Chapter 10
Jessica
Jessica took a second to compose herself before she went to check on Madison. She double checked the locks on both doors before she walked down the hall to the bathroom. When she walks into the bathroom, Madison’s heaving over the toilet. This isn’t turning out to be a good day. All she needs now is for Alexander to call and her day will completely be shit. Just as the thought crossed her mind the doorbell rang.
“Oh crap!” Jessica ran to the door and glanced out the peep hole.
“Double crap,” she murmured.
Alexander is standing on the other side of the door. She wasn’t planning on talking to him while Michael’s a wolf. Jessica took a deep breath. Looking down she noticed she had on the same shirt Madison had gotten sick on. She instantly became nervous. She looks like crap right now. Maybe she has time to change. The doorbell rang again telling her there wasn’t time.
“Oh well, here goes nothing.” Jessica glanced around to make sure Michael isn’t running around where he can be seen.
She opened the door and took in the sight in front of her. Damn, he looks great. His hair is longer than she remembers. She immediately wanted to run her fingers through it. They both stood there looking at each other. When his gaze went down the length of her body, she became very aware of him. She should have changed before opening the damn door.
“Do I say hello to Jennifer or Jessica?” Alexander asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.
“Hi Alexander. I’m sorry I lied to you. It’s Jessica.” She hopes he will understand. “You know, one night stand and all. Didn’t want you to turn out to be a stalker.”
Alexander looked at her for a moment before finally nodding in acceptance. That alone is a small relief.
“May I come in?”
“Yes. No. I mean it’s not a good time right now.” Jessica looked over her shoulder when she heard a small growl. Michael had managed to pull a blanket off one of the twin beds. He’s growling as he is pulling it with his teeth.
“I can tell it’s not a good time.” Alexander indicated the vomit stain on her shirt. “Maybe I can help.”
“Umm…” Jessica isn’t sure what to say. She hadn’t planned on doing this while one child is sick and the other, a wolf.
“Jessica, I can help.”
She likes the way her name sounds coming from him. He is going to find out anyways. Why is it so hard to let him come in? Oh yeah, she thought, he doesn’t know they are his kids. She sure has made a mess of things. How mad is he going to be? She wonders. Better to do this now than later.
“Okay, come on in.” She opened the door wider for him to enter. “Fair warning, it can be a madhouse around here.”
“I’m sure it’s fine.” Alexander walks in just as Michael went behind the couch.
“How’s life been treating you these last few years? Animals been giving you a hard time?” He went straight to the couch and sat down, placing one arm on the back of the couch while he waits on her answer.
“It’s good,” she wonders what he meant. Does he know? “Animals?”
“Yes, animals.” He answered draping his right hand behind the couch. “You became a vet, right?”
“Oh, yes,” Jessica replied with a slight giggle.
What in the world is wrong with her? Why is she so nervous? Jessica kept glancing from Alexander to his hand. She really hopes Michael doesn’t see his hand and bite it. Right at that moment Madison started heaving and with a sound like that Jessica automatically jumps into mom mode.
“Excuse me.” She said running out the living room and down the hall to the bathroom.
Her mind is only on Madison, at the moment. Jessica knew the sound of dry heaves when she hears it. Madison will have a sore throat and body pain when she is through. Once Madison seemed to be done, Jessica stripped her down and cleaned her up. She grabbed both of them a change of clothes and changed in the bathroom.
“Come on, sweetie.” Jessica picked Madison up and took her into the bedroom.
“Michael want me.” She sadly croaked when being set down.
“I’ll bring him in here.”
Tucking the blanket under her chin, Madison closed her eyes.
“Who here, mommy?” She whispers not even opening her eyes.
“You’ll find out in a little while.” Jessica tucked a strand of hair behind Madison’s ear. “Get some rest.”
Kissing Madison’s forehead, Jessica checked her temperature. Satisfied with the result, she left the room to get Michael. Walking down the hall coming closer to the living room, Jessica could tell Michael isn’t behind the couch. At least Alexander is still sitting on the couch. Since the couch is facing opposite the hall, it’s easy for Jessica to slip behind without being noticed. Looking in the kitchen, she didn’t see Michael anywhere. Bending down looking under the table, she came to the conclusion that he must be in the living room.
“Are you flipping kidding me?” She said to herself.
Slowly she walked around the couch expecting to see Michael hiding under the table. She’s surprised when she sees him curled up sleeping on Alexander’s lap while being lightly scratched behind the ears.
“He just jumped up here.” Alexander said pulling his hand away from Michael.
“It’s okay.” Jessica picked Michael up. “I just need him to go back there for a little bit.”
Jessica carried Michael into the bedroom and placed him on the bed next to Madison. Madison wrapped her arm around Michael and snuggled into him. Hoping that will be all she hears from them for a while as she went back into the living room. Now is the time for the conversation that she has been dreading.
“I thought you would just give me a call first.” Jessica sat down in the recliner and faced him.
“I don’t have your number.”
“Oh, I gave it to the lady at the office this morning.” She informed him.
“I haven’t been to the office. Logan told me you were asking for me when you made your reservation, so I decided to stop by.”
This is much harder than she thought. Looking into Alexander’s eyes is like looking into Michael’s. They have the same cobalt blue eyes. Michael has a lot of Alexander’s features. Hell, you could stand them side to side and know without a doubt that’s father and son. Madison on the other hand is all momma. Her complexion is darker than Michaels. He had brown hair and Madison’s hair is black.
“Well what brings you here?” He asks breaking her from her daze.
“Alexander, I have to tell you something. This is probably the hardest thing for me to ever say. You’re probably going to be mad at me. I will understand if you do.” Jessica spoke fast she’s getting more nervous by the second.
“Jessica, you’re rambling.” He smiled.
“Sorry I do that when I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous. It’s not like you had my child and planned on keeping it from me.” He gave her a look that’s hard for her to decipher. Is he being sarcastic? Does he know already? He raised an eyebrow waiting for her response.
“I’m sorry, Alexander.” Jessica clasped her hands together. She felt worse than she had, now that they were face to face.
“How did you find out?” She asked looking over at him.
“I can tell what’s mine.” Is all Alexander said. Jessica isn’t sure what exactly he meant by that.
“Are you mad?”
“Truthfully, I’m not sure how I’m feeling right now.”
A chill ran over Jessica, but before she could figure out why Michael came running into the room. He was going so fast that he made it up on the chair with Jessica in one jump. Michael began nibbling on her hands then jumped up and licked her face.
“Alright that’s enough.” She said pulling him away from her face.
Michael jumped down, and whined then took off back down the hall. Jessica stood up knowing she needed to check on Madison. Madison began crying as Jessica reached the hallway. Alexander must have heard it too because she could hear him coming down the hall behind her. Jessica reached the children’s room just in time to see Madison bend over the small trash can beside the end table. Jessica dropped down to her knees beside Madison and pulled her hair back for her.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Alexander asked standing in the doorway.
“Yeah get a cold wet washcloth from the bathroom, please.”
“Be right back.” Alexander rushed down the hall with Michael following close on his heels.
“It’s okay, sweetie. This will pass.” Jessica tried to comfort Madison.
Madison shook her head and started crying again. By the time Alexander came back in, Madison seemed to be done. She sat in Jessica’s lap as Alexander gave her the washcloth. Jessica wiped Madison’s face and held her close, slowly rocking her. When Madison started to drift off to sleep Jessica laid her back down on the bed and covered her up. Putting her pointer finger against her lips, Jessica motioned for them to quietly go back in the living room.
“What’s wrong with her?” Alexander asked walking into the living room.
“I don’t know that’s why I need your help.” Jessica sat back down in the chair.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with humans. That’s a doctor’s job.” Alexander looked confused.
“So, you can’t tell me anything about your child? She needs help!” Jessica stood up. This was a mistake. She should have just dealt with this on her own.
“You mean he. My child is the pup that’s running around.” Alexander started getting defensive.
“There’s two you asshole!” Jessica is about two seconds from saying fuck it and telling him to leave. If he couldn’t help, what use is he? “They are twins. Every time Michael turns into a wolf Madison gets sick. I don’t know why. I’m not a shifter, you are.”