going to be satisfied until I say my piece. I’m looking forward to spending time with her and Ginny this weekend. It will be a relief to spend some time with a normal family.
27
Samantha
“Yum. I’ve been missing your home cooking, mom,” I say, putting my napkin down on the table.
“Anytime, Sammy. I love having you here. We need to keep that baby nourished.”
“Oh, she’s doing just fine in that department,” Mason chimes in, “although a home cooked meal beats take out any day.”
“I should learn to cook,” I say, “I’m starting to worry about my lack of domestic skills,” I cross my arms over my growing stomach.
“You used to cook with me all the time when you were little!” mom smiles, “you were a great helper in the kitchen. I can always teach you again - refresh your memory.”
“That’s a great idea. Everything you make is delicious, Ginny. I could eat like this every day,” Mason adds.
“As you should,” mom says, staring at me, “if not, I’ll be happy to come and cook for the family. It will give me more time with my babies.”
