Chapter 14: Anger Management
Jim's eyes bugged out a bit and his jaw dropped open. "Maybe."
Seb stood up from the desk, watching his employer. "I don't think there's any maybe about it, boss."
"All right! I'm pissed as hell because my own baby-something we created out of pure love for each other was born without a brain and died! But this asshole rapes her and she conceives a little bastard that apparently has a brain and is normal!"
"I can't say anything that'll put the fire out in your head, boss," Seb wisely told him. "but I would encourage you to think on this for awhile."
"What do you mean?" Jim narrowed his eyes at his employee.
"I mean she doesn't want this as much as you and you shouldn't be taking your anger out on her."
"True."
"But also, I think you should regard this pregnancy as an opportunity."
"What do you mean now? Sell it once she pushes it out?"
"No. Regard it in a different light, boss. You weren't there for her first pregnancy with your child, but you can be there for her in the pregnancy with this one, no matter whose father it is."
Jim's eyes brightened a little bit with that idea. So many times when he was on the road he wanted to be with Ruby when she was about to give birth. Now he finally could be there for her and he was getting mad over a small thing. Seb always had a way of making Jim seeing things through a different light when he thought Jim was being unreasonable.
"You won't be missing much at the start though," Seb had an adult son. "just a lot of morning illness and feeling too tired to do much."
"Not appealing."
"To her either," Seb teased. "by the second trimester, things can get fun."
"Go on."
"She'll probably get crazy horny." Jim's dark eyes lit up. "She will be emotionally vulnerable, Jim and she will need your moral support throughout the process. You can guess how producing a life is very draining."
"True."
"So be supportive," Seb summed it right up. "she's always supported you. Don't let the paternity get in the way."
"I think I'll make it my mantra."
"If that's what it takes. Now go home to her."
"Thanks, Seb."
"You're welcome." the assassin gave his employer a benevolent smile.
In the meantime, Ruby had flung herself on the bed, allowing herself to cry for a few moments before getting a hold of herself. She had never seen Jim so mad before but she knew he would be home soon. The criminal didn't like to be away from her during the nights if it could be helped.
"I don't want this child any more than he does!" her eyes rested on a coat hanger in the closet, but Ruby wasn't going to do that. If she had been desperate then she might have done it but it was legal until the 24th week.
At any rate, she wasn't going to abort a life that she was currently incubating. Just once she wanted to have a baby the vaginal way.
Cassidy jumped up onto the bed and gave her owner a small meow. Ruby wiped her face, picked up her cat, then held and snuggled her for a few moments. Cassidy licked her owner's face then meowed to get down. Ruby obliged her, watching her paw at the TV remote for a moment.
Just then the door slammed downstairs and Jim was calling her name. "Up here, Jim." he came upstairs, greeting Cassidy as she went down. The criminal stopped short of the bed where Ruby's voice was muffled by a pillow; she was facing away from him.
"If you're still mad I'll have you sleep on the couch."
"No, I'm not mad. Anymore." Ruby changed in front of him, grabbing her fleece robe he'd given her and stood in front of him.
"What changed your mind?" Jim took Ruby by the shoulders and gave her a deep kiss. She held his face in her hands as she deepened the kiss even more, feeling his hands drop down to her waist.
"Seb did."
"He's got an adult son if I remember right."
"He does. Seb told me I was directing my anger at you and the baby which is growing inside you," he pressed his hands to her belly. "it's not mine and that's what was pissing me off so bad."
"It doesn't need to matter, Jim. You can still be there for the long haul."
"That's what Seb told me. All I have to do is to change my mindset."
"Can you do it?" she pressed her hands to his.
"I think so. I can't let you down."
"Oh Jim, you would never let me down." Ruby kissed him again.
"I hope not. I want to apologize in advance in case I ever do."
"All you need to do is grovel."
"You would like that, right?"
"More than ever."
"I'm glad you admit it. So when do we get to feel the baby move?"
"I'm almost 13 weeks now so give it time, up to week 22."
"Nine weeks from now? What have we got to look forward to in the meantime?"
"Not much. The hormonal changes, nausea, illness, etc. You don't need to be around for all that. I'll be moaning and mopey."
"What about your job?"
"I'm still going to work to get my mind off this," their hands didn't leave her belly. "I want to keep doing it."
"Good for you. It's getting late now so do you want to turn in?"
"Good idea."
The two of them got ready for bed, welcoming Cassidy who leaped onto her favorite spot, at the foot of the bed near Ruby's feet. That night the cat wasn't content just to sleep on her favorite spot. Still retaining her kitten energy even though she was only 3, the cat raced up and down the bed, stopping as she put her front paws on Ruby's head.
Jim chuckled as Ruby giggled, picking up the cat and sitting up in the bed. She held the cat in her lap, stroking her as Jim sat up as well. The cat, happy to have both of her humans' attention, began to purr loudly.
"She purrs with her mouth open, you notice that?" Jim put a finger under Cassidy's chin to try to gently bump her mouth shut.
"Bragging rights?"
"I guess so! This cat is an odd one."
"Did you ever have any pets growing up?"
"I had a dog once." Cassidy only put up with a few minutes of caressing and petting then retired to her favorite spot.
"So much for a distraction." the couple settled back into the bed as Jim wrapped his right arm around his wife's back. She curled up with him, her left ear over his heart so she could hear it beat.
"I missed this."
"I did too." he dragged his fingers through her hair, watching the locks drape themselves over the back of his hand.
"I missed just hearing your heart beat, Jim. The obvious indication that someone's here with me." he gave her arm a rub as he closed his eyes. Further rumination on what she just said made Jim think of the euphemism of two hearts beating as one. It was poetic, romantic, and yet a fact in many respects. Jim was about ready to tell Ruby about that when he heard her breathing pattern change indicating that she was asleep.