Then, I feel the baby kick.
Not for the first time, but kicking.
I've been calling it peanut in my head.
“What is it?” Noah gulps.
“Nothing,” I suppress his worry.
“The just kicked,” I smile.
I move his hand over where I felt the kick, and sure enough, he feels something.
“It's like... light little, I can’t describe it actually," he says.
Then the baby kicks harder.
“Whoa, little thing!” Noah moves his hand.
“You’re still not going to find out the sex?” he asks.
“No, I decided to wait,” I admit.
“That's funny. Have you thought of names?” Noah asks.
“Not really,” I shrug.
Between everything, a name was the last thing on my mind, honestly.
I’ve been focused on this I haven’t even thought about it.
“I was thinking of Serena,” I tell him.
“But the only boy name I like is Noah,” I smirk.
“Isn't that cute," he snickers, then kisses my forehead.
“None at all?” He asks.
“None,” I confirm.
Noah thinks for a moment, stares at the ceiling, and then he says something, out of the blue and I wonder where it came from.
“Sebastian. I like the name, Sebastian," he says.
Sebastian Stone.
It sounds perfect.
Noah's changed in a way, and it only makes me love him all the more.
“I love that name,” I encourage him.
“Do you have any more?” I ask.
“No," he laments.
“Sebastian. Isn't that strange?” he asks.
“It is strange,” I agree.
“Did you hear it somewhere?” I ask.
Noah thinks for a moment before he shakes his head.
“No, I've never heard that name before," he confirms.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Well I feel like I have, but I just can't pinpoint where, my brain feels all muddled, from the medication," he decides.
“You’re mine then?” He asks.
“Always,” I admit.
“This is real," he says.
“As real as anything, do I have to convince you?” I ask.
Then I laugh because I never imagined we could have this sort of happiness.
“God that laugh. If that's the last sound in the world I hear, I will die happy,” Noah confesses.
“You mean that?” I ask with trepidation.
“Tinsley, I would never lie to you,” Noah reminds me, as though I didn't know this.
“Remember, we don't lie to each other?” he asks.
“I remember,” I answer.
He leans in to kiss me, only we are interrupted.
“Well, well the old bastard is still alive!” Lauren sings as she walks through the door.
Wow.
Interrupting us must be one of the talents the devil gave her.
She gives me a moment to disentangle myself from Noah so she can lean down to kiss him on the cheek.
“How are you?” Lauren asks.
“You look ghastly, on the verge of death. In pink pajamas no less," she sniffs.
“Ava brought them for me. It's a running joke that no one will bring me another pair of pajamas," he replies wryly.
“Well, I brought you something at least, and Armani no less," she smiles at him.
“Someone out for my best interests, finally," he smiles at her.
I’m sure he’s joking, but I can’t tell.
Lauren blinds me with jealousy and rage I don’t understand.
“I also brought you some shaving cream, that aftershave I don't know if you still use, and some others things just in case,” Lauren grins as she sets the bag down.
Is Noah supposed to be proud of her or something that she came prepared?
What the fuck.
“We brought him all that previously,” I point out.
“But he could always use more,” I add politely.
Inside I want to throttle her by the neck.
“Well, I doubt anyone brought you, this,” Lauren pulls out a bottle of whiskey.
“I can't drink on my medication,” Noah explains
He takes the bottle in his hands.
“But it's a nice gesture," he adds.
His comment is lackluster, however.
Lauren deflates slightly.
“Well, how are you feeling?” she persists in making her presence known.
“Mostly? Just in pain. A few cracked ribs, it turns out, really hurts,” Noah smirks, but he doesn't dare laugh because he'll be in pain again.
“Well, that's good. He'll be good as new in no time, with such a pretty nurse,” Lauren addresses me.
“His family is here for him as well,” I point out.
Noah looks from me to Lauren, then gives me a quizzical look.
I sit as they make conversation for a few moments, and then Lauren has to go.
Thank god!
That fucking woman!
“Are you alright?” Noah asks.
If he couldn't sense how tense I feel around her, I'd probably be worried.
“She wants you for herself, me being married to another man and all, I guess that makes you available to her,” I roll my eyes.
“Don't worry about Lauren,” Noah whispers.
“It's nothing for you to worry about," he adds.
“I know,” I reply through gritted teeth.
“But the night I thought something was wrong with the baby, she told Athena you were both as good as engaged!” I practically scream.
Noah’s face drops, and he pulls me roughly into his arms.
“Don’t even worry about her," he tells me.
“She means absolutely nothing to me, compared to you,” His voice is firm.
I know this is the truth.
40
Noah
November 23, 2017
When the doctor confirms that I can leave the hospital, I call Tinsley first to take me home.
The apartment next door to her mother is temporary.
It also infuriates me that Connor has purchased an apartment in the same building.
He’s insistent on Tinsley making their sham of a marriage work.
But she’s left him, because of that I don't dare consider another apartment.
Tinsley did what she could with it; she's had the furniture arranged and decorated with as much of my money as she dared to.
God, I don't want to see that bill.
“I didn't want to re-paint in case it wasn't ready for you when you came home," she smiles.
“You're too wonderful,” I tell her in a seductive tone.
We are finally alone.
All I want to do is hold her in my arms
“I'm not," she says modestly.
Tinsley's modesty is only more becoming on her.
“You are though,” I reply, tilting her chin upwards, so her hazel eyes meet mine.
“You are truly the most amazing woman I know,” I say.
“Noah,” Tinsley purrs before she bats her eyelashes.
“I wouldn't do any of this for anyone but you," she adds.
“That's good to know,” I tease.
Then I take her in my arms.
“I'd worry if there was someone else,” I joke.
“Didn't you know there's a handsome blonde man I've had my eye on?” she replies.
“Really?” I mock shock.
“For quite some time," she confirms as I twirl her around the room.
Both of us land on the couch with her on top.
“Noah,” Tinsley whispers in my ear.
“I missed you,”
Every word of her precious mouth is like heaven.
To think I may have missed out on this only binds me to her further.
She belongs to me.
More than ever be
fore.
Who was at my bedside constantly?
Tinsley.
To hold her in my arms now brings relief that I've never known before.
Tinsley's passionate kiss draws me into her, into the truth, where it's only us together.
There’s no longer an insubordinate husband, and nothing stands between us any longer.
Tinsley is in my arms, not his.
It's too bad there's a knock at the door, and I know Evan and Ava are here to welcome me home.
“Too bad,” Tinsley giggles as I pull myself away from her.
“I had plans for you," she purrs.
She lays seductively on the couch as I move to the door, and I seriously reconsider what I'm about to do.
“Later,” I promise as I open the door.
“Dad!” Evan holds up a bottle of champagne.
“The doctor said you're not supposed to drink, but what the hell,” Evan shrugs.
“It was his idea,” Ava says with a glare in her brother’s direction.
“Not mine. I brought sushi," she adds.
Ava holds up her bags.
“Of course it wasn't,” I say.
I kiss Ava on the cheek with a brief smile, still slightly upset that Tinsley and I don't have more alone time.
“Tinsley you look amazing!” Ava compliments Tinsley as she approaches my children.
Ava and Tinsley embrace like old friends.
“Look at you!” Tinsley exclaims.
“I’m all baby,” Ava emphasizes.
“At thirty-one weeks, I'm ready to drop these two. Can't you be that far along? You look gorgeous," she says.
“Nineteen and a half give or take,” Tinsley admits.
“You've got a while to go then. Just wait. These two beat on my stomach like it's a drum, constantly. Especially when they hear my dad's voice,” Ava nods.
“They're going to be trouble just like Evan here,” I add.
As I watch Ava and Tinsley together, everything makes more sense.
Tinsley fits in perfectly with the rest of my family.
Not only does Ava trust her, but she knows how to handle Evan's debauchery, and Athena appreciates her more than any woman I've dated.
“Alright, let's get dinner set up. Tinsley do you want to help me in the kitchen?” Ava asks.
Tinsley helps Ava take the bags into the kitchen, and the girls leave Evan and me alone.
Evan takes a deep breath, and I know what he is about to say.
“Dad, we need to talk about the fire. You and I both know it was arson, and we both know who we feel is responsible for this," he states.
Evan's words bring me back to the matter at hand.
It was Connor, I suspect.
I have no proof of this, but it only makes sense that Connor would try to get me out of the way.
The thought has also occurred to me that he possibly knew where Tinsley was.
Would he try to kill Tinsley and the baby as well?
“We have no proof Evan, and we can't interfere with the investigation,” I conclude.
“There's nothing we can do,” I tell him.
Like hell, there's nothing I can do.
“Like hell!” Evan demands more from me.
He knows I am a few steps ahead.
“This isn't you. Who are you to stand back and let someone else do the dirty work for you?” Evan demands.
“I understand where you're coming from, but it's not that simple,” I explain.
“You didn't almost die. I'm not afraid of Connor, I'm fearful for Tinsley's safety if he did, in fact, have something to do with it,” I tell him.
Evan stares at the ceiling for a moment, unamused.
“Really? You're going to stand back and do nothing when you're fearful for her safety?” he asks in a bored voice.
“Evan, how I handle this is up to me,” I explain.
“However, I'm going to have Lucius watch Connor as closely as possible. Will that satisfy you?” I ask.
Lucius is already on it.
“At least it's more like you; I was worried for a moment you'd gone all timid and quiet on me because you almost died,” His last few words trail off, and I see how scared he was that I was going to die.
Living through the death of both of my parents was hell, but it wasn't as bad as it could've been, had I been closer to them.
The remorse I felt was moreover having failed to spend time with them, than anything else.
But Evan? He knows me as a father; I raised him.
“Sorry if I'm insensitive,” I apologize.
“All you want to do is protect Tinsley, I hear you there. I get it dad, but you can't protect her if you don't protect yourself, and your family at the same time. We all could've died. If Athena wasn't on a date? If Ava and Corban hadn't been shopping? We got lucky," he says.
Every word impacts my chest with a hard thump.
My entire family could've been killed because of me.
“Do you know what this means?” Evan implies.
“I should stay away from Tinsley until we know what's going on?” I assume.
“Probably,” Evan smirks now.
“But when has that ever stopped you?” He concludes.
41
Tinsley
November 23, 2017
Ava looks for the plates as I start taking the sushi out of the bags.
“The plates are in the lower cabinet to your left,” I clarify.
As I begin to arrange the sushi on a serving platter, I notice Ava is smirking at me.
“What?” I ask.
“You sure know your way around this kitchen," she says.
Then Ava smiles again and I know what her implication is.
“What?” I question her, even if I am clear about what she's getting at.
“Thank you for doing all of this for my father. I truly appreciate it," she thanks me.
But there's that secretive little smile I know.
I know when she's up to something.
“Considering Corban and I were going back and forth, trying to decide what to do about our apartment and getting a temporary place,” Ava continues.
“It's no trouble. Did you and Corban decide?” I inquire.
“We've bought a house in Long Island, near Ava Senior,” Ava's smile is bright.
I am relieved that her life continuously falls perfectly into place.
“That's lovely,” I congratulate her.
“Well, the house needs serious work, although I don't know how much can be done before the twins get here,” Ava bemoans.
“I would've loved to have the house finished beforehand, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen, what with everything with my dad and all,” Ava continues.
“You're due in January?” I try to remember her due date.
“Yes. When are you due?” Ava asks casually.
“April fourteenth,” I smile, looking down at my stomach.
“Dad's birthday?” Ava examines my due date for a moment.
“And you said you're nineteen weeks...,”
“Tinsley, are you sure that baby isn't-” Ava starts.
“It is,” I tell her.
“Oh,” Ava quiets, then her eyes suddenly widen.
“Oh my god!” she yells.
The realization that the baby is Noah's has hit her, and I watch as she sucks in a sharp breath.
I'm half expecting her to say that she knew it.
“You didn't tell me that!” Ava barely manages not to scream.
“How long have you known?” she continues, finally lowering her voice.
I swallow hard, thankful she isn't mad.
“Always,” My voice is small.
Ava's eyes widen.
“Why didn't you tell him!” she hisses at me.
“He knows,” I reply.
Ava’s eyes go wide.
“And he didn’t say anything?” Ava questions me.
“We were trying to keep it low key,
especially now that I’ve told Connor we are getting a divorce,” I tell her.
“Bastard,” is all Ava can say.
“It doesn’t matter, we’re finally going to be together,” I tell her quietly.
“Really?” She gasps.
I nod.
“I already told Connor, I want nothing more to do with him,” I say.
“I can imagine Connor would move on easily,” Ava points out.
“Frankly I don't care,” My tone is blasé.
“I couldn't live with myself if Noah died and I was stuck married to that shallow, fool. How am I supposed to fake a marriage? The whole thing was ridiculous,” I tell her.
“Good,” Ava smirks at me.
But there’s still something that bothers me.
If I can tell anyone about this, it’s Ava.
“I can't change the fact that my father didn't want us to be together,” I say with a heavy sigh.
I arrange the sushi on the platter.
Instead of bringing everything into the dining room, Ava and I stand in silence.
“But wouldn't he want you to marry your baby's father?” Ava points out sincerely.
The answer to that is probably yes.
“He'd probably be disappointed that it's Noah's baby at all. Especially with the argument right after the night it happened,”
Ava shakes her head.
“I just don’t see it that way, how would your father be upset about his first grandchild?” Ava’s words are true as ever.
“I was sure it would never happen. Not until I took that test anyway,” I admit.
It’s easy to recall the day I took the test.
The memory is vivid.
“How did you realize? Face down in a toilet as I did?” she laughs.
“Face down in a toilet bowl thinking I had food poisoning from the night before,” I admit.
“I pulled out a pregnancy test, took it and to my utter shock, it was positive,” I admit.
Mulling over this for a moment, I remember that day distinctly.
Everything was suddenly blissfully right, and I wasn't afraid of anything.
Even if we couldn't be together, I would always have a piece of Noah.
I assumed that Noah would move on eventually.
Instead, he stuck by me through this entire ordeal, and I did the same for him.
We’re going to be together.
“Maybe you’re right,” I say.
Denial_A Stone Billionaire Series Novel Page 21
