The Most Beautiful Girl In The World

by Rachel Burns

  Ronald was going to make Emily’s dresses personally so no one would know about Oliver’s obsession with his doll-like wife.

  Chapter 14

  Emily realized it immediately when her period didn’t come. She knew that Oliver would be as excited as she was after the initial shock.

  She waited another two weeks to be on the safe side before she approached him.

  “Daddy, do you have a moment?”

  Oliver had been checking on their stocks, but he laid his paper to the side. Emily was more important. “For you, always. What’s on your mind, baby?” He opened his arms so she could sit on his knee.

  “Daddy, something wonderful has happened,” she proclaimed.

  “What is it?” Oliver figured that some flower in their garden was in bloom. He’d go outside with her and praise the flower with his arms wrapped around her. They’d been married for almost half a year, and he still couldn’t keep his hands off of her.

  “Were going to have a baby.” She smiled at him brightly.

  “A what?” He was certain that he hadn’t heard her correctly.

  “A baby.” Emily laid her hands over her tummy.

  Oliver’s eyes followed her hands. His jaw dropped. Once, he thought. He’d only come inside of her once without protection. How could she get pregnant after that one time?

  Oliver didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to upset Emily, but he didn’t want to have a child either.

  He was positive that he wouldn’t be a good father because he felt that his parents and grandparents had sucked at it. Something like that had to be hereditary.

  “I’m so excited,” Emily told him.

  “So am I,” he lied. In the back of his mind, he was already thinking about nannies and boarding schools. He’d do this exactly like all the Keatons before him had; strangers would raise the child.

  “It isn’t official yet. I still need to see a doctor.”

  “I’ll see to it that you get an appointment as soon as possible.”Oliver set Emily to the side. “Nanny!” he called out, thinking she’d know who was the best doctor for something like this. If they were going to have a child, then Emily needed the best doctor available.

  Oliver turned back to Emily and helped her to her feet. He kissed her and hugged her. He had such a bad feeling about this. A goose was walking over his grave.

  The doctor praised Emily, saying that everything was perfect. The child was happily slumbering inside of Emily.

  Oliver pretended to be happy as they looked at baby catalogs. His parents were thrilled that he was providing the family with an heir so soon.

  Everyone was thrilled, but Oliver couldn’t be happy. Instead, he worried about his Emily. He had nightmares, in which he saw Emily falling off a cliff. He’d reach for her, and she’d slip through his fingers.

  Oliver started seeing his psychologist again. He told Oliver that his reaction was completely normal. His mind was getting him ready for the baby.

  He figured that he’d warm up to the idea over time. Emily was the most important thing to him, her health and baby’s.

  “Oliver, I bought a house in the mountains.” Uncle Harrison told him over the phone. “It will be perfect for spending Christmas together. I’d like to take you and Emily up to the site this weekend. It would be nice if you two helped with the design. After all, you’re going to inherit it after I’m gone.”

  “Don’t say that, Uncle Harrison. You’re going to live a nice long life,” Oliver stopped him. He was still feeling sensitive about the topic of death.

  “No one lives forever. I’ll pick you two up with the chopper Friday at four o’clock. Be ready. Tell Emily I said hi and that she needs to take care of herself.”

  “I’ll tell her.” Oliver hung up, thinking that it was amazing how Emily had managed to bring his family together. Now that they knew her, they loved her. The fact that she was pregnant had made her even more popular. His mother called once a week and talked to Emily. Maybe his mother would have liked him better if he’d been a girl. She was very taken with Emily.

  “Emily, we’re going to fly again. This time in a helicopter.” Oliver said with excitement in his voice.

  Emily was on the couch, reading one of her garden books. “Is that safe for the baby?” Emily asked laying her hand over her belly. She was six weeks along, and he couldn’t see a difference.

  “It’s perfectly safe. My uncle has been flying since he was a teenager. He says it’s easier to get a parking spot that way.”

  Emily laughed in that bubbly infectious way she did. Oliver couldn’t help but relax when she did that.

  “Where are we going?”

  “My uncle is building a mountain retreat, a Christmas house. He wants us to help with the plans.”

  “Another house. How many does that make?”

  “Too many, but it’s a strange hobby that all Keatons have. Some people collect spoons. We collect houses.”

  “You mean huge estates.”

  “Our house isn’t huge.” Oliver lay down on the sofa and rested his head on Emily’s lap.

  “It will feel smaller soon. We’re going to fill up the rooms.”

  “One baby at a time, Em. You’ll scare me otherwise.”

  “A little baby can’t scare the powerful Oliver Keaton.”

  “It’s not the baby who’s scaring me. I’m worried about you.” Oliver was finally able to put his finger on what was worrying him. He’d convinced himself that he’d be a good father. After all, he was practicing with Emily. He did a good job with her, and she knew that he loved her. “I worry like mad about you,” he confessed.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Promise me that.” Oliver moved his head so he could see her face.

  “I promise, daddy.”

  Oliver sighed with relief. Hearing her say it made him feel better.

  Chapter 15

  On Friday, Uncle Harrison landed his helicopter in their large garden. He got out and helped Emily into the back. He personally put on her seat belt and made sure it was tight. “You can’t be to careful with the next Keaton heir.”

  Things had changed since Oliver had been a baby. The difference was that Oliver loved Emily. This baby had been made with love and not with a sense of duty required from a marriage contract, like Oliver had been made. It hadn’t been a happy time.

  As soon as the doctor had proclaimed that Elisabeth was pregnant, she moved out of Charles’ bedroom, and they never spoke again. Harrison hadn’t had any reason to talk to Elisabeth back then. He hadn’t been a part of Oliver’s childhood.

  Everyone was looking forward to this child. This child would have lots of brothers and sisters. One person couldn’t control their empire. The only reason that Oliver could do it was because he was a genius. Years of careful breeding had paid off. Emily was a nice girl, and she loved their Oliver, but she wasn’t a genius. Their child would, most likely, be normal. Oliver had been so smart as a baby and a child. It had been a little freaky. He always had a look on his face like he knew exactly what was going on. It was also clear from the look in Oliver’s eyes that he didn’t like what he saw.

  His parents had been too cold with him. It made sense for him to marry a woman who would give him the warmth that he longed for. Because of her, Oliver had become the person he was born to be.

  Oliver was in the front of the helicopter. He put on earphones and asked for clearance to take off. “Of course, I know how to fly too.” He looked back at Emily and winked.

  Uncle Harrison took the passenger seat in the front. He was going to play tour guide and explain what his plans were as they flew over the site.

  “Guaranteed snow each year for Christmas. That will mean sledding for your little one.” Uncle Harrison was excited to have time to devote to this project. He’d wanted to have children but his wife had died young. Breast cancer had taken her. He tried to be good to her, but like his brother he’d been forced to marry her. Like Oliver, he’d longed for a h
appy family.

  Oliver knew that he was impressing Emily. She was impressed by everything that he did. She wasn’t one to take anything for granted.

  Oliver landed the helicopter, and they looked around the site. From overhead they’d been able to see the large area. It wasn’t far from a skiing area, and there were lots of hotels around the other side of the mountain, but this side had been kept in family hands until Harrison Keaton made the owners an offer that they couldn’t refuse. He promised that he’d build only what his family needed, and that no one else would move to the area. Nature would be disturbed as little as possible.

  Emily listened to him. She could so easily picture coming here with their child and celebrating Christmas. It even looked amazing in the summer. It would be perfect for hiking. The forest surrounding the house could be the garden.

  “We could make a trail through the forest and put signs on the trees identifying them. Baby could learn so much that way.”

  “Sure. A jogging trail has already been planned. Come look at the plans. I’ll introduce you to the architect.” Uncle Harrison walked over to a trailer that served as the site office.

  Emily was amazed by all the things that would go into this estate. Uncle Harrison assured her that the purpose of the house was to be a retreat for the family. It needed to have everything that a hotel would. “I still need some ideas for the recreational area. Do either of you two have an idea?” he asked.

  “Bowling is an indoor sport,” Emily told him.

  “Bowling?” Oliver repeated. “When were you bowling?”

  “I never have, but I feel that it might be a sport that I’d be good at. I could picture us bringing friends here and having a competition. That would be fun.”

  “How about a bowling alley?” Oliver said to Harrison.

  “Of course. I know, what Emily wants, Emily gets.” Uncle Harrison teased his nephew. Oliver was under Emily’s control, and he loved it.

  Oliver looked at Emily “Do I say that so often?”

  Emily shrugged her shoulders. “As long as I don’t use my powers for evil, it’s okay.”

  Both men laughed.

  They made plans and decisions with the architect who would draw up more plans to add a bowling alley and a smaller pool for babies and small children as well as the suggestions that the men had.

  Uncle Harrison noted that the weather was changing. He said that he’d fly them home before the wind changed.

  They thanked the architect for meting them out here and waved goodbye to him as he drove away. Then, they hurried into the helicopter and took off.

  The sky darkened and hard rain started to pelt down on the helicopter.

  “I’m going to take her down. We need to wait out the storm.” Uncle Harrison spotted a clearing that he wanted to land in.

  “Don’t take her down. The wind will push us against the mountainside,” Oliver protested.

  As if to prove Oliver right, the strong wind took hold of the chopper and slammed it against the hard rock wall.

  The propellers rotated against the mountainside, ruining them. There was nothing that they could do any longer. They were going to crash.

  Oliver looked over his shoulder at Emily as the chopper sank down along the stone wall. She was holding onto the seat belt with all of her might.

  When the helicopter crashed into the ground, Emily was pushed back into her seat with such force that she couldn’t even breathe. Everything hurt. No part of her body felt untouched.

  She started to cry, knowing what was happening. “No,” she whimpered. “Please, no.”

  Oliver fought to get out of his seat belt. “I’m coming, Emily. I’ll get you.”

  When he moved to get to Emily, the helicopter moved again, falling to the side.

  Oliver saw that several trees were holding the helicopter in place. “It’s over, Em. We just have to get out.”

  Uncle Harrison forced his door open. “I’m so sorry. Tell me she’s going to be alright.”

  Oliver got to Emily and opened her seat belt.

  “I’m bleeding. I can feel it.” Emily looked into his eyes as she gave him the horrifying news.

  Oliver couldn’t blink. It was happening. His fears were coming true. “I’m so sorry, Em.”

  “We have to get her out of here.” Uncle Harrison was on the outside of the chopper. “Lift her up to me.”

  Oliver wasn’t sure how to lift her up, but he knew that he had to get her out before the helicopter exploded. He didn’t want to hurt her more than she already was.

  He lifted her held and straightened his arms to lift her up to his uncle. Uncle Harrison took hold of her forearms and lifted her out. He moved her so she could slide along the wet outside of the helicopter and to the ground.

  When her feet touched the ground, he yelled at her to get as far away from the chopper as she could. He helped Oliver out, and then he slid down the side of the chopper to Oliver and Emily. They were soaking wet, and Emily was bleeding. The ground was red under her, and the rain was carrying away the blood.

  “We need to get further away.” Uncle Harrison picked up Emily and carried her away from the wreck. He tried to find a dry place for them to wait for help.

  Oliver helped Emily, holding her hand as the baby entered this world only to die a few seconds later.

  Oliver didn’t know what to do to get the bleeding to stop. He lay down alongside of her and tried to keep her warm.

  Because of the storm, they had to wait until the next morning to be rescued.

  Emily was no longer talking. She only wanted to hold her daddy’s hand and be close to him. She held the baby in her other hand, trying to keep him warm.

  Uncle Harrison was filled with guilt. He should have thought of the wind. Instead, he’d only thought about landing safely. This was his fault.

  When the doctors said that Emily might not make it, he begged God to take his life in exchange for hers. The baby was dead. He couldn’t live with that guilt.

  Elisabeth and Charles charged into the hospital together. They asked Harrison what had happened.

  Elisabeth had to sit down when she heard about Emily having to give birth to the baby on a dirty wet mountainside. She’d only been two months along.

  Oliver came out of the room they were waiting in front of. He was filled with blood. “She’s going to live,” he announced. “But our child is gone. She’s heartbroken.” Oliver sat down in the chair next to his mother. “They had to give her something so she could settle down and sleep.”

  Elisabeth laid her arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. “You’ll have other children, Oliver. You’ll see.” Elisabeth tried to cheer him up.

  “No, I doubt it. If the doctors could have gotten to her sooner, then maybe, but she lost too much blood, and everything went wrong.”

  “I’m so sorry, Oliver.”

  “I knew this was going to happen. I had a bad feeling right from the beginning. I couldn’t shake it.”

  “Oliver, the most important thing is that Emily gets back on her feet.” Charles said his words sternly. “We have to think about her now. Once she feels ready, you two can adopt. You’ll make damn fine parents for some lucky child.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I have to go back to her.” Oliver placed his hands on the sides of the chair so he could push himself up to standing. His strength was leaving him.

  “I’ll call over to your house and have the butler make up a bag for you so you can stay with your wife.” Elisabeth stood and nodded at him. “I’m so proud of you. Emily is lucky to have you.”

  Oliver nodded back at her before he went back into Emily’s room. She was still sleeping. The doctor had to give her something.

  Oliver placed a chair beside her bed and stared at her. He swore to himself that he’d never get her pregnant again.

  Emily had lots of visitors. Everyone brought flowers and wished her the best, telling her to get well soon. They said that they’d have lots of other children, and that it didn’t
matter if a child was born to them or if it was adopted.

  Emily agreed, but she was in mourning for her baby. She’d wanted the baby more than she’d known. The only way for her to get over the loss would be to have another baby.

  When she told Oliver her thoughts, he blocked her out. He wanted her to stay by him. He feared a pregnancy could kill her.

  Chapter 16

  When Emily was feeling better, Oliver decided it would be best for her to resume her normal daily routine. He sent her back to school where she got to spend time with Samantha.

  The new school year had started. Oliver felt that Emily needed to be around other children and have a distraction. He clearly warned the school not to lay a hand on her. She was still recovering.

  Emily was often depressed. Samantha would help get her mind off of the sad things that had happened.

  The Keaton and the Kabul families often met over the next couple weeks. Ronald and Oliver had lunch together, and they played racquetball at Oliver’s club.

  It was a special men’s club where only the very rich went. To become a member, you had to be born into membership or a member had to sponsor a request for membership, which was reviewed by a board. The members of the board were older gentlemen who more often than not denied the requests.

  Oliver’s uncle was on the board. Thus, Ronald became one of the few millionaires at the club. The others were billionaires.

  Oliver’s old partner was Jake Tanner, a man who had been born into money but decided to go into government intelligence. They didn’t meet outside of the club.

  Oliver could have been knocked over with a feather when he introduced the two of them, and they already knew each other from school where they sent their wives. Jake wasn’t the kind of man where you’d guess him to be a daddy.

  They spoke about changing the game they played. They needed something that they could play together as a group of three.