Page 53 of Nick's Baby

Kelsey had found herself agreeing to his shopping spree despite all her better intentions. Agreeing and looking forward to it.

"Your mother, but that's great. I'd like to meet her. This is great babe; I'll see you Saturday then, bye."

Kelsey bit her lip and Jackson walked into her office, noting the instant frown weaving across Kelsey's face, "Something wrong?"

"Yes, something is wrong." She puckered her lips and knitted her brows. "Mother's coming to town, and Nick wants to meet her."

"So, is that a real problem?"

"Jackson?" Kelsey bellowed, unable to phantom what Jackson might be thinking, these days. "Nick has got to get out of my life. Mother doesn't know about the baby yet. And besides, I don't want her putting it all together or hurting Nick's feelings."

"You can't hide a thing like this forever, Kelsey. She's going to find out, and she might as well meet Nick. At least she'll know the father and maybe it won't be so bad. Babies have a way of bringing people together. Better she know and like Nick then constantly bring him up in the future like a bad omen, right?"

"You've got to be out of your mind, Jackson. Mother wants me to marry money. Not get pregnant by some—some . . ."

What could she call Nick?

"Nice person?" Jackson finished the sentence for her. His look said it all, she sounded like an aristocratic hypocrite.

"Exactly," Kelsey fumed at her inability to make anyone see her point of view.

"Well, maybe if she meets Nick, she won't try to marry you off to someone else so quickly at least."

"Oh Jackson, I thought you'd understand, of all people. I thought I could count on you as an ally. But Nick's got you twisted around his finger too."

"You can always count on me, but I like Nick. And I don't think it would be so bad if the two of you . . ."

"Oh I knew that was how everyone would react. I can't let this go on any longer. Nick has to stop this."

"It's his child too, Kelsey. He's only making sure you get off on the right foot. At least he isn't stranding you with a child, alone. He's shown more compassion over this baby than Ralph has shown in an entire marriage. How can you deny him the satisfaction of knowing he at least tried to make things right for the child's sake? I have to admire him for that, Kelsey, I’m sorry and anyone else would too. The man has character."

"Oh I don't know what to do . . ." She twisted her hands in her lap.

Jackson saw the tears coming and stood up and put his arm around her shoulders, "Maybe a good cry is exactly what you need."

Emotion was

the last thing she wanted to give in to at the moment, but lately, she couldn't control that either. Tears seemed to come by the bucketful, and for no reason. Being pregnant sure took the starch out of her, she admitted.

The next weekend Kelsey was about to bite into a sandwich when Nick walked in. Dorothy led him to the living room chuckling all the way. When Nick came in the with the game in his hand, "Wheel of Fortune", and Nick was all smiles as he approached Kelsey.

Kelsey glanced at him, her anger fermenting, "Nick, I thought we cancelled this. My mother is due here any minute and I—"

About that time, Dorothy showed Mrs. O'Sullivan in, too.

"Kelsey, I—"

"And you must be Mrs. O'Sullivan," Nick took her pale hand in his and brought it to his lips. The lovely older woman smiled at him, despite her obvious confusion. "I'm Nick Leonetti. You're just in time to go shopping with us, Mrs. O'Sullivan."

"The man in concrete? Of course, Jackson mentioned you. Shopping. You're going shopping?"

Kelsey opened her mouth to rephrase that statement, but Nick went on, "Yes, of course we are. For baby furniture."

Kelsey swallowed hard, it was too late it was out now. She didn't dare look at either of them. She knew her face was hot, her hands were sweating, and her nerves were close to a breaking point.

"Baby furn—" Then it must have dawned on Mrs. O'Sullivan for she smiled brightly and immediately went to Kelsey's side. "Kelsey, you're pregnant?"

"Yes, mother," Kelsey responded dully, shooting Nick an acid smile.

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