Alexis giggles. “Awww, you got him his first guitar, how adorable.”
“Guitar’s aren’t adorable, Hunny. They are cool as shit. Brayden is now the coolest baby in this hospital.”
Laughing, Alexis kisses his forehead. “Did you hear that, baby boy? You are cool as shit!”
He doesn’t respond. He’s too cool to respond.
“So, you said presents, as in plural. That means you have something else behind your back.”
Raising my eyebrow at her, I nod.
“Is it for me?” she asks with an excited smile.
“It is.”
“Are you going to give it to me?”
“I am.”
Drawing out the suspense for her—because I know she hates surprises—I slowly reveal my hand, only to put it back out of sight, fooling her. The next second, I have a corky to my bicep.
“Alright, alright, here,” I laugh, rubbing my arm and producing the velvet box.
Opening it up for her to see, I watch with anticipation as she goes to put her hand in then quickly pulls it back.
“I’m not falling for that anymore. The box, hand it over,” she demands with a smile.
I laugh and hand her the box. She knows me too well.
Alexis opens the box and takes out the gold, engraved, heart pendant and chain. “Bryce, it’s beautiful,” she whispers as she reads the inscription of all her children’s names. A lone tear falls from her eye when she looks up and meets my stare. “You even had Bianca’s name engraved on it.”
I lean forward and wipe the stray tear from her jaw. “Of course I did.”
“It’s perfect, thank you. But I didn’t give you anything.”
She tenderly strokes Brayden’s face with her finger and gazes adoringly at our son, and I realise it’s the single most peaceful and amazing moment in my life thus far.
“Do you really know how much I love you?” I sincerely ask her.
She looks up and smiles. “Yes.”
“No, I mean do you really know how much I love you?”
Her smile softens a little, and she blushes ever so slightly. “Well, yeah...I think so.”
“I don’t think that you do,” I explain, as I push a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Today, my life changed and that’s all because of you. Today, I received the most precious thing imaginable and again...that’s all because of you. Today, my heart grew beyond all proportions, and you are the reason why. You, Alexis. You have given me something no one else has and ever will. You have given me the best present possible.”
She lifts herself up and over Brayden, then smiles mischievously at me before leaning in to kiss my lips.
“It’s what I do, Mr. Clark.”
CHAPTER NINE
In the morning that followed, Dr. Rainer decided to keep both Alexis and Brayden in an extra day for observation, but then authorised their release the following day after I explained that we were more than happy to have a live-in nurse at the apartment for as long as was needed.
She agreed, but felt a midwife need only make a few house calls for the week ahead. She was happy that Brayden was already doing exceptionally well, especially now that Alexis’ breast milk was—in the words of the Emperor of the Galactic Empire—“Fully operational”.
Thrilled to finally be taking Brayden home, we make our way out to the underground car park. Not seeing where our car is parked and forgetting to ask Chelsea when she handed me the keys, I lift the remote and click the button. The lights of our brand new Tesla S model flash, revealing its whereabouts.
“What? ...How? ...When?” Alexis asks, confusion covering her face.
Smiling while holding the hospital bags and many stuffed teddies, I reveal my latest secret surprise. “This is your new car, my love. It’s the safest on the market.”
“But...I like my Territory, and the Charger, and the Lexus.”
I place the all the stuff in my arms on the ground next to the navy coloured, high-performance, sports sedan with the best safety rating of any car ever tested. This car is a wet dream...with protection.
“Again, this is the safest car on the market. I want you and the kids as protected as possible.”
She looks as if she is going to argue—and I’m fully prepared to put up a fight—but she refrains, shuts her mouth, and just nods. “Okay, I understand, but what about the chopper? Don’t you need to fly it home? And how did you get the car here?”
Shocked by the fact that she didn’t argue any further, I quickly pick up the stuff from the ground and place it in the boot. “Chelsea. She drove the car here this morning then flew the chopper back to the hotel,” I explain while shutting the boot lid.
“Right,” Alexis murmurs, her tone now sounding obviously disgruntled.
I step up to face her and look down at Brayden cradled in her arms. “Hey, what’s the matter? Don’t you like the car? I just want you to be safe. I don’t ever want to lose anyone I love in a car accident ever again. Please don’t fight me on this.”
“I’m not. The car is fine. I’m happy to drive it if it makes you feel better. Honestly, I understand.”
“Then what’s the matter?”
“Do I have to spell it out to you?” she sighs.
I really have no idea what she is so suddenly upset about, so spelling it out like a first-grade teacher is welcomed.
She searches my eyes then drops her gaze. “Chelsea.”
“What about Chelsea?”
“I don’t trust her.”
“We’ve been through this, Hunny. I thought you were okay with her working for us.”
“Us?”
“Yes,” I say firmly. “Us.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to be all cheery when you mention her name. I still don’t like the bitch,” she spits out.
Shit! Where the hell has this come from all of a sudden? I’m taken aback by her unexpected onset of insecurity. Maybe this is part of the ‘baby-blues’ thing that the midwife mentioned. Or maybe it could be the start of postnatal depression.
Worried that it could lead to something quite serious, I make a mental note to ring Jessica when we get home.
“Alexis, I really don’t want to argue about Chelsea with you. She is no more than a friend, an employee. Look, I don’t want to argue with you at all, especially here...now...in the car park on the day we bring our baby boy home for the first time,” I say as I gently drag my knuckle down her cheek.
She gives me one of her faux smiles, places Brayden in my arms, and turns for the car. “Neither do I.”
* * *
Soon after we arrived home from the hospital, I had realised that I wanted Brayden close by—pretty much all the time. It had been less than twenty-four hours when I’d decided the solution to my predicament was to order more bassinets, one to be placed in the lounge area and the other in my office. Charli had asked for one to be put in her room as well—which I thought was cute—however, Alexis had felt I was going ‘overboard’ and soon put a stop to any more of my baby furniture purchases.
The kids had also been wonderful, adjusting really well to having a new sibling. For the first couple of days, Charlotte had followed Alexis around like a bad smell, wanting to know every single tiny detail about her baby brother. Needless to say, I was impressed with her inquisitiveness—she was good at creepy research.
Nate, on the other hand, had been a little quiet at first, and this had worried both Alexis and me. It wasn’t until we started giving him special responsibilities, like making sure his Mum had a glass of water every time she was feeding, and helping me to bath Brayden, that he soon resembled his normal self again.
* * *
Currently inundated with work, I have no choice but to spend a lot of my time in the office. However, due to my additional bassinet purchase at the beginning of the week, Brayden can spend some of that time with me. It’s a win-win situation.
“Bryce, you can’t take him with you everywhere. A little separation is good, you know,” A
lexis says with her arms crossed while standing at the door to my office.
I glance down into his bassinet which is next to my desk. How separation can be good for someone, let alone a newborn baby, baffles me.
“You are creating a rod for your back. Actually, you are creating a rod for my back”, she grumbles. What?
“What are you talking about?” I ask with a smile, her frustration mildly cute. The only rod I create is the one in my pants, which is also the one I currently want in between her legs.
“It means that what you are doing now will create problems in the future. If you continue to take him everywhere with you, it is what he will get used to and he’ll want it all the time.”
I take in her form as she leans into the door jam. She has on a pair of yoga pants and a tight fitting t-shirt. Her baby bump is almost non-existent and her hair is in a ponytail dangling down her back, longer than it ever has been. She looks stunning as per usual.
“What’s wrong with wanting that?”
“Urgh!” she groans. “You just don’t get it.”
Fuck, that groan. I love that fucking groan. I feel like baiting her more just to hear that groan. Because apparently, I will have to wait a couple more weeks before I can hear it as a result of my making love to her.
“I do get it. And he’s fine. He’s barely a week old. He needs to know his daddy is always close. I don’t want him thinking any other way.”
Her attempt to hide her grin fails as she runs her tongue over the top row of her teeth.
Just as I’m about to get up and make my way over to her to run my tongue over her teeth, my phone rings.
I press speaker.
“Yes.”
“Hi, Bryce, it’s Chelsea. I need to make an appointment with you for later today in order to discuss the flight transfers for VIP guests at next week’s AFL Grand Final. Do you have time?”
I look in my diary which is as confusing as fuck. I desperately need to get Lucy on to it. “I have some time at 3 p.m. I can see you then.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Aggravated by how disorganised my schedule is, I quickly dismiss her. “Okay, I’ll see you then.”
I hit the disconnect button on the phone and take a deep breath before looking up, suddenly remembering that before I was interrupted, I was about to taste the mother of my son.
Finding the doorway vacant, I screw up my face. I wonder where the fuck she has gone when I spot movement from the corner of my eye. Turning to look out of my office window and out onto our balcony, I find Alexis working out on the gym equipment—working out probably an understatement. She is going hard and clearly in a determined mood. Jesus! Why is she always so fucking determined to try death by exercise?
Picking up Brayden, I walk out into the lounge area and transfer him to the bassinet which is beside the piano. See? Multiple bassinets...fucking genius.
I make sure he is still sleeping soundly before heading out onto the balcony. “You might want to take it easy,” I state, a little annoyed that I have to remind Alexis once more to tone down her over exuberant fitness training.
“Don’t start this shit with me again,” she snaps. “I’m no longer pregnant and am now fully capable of working out.”
“Alexis, I’m just saying that you gave birth a week ago. Your body is still healing and adjusting. Don’t rush things.”
“I’m not.”
I notice her refusal to look at me, and it heightens the concern I felt the morning we brought Brayden home, the morning I mentioned Chelsea.
Curious, I decide to pose that question. “Has this got anything to do with the fact Chelsea just rang?”
Alexis presses a button, accelerating her strides on the treadmill. “No. The flying fuck I give about that bitch just flew the fuck away,” she says sarcastically while flapping her hands like bird.
Really? Clearly that is not the case.
“Hunny, why does she make you so angry?”
“Because.”
“Because is not an answer. Alexis, talk to me.”
“No, go away.”
Bloody hell! I want nothing more than to carry her kicking and screaming up to the bedroom, and forcing her to talk to me while my cock is planted firmly into her pussy. But I can’t, that form of dominance is a no-go at the moment and it pisses me off.
Having no other choice, I reach into my pocket, take out my phone, and dial Jessica. She answers after only a couple of rings. “Bryce, Dear. How’s fatherhood treating you?”
“Hello, Jessica,” I state while watching Alexis’ reaction. “Fatherhood is wonderful, perfect in fact.”
Alexis closes her eyes briefly and sucks in a long winded breath.
“Lovely. How can I help you? We are not scheduled for a session until Thursday. Do you need to see me earlier,” Jessica asks, hope in her voice.”
“Actually, yes. I would like you to come over today, if possible.”
“I can organise that. Is everything alright?”
“Well, I’ll leave that up to you to decide. Alexis is...let’s just say displaying signs of angered frustration. She won’t talk to me about it, so I’m a little concerned.”
“Oh...you didn’t just go there,” Alexis hisses, her fiery glare incinerating me on the spot.
I glare back at her, determined to sort this shit out. I’m not having one of the happiest times of our life marred by her pent up and unwarranted feelings of jealousy toward Chelsea.
“Okay, I can be there in around an hour,” Jessica informs.
“Thank you. See you soon.”
I end the call and put my phone back in my pocket, my stare never wavering from Alexis.
She accelerates her strides even more, practically punching the button with her clenched fist. “I can’t believe you just insinuated that I am not coping well after giving birth. Firstly, you have no right. Secondly, I am dealing with mothering our gorgeous son just fine thank you very much. To even imply that I cannot handle him or—“
“I’m not implying that at all.”
“Then what was that?”
“You need to talk about whatever it is that is pissing you off. And if you won’t talk to me about it, you can talk to Jessica. You should be exceedingly happy at the moment, but you aren’t. I don’t want you to look back at this time and have any regrets.”
She hits the emergency stop button on the treadmill and comes to a halt, slumping over the arms rests. Taking deep breaths and looking overly exhausted, she wipes her brow with a towel.
After a few seconds of catching her breath and bearings, she steps off, grabs her water bottle, and has a long drink before walking up to me. “I have no regrets...none at all, none where you and Brayden are concerned. I never have and I never will,” she says quietly, hurt evident in her voice.
I watch her walk back inside before stopping at the bassinet and smiling at our son. The love she projects for him is obviously genuine and in abundance which just confuses me all the more. Then why is she so unhappy all of a sudden? I take a deep breath and pray to God that Jessica will figure it out.
* * *
Just over an hour later, I let Jessica into the apartment.
“I like what you’ve done with the place,” she admires, grinning at the now baby-fied surroundings.
“Yeah, feels more like a home now.”
“So, where is she?”
“Up in our room with Brayden. Just go straight up.”
“You sure? I don’t want to start a session with an already irate patient, it’s much more work on my part.”
“It’s fine, she’s feeding. I’m sure she won’t mind.”
Jessica winks and squeezes my arm before giving me a tight embrace. “Congratulations, I’m so proud of you. And don’t worry, I’ll get to the bottom of whatever is bothering Alexis.”
“Thank you,” I reply while watching her make her way up the stairs before I head for my office.
As I sit down, I’m instantly made aware that th
e baby monitor on my desk is switched on due to hearing the sound of Alexis’ voice singing “Baby Mine”. As her words filter from the small portable speaker in front of me, I am transfixed by the indisputable love she projects as she sings them. I could sit here forever and listen to her heartfelt words to our son—it’s so mesmerizing.
“Excuse me, Alexis. Sorry, am I interrupting you?” Jessica says, her voice also now sounding through the speaker.
I go to switch the baby monitor off but pause with my hand on the button, not being able to bring myself to do it. It’s my excessive curiosity and basically having to know every single detail which prevents me from doing so. Instead—as my conscience goes to war with itself—I sit and continue to listen.
“No, that’s alright. I’m just settling him for sleep,” Alexis informs.
There’s a pause for a moment and I hear some muffled sounds.
“Oh, goodness, he is just a perfect little angel,” Jessica coos.
“Isn’t he just? Here would you like a cuddle?”
“Do you not want to put him down to sleep?”
“It’s fine. He basically lives in Bryce’s arms, so he’s used to it.”
“Well, in that case, I’d love to.”
There’s another pause in discussion and some more muffled sounds.
“My, oh my, does he look like his father.”
I hear Alexis giggle. “Yes, he sure does.”
This statement has me grinning from ear to ear when my phone rings. Annoyed by the interruption, I buzz Abigail. “Abigail, can you please hold all my calls until further notice.”
“Certainly, Mr. Clark,” she responds, the ringing ceasing immediately.
“Thank you.”
I hang up and continue to listen to the monitor.
“So how’s everything going? Is he feeding well? Are you getting enough sleep?” Jessica asks.
“Now, Jessica...you wouldn’t be here to find out if I’m suffering postnatal depression at all would you?” Alexis asks with a playful tone to her voice.
Jessica laughs and it has me a little perplexed. That is exactly why she is here.
“No, Alexis. Well, that is why Bryce asked me here. But no, I just wanted to see your handsome and incredibly adorable little son.” Traitor! Fucking traitor!
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