Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2)

by Liza O'Connor

  “He is very difficult to please. I thought so when he was flipping between wanting and not wanting to do anything for you, and I think so now. I believe his behavior comes from growing up in boarding schools. I want our children to be raised at home, where we can hug and love them before they meet the cold, cruel world each day, then give them an extra dose of love when they return home.”

  ***

  When Amanda and Adam returned to France, they discovered their house full of guests celebrating their wedding.

  She looked up at Adam. “I’m glad our friends didn’t fly over to England. This party is infinitely more fun.”

  Mark was there, looking a bit worn, but still handsome with his wavy blond hair and penetrating blue eyes.

  He approached them and shook Adam’s hand. “You’re a fool for waiting so long, but Amanda couldn’t have done better in her selection of a husband.”

  Adam was so pleased with his kind words that he provided him a copy of their aria and some of her newer works played by Bresnan.

  “You will not be able to recopy this disk,” he warned Mark. “This is for you, because you are a good friend. And whenever you are in town, I will be highly insulted if you do not stay here as our guest, as long as you travel alone.”

  “I would never bring Beth back into her life,” Mark assured him. “And I would very much like to return to this haven of peace and happiness when I can.”

  Adam could see the young man was close to crying. “If you ever want my advice or assistance, you need only ask.”

  Mark struggled with his emotions. “Not here and not today, but I am greatly in need of good advice.”

  “Then stay tonight and we will talk in the morning.”

  ***

  Bresnan was nearly comatose from drinking, and Amanda was very worried about him. At her request, Adam carried him up to their bedroom and left her to tend to him.

  “Don’t be too long, Amanda. You have a room full of people who adore you.”

  Amanda promised she wouldn’t, and snuggled up to Bresnan and laid her head on his chest so she could hear the strong thumping of his heart.

  He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tighter against him as he spoke her name.

  “I’m here, love,” she assured him, and fell asleep.

  ***

  She woke to a gentle stroking of her face. She looked up to find Adam lying on the other side of the bed, smiling at her.

  “Am I in trouble?”

  “Not with me, but Bastion is most put out that you haven’t spoken to him in hours.”

  She stared at Bresnan. “Is he okay?”

  “He is, but he’ll probably be sick when he wakes, and he won’t want you to see him in such a state.”

  “Will you stay with him and make sure he’s okay?”

  “I will take very good care of him,” Adam promised her, and stroked her cheek.

  She kissed Adam and hurried downstairs.

  Most of the guests had left, but her cranky taskmaster remained.

  “Where have you been?” Bastion demanded.

  “I had Adam put Bresnan upstairs and I fell asleep watching over him.”

  Bastion place his hand on her forehead. She pulled away at once. “Oh no, the last time you did that, I ended up in the hospital.”

  He attempted to feel her head again, and when she resisted, he called for the assistance of Simon and Pinchot.

  As they secured her hands, Simon asked where her husband was.

  “Upstairs with Bresnan,” she replied.

  “Any chance of him coming down to assist us in this exam?” Pinchot teased.

  “No, he promised to remain with Bresnan until I returned.”

  “Really? Then we’ll just have to do it without him.”

  “You are not taking me to a hospital.”

  Simon and Pinchot pulled her into the library and suggested Bastion lock the door. “If anyone walked in, they might misunderstand we are only determining the health of our most beloved student.”

  Bastion locked the door as his brow furrowed. “I do not believe we should refer to Amanda as our student when we are—” He stopped talking and his frown deepened as he studied her face. “This is... I honestly don’t know what to call this, but it has nothing to do with the school, and you are in no way obliged to participate.”

  “Just don’t take me to the hospital and I’ll do whatever you want.”

  He approached and knelt down beside her. “Are you certain?”

  I told them I was unable to have children and you want them to be the fathers, Adam explained.

  Amanda took a deep breath. She was glad Adam had finally told her how he planned to charm three gay men into making love to her.

  “I love each of you. You are kind, intelligent, and incredibly talented, and if you believe you can do this, I would very much like to have your children.”

  Bastion smiled. “For my part, I will bow out of tonight’s tom-foolery with these two, and meet you in a more dignified manner.” He leaned in and kissed her. He then rose and walked to the door. “One of you two fools should lock the door when I leave.”

  Simon locked the door, then returned with a devilish smile on his face. “Now, let us see if we can find a fever anywhere on our most precious student.”

  “You aren’t to call me a student,” she reminded him.

  “Well, who is going to tell?” Simon retorted as he slid his hand up her dress. “She feels a bit warm. We are going to need to remove all these clothes for a closer inspection.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  When she left the library, Bastion sat at the dining room table, finishing off a bottle of wine. Simon and Pinchot kissed her goodnight and left. After seeing them out, she walked over to Bastion and sat down beside him

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  She smiled. “It’s probably a good thing I don’t attend classes. I’m never going to be able to take them quite so seriously again.”

  “They are excellent instructors.”

  “They are,” she agreed, then laughed. “But they are very silly when they’re off the clock.”

  A slight smile came to his face. “They can be most ridiculous.”

  She caressed his cheek. “And you sat here worrying about me and drank too much in the process.”

  “Guilty as charged.”

  “I think you should stay here tonight—I couldn’t bear it if you were harmed driving home.”

  He sighed. “I will not be of any use to you.”

  “I just want you safe and alive. We don’t need to do anything until you feel comfortable. This cannot be easy for you, and if you decide you don’t want to, I will understand.”

  ***

  Once she had Bastion settled in the last guest room, she returned to Bresnan and Adam. While Bresnan looked as if the bottle had worked him over, his misery seemed to be gone. He tried to sit up. “I should go.”

  Adam’s hand settled on his shoulder. “You are in no shape to go anywhere. You will stay here tonight. And we might even manage to get some sleep before morning if someone will come to bed.”

  Amanda changed into her nightgown and crawled in between them. She fell asleep contented, and hopeful a baby grew inside her.

  ***

  Amanda opened her eyes to Bresnan’s stern scrutiny.

  “Are you feeling better now?”

  “A little,” he admitted. “Did you know Adam was sterile when you agreed to marry him?”

  “I did.”

  “Even though you wanted children?”

  “I couldn’t choose a better father and provider for my children. He will adore them just as he does me.”

  “Did you tell him about us?”

  “No. But he’s very smart,” she added. “And very generous. He only wants me to be happy.”

  “And I make you happy?”

  “When you aren’t filled with misery. I was very worried about you yesterday. People can die from drinking too m
uch. And it could kill brain cells you need to read my music.”

  He laughed, then groaned as his head complained. “I don’t think I’m up to the task of helping you make babies right now.”

  “Then lie back down and hold me,” she suggested.

  ***

  Downstairs, Adam listened as Mark revealed the extent of his problems.

  “Do you feel any obligation to either Beth or her children?”

  “No, none at all,” Mark said.

  “Well, you could try for a divorce, but I expect Hamilton would see you dead first, so I recommend we take advantage of that.”

  “How?

  “Simple. Let Hamilton believe he has succeeded in killing you, while you undergo plastic surgery and start a new life.”

  “Will I still be able to play the violin?”

  “You will need to spend a few years allowing a maestro to improve your technique, so he can take credit for your brilliance when you appear on stage, but beyond that delay, I predict your future will move much faster without Hamilton dragging you down.”

  Mark nodded in agreement.

  “However, there is a price to a new identity. You’ll have to give up all your friends and family.”

  “Will I have to give up Amanda?”

  “No. She can be trusted to keep your secret. In fact, she can give you advice on the matter. She’s changed her identity three times.”

  “Will I be able to visit her?”

  “That will depend on your maestro. I have heard Charles Schummer is very demanding.”

  “Schummer... Charles Schummer is going to teach me?”

  “He owes me a favor, and I don’t believe he will resent my request once he hears you play. In fact, he may decide he now owes me a second favor for sending him such a magnificent student.”

  Mark shook his head in disbelief, then met Adam’s gaze. “How soon can we put this plan into action?”

  ***

  Amanda wasn’t happy with the first part of the plan, in which Mark was to “pretend die” in a real assassination attempt, but Adam assured her he had the matter firmly under control. He had outbid the assassin’s allegiance.

  Still, she fretted until Mark was safely in a hospital undergoing plastic surgery. When Bastion came and told her of Mark’s death, she burst into tears. Bastion was crying, and it broke her heart she couldn’t tell him the truth. While she comforted him with kisses and hugs, he finally relented to her affections and joined her efforts to have a baby.

  ***

  A month later when her period didn’t come, Adam cautioned her not to say anything just yet.

  “Why?”

  “Well, for two reasons. First, they will be greatly disappointed if you aren’t, and second, they might think they should cease making love to you once the goal has been achieved.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I know how much you enjoy being loved.”

  In the second month, Adam took her to a doctor and verified she was a healthy pregnant mother of three. She tried very hard to keep this wonderful news a secret. However, with Mark now safely recovering from surgery and three babies in her womb, she simply glowed with happiness.

  “You are definitely pregnant,” Simon declared when he arrived the morning following her doctor’s exam.

  “It’s too soon to be certain,” she said as she sat down to breakfast.

  He watched her devour everything on the table. “Well, you eat like you’re pregnant,” he teased, then paused. “So if you aren’t sure, does that mean we should keep trying?”

  She laughed. “Oh, I think we should keep trying right up to the point the baby pops out.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Simon had left her with a very difficult assignment, and Bastion came over to ensure she did not pick up the bad habits of his other student. She knew he was referring to Adam’s one and only composition, and inexplicably she burst into tears.

  “What’s this?” Bastion asked as he cradled her in his arms.

  “Adam didn’t mean to cheat. He just has trouble imagining things. He’s a fact-based person.”

  “I know that,” Bastion assured her. “I was teasing you.”

  “But you aren’t. You’re angry with him. You made him destroy his composition even though it was very pretty.”

  “I made him destroy it because it was plagiarism, and too well done for anyone to believe he was the composer, which meant you would have borne the blame for authorship.”

  “But I didn’t! I don’t even think I could. I certainly couldn’t do that and my assignment in those few hours!”

  Bastion kissed her temple. “I know that. I cannot imagine how a man with so little training could create such a composition, but he obviously did. And I know for certain you did not. You do not copy. You do not even mimic. Your music is uniquely your own. And I am now certain Simon is correct in his belief that you’re pregnant, for nothing less could account for this outburst.”

  She smiled up at him. “If I were pregnant—and we cannot be for certain, but if I were—it could be yours.”

  He held her tight. “That would please me greatly, but I will love your child no matter who the father might be. Now, before we both burst into a fit of weeping, let’s get back to your assignment. I understand it to be most challenging.”

  She handed him the list of items Simon wished to see portrayed in today’s composition.

  Bastion shook his head. “A challenge indeed! It inspires me to take pencil to paper and see if I can, at last, outdo you. Experience will lend itself to my favor.”

  Amanda feared he might be correct about experience favoring him, and thus refocused on her composition, determined not to fail this challenge.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Amanda stared at the short-haired blond German with his majestic hawk nose on the monitor of her PC.

  “Well, what do you think?” Jon Mann asked.

  “I think you look like a serious young man with extraordinary talent.”

  “Yeah, but would you sleep with me?”

  “Absolutely,” she assured him.

  “I... I don’t know what I can and can’t say with you. I don’t talk about my past with anyone here. I remain aloof now, so I don’t have to answer questions. I avoid bars, because if I drink, I might talk too much.”

  “I know. I understand exactly what you’re going through. It will get easier with time. So tell me, how are your classes with Charles Schummer?”

  His demeanor brightened. “They are fabulous! This is the best thing that could have happened to me. He says I came just in time. I was developing some habits that would have limited any further improvement. Another few years, and he believes I would have been ruined.”

  “I never noticed any bad habits, except that you went to bars too often,” she teased.

  “God, I love you,” he blurted out. “Is it all right if I say that?”

  “Absolutely,” she assured him. “And I love you too!” She was happy when her declaration cheered him.

  “So how are you? How is your composition coming along? I listen to your recording every night. I wish you hadn’t lost your voice.”

  “I don’t miss it. Composing music is a lot more fun.”

  “And you’re very good at it. I’m jealous Bresnan is allowed to play your pieces, rather than me.”

  “Well, you would have a great deal of trouble playing an orchestra piece all by yourself,” she teased. “However, today Simon gave me an assignment to create a movement using a single instrument, and I wrote it with you in mind. Bastion played it. Did you know he played the violin?”

  “Of course I knew. He was my.... second choice of instructors if Schummer didn’t take me.”

  “Shall I send you the piece?”

  “Nothing would make me happier,” he assured her.

  “You cannot share it with anyone, because Bastion wants the entire opera to be finished before anyone hears it. He’s most annoyed with Adam for placing my first composition on the rec
ording he made. Adam offered to remove it from his copy, but that only made him angrier. So don’t share the recording with anyone,” she warned him.

  “If I let the other guys hear it, they would steal it from me. I’m not exactly popular.” He sighed. “However, whenever the hostility gets to me, I just think of you and how well you survived. I remind myself it isn’t important what these cretins think. All that matters is music and true friends.”

  “I have some fabulous news to tell you. I hope you’ll be happy as well...”

  “What?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  He moved away from the monitor. All she could see was his empty narrow cot.

  “Mar—” Realizing she’d used the wrong name, she struggled to alter the sentence. “...tin is hoping for a girl. Jon, please come back to the phone,” she pleaded.

  He turned off the camera feed. “I have to go now.”

  “You can’t go feeling like this,” she insisted.

  “I love you,” he whispered, and ended their connection.

  She burst into tears, and Adam came to comfort her.

  ***

  She hoped with time Mark—Jon—would come to his senses and talk to her. Instead, he refused further money from Adam and would have had to leave school had Schummer not found him a scholarship.

  When Adam told her this, she kissed him. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For the scholarship Schummer found.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “You had become his whole life, and the announcement of your pregnancy destroyed whatever unrealistic dreams he held in his head,” Adam explained. “On the positive side, Schummer says he has never played better. He says he will have nothing more to teach Jon by the end of this year. An excellent German agent wishes to sign him when he leaves.”

  “Then why does he not sign him now?”

  “Schummer does not allow his students to have agents.”

  “He is very wise.”

  Adam sighed. “I remember Sean Darmont telling me I was doing a poor job of taking care of you.”

  “And he was entirely wrong.”