Overprotective

Chapter XV

I leaned over the white wooden bassinet and smiled before lifting up the small bundle wrapped in a yellow blanket. I held the infant against my chest. Ellie was in the room as well, rubbing her cheek against my shin.

"Ma'am." I heard the meek voice of our shy maid, Ginger, "If you're ready, I'll take the child from you." she held out her arms. I hugged the baby closer to me. "I assure you, ma'am, he's in good hands."

She was right. She and the rest of the staff in our home in New Hampshire were more than capable of handling my son. They were very good with him. I just didn't want to let him go.

I looked at the sleeping infant's face. Like an angel, he was. His eyes were blue, like mine, and he had light brown fuzz on his head, which would likely turn out like his father's. He was nearly four months old now, which was hard to believe. His birth seemed like yesterday to me. Painful, yes, but after I got to hold him and look at him, he became the most important thing in my life. I named him Adam James, after two people who were lost, but were always in my thoughts. We call him AJ for short. He was born March 6th, 1913, about a month and a half after Spencer and I returned home from our long tour around Europe. We went everywhere, including Wales. He got to see my home country, and I got to visit my family again. By the time we saw my family I was already showing, so they could all tell right away. My parents were excited that they'd be having another grandchild. In March, everybody just assumed the child was born early. Nobody questioned a thing, lucky for Spencer and I.

I handed over AJ to Ginger, and then turned to the mirror in the room to check my hair one final time. It was elaborately pinned back, with pins that had small pearly white beads on the end. I was wearing a dress that was teal at the bottom, and faded into white at the top. The sleeves were short and loose, and there was a thick teal ribbon in around my waist, with the bow tied in the back.

I walked out of the bedroom and into the hall, where I saw Spencer exiting the bathroom. "You look ravishing." he came to me and kissed my cheek.

"You don't look so bad yourself."

"When are people arriving again?" he asked me, for the eighth time today.

"Your mother said she sent out the invitations to say six-thirty."

My mother-in-law, Trina Welch, lived just two streets away. If she stood on her third floor balcony, and I stood at the topmost window in my house, we would be able to see one another. Today was July 4th, 1913, making it Spencer and mine's first anniversary, and tonight we would be celebrating in a room filled with rich strangers, some of his family, and co-workers.

Spencer took over Welch Steel Co. when we returned to the United States, and had his father's job of running the whole place. The men who had been running the company since Vernon Welch's death were now overseeing the power's transition into Spencer's young hands. They were to train him, and help him, and they were basically his bosses for the next year until they would stand down and allow Spencer to take full control.

After the wedding, Spencer received his money from his late father, and half of Adam's which was split between him and his mother now. We were able to buy a lovely home, larger than we'd ever need. It has three floors. Four bathrooms, five bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a ballroom, a parlor, and a few other rooms we've been unable to find uses for. The house is larger than we need. Mrs. Welch would like us to be able to fill the extra bedrooms up with future children.

There is even a garden in the backyard filled with bright vibrant flowers and a stone fountain in the middle. A nice place to go sit with the baby, or to read while he is napping.

The doorbell rang, and I rushed down the stairs just as one of the maids was opening the door. Aunt Gwen and Trina entered.

We embraced and exchanged formalities, and then I led them into the large ballroom, which was decorated tastefully for the event. Soon enough, many more people arrived. Mostly friends of Mrs. Welch, or co-workers of Spencer. Aunt Gwen came by train that afternoon, and stayed with Mrs. Welch 'til now.

Everything seemed to be going well. I said a few hellos to my guests, and had a few pointless conversations. Many of the women were asking about the baby, mostly. He was my favorite thing to talk about. He was the light of my life.

A popular upbeat song began to be played by the band, and the women around me left to go dance with their husbands. I was alone, sipping a glass of wine, and watching everyone else. Why wasn't my husband dancing with me like the others? Well the answer is he was too busy. I looked over to the opposite corner of the room and saw Spencer, with his business associates. One, Dill Coughlin, was tall and a bit heavy set. He was middle-aged, married, and yet still attempted to win young women's hearts at social events. Then there was Gene Glynis, who was the oldest of them all. He was shorter, and pudgy. His hair was thinning, receding, and as grey as the sky on a rainy day. Last but not least, or perhaps he is least, there was Ray Hindel, who was one of the snakiest, dishonest bastards I've ever met. He was also married, but liked to play around with his maids, coworkers' wives, anyone. Once he even tried putting the moves on me, for which I promptly slapped him.

The four of them were laughing and drinking brandy, having a good old time so it seemed. I wasn't going to ruin that. Last time I interrupted one of their little gatherings, Spencer took me aside and explained I was getting in the way and that I should go tend to AJ. He was becoming ruder by the day. Hopefully that would just be a phase.

I just wanted this night to end so I could sit in a rocking chair with my precious baby boy again. That was my favorite thing to do. I'd wrap him in my arms, and rock back and forth with him as I hummed a lullaby. I loved AJ more than I thought I could ever love anybody. From even before he was born.

Now we all went outside to the garden, to see some forth of July fireworks going off in the distance. I was enjoying them, but also hoping they wouldn't bother AJ. There I was worrying again. It was something I seemed to do a lot lately.

Sometime after midnight, people went home. It was a boring party. Lovely, but boring none the less. Once the last few people were gone, I stood on the stairs and watched the maid shut the door behind them. I yawned, and went upstairs, to AJ's bedroom. Ginger was in there, sitting in the corner, as AJ was asleep in his crib.

"He fell asleep a few hours ago. He wasn't too fussy, and went to bed easily. I just stayed here to keep an eye on him." she explained.

"Thank you, Ginger. I appreciate it." she left, and I stood over the crib, admiring my sleeping angel.

"Meredith!" I heard Spencer calling from the hall. I rushed out there.

"Spencer!" I hissed as quietly as possibly. "You'll wake your son."

"Sorry." he said insincerely.

"What do you need?"

"I wanted you to come to bed with me. It is our anniversary after all." He said with a pleading look in his eye.

I took one last peek at the baby, and then followed Spencer into our bedroom.

He kissed me, and began undressing himself quickly.

"In a bit of a hurry, aren't you?" I asked, laughing.

I followed suit, slowly taking my dress off. Apparently he was growing impatient, and assisted me, then pushed me onto the bed a bit roughly, but I didn't have a moment to complain because his lips came crashing down on mine. I could smell the brandy on his breath very strongly, and it was making me slightly nauseous, but I was afraid to mention that. He stopped kissing me, and went on with his desires. He wasn't being gentle. He gave that up months ago. I whimpered, and whispered "Spencer, you're hurting me a bit. Could you please ease up?" He didn't.

"Just hold on, I'll be done in a minute."

I bit my lip and tried to bear it. This is how it usually went. Then I heard AJ crying from down the hall. "Spence, stop. I need to go check on the baby."

"Hold on."

"Spencer!" he didn't stop, and pushed me down, until he was satisfied. Then, he kissed my forehead, and went over to his side of the bed.

I jumped up and put on my robe. Walking was difficult at first, but I got through the bit of pain and hurried to my son's nursery to lift him from the crib. "Shh…. It's alright, AJ. Mommy is here." I held him close to my chest, and bounced him lightly. Once he stopped, I carried him over to the rocking chair, and cradled him in my arms, while humming a lullaby. He fell asleep again quickly, but I kept rocking and humming, while a few tears rolled down my cheek. Things had become a bit rocky.

Sorry this is short. Chapter 16 is short too. But anywho, as we can see they have a son, and Spencer has changed a bit. How much has he changed? And how much will Meredith tolerate? Go on to the next chapter to find out. Thanks for reading chapter 15. Chapter 16 is up already. Please review.