Thick: A Stepbrother Romance

by L. M. Roberts

  The only thing I could do was forgive. I made some rash decisions when I first found out that Cherish was pregnant. Saying that the baby wasn’t Brad’s and why would she wait to tell him if it was. I was now in a drama free zone. I could care less if the baby was his. I had a baby of my own on the way and I needed to think of it first. That’s what a real mom does.

  They take all their hurt and bottle it up so the child can live a happy, normal life. Which reminded me of my own mother. I kicked my ass several times over the past month for talking to her that way over the phone. But I with the hormones raging through my system, I couldn’t help it. I was being put on a wave of emotions all at once and I had to have some sort of outlet.

  I’d since apologized for my behavior over the phone and my mother and I have grown stronger from it. It still hurt me that she was going to be in the room when cherish gave birth. That was supposed to be her place with me. But if I really wanted to forgive, then I couldn’t stand in her way. I couldn’t hold a grudge against a woman that merely wanted to be accepted.

  As I once had been.

  I didn’t have to work to be accepted into the Titan family, it just happened. From the very first time I went to their house in high school Henry had considered me one of them. That’s when I started to feel sorry for Cherish. She had to work to get Henry’s approval, and has still yet to gain it. Henry was over the moon happy to get a grandchild from Brad. What he wasn’t too happy about was the person that it was coming from.

  As I pulled to a stop in front of the doctor’s office, I smiled. This would be my first visit of many. I had begun a new chapter in my life two and a half months ago, but today was when it was all going to become real. I would have an exact due date of when my little miracle child would be here. That was what excited me the most. The chance at being a mother. I didn’t need a man to have a help in raising a child. My mother was proof of that.

  After signing in, I waited, and waited. Being that it was my first time with this doctor; the nurses stated that it could take a few hours to be let in to see him. This news didn’t bother me in the least. I knew that bringing in a new patient would take a bit of time. They would have to pull my records and everything. What I didn’t expect was it to take less than an hour before I was called back.

  There was only one thing I could tell I was going to hate about coming here every month. The part where I had to undress and wear, what I called a paper towel, gown. I was shy when it came to showing myself to other people. That I don’t think would ever change. But I found the more I set there, the more I became comfortable with the idea of wearing this gown for long periods of time.

  I started fidgeting when the door opened. A pale-as-a-ghost doctor came in with a laptop that set on a cart, and a nurse standing right behind him. He was your average doctor; button up shirt, tie, and slacks with a white coat over it. I couldn’t explain it but I instantly felt at ease. I remembered the stats of him and his deliveries and that sold me. He wouldn’t be in this field very long if he wasn’t the absolute best.

  “Says here that about a month ago you had a positive pregnancy test,” he stated, his eyes looking at me over the rim of his glasses.

  I nodded my head. “Yes, that’s correct.”

  “Well let’s see if we can get an exact gestation, shall we?” He motioned for me to lay back, and bring my butt closer to the edge of the table.

  When I put my feet in the stirrups, he put gloves on. “Just lie back. It will only take me a moment.”

  I laid back, closing my eyes. God, I’d never felt so violated in all my life. Having another man’s fingers where Brad’s once were felt like I was cheating in a way. I know that’s completely retarded considering that he and I are no longer together. But it felt like cheating all the same. It was his baby that the doctor was trying to get a read on, his baby that grew inside of me.

  As he finished, snapping the gloves off his hands, he smiled. “You’re measuring about two and a half months, Ms. James. Now let’s take you to get your baby’s first picture.”

  I was completely speechless. I hadn’t known that I was getting an ultrasound today. I just figured that the doctor would measure me and I would be out of here. But the doctor had other things in mind. I didn’t know that going into this ultrasound that I would get emotional, but I did. Brad wouldn’t be here for our baby’s first picture. He wasn’t here for the first visit. He was going to miss everything.

  That’s when I broke.

  My scalding tears fell down my cheeks as I followed the nurse to the ultrasound room. Laying back on the table, she prepped the machine as I sobbed quietly. I could do this alone, but did I want do. I thought before this visit that I was all up for doing this by myself. However, the more I thought about it the more it saddened me.

  If I were to have a boy. He wouldn’t be able to go in the backyard with his father and play catch. He wouldn’t be able to go to a baseball game, or football game with his father. That thought completely tore me up inside. There was no doubt in my mind that Brad would be a wonderful father. The only thing that was stopping me was the fact he was having his ‘second chance’ at a real family. I couldn’t rip that apart. I would be no better than Cherish if I did that.

  A faint heart beat brought me out of my terribly thoughts. It was then I realized that she already had the ultrasound underway. When she paused the screen and turned to me with a smile, I couldn’t help to smile through my tears. This nurse was so nice, gentle, and warm.

  “There’s your little button,” she stated excitedly, pointing toward the screen.

  “That’s it.”

  She nodded her head with a small smile on her face. “It sure is. Your measuring in just like the doctor said, two and a half months.”

  My tears fell faster, a frown marring my features. This woman probably had her whole life together. She probably had the whole thing; house, husband, and children. If so, she didn’t know how lucky she was.

  She noticed my continued sadness and asked what was wrong, “My dear, why are you so sad?”

  I shook my head, wiping the tears from my eyes. “I just thought that the first time I would be seeing my baby the father would be here with me too. But I guess that asking a bit much.”

  She frowned softly. “Ms. James, I wasn’t going to say anything. But…why isn’t the father here with you?”

  I chuckled at the questions. “Well it’s because he doesn’t know little button exists. He’s starting his second chance at a family with someone else.”

  She shook her head, a sadness in her eyes. “If that be the case, he didn’t deserve you all anyway. I hope you don’t mind me saying.”

  “Not at all. He is a good person though, albeit a little dense at times, but still a good person.”

  After leaving the office I was still a bit sad from the fact that Brad hadn’t been with me to see our child for the first time. I wasn’t sad that I was pregnant any longer, I was just sad that he wouldn’t get to experience anything with me in the pregnancy of our first child. I’ve thought about telling him so many times, but each time I usually talk myself out of it.

  It wouldn’t be good to have Cherish involved in the mix. That was something that I could not let happen. She was a poison, and I was not going to let her anywhere near my child. She would poison it too, turn it against me. Besides my mother, Henry, and Alex; this baby was the last thing that I had left.

  Upon returning home, I showed Alex the ultrasound. I’ve never seen her cry a day in my life, but as she stood there looking at the ultrasound picture she began to tear up. I secretly wondered if she herself wanted a child, but just chucked it up to having too much excitement for the pregnancy.

  “Oh my, it’s so beautiful,” she cooed at the little photo.

  “I know, right.” I oozed happiness.

  As promised she made me get out of the house and go shopping with her. It was a much needed stress reliever just to be able to hang out. Being at home I was working on my accounts a
ll the time, so we rarely had time to hang out with one another. I knew now that I was pregnant I would have to give her all the time in the world, because later my attention would be elsewhere.

  And I couldn’t fucking wait. Now if I could woman up and tell my mother.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Two and a Half Months Later…

  I looked out the window of the plane, lost in thought. I was on my way home to see my mother. She would soon find out how different things have changed in the five months since I’d been home. I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to seeing Brad again, especially in this state of my pregnancy. However, I wasn’t going to be able to hide my pregnancy from my family for long. I needed to tell them before it got out, which was why I was heading back to Cedar Grove.

  I’d thought originally that telling my mother over the phone would be the best way to go. But no matter how many times I talked to her on the phone, I could never force myself to tell her. The closest I had come to doing so had been when she said she was going to be in Cherish’s delivery room. That day I had snapped, telling her exactly what I thought of the whole Cherish situation.

  However, over the last few months I’d learn to deal with it in the best way I knew how. Not relying on anyone. I was going to raise this baby by myself, but that didn’t mean that I couldn’t tell all my family. I’m sure they would be surprised and maybe just a tad hurt, but that was something that couldn’t be helped. You can’t really tell someone the truth if all their focused on is someone else, someone I was sure didn’t deserve their attention.

  It still rubbed me the wrong way, don’t get me wrong. But I’d learned to come to terms with it. None of this was about me, it was about getting everyone in my child’s life. I needed to put my hate behind me and meet this head on.

  My mother had tried to call me before I boarded the plane, but I decided to hold off on it. I figured that she would like a visit a lot better than she would a phone call. As I heard the captain come over the speaker telling us to make sure our seat belts were fastened that we would be landing soon; my nerves began getting the best of me. My stomach knotted up, and my heart began to race. The first time I was seeing my family in five months and I was going to have to tell them all about Brad and I, plus the baby.

  It was going to be one messed up visit. When the plane finally touched down and we were let off. I felt that it was time that I could check my voicemail. So after gathering my luggage I turned on my phone to listen to the message. When my mother’s delicate voice blared through the phone, I instantly knew something was wrong.

  Dear you needed to know, but Cherish is being rushed to the hospital. The doctors will not tell us anything at this time, but we believe she will have to have a C-section. Something about her blood pressure and the babies heart rate. Just please when you get this, call me!

  Holy shit. I didn’t like Cherish, but I didn’t want anything to happen to the baby or her. Holding a hand to my belly, I rushed out of the terminal and flagged down a cab. I told the man that I would pay anything as long as he got to the hospital within thirty minutes. Since the hospital was an hour away, I just hoped that he would make it in time.

  As we were pulling up to the hospital, my mother called again. This time, I answered but still didn’t give away my location.

  “Hello,’ I answered, worry evident in my voice.

  “Claire, oh my God, Claire. They’re going to have to do a C-section on Cherish. Her blood pressure got way too high. She was almost going into seizures. Their rushing her to the operating room now.” My mother screamed through the phone, pain lacing every word.

  My heart was beating out of my chest, nerves drawn tight. “Keep me updated. I don’t like her, but I don’t want anything to happen.”

  “Ok dear,”

  Then the line was disconnected.

  I rushed my way through the hospital, taking the first elevator that I came to. A nurse was rushing after me asking me if everything was ok. I told her what was happening and she directed me to the right elevator before I could get onto the one that led to the crazy floor. Yeah, that would have been super lovely.

  Taking an extra baggy sweatshirt out of my bag, I slipped it on. This was not the time nor place to tell my family about my pregnancy. I would have to tell them soon, but right now they needed to be focused on the emergency at hand. When the elevator dinged, signaling its arrival. The doors opened to a waiting room that was full of people arguing back and forth. I quickly stepped out of the elevator, hiding that I was there.

  It was then I heard Brad yell across the waiting room. “That’s my child you son of a bitch. My name was on the tag in the baby’s carrier.”

  An unknown voice spoke up, I began looking around and my eyes landed on a giant of a man. He stood close to six-five and weighed close to three hundred pounds of solid muscle. But that’s not what had me doing a double take. This man claiming the baby was his had the skin color of coal.

  “To hell that’s your son, I’m the one that got Cherish pregnant, you asshole. Just ask her. That’s my baby boy they just wheeled out, I don’t give a shit if it had your last name on the tag. Just take a gander real close, you’ll be able to tell that fucking child’s mine. I’ve been seeing Cherish for the last year, even when she was with your sorry ass.”

  Oh my God. Did that guy just say what I thought he just said? Fuck, this is gonna be good.

  “You lying you piece of shit.” Brad yelled, trying to break the hold Henry and his friends had on him.

  The other man chuckled. “Just look at the boy. I’m telling you, it’s not yours.”

  I couldn’t hold back my laughter any longer. My piercing squeal caused the people that were next to me to move out of my way. I grabbed my stomach when it started to hurt from my cackling. Everyone turned to see who it was, splitting a path to where Brad could see me. Slack-jawed and all, I pointed a finger and let it fly.

  “This is fucking priceless...I told you, didn’t I? I told you that baby wasn’t yours, and you frigging believed her. Holy shit, I think I’m gonna to pee myself. This shit is just too good.” I continued to bellow with laughter, wiping the tears from my eyes as I did.

  “Claire?” My mother’s delicate voice rang out through the silent waiting area.

  I finished wiping my eyes, giving a shy smile to her. “Hey mom, I’m here.”

  Everyone was still shocked silent as she ran toward me, grabbing me into a big hug. I knew the moment she felt my belly bump, because she jerked back like she’d been burnt. She stared at me with wide, unbelieving eyes, then looked at my stomach and then back to me. I knew this was a lot to take in and I didn’t expect her to attack me with a hug when I just got here.

  Shit was about to hit the fan.

  “You’re fucking pregnant?” She squealed throughout the hospital wing. At this point I think people three states away could frigging hear her.

  “Just turned five months.” I confirmed, a lone tear sliding down my cheek.

  She embraced me again, shaking with sobs. I opened my eyes to look over her shoulder, seeing Brad had turned as pale as a ghost. His father and friends had dropped their hold on him, but that turned out to be a bad idea. The second their hands released his body, he dropped like a sack of potatoes on the ground. I giggled, not being able to help myself.

  My mother heard the gasps, and thud of Brad hitting the floor. She turned around, confusion deep in her eyes. I had to take my mother from here and tell her right now, before he woke up. If I didn’t do that then everyone would know that he was the father of the baby. Right now he was the only one that had an inkling that it was his, thus ended with him eating the tile floor. Pretty damn hard from what I saw.

  “Mom, I have to talk to you. We need to go somewhere private.” I said, grabbing her hands and leading her away.

  Henry came up to me, a bright smile on his face. He gestured if he could touch my stomach, I smiled and told him that he could. The baby chose that moment to kick as his hands tou
ched my skin.

  “I guess she knows who her grandfather is,” I chuckled, loving the look on Henry’s face. “But you need to grab your boy. Brad, you, mom, and me have things to talk about. Privately.”

  He nodded, telling some of the guys to grab Brad. Before I knew it we were in the chapel of the hospital. Of all the places they had to choose the chapel. Fuck. I walked over to the water fountain, filling up a little cup. When I brought it back to Brad, I got an idea of how to wake him up to take a drink. Rearing my arm back, my slap across his face echoed through the entire chapel.

  He eyes slowly opened, locking with mine. His tears brimming his eye lids. “That was the reason you asked, wasn’t it?”

  I nodded as I gave him his cup of water. I stood up and set my sights on our parents. Taking a deep breath, I mustered as much courage as humanly possible. Removing my sweatshirt, my full bump was put on display. Three gasps rang out through the silent room shortly before a sniffle, which I knew was my mother.

  I let out a tired sigh. “Ok. I want to explain things to you before you have questions. I am five months pregnant. I want you to count it back in your heads, that makes me becoming pregnant in July, or should I say conceiving in July. I do not know the sex of the baby. But I do know who the father is.” I stopped when the panic began to overwhelm me. Shoving my emotions to the side, I had to get this out before I was unable to.

  I closed my eyes, and swallowed the bile rising in my throat. “The father of the baby is, Brad.”

  I waited for screaming, yelling, pretty much anything that was close to freaking out. But what I didn’t expect to get was laughter. I cracked one eye open to see that Henry and mom were doubled over with laughter. They were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes and mom was covering her face with a handkerchief to keep from snorting all over the place.

  “Oh honey…do you really think I believed there was a ‘Brett’” She used her fingers as air quotes around his name. “I knew all along that you and Brad were messing around. I’m not blind, and trust me it would take someone blind not to see that.” She chortled.