The rest of the day Jennifer spent at the library doing some research on an article she was writing and Jonathan made his obligatory appearance at Hart Industries but ducked out early. The lack of sleep was finally hitting him and when he finally pulled into the driveway of the house on Willow Pond Road he could barely keep his eyes open. He trudged up the stairs and changed out of his suit and put on a pair of pajamas. Freeway trotted in and jumped up on the bed. Before his head hit the pillow they were both out like a light.
He woke about three hours later feeling refreshed and rested and wanting to see his wife. He put on his robe and made his way downstairs, this time to find her standing at the window looking out, lost in thought. He quietly walked over, came up behind her and put his arms around her waist, resting his hands on her abdomen
"Penny for your thoughts." He said kissing the back of her neck
She smiled relaxing into him, "I was just thinking about my mother. I could sure use her advice over the next several months. Actually for at least the next twenty years."
He was surprised but not completely. Jennifer had been a teen when her mother died so she rarely spoke of her now. But with the baby it wouldn't be unusual for her to be thinking about her, "You are going to be a wonderful mother. Our little one will be very lucky."
She sighed heavily, "I hope so."
He tightened his embrace, "I know so." He assured her, "You know, I had a pretty amazing dream while I was sleeping."
"Hmmm." She murmured, "Do tell."
"Well, you see that spot in the yard out there." He released one hand from her abdomen and pointed to a spot in the yard where a beautiful old oak tree stood, "Where that tree is? That would be the ideal spot for a tree house and over there would be a great place for a swing set."
Jennifer laughed softly, "That's what you were dreaming about? Tree houses and swing sets?" She asked, "Don't you think it's a little early to be planning all of that? We've got a good six and half months until it's even born."
He nuzzled the back of her neck again, "I love you, Jennifer, and I'm sorry I reacted the way I did at first." He caressed her abdomen, "You are right. This child has come to us for a reason."
She finally turned in his arms to face him, "Even if it means I may have to quit?"
"Darling, what did you say the other night? This was the most important life of all." He reminded her, "The only thing that matters is that you're both healthy and safe. We'll work everything else out."
She smiled and leaned in to kiss him and he ran his hands through her auburn hair. They were so lost in each other they didn't even notice Max come into the living room
"Hey, isn't that what got you two in this mess in the first place?"
They pulled apart blushing slightly as they usually did, "What's up, Max?"
"Well, dinner is ready but before we eat, Wainwright needs to talk to you. He's on the secure line in the kitchen."
"Alright, we'll be right there." Jonathan told him
"Right." Max turned and headed back into the kitchen
"Now, where were we?" Jonathan pulled her into his arms again and nuzzled her neck
"Jonathan." Jennifer replied, "He's waiting for us."
Jonathan pulled away and hung his head in mock defeat, "Okay, let's go see what he's got for us."
They walked into the kitchen and Max had him on speaker phone
"Hi, Connie, sorry to keep you waiting." Jonathan said
"You know, I'm beginning to wonder about you two." Wainwright quipped, "But no matter, I have a new line on Olbermann. It looks like he is headed to Zurich."
The three of them looked at each other, "Zurich? Isn't that where his son is?" Jennifer asked
"We believe so, yes." Wainwright confirmed
"Isn't that a little risky? He'd have to know we're watching his son, too." She replied
"Well, that's the information we have. How soon can you leave?"
Jonathan and Jennifer looked at each other. They weren't ready to tell Wainwright about the baby and as of right now it was still okay for Jennifer to fly, "We'll get the jet ready as soon as possible." Jonathan said
"What alias do you want us to use this time, Connie?" Jennifer asked, "You know, it's been a while, I could get used to being myself if you're not careful."
"Well, you can be yourself a little while longer, my dear. Just go as yourselves, Mr. and Mrs. Hart on extended holiday." He informed them, "and of course their trusty houseman, Max."
"Alright, we'll call back from this line with our plans shortly." Jonathan assured him, "I'll have to call my pilots and have them to get the jet ready. It shouldn't take long. We could be out of here later tonight, as soon as we get a hotel reservation."
"Good." Wainwright said and disconnected the call
"Well, I guess we need to get packed. Zurich will be cold this time of year, so we'll need warm clothes." Jennifer said as she began to exit the kitchen but Jonathan took her by the arm and stopped her
"Darling, maybe you shouldn't go." Jonathan suggested, "Maybe we should just tell Wainwright about the baby now."
"No, not yet. We'll get through this trip and then decide what to do." She replied emphatically but noticed the look on his face, "Jonathan, I know what I said the other night but flying is perfectly safe for me at least right now and it would be no more dangerous there than here."
"I know but darling…" He began
"No buts, we're going, now come on and let's pack and make our hotel reservations." She said, "You too, Max."
"What about dinner?" He asked
"We'll be down in a while, keep it warm in the oven or something." She responded
Once they got upstairs Jonathan tried to talk to her once again. He was concerned about her health now and wished she would at least listen to him.
"Jennifer, please, at least think about this." He said as she began packing her suitcase
"There's nothing to think about, Darling. We have a job to do and I'm perfectly capable of doing it, at least right now." She folded a couple of sweaters and put them in her suitcase then looked up at him, "You need to call the hotel, Jonathan. How about that nice little place we stayed a couple of years ago. What was the name of that place…" she trailed off as she went back to the dresser and got more clothes
He walked around to the other side of the bed and took the clothes out of her hands and took her hands in his, "Sweetheart, I know what you said but I want to keep you both safe."
She looked into his blue eyes and for the first time saw fear and Jonathan had never been one to give in to his fears. She ran her hands through his hair, "Ah, my darling, my sweet love, I'll be safe as long as I'm with you. We've come this far none the worse for wear."
He looked into her eyes and could tell there was something more, "Why are you so adamant about seeing this through?"
"Jonathan, I meant what I said the other night, I will most likely quit after the baby is born but I need to do this." She explained
"Why?" He asked again
She looked down, "For my father." She finally admitted, "I need to do this for him."
"Darling, you don't have to prove anything to him." Jonathan assured her, "He would probably insist you not do it."
"I know I don't have to prove anything to him but it's something I want to do for him. Please understand, I don't want to do anything to hurt our child and if it looks like things are getting too out of control over there, I promise to step back. Wainwright won't care who does what as long as we get him."
Knowing he couldn't change her mind, he pulled her into his arms, "Alright but I'm not letting you out of my sight."
"I'm holding you to that." She replied, "Now call the hotel, the hotel Engimatt. They'll let us have Freeway and with Max going I won't leave him in a kennel."
He pulled away and smiled as he walked around to the other side of the bed where the phone was. Without taking his eyes off of her he dialed the number, "Yes, this is Jonathan Hart, I need a reservation for three…two rooms, one for me and my wife and another for our executive assistant."
The next call he made was to his pilot, Frank and he told him the plane could be ready in a couple of hours. Jennifer did call Susan Kendall, her OBGYN and she assured her flying at this point in her pregnancy wasn't a problem but to be very careful. They went back downstairs, called Wainwright with their plans and ate dinner. Then they got their things together and headed to private airfield where Hart 1 was waiting for them.
TBC