Chapter 9
“David thinks you can work miracle,” Hailey said without preamble as soon as they were in the doctor’s office. “I am forty-five years old and my biological clock stopped ticking or so I thought. I love children that’s why I became a teacher, but I am not going to have the fortitude to deal with having one at this age. Will you be able to tell me if I am carrying a healthy child?” she demanded as soon as they were ushered into his large but plain office.
She pulled her hand away from him as soon as they were seated.
“What did I tell you, Henry?” David said dryly but with an indulgent look on his handsome face. “This is the love of my life, Dr. Hailey Donaldson, and also the bane of my existence.” He grinned at the dirty look she threw him.
“Very nice to meet you, Hailey,” Dr. Whittingham said with a wide smile as he looked at the coolly beautiful woman. He had been friends with David’s mother and father for a very long time and delivered their last child. “Let’s do the examination and see what we have. How do you feel?”
“I cannot keep anything down and I have classes staring in a week.”
“Let’s see what we can do about that.”
******
“Mother, may I speak to you?” Marilyn entered her mother’s office after knocking on the door briefly.
Martha looked up at her daughter and nodded, her dark blue eyes taking in the newly done hair and the less baggy looking clothes her daughter was wearing. They lived at the same place and worked at the same company, but she had not seen the girl in two days because of some very hectic schedule. She had not seen her son either and wondered what he was up to.
“Sit, darling.” She waved the girl over to one of the chairs in front of the desk. “I was just checking our online sales and realize that the department is doing wonderfully well.”
“Yes.” Marilyn fidgeted a little bit.
“Darling, whatever it is, just spit it out.”
“I have been seeing someone,” she blurted out.
Martha’s tapered eyebrows lifted at that. “That’s wonderful, darling. Who is he and when do we get to meet him?”
“You already have,” she muttered as she stared down at her tightly clasped hands. “He is not rich-”
“As long as he is not after what you have, darling, then I don’t care if he sells clothes on the street side.”
Marilyn smiled at that. “He is gainfully employed and does not care about my money.”
“Who is he?”
“Lee Faulkner.”
Martha watched the frown furrow her mother’s otherwise smooth brow and then cleared as she realized who it was! “From accounts.”
“Yes.” She looked at her mother anxiously. “We have been seeing each other for the past eight months.”
“And you never saw fit to introduce him to the family?” Martha looked at her eldest child in disapproval. “Are you ashamed of this man?”
“He is a wonderful human being and loves me!” Marilyn cried out. “He is the only one who really accepts me for who I am.”
The silence that followed that was telling, and Marilyn avoided her mother’s eyes.
“I always accept you for who you are, darling, but I knew there could be more.” Martha leaned forward on her desk. “If this man loves you and you love him then I am very happy for you. I am afraid the lawyers are going to insist on a prenup.”
Marilyn nodded, relieved that it was out in the open. “I know that and so does he. He does not care.”
Martha nodded. “Invite him over to dinner on Saturday. I think your sister will be coming as well with Byron.”
“I think David has a surprise of his own.”
Martha’s brows arched. “What could that be?”
“I think love has finally found its way into all your children’s lives.”
******
“You are two months pregnant, Hailey, and from all indications you are a very healthy woman. I foresee no problems with you carrying the baby to term.” Dr. Whittingham had done a thorough examination and then asked her to get dressed and meet him in his office.
“I am due in March?” Hailey asked, taking a deep breath and not knowing what to feel! She had given up thinking about having children a long time ago and now there were mixed feelings.
“Early March. I am going to give you something for the nausea and some vitamins to take.” He scribbled something on his pad. “I expect to see you back here late September.”
“We will be here.” David twined his fingers through hers and ignored her when she tried to pull away. “Thanks, Henry.”
“Will you give Martha and your sisters my best?”
“I will.”
They had flown to the medical facility which had an air pad to the side of the large grounds. The pilot sprang to attention as soon as he saw them coming and came around to help Hailey into the small plane. It was already late afternoon and a light breeze had sprung up. David secured her seatbelt and leaned back against his seat.
“Where to, sir?” the pilot asked him.
“To the manor, Charles,” he said without consulting with Hailey.
He turned to look at her as she opened her mouth to protest. “We have to tell Mother before it gets to the press. “
“I have not told my mother yet.”
He picked up his phone and handed it to her. “I suggest you tell her now. We are not going to be able to contain the excitement of the press. I have a reputation I am afraid and when they get wind of this it will be all over the news!”
She flashed him a fulminating glance and dialed her mother’s number.
******
“My dear, come on!” Martha gushed as she took both the woman’s hands in hers. When David had called her and told her he was coming home and wanted her to meet someone she had been so delighted. Both her children whom she had lost hope of settling down had greeted her with terrific news. Now seeing Hailey she was stunned at the tall graceful beauty before her.
“Thank you,” Hailey said with a genuine smile. She had seen the woman many times in the papers and on the internet but up close she was even lovelier and had passed on her looks to her son. “You have a truly beautiful home.” She had admired the sweeping lawns and the brilliance of the flowers in the gardens as they drove up the sweeping driveway.
“Thank you, my dear. I assume you are staying for dinner?”
“She is.”
Hailey turned to look at David coolly. “I am staying because we have news.”
“Good.” Martha smiled inwardly as she realized that this woman was not one of those women who worshipped at her son’s feet. It was actually the other way around. He could not seem to be able to take his eyes off her!
“Let’s go into the sitting room.” She preceded them inside the elegantly furnished room strewn with comfortable chairs and a chaise lounge. It also afforded a spectacular view of the fountain and rocks jutting from the clear blue water of the pool.
A maid materialized out of nowhere with a tray of refreshments. Hailey had chosen to sit on a single sofa but that did not deter David as he sat on the arm of it with his hand thrown over the back and close to her neck. “How about some tea?” Martha asked.
“What kind?”
Martha looked at the woman for a moment and then smiled. “Chamomile.”
Hailey nodded, and she poured.
They waited until they had been served before David spoke. “Dr. Whittingham sends his regards,” he told his mother casually.
“I have not seen-” Her eyes widened as the implications of what her son had just said and her eyes flew to the woman sitting there. “You are-”
“She is carrying my child,” David said with a huge grin.
“Oh my goodness!” Martha sprang up from her seat and clapped her hands in delight. “Oh, my Lord!” Her dark blue eyes blazed with happiness as she looked at them. She pressed the bell and a different maid hurried in. “A bottle of wine-” She looked at Hailey. “Make it non-alcoholic, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The maid gave a small bow and then left the room.
“I have to hug you. May I?” Martha asked her.
“Of course,” Hailey said, the excitement from the woman catching on.
“I take it you are excited, Mother?” David asked with a grin.
“I am bowled over!” she corrected him as she hugged Hailey and let go.
“We are thinking of a November wedding,” he continued.
“We have not discussed that.” Hailey threw him an exasperated look. “Your son seems to think that I don’t have a mind of my own.”
“I love your brilliant mind.” He leaned down and titling her chin up he kissed her slowly, seeming to forget that they had an audience.
Martha looked at the tender scene in amazement. Her son was in love!
Hailey pushed him away, but he grinned and sliding down lifted her and put her onto his lap, ignoring her resistance.
“Did he tell you that I am ten years older than he is?” Hailey asked Martha as soon as the maid hurried in with a bucket.
Martha waited until the woman had left. “He told me you were older, but, my dear, that has nothing to do with anything.” She picked up the bottle and read the label. “Would you do the honors, darling?” She handed it to her son and he popped it open and poured into the glasses. Martha’s eyes were bright with tears. “A November wedding sounds fine.”
*****
He took her on the grand tour. Eight suites in all complete with their own bathrooms, kitchen and sitting rooms. His had three bedrooms and she could see the careless elegance in the furnishings. He also had a well-equipped gym which showed signs of frequent use. They wandered back into the bedroom and he turned to face her. “I love you,” he said plain and simple. “I know that I have a reputation as a playboy, but I’d never met you yet. You are all the woman I need and I want you to know that.”
She looked up at him and saw the sincerity there. “I am going to hold you to that, David. I am a black woman with fire in her soul. I am independent and don’t need a man to make me whole. I am smart and beautiful and I know it. I am not going to be going through your phone and checking your text messages like some sisters do. I already have a job. If you step out of line one time, even look at another woman with lust in your eyes, then that’s it. I am not going to cry and scream and scratch her eyes out. I am just simply going to leave and that’s that. This is new for me and I am still trying to process it. I am now entering into a new dimension and I am still unsure about it. I am used to being alone, answering to myself only. I tried to resist you, but it did not work, so here we are. I am not going to play high society wife. I will continue working, but I will be there for you and our child. Is that clear?”
He had stood there listening to her and felt his admiration of the fire and ice in her doubled. He had never met anyone like her before and he knew it had to be her and no one else! “Yes, ma’am,” he said softly.
“Good,” she told him briskly. “Now I am hoping that you have not brought another woman in this bedroom?”
“No. You are the first.”
“That’s what I thought.”
She wrapped her hands around his neck. “How about we christen this gigantic bed that takes up most of the room?”
“I was thinking the same thing.” He lifted her up and took her to the bed and knelt there staring at her. Christ, how he loved her!
*****
“You secretive bitch!” Hillary rounded on her friend as soon as she told them the news. “All this time you have been seeing David freaking billionaire Snyder and you never told us and now you are pregnant with his baby? Two weeks ago you were engaged to Bill!”
“Calm down, honey, remember your blood pressure,” Hailey said with a grin. She had called her friends over as soon as David dropped her off and had told him she needed the time to tell her friends the news.
“If I get a stroke then I have you to blame,” Hillary muttered as she plopped down in the sofa next to her friends. “When did this happen?”
She told them about the night of the fashion party and what they did in the maze.
Both girls stared at her in shock. “You had sex with him and you just met him?” Marge asked, her dark brown eyes huge.
“We saw each other and danced and suddenly we both felt it. It was like there was a different person taking over my body. It was the most amazing moment I ever felt.”
“It did not matter to you that he was a playboy?” Hillary demanded.
“To me, that first time was just sex and that was it. Wonderful amazing sex.”
“And he found you?” Marge asked, entirely fascinated.
Hailey nodded. “I told him I wanted nothing to do with him. There is the age difference and the fact that he was a billionaire playboy, but he kept coming back. I got engaged to Bill in desperation but it did not work.”
“Oh, my word!” Hillary fanned her suddenly flushed face. “And now you are pregnant and getting married in November. I cannot take this all in.”
“Neither can I!” Hailey said with a laugh.
“He loves you?” Hillary asked her.
“I think he really does. I feel wonderful around him. He is able to take me from the serious way I take myself and make me laugh. I can talk to him and he really listens. He is playful and I am not used to that. He tickles me until I am giggling senselessly. He is caring and thoughtful and makes sure I am okay. I am not used to that. I am used to taking care of things myself. He ordered a ton of groceries for me. Speaking of which, you guys are going to have to take some. “
“Oh girl, I am so happy for you!” Marge said, her eyes bright.
“I am jealous as hell!” Hillary said with a grin. “Happy but jealous.”
******
“Billionaire playboy David Snyder is about to become a husband and a father! Just two weeks ago it was in the papers that university lecturer Dr. Hailey Donaldson was engaged to businessman Bill Stephenson and now she is set to marry David Snyder and is expecting his child. Was Bill Stephenson thrown over for a much wealthier man? Not to mention the age difference between the two. The bride to be is ten years older than the groom to be. One has to wonder if something like this will last. But we wish them all the best!”
The chancellor folded the paper and settled back in his chair as Hailey came into his office. She had been back at the university for a week when the news hit. She had already told Dr. Whitlock briefly that she was pregnant and engaged to be married without the details.
“Have you seen the papers?” the man asked her mildly. He was the first African American man to ever hold the position and was doing a very good job of it and was highly respected.
“Unfortunately,” Hailey said dryly as she sat on one of the plush chairs. They were a little more than employer and employee, but the man had taught her in college.
“It makes you sound shallow and undermines your position as an excellent lecturer. I suggest you make a statement.”
“And say what?” she asked heatedly. “I don’t give a damn what they say about me.”
“Your students do and the rest of the faculty members-“
“They can go and screw themselves.”
He hid a smile behind his stern visage. “Dr. Donaldson, you know better than that.”
“I am here to impart knowledge, Michael, and sitting here discussing my personal life is taking away from that.”
“I know,” he said soothingly. “There are reporters camped outside and I suspect that they will not be leaving until they hear something from you or your fiancé.”
Hillary sighed. She had seen the way her students stared at her and knew they had questions as well.
“Okay, fine. Let me call David.”
*****
“Hey, baby, I was just thinking about you.”
“David, there are reporters on campus. Please get rid of them.”
“You are going to make a statement, darling.”
“Can’t you do it?” she pleaded.
“Not this time. Even if I said something, they are not going to stop until they hear from you.”
“I hate this!”
“I know, darling,” he said soothingly. “It will pass. They will go on to the next news soon.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
But she made the statement.
“Dr. Donaldson, is this a love match?” a female reporter asked her.
She hesitated and then responded. “It is.”
“How do you explain the fact that you were only recently engaged to William Stephenson?”
She had prepared for the question ,but it still threw her. “I thought William and I would be a good match.”
“It does not bother you that you are so much older than David?” the woman persisted.
Hailey felt the irritation at that but managed to hide it. “Age does not matter between us.” Her lips curled softly. “When we are together, nothing matters at all.”
“That’s sweet, but don’t you worry about the fact that David Snyder has had many women in the past? Are you sure he has changed?”
Suddenly, Hailey realized the woman’s questions for what they were! Spiteful innuendoes which meant that she had been an object of David’s rejection! “It does not bother me in the least. That’s his past and I am his future which means that it stops with me and me alone. All the other women he has been with was a way of leading to me. I am all the woman he will ever need.” She stared at the blonde woman directly until she looked away. There were no more questions after that!
*******
“How many more will I have to deal with, David?” she asked him that night, her eyes flashing as she looked at him.
“I am sorry, baby,” he said softly. He had come to her apartment as soon as he knew she was home and knew that she had been spoiling for a fight. He had called her after the interview and she had told him coolly that she was busy. She paced the length of the living room.
“I stood there looking at this woman and felt like a fool. I am not in competition with some woman from your past and as I stood there it occurred to me that I am going to be dealing with them wherever I go. Dammit!”
He reached for her but she pushed him away and went into the kitchen. She had forgotten to take her nausea pills and her stomach was roiling. On top of that, a student had asked her how it felt to be marrying such a popular man and she had snapped at her. He followed her into the kitchen and watched as she plunked the kettle on the stove top and started the fire. She opened the cupboard and took out the packet of tea without asking him if he wanted anything. He was waiting for her to calm down.
“I cannot change who I was before, Hailey,” he said quietly as she poured hot water over the bag in her cup. “I can only promise you and my child that you will never have to guess if I am going to be there.” She eyed him and then put the kettle back onto the stove.
“We had better not,” she told him softly, calming down significantly. “I just hate the fact that you were with them.” She surprised him by saying.
He got up and came towards her. He moved the tea and turned the stool around. “No one has ever meant anything to me until I met you.”
“That sounds awful, but I like it.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “And David?”
“Hmm?”
“Forget what I said about not doing anything if you look at another woman. I will cut your penis off if you are ever with anyone else.”
He let out a startled shout of laughter! “Noted,” he said as he kissed the top of her head.