"The Neighbors"

Wow! That last chapter riled a lot of you up! I have a plan for this story and I think you will approve, at least I hope you will…

So, last we left off Maya, Emily and Josh got some unexpected news…

Rated M for Mature Content.

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Chapter 22: Is it Josh or Is it Emily?

"Good. The test results are in," he looks at me not wanting to say anything until I leave.

"I'll just wait outside."

Maya grabs my hand to keep me from leaving, "No, I want you to stay. Doctor its fine. You can tell all of us what's going on."

Josh looks at me, not angrily, more so defeated.

"Okay then. Mr. and Mrs. Grayson, congratulations you're going to have a baby."

My hand drops.

Josh rushes over to Maya wrapping his arms around her and she wraps hers around him. They're both crying over this incredibly exciting and happy news. I take a step back, my head falls forward, tears well up in my eyes, yes this is wonderful, a baby, a life but all I can think about is myself, dejected and alone…

"Maya, I'm gonna call my mom and tell her the good news. Will you be okay?" Josh, the loving husband asks.

"I'll be fine," she says wiping away her tears of joy.

Josh grabs my arms excitedly, "Emily, we're gonna have a baby!" And then he leaves me alone in Maya's hospital room.

"I should go. You have people to call. Your mom…"

"Em, come here. Please," she says with a sniffle.

I look at her curiously but also fearful of what she might say to me. We just decided to be with each other but now she and Josh are having a baby. There's no room for me in this equation.

I walk over to her bed. She pats the space next to her encouraging me to sit down.

Maya reaches for my hand entwining hers with mine, "I never expected this, especially not now. Why now? We stopped using contraception a few months ago and nothing. Then you move in next door, the one I'm supposed to be with…" she looks so lovingly into my eyes, "and I get pregnant. What are the odds?"

"I'm guessing pretty damn good."

"Em, please. I know what I want," she declares with a squeeze of my hand.

"It doesn't matter what you want any more Maya, there's a baby in the picture now. Your baby changes everything," I say dejectedly unable to keep her gaze.

"Em, you're still my baby."

"Maya. You know what I mean."

"You don't think I would let you go because of this do you?" she asks lifting my chin to look at her.

"How can you not? Did you see how happy Josh is?"

"Yeah I did. But that's no reason to stay married to someone I don't love the way I love you."

My heart melts to her words. Oh how I love her, more than anyone I've ever loved.

"But you do still love him Maya…"

"Emily, look at me, really look at me. You are the one who makes everything good. You are beautiful and wonderful and you make me forget everything, food, drink, sleep, day, night, everything. You make me feel like I'm in this perfect bubble where only you and I exist."

"Maya…you and I are no longer the only ones who exist in this so called bubble of yours. You're having a baby."

"No Emily, we're having a baby."

I search for the meaning of her words straight through to her soul. I look at her heartfelt smile. I look at her head tilt. I look in her eyes. I'm lost in those eyes...

I shake out of my thoughts, "Maya. What, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I want to raise my baby with you."

My eyes light up. I smile that smile only she can make me smile.

"Oh Maya, you are amazing, you know that! You are so strong and determined and so certain we can do this together. I think about lying down with you for hours, for months, for years, for a lifetime as long as I am with you I know we can do this. There is a space on my chest for you as I hold you close breathing in time to my beating heart and now there is a space on my chest for our baby too," I say just barely able to get the words out as I'm overwhelmed by all the emotions I'm feeling at this moment.

"Come here."

I lie down next to Maya. But it's my head on her chest; it's my breathing to her beating heart.

"You said our baby, baby."

We giggle together as I caress her belly wondering about the life inside of her. I know she will look like Maya. I know she will know how to do everything like Maya. I know she will love like Maya.

"What are you thinking?"

"That she is going to be just like you and I'm going to love her like a mother should love a child."

"Kiss me."

I've wanted to do that since she said "our baby".

"Gladly."

We kiss softly, tenderly, our lips connecting forming a bond of love and desire. I scoot up so she can lie back. I cup her cheek with my hand bringing her lips to mine. I slip my thumb onto her bottom lip opening her mouth just a little bit wider so I can kiss her the way I've wanted to kiss her since we got back from the city. Her arms wrap around me while my tongue taps hers lightly. Oh how I wish this kiss could go on forever but my girl needs her rest. So I reluctantly pull away.

"Em, why did you stop?"

"If I didn't stop we wouldn't stop and you need your rest. It's not about you or me anymore it's about your baby."

"You're right. I just wish I could fall asleep in your arms tonight and every night."

"So do I Maya. So do I."

"Do you have to go now?"

"Maya, you have to figure things out with Josh. I wouldn't say anything about us while you're still weak. It could cause complications for the baby. You'll know when the time is right. And I'll be there when you do."

"I love you baby."

"I love you too."

I wait until Maya falls asleep before I leave. I kiss her on the forehead smiling thinking about our future together thinking about our little girl thinking about our family…

But I'm pulled out of my thoughts by a familiar voice, "Emily."

I turn to find Josh calling my name.

"What is it?"

"I know about you and Maya."

"What?"

"I know that you two were together in the city and I know that she was going to leave me for you."

"Josh. I…"

"Emily, she's not going anywhere with you ever! Because if she does, I will make sure she never sees our baby ever. Am I being clear? Maya is my wife. I love her and I know she still loves me. We are going to raise our baby together without any interference from you or I swear to god Emily I will take our baby away and she will never know what it's like to be a mother." He points his finger in my face, "I'm warning you Emily, stay away from my wife!"

And just like that he walks away leaving me speechless. I have to tell Maya! I have to get her away from him! But how!

I drive home disturbed by what Josh just said to me. I have to get Maya away from him. But I need a plan. Do I tell Ryan? No, I can't tell Ryan! What am I thinking! I need to tell someone. I have to tell someone but whom…

At the Sullivans…

I walk through the front door of my house, "Hello? I'm home. Is anyone here?"

"Hi honey."

"Hi mom is Ryan here?" I ask kind of hoping that he isn't.

"No, he went out to the store to pick up a few things. Honey, what is it? Come sit down with me. Is it Maya?"

I sit next to my mom on the couch, "She's awake."

"That's great!" my mom acknowledges with a hug. "But you don't seem so happy about that."

"No, it's not that. Mom, Maya's pregnant."

"Oh my god! That's great news!" She looks at me confused, "Isn't it?"

"Yeah, yes of course. She's having a baby…"

"But…"

"Mom, it's complicated."

"Love usually is complicated."

"Mom?" I ask bewildered by her nonchalant statement.

"Emily, I knew something was up the moment I got here. What I saw outside was real wasn't it, you and Maya kissing?"

I look down unable to face my own mother.

"The way you look at each other thinking no one notices. The hand holding. The way you smile whenever you're near her. Are you are you in love with her?"

"Yes," I say still unable to look at her.

My mom pulls me into a side hug as tears fill my eyes once again.

"I love her so much. I ache to be with her," I heave into my mother's shoulder.

"How did this happen, Emily? I mean you and Ryan were so happy when you moved here and you haven't been here that long."

"I know. We were happy. I have no idea how it happened, it just did." I look up at her, "I've never felt so in love with anyone in my life. I know she's a woman but it's not like that. I mean, we are two people who are in love who happen to both be women. I can't shake her. I think about her all the time. I ache for her. I tried to stay focused on Ryan but, but all I could think about was her. It's everything about her. I love her so, so much."

"Em, when you came home from the city you were going to tell Ryan and Josh weren't you?"

"Yes. But now the baby complicates things."

"I guess it does but if you love each other and you want to be together then what's stopping you?"

"Josh."

"Why what happened with Josh?"

"He told me in no uncertain terms that Maya is his wife and she is carrying their child."

"Well that is accurate."

"Yeah but he said he knows about us and if I interfere with their marriage then he's going to make sure she never sees their baby once its born."

"Oh Emily! Do you still want to be involved in this? It's messy and hurtful and…"

"Complicated…"

"Emily it's more than complicated when threats are being made."

"Is Maya safe?"

"I think so. He's not stupid enough to harm her otherwise she could turn the tables on him and keep him from raising their baby."

"I suppose you're right. Em, did you ever consider trying to save your own marriage?"

"Mom…"

"Emily, the rules have changed. Everything is different now. There's a baby involved."

I stand up immersed with emotion, "You think I don't know that! Mom, she wants to raise her baby with me! She said the baby was ours and that we are going to be a family!"

And just as the words come out of my mouth Ryan walks into the room.

"What's this about a baby?"

My mom turns to Ryan from the couch and says, "It's Maya. She's pregnant. That's why she collapsed."

"Is the baby okay?" he asks with genuine concern.

"Yes. The baby is fine and so is Maya," I report. Shit! Did he hear what I said about me and Maya and the baby being a family?!

"That's good. Josh must be ecstatic."

"He is. He was calling his family while I was with Maya."

"And did you and Maya talk about anything besides the baby?"

Uh oh… "Like what?"

"Like leaving your husbands for some crush our wives have on each other."

"Ryan?"

"Well, am I warm? Cuz Josh is convinced that you and Maya are in love. Is that true?"

My mom gets up from the couch, "I think I'll go upstairs so the two of you can talk."

"Mom, you really don't have to go." Please don't leave me to do this by myself.

"Yes Emily I do."

My mom makes her way upstairs leaving me to face Ryan alone.

"Emily, are you in love with Maya?"

I can't look at him. I can't disappoint him. But I have to answer him. And just as I'm about to, Ryan's cell rings…

"You're going to answer my question after I answer this call."

Shit.

"Hello?"

He's on the phone with I think Josh but I can't tell what they are talking about. I'm curious after my conversation with Josh. After a few minutes, Ryan hangs up the phone.

"Well I guess you don't have to answer that question after all."

"What do you mean?"

"That was Josh. He said that he was completely wrong about you and Maya."

"What?"

"Yeah he was convinced that the two of you were having an affair. But he said he and Maya had a long talk and she assured him that it wasn't true and he believes her. He said they are renewing their life together by starting fresh with each other and their baby. They are going to be a real family."

"He said that?"

"Yep. I tried to tell him it wasn't true but he persisted and now I guess I was right all along." What is Josh up to? I know what Maya said to me and she wouldn't go back on that. She wouldn't choose Josh over me, I know it!

Ryan walks over to me bringing me in for a hug. I hug him back only because I need a hug desperately.

"I love you baby. Do you know that?" he says with utmost certainty.

"Yeah, I think I do know that."

"I'm going up, are you coming?"

"In a bit."

He kisses me on the forehead and trots up the stairs.

I sink into the couch wrapping myself around a pillow when my phone buzzes with a text.

Stay with your husband. Build the life you were meant to build with him.

And btw…

STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY WIFE!

I close my phone throwing it across the room sobbing into my pillow! I can't stop sobbing about Ryan about Josh about Maya about the baby about my life. What am I supposed to do? Who am I supposed to be with? Oh Maya, I know it's you I'm supposed to be with but how can I be responsible for you not being able to raise your own child! I wipe my tears with the back of my hand. I know what I have to do…

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To Be Continued…

Coming Up:

What does Emily know she has to do?