Chapter 12
When Brody figured out Claudia was pregnant, it hadn’t mattered to him. He’d waited patiently for her to trust him enough to tell him. He made the decision to be there for her and wait her out. He wanted to be with her. He needed her, and another man’s baby wasn’t going to deter him. But he never expected that other man would be his brother.
“Brody?” she whispered. “Did you hear what I said?”
“I need a minute.” He needed more than a minute to process what she had just admitted. No wonder she hadn’t told him sooner.
“Okay.” She moved off his lap, but he reached for her. She looked up at him and he saw the confusion on her face.
“I don’t want you to go.” She had stunned him with her confession, but he still wanted her close. “Gavin?” He needed to make sure he understood what she was saying. “My brother?”
“I should have told you.”
“You think?” He tried to keep his rage in check. He was upset with Claudia for not telling him sooner, but he was going to hunt down Gavin for this. How could his brother be so careless?
“I never expected you and I to go any further than being friends. In the beginning, I was afraid.”
“You could have told me.”
“Gavin wants nothing to do with me. He made it very clear the morning I told him.”
She stared at him with her swollen, red eyes. She looked ashamed and defeated. He hated seeing her like this.
“I was afraid you’d make him take responsibility for me and the baby. You’re always saying he needs to grow up and become a man.”
“You don’t want him in your life?”
“He called me a slut and told me to keep my mouth shut. He said your family wouldn’t help my grandmother anymore. I can’t afford to keep her in that facility on my own. I’m barely making it as it is. Do you know the kind of place I’d have to put her in without your help?”
“That son of a bitch.” Brody couldn’t wait to get his hands around his little brother’s neck. “You don’t think I would ever let that happen? My father’s will specifically states we are to provide for your grandmother’s retirement.”
“I didn’t know you when he threatened me. I had no idea what he could do to my grandmother or me.”
“But you’ve known me for a couple of months,” he said. “Didn’t you think I would want to know you were pregnant with my brother’s baby?”
“I’m sorry. Things moved so quickly between us. No one has ever treated me the way you do. I’ve been worried and stressed over what I’m going to do. I know it was wrong, but you’re the only good thing in my life. When I’m with you, I forget the mess I’ve made.” She tried to hold back her sobs. “I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”
Claudia carried so much anxiety with her. She was young, alone, pregnant, and scared. He had no idea she’d been dealing with all the things she had been. He was furious with Gavin, but he was glad it hadn’t worked out between them. If it had, he would never have had the opportunity to get to know her. She wasn’t meant to be with Gavin. He knew that with every fiber of his being.
“You were wrong,” he said.
He didn’t mean to be harsh, but this was beyond anything he’d imagined. She’d never even indicated that she had been with Gavin. Brody didn’t want to feel betrayed, but it was hard not to.
“I need some time to process this. When I figured out you were pregnant, I decided it didn’t matter to me. I want you and all that comes with you.”
She relaxed against him when he spoke those words, but he had to be honest. Helping her raise another man’s baby was one thing, but his own niece or nephew? That was a little more than he’d bargained for.
“I never expected Gavin to be a part of this equation. I thought maybe you hadn’t told the father, or things didn’t work out, and you were trying to do this alone.”
“I understand if you can’t be around me. I’ve dumped a lot on you. No man should have to deal with what I’ve told you. I can take a cab home.”
“Do you want to go home?” How many more times could she wound him tonight?
“You said you needed time. I want to give you your space. The same way you did for me.” She climbed off his lap, but he took her hand. “Brody, it’s okay if you want me to go.”
“I don’t.” He kissed her knuckles. “I’m stunned and confused, but I don’t want you to go anywhere.” The last thing he wanted to do was turn her away or make her feel rejected.
She ran her fingers across his lips. He closed his eyes and melted into her soft touch, wanting so much more with her. He buttoned her shirt because the temptation of seeing her naked body was too much. He wanted to touch her stomach again.
God help him, he still wanted to make love to her, but too much had happened. He didn’t want to do anything that could end up hurting her. He didn’t know if he could handle her confession in the morning, so he wouldn’t make love to her if he wasn’t sure how he felt about the situation.
“Will you sleep in my bed tonight?” He needed to be close to her. “I can’t let you leave.”
“I want to stay.”
He stood up, placed a soft kiss on her head, and then walked to his dresser. He took out a pair of sweatpants and quickly slipped them on. Throwing the covers back, he motioned for her to get into the bed. He climbed in next to her and pulled her onto his chest. Her silky hair smelled like flowers.
“You always smell so good.”
She snuggled into him. “I love when you hold me. I know I don’t deserve it, but it makes me feel secure.”
“You deserve to be treated this way.” No matter what was going on in his head, he knew what she deserved.
She didn’t say anything for a few minutes, but her warm tears fall onto his chest.
“It’s been a long day,” he said. “Why don’t you sleep now?”
“I am sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“I know,” he said. “I just need to think.”
“Okay.”
“Do you know what the baby is?”
She shook her head. “I’m supposed to have an ultrasound next week. I can find out then.”
“Do you want to?”
“I’ve already had an ultrasound, but I wasn’t ready to know. I’m still not sure. It might be nice to be surprised.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head. He hated to think about her doing any of this alone. “When will the baby come?”
“In December,” she said. “A few days before Christmas.”
“Are you healthy?”
“My blood pressure is a little high.”
“What does that mean?”
“They’re monitoring me,” she said. “I promised my doctor I’d try to relax, but I haven’t been very successful.”
How could she relax? She was carrying around a secret she should have been able to tell him. He should have told her as soon as he suspected she was pregnant, but he didn’t want to scare her away.
“I don’t want you to worry about anything.”
“I have lots to worry about.” More of her tears fell onto his chest.
“No you don’t,” he said. “Go to sleep.”
“Brody?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not kicking me out.” She rolled over and faced the opposite wall. “You’re a good man.”
He turned on his side and pressed his chest to her back. “Can I touch your stomach?”
“If you want to.” Her voice cracked. “The baby likes you.”
“How do you know?” He softly laughed.
“The first time I ever felt any movement was when you came to my apartment that Sunday afternoon. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was, but then it happened again. The baby responds to your voice.”
He slipped one arm under her and the other over her waist, holding her as close to him as he could. He gently rested his palm on her tiny bulge. After a few minutes, her breathing slowed and she was asleep. He listened to the soft sound of her breath as it filled her lungs.
My Sleeping Beauty.
This situation was screwed up. He’d fallen for a woman who was pregnant with his brother’s child. She was his family’s housekeeper. He didn’t have a clue what she would do with her baby. Was she planning to raise the child alone?
His business was thriving. The next few months were going to be brutal with the merger and the development of the new buildings. He had to stay focused and keep his father’s company headed in the right direction. Claudia was a complication he didn’t need.
But none of the craziness seemed to matter, because she was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman. The little one kicking against his hand told him everything he needed to know. He knew what he had to do. He constantly wanted more with her and he intended to have it. He’d find a way.
* * * *
Claudia woke to an empty bed. Her heart broke, but Brody had already exceeded her expectations last night. She told him the truth and he didn’t kick her out. She would have deserved it if he had, but now she worried that in the light of a new day, he’d changed his mind.
It was unfair to tell him the baby moved to the sound of his voice, but when he asked to touch her stomach, she got caught up in the moment. In her best dreams, Brody was the father of her child. Even if that could never be, she still hoped for it.
She took a quick shower, retrieved her clothes from the laundry room and then met John in the lobby.
“Good morning, Ms. Samson.” He smiled. “Mr. Callahan has asked me to take you to the main house this morning.”
“Thank you.” Work was the last place she wanted to be, but what choice did she have?
“Mr. Callahan also said he’d meet you there in a few hours.”
“At the main house?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
That was strange. Brody rarely went to the house. She wondered what he was up to as she climbed into the back of the car. On the ride to work she thought about what she should do next. Now that Brody knew, did it change anything? The attraction she had for him was mutual. She could see it in his eyes and feel it in his kiss. If she wasn’t pregnant, they would have made love last night. Actually, it wasn’t the pregnancy that stopped them. Claudia knew why Brody didn’t make love to her. It had more to do with Gavin than it did with the baby.
She placed her hands on her stomach and closed her eyes. She wouldn’t trade her little one for anything. She loved this baby from the moment she found out it was growing inside her. She wanted her baby more than anything. But she also wanted Brody. Could he love her even though she was having his brother’s child?
That was too much to ask of any man. Even one as kind and protective as Brody Callahan. She wasn’t stupid. There was no future with Brody. Maybe if she had met him first, or if she’d never given into Gavin’s advances, things could have been different. But things weren’t different. She was a big girl and made some big decisions. Her baby would be here in four months, and she had to find a way to give him, or her, the best life she could.
She hurried in through the service entrance and made her way to the laundry room to get the fresh sheets.
“You’re late,” Angela said.
“I’m sorry,” Claudia said. “I must have overslept.” She hadn’t realized she was late. It couldn’t have been by more than a few minutes. “I’ll get to the sheets now.”
“You haven’t been yourself for the past few months.” Angela glanced down at her stomach. “Obviously you’re having some personal issues.”
“I’m fine.” Claudia didn’t want to get into this with her. Not today. She was drained from having to tell Brody and she wasn’t about to let Angela in on her secret.
“Very well,” she said. “Please dust and vacuum the living room as soon as possible. I’m having lunch this afternoon with some women from the hospital board.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
“I’d also like you to help Juan with the flower beds on the side of the house.”
“Again? We did those in the spring.”
“We’ve had a brutal summer and the heat is killing everything. He bought new flowers, and he said you do beautiful work.”
“Okay, I’ll get to that this afternoon.” Claudia dreaded that it was so hot outside and now she’d have to leave the comfort of the air conditioned house to plant flowers on the side of the house where no one even saw.
She ducked into the laundry room and leaned against the dryer. She had to hang onto this job for as long as she could. The money was too good and they paid her health insurance. She could do it. She’d do anything for her baby.
A couple of hours later, Claudia finished cleaning the downstairs. She needed to start in on the bedrooms. She had a little while before lunch, so she decided to vacuum the hall. She made her way up the back staircase, took the vacuum out of the utility closet, and headed for the outlet.
“I can’t believe you’re still here.”
“Gavin?” She turned to find him smiling at her. “I thought you were in Boston.”
“You really are pregnant, aren’t you?” He looked at her stomach. “Unbelievable.”
“I told you I was. You just chose not to believe me.”
“Yeah, well, it’s still not mine.”
“Whatever.” She shook her head. “Don’t you have to go back to Boston or something?”
“I’m here because Mona’s cousin is getting married this weekend.”
“Well, aren’t you the perfect boyfriend?”
“I guess I am.” He smirked at her.
“Did you ever get around to telling her I was in your bed every Wednesday night for six weeks?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“No, that’s your game.” Claudia’s stomach churned and she felt lightheaded. She had to get control of the situation and not let him raise her blood pressure. The doctor warned her that bed rest could be in her future.
“You better not think you’re going to tell Mona about us. Not that she’d believe I slummed with you.”
“It was the other way around.” Claudia pushed past him. “I don’t know how I let myself fall for your tricks.”
“You loved every second of it. I didn’t hear you complaining when you were screaming out my name.”
“Shut up!” He disgusted her. How could she have slept with him?
“I’m serious,” he said. “I won’t hesitate to tell my mother you’re a scam artist.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell Barbie about us. As far as I’m concerned it never happened.” She wished with all her heart that was true. She wanted more than anything for Brody to have been the Callahan who found her first.
“That’s fine with me.”
Claudia wanted him to leave her alone. She wasn’t asking him for anything, and she didn’t plan to tell anyone about his involvement.
“Claudia.” She heard Brody coming up the stairs. “Are you up here?”
Oh God. Not now.