"Good Morning Miss Blair." Dorota said pouring me a cup of tea.
"Where's Alex? Asleep?" I questioned sipping the hot tea. It had been a long night without Chuck. I made several attempts at calling but he never picked up. Lately, that was how Chuck had been. I wondered if he was seeing another woman, that was so like Chuck.
"Alex is asleep in his crib. Mr. Archibald returned your call just before you woke up." Dorota reported adding "Do you need anything else?" There was 1 thing I needed but couldn't have right now. Chuck.
"No, No just go to your Aunt's thing I'll be fine." I lied trying not to break out into tears.
"Thank You Miss Blair." She said grabbing her hideous coat from our closet and rushing into the elevator. I happily munched on my scones and sipped my tea before the phone rang. Please be Chuck, Please be Chuck. I prayed silently to myself. I looked at the caller ID. CALL FROM: Nate. At least on guy wanted to talk to me. Not that Nate would have anything nice to say.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey-It's Nate, I'm just calling you back." He said into the phone politely.
"Thanks for calling. By chance are you free today?" I said now breaking into sobs. I didn't really know why I was. Maybe because I had to ask Nate to help me with my baby instead of my own husband.
"Uh, I have to work but what's up? Why are you crying? Is everything ok?" He questioned quickly. I could hide my loud tears no longer.
"No I'm not fine. Chuck is gone and I need help. You were the only person that I could think of wanting help from." I said dabbing my eyes with a hankerchief.
"What do you need help with? I can work via Blackberry anyways." Nate said sweetly.
"It's Alex, our son."
"You have a son? That's great ,what do you need help with?"
"Well, I know you have experience with children and Alex is a little over a day old."
"Oh wow so Chuck isn't there?"
"No he left right as I was leaving the hospital yesterday."
"So your alone with a day old baby. Of course I'll help you. Be right over." Nate said about to hang up his phone.
"Wait!" I yelled determined to catch him before he hung up.
"Yeah?" He said still on the line.
"Thanks." I said, having genuine thanks towards my ex-boyfriend of so long.
"You're welcome. I'll see you in a minute!" He said hanging up.
I finished my breakfast and checked on Alex. He was fast asleep in his expensive nursery. I remember when my designer and I thought about how his nursery should be. We decided upon a light blue with beautiful white crown molding. His crib was white with light blue sheet set. He had a vintage chair as well as many vintage photos. Then there was the two photos of Bart and Chuck andthe 2 photos of Chuck and I. I had loved that picture of Bart and Chuck when Chuck was maybe 5. Alex's face looked exactly like Chuck's. Chuck looked happy and so close with his father. Then the photo with Chuck at 16, just a year before Bart died. Chuck looked like he plastered on a fake smile and Bart threw his arm around Chuck awkwardly. The whole picture just looked uncomfortable. The next photo was of Chuck and I just days after he proposed. We were both smiling and excited. Those were the happier times of our marriage I guess. The second photo was on our wedding day and we looked at each other in the eyes. It was one of my favorite pictures in the world. We both displayed a look of need. But we didn't look greedy or anything like that. We needed just 1 thing and that was each other. The tears returned to me after strolling down my memory lane. I guess I was there for a while since Nate was already at the front door of my building, calling me to let him in. In just a few moments, he was inside my apartment.
"Blair, I'm here." He called, taking off his bulky coat.
"Hi, I'm in the sitting room." I said running out of Alex's room and down the stairs. I hadn't realized I was still in my silk nightgown and matching robe. The robe was flying open as I ran. All I could think was how embarassing!
"Nice attire." He said smiling.
"Thanks I meant to change but..." I said tieing up my robe.
"So what do you need me to do first?" He asked, rolling up the sleeves to Navy Blue Cardigan.
"Actually I just want to talk first. Alex is asleep and Chuck is gone. I just feel so alone." I said, sitting down on the sofa across from where he was sitting. I poured 2 cups of tea and offered one to Nate.
"No thank you. So you want to talk, sure. What's going on?" He asked like he really did care.
"Let's hear about you first. We haven't seen each other in what 3 years?" I said beginning to eat my second scone.
"Yeah it's been a while huh?" He said taking a scone.
"So how's Vanessa?"
"Fine I guess. I mean we are no longer together but we had a child together."
"Why did you guys split? You were married for what 6 years?"
"We were never married but we were together 9 years."
"Why didn't you guys get married?"
"Honestly I don't know. She didn't want to get married I guess."
"When did you guys split?" I asked taking a large gulp of my tea.
"About a month ago."
"Just shy of common law marriage. So you guys have a child? How old?"
"Yeah, a little girl and she's 2." He said pulling a photo out of his wallet. She was modeling in a fancy studio for this picture. She was gorgeous and looked exactly like Nate. Her hair was in curly light brown ringlets. I forgot there was any of Vanessa's DNA in her. When me and Nate were stilling dating as teens, I had always dreamt of what our children would look like. This was exactly it.
"She's beautiful and looks exactly like you." I said handing back the photo.
The elevator rang and the doors opened. Chuck stood with a beautiful jewlery box with an elegant bow. He had a slight smile that I had grown to love.
"You came home." I said rushing into his arms. He pulled me into a tight hug and I rested my head under his chin. I could feel his arms caressing my back. He kissed the top of my head softly and pulled me away so he could look me in the eyes and share a quick kiss. Then my head returned to his shoulder. I didn't think he had noticed Nate was there and to be perfectly honest, I forgot he was there. But as Nate stood up, Chuck pulled out of our embrace and looked at Nate.
"Nathaniel, it's been a while." Chuck said, clearly uncomfortable.
"Chuck, hey I just came over for about a half hour to help with Alex." Nate said grabbing his coat from the coat closet.
"Why would we need any help with Alex?" Chuck questioned rudely and turned to me. I looked away.
"You know what Chuck, Ask Blair! I'm done with both of you and your stupid games! This is why we are no longer friends and haven't seen each other in a long time. Your wife called me and yet I get in trouble. Thanks a bunch Blair." He said walking into the elevator. Chuck walked over to the bar and poured a glass of the expensive scotch. He sat in the sitting room and sipped.
"Ugh Chuck don't tell me you're actually mad Nate was here." I said sitting down on the sofa across from his.
"I actually am. Blair you know I want to help as much as I can but I don't just sit around all day. I make a living for us. You try doing what I do everyday." He said angrily.
"I already know what you're doing and I'm sure it's not just me." I fired back. I was almost sure he didn't know that I knew about the many affairs he had. He face turned in shock that I knew about his affairs. I held up my phone and said slowly, "Gossip Girl."
Gossip Girl: Looks like Blair was right, Her Mister has a mistress and it's not her. He had no F'ing idea she knew. Oh well, guess I just can't keep a secret.
