Chapter 8 – Jacob

Once they arrived at the office, a flurry of activity kept them busy the remainder of the day. Jacob's arrival and subsequent reunion with Eloise was both joyful and heart wrenching to watch. Jacob was compact and sturdily built and pure muscle. And what one would generously call plain, Mary thought. She observed his interactions with Eloise with interest. When he had entered through the security door and seen Eloise, his face lit up and she could see him check his impulse to rush towards her. He took a deep breath and visibly calmed himself, while Eloise waited quietly where she stood next to Marshall, gripping his hand so hard Mary saw him wince. Mary realized Jacob was trying to prevent Eloise from experiencing an overwhelming rush of his emotions. He didn't want her to feel discomfort. Mary's opinion of him went up a notch.

After several moments, Jacob walked slowly towards Eloise and held out his hand. Eloise closed her eyes, took a deep breath and slowly stretched out to gently clasp it. They stood and looked at each other until Eloise just sank into him. Jacob wrapped his arms around her so tightly, Mary was concerned he might hurt her. He spoke quietly into her ear and started shaking. Mary realized with surprise that he was sobbing. Eloise gently rubbed her hand up and down his back, trying to calm him. Marshall had to pull Mary away to give them a few minutes of privacy. She grumbled as they left the conference room and slunk away to her desk.

Jacob showed by many small gestures how much he cared about Eloise and she was absolutely glowing in his presence. By the end of the day Mary had ceased to see his homely appearance. Eloise delivered her big news to Jacob once they were left alone. Mary watched through the window with some amusement as he turned ashen and had to sit down. After a minute he looked up, a broad smile crossing his face, said something to which Eloise nodded, and he leaned forward, very gently touching her abdomen. Mary had to turn away. It was too private a moment for an audience.

Marshall entered the conference room when Eloise left to use the restroom. He had been observing Jacob keenly, assessing. His protective instincts had kicked into overdrive with Eloise, and he wanted to reassure himself that Jacob would treat her well. What he had seen so far was positive.

"So, Jacob, how are you holding up?" Marshall eyed him sitting hunched over, his head in his hands.

Jacob looked at him somewhat vacantly. "I'm going to be a dad." Marshall smiled and nodded.

"I know. You ok?" he asked with a bit of concern. Jacob brought his eyes up to his, leaned forward slightly.

"What if I'm not a good father to this child? What if I let Eloise down? I don't know anything about kids. What if I suck?" Worry colored his voice. "I mean I'm happy, but I think I'm more scared. Eloise is so confidant, so sure."

Marshall looked at him steadily and said with a solemn face, "Let's face it. What you're worried about is being in the delivery room and staying upright."

Jacob stared at him, then cracked a grin. "Are you empathic too?" he asked.

"No," Marshall replied, matching his grin, "just a normal guy. We all worry about that. But believe me, you were there at the beginning of this, and delighted to be so I expect, so you had better be there at the end. She's going to need you and she can't be worried about you passed out on the floor as she delivers. So find a way to get over it." He paused and leaned forward also. "Look Jacob, parenthood is on the job training. You love Eloise. You will love this child. You'll figure it out together."

Jacob was silent a moment. "There won't be any family to help out or go to with questions."

Marshall clapped a hand on his shoulder. "I know this is hard. You'll make friends that will be able to help you navigate through this. Mary and I will be there to help you." He paused, glanced out the window. "Not entirely sure how much help Mary will be with the baby, but she'll try. Or at least she'll try to offer up my services." His gaze lingered on her. He looked back at Jacob. "I know you have had a lot to absorb in one day. I see in your file that you are a master plumber. You won't have any problem finding a job here. We can get your license transferred into your new name. You'll be a good provider. That's one worry you won't have." Jacob nodded and gave a weak smile.

"Did you bring the engagement ring?" Jacob nodded. "Can I see it?" he asked hesitantly. Jacob fished the small box out of his backpack and handed it to Marshall. He slowly opened it and looked at the delicate ring, symbol of so much promise. It had two small diamonds, one to either side of a larger one, in a silver filigree setting. Two families joining together to make one new family. Marshall ran his finger lightly over the stones. So much meaning, so much emotion, contained in such a small object.

"It's perfect for her Jacob," he said in a low voice. Jacob flushed with pride.

"I picked it out myself. Eloise said the same thing. Let me tell you, that's a pressure cooker, picking out the right engagement ring." Marshall nodded in agreement, idly wondering what type of ring Mary would like. Nothing flashy, but not delicate either. Mary would want something plain, unobtrusive.

With a sigh, he brought his attention back to Jacob and handed the ring back to him.

When Eloise came back she saw Jacob and Marshall talking and sat down in Marshall's chair, placing her hand on her belly as she leaned back. Why is it pregnant women do that, Mary wondered. Is it a protective gesture or to feel closer to the baby? She would ask her one day.

"Aren't you going to go back in with Jacob?" she queried. Eloise brought her level gaze over to her.

"Jacob is a bit shell shocked. I want him to talk to Marshall. Marshall is so calm and level headed. He'll know what to say to Jacob to reassure him. Jacob will hear it better coming from another man. What he is feeling is perfectly normal, but Jacob doesn't realize that, not yet."

Mary cut her eyes back towards the conference room. "Marshall doesn't know squat about kids," she said, silently wondering if that were true. He probably had more experience with them than she did. With a bit of a shock she realized they had never discussed any interactions with kids. Mary didn't even know if he had nieces or nephews. How could she be so self absorbed? With an effort she wrenched her attention back to Eloise.

"But he does know about people. He'll know what to say. Plus I think he'll tell Jacob to buck up. He's rather squeamish about a lot of things. He needs to get over that. If he thinks for one minute he's getting out of the delivery room, he is going to be sadly disappointed."

Marshall left Jacob in the conference room and wandered over to Mary's desk, as Eloise joined Jacob again. "It's always the big ones that are the wusses," he said, nodding towards Jacob. "Trying to figure a way out of the delivery room already." Mary gave a wan smile and remained silent, returning to her paperwork. Marshall watched her, his brows knit together in worry. She had been subdued the entire day and it wasn't like her.

After paperwork was taken care of, the new witnesses were taken to their apartment. Mary left to get groceries and Marshall tried to help them settle in. After they looked through all the rooms and put away their few meager belongings, Eloise sat down on the sofa and Marshall joined her. She regarded his profile. He really was lovely. Time for a small nudge.

"You should talk to her soon," she said softly, " I think she's ready to listen now. It's like a weight has been lifted from her, but she's still conflicted. She needs reassurance."

He was silent, considering. "Mary needs her space. I don't want to crowd her." He really didn't want to discuss this right now. Marshall looked at her, studying her face and turned the tables. "How does it work with Jacob, since he can't keep anything secret from you?"

Eloise sighed. "He can keep secrets, just not his emotional state. It's difficult. I've never been able to hold on to a relationship for long, because of it. It makes it too one-sided. The only way is to be completely honest. Jacob has to be able to trust me 100%. Because I know if he lies or withholds, I have to be totally open with him. Which is why I'm going to tell him I've been sleeping with you the last few nights."

Marshall felt a slight alarm. "You sure that's best?" he asked uneasily, eying Jacob's very muscular body standing out on the balcony.

"Of course it is," she replied, a wry smile on her face. "Jacob won't be angry. He will be happy you were taking care of me. And I have to tell him. It's part of our arrangement. Total honesty."

"Then I'd prefer you phrase it as me sharing a bed in the course of protecting you, rather than sleeping with you. Connotations you know." He grinned down at her. Eloise looked up at him and smiled back, nodding her agreement.

Mary soon returned and while Marshall carried bags into the kitchen, Eloise observed Mary watching him, appreciating his lanky gracefulness as he bent down and stretched up, putting items away. She would have to go through later and rearrange, but she felt his need to be useful and left him to it. A man that puts away groceries. If he cooks, he's perfect. Of course her man could fix a toilet. That went a long way towards winning a girl over. She pulled Mary aside.

"Nice ass," she commented as they both watched him bending over once again. Mary cocked her head to the side, turned an appraising eye on Marshall's backside.

"Yes it is, isn't it?" They looked solemnly at each other and then burst out laughing. Marshall glanced over curiously and Eloise winked at him, then laid a light hand on Mary's arm.

"Don't forget what I said this morning. Don't be afraid." Deep chocolate eyes urged her. "Take the risk."

Mary dropped her eyes, noticed the engagement ring on Eloise's finger, small, delicate, understated, completely in character with Eloise.

"Did Jacob pick out your ring?" she asked. Eloise nodded. "He did a good job. He understands what would suit you." Mary eyes roved back to Marshall. He would understand what would suit her, on every level. Mary knew this in every fiber of her being. She looked back at Eloise. "I'm trying," she whispered, "to take the risk. But I'm so scared of hurting him."

"He's hurting without you. Take. The. Risk. Trust me on this one," Eloise urged and dropped her hand as Marshall ambled over towards them.

They arranged to return the next day to check on them and made their goodbyes. Marshall turned back and looked at the two standing in the doorway to the apartment, Jacob's arm protectively around Eloise's shoulders, where his own arm had been so often the last few days. Eloise met Marshall's gaze and smiled. He felt her thank you through that brilliant smile, for protecting her, for bringing Jacob to her, for understanding her. Yes, he thought regarding them both, this was right. They were going to do just fine.