Baby in the Boardroom

by Michele Dunaway

  She was beginning to appear much happier; however, Kristi’s dad’s mood had soured further. “Is the father involved? Who is he?”

  “No, he’s not involved. He doesn’t know and I want to leave him out of this.”

  Her father’s scowl deepened. “I can make him pay. I can make him marry you.”

  “Which is exactly what I don’t want,” Kristi insisted, clenching her fists. “Let’s concentrate on being happy.”

  “I’m worried you haven’t thought this through,” her father said. “How are you going to work? You have a job, you know.”

  “There are millions of women who balance work and motherhood just fine.”

  “You’re an executive. You aren’t like most other working moms,” her dad pointed out.

  “Which means I can afford a nanny and all the help I need.”

  “I would never have wanted help from a nanny. A child needs a full-time mother,” Emma inserted.

  “You’ll take a leave of absence,” her father decided.

  Kristi exhaled sharply, blowing a wayward strand of hair off her face. “As much as I know you want to help, the choices are mine to make.”

  “Well, you don’t seem to be making the best choices these days,” her father retorted.

  “Larry!” her mother admonished.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled, but Kristi could tell that it was only a matter of time before he’d return to the topic.

  “Dad,” Kristi began, determined to salvage something of the conversation. “I know I’ve disappointed you. I’ll admit, this was accidental. But it’s a good kind of accident. And I’m in control of the entire situation.”

  “Now,” her father muttered.

  She ignored him. “You’ll have to trust me. I can handle being pregnant and doing my job. I will not fail at either.”

  “Of course you won’t,” Emma said. Larry tapped his fingers on the brocade chair arm.

  The silence lengthened and Kristi squirmed. “It’ll be fine.”

  Her father didn’t look convinced. “We’ll see, won’t we?”

  “OUCH. I’M SORRY it didn’t go well,” Alison said Monday over lunch.

  Kristi nodded. “They weren’t pleased. My dad even said that Bryan probably wouldn’t mind a ready-made family. I told him that while I like to read romance novels, my life isn’t one.”

  “Ouch.”

  “I apologized. I still feel bad. He meant well.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Kristi frowned. “What’s going on?”

  “Your cousin Brett’s been moved to your department starting Wednesday.”

  “You’re kidding,” Kristi said. At twenty-seven, Brett was the youngest of Kristi’s uncle Marvin’s kids and if he was being moved into Communications, the writing was on the wall. He was being groomed to replace her.

  She’d committed the mortal sin of failing to marry before getting pregnant.

  “Great. This is just fabulous news. Now what am I going to do?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Kristi pushed her lunch plate aside. She’d lost what little appetite she had. “You did the right thing. Thanks for telling me. At least I won’t be blindsided.”

  Kristi was still contemplating her newest dilemma when she walked out of her office a few hours later, a file folder tucked under her arm. She glanced around.

  Her staff was hard at work. Molly rose. “Do you need me to take that somewhere for you?”

  Kristi shook her head. She’d been sitting most of the day. “No, I’ll do it. I need the walk.”

  At her first monthly visit, Dr. Krasnoff had advised Kristi to take a five-minute stroll every few hours if possible, so the folder was a good excuse to leave her office and stretch her legs. She bypassed the elevator, opting for the stairs.

  She went down three flights, surprising a few employees near the copy room when she emerged. Kristi never visited this floor; the employees here managed distribution, truck routes and retail store accounts.

  She found Adam’s office and spoke with him for a few minutes about the free rally-towel promotion. The towels would be handed out at an upcoming St. Louis Blues home game and there would be store displays accompanying the promotion two weeks prior.

  Then it was back to the stairwell for the hike up stairs. She hadn’t made it one floor when the door above her opened and footsteps sounded. Whoever was descending was in a hurry. Kristi paused on the landing, figuring she’d let the person pass by.

  The metal stairs clanged as a suit-covered figure flew down. She’d recognize that physique anywhere. Mitch.

  Seeing her, he skidded to an abrupt halt. “Hey.”

  “Hi.” She swallowed and tried to catch her breath. He’d recently had his hair cut—the dark locks were shorn short and straight. Before he visited the barbershop, the ends would curl at the nape of his neck and his hair would become wavy. He looked fantastic, and her fingers itched to touch his clean-shaven jaw.

  “How are you?” he asked.

  “I’m fine.” She remained still, refusing to squirm as his eyes inspected her from head to toe.

  “Have you lost weight?”

  With all the morning sickness and an unsettled stomach keeping her from eating, Kristi had lost five pounds. Dr. Krasnoff had told her not to worry, that she’d gain the weight back once the first trimester was over. “A little. Not too much.”

  “You haven’t been sick, have you?”

  She heard concern in his voice, and a sense of longing shot through her. She missed Mitch and the way he always noticed the little things. “No. I’m fine.”

  “Fine. You know what that means?”

  “Frightened, in secure, neurotic and emotional.” He’d told her that definition once.

  The corners of his lips inched upward as she remembered. “So?”

  “I really am fine, and none of those.”

  He chuckled at that. “So how is life treating you? Not having more guy trouble, are you?”

  “I’ve given up dating. It’s a belated New Year’s resolution and I’ve even shared it with my parents.” She stood there awkwardly and changed the subject. “So you like your new job?”

  “Love it,” Mitch said. He wiped the wide smile away. “Sorry. I mean, I liked working for you.”

  “It’s all good. I understand. I’m glad you enjoy what you’re doing.”

  Mitch had obviously moved on and settled in. She resisted the sudden urge to ask if he’d been able to land the girl of his dreams. “Well, it was good seeing you. I should get back upstairs. I have work to do.”

  She kept her tone neutral. No need for Mitch to sense that something was wrong, either personally or workwise. Running into him like this was hard enough. She couldn’t help remembering their last moments together and the way his lips had felt on hers, the way his scent had lingered on her skin long after their lovemaking.

  She attempted to pass Mitch and head to her floor, but he placed a hand on her arm. Her skin tingled.

  “It’s good to see you. I’ve been thinking a lot about you. Wondered how you were,” he said. The intensity in his gaze unnerved her and she forced a light laugh.

  “Same old, same old. The Communications Department is boring.”

  “I don’t care about that. Are you doing okay?”

  She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  He removed his hand and coolness fell. While safer, she missed his touch.

  He shook his head. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have pried. It’s just that I’m not a one-night-stand type of guy. It’s never been my style. I need you to know that.”

  “I do.”

  “Then I guess I shouldn’t have worried.”

  Mitch had to be the sweetest man she’d ever met. He deserved not to have coals heaped on his head by her father. She had to protect him from the truth. “You did what I asked you to do. We hooked up, nothing more. I’m sorry if you worried, but I’ve been fine.”

  Mitch l
ooked as if he’d been ready to say something, but had changed his mind. “If you’re okay then.”

  “Never better,” Kristi said, managing to keep from touching her stomach as she did twenty times a day. She should tell him. He’d hear soon enough. She had no more than two months before she’d begin to show.

  But Mitch didn’t need to suffer her father’s wrath. He had a bright future ahead, and maybe a chance to find true love. She’d gotten herself into this mess. She’d handle it alone.

  Mitch took a step toward the stairs. “Well, I’m late for a meeting. You take care of yourself.”

  “I will.” Kristi watched as he continued down the stairs and out of sight.

  Seeing him had been a surprise, but she’d survived. They’d only had sex, so the sense of loss she was feeling had to be hormonal. She shushed the part of her con science that urged her to go after him, and clung to her decision to keep her secret.

  Mitch and she had shared a moment. Nothing more. She had enough to worry about with Brett’s arrival into her department, and the doctor had told her to reduce her stress level. Mitch had moved on, and she knew what her already unhappy father would do should her baby’s parentage be exposed. Mitch would not survive the meltdown.

  Chapter Six

  Mitch had been five minutes late to his meeting, but luckily Marvin Jensen had been delayed, as well. Unsettled from bumping into Kristi, Mitch found it difficult to concentrate on what was being discussed.

  Despite her adamant reassurances otherwise, Kristi hadn’t been her normal, robust self. Her cheeks were a tad hollow and she was very pale. He couldn’t help wondering if she was really as healthy as she claimed.

  He should have checked in on her sooner, but he was having a hard enough time honoring her wish to leave things at one night. He’d known that seeing her would only make it more difficult. Plus his new job had him working more hours a week than he had being Kristi’s PA, and his job with her had been intense.

  He was currently supervising the financial analysis for the union negotiations. He had numbers for everything—health care costs, salary increase percentages and retirement benefits.

  Negotiations required examining every bottom line with microscopic precision. After several years of layoffs in the St. Louis area at other companies of similar size, both the union and management were understandably wary of ceding too much. The first meeting between the two sides was scheduled for next week.

  Mitch was still mentally crunching numbers later that night at his parents’ house. They’d gathered for his father’s birthday, and Mitch’s mother was in the kitchen with his sisters. The entire family was present—including his sister Maria’s husband, Paul, and sister Lauri’s boyfriend of the past year, Cristos.

  Except for Mitch, who’d just come upstairs, all the men were in the basement, playing pool. Maria handed him his niece. “Here. Take your goddaughter and get your mind off whatever’s troubling you.”

  Six-month-old Jane made a razzing sound as Mitch took her. With dark hair and full lips, she was a mini-version of her mom. Mitch dropped a kiss on Jane’s forehead. She smelled like baby powder.

  “You are such a cute thing,” Mitch told her. “Wanna fly?” She giggled as he flew her around the living room like an airplane.

  “So what’s got you all hot and bothered anyway?” Maria asked. Toting Jane, Mitch followed Maria into the dining room, where she began to set the table.

  “Work. That’s it.”

  “Liar.” She handed Jane a teaspoon, and her daughter squealed before immediately putting the shiny object in her mouth. Mitch reached for an extra napkin, getting ready for the utensil’s drool-covered removal.

  “I’m not lying,” he replied, catching Jane as she made a dive for another spoon. “I had an intense afternoon meeting. You’d be amazed at how much detail goes into contract negotiations. Behave,” he told Jane as she leaned forward again.

  She grinned, showing off the two top teeth that had recently cut through. Mitch couldn’t help himself. He smiled back. He’d been sixteen when his youngest sister, Amy, had been born, and with plenty of siblings in between, he was well versed in baby antics. To divert her, he held Jane high and flew her around the table again.

  “Sometimes I think she likes you better than her dad,” Maria said. “He treats her as if she’s fragile.”

  Paul was an accountant in a major firm—a pure numbers guy and paper pusher. His job allowed Maria to stay home with the kids, and Mitch respected that.

  For a moment he wondered if Kristi would be the type to stay home and raise children.

  Nah. Mitch couldn’t picture that. Her father had made her work hard for Jensen’s number-five spot. The position hadn’t been handed to her and she wouldn’t give it up easily.

  “You have that faraway look on your face. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of her.”

  “Who?” Mitch hedged. He hadn’t realized Maria could read him so well. His sister’s lips puckered in solid disapproval.

  “You know who. The one you’ve pined over for years. The one who made this year’s Christmas party so extra special.”

  “I never should have told you what happened,” Mitch snapped. Jane, sensing his mood, stilled.

  Mitch worked to release the building tension. Not quite a year apart in age, he and Maria had always been confidants. Yet it had been a week before he’d allowed Maria to pry the secret of that night from him. She’d caught him in a vulnerable moment, when Mitch had been replaying everything in his head and wishing things could have turned out differently. Holding Kristi in his arms and then walking away from her the next morning had been torture.

  “It’s always good to talk to someone and you were moping around,” Maria said.

  “I wasn’t.”

  Maria’s arched eyebrow told him she knew this time he was clearly lying, and, table finished, she reached for Jane, who held tightly on to her spoon and her uncle’s neck.

  “Mitch, you have to stop the daydreaming and wishful thinking. You got what you wanted. You had one night with her, which was more than you ever expected. Now move on,” Maria advised.

  “I saw her today.” Mitch peeled Jane off, and she went willingly when she saw her mom held out another shiny spoon. “Something’s wrong with her. She didn’t look well.”

  Maria settled Jane on her hip. “Mitch, you can’t live your entire life worrying about Kristi Jensen. She’s a big girl and she has her own family.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “Why is Mitch worried about his boss?” Lauri interrupted, entering with a steaming bowl of green beans in her hands.

  “I’m not worried,” he protested. No one else in his family needed to know his business. Maria’s involvement was bad enough.

  “You are worrying,” Maria repeated, looking at Lauri for moral support. “And she’s no longer his boss.”

  “I had a crush on my boss once,” Lauri said.

  “You were twenty then and nothing happened,” Maria reminded her twenty-seven-year-old sister. “And that’s not what Mitch and I were discussing.”

  “What am I missing?” This from twenty-five-year-old Kathryn, who entered with a platter of sliced ham. Mitch rolled his eyes heavenward.

  “Something about Mitch’s boss,” Lauri replied, starting back to the kitchen.

  “So I missed something?” Kathryn set the ham down and looked first at Maria then Mitch.

  “No. It’s nothing.” Mitch shot Maria a warning glance and then hightailed it to the basement. If food was ready and going onto the table, it was time to get the guys.

  The dining-room table only sat eight, and as there were ten immediate family members, one husband and one guest, a card table had been placed at the end, where it jutted out into the living room as it had for years at family celebrations. Having eaten earlier, Jane amused herself with toys in a playpen located near her mom.

  “So I have news,” Lauri said once dinner wound down. She’d waited until her father had open
ed all his birthday presents and was on his second helping of cake and ice cream. She reached over and squeezed Cristos’s hand as all heads swiveled expectantly.

  “And what’s the news?” her father asked.

  Next to Mitch, his sister took a deep breath. “Cristos asked me to marry him and I’ve said yes.”

  “With your permission, sir,” Cristos added.

  The room felt silent, as Michael Robbins looked first at his daughter, then at the man holding her hand, and then back to his daughter. He nodded. “Yes.”

  Bedlam erupted as Mitch’s mom jumped to her feet and everyone, including Mitch, rose to hug Lauri or pat Cristos on the back. Lauri put on her ring, and Mitch, a bit overwhelmed with the craziness of the moment, cleared some dishes.

  “Escaping?” Maria asked, entering with some dirty plates of her own.

  “You are annoying today,” Mitch told her. He knew exactly why his sister had followed him.

  “Well, look on the bright side. Her wedding gets the pressure off you. Mom’s got someone else to focus on. The order’s been jumped. You don’t have to get married next. You’re free.”

  “That’s a bit cynical,” Mitch replied.

  “Everyone knows Mom wants you to settle down.” Maria loaded some of the serving platters into the dishwasher.

  “Thirty-two isn’t that old. I have years left. It’s not like I can’t find someone when the time’s right.”

  “The timing’s never going to be right as long as you continue to hold out for Kristi. She’s keeping you from finding someone nice.”

  “I know,” Mitch said.

  “So do something about it. Get back on the scene. I met a nice single mom at the YMCA playgroup.”

  “No.” Mitch’s retort was sharp and quick.

  Maria tilted her head and drew back. “So much for getting over Kristi.”

  “It’s not that. I don’t need anyone’s help. I can find my own dates,” he insisted.

  “What’s wrong with a nudge? She’s a sweetheart and pretty. What would it hurt to meet her? Join Paul and me for some drinks after work.”