Taking It All(39)

"And she'd make such a good mother," Joss said sadly. "I hate that her   decision is based on her own terrible childhood. Her worry that she'd   ever treat a child of hers like her father treated her is ridiculous.   There isn't a sweeter, more generous soul out there."

"Oh I agree," Chessy said. "But I think it's good that she's waiting.   Having children doesn't necessarily complete a couple. There's nothing   wrong with devoting themselves to each other because, let's face it, the   minute a baby enters the picture, priorities change completely."

Oh my God. The moment the words came out of her mouth, she realized that   she could have well just voiced how her parents felt. That they'd   devoted their time to each other, a child an unwanted intrusion. All the   neglect that had been heaped upon her during her childhood was never   what she wanted for her own child. In fact, even if she and Tate did get   back together, her first and only priority had to be her child. Not   Tate.

"Very true," Joss conceded. "And you're right. Having babies isn't a   necessary component in living happily ever after. Besides, Kylie will   now have two babies to spoil. She can be Auntie Kylie and the best part   is, she can give them back and sleep through the night, unlike us  who'll  be up at all hours."

"You're not selling me on this motherhood thing," Chessy said dryly.

"Sorry. I won't say another word. My lips are sealed."

"I wish I could share this with Tate," Chessy said in a wistful voice.   "Not that I'm going to keep it from him. I'm not. But I just wish things   were different. That he could have gone to the doctor with me. That we   were still together and he met the news with joy. This isn't ever how I   envisioned getting the word that I was pregnant with my first baby."

Joss reached across the console and curled her hand around Chessy's. "I   know it's not the way you wanted it to happen, but a baby is a blessing   and you're going to be an awesome mom, Chessy. You can do this. We'll   take childbirth classes together. I'll let you borrow all my pregnancy   books and we can even use the same OB doctor and schedule our   appointments on the same days."

The enthusiasm in Joss's voice was contagious. Chessy felt the first   kernel of excitement since having the proverbial bomb dropped on her in   the doctor's office.

She was going to have a baby.

No, it wasn't the best timing in the world, but as Joss had said, a baby   was a blessing no matter the circumstances. It was a piece of Tate   she'd forever have. But a baby would also tie them irrevocably no matter   if their marriage truly ended in divorce. What if Tate remarried? Her   child would then have a stepmother in his or her life. Someone Chessy   would have to accept as a parental figure. The very thought sent a shaft   of pain through her heart.                       
       
           



       

A man like Tate wouldn't have to look far for another woman. He was   heart-stoppingly gorgeous, in perfect shape and he had money.

Why was jealousy gripping her at the very idea that he'd find someone   else? She was the one who'd walked away. Not him. He'd spent the last   weeks begging her to come back to him. But she hadn't been able to bring   herself to even face him or speak directly to him.

But now it was inevitable. Because she had to talk to him face-to-face. She had to tell him she was pregnant with his child.





TWENTY-FOUR


WITH each passing day of complete silence from Chessy, Tate grew more   and more despondent. Every day meant further loss of hope. But he still   had his trump card. One he'd moved on very quickly; he planned to force  a  confrontation between himself and Chessy so he could prove to her  that  she was first and foremost in his priorities.

He'd agreed to a partnership with the two other financial advisors,   splitting the client load equally three ways. Effective the next day,   Morgan Financial Services would become Morgan, Hogan and Letterman   Financial. Or MHL.

He'd thrown everything he had into getting it lined up as quickly as   possible. It wasn't as though he was sleeping nights anyway, so he'd   stayed up, working on contracts and the legalities, all the fine print   of the newly formed partnership.

It was done. It would be official tomorrow but he wanted Chessy to hear   it from him directly. Tonight. Before the news broke the next day. The   question was how to get to her? Jensen had appointed himself her   bodyguard, never allowing Tate past the doorway. Chessy wasn't answering   his texts or his voicemails. And there was a giant wall of silence   between him and those who used to be his friends-Dash, Joss and Kylie.   Jensen he hadn't known for that long, but the others? He considered them   his closest friends, but they'd made their choice. Not that he   begrudged Chessy their friendship, but he missed them. Not only had he   lost his wife but he'd also lost their friends.

His cell rang and he froze. His hands shook as he fumbled to get the   phone from the holder secured to his pants. God, it was Chessy's   ringtone. She was calling him!

He swore when he couldn't get it out right away. The very last thing he wanted was to miss her call. She may not ever call back.

"Chessy, thank God," he said when he finally was able to answer.

"Tate?"

Her quivery voice made his blood run cold. It sounded as though she'd been crying.

"Chessy, what's wrong?" he demanded. "Are you hurt? Tell me where you are and I'll be right there."

"I'm fine," she said, though her voice was still shaking. "I wanted to   know if you could meet me tonight. At our-your-house. Somewhere   private."

His thoughts scattered in a dozen different directions. Could he meet   her tonight? Hell, he'd move heaven and earth to meet her any damn where   she wanted. But it was the somewhere private part that bothered him.  As  if she had something important to tell him. Was this going to be  when  she told him she wanted to end their marriage and have him served  with  divorce papers? Or dare he hope she would agree to a  reconciliation and  come back home to him?

But regardless of the purpose, she'd be here. In their house where she   belonged. That stood for something. Because once she walked in here, she   was home. She'd be on his turf and she wouldn't have Jensen between  her  and him. No, it would be just Chessy and Tate, exactly as she   requested. Definitely private.

"Unless you have work stuff," Chessy mumbled. "We can always do it another time."

He winced but he deserved that shot. "Tonight is fine. Absolutely come   to the house. I'll cook dinner for us and we can talk. There's a hell of   a lot you don't know about yet that will be released tomorrow but I   wanted you to hear it from me first. I had fully intended to drive over   to Kylie and Jensen's and pull you out by the hair to take you back  home  with me so I could discuss the changes I've made. Changes I hope  you'll  be completely on board with."

"So it sounds as though we'll both be doing a lot of talking," she mused.

"I'll listen to every subject you want to bring up. Then, only when   you're satisfied with my responses, will we move on to what I want to   discuss with you. It's a pretty big step. I have the backing and   investors."

"Do I get a choice in the order in which we say what?"

Tate could hear the clear nervousness in her voice and she sounded as   though she wanted him to speak his mind first before delving into what   might bring her back to him after their long separation.                       
       
           



       

"Absolutely," he conceded.

"Okay, then listen up."

A ridiculous smile quirked up the corners of his mouth. He was already   mentally going through the contents of their pantry and fridge so he'd   know if he needed to run out for anything. He was positive he had all   the ingredients on hand to make one of their favorite dishes.

"You're going first while we eat dinner. After and only after you've said what's on your mind will I tell you what's on mine."

Dinner was already beginning to look like one huge clusterfuck. How did   one cook a meal that acted as an olive branch? And to make it the good   start to try to salvage their marriage? But was that what it was going   to be? Or was Chessy going to tell him it was well and truly over?