Chapter 10
The next morning CC awoke to the trill of her mobile phone. She considered ignoring it so long that Niles reached over her and grabbed it, answering sleepily as he draped his body over hers.
CC watched as his eyes widened and he said, "One moment, please," before handing the phone over.
She sent him a questioning glance as she said, "CC Babcock."
"Was that that dashing boss of yours?" BB Babcock simpered.
CC cringed when she recognized her mother's voice. They hadn't spoken in months, and CC had a sense of foreboding. She pulled away from Niles, sliding out of bed before she answered her mother. "Business partner, not boss, Mother. And no, in any case. That was not Maxwell."
"Well who was it, darling?"
"A man I've been seeing. How have you been?" She changed the subject, hoping her mother would follow her lead, and knowing she wouldn't.
"I didn't know you were dating someone. Why didn't you tell me?"
CC raised her eyes towards the ceiling. "I didn't know you were interested," she answered honestly.
"Of course I'm interested! You're my daughter, aren't you?"
"Yes, Mother. Was there something you needed?" CC rubbed her abdomen and shot a helpless look at Niles, hoping BB would come to her point before she had to dash to the bathroom. Niles slipped out of bed and padded silently towards the kitchen.
"A mother can't call to speak to her baby without needing something?"
CC could barely contain her groan at her mother's false sentimentality. Niles came back into the bedroom, a sleeve of saltines in one hand and a glass of cold ginger ale in the other. CC smiled at him, and he motioned to the bed. She watched him as he put the ginger ale on the night stand, then sat down. He scooted back towards the headboard and gestured for her to sit between his legs.
"Of course, Mother, I'm happy to talk to you. Do you have any trips planned?" CC asked hopefully as she joined Niles in bed. He pulled her towards him until her back was flush with his chest, and then handed her a saltine before sliding his hand beneath her pajamas to massage her belly. He managed to do it without tickling, and to her surprise, the nausea began to subside.
"Not until next month. Listen, I called because I met the most eligible prospect for you yesterday at a tennis tournament. But if you're seeing someone and he's already staying over, perhaps you won't be interested…?" She trailed off, as if hoping her daughter would correct her.
"You're right, I'm not interested. But thanks for the thought," CC said dismissively, leaning into Niles as he continued to caress her skin.
"But CC, you're not getting any younger, and Andy is on the verge of leaving his wife. He's going to go places one of these days; he's in politics."
"You want to set me up with a married man." She was unable to keep the vexation out of her tone.
Niles snorted softly behind her, and CC elbowed him.
"He won't be married for very much longer. You have to learn to strike while the iron is hot, darling," BB warned.
Niles leaned forward and whispered in CC's other ear, "Oh, this iron is very hot… darling."
CC laughed deep in her throat and wiggled against him. "Mummy, I'm just not available."
"If you're so serious about this new man in your life, I want to meet him."
CC's nausea returned full force. It was just like her mother to punish her for refusing a set-up. "What?"
"Yes, we'll have dinner this week," BB said emphatically.
"We couldn't possibly. He has been ill and—"
"Are you trying to cut me out of your life, CC?" BB interrupted mournfully.
CC sighed. "No, Mother."
"Then it's decided. I'll pick you up tomorrow night, and you'll introduce this new man to me properly."
"Yes, Mother," CC said dully, and put her phone on the nightstand.
Niles laughed at her tone. "It's not the end of the world, is it?"
"My mother doesn't know about the baby, she doesn't know about you, and your parents are in town. I am losing my mind. Not the end of the world, but not the most relaxing way for a cardiac patient to spend the next few days, would you say?"
CC hurried for the bathroom before he could respond. He followed her and rubbed her back, then got her a glass of water so she could rinse her mouth. "We don't have to tell her about the pregnancy yet, not if you don't want to. It'll be fine."
"Famous last words," CC said grimly. She stalked into the bedroom and got her phone, scrolling for the number of her stylist. "You're not meeting my mother like that," she said, gesturing at the black hair Niles still hadn't dyed back.
Hair restored to something very close to his original shade, Niles sauntered into the penthouse later that afternoon. He looked up from the folded newspaper he was casually reading as he walked and was surprised to find his mother seated on the leather sofa. CC was in the kitchen, an expression he had long ago learned announced impending destruction on her face as she poured a glass of wine.
"Mum, hello." He approached the sofa and leaned down to kiss her cheek.
"Good afternoon, son," Helen said, two splotches of red high on her cheeks.
So CC wasn't the only one upset. Niles wondered what on earth they'd been speaking about before he arrived. He put his keys on the counter as he moved into the kitchen, letting his hand trail down CC's arm before taking the glass of wine from her. "Hullo, Babcock," he said, and kissed her quickly.
Helen stood and approached the kitchen counter. "I'll take that wine, if you please, Niles. I wouldn't want to tempt your—whatever she is—with it."
Niles looked at his mother, his jaw dropping in surprise at the way she had spoken of CC as if she weren't standing right there. "You're out of line, Mum," he said. "My 'whatever she is'?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know the correct terminology for a woman who is having your baby, with whom you live without the benefit of marriage." She spoke coldly, and though she addressed her son, she didn't take her eyes off CC.
"You could use my name, Helen, for a start," CC said, placing a hand on Niles's arm. "You've said what you came here to say, and I let you speak. Because I—" She cleared her throat. "Because I care very much about your son, and we're starting a family together. But make no mistake. I won't tolerate you coming here, upsetting him and insulting me. If you want to know your grandchild, this stops here and now."
"I have never been so insulted in my life," Helen retorted, setting the wine glass down with such force that the stem cracked. She turned on her heel and strode towards the door.
"Mum, wait," Niles said, and followed her. "I love you. But I agree with CC. We are together, we have a baby on the way—your first grandchild. Can't you be happy for us?"
Helen's face softened slightly. "Why don't you just marry her?" She asked quietly.
"Because that's our decision, and I hope you can accept it," he responded.
CC listened to this and was surprised by the surge of emotion she felt. She knew Niles didn't fully support her desire not to marry.
Helen shook her head. "I'm going back to the hotel. Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow."
Niles watched her go, and as the door closed behind her, he turned to CC. "What did she say to you before I got here?"
"Does it matter? I'd rather not rehash it. I'm more interested in keeping your blood pressure under control."
He looked at her closely. "That bad?"
"You have no idea," she said, smiling wryly. "Don't worry about me, I'm a big girl. Your hair is nice," she finished, feathering her hand through it.
"Your stylist was quite rude. She laughed and laughed when I arrived."
CC hooted. "Can you blame her?"
"Yes, I blame her!" He said in mock outrage.
CC wrapped her arms around his neck and slowly brought her lips to his, touching him lightly. He'd just moved to deepen the kiss when she pulled reluctantly away. "Blood pressure, remember?" She said.
"How long till we can do this properly, again?" Niles asked, his voice plaintive.
"You know the doctor said a couple of weeks before any exercise. This is what I get for falling for such an old man," CC said, shaking her head dolefully.
Niles nodded, a crooked grin on his face. "That's exactly what I said to myself the other day."
"Weak," she teased. "You're going to have to do better than that with your insults if you want me to believe them."
He pulled her back towards him. "I'll tell you a secret. I never wanted you to believe them," he murmured, and kissed her again.