The Billionaire's Dance(23)

"I agree, it seems like just yesterday I was bringing him home from the  hospital. He will be off to college before I have a chance to blink,"  she said with some panic.

"It doesn't happen quite that quickly but it sure seems like it. I'm  grateful my boys decided to live close to home. When Mark graduated and  moved out a piece of my heart broke. Letting go of any of your children  is hard but the youngest one is the final piece and it feels like a  piece of you leaves with them. I'm also grateful they're finally  marrying and giving me grandkids. It helps ease the heartache a little,"  she added.

Jessica looked guiltily down at her feet for a moment. She knew her  father and Alex's parents were hoping to have many more grandkids but  Jessica was so afraid to even bring it up with Alex. She was afraid he  would say no and she would have to finally accept they couldn't stay  together.

"Three grandkids in just under three years is pretty good," Jessica said instead.

"Yes, they really are a blessing. Joseph has been mumbling now about  Mark settling down. I've told him time and again to leave the boy alone.  He'll have kids when he's ready for it but you know Joseph, he's  stubborn. He thinks he fools me but I've been married to the man for far  too many years for him to get away with much," she said with a wink.

"He's definitely stubborn. His sons and grandsons have inherited that trait," Jessica said with a fond smile.

"I'm going to steal that new grandson of mine before Joseph gets his  hands on him," Katherine said. She kissed Jessica's cheek and then  headed over to Amy, who had just walked around the corner.

Amy walked over to Jessica, now that her arms were empty. "I barely get  to see my kids when we are around this group," Amy complained but the  twinkle in her eyes took away any bite in the words.

"I know how you feel," Jessica agreed with her sister-in-law.

"I really couldn't imagine being a part of one of those families who  never speak to one another. It breaks my heart now to think about that,"  Amy said with true knowledge.

Jessica knew Amy had grown up with an addicted mother until the day she  went into the foster care system. She'd worked her way through college  and then met Lucas while working for the Anderson Corporation.

Having a close family was something Jessica had always taken for  granted, whereas Amy had never known such a loving group of people.  Jessica reached over and gave Amy a big hug. "I'm so glad you are my  sister Amy. I'm glad you were able to find the family you were meant to  have," Jessica said.

Amy had to wipe away a few tears, "now look what you made me do," she  said with a sniffle. "I'm so glad to have you, too," she added.         

     



 

"What's wrong Amy," Lucas came running up, as if he had radar built in.  He was gathering Amy in his arms while scoping the yard to make sure his  children and the rest of the family were all okay. He couldn't seem to  find any danger and that led to his brow furrowing even more.

"Everything is just perfect, that's why I'm crying," she said with a sniffle.

Lucas looked at her like she'd lost her mind for a moment and that set  both women off in a round of giggles. "Lucas, you have to understand we  cry when we are happy and sad. It's just one of those mysterious things  about women," Jessica finally managed to get out between giggles.

"Is everything okay," Alex asked as he looked from his brother to the  two laughing women. Lucas gave him a look that seemed to say, you figure  them out, which sent the girls off on another round of laughter. They  were both holding their stomachs and tears were streaming down their  faces they were laughing so hard.

"You've got to stop talking or I'm going to get a major cramp," Amy finally managed to get out between bits of laughter.

"Agreed," Jessica said.

Both guys threw up their hands and by mutual consent edged away from the girls. "We better go finish the grilling," Lucas said.

"Yeah, I'll help you," Alex eagerly took the cue and they fled.

After a few minutes Jessica and Amy were able to quit laughing. "I love doing that to him," Amy said mischievously.

"That was quite fun," Jessica agreed.

"Let's go get something to drink. All this laughter is great but man my  stomach hurts now," Amy said. "Plus I have got to get off these feet; I  swear they are still swollen and acting like I'm pregnant."

"I could use a drink myself. I've been fighting the flu and having a  hard time keeping things down, so don't bring the baby to close to me. I  would never forgive myself if I got my nephew sick," Jessica said.

The girls joined the rest of the party, stealing two very comfortable  chairs for themselves. The food was excellent and Jessica was relaxed  and calm.

"It's time to sing happy birthday," Alex shouted above the voices as he  came walking out of the house with a large chocolate cake and a single  candle burning in the center.

Jacob blew out his candle with the help of his father and then clapped  his hands with everyone else. Everybody roared with laughter when Jacob  stuck his little hand into the cake and smeared it all over himself,  saying yummy over and over again.

Jessica's eyes filled with tears as she watched Alex stick his face into  the cake with their son. She loved how much they were bonded. "Daddy  likes cake too," Jacob squealed and then giggled.

"So does grandpa," Joseph said and took a big handful for himself.

"I think I'll pass on the cake," Jessica said with affection, while staring at her chocolate covered men.

"I will second that," Amy added.

"You don't know what you're missing," Alex said. Before she could stop  him, Alex took a chocolate smeared finger and rubbed it down her nose.  She stood there in shock for a moment and then fast as lightening  scooped up a small piece of the cake and chucked it at her husband.

She saw the light of mischief come into his eyes and decided it was a  great time to retreat. She took off running but Alex caught her in no  time. He gently tackled her to the ground and rubbed his chocolate  covered face against hers.

Jessica was laughing so hard she could barely speak. "Okay, okay I call truce," she finally managed to get out.

"There are no truces in a food war," he said and rubbed against her some  more. Suddenly he seemed to realize he was stretched out on top of her.  He had her hands pinned above her head and she was completely at his  mercy.

Alex forgot their yard was filled with people. No one else seemed  visible to him except his beautiful, chocolate covered wife. He bent his  head down and instead of rubbing more chocolate on her, his lips met  hers and he kissed her with an intenseness that wiped away all laughter.

Alex released her hands and they immediately wrapped around his neck so she could pull him tighter to her body.

"Um guys, I hate to interrupt you twice in one evening but this is a G-rated party," came the laughing voice of Mark once again.

Alex pulled apart from her reluctantly and growled at his brother.  Jessica looked at her husband in shock. She then looked around her in  embarrassment and was extremely grateful no one was paying the least bit  of attention to them.

Alex finally got up and pulled Jessica to her feet. "This party can end  anytime now," he said, with promise of completion to come. "As a matter  of fact, no one would probably even notice if we disappeared for a  little while," he offered her.         

     



 

She was getting ready to agree with him and sneak off upstairs when Joseph walked up to them.

"Now that Jacob is a year old, when are you planning on giving him a  sibling?" Joseph asked Alex. "You know a boy needs to have some younger  sibling to harass," he added and looked pointedly at Mark.

Jessica was the only one who noticed the shutters lock into place on her  husband's face. Her heart broke a little bit more. He'd gone from  passionate lover, to closed off in about two seconds.

"Dad, you already have three grandkids, quit being so greedy," Alex finally managed to say in a stilted voice.

"Now son, you're not getting any younger. You better get working on  things," Joseph continued, not noticing the sudden tension in his son.  He winked at Alex and Jessica both, which made her blush again.

"Yeah, yeah, just enjoy the cake," Alex said and then quickly changed  the subject. Jessica had her answer she hadn't wanted to face. Her  husband definitely didn't plan on having more children with her. How  could a night so full of promise just a moment ago have suddenly gone so  dark?

The party went on even after Jacob finally succumbed to his exhaustion  and went to bed. Jessica loved to watch the brothers laugh together and  act like they were teenagers. She was putting on a fake mask the rest of  the night though, because all she really wanted to do was crawl in bed  and have herself a really good cry. She and Amy sat back and visited  while the rest of the guests slowly started to depart.