Chapter Two

"I feel gross...and sweaty!" Maria whined as she let Kyle lead her through the art gallery. Ever since moving there, Michael had started his paintings, very beautiful and admired paintings. That was where most of the money they used came from. He'd been a big hit with the small town and even got people wanting to buy his paintings from the surrounding towns. They were all at his second art showing and she hated it. The first time they had been newly wedded and she'd looked beautiful in her blood red evening gown with the matching shoes and lipstick. But back then, she hadn't even known she was pregnant, like now when it was so totally obvious.

She felt gross, she was sure she looked it and was probably embarrassing Michael walking around there all fat. But that was her own opinion. Everyone else thought she was the cutest little thing. With her small form in that black glittery, custom made evening gown with the very subtle neckline that hinted at cleavage, but didn't quit show it (Via Isabel), if you looked at her from behind, you'd think it was the same Maria Guerin everyone in town had known and come to love...the tiny little girl. You walked around to see her from the front, and you'd remember that she's 7 months pregnant with the artist, Michael Guerin's, first child. She was adorable, she looked beautiful, but she didn't think so.

"Maria, will you stop that? Everyone is talking about you...in a purely good way. They think you're beautiful..." Kyle saw her frown, knowing she still didn't believe him, "They rate you higher than Izzy and Liz!" He said at a last ditch effort, and breathed a sigh of relief as she slowly grinned with a giggle.

"Kyle...they aren't even here to be rated." She pointed out. Oh no, they weren't there, it was just her, Michael and Kyle tonight. Liz had come down with the flu, so even if Maria had wanted to stay home, Michael wouldn't have allowed her to be near a sick person in fear she'd catch something, Max was taking one of his night classes and Isabel had been busy working on a new essay.

Kyle frowned and scratched the back of his head, "Yeah...but still...everyone KNOWS what they look like, they think you look better.." He tried and just groaned as that pout came back to her lips.

"I don't care what everyone thinks! Michael hasn't spoken not one word to me since we got here. I'm beginning to think he'd rather have me stay in the car all evening instead of waddling around here and embarrassing him." Maria cried quietly, her voice whiney, but kept low so no one but Kyle could hear.

"He's just busy Maria. He's talking with people, who want to buy his stuff, and he's talking to other painters...and he mingling, and he left me with you because he didn't want you walking around everywhere and getting tired." Kyle explained, letting an arm drape over her shoulder and bringing her to him, half hugging her with comfort from a brother. No one thought it weird that they be this close. Everyone thought they were brother and sister...which they practically were, they had just expanded that thought a bit by saying they share the same parents.

Maria started to nod, but then a frown covered her pout, informing Kyle that she was more upset then she let on, "He looks like he's having a hell of a time without me." She muttered and Kyle followed her gaze as it landed on Michael, laughing and talking with a woman their age with long, dark red curls and bright blue eyes, dressed in a form fitting tan dress, the neck-line low jutting out her breasts and a slit in the side that practically showed off everything under the dress. Kyle glared as he realized that the girl was flirting, and Michael was letting her.

"She's probably a lonely woman who's flirting about buying a painting, it doesn't mean anything." He said quickly, glaring more as Michael seemed to sense Maria's distress and looked over at them, frowning as Maria turned her back and after another hard glare, Kyle did the same.

"Whatever...I don't care either way." She muttered, and then winced as the baby kicked hard and she rubbed her stomach. "Baby doesn't care either.." She forced a smile as Mrs. Anderson, her old boss's wife, came walking to them.

"Maria, darling, look at you. I swear you get more beautiful every day.." Mrs. Anderson was probably in her 40's, but she didn't look a day over 30. She was the kindest woman Maria had ever met, and even though she no longer worked for Mr. Anderson, the Mrs. had always made it a habit of checking in on her, be it just for a friendly chat, or to make sure she was doing well. She'd even found out that everyone at the office had a pool going on what she'd have and when. She was amused by it all.

"Please...I look like a big watermelon." Maria wrinkled her nose in distaste. She watched as Mrs. Anderson glanced at her in question, and when she nodded, the woman pressed a hand to her stomach, smiling as the child beneath kicked. "She doesn't seem to care that it hurts mommy when she kicks.." She muttered, causing both Kyle and Mrs. Anderson to laugh, about that same time, Michael came walking up with that woman that Maria hadn't met, but hated already.

"Sweetheart..." Michael started as he slid an arm around Maria's waist, his fingers caressing the side of her stomach and her hip gently through her dress and she melted instantly, all forgiven. "Kyle, Mrs. Anderson..." He nodded with a small smile to the woman, and then looked back at the red head that had a strange look on her face when she glanced at him and Maria together. "This is Cynthia Reeds, she just moved to town...actually right down the block from us, she's looking into starting some painting of her own."

"A pleasure to meet you, but I see my husband over there about to make a fool of himself, if you'll excuse me." Mrs. Anderson seemed to sense the tension and fled.

"Cynthia, this is my wife, Maria...and my brother-in-law, Kyle." Michael had come to make it a habit of referring to Kyle as Maria's brother, or his brother in law, first time he'd said it, it had freaked out Kyle, but now, the other guy was just as used to it as Michael, "And this..." He placed his over hand on Maria's stomach, "IS my son..." He said with a grin.

"Daughter." Maria corrected him, smiling tightly at the woman.

"Oh! I didn't realize you were married..." Cynthia fluttered her eyes at Michael and Maria barely concealed a snort. Yeah right, like she just looked over the wedding band on Michael's finger. "And expecting at that... It's wonderful." Maria tried not to gag herself as Cynthia touched Michael's arm. Her eyes flew to meet Kyle's who was seemingly trying to figure out if the woman was just friendly, or trying to get a piece of the married man.

"Yes it is, almost a year now, and baby here will be out soon..." Maria said proudly, her hand with her own wedding band coming up to cover Michael's. He didn't seem to notice the flirting, but he did notice Maria's tense and stressed state.

"You okay?" He questioned, turning his head to speak softly into her ear. And as Maria turned her full attention on Michael, Kyle was the only person to see Cynthia look at Maria in anger, as if it was her fault that she couldn't have Michael. His eyes narrowed as she said bye quickly and took off from them to mingle.

"No, actually...I'm feeling kind of tired, and my feet hurt...and the baby's acting up." Maria admitted, but refused to admit that despite those things, she was more upset over that ...that 'Woman' flirting with him.

"We'll go home then, it's late anyways...I knew you shouldn't have come." Michael started as he took her arm in his and began to walk towards the entrance, directing Kyle to go get their coats.

"No, no...Kyle can take me home, you can stay if you want...and I wanted to come Michael." Maria pointed out quickly.

"You leave, I leave. I've been waiting for you to inform me you were ready to go for most the night anyways. You know I don't do well with crowds...and suits for that matter..." He smirked at her as she giggled, he could feel her tension melting away and he was glad for that. She didn't need to be stressed now. "Besides...Mr. Johnson has a new wife and she kept trying to touch my hair and find out what I used to get it so shiny... My hair Maria! She tried to touch it!" The sound of Maria's laughter echoed through the parking lot as Kyle caught up to them and they walked to the car.

No one saw Cynthia standing outside the building, a glare in her pretty blue eyes, directed fully on Maria. "I'll get what I want, what I deserve." She muttered to herself, then plastered a fake smile on her lips and went back in.

To Be Continued