by White, Jade
It was still better than dealing with Nathaniel, who was calling her at the moment. He was more than likely at the apartment they used to share and wondering where she was. It was her own fault for allowing him to come around at all. He made her feel weak and, sometimes, she was a little scared of him. It would be nice to have someone to take care of her. She found herself staring over at Thomas but shook out of it when the waiter showed up.
“I’m not going to say a word,” Tilly said, but it was obvious she was dying to give Melissa her opinion.
Once their food came, she busied herself eating pasta and talking about work. She noticed when the blonde went to the bathroom and Thomas rose from the table. He was coming over.
“Ladies.” He smiled as he stood next to the table.
“Who’s that blonde lady?” Tilly asked immediately and stared up at him.
Melissa’s face felt hot as the blood rushed to her cheeks. “Tilly,” she tried to say under her breath.
“That’s Cherie, she’s an actress. Had a commercial for some type of powder you add to water for fiber or something recently. Nice girl.”
“How’d you meet her?” Tilly wasn’t going to stop.
“I met her a little earlier at a bar we both go to, and decided to have dinner.”
“Well, you’d better wear protection.”
Melissa was horrified with her friend. Why she would say something like that was beyond her. It hadn’t been long enough for her to make her decision, and she knew what Tilly was implying.
He was speechless, opening his mouth to speak and then closing it again. His date was returning to the table, so he nodded at them both and walked away. Melissa wanted to sink into the floor.
“I can’t believe how embarrassing you are.”
“What?” Tilly smiled. She’d never had any problems embarrassing her friend. “Now he’ll be thinking of you while he’s banging her.”
“That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard.”
She could never stay mad at Tilly for long, but the whole thing made her feel like she was crazy. It wasn’t like she had any claim over the man but part of her still felt betrayed he was on a date when they were making such an important decision. Her phone rang again. Nathaniel’s messages were probably getting angrier.
“Can I stay with you tonight? I don’t want to put you out,” she asked, ashamed of her situation.
“Of course, we can have a slumber party with the girls and watch Disney movies.”
“Sounds perfect.” Melissa would deal with her crazy ex another night. Tonight she just needed a break and to clear her mind.
***
A week was over before he knew it. Thomas paced in his office, not really wanting to call her first thing in the morning. That would seem a bit desperate. It was hard but he resisted the urge, she would just be getting to work and starting her day.
“Janet, bring me some coffee, please,” he called out to his assistant, “and a donut or two.”
“Is everything okay sir? You don’t eat donuts.” She had a point.
“You’re right. Bring me an oatmeal with fruit, a banana, and some yogurt.”
He was a healthy eater unless he was stressed. After he finished eating, he settled back into his chair and tried to decide what to do next. His phone started to buzz and he saw it was a text from Melissa. She asked if he was available. After thinking really hard about what to say back to not seem too eager, he settled on 'I am available' and waited.
“Hello,” he answered on the third ring.
“Mr. McMillian?”
“Call me Thomas, Miss Rancic, please, I think we’re past the formalities.”
“Okay, then call me Melissa. I’ve decided to accept your offer. I wouldn’t even take the money if my ex-husband hadn’t buried me in debt and my mom wasn’t really sick. I can’t afford not to take the money, but it makes me uncomfortable because I would do this for you for free. I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to see if my research will work and the possibility of it helping other people in the future. There are some risks to the baby that we’ll need to meet to talk about, and, of course, we’ll need to set up a timeline. Can you come in for an appointment sometime this week?”
“Melissa, I think we can go out to dinner to talk about these things. It seems a little too formal to have an appointment and talk about something so life-altering. Let’s plan for dinner tomorrow night.”
He was thrilled she wanted to do it, his mind was racing with the possibility of having a son or daughter sooner than he thought. In his culture, a were-bear was only as good as his offspring. That had been drilled into him from the beginning.
His parents were raised by very strict rule followers, but they were the last of the were-bears in each of their territories. No one in his family knew why the population had dwindled so, but his mother told him every year they knew of less and less.
“Thomas?” Melissa had been talking to him and he’d completely zoned out.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“I said I think I can do it artificially if you don’t want to have sex in order to plant the seed.”
“That would be more difficult for you, and probably not as efficient, correct?”
“Yes, but it’s a possibility.”
“No, we’re both adults and we’re both mature. We can do it the natural way and not develop any sort of feelings or obligations, can’t we?”
“I think so.”
He truly wasn’t sure he could sleep with her and not become slightly more interested, but he would do it for the sake of their child. A relationship might not work out and then the child would have parents that didn’t get along. It was really the perfect plan. He’d slept with Cherie a couple of times that week and he wasn’t really into her like that.
“Okay, well then, it’s settled. We can meet up for dinner in two nights. I have some work obligations the next couple of nights. I’m very happy you’ve decided to do this for me. Let me put you into contact with my accountant so he can set up your payment.”
After he gave her the information for his accountant and hung up, he was both thrilled and nervous. This was happening and soon he would have a child to carry on his name. AJ had been given their father’s name, Abraham Joseph, since he was the first and Thomas had been given his uncle’s name. He’d never met his uncle, only knew he died before he could have children to carry the name on.
His dad had always put pressure on him to live up to his name. It was interesting that more pressure wasn’t put on AJ since he actually had their father’s name, but he’d always sort of skated by.
That’s why Thomas ran McMillian’s Company and AJ got to be an entrepreneur. Now he had to find a way to tell his parents he was going to have a baby with a human woman and she was going to have to take fertility treatments with unknown consequences to make it happen. It wouldn't be easy. He needed a drink.
***
Melissa hung the phone up and waited for Tilly to stop screeching her excitement before going to get her lunch from the refrigerator. She really hoped she was making the right decision for herself and her research. She found herself wondering if his work commitments were dates with other women. That was something she was going to have to reign in fairly quickly if she wanted to make it through nine months.
“Hi, sweetheart. Tilly.” Melissa looked up to see Nathan walk into the break room with a brown paper bag. “I thought I would come and have lunch with you today.”
“Don’t call me sweetheart, what do you want Nathaniel?” Melissa wasn’t in the mood for him today, or any day really.
“I need some money.”
“Of course you do.” Melissa rolled her eyes. It was a reaction she couldn’t help when it came to Nathan.
“You need to quit calling Melissa every few minutes, Nathan, it’s not healthy,” Tilly said out of the blue.
“You never have liked me, Til, and I think it’s good that we can still have an amicable relationship even though we
’re no longer together.”
“Amicable would be you giving her space to breathe, amicable would be not calling her all day and coming by asking for money. Why don’t you get a job, Nathan? She carried you the whole time you were married, and now she’s not responsible for carrying you anymore.”
It was true, everything Tilly was saying, but it wasn’t good to point it out to him. His face was turning red and Melissa could tell things were about to turn really ugly for everyone involved in the room.
“Tilly, why don’t you go check the appointment book and see who is coming in next?” She gave her a nervous smile and jerked her head to the door.
“Fine,” Tilly huffed and walked to the door.
“You know you’re lucky I didn’t sue you for alimony, Melissa. I still could if you aren’t careful. You owe me this for agreeing to the divorce, for allowing you to make a fool out of me.”
Melissa knew he was bluffing, he didn’t have the money to sue her for alimony, and he had a record so it would hardly stand up in court that he’d use whatever she gave him to live a clean and respectable life style. It was a huge joke that he would even say something that stupid, but he was good at making threats.
“How much do you need Nathan?”
“Just three hundred. I got a good investment deal going, I’ll pay you back.”
“I thought you might use it to pay the motorcycle off that's in both our names. There aren’t that many payments left, but this month is way overdue.”
“I’ll use the money I make back to pay it, promise.”
Melissa sighed and walked over to her purse to grab her checkbook. She knew better than him doing anything but buying drugs and booze with the money, but it was easier to just give it to him then listen to his threats and yelling for hours. One day, maybe soon, she’d get away from him. She certainly couldn’t let him know she was going to have any money from Thomas. He’d try to take it all. Some things would get paid off, and he just wouldn’t know about it. It would be a nice change for the phone not to ring night and day with people trying to get paid.
CHAPTER THREE
Thomas had been putting off calling his mother to tell her the news. It was the day of his dinner with Melissa to discuss all the ins and outs of their plan. His mother was a strong believer in fate and always thought he’d meet a nice were woman to settle down with despite there being a shortage of them in New York. He’d once asked her if there wasn’t some type of network or association that kept up with the bears in the world and she’d gone really quiet.
Later, his father had told him they’d fallen out with the elders due to something his father had done when he was younger. Neither one of his parents would tell him what that was, so it was another reason he assumed they never heard or met with others of their kind. Maybe they were the outcasts, cut off from the society they’d once belonged to.
“Mom,” he finally called and she answered on the first ring, of course. It had been a couple days since they talked so she was probably worried about him.
“Tommy, are you okay, are you sick? Why haven’t you called your mother?”
“I’m fine, Ma, I’ve just been busy with work.”
“Work, work, work is all you men ever do. You need to find a hobby or settle down and start a family.”
He took a deep breath. His mother knew nothing about his inability to get a woman pregnant. He’d been able to keep it a secret from her for a while and there was no reason to tell her now.
“That’s actually why I’m calling. I’ve met someone who wants to have my baby.”
He held the phone away from his ear while she screamed for his father and then squealed into the phone.
“Tommy, that’s incredible! Are you getting married, are you going to bring her to meet us, is she too young for you? Don’t answer any of that. Oh honey, I’m so happy!”
This was his chance to tell her she was simply going to have his child. There wouldn’t be a wedding or a relationship. It would just be a baby. He couldn’t bring himself to do it though. It was too much to throw on his mother, she wouldn’t approve one bit.
“I knew fate would bring another bear into your life, you just had to be patient.”
“Mom, she’s human.” That part, at least, he could be honest about.
She didn’t say anything and just breathed heavily into the phone for a minute. “I suppose,” she started quietly, “if there aren’t any bears you’ll have to make due with a human woman.”
“I think you’ll like her, Mom, she’s nice.”
“Well, I should hope she isn’t mean, son. We shall see, bring her to your niece’s birthday party and I’ll decide then.”
After that statement, there was no way he was going to tell his mother she was just going to have the baby and move on. He’d simply have to find a way to tell his parents they split up after the baby was born.
“Okay, I will see you then.”
“Mr. McMillian, Mr. Blair Schmitt is on the phone for you.” Janet poked her head into his office.
“Tell him I’m in a meeting.” He knew Blair would just keep calling if he knew he was in his office.
“This is the third time he’s called, sir.”
“Fine, put him through, and Janet, see if you can make reservations at the Owl and Pond for seven tonight will you?”
“Hello, Thomas, nice of you to answer me.”
“Blair, what do you want that you had to call three times?” Thomas asked when his friend yelled obscenities at him the minute he answered the phone.
“Just wanted to let you know that Melissa’s ex-husband had lunch with her at her office today. I saw him go in with a bagged lunch. Or I suppose it could have been a bag with his sperm,” Blair said thoughtfully. “Either way he was there with her.”
“One, why the hell would it be a bag of his sperm? And two, are you spying on her, Blair?”
“Just a bit.”
“Why are you spying on her?”
“For the bet, of course. The stakes are high. I have a lot of people making bets on dates you fall in love or everything falls apart.”
“Stop spying on her, you lunatic!”
“I’m a P.I., Thomas, it’s what I do. You can’t ask me to stop working a job can you?”
“I most certainly can. I’m the one who asked you to do it. You aren’t even a real private investigator.”
“That hurts, man. I’ll see you at the Owl and Pond tonight? Don’t worry, I’ll hide behind my menu and then a plant strategically placed near my table.”
“Blair, if you show up tonight, I will fight you. And stop flirting with Janet for information on my schedule, you freak.” He seriously was going to have to put a restraining order on him.
“Fine, just fine. You’re no fun at all. I’ll find something else to do, but there is something you should know about her ex-husband.”
“Really?”
“I don’t know that I want to tell you now that you’ve hurt my feelings.”
“Blair,” Thomas yelled, his patience growing thin.
“He’s Nathaniel Burr and he owes a lot of people money. This includes my drug dealer and some other very bad people. If they wanted to hurt him, they might try to get to Melissa since she’s still in his life, you know.”
“I’m not touching the fact that you have a drug dealer, Blair, but is he dangerous?”
“Yes, so be careful.”
“Okay, thank you, and stay away from us tonight.”
“You’re welcome, and I’m glad you can see how useful I can be.”
Thomas hung up, not sure how to take the news that Melissa’s ex-husband was such a bad guy. He wasn’t worried about his safety. He could take care of himself. He wondered how the guy would take someone he clearly still wanted to be around having another man’s baby. He was worried about Melissa’s safety.
“Reservations are confirmed, sir.” Janet popped back in and gave him a thumbs up.
***
Melissa had spen
t a pretty long time getting ready for the dinner. She felt silly since it was a business meeting more than it was a date, but she figured she might as well look good. They were going to a really expensive restaurant, according to his text, and she didn’t frequent those that often. She’d stopped by to check on her mom and found the nurse reading to her.
“Mel, you’re so pretty,” she said.
“Thanks, Angela. Has she spoken any today?”
“A little, mostly to tell me she was hungry, but her voice is gone and she’s incredibly weak. It’s few and far between.”
“I’ll be back to stay tonight,” Melissa promised and hurried out the door to wait for Thomas. She’d told him to pick her up at her mother’s house. It would be easier. By the time he’d arrived to get her, she was feeling pretty nervous.
“You look lovely.” He climbed out of the back of a car. That wasn’t something she’d really thought of. This was a very rich guy, and of course he didn’t have to drive himself around.
“Thank you, I’m excited to try this place. I’ve never been.”
He held the door open for her and she climbed in. Smoothing her dress before he got in, she nodded at the driver. The whole thing was completely bizarre to her. She knew he had money, but she’d never really stopped to consider how much money he might actually have.
The restaurant had a long line outside of it, and her stomach growled in response. She wished she’d had the foresight to at least grab a small snack. To her surprise, when they exited the car he led her right to the front of the line and stepped in front of the first person waiting.
“McMillian, Thomas,” he said and took her hand.
The host led them right inside to a table that was already sat with waters and a small ring of candles. It was a gorgeous restaurant and for a minute she forgot to sit down. He stood behind her having pulled the chair out and she just stared at the paintings on the wall. He cleared his throat and she shook out of it.
“Sorry.” She took her seat and he pushed it gently beneath her.
