Jillian
I was an idiot. Clay Wheeler was a good man, and I didn’t deserve him. He has been a wonderful husband since we got married and I have to believe the crazy pregnancy hormones are to blame for my stupid insecurities. I would have to figure out how to make it up to him. I know he is still hurt and I’m sure he is angry at me, but he is still taking care of me. He is still putting my health first. I reached over and grabbed his hand, and he looked up at me. I tugged on it to bring him closer and then wrapped my arms around his waist. He put his arms around me, and I started sobbing.
“Baby, what’s wrong, are you hurting anywhere?” Clay asked, worried. I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop. It was like a dam broke and all my emotions were spilling out.
“I’m so, so sorry. I know you didn’t cheat on me, and I know you wouldn’t do that.” I said between sobs as I prayed, he could forgive me. “Please forgive me, I love you so much and I don’t want to lose you.”
Clay led me to the couch and sat down pulling me into his lap. He rubbed my back until I calmed down. He started to say something when the doorbell rang. Gently he put me on the couch and went to get the door. After paying for the pizza, he locked the door and took it to the kitchen. Fixing two plates he took them back to the living room and placed them on the coffee table.
“Jilly, you need to eat and then we can finish this conversation. Just know that I’m not going anywhere.” Clay picked up a slice and held it out to me. “Eat.”
I really didn’t want to, but I was hungry, and I knew I needed to eat for the baby. I started to eat and before I realized it, I had finished three slices. I picked up our plates and put them in the sink. I knew Clay would never abandon our child; I just didn’t know if he still wanted me. I felt wetness on my hands and realized I was crying again. Damn hormones!! I wiped my eyes and turned around to see my husband standing behind me with his arms open. I threw myself against his solid chest. He murmured nonsense in my ear until I calmed down. Taking my hand, he led me to our bedroom and started to undress me.
“I thought we were going to talk?” I said staring at him as he removed his shirt. I had always loved his chest. He took care of his body and worked hard.
“We are, but I thought we could take a bubble bath. Maybe not as hot as you usually like it but that way we can talk and relax.” He knelt down and helped me remove the rest of my clothes. I watched as he removed his jeans and underwear then walked into our bathroom to start the bath. I followed behind him and sat on the lid of the toilet to wait for the bath to be ready. I had missed our bathtime conversations. He took my hand and helped me into the tub and then climbed in behind me. I leaned back against him and sighed.
“This is so nice.” I murmured to myself. Clay picked up a washcloth and poured some body wash on it then started to wash my back. I leaned my head forward for him. As he washed my body he started talking.
"Jilly, I'm not going to lie to you. We don’t do that. You hurt me badly believing that I could be capable of sleeping with another woman. I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you, and it has just grown more every day. The day we said our vows was the happiest of my life. I can’t imagine not growing old with you. I wouldn’t want anyone but you to have my babies and if that had meant that we had to adopt then that’s what we would have done. I’m not the type to hold a grudge and I understand now that you were a bit emotional and hormonal. We are going to chalk this up to pregnancy hormones and move forward.” He said as he kissed my neck and then washed my front. He slid the cloth down my belly and cleaned me then suddenly his fingers were on my clit, and he was rubbing circles while kissing my neck. His other arm was wrapped around my waist holding me against his rock-hard erection. Suddenly I was coming all over his hand. He held me as I came down and then got out of the tub to get a towel for me. We dried off and crawled into bed. I curled into his side.
“I’m very sorry and I will never doubt you again. I love you so much and I just made us miserable over the past couple of months. I can’t believe she really thought you were Blake.” I looked at my husband and felt my body try to stir again but I was just too tired. “I want you again but I’m so tired.”
“It’s okay baby, we have the rest of our lives. You need rest. Just go to sleep and let me hold you.” He pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head as I started to fall asleep.
The next morning, we woke up to the sound of our phone ringing. I reached over to answer it.
“Jillian, it’s Dr. Parker. I have the results.” The doctor said and I looked at Clay watching me.
“That’s alright, I don’t need them. I know it’s not Clay’s baby.” I watched my husband’s face light up as I said it.
“You’re right but he is related. Let me talk to Clay.” I handed him the phone and went to the bathroom. I didn’t need to be there for this conversation because we were sure that Blake was the father. When I came back in, I heard the tail end of their conversation.
“Yeah, I know, we figured it was Blake last night after Connie saw a picture of us together and about passed out on the spot. Hank is going to track him down and tell him he needs to come home for a family emergency,” he listened a few more minutes and then hung up. “Come back to bed baby.”
I started back to bed when my stomach growled. He laughed and got up. I grinned sheepishly.
“Well, I guess we are going to feed you first.” He slipped on a pair of grey sweats and headed to the kitchen. I threw on the T-shirt he wore yesterday and some panties. Heading to the kitchen I went to make a pot of coffee and he frowned. “You’re not supposed to drink coffee while you’re pregnant.”
“I’m allowed a cup a day and if you don’t move, I’ll stab you.” I growled. He chuckled, held his hands up and backed away from the coffee maker. It was a joke with us about not getting between me and my coffee. The fact that I had to cut down to one cup was going to be a challenge. “I need my cup. I only get the one.”
He leaned over and kissed me then pulled out my creamer and put it on the counter for me. I smiled and poured some in my cup and then fixed my coffee. “Sit down and drink your anti-murder juice while I fix us some pancakes.”
I laughed at him and sipped on my coffee while checking our business emails. We had a few requests for tours and a message from Blake saying he would be in town next week. I put my phone down as Clay put a plate of pancakes on the table along with some syrup. We had some microwavable sausage links and as soon as I smelled them, I ran to the bathroom to be sick. I heard the door open and then close again before Clay came into the bathroom and wet a washcloth to press on my neck then he wiped my face. I sat back on my butt and groaned.
“Well, there is your morning sickness. Let’s try some pancakes, I got rid of the other.” He said as he helped me up. “We will pick up some crackers and ginger ale at the store.”
Clay wrapped his arm around my waist, and we went back to the table. I decided to forget the syrup and stick to a plain pancake to start. After a few bites my stomach started to settle. He got my prenatal vitamins out of my purse and put them beside me to take. I gave him a little smile as I took it and tried to finish the one pancake.
“I think I may lay back down for just a bit.” I told him as I got up and put my dishes in the sink. “I feel exhausted.”
“You have been under a lot of stress and also didn’t know you were pregnant. It’s probably a good idea to nap when you can.” He walked me back into our bedroom and tucked me in. “I’ll run to the store and get supplies as well as your crackers and ginger ale. Maybe it will help to have some before you get out of bed in the morning. We also should stick to some bland foods to start. We will pay attention to anything that makes you feel nauseous, so we don’t fix it again until after the baby comes.”
I started to nod off again, I guess I was more tired than I realized. He kissed my head and turned off the light.