Page 9 of Harry

“Where the hell have you been?” Michael bore down on her as soon as she entered her office. “I have been calling yourphone…,” he skidded to a halt at the look on her face. “Oh God.” Whipping around, he slammed the door shut and rushed over to hunker down in front of her.

“Darling, is it cancer?” Taking her hand in his, he linked their fingers. “We will fight it. I have more money than I can spend in a lifetime, and we will get the best oncologist…”

“No.” She laughed, bending forward to kiss him on the forehead. “I love you for caring. I’m not terminal. As a matter of fact, I’m great.”

He stared at her puzzled. “Then what? What is going on?”

“I was such an idiot and should have known.”

“Known what?” He demanded impatiently.

“The symptoms were there, and I did not notice.” She squeezed his hands. “I’m pregnant.”

He simply stared at her in shock. “I’m sorry, what?”

She laughed at the befuddled look on his face. “All those symptoms, the not sleeping, the lack of appetite, being tired all the time, I never noticed it. I am pregnant.” Her eyes were shimmering. “I am going to have a baby.”

He simply stared at her, and it took a minute for her to realize he was not sharing her enthusiasm. “Say something.”

“I’m assuming it’s about McGibbon.”

She looked insulted, so he continued. “That is a yes then. Please correct me if I am wrong because I happen to be a bit confused. A hell of a lot actually. You broke it off with him because he decisively, absolutely told you in no uncertain terms that he did not want to be a daddy.”

Pulling away, she leaned against the back of her chair and closed her eyes. “I didn’t plan it.” She muttered.

“Of course you didn’t. But what is he going to say? Janelle, the man would not even entertain the idea of children.”

“Stop raining on my parade.”

He rose lithely and went to the cabinet to get them both some water. Walking back over to her desk, he handed the glass to her and pressed the intercom. “Susan, please hold our calls until I say otherwise.”

Without waiting for the woman’s response, he ended the transmission and went to sit on a padded chair in front of the desk, his eyes trained on her face. “What are you going to do?”

“Have the baby.”

“Of course.” He inclined his head. “I meant, what are you going to do about McGibbon?”

She put the glass down and shifted slightly. She spent most of the journey back to the office trying to brainstorm. How she was going to call him, when she did, what was she going to say? “I don’t know.” She answered honestly, gripping her fingers together.

“I was thinking that I would wait a few months, perhaps give, or take seven months and then call him up and say, ‘Hey, guess what? We have a son or a daughter. I know you originally said you never wanted a child but look how adorable…” She threw her hands in the air and closed her eyes briefly.

“Oh God. I don’t know what to do.” Tears glittered her eyes. “This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life. It is supposed to be a celebratory moment and yet here I am scared out of my wits.” She rubbed her temples. “I understand his hangups and cannot really blame him for not wanting to be a father. He went through hell, Michael.

He had a horrible childhood and the man who cannot be called a father, put him through the wringer. It scarred him completelyand he is still not over it. He explained all that to me in detail. I don’t know what to do,” she repeated in a dismal voice.

“You know you have my complete support and I’m going to act as your friend and not your partner. Go home. You look done in. Go home, take the rest of the day off and try and figure out what you are going to do.” Putting his glass on the table next to the chair, he rose and came to sit on the edge of the desk, facing her.

“I don’t…”

“Yes.” He interrupted firmly. “You look like a waif, as if a slight breeze will blow you away. And you need to start thinking about that little tyke growing inside you. You haven’t been eating and I am certain the good doctor had some concerns.”

She nodded. “High blood pressure, low iron among other things.”

He shook his head. “I know enough to realize that those points need to be corrected. Go home, buy something your stomach canhandle, take the meds that were prescribed and try and get some sleep.

Please darling.” He took her hand. “Forget McGibbon for now and concentrate on you and the precious bundle you’re carrying. I’m going to be an uncle.” He beamed at her. “Go home, darling.”

*****

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