She sat beside him at the obnoxiously large dining room table, enough seating for twenty people making their small party of four feel like it was being swallowed up by the expanse of the room and the table that sat in the middle of it.
"So what do you do for a living a Kate." Margo Shephard asked.
She wasn't sure if she felt his hand squeeze her hand first or if she heard the question first, but was surprised at how comforting the gesture was and she smiled confidently.
"I'm a real estate broker. I work for Stanton & Harbrough." Kate answered.
"Impressive. They represent some marvelous estates. Perhaps you could convince my son to look at some of them." Margo suggested.
Jack shot his mother a look and then a similar look toward his father.
"I've been curious myself about what the inside of some of those homes must look like, I bet you've seen some interesting things." Christian offered.
"I have and the decorating tastes can range anywhere from breathtaking to amusing to disturbing." Kate offered making both men laugh lightly.
"Sometimes we are over-critical of what we simply do not understand." Margo suggested in a haughty tone.
"That's true, but I like to believe that my degrees in interior design and art give me a better understanding than some. I've seen some beautiful homes turned into complete disasters because the owners didn't seem to understand that being wealthy doesn't necessarily equal good taste. Your home is lovely by the way, did you decorate it yourself?" Kate asked, her ability to hold her own with Margo making both Jack and Christian smile.
"Thank you and yes, most of the rooms were my ideas brought to life by professionals. Would you like a quick tour while we're waiting on dessert?" Margo asked the sharp bite that had been in her tone now gone.
"I'd love one." Kate agreed giving Jack's hand a quick squeeze.
Jack watched tentatively as his mother led Kate out of the room. He knew his parents were anything but easy to please and was used to it, but hated subjecting people he cared about to their constant condescension, having put this dinner party off until he no longer could. Kate's due date was nearing and while Jack hadn't been hiding the fact that they were having a baby and planned to marry, he also hadn't bothered to introduce Kate to either one of his parents until this night.
"She's beautiful son. When is the baby due?" Christian asked.
"About 7 weeks." Jack answered.
"Scared?" Christian asked.
"Were you?" Jack shot back feeling defensive all of the sudden.
"No, but I should've been terrified. Maybe if I'd taken being a father more seriously I wouldn't have been so awful at it. Do you know what the sex is?" Christian asked.
"It's a boy. They diagnosed oligohydramnios about 10 days ago so we're doing ultrasounds once a week and kick counts." Jack said.
"This isn't my specialty son, so refresh my memory, that's when the amniotic fluid is low right?" Christian asked.
"Yeah, but so far he's fine, she isn't losing any fluid and he's growing so he might have to come a few weeks early, but hopefully they'll both be fine. She's having another ultrasound tomorrow." Jack explained his tone quiet and distant.
"Why wouldn't you tell me you were dealing with something like this?" Christian asked.
"It's fine dad, we're fine. You'll be there tomorrow right?" Jack asked.
"Five o'clock right?" Christian asked.
"Right and you'll convince mom to come with you?" Jack asked.
"She'll be there." Christian assured him, noticing how stressed he seemed to be.
"I wonder if I should go rescue Kate." Jack mumbled.
"I'm sure she's fine. How is Sarah?" Christian asked.
"About like you'd expect, sad, depressed and very angry with me." Jack shrugged.
"And you're okay with that, being the bad guy I mean?" Christian asked.
"If being angry with me helps her get through the day I can live with it." Jack said softly.
"You didn't make her unhappy Jack." Christian argued, hating the way his son always refused to assign blame, but instead chose to blame himself.
"Maybe it's not all on me dad, but I accept my share of the responsibility for the marriage falling apart. I don't think she'll ever forgive me for not being there for her after the surgery. That was selfish on my part, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat and have no regrets so don't worry, I'm not beating myself up over Sarah, it would just make me happy to know that she's happy." Jack said.
Meanwhile…..Kate and Margo are in the formal living room. Margo is describing the various pictures of artwork hanging on the walls and Kate is studying the picture in the sterling silver frame of a young, adorable boy wearing a suit jacket and tie.
"Oh my gosh, is this Jack?" Kate asked.
"Yes, that picture was taken the day of his first piano recital. He was six." Margo told her and smiled.
"I bet he was cute sitting behind a big piano. Could he really play at such a young age?" Kate asked.
"He was the most handsome little boy in the recital. Jack excelled at everything he did so he was naturally leaps and bounds ahead of all the other six year olds that day." Margo said, brushing her hand fondly over the picture frame before leading Kate out of the room.
"So have you and Jack decided on a school for the baby yet?" Margo asked.
"School? We're still arguing over whether or not I should breast feed." Kate laughed lightly.
"He's a doctor Kate, and will naturally push for breast feeding, but don't let him bully you." Margo suggested.
"He's not, he would never bully me. He's just stating his case for why it's better for the baby." Kate told her.
"Of course he is; he is his father's son and Christian always knew what was best for Jack. You do what you feel comfortable with Kate; it's not Jack's decision to make." Margo argued.
Kate felt a slight shudder run through her. The woman could be as cold as any person she'd ever encountered, yet she'd seen the look on her face and in her eyes when she moved her hand over the picture of six year old Jack and she couldn't help but wonder what had happened, the distance between them painfully obvious.
"So you and Jack are close?" Kate pried as they stopped in the foyer to admire the open ceiling and the chandelier that hung in the middle of it.
"Do we appear to be close Kate? Nice try, but some family skeletons are best left in the closet." Margo told her and led her back into the dining room.
Kate didn't push the issue, deciding that when Jack was ready he would share the reasons for why he and his mother barely had a relationship. They finished their dinner and Jack quickly made an excuse for why they had to leave. The long spiraling drive out of the affluent neighborhood was quiet. He seemed to be almost brooding or maybe he was just tired, she couldn't be sure.
"Your parents are nice Jack." She offered in an attempt to break the silence.
"No they aren't." Jack laughed lightly, looking over at her and giving her a look that told her he was okay.
"You're father is absolutely charming Jack." Kate argued.
"That he is Kate, the ladies love the old man." Jack sighed and she began to understand the situation. She lifted the center console and scooted closer to him, letting her head rest on his shoulder.
"Well this lady loves the old man's son and plans on keeping him up past his bedtime." Kate said sweetly, moving her hand over the front of his pants.
He gently took hold of her hand and brought it up to his face, kissing the knuckles gently and then placing it back in her own lap.
"I love you babe and I'm all for being kept up later, but we're getting on the highway and I'd feel a lot better if you'd scoot back over there and put your seatbelt on." He said softly.
"Jack, if the baby were in real danger you'd tell me wouldn't you?" She asked as she hooked the seatbelt around her.
"Kate, he is in real danger, but as long as we keep a close watch, it'll be okay. How is he tonight? Has he been kicking much?" Jack asked placing his large hand over her extended stomach.
"Like a soccer player. Here, you count." She said and moved his hand to the area where he was kicking her.
She loved to watch his face light up when the tiny foot tried to kick its way out of her abdomen, his happiness genuine and his amazement heartwarming considering that he was a doctor who should've gotten over the miracle of pregnancy a long time ago.
"I can't wait to meet him." Jack said, his hand still covering the spot on her stomach where his son was actively moving around.
"Me either, I hope he doesn't hate me." Kate said.
"He'll love you as much as I do." Jack assured her.
"Even if I refuse to breast feed him?" She asked making him chuckle.
"Look Kate, I know I've been pretty opinionated about what you should do with your breasts, but if he comes early and the odds say he will, he's going to need every advantage he can get for the first few weeks, but after that he'll do just fine on formula if you find that you aren't comfortable with it." Jack offered.
"What kind of mother isn't comfortable with breast feeding?" She sighed
"Probably lots of mothers and if he manages to make it to 40 weeks, it will be a moot point because he'll be a robust 8 or 9 pound baby instead of a delicate 4 or 5 pound preemie." Jack reasoned with her.
"Of course I'll do whatever it takes to make him stronger if that's the case and if my milk is what it takes then we'll just make sure he gets as much of it as he wants. They sell those little milking machines right? We could do that." Kate said.
"Milking machine?" Jack laughed.
"Well that's pretty much what it is. I know I'm being unreasonable about this Jack, but I love our sex life, love having your hands and your mouth on my breasts and I want my breasts to remain a sexual part of my body and our sex life. I can't speak for all women, but I know that I can't do that if I've got a sweet baby latched onto my nipple. Tell me you understand." Kate said.
"Kate, I couldn't begin to understand what you and your body are going through, but I'll be supportive of whatever you want to do, I'll even help you pick out the milking machine." Jack told her, shooting her a grin that she was sure he didn't intend to be sexy, but it was and her appetite for him showed no signs of decreasing.
"You're just being agreeable because you know you're going to get laid." Kate teased.
"No, I'm being agreeable because I love you and want you to be happy." He told her.
She unfastened her seatbelt, scooted over and kissed him on the cheek.
"I am happy Jack, as happy as I've been in my life. You know Jack, this baby is coming very soon and we don't even have a crib." Kate reminded him.
"I know and we'll go shopping this weekend, I promise." He said as he pulled the car into the driveway of the town home they still shared.
They entered the house. He closed and locked the door and the deadbolt and headed toward the kitchen. She grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"Where do you think you're going?" She asked, snaking her arms around his waist and pulling him close.
"I'm thirsty, I'm getting a beer. Want something?" He asked.
"Yes, I want you, upstairs and naked, now." Kate told him offering a fake pout that made him laugh and kiss her softly.
"We were almost late for dinner because you attacked me in the shower and now you expect me to perform in a dehydrated state. I'm starting to feel like your sex toy Kate." He told her and kissed her again.
"Are you complaining?" She asked and turned to walk up the stairs.
"Oh hell no, but I really am thirsty. I'll be up in a second." He told her and swatted her bottom gently.
"Bring me a juice will you?" She asked and began climbing the stairs.
He entered the bedroom with a half empty bottle of beer and small plastic container of apple juice. He handed her the juice, set his beer on the nightstand table beside the bed and sat on the bed, kicking his shoes off and then laying back, inviting her to join him. She curled up beside him and relaxed into his warm body, a feeling of warmth and security she was sure she'd never grow tired of. She let her arm drape over his stomach and yawned.
"Sleepy?" He asked.
"Mmm, a little." She said.
"Was my mom nice to you?" Jack asked.
"She was okay. I saw that picture of you on the piano. You were an adorable child." Kate said.
"I've spent my whole life looking at that picture, but I don't remember when it was taken or playing in a piano recital or participating in anything that my parents actually attended. I don't remember much before the age of 8 when I woke up in a hospital confused." Jack reminisced.
"What happened to you?" Kate asked.
"They said it was a car accident. I had some broken bones and a pretty serious head injury. I had been in a coma for almost two weeks and when I woke up I couldn't remember anything before the car accident. I don't even remember the accident. There's this chunk of my life missing that I've decided I'll never get back" Jack explained.
"What did they say when you asked about it, the accident I mean, did they try to help you remember?" Kate asked.
"No, my mom always changed the subject immediately and my dad would just tell me to let it go." Jack sighed.
"And that's acceptable to you?" Kate asked.
"You don't know my parents Kate. It doesn't matter what I think is acceptable, if they don't want to elaborate, they won't so there's no sense pushing the issue." Jack said.
"But Jack, your mom..." Kate started to argue, cut off by him rolling her onto her back and kissing her.
"I can't be expected to talk about my parents and be in the mood for sex, so what's it gonna be baby, more talk or some lovin?" He asked in a sweet sexy tone.
She'd been with Jack long enough to know when it was time to stop pushing so she smiled and pulled him in for another kiss, a deeper, more passionate kiss that pulled him closer, his body now draped over hers. He slipped his hand underneath the nightgown she was wearing, finding no panties and smiling before hungrily deepening the kiss some more.
He pulled himself away from her long enough to remove his clothes, the way she watched him the entire time making him briefly long for the days when he could plunge into her and fuck her senseless. He moved back onto the bed with her and steadied her while she straddled him, their sex life consisting of getting right to the act and then taking it slow and easy, but it was still them, still madly in love with one another and enjoying one another as much as he could stand. She'd mount him twice an hour all day long if it were possible, her already healthy sex drive heightened by the pregnancy and close to wearing him out some days.
They both moaned at the connection as if it'd been weeks instead of hours since they'd made love and they began slowly rocking, her rotating over his hips and him slowly thrusting upward, holding onto her hips to keep them in rhythm. These days her first orgasm typically came very quickly, always followed by at least one more before he could get to the place he needed to be in order to join her. Tonight was no different, her panting already starting, her mouth making that O-shape as her pussy, always so hot, wet and hungry for him closed tightly around him as she threw her head back, chanting his name over and over. He could lay beneath her and watch this particular show for the rest of his life, getting to hear his name called out in a manner that suggested he alone was responsible for the pleasure she was experiencing, sometimes followed by profanity that should probably never slip through the lips of such sweet, beautiful creature making the fact that she was currently chanting "fuck Jack, oh fuck" incredibly hot, his cock seeming to grow and tremor inside of her in reaction to it.
They continued to move together, slow and sensual, but intense, so hungry for one another, it was if they could never hope to be fully satisfied, but only temporarily soothed. Their sex life had calmed to accommodate the growing baby, but the passion they had for one another remained as strong as ever. She began moaning and panting above him again, the third orgasm since connecting with him, bringing him over the edge with her, her walls squeezing around him, milking him dry and then finally relaxing, sharing a passionate kiss and then separating. She took her normal position beside him, squirming and scooting around until she was finally comfortable. Her pregnant belly resting comfortably against his side and sleep feeling like it would come easy. She felt him chuckle and opened her eyes.
"You can feel it too huh?" She giggled.
"Yeah, I think he's pissed at us for jostling him around." Jack teased.
"Wow, he's doing summersaults in there. I've counted at least 12 kicks already and it's starting to get a little uncomfortable. Do you think you could do that thing you do and see if he'll settle down?" She asked.
He unwrapped his arm from around her and scooted down. She lay back and relaxed, feeling his large hand rubbing soothing circles over her extended abdomen. She could feel his breath on her skin as he spoke softly to the baby in her womb, always in just a whisper so that she couldn't hear. Two or three minutes later the baby had settled down and he moved back up and wrapped his arm around her.
"That's amazing." She said.
"Let's hope it'll be that easy once he's out." He said with just a hint of nervousness.
"What do you say to him?" Kate asked.
"It's a secret." He teased.
"We don't keep secrets from each other." She reminded him.
"Good night Kate." He mumbled.
"You're really not going to tell me are you?" Kate asked.
"Nope." He said sleepily.
She decided it wasn't a big deal and snuggled in closer to him.
"Nite Jack." She said.