There was some mumbling and two others stood. “I’m in agreement with Gray,” one of them said.
“Me too,” the other said, before turning to Sean. “Sean, if you have something you need to iron out with Jake, I suggest a private meeting, but I agree with Gray. Moot point.” He turned to Gray. “Gray, enjoy your visitors.”
The three of them collected their things.
“Good day, gentlemen,” Gray said, nodding as he walked out the door followed by the two others.
“Why don’t we finish up this meeting in private, Sean?” Jake said. “We’ve kept you all long enough I think.” He addressed that last part to the others who were now collecting their belongings, most of them looking relieved. They’d been in here since ten o’clock that morning.
“I’ve got time now, Roark.”
Connelly seemed to be getting more aggressive of late. Jake took a deep breath and exhaled, counting to ten. He waited for the others to leave, considering stepping out to see Megan but deciding to just get this over with now.
Once everyone left, he closed the door and turned to Sean.
“All right, Sean, why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you now?”
Megan heard the voices in the reception area and rose to her feet. Her palms were sweaty and ever since having decided what she would do, she had been rehearsing how she would say it, where she would begin. Jake was in a meeting and she had asked the receptionist not to bother him.
She waited ten minutes until the voices died down, expecting Jake to walk in any minute. But when he didn’t and another ten minutes passed, she went outside to see where he was. She was walking to the receptionist, Jess, who was jotting down some notes from a caller when Megan turned toward the boardroom. She stopped dead when she met her husband’s eyes. He was angry, she could tell even from this distance.
Sean Connelly stood across from him, his posture more relaxed, his mouth into what looked to her like a sneer. He folded his arms across his chest and smiled at her.
“Mrs. Roark?” Jess called out from behind her, forcing Megan into action.
Was she too late? Had he already told Jake? He had said five days but maybe he’d just gone ahead and told Jake anyway before she had a chance to. Maybe he had planned on telling Jake all along.
Her stomach heaved and she covered her mouth with her hand, those two crackers she had managed to eat at the restaurant threatening to come back up.
“Are you all right, Mrs. Roark?” the girl asked, coming around the desk.
She looked at her then ran out into the hallway and to the ladies room where she went to the first stall, fell to her knees and vomited.
“Meg!” The door slammed open and Jake ran in.
She wanted to tell him to go away, not to watch, but her stomach heaved again and his hands were on her, rubbing her back, gathering her hair and holding it away from her face.
When it was finally over, she sat back on her heels, reaching a weak hand to grab some toilet paper to wipe her mouth.
“Come on, I’ll get you cleaned up,” Jake said. He flushed the toilet, helping her rise.
“No. It’s gross,” she said, turning away from him and walking to the sink herself. One glimpse at her reflection, her now puffy, blotchy face and red, wet eyes, and she turned on the tap, splashing water over her face, covering it with her hands.
“It’s not gross. Let me help you.”
Was she too late? Had he told Jake already? But if he had, why was Jake being so nice? He wouldn’t be, he would be mad. He had been mad, she had seen his eyes.
She reached up and turned off the tap. He held out a few paper towels to her and she wiped her face. She then faced him, her husband, who stood there, one arm on her, holding her gently, his expression only that of concern.
“Better?” he asked.
He looked like he had a thousand questions.
Megan shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she said, smiling as her eyes filled again with tears. God, would this never end? “Did he tell you already?” she asked.
“Did who tell me what? What are you talking about? Come on, let’s get out of here.”
She resisted, holding on to the counter for support when Jake turned back to her. “Is he gone?”
“Meg,” he shook his head, “what the hell’s going on?”
“I’m sorry,” she said again. “I came to tell you but…” She clutched her mouth and pulled away, running again to the toilet. She had eaten all of two crackers, there couldn’t be anything left.
Jake opened the bathroom door, “Get me my keys, Jess. Fast.” He turned back to Megan who was dry heaving. “I’m taking you to the emergency room.”
“No!” He couldn’t take her to the hospital. She just had to tell him now. “I’m ok, Jake. It’s ok.”
“It’s not ok. You’ve hardly been eating since the party and you’re throwing up everything you do manage. We’re at least going to Dr. Sloane and that’s final, Meg.”
Jess walked into the bathroom looking from one to the other. She handed Jake his keys and Megan’s purse. “I hope you feel better, Mrs. Roark.”
“Thank you Jess,” Jake answered for her. “I won’t be back today and maybe not tomorrow.”
“But, Mr. Roark, your meeting tomorrow…”
“I don’t care. Cancel it,” he said, his eyes on Megan all the while. “Let’s go.”
Megan knew not to argue. When Jake took that tone, final was final. At least it was just her doctor and not the ER.
“Jake,” she began when they got on the elevator.
“Not now, Megan. I think you should just rest until we get there. We can talk tonight.”
In the parking garage, he put her into the passenger seat and strapped her seatbelt before climbing in on the other side. He drove fast to the doctor, asking her if she was ok every few minutes.
At least she had stopped crying.
When they got to the doctor’s office, they only had to wait a few minutes before the nurse called them in.
“What’s going on?” Dr. Sloane asked as Jake helped Megan up onto the examining table.
“Nothing. I’m fine, I just…”
“She’s not fine. She’s been vomiting since Saturday and can barely keep anything down. I’m pretty sure you’ve barely eaten a full meal, Meg,” Jake said, suddenly stern with her.
Dr. Sloane stuck a thermometer into her mouth and asked a few questions, which Jake answered while she sat watching them.
“When was your last period?” she asked when she took the thermometer out, her temperature normal.
Megan began counting back. She wasn’t very good at keeping track but apparently Jake was.
“It’s been a month, hasn’t it? Maybe a little longer,” he said.
Megan only looked at him, surprised.
“We’ve been living together for a year Meg. I know your cycles.”
“Bathroom’s down the hall Megan,” Dr. Sloane said, handing her a box she retrieved from the cabinet.
She stared at it, as did Jake. It was a pregnancy test.
“We’ll know for sure in a few minutes but morning sickness doesn’t normally restrict itself to just the mornings.”
Megan still stared at it, unable to reach out and take the box.
Jake took it for her. “I’ll go with you,” he said.
Megan turned to him, pushing her hair behind her ear. “I… it’s not possible.”
“Humor me,” Dr. Sloane said, her back already to them as she jotted down some notes.
She walked as if in a dream to the bathroom. Jake unpacked the stick and held it out to her once they were inside and he had locked the door.
“I don’t think I have to pee,” she said, still staring at the thing.
“Try.” He read the back of the box.
She took the stick from him, her hand trembling. “Can you turn around?”
“I’ve seen you pee before.”
That was true, she wasn’t normally so modest at home. She lifted her skirt and pulled down her panties and apparently, she did have to pee. When she was finished, she set the stick down on the counter and washed her hands while they waited. She looked at him while he looked at the stick. It wasn’t even a minute before he smiled a strange smile. It was one of disbelief, of awe even. She glanced down at the two pink lines.
“Maybe we have to wait longer?” she asked, taking the box from him and looking at the very clear picture on the back of the box.
“I think we’re having a baby, Meg,” he said, his eyes suddenly wet.
She stared at those two little lines, unable to speak.
There was a knock at the door. “Well?” Dr. Sloane called from the other side.
Jake pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “We’re having a baby!”
Chapter Nine
“So what did you come in to talk about by the way?” Jake asked that night when he turned out the lamp. He pulled her close, tucking her back into his front, holding her to him, one large hand on her belly.
She put her hand over top of his and linked her fingers through his. “Oh, gosh, I forgot already,” she lied, her eyes wide open, ready for another sleepless night of thinking. “Are you ready for this?” she asked.
“It definitely happened sooner than I expected but yes, I’m ready. Absolutely.”