The Billionaire Wins the Game(39)

Lucas took Amy to lunch and they were both so excited about the baby being in good health they dropped their guards and had a very nice time together. Amy figured he’d dropped the whole shotgun marriage idea. She figured wrong.

After lunch, he drove up to the family home. “Why are we here?” she asked nervously.

“We have some wedding plans to discuss with my parents,” he replied.

“Lucas, I’m not getting married. I won’t be forced into a marriage for any reason. I may be old fashioned, but I believe in getting married for love and nothing else,” she said, hoping he would finally drop the ridiculous argument.

“Amy, I’m also old fashioned and I believe a child needs both parents. You won’t raise my child alone. I won’t argue about this. He’ll have two parents. You can’t keep my child from me.” The tone in his voice terrified her. There was only pure conviction, no anger, no pleading. She knew he wasn’t going to back down.

Amy bowed her head and dealt with the acceptance. She was going to have to marry a man for her child’s sake, not because he loved her. He was giving her no other choice in the matter. She was frustrated she’d made the poor mistake of sleeping with him. She wouldn’t regret her child, she just wished she’d made her with someone who would’ve walked away and never looked back, or loved her unconditionally.

She wasn’t willing, nor prepared, to share her baby with another person. Sure, it would be great to have a happy, loving family, but she couldn’t think of many couples who actually stayed together. The divorce rate rose each year and she’d never wanted to be added to that list of statistics.

They walked into the house with no other words for each other. He’d made his point, she’d made hers, and he’d won. She knew he’d always win; she had just hoped he wouldn’t want to play in the game of fatherhood.

“Lucas, Amy, I’m so glad to see you. We have much to discuss. All the arrangements have been made. Amy, you run along with Katherine and get your gown picked out so we can get the alterations done,” Joseph said talking fast.

Amy was whisked through the house and shown flower choices and cake. She was fitted into a dress that was far more beautiful than anything she’d ever thought of wearing. Amy had pictured her wedding day when she was young, as most little girls did and this was a dream wedding. It would’ve been perfect if the groom was in love with her. It would’ve been even more perfect if she believed marriage could last forever.

Well, she was being given more than most women. She’d have a safe home and get to be a mother. She could deal with anything as long as she had her child in her arms. She knew it was a marriage of convenience but she’d just have to deal with that. It would get lonely, but how lonely could she really be, having her child with her.

Besides, she’d planned on being a single mother so she’d just look at it like being a single mother with a roommate, who also loved her child very much.

They stayed at the house most of the day and had dinner with Joseph and Katherine, who she was already in love with. Katherine was quiet and seemed to get overpowered by Joseph a lot of the time but it was obvious to anyone around them that he adored her in a way that made Amy’s heart ache. She had a quiet dignity about her, letting everyone know, even though Joseph had the loudest bark, she was truly the one in charge. She was the kind of mother Amy had dreamed about having in her miserable years growing up.

They were both kind and caring and they listened to her as if what she had to say was the most important thing in the world. She only wished she’d grown up with parents like them. But since she was marrying Lucas, they’d be her parents. It was something positive to look forward to. She still thought the marriage was a bad idea, but the more time she spent with Lucas outside the office, the more she thought her life wasn’t completely ruined.

By the time Lucas took her back to the apartment building, Amy was almost asleep on her feet. She’d been through a very full day, but for the most part, it had been a good one. She’d always enjoy visiting with Joseph and Katherine and nothing had been greater than seeing the ultrasound of her unborn child.

She must’ve looked at the picture a hundred times throughout the day. She’d choked up when Lucas had handed the photo to his father and she’d seen the sheen of tears in his eyes. She knew beyond any doubt her child would be loved beyond compare. She would have a much better childhood than most children.

“Well son, this is the greatest gift you could’ve ever given your mother and I,” was all he said as he engulfed both of them in a bear sized hug.