Touch Me Boss: A Single Dad Office Romance

by Aria Ford

  Alice and Lacey both laughed. “Cecilia, you can’t sit still. You don’t need to work anymore.”

  Cecilia finished her glass and started pouring another one. “If I’m going to sit around and drink up most of his wine, I’m happy to bring in a little money too.”

  “This is terrible, absolutely terrible.” Stephen muttered as he sorted papers in Neal’s law office.

  Neal sat down in his chair, mumbling to himself as he decided to drink his coffee black.

  “What is terrible, Stephen? Every time I turn around you’re upset about something else.”

  Stephen glared at him. “You pay me to be upset, Neal. We do not have enough support in most of these counties I’m studying. We’re in danger of losing.”

  “The election is in November, it’s August. We have time.”

  “Don’t be foolish, people need to be educated about you. The democrats aren’t leading either, but Isaiah certainly is.”

  Neal scoffed. “Because he’s a young man. What they don’t know is that they want a man of a certain age. Someone wise, who’s got hair on his face.”

  Stephen chuckled. “Sir, you shave your beard. That’s not the point, though.”

  “Well, am I doing better since I’ve married?”

  “A little. Cecilia makes you look great, but there’s something missing.”

  Neal took out a client’s portfolio, and began skimming through it. “Why do I feel like this is a plot to get me to collect as many people as possible, Stephen? I can’t get another wife, I’m afraid that’s illegal and I’m afraid of Cecilia.”

  Stephen laughed. “You’re afraid of your beautiful red flower?”

  “My beautiful red flower is no debutante. She thinks like a man sometimes, its lovely actually. She’s incredibly efficient.”

  “Yes, Cecilia is wonderful. I imagine she’s performing all of her wifely duties?”

  Neal scoffed. “I know what you’re getting at, and that is not demanded in my household.”

  “Hm. Well, are the results of the duties you may or may not ask her to perform profitable?”

  “Now what the hell does that mean?”

  “It means… well, have you spoken about children yet?”

  Neal shrugged and reclined in his leather chair. “Vaguely. She asked me last week if I thought a little girl of ours would inherit her crimson hair.”

  “Splendid. She’s already interested then. I have an idea.”

  “Oh no.”

  “Oh, stop that-“

  “No, you’re full of ideas, Stephen. What the hell is it this time?”

  “Well, people like men with families. The younger the better.”

  “You think I should bring an infant into this world to win an election?” Neal asked.

  Stephen gathered his things. “Think about it, will you? Children are a blessing.” He called over hi shoulder as he left the office.

  “ Then where are yours?!” Neal called after him.

  “Oh, hell.” Cecilia muttered as she sprinted down the hall again. She made it just in time, and fell on her knees in front of the toilet. The fried eggs and bacon she had eaten for breakfast came up and spewed out of her mouth. She heaved, and coughed. She pulled the handle and all of it went down the drain.

  ‘I’ve got to find time to tell Neal. He needs to get me to a doctor.’ She thought. She pulled herself up off of the floor and shuffled down the hall.

  She entered Neal’s study, and frowned at the swirling motion in her abdomen. “No, no more today, please.”

  She sat at the desk and took out a pen and paper. She wrote:

  Dear Alice and Lacey:

  I’m doing well. I don’t think Neal’s campaign is doing very great. He and Stephen seem pretty stressed out. I’m a little sick, actually. Not sick enough to be concerned if it’s something pretty serious. But- I guess this is the most serious things have been for me since I got married. I think I may be pregnant. I know that it’s soon, but all of the symptoms are there. I’m acting just like Mama did when she got pregnant with Alice. Please send me a letter back, I want to know how you’re doing. How’s Earnest and Evan?

  With love, Cecilia

  She set the pen down and walked down the hall, she could see Neal entering their bedroom. She went in after him, and he turned around as he undid his cufflinks.

  “Good afternoon, sweetheart. How’s your day?”

  Cecilia sat on the bed and played with her braid. “Fine, nothing new. And yours?”

  “Great, well we’re behind but I think traveling to a couple of cities might change some minds. Stephen is being ridiculous again.”

  Cecilia chuckled. “Isn’t he always?”

  “Yes, but now he’s being especially ridiculous, Cecilia. He wants me to have a stronger family image.”

  “I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that.” Cecilia said, she began to fold the clothes he was removing.

  “There certainly is when your campaign manager wants you to have a child to win the election.”

  “How funny.”

  Neal sat on the bed. “I’m glad one of us thinks so. I think it’s a bit stupid.”

  “Children are a blessing.”

  Yes, when you want them- we just got married.”

  “Well, sometimes they like to pick when they want to make their entrance. You know?”

  Neal studied her. “Why are you playing with your braid like that?”

  “I had to tie it up this way.”

  “So your hair wouldn’t get caught in the sewing machine, again?”

  “No. “ She dropped the braid and planted her feet firmly on the floor. “I had to tie it up like this so that it didn’t get vomit in it.”

  Neal’s brows furrowed. “Are you okay, dear? Are you sick, should I get you to a doctor?”

  “I need to see a doctor, but I don’t think he can fix it. I’m pregnant, Neal.”

  Neal sighed. “I guess Stephen gets to have his way again.” Cecilia chuckled.

  “Well, Cecilia, I care deeply for you.” Neal opened the door leading to the hallway. “I would offer you some wine, but you’re carrying my child. I’m sorry, I just need to do some more campaign planning.”

  Cecilia pulled the large comforter back on the bed and gave him a smile. “It’s fine, Neal. Are you sure that this wasn’t too much for you?”

  “I’ll take it in stride, I really need to work on my campaign- I’ll get you to the doctor tomorrow.”

  Cecilia had already crawled into bed and replied with, “No rush-please. Plan your campaign.”

  Neal hesitated. “Cecilia, are you alright?”

  “I’m just a little nauseous. Morning sickness is actually all damn day sickness. I’ll adjust.” She rolled over in the bed to face him. “This is why I didn’t tell you right away, I didn’t want to distract you from the campaign.”

  Neal shut the door and squeezed in next to her on the bed. He kissed her neck. “Our baby is not a distraction. You are more important to me than being governor.” He whispered.

  “You’ve practically just met me.”

  Neal held her tighter. “I’ve had the pleasure of being married to you for the past three months. I’d like many, many more with our baby.”

  The tension in Cecilia’s shoulders ebbed away. “Thank you, Neal.”

  Four months flew by in a blur of summer and fall, and Cecilia’s belly swelled to three times it’s regular size. She had developed a waddle at five months, but at 6, her calves ached when she stood for too long. Neal had been away for a week to campaign in Yerrington. After several door to door stops had been performed he decided that he needed to reach the rest of Nevada.

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay? I can arrange for you to have a midwife while I’m gone.”

  Cecilia elevated her feet while she toyed with some embroidery stitching. “Neal, if you don’t get your ass to Yerrington to tie up this election, I will hold this baby in for six more months just to spite you.”

  Neal
kissed her on the cheek. “I better leave tonight then, huh?”

  Neal and Stephen ended up leaving the next morning, and for the most part, Cecilia had done fine on her own. She did her embroidery and repairs on garments, she attended church where she maintained the friendships she had. Her friends were mostly middle aged women that she did tailoring work for.

  On the Sunday after Neal left, Grace approached her. “Cecilia, your husband has gone out of town?”

  Cecilia nodded, rubbing her belly. “He’s campaigning in Yerringotn. He should be back approaching the election.”

  The election was only a few days out, most people waited until the month before or the month of to learn about the candidates. Neal took advantage of those lackadaisical attitudes. Only a little snow had fallen this year, which made Cecilia’s waddle to church a bit easier.

  Cecilia pulled her coat tighter around her but the coat couldn’t cover her massive stomach.

  “Well, that’s not right. As pregnant as you are, and he’s left you all alone in a new place?”

  Cecilia frowned. “I’m fine, and I’ve been in Nevada for months.”

  Grace told Sheila to come over and Sheila called over Mary, who then called over Theresa and Louise. They all gathered around Cecilia to share their opinion. Before she knew it, the sound of their collective chattering was buzzing on all sides of her.

  “I’m fine, I promise.” She reassured the group.

  “But you’ve had such a difficult pregnancy.” Theresa said. The resto f the women chattered in agreement.

  Cecilia’s pregnancy had been tough, she had only recently stopped vomiting every day. Her ankles were incredibly swollen, one of her breasts had begun lactating in the middle of church only a month ago.

  The women chattered and it was when Sheila muttered, “That Neal is despicable,” that Cecilia snapped, “You watch your mouth about my husband, Sheila.”

  The women began to quiet down to watch the confrontation.

  “My husband is a great man! Neal sees me as his equal, that is why I’m by myself and supporting him from here. I am his equal, that means that I can be myself, and I don’t need to be with Neal all of the time, even when I’m pregnant.”

  There was a stubborn hush that fell over the group.

  “Neal is great. He treats his wife as an equal and like royalty. That is why all of you should tell your husbands to vote for him.” Cecilia snarled as she waddled away from her church friends.

  Cecilia had just finished waddling to the mailbox and back when she noticed a letter from Alice and Lacey. She sat on the sofa in the den. She exhaled a sigh of relief as she laid on her back.

  She unfolded the letter that both of her younger sisters had written. She held the paper close to her chest and sighed.

  ‘I wonder how big Lacey is now.’ Cecilia thought. Lacey had conceived around the same time Cecilia did but according to letters from Alice, Lacey’s pregnancy had been a breeze.

  She only gained a little bit of weight, she slept fine and wasn’t a friend to morning sickness at all. Alice had been unable to get pregnant, so far.

  ‘I wonder if Alice has stopped locking herself out of her house yet.’

  The letter read:

  Cecilia! It’s a shame that Neal is behind in the polls, we hope he pulls through in the end. However, we could care less about the election when our big sister is pregnant. Are you okay? Lacey has been making it fine, she still hasn’t had very much nausea, and she looks darling. How is your pregnancy? We would love to see you before the baby is born. Please write back soon.

  With love,

  Alice and Lacey

  ‘This election has consumed our lives. I wonder if Stephen is intercepting my letters to Neal. I haven’t heard a thing from him. ‘ Cecilia peered around the den. The ceilings were incredibly high. The room was large and spacious and it only highlighted how small she was.

  ‘I can barely get up by myself without five minutes of trying.’ She rubbed her belly. ‘I’ve never been more uncomfortable in my life.’

  She began the arduous process of lifting herself off of the sofa, and after two minutes of trying to lift herself up without causing excruciating back pain, she decided that it was best to roll herself off of the sofa from her side.

  Once she stood up, she waddled her way over to the door and strode down the hall to her and Neal’s bedroom. She bent over slightly to retrieve a small piece of luggage. She opened the luggage and put in a few pairs of panties, her newer maternity dresses, the black one and the red one. She packed her hair brush and called Sheila from the church.

  “Hey, Sheila, do you think you and your boy could help me get to the train station? I’d like to see my sisters for a few days, I won’t be able to travel soon.”

  Sheila chirped a positive response and said that they would be at Neal’s home shortly.

  ‘I don’t mind so much that he’s so dedicated to his campaign, but I cannot be expected to sit here.’

  Soon, Sheila and her son arrived. Cecilia waddled out and Sheila smiled apologetically. “Cecilia, I do apologize about church this morning, and the remarks I made about your husband. Neal is a lovely man, he’s always been quiet and kept to himself but he was always helpful whenever you needed him. He will make a fine governor.”

  Sheila’s son picked up Cecilia’s luggage. “I don’t know, Sheila. I feel so… uncertain in places where I should really feel certain. This election has been nothing but rough. My baby is either going to come soon or kill me at this rate.”

  “Oh, stop that. Neal is going to pull through. I can’t say that I always felt that way, but he is a good man. You two are good people.”

  “I just want this to be over. This pregnancy, this damned election- I know it means the world to Neal and Stephen- but I just don’t have the strength to care anymore.”

  Sheila patted her on the shoulder. “You’ll make it through, dear. Just keep hoping and praying.”

  The house smelled of baked bread and chocolate frosting. Cecilia grinned as she walked into Lacey’s home. “I can’t wait to start eating sweets again.” She yelled and sat down her luggage. She heard footsteps approaching her and Lacey howled in delight and wrapped her arms around Cecilia’s shoulders.

  “Oh, my you’ve gotten so big. Are you sure there aren’t multiple children in there?”

  Cecilia groaned. “If there is, I’m going to have to make more of me to deal with it because Neal won’t be around.”

  Lacey frowned as they walked into the den. “What makes you say that?”

  “Well, the election is our lives now. It has completely eaten up all of Neal’s free time. I was so nervous about telling him about the pregnancy because I didn’t think he could handle it.”

  “Elections aren’t easy. I bet Neal can’t wait to be a father.”

  “He got completely drunk after I told him. I can’t get him to talk to me about our marriage, the baby, even about the weather.”

  “Daddy was the same way. Maybe that’s men are.” Lacey nodded to Evan walking by. He came in and gave Cecilia a kiss on the cheek.

  “Evan, could you get Cecilia some of the pie?

  “Of course.”

  “I’m really not supposed to have snacks yet-“

  “Oh, I’m sure it will be fine.”

  “I’m worried that nothing will work out.”

  Evan came back with a big slice of lemon meringue pie. Cecilia nibbled on the cake as her and Lacey caught up.

  “When is Alice coming by?” Cecilia asked, shifting positions on the sofa. ‘These pillows are way better for my aching back. Truthfully, I really like Lacey and Evan’s place.’

  It was a nice home. The curtains were a beautiful beige, the den was decorated with knick knacks along the walls.

  “Your place looks like something that Mama would be proud of.”

  Lacey eyed her for a moment and smirked. “You don’t need to patronize me, Cecilia. Evan does well at the bank but I’m not married to a future g
overnor.”

  Cecilia sighed. “I’m not sure he’s going to win, Lacey. And if he doesn’t that means that I’ve endured this horrible pregnancy all alone for nothing. It could mean that my marriage has been thrown to the side of a failed attempt at grasping a little bit of power.”

  “You’re very good at distracting yourself form all of your blessings. You have a husband that takes care of you, you’re having a baby, and your husband might be governor.”

  “Lacey, I-“

  “Don’t fight with me. I couldn’t care less if you’re older.”

  “Lacey!” Cecilia yelled, this time with a panicked tone to her voice.

  Lacey held a hand up. “Why do you always have to get a word in? Why can’t you just be the one to listen sometimes-“

  “I’m in labor!” Cecilia shrieked as she gripped the couch cushions until they threatened to burst and spray cotton confetti all over Lacey’s den.

  “What?!” Lacey screeched. “Evan! Evan! Cecilia has gone into labor!”

  “In my den?!” He retorted.

  “Damn it, Evan- get the news to Neal and call my midwife.”

  Tears streamed down Cecilia’s blood red cheeks as fluid began to trick down her left leg.

  “I-I’m wetting myself!” She wailed as Evan could be heard darting around the house.

  “It’s okay, I’m here with you. Evan, please get Alice!”

  “I’m working on it!”

  Cecilia’s lower body racked with pain and Lacey sat closer to her. “Take my hand, Cecilia. You’re in good hands. You’re fine.” Lacey pushed back Cecilia’s hair as sweat already gathered on her forehead.

  “Lacey, I’m scared. I’m really scared.”

  Cecilia’s scream tore throughout the whole house as the contractions happened closer and closer together.

  Neal patted his brow with a handkerchief that Cecilia had made for him as he stepped off of the stage. There were over 300 male senior high school students in Yerrington’s gymnasium. Most of them were already 18 and would be ready to vote in a few days. Stephen patted him on the back as he made his way to the exit.

  “Wonderful job, Neal. I’ve never seen so many young people that were so excited to vote.”