The Boss's Baby (Interracial with Baby) (BWWM)

by Cristina Grenier

Adrianna grunted as she pushed herself up off the couch, reaching for her cell phone on the coffee table. She laid down the book in her hand and answered with a smile. “Hey, Terra, how are you?”

  “I’m drowning over here, Adrianna. Have I mentioned how much I don’t get along with my parents? I told them not to come, but they insisted they needed to see me and were worried about me with Tommy having been gone so long.” She grumbled something under her breath. “Can I crash over there tonight? I just need a break. We had an argument, and they don’t leave for three more days.”

  Adrianna laughed. “You know you’re welcome here any time. Oh, but I’ll warn you the nursery is under construction. The bed is in there, and it’s usable, but there are pieces of crib and toys and decorations in boxes and on the floor everywhere.”

  “Anything is preferable to my parents and their things being everywhere. I’ll be over in an hour.”

  Pushing to her feet, Adrianna waddled across the apartment to the bathroom. She needed a shower. She’d taken her day off and been lazy, not showering or cooking or anything, and even if Terra was her best friend, she wasn’t going to let the girl see her this way. She still didn’t like John finding her like this, and she woke up next to him on a fairly regular basis these days.

  They’d begun trying to coordinate their trips to spend the maximum amount of time together. John, of course, had a more hectic schedule on the road than she did, and that meant that, on days like today, she was alone at home. She took the time to either relax and read or work on the baby’s room most of the time. Sometimes, she did paperwork and, as much as possible, she visited her mother, who now lived only a few blocks away in a modest but nice apartment. She missed her sons, but with one in and out of jail and the other having gone away to school finally, there was nothing to keep her in the old house.

  Adrianna dressed in a long dress that tied over her belly, and she looked at herself in the mirror, wrinkling her nose. Jordan Lorraine. That was the name they’d chosen when she and John had found out it was a girl. She was ruining Adrianna’s figure, the body she’d worked so hard to maintain, and the baby girl drained every ounce of energy she had most days, simply with the extra weight Adrianna lugged around. But every time she felt a movement or thought about holding the child she’d carried for nine months, it made Adrianna beam with delight.

  Still, it was hard to look at herself this way. Her body looked and felt foreign to her, as if it no longer belonged to her. She kept telling herself she only had about three weeks to go, and then she could start taking her body back.

  She hadn’t realized how much time she spent staring at her reflection until the doorbell rang, and she moved as quickly as possible to answer it. She opened the door, and Terra blew through it like a gale force wind. “Those people!”

  Adrianna raised an eyebrow as her friend plopped down on the couch and she shut the door. “Those people meaning your family?”

  Terra shook her head, looking exasperated. “I don’t know how I could have possibly come from those loins. I mean, I’m nothing like them! They are the most narrow-minded, hypocritical people I’ve ever known in my life.” Adrianna took a seat in the recliner John had moved in and faced her friend, waiting for an explanation. “They claim they’re worried about me and need to see for themselves that I’m okay, so I tell them fine and spend hours perfecting the cleaning of my house so that my mom can’t nit-pick at anything. Then, they get here and tell me how stupid it was to get involved with someone in the military in the first place. My mom even has the gall to ask me if I have a secret desire to be a widow, or if, perhaps, I married him for the death benefits.”

  That was pretty harsh. Adrianna had met Terra’s parents once and knew they weren’t exactly supportive, but this was beyond callous of them. “I’m sorry, honey. You can stay here as long as you need to.”

  Terra scowled. “Unfortunately, if I stayed until they left, my mother would rearrange everything in my house. I’m here for a night.”

  Adrianna started to say something, but the door opened behind her, and her jaw dropped as John walked in. “I wasn’t expecting you back until tomorrow.”

  He grinned sheepishly. “I cut the trip short. After all, you’ve maintained things pretty well out in Virginia Beach, considering all the transitions out there. I really didn’t have anything to do, so I came home, where I might be of use.” He bent over and kissed her before greeting Terra. “You look like you could take the head off a troll right now.”

  Terra laughed, and Adrianna told him, “Family drama. She’s spending the night.”

  “Fine by me. I’m going to take a shower and change into something more comfortable. Why don’t we order out and get some Chinese food?” He headed toward the bedroom, and Adrianna made a gagging face as he disappeared, making Terra giggle.

  She gave her friend a pointed look. “I’ll order it, but I need you to help me make the teriyaki disappear. Jordan isn’t a fan of Chinese.”

  “Well, at least she already has an opinion.” Terra reached into her pocket. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll order, my treat. And I’ll get up off my boney ass and make some iced tea to go with it in a few minutes.”

  Her friend had lost weight, and that worried Adrianna. “When did you stop eating?”

  Terra frowned and wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Why would you ask me that?”

  “Come on, Terra, you have to have lost at least ten pounds since I saw you last. Talk to me.”

  Terra held up a hand, asking her to wait while she ordered, and after she hung up, she pressed her lips tightly together. “You know I can’t eat when I’m stressed like this. My parents told me they were coming about a week and a half ago. I haven’t eaten much since.” She sounded ashamed of herself.

  “Okay, we’re going to fix that tonight. You are going to gorge yourself, and if I have to come take you out to lunch every day until they leave, I’m going to make sure you eat. I can’t have Tommy coming home and seeing you like this when you’ve been under my supervision.” Terra stuck her tongue out and Adrianna rolled her eyes. “It’s for your own good. Now, get in there and make some tea, or I won’t open the cookies I bought and share them for dessert.”

  Making a face, Terra moved, and Adrianna watched her, glad she could at least partially heal her friend’s pain so easily. She was also glad she didn’t have such a bad relationship with her own mother. She might have killed her by now.

  CHAPTER 33

  Adrianna was jerked from sleep by a searing pain, and she sat straight up in bed, a sheen of sweat coating her instantly as she cried out with it. She’d never felt anything like it, and she was so distracted by the agony she barely noticed John beside her as he woke, blinking and staring at her, trying to get his bearings and figure out what had happened.

  Slowly, the pain faded, and she took several deep breaths, still too groggy to figure out what exactly had hit her. As the room came into view, she heard John ask, “Are you alright?” His voice cracked, full of sleep.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I…” She trailed off, another pain taking her breath away, and this time, she knew exactly what it was. “Oh, my God,” she croaked, trying with all her might to just catch her breath.

  There was a knock at the bedroom door, and Terra’s voice called, “Is everything okay?”

  A warm, wet sensation covered Adrianna’s thighs, and her eyes widened. She whispered, “Jordan’s coming.”

  John was on his feet instantly, grabbing some clothes and pulling them on in a rush. “Terra, come in!” he shouted, flipping on the light. Adrianna glanced at the clock as the door opened, and she cringed harder when she saw it wasn’t even five o’clock.

  Terra’s face registered shock and almost fear, and Adrianna knew her friend figured it out instantly. “What can I do?” she asked, switching into gear without hesitation.

  “You know her better than I do.” He tossed Terra a duffel bag. “Pack some of her things she might need in the hospital. We’re
leaving.”

  The pain passed, and Adrianna heaved a deep sigh of relief. “It’s too soon. She’s not due yet.”

  “Apparently she disagrees,” Terra argued, throwing clothes and underwear from the dresser drawers into the bag. “How long have you been in labor?”

  She honestly didn’t know. She could have slept through a lot of small contractions, for all she knew. “I’m not sure. But…” She couldn’t say anymore, doubling over with the next cramp. “We need to go,” she strained through gritted teeth. “These are right on top of each other.”

  Dressed in wrinkled clothes and wallet and keys in hand, John came around to Adrianna’s side of the bed and put his arm around her shoulders, helping her to her feet. As she stood, she went numb, and it was like a cold wave of relief washing over her. “I can walk,” she told him, though he insisted on holding her arm as she waddled to the door.

  The three of them made it as far as the elevator before another contraction hit, and she squeezed one of each of their hands to get through it. Again, she was free, long enough to hail a cab and get inside. The cab driver raced to the hospital with a frightened look, Adrianna trying to breathe right all the way as the pains didn’t let up at all. John called the doctor, who said he’d be there within minutes.

  She was wheeled to labor and delivery, and the nurses rushed to prep her while the doctor scrubbed in. Things moved quickly, in a blur, and there wasn’t even time for an epidural if she’d wanted one. John came in wearing scrubs and a mask just in time, and Adrianna laughed through tears as she held her daughter for the first time, John’s eyes soft and liquid with his own emotions as he brushed the top of her head.

  She didn’t want to let go as they took Jordan to clean and weigh her, check vitals and whatever else it was they did, but she clung to John’s hand, just waiting as they took her to recovery for them to return her.

  Terra met them in the room, a bright smile on her face. “Lindsey and Angela and Sean and Greg and Corinne are all in the lobby, waiting. They want to see you, but you aren’t allowed that many visitors at once. Oh, and Ella’s flying in from California. She’ll be here this afternoon.”

  Adrianna couldn’t believe they were all coming, especially Ella, across three thousand miles. But there was one person missing, and she frowned, opening her mouth to ask about it. “Addy?” The voice in the doorway stopped her, and Adrianna grinned from ear to ear as her mother came in, carrying a big pink teddy bear.

  “Mama!” It was the person she wanted to see most, and she hugged Lorraine tight to her, giggling with joy as her mother rocked her back and forth. “Mama, she’s beautiful.”

  “And when do I get to see my grandbaby?” the older woman asked.

  “Right now,” the nurse called as she wheeled in a hospital crib, a tiny little bundle wrapped inside and wearing a pink cap. “Seven pounds, three ounces, and eighteen inches of beautiful,” she said as Adrianna strained to see her daughter while everyone else crowded around and looked down at her.

  John picked his daughter up and kissed her, cradling her against him for a few moments before handing her to Adrianna. His face was alive with joy. “She’s beautiful,” he whispered reverently as he handed her over, and Adrianna agreed. She had a head full of silky dark hair already, and she squinted up, showing dark eyes. Her skin was a rich cappuccino color, and she had Adrianna’s nose with John’s strong chin. She was going to grow into a beautiful young woman someday.

  “Congratulations, baby,” Lorraine said with tears in her own eyes as she came to the other side of the bed and looked down at her family.

  Terra stepped away. “I’m going to let everyone else come in, one or two at a time. You let me know if you need anything.”

  For a while, a steady stream of people were in and out of the hospital room, bringing gifts and congratulations, and when they finally left, Terra came to check in before she headed back home. Adrianna said goodnight on a yawn, and the nurses helped her breastfeed for the first time. As she handed Jordan to John, she was ready to pass out, and she slipped into a light sleep, waking now and then to see John rocking their daughter and singing to her softly.

  ***

  Adrianna stood at the front of the church, smiling as Angela walked toward her, radiant in a pearly white dress that shimmered in the bright lights. All eyes were on the bride, and Adrianna fingered the engagement ring on her own finger as she glanced to the row where her mother and John sat, Jordan in her mother’s arms. She looked up, finding Sean waiting for Angela, and he stood tall and proud in his white tuxedo.

  The ceremony was lovely, and the party was a blast, even though it was a little more difficult with a three-month-old that Adrianna had to breastfeed in a formal dress. Still, she and John stayed till the reception ended, and while her mother watched over Jordan, putting in late hours for someone like her, Adrianna helped with the cleanup. It was great spending time with all her girls again, and she was even more excited to know they’d be together again in just a couple of months for her big day.

  At home, they put Jordan in her crib, changed into pajamas, and Adrianna flopped onto the couch, laying her head in John’s lap. She was exhausted but not ready for bed. She was too wound up from the evening. “You know, Tommy will be home in a couple of weeks, and things will be back to normal,” she mused aloud.

  John nodded. “Well, as normal as they can be, I suppose.” He had a point; their schedules were packed, between having a child, traveling for work, and planning for a wedding. “Are you happy?” he asked wistfully.

  She frowned. “Of course I’m happy. Why would you ask me that?”

  He stroked her hair, giving her goosebumps. “I know our sex life has suffered a bit with everything going on and the baby. I’m also well aware you’re incredibly tired and pushing yourself to the breaking point. I just don’t want anything to be a burden or to make you unhappy.”

  Adrianna laughed lightly. “I appreciate that. But this is the life of motherhood. Sure, a lot of women stay home or at least work locally. But I love my life, and I wouldn’t trade any part of it for a little more quiet.” But his question made her wonder. “Are you happy?”

  She watched John’s eyes light up, that silvery shimmer coming over them the way it did when he was truly happy. “I’m the most content man in the world. I have you, and I have the most beautiful, sweet child in the world. I have a family and friends that you’ve given me who are incredible and reliable. And I have a fabulous job that assures I can provide for you and Jordan. What more could a man want?”

  It filled Adrianna’s heart to hear it, and she nuzzled deeper into his lap. She’d only felt this much at home with her mother before, and it surprised her that she’d found that level of comfort with someone else. And being a mother was more satisfying than she could ever have imagined, despite how hard it could be at times.

  She sighed contentedly and smiled up at John. She had an errant thought, and it was almost more shocking than anything else. In fact, it seemed like some sort of untouchable fantasy rather than something she could ever relate to her own life, laughable even. Still, she had to speak it out loud, see if John had the same reaction as she did. “What would you say if I told you I wanted to quit my job and stay at home with Jordan?” she heard the humor in her own voice.

  He looked down at her, blinking as he digested her words. “I would say, let’s find your replacement, get him or her trained, and put in your notice. I think it’s a beautiful idea, if you really want it.”

  She couldn’t believe he’d accepted it so easily. “You don’t really mean that, do you?”

  He shrugged. “Of course I do. Are you serious about it?”

  She struggled as she thought it over. It was a dream, and if she did this thing, she would probably miss the job, miss the stress and the responsibility. What if she got bored? But deep down, she knew she was tired of her career, and while she felt like she might be giving up on that dream, she knew she hadn’t failed at it, and that was import
ant. And in letting that dream go, she’d be moving on, away from the last shreds of her past that she wanted to forget, and she’d be pursuing a new one with her family.

  “You know, I didn’t think so, but yes, I want that. I love my mother, but she’s raised three children already. And I don’t want my child to have a nanny that she adores as much as she loves us because they spend so much time together. I don’t want to miss a moment with her, John. I’m already starting to feel like I’ve missed so much, and it’s only been three months out of eighteen or twenty years.”

  “I think it’s a wonderful idea,” John told her, his hand still brushing over her head. “I make more than enough for all of us. It’s not like we’ve used your salary – it’s all in savings. And if you ever wanted to go back to work, I’d support that, too. But I think you’re making a good decision.”

  A weight seemed to lift from her chest, and yet, she wanted to cry. “Thank you, for being supportive.”

  “That’s how a relationship should be,” he replied. Then, a mischievous grin crawled up the corners of his lips. “But I’m serious about finding a good replacement. I am giving up an amazing employee who can handle a crisis, after all. I need a worthy one in your place.”

  She laughed. “If that’s all you’re concerned about, don’t worry. There are plenty of great candidates, and I’ll start interviewing right away.”

  So much had changed in the last year, she thought. She’d gone from a single, lonely woman who found her pleasure in books, to someone who needed passion in her life just to keep her sanity, and now she’d come full circle. She was a mother, and soon to be a wife. It was the happiest place she could imagine today.