"Do you care to elaborate?" Alex finally asked.
"I met your child a couple days ago. You have a three month old son," was the only elaboration he gave.
"That's impossible … " he began, when he suddenly stopped. Joseph could see the wheels turning in his head.
Alex started thinking back to his night in the elevator with Jessica. He'd only had unprotected sex one time in his life. He began doing math in his head and the time-line fit.
Alex's legs could no longer support him. He sank into the chair that was mercifully behind him. "Why … why wouldn't she tell me?" he managed to squeeze out of his constricted throat.
"I don't know the why or how's. All I know is I met your son and I knew. Would you like to see a picture?"
"Please."
Joseph passed the pictures John had given him, without saying another word. Alex stared down at them and when he finally looked back up there were tears in his eyes. "He really is mine. I'm a father." He placed his head in his hands and let it all sink in.
It didn't take Alex long to go from shock to anger. How dare Jessica keep his son from him? He hadn't mistreated her in any way and she had no right to keep something this big from him. She would explain herself and he wouldn't miss out on any more of his son's life. He couldn't believe he'd be holding him in just a few minutes. The miles stretched on, as he weaved through traffic on the way to her apartment.
She was living in a secure complex. It didn't take him long to get clearance to head up to her door though. When you were as well known as his family, you knew just about everyone. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself. He then knocked on her door and waited as the seconds ticked by, seeming more like hours. Finally she was standing in front of him, her eyes wide with shock and fear.
"Where's my son?" Alex had already missed out on too much time and he wasn't going to mince words.
There was no hello, it's been so long. How are you? He wasn't beating around the bush. He was tired and angry. He couldn't believe she would dare to keep his child from him. Sure, he hadn't bothered to call her but he had reasons for that.
She'd affected him unlike any other woman before her and he hadn't trusted himself around her. Even with anger coursing through him she was the most beautiful sight he'd ever witnessed. Her hair was longer and thrown into a messy bun with several pieces cascading down her face and neck. She didn't have a single trace of make-up on and there were smudges under her eyes from lack of sleep. She also had a glow about her that was beautiful.
Jessica was petrified. How had he found out? She'd been terrified the other night when she saw Joseph and Katherine but they hadn't seemed to know the baby was their grandson. She couldn't figure out how Alex knew.
He looked more incredible than ever. He seemed tired and his dark hair was mussed. It looked as if he'd run his hands through it a dozen times. His face had a sexy five o' clock shadow, making him seem more touchable. His scent was invading her and she realized she'd missed him far more than she should. She thought about him often. Of course, how could she now when she looked at her son daily? He looked so much like his father, especially in the eyes.
"Alex, what are you doing here?" she finally asked, trying to sound neutral.
He chose to ignore her question and repeated his, "I asked you, where is my son?" He wasn't known for having a great deal of patience. He wasn't going to stand in the doorway and miss another moment of his son's life.
Before she was able to say anything more he heard a cry from inside the apartment. His eyes rounded with wonder at the first sound he heard from his son. He was done standing in the doorway. He grabbed Jessica by the waist and physically removed her from his path.
Jessica let out a shocked gasp and then chased after him as he followed the sound of his son's cry. "Alex, I did have a son but he isn't yours," she tried to lie. He'd reached the swing his son was in by that moment, staring in fascination at the tiny human.
The baby was wide awake and staring at his father, momentarily distracted from his angry howls at being left alone. At her words Alex whipped his head around to glare at her. She took a step backwards at the violence in his expression.
"Don't lie to me for one more second. You've already stolen three months of my son's life from me. You won't deceive me anymore," he spat.
She knew to try and deny it again would only unleash more of his anger so she sank to the couch as her knees would no longer hold her up. She said nothing else, just watched as he stared at his son. The baby finally got tired of the staring game and let out a cry of displeasure. He wanted to be picked up.
Jessica started to rise but Alex was already taking care of it. "Hey little guy, you want your daddy to pick you up?" he lovingly spoke to his son. The adoration in Alex's voice brought tears to her eyes. He unlatched the safety belt and gently pulled Jacob from the seat.
Alex cuddled Jacob close to his chest, staring into his face. He was amazed at the love flowing through him. How could something so small fully claim his soul in the space of a single heart beat? He had no doubts that this was his boy. He looked like an Anderson. Jessica had a lot to answer for.
He sat down on the other end of the couch and softly spoke to his son. The baby looked up at him and cooed for a while, before his face scrunched up and he let out another full-fledged roar of displeasure. Alex turned to Jessica with a worried look on his face. "What is it?" he asked with concern.
"He's hungry. Give him to me and I'll take care of his dinner," she said, reaching her arms out. She could feel the milk dropping in her breasts and she needed to feed him as much as he wanted food. She was going to embarrass herself at any moment by leaking through her thin shirt.
"I'll feed him. Just grab me a bottle," Alex said, not wanting to release his son.
Jessica looked uncomfortable and then Alex noticed the wetness on her shirt. His groin tightened as the thin fabric wasn't hiding anything from his view. Her wet nipples were clearly showing through. He didn't say another word. He handed the baby over to her, then got up and walked out of the room giving her privacy.
Jessica was relieved when he left. She quickly quieted the baby and it brought a smile to her face. Her son took no time latching on and he always let out a little growl that seemed to say, finally mom, I was so hungry. Jacob was so much like his father. He had little patience when he wanted something.
She enjoyed these moments, brushing her precious son's head while he filled up. He closed his eyes in concentration and made little gulping noises. She leaned her head back against the couch and sighed. She tried to convince herself she'd imagined that look of instant lust in Alex's eyes but she'd felt the same sensation.
Even in his anger towards her, which she knew he was feeling, he'd still felt desire and that reminded her how lonely she'd been herself. As much as she loved her son, it would've been nice to have someone to share those precious moments. She shook herself out of those kind of thoughts and focused on Jacob.
Alex wandered into his son's nursery. She'd done a beautiful job of decorating it. There were hand painted stencils on the walls of various teddy bears in all kinds of pastel colors. He walked over to the crib and ran his hand along the quilt his son slept under every night. He looked at the wall and the breath rushed out of his lungs.
There on the wall, visible to his son was a frame with several pictures of him in it. He knew the baby was too young to recognize people but it filled his heart with joy that she'd thought to let his son know who he was. Some of his anger slipped away.
He couldn't stand to stay away any longer. He quietly walked out of the nursery. He stepped into the living room in time to hear Jacob let out a loud burp, which Jessica praised. Then she cradled him back into her arms and he watched as he latched onto her breast.
Alex felt like an intruder, spying on the intimate moment between mother and son but he couldn't turn away. It was obvious they had a strong bond together. He was feeling a bit jealous he couldn't be a part of the ritual. He would love to be able to cradle her in his arms while she cradled their son.
Once the baby latched on she leaned her head against the couch and closed her eyes. He finally walked into the room and sat next to them. She jerked her head up and stared at him. Jacob, seeming to feel her tension, let out a small protest.
She forced herself to relax, which wasn't easy, considering Alex was there, next to her, with her body exposed. "Can you please hand me that blanket?" she asked, trying not to sound as nervous as she felt.
He handed it to her and she covered herself up. He was disappointed to lose sight of his son but relieved to have her cover herself. She'd grown curvier since he'd been with her. He smiled inwardly, thinking there was a positive to pregnancy. He was surprised he could think such a thought with what she'd put him through.