Stronger than Pride – Chapter 6
Jason did his best to be patient with Alexis. After all, he knew how much she hated to be pushed; he hated to be pushed, too. Even still, he was worried. She'd disappeared from the guards the night before and she'd remained mostly quiet that morning.
He took in the sight of her as she gazed out of the window. She was still beautiful, yet, he could see the worry on her face. What happened in 24 hours to upset her so much? Sliding up behind her, he slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. Her back remained tense. "Alexis, I can tell something is wrong; whatever it is we can get through it."
"I wish I could be so sure."
With a gentle force, he turned her to face him. Immediately, he noticed the tears that sat on the brims of her eyelids. "Lex, what is it? Is the cancer back? Because if it is, we'll fight it together. I won't leave you for a second."
"No, the cancer's not back. All things being considered, that alone should make me happy."
He could see the sadness in her eyes. "But you're not happy." He smoothed her hair. "What's wrong?"
He watched as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Jason, we have a good life, but a lot happened yesterday and I guess it kind of freaked me out."
For a moment, he wracked his brain to try to figure out what could have upset her. Then it hit him: Ric's appointment as DA was the moment they feared from the time he shot Jerry to save her. "Is this about Ric?"
She sighed heavily. "Yes. It's about Ric and Claudia."
"What does Claudia have to do with anything?"
"She was in our home, fifteen feet away from where the girls sleep, until Tiger threw up on her shoes. You know you can't trust her, don't you?"
He sighed. He'd vowed to keep Alexis away from the business and conversely, the business away from Alexis because he knew she couldn't handle it. For years he'd watched the inner turmoil she'd struggled with, just because Sonny was Kristina's father. "I didn't know Claudia was going to come here. It won't happen again."
"That's not exactly the point, Jason. You can't seriously be considering going into business with her." He noticed how her voice had grown louder and he was suddenly very grateful that the girls were not home.
"Alexis, there are things that you don't understand." One of those things was Claudia saved his life the night his motorcycle was run off the road. Another was there might possibly be a hit on his life.
"Care to enlighten me?"
"No." He couldn't tell her the truth and he wouldn't lie to her. "Alexis, I don't want you involved in the business. I know you hate what I do. Honestly, I don't like it myself, but I don't see a way out of it right now."
"Well, that makes what I have to say to you that much harder." She moved away from him and sat on the sofa. He moved to her side.
"Alexis, if you want out, I understand. I'll hate it, but I'll understand it."
"I'm pregnant."
For a minute, Jason thought his heart stopped. Between them they had three kids under age 7. Each day, he prayed he would live to see them make their eighteenth birthdays. Each day, he prayed none of them would meet the same fate as Michael. "I don't know what to say."
"I can see you're thrilled, too." She swatted the tears that had now begun to fall away from her eyes.
"You don't want this baby?"
"I don't know," her voice was just above a whisper. "This baby will complicate everything. It will aggravate Ric, which I don't think we can afford to do right now. Plus, it will hurt Sam. Not to mention, I don't exactly see you jumping for joy either."
Jason had to catch his breath. Her news and her reaction to the news had surprised him. But he closed his eyes and thought of a new baby with Alexis's dimples and his eyes. "You just surprised me. I love you. Of course, I want this baby. I don't care about Ric and frankly this baby is more important to me than Sam's hurt feelings. I promise you I will make everything okay." He had no idea how to keep his promise, but he'd find a way. He pulled her into his arms. "Do you trust me?"
"I'm so scared." He saw the tears in her eyes and pulled her into his arms.
"Me too." He kissed her hair. "I love you, so much."
"I love you, too." She began to sob.
That night, Jason didn't sleep. In his mind, he replayed the possible scenarios for the future. He might be jailed or killed before their child was born or he might be killed and Alexis might be jailed before the baby was born. Perhaps they should leave the country. Maybe he should send Alexis and the girls away, just for a while. Having a family made him vulnerable. He walked back to the bed where Alexis lay sleeping. He thought of their baby on the way and of Kristina and Molly. He wasn't sure if he could save himself, but he knew he'd do whatever it took to keep his family safe.