Chapter 26

Two weeks later…

Baylee was now about six months pregnant. She had her feet dangling from the ground as she waited for her doctor on the examining table. Niko was across reading a first-time parent magazine. His large frame leaned against the wall dressed in his work attire having just come from there.

She had to be honest she had an ulterior motive for allowing him to come with.
“So…” She clears her throat. “Can I ask you a favour?”

“If it’s about Lola the answer is no.” He keeps his focus on the pages.

“Come on Niko. I…”

“You can’t force her to talk to you, Baylee. Just let it go.”

“I know I can’t… I'm giving up on that, but I just want her to get back the happiness I stole from her.

“Then just let her move on.” He flips a page.

“I want to get her and Conner back together. Will you help me?”

“Definitely not.” He turns another page.

“Please…I’m begging and you know I don’t beg…” She puts her hands together. “I can’t do it without you.”

“No… I won’t condone my sister being with a cheater.”

“It was all my fault… he loves her, and if she could just forgive him, she could have her happiness back.

“She will find happiness with someone else.”

“People make mistakes Niko,”

“And not everyone is capable of forgiving Baylee.” His gaze meets hers and locks for a moment as awareness rears its head.

*tap tap* Dr Morris enters. “How are we doing today?” He asks while scanning her chart.

“Great…” She smiles.

“Well, the nurse informs me that your blood pressure is higher than we’d like it to be. Have you been taking your medication?”

“Yes sir.”

“Any headaches?”

“Nope.”

“Any pain?”

“A little… nothing serious.”

“Have you been resting?”

“For the most part.”

“Miss Alden...” the doctor begins a lecture. “Rest is extremely important if you want to have a healthy baby.”

Niko cuts in. “Excuse me … What does she need medication for?”

“Oh… Dr.Morris, this is the baby’s father, Niko.”

“Nikolai.” He puts his hand out and the two men shake hands.”

“Nice to meet you…as for your question… She has a mild case of preeclampsia, and it’s only mild because we caught it early. It doesn’t surprise me she hasn't told you. And the medication is to keep her blood pressure down. It’s very dangerous in pregnancy and if not treated can result in seizures and even death to mother and baby. I hope you can get her to take it more seriously.”

Niko shifts his eye contact to her and nods.

“I do take it seriously.” She denies.

“Ahuh.” The doctor sets her chart down and turns off the lights. “Lean back let’s check your baby girl out.”

Niko moves beside her to get a better view and then like magic they could see their daughter’s face on a flat-screen monitor hanging on the wall opposite the examining table.

“There she is.” The doctor states.

Niko’s eyes were glued to the screen. There she was, the little human who kicked his hand. His little girl. Whether she was his blood or not, she was his. So much love already filled his heart it was overwhelming.

“She has her thumb in her mouth…” Baylee giggles.

“Yep,” Doc confirms. “And the good news is she looks to be perfectly healthy and growing right on track.”

“That’s amazing.”

The image disappeared when the doctors removed the probe and turned the lights on. “Any questions?”

Baylee shakes her head.

Niko had many, and after Dr. Morris lectured some more, they both went outside into the parking lot where their cars were parked side by side.

He folded his arms and had his back resting on his vehicle as his watchful gaze bore into her.

She too leaned back on her car with her arms folded and glared at the ground as if in deep thought.

“What are you thinking about?” He questions.

“Honestly…” she meets his eyes. “Lola…”

He rolls his eyes... “You shouldn’t be thinking about her. What happened, happened... and there is no changing it. Maybe we should discuss where we go from here.”

Her brows join. “What do you mean, go from here?”

“Shouldn’t we talk about how we’re going to keep your blood pressure down?”

“I’m already on a strict diet and I’m taking the medication. What else can we do?”

“Rest like the doctor said.”

“I can’t stop stressing about your sister.” She wanted to scream but held it back to the minimum foot-stomp.

“My sister is doing just fine.”

“She doesn’t look fine.” She nears him and grabs his forearm. “Niko...Please…” she had never been so desperate. “Help me.”

He glances away and grinds on his teeth before looking back at her. “If I help you, and it doesn’t work out... are you going to become more obsessed?”

“No… if it doesn’t work then I will have to live with just knowing that I tried my best.”

He once again glances away with subtle conflict in his eyes and releases a breath. “For the sake of your, and the baby's health I will help… but after this, you have to stop, and just let her move on.”

“Yay!” Without thinking she wraps her arms around his neck and gives him a one-sided hug. She then quickly steps back while smiling ear to ear. “Deal.” She stretches out her hand.

He stares at her extended gesture for a moment before extending his hand. He didn’t, however, take her, he placed his palm on her stomach.

She gasps subtly in surprise.

“Does she move around often?”

She nods.“Here and there… mostly when I want to sleep.”

He places both of his hands and stoops low enough to add his cheek. Then just as he wanted his daughter kicked.

“Whoa...” She blurts out. “That was a big one.”

He smiles in satisfaction and kisses her stomach instinctively. Softly, he rubs the area of the kick. “My girl.” He whispers.

All the animosity Baylee had with him disappeared, and all she wanted now was the best for her daughter. She knew Niko would be an extraordinary father and she was happy to see he was already bonding with his daughter.

He stands and puts his hands in his pockets. “Go home, get some rest and I’ll call you in the morning.”

“What about Lola?”

“I’ll call you in the morning, I said.”

She accepts that answer with a smile but instead of going home, she goes to her sister’s house. It was a regular thing especially since she got pregnant.

When she arrived, she greeted her nieces and nephews and didn’t bother looking for Clarissa. She joins Dylan and Matthew on the couch for some cartoons and ends up falling asleep.

When she woke, the sun had gone down and the boys had disappeared. Her sister was the one sitting watching TV now. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

She yawns. “What time is it?”

“Almost nine.”

“I should go home.” She stretched but was too lazy to move right away.

“No, stay…I need company..”

That was enough to spark some life in her. She sits up and folds her legs. “Why? You okay?”

“I’m just...” Clarissa turns the TV off using the remote and shifts her position to face Baylee. “Jacob says he loves me, and he wants his family...but actions speak louder than words, and he’s been gone days at a time...and when he is home, most of the time he is looking at his phone.”. “I’m so confused Baylee… I want to believe him so bad... I almost do…I could see he loves me… I could feel it, but then he goes to her, I’m sure of it.”

“Where is he now?”

“In his room, but he's leaving soon.”

Baylee scrunches up her face. “Isn't he like still banged up? And Where is he going at this time of night?”

“I don’t know… to see Regina is my best guess.”

“But isn’t he saying that the pictures are fake and he’s not with her?”

Clair nods. “But like I said actions speak louder than words.”

“Then let's follow him…” she suggests.

“And what about my kids?”

“Doesn’t your sitter live close? Hurry up and call her fast before he leaves.”

She knew that she didn’t have time to think so she did just as her sister said and snuck Kate into the back door within twelve minutes. They then had thirty-seven seconds to spare before Jacob started up his truck and pulled out.

“This is so crazy…” Clarissa announces as she buckles her seatbelt.

Baylee pulls the car off a few seconds after him and keeps a good distance behind. He maneuvers onto the highway and she does the same. Then after a few miles, he exits off.

“Isn’t this the exit to get to his office?” Baylee inquires.

“Yeah....” Clair was relieved but at the same time disappointed. The whirlpool of confusion within her will continue to spin.

“Well, I’m going to keep following him. You never know…”

They followed right up to the office building but he unexpectedly passed it.

Just as they thought he wasn't going anywhere out of the ordinary, anxiety built up again. “Where is he going?” Clarissa's heart started pounding so hard she could hear it in her throat. It would just be too much if he was lying. She didn't know anymore if she was ready to find out.

He drives into a middle-class neighbourhood and parks the vehicle near the sidewalk in front of a small white house with the porch light on.

“It’s okay...” Baylee reaches for her sister's hand knowing that she is dying inside.

They wait for a little distance away and when he gets out of the truck and walks into the driveway of the house, they drive up closer to get a good view. He seemed completely obsolete of their presence.

Sure enough, he rings the bell and after seconds Regina opens the door. She was dressed in a short, tight, black dress and wearing heels. There was only one reason she was so dressed up at home. They watch as he steps inside and she shuts the door.

Clarissa covers her face and bursts into tears. All her suspicions were correct. He was a lying dog. To see the pictures and read the descriptions of his activities hurt, but seeing him in flesh and blood with Regina, was like no other pain she has ever felt.

Baylee hugs her. “Shhh…”

“How could he do this? He has no reason to lie, we’re not together anymore… why? Why does he keep lying? Why does he keep hurting me over and over…” she weeps. “If he wants her fine… why does he keep lying to me, Baylee?”

“Listen to me…” She grabs the sides of Clarissa's face. “I can’t answer that for you… but…”

She shakes her head. “He swore on our children.” She sobs. “I believed him...I...”

“Shh…calm down.”

She sniffles “I can’t.”

“You have to… you can cry later. Right now, you need to put on your brave-girl-panties, go in there, and catch him red-handed.

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