CHAPTER 10

Chelsea slept into the evening, and only awoke long enough to eat, have a brief conversation with Dylan, and fall back into a deep sleep before finally waking up the next morning, feeling more like her old self, if that was even possible. She must have really been out of it because the clock read 10:30 a.m. She never slept that late!

She shuffled into the kitchen, a mere 20 feet from the sofa bed and found the note Dylan left for her on the kitchen table. It read simply that he had gone to open the coffee shop and would return around lunchtime. She was grateful to have the morning to sleep in, as exhaustion seemed to stay with her now in the late stages of her pregnancy.

The baby was moving around quite a bit this morning. She just needed to hold on for another four weeks, and then the baby hopefully wouldn't seem that premature to Dylan. She prayed the baby would be on the smaller size, but she feared this would be a large baby given the hard jabs to her bladder and ribs.

Chelsea was contemplating a shower when someone began rudely pounding on the door. She wasn't about to answer the door in her current state of dishevelment, but the pounding continued. She knew she looked like shit with her hair a tangled mess and no makeup on, but this person was insistent and not going away.

"Alright, alright!" she barked, stomping over to the door. There was no way to tell who was on the other side, and now she was pissed off. She unhooked the lock and threw the door open, her anger quickly replaced with embarrassment and a little fear.

"Adam!"

He pushed past her without even giving her a chance to invite him in or slam the door in his face.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" She sputtered.

"You might want to run a comb through that," he mocked.

"Fuck you Adam."

A tiny, almost imperceptible smile curved the corners of his mouth. "You did that day before yesterday sweetheart. Have you shared that happy news with your new husband?"

Chelsea wanted to rip his throat out. Simmering with anger and humiliation she retorted, "I wasn't married to Dylan then, so stop making it seem dirty! It was a huge mistake..I'll give you that."

"Oh, it was dirty alright, but in a good way." This time he didn't try to tamp down the grin that spread across his face. "You know, I think you may have set a record. Fucking the ex and marrying a man you've known for about five minutes, all in less than 24 hours! If I had a hat I would tip it right now."

"That man I married happens to be the father of my baby, so take your cheap shots, and your stale jokes and get the hell out of my house." Chelsea angrily reached for his arm to steer him to the door.

"Wait—oh, that's so sad."

"What?!" She snapped impatiently.

"You just called this dive your house. I have one important question- when does the demolition crew arrive because you might want to get dressed before they condemn the place."

"Did you really come all the way over here to taunt and trash talk me? If so, you really need to get a life Adam! Please leave if you have nothing else!" Turning away from him, she began to walk away, when he suddenly gripped her upper arm, preventing any further retreat.

Chelsea reflexively tried to yank her arm free of the steel-like grip he had on it.

"Let go of me you asshole!"

He lowered his face to hers. "Is that any way to speak to the father of that baby you're carrying?" He quickly cast his eyes down to her pregnant tummy and back up to meet her cold stare.

Her heart was racing from the adrenaline coursing through her body. Through gritted teeth she responded, "I said let go of my arm."

Adam dropped her arm disgustedly, and reaching inside his jacket, pulled out an envelope, and brusquely shoved it at her.

Chelsea took a few measured breaths, attempting to calm herself. "What the hell is this?"

"Open it."

She eyed Adam warily. She knew he was far too angry and cocky for the contents of the envelope to hold anything good.

"Games..always games with you," she stated with annoyance, still holding the unopened envelope.

"Not this time. I'm not playing anymore. Are you going to open the envelope or shall I do the honors?"

"Fine Adam! I'll open your stupid envelope!" She quickly ripped it open, and pulled out the contents. "It's a court order," she stated, confusion evident in her voice.

"Very good Chelsea," he responded icily.

As the realization of what she was reading began to sink in, her confusion turned to fury. "This is a court order for a DNA test! Are you out of your fucking mind?!" She shook the documents in his face, prompting him to grab her wrist a little harder than he intended.

"Let go of me Adam!" She raged, attempting to twist her arm out of his grasp.

He immediately loosened his grip, as she pulled away. "Let's get something straight. I am not going to stand by and watch you play house with another man, and pretend that baby in your tummy is his baby."

"How much did you have to pay the judge?!" Angry tears began to form in her eyes.

"Enough, but don't concern yourself with such trivial matters. You WILL submit to a DNA test, proving once and for all that that baby you're carrying is mine!"

"Why Adam?" She felt ill at the mess she had made with this lie.

"Why? Are you serious?!" He spat furiously. He began rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands. She was a major pain in the ass.

"You don't care about this baby. You just hate losing! You couldn't possibly be the kind of father this baby deserves."

"Don't presume to know what kind of father I will make, and make no mistake Chelsea, I will be in my child's life."

"I really hate you right now."

"Well that's funny because you sure weren't hating on me a couple of days ago. If memory serves, your eyes were rolling back in your head…"

"Don't flatter yourself!" She retorted.

"Keep telling yourself how disgusted you are with me, but we both know the truth. You want me just as much as I want you!"

"Wanted Adam, WANTED..past tense." She adopted a mocking smile as she leveled her gaze on him.

"Bullshit! What has changed in two days Chelsea?"

"A husband, that's what!"

"Oh yeah…him. What exactly do you see in that guy?! He makes Nicholas look like a deep thinker!"

"Go ahead and tear him down because it makes you feel better about yourself. Truly pathetic," she snorted.

"Come on Chelsea! If you're going to run from me, at least trade up!" He baited.

"Oh, honey..I went from the K-Mart special to…"

"Wal-Mart."

"I was going to say Neiman Marcus!"

Adam chuckled, as he quickly surveyed the room. "Um, Chels…I hate to break it to you, but you're living like a squatter here. How many bums and meth heads did Dylan have to clear out before he moved in this lovely and stylish sofa bed? OH, and the empty wine bottle/basket combination with the red dripping candle sticking out, is a really classy touch."

"Get out Adam!" Chelsea fumed, once again attempting to guide him to the door.

"Read that court order very carefully Chelsea. Upon birth, a DNA test will be performed immediately, with all parties present, so you better tell your hubby what's getting ready to go down, so that he's not completely blindsided."

"Please don't do this." She couldn't keep the fear out of her voice.

"Tell the truth, and I won't have to do this." He stated emphatically.

"The truth according to Adam Newman?"

"WE made that baby, and I want to be a father to him or her. I'm not going to let you take that away from me too."

"You act as if you had no hand in the demise of our marriage. You abandoned me way before I left you. I just changed geography…"

"And demographics, which are curving sharply downward for you now."

A smile formed on her face. "This is why I doubt your sincerity. You can crack jokes about my living arrangements all you want, but guess what? I now have a man who loves me completely. I don't come in second or third behind other pursuits. My child won't come in second or third either!"

"I would love you and our baby with my whole heart, and you damn well know it!"

"I know it? How's that? Oh, because you have proven it in word and deed?!"

"So you acknowledge that baby is mine?"

"No, Adam. This baby is Dylan's. I don't know how many different ways you have to hear it, but for the last time, this is NOT your baby!"

"You are a God damn liar!" Adam exploded.

"I want you to leave…NOW!"

"I'm leaving, but know this- I know exactly what you're doing, even though I have yet to comprehend the insanity behind your thought process. I'm not just going to shrug my shoulders and drop the whole thing. You will submit to a DNA test when you give birth to MY baby!"

Chelsea's eyes were swimming in tears as Adam stared back defiantly. Shaking his head in disgust, he moved toward the door, passing her before stopping abruptly, just short of the door. What he did next both shocked and shattered what remained of her composure.

She felt him unexpectedly at her side, and the warmth of his palm as he cupped the side of her face, gently turning it toward him. Chelsea met his gaze, and was struck by the sadness in his blue eyes, until the last vestiges of her resolve quickly melted away, and hot tears tumbled down her cheeks. Adam gently wiped her tears with the pad of his thumb, and then slowly brought his lips to her tear stained cheeks, placing tender kisses along the way. She mounted a small protest as he began kissing the corner of her mouth, inducing her to turn almost involuntarily into him, when he possessed her mouth completely, pushing his tongue inside her, caressing, sliding deeper until she offered no more resistance.

She could taste him- slightly sweet and intoxicating, along with the soap and sandalwood scent clinging to his skin, which combined to make an alluring and powerful assault on her senses. He left her mouth, trailing tiny kisses down her neck to the hollow of her throat. Sensations traveled from her breasts to her intimate places, as she strained against him, searching for his hot mouth and the stroke of his silken tongue.

Heat was inexplicably exchanged with cold, when Adam abruptly released his hold on her, leaving her wanting and shaken. He again moved to leave, as if nothing had ever happened.

Opening the door, he turned to her one last time, "Tell your hubby I said hello."

Shaking with fury Chelsea snapped, "I really fucking hate you!"

"When you're done lying to yourself, give me a call." Chelsea watched as he walked out, closing the door quietly behind him. She stood transfixed for a moment, desperately wishing she could have a very strong drink.