Chapter 34

Having no clue what to do, Baylee calls her big sister.

She woke in a panic like she already knew something was up. “What’s wrong?” She answers.

“I'm in pain… and drenched in blood…a lot of it…”

“Oh god… Okay… Clarissa flies off the bed. “Don’t panic… things like this happen, it doesn’t mean the baby is not okay.” She keeps a calm voice. “Just relax, I'll be there soon.”

Baylee nods. “Okay.”


In less than fifteen minutes they were both in the hospital.

It was like death creeping in your doorway as they waited for the doctor to find the baby’s heartbeat. Milliseconds felt like agonizing hours before finally, the little angle’s strong heartbeat rang through the room. A sigh of relief was breathed through them. They were then informed that she was in the beginning stages of labor and that the baby’s lungs were underdeveloped.


“We’re going to give you something to stop the contractions and to help the baby’s lungs mature faster…” the doctor states. “This will give both of you a better chance.”

The sisters nod as they intently listen.

“Most likely you will deliver this week… it’s high risk and the baby will have to be in the NICU probably for a few weeks…”

Baylee nods again. Tears welled up her eyes. Look what she has done to her baby. She couldn’t even give her a proper place to grow. “Is she going to be okay?”

“We are going to do our absolute best… just get rest… rest, rest and more rest… you’re going to need it.” The handsome young doctor smiles warmly and exits the room.


Clarissa watched as they stabilized Baylee’s contractions and how the medications made her fall deep asleep. She sat in a cozy one-seater sofa just off to her side and watched her worriedly. She thought about calling Nikolai but the first thing Baylee said to her after the initial ordeal was over was not to call him yet.

Sabrina and Nathan arrived shortly and entered the hospital room with questions. They were filled in and the three sat quietly around unknowing of what to do for their little sister. Suddenly Baylee’s phone began ringing. It was left on her nightstand by the bed to ring out. No one answered it.

“You two should go home. I will stay with her tonight.” Sabrina announces.

Nathan lifts a brow. “Yeah okay…”

“No…” Clarissa disagrees. “I’ll stay.”

“No.” Sabrina shakes her head. “I want to.” She remembered her sorrow from losing Auden and wanted to be here for Baylee.

“Sweetheart…” Nathan gets cut off by Baylee's phone ringing again. He waits for the phone to stop before continuing. “She is fine, the baby is fine…” the phone rings again. He clamped his jaw down and went over to the ringing like a viper. “Hello.” He answers just as he felt, annoyed.

Niko, on the other end of the line, was shocked. For seconds he was silent and thought of the many scenarios that could make a man pick up Baylee’s phone. “Can I speak to Baylee?”

“She’s sleeping,” Nathan responds shortly. “Call back tomorrow.” He hangs up and shifts his gaze on his wife.

“Who was that?” She asks.

“It doesn’t matter...Listen to me… They are keeping her until she delivers...You can’t be here every night. Jasmine needs you… Look, she needs rest and she would rest better if someone wasn’t watching over her… Let’s all go home and come back in the morning.”

Sabrina nods in agreement.

“I’ll just be here a bit longer.” Clarissa notifies her brother and sister-in-law as they leave.

She brought her knees to her chest and stared at Baylee for a while. Soon her eyes grew heavy and they weighed down on her. She drifted into a semi-conscious sleep when unexpectedly, she felt a warmth on her cheek. Her eyelids flutter open to see Jacob standing beside her. His palm lay on her face and his eyes settled on her intently. “Let me take you home.” He whispers.

She shakes her head subtly.

“You’re not any good to her tired. Let’s go home and you can get back refreshed tomorrow.”

He made a lot of sense but she didn’t move. “What are you doing here?”

“For you.” He admits simply.

Her heart skipped a beat for some reason.

My mother is with the kids...Come on.” He grabs her hand and she lets him help her up.

On the ride back home, she falls asleep quickly. He didn’t have the heart to wake her so when they arrived he lifted her into his arms. His first instinct was to take her to his room.
He took a few confident steps in that direction, but ultimately decided he shouldn’t. He turns around and goes towards her room.

It was as if his desire was heard because when he laid her down and snuggled her under her blanket she grabbed his hand and pulled it under her cheek. She cozied her face into it as if it was her pillow and in a soft whimper said, “Stay with me.”

Internal shock arose. His brows rise in surprise and he swallows. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She answers softly.

Gently he tugs his hand free and unbuttons his shirt. He takes off his belt and shoes and slips in the bed beside her. He sticks his arm under her neck and brings her onto him. His chest sinks in with relief and bliss. It was like the moment a really bad toothache stopped.

“I’m so worried.” Clarissa vents as her fingers trail his abdomen. “I’ve never seen her look so frail… and if she loses the…”

“Shhh…” he squeezes her. “That’s not going to happen.”

“What if it does? How is she going to cope? She will blame herself… it will break her.”

“I think you underestimate your little sister. She can’t be broken.” He tries to comfort her.

“Baylee has a tough shell... but inside she is incredibly soft.”

“Shhh…” without thinking he lifts himself to loom above her as a way to quiet her. “Everything is going to be fine.” It was unbearable knowing he couldn’t guarantee her anything, that in fact, the baby could die and her sister might break down. He couldn’t quell her worry but he needed to.

“But…” she tries to reason. Instead, she gasps when his mouth covers hers. Just for a few seconds he presses his wanting lips onto hers and pulls back still watching her seriously. Her widened eyes were confused but she didn’t make any move to getaway.

“Right now, at this moment, everything is fine. Worrying about what could happen will not change the outcome. Just have faith that no matter what happens, everything will be okay.”

She nods. She didn’t think a better statement could be made. She admired his ability to always be able to comfort her, his ability to stay strong and positive. His resilience and dependability. She has noticed a genuine change in his attitude and she felt closer to him somehow. Now all she could think about was kissing him again. She had the urge to pull him back down on her mouth but he suddenly lays himself beside her again.

“I’m sorry.” He apologizes for losing control.

She doesn’t respond. She turned her back towards him and drifted into deep thought. When he kissed her, she wanted more, when he touched her, she wanted more. When he wasn’t around, she wanted him to be, and when he was even close to another woman, she felt jealousy. He protected her, and he comforted her. He was always by her side and he was a great father. What was the reason she didn’t want to be with him again?

Jacob regretted kissing her. He should have more control over himself, but the somber in her voice was unbearable. He wanted to quell her worry and what a stupid way to try.




The next morning…

Clair was sitting in the back seat of an SUV on her way back to the hospital when she decided to call Jacob. There was no doubt in what she wanted now.

“Hey...” He picks up.

She breaths. “Hey…”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah… I just… I wanted to say something. I was thinking about it last night…and…”


Jacob was walking through his warehouse on his way to the meeting room when he realized she had plenty to say. He changed course and walked back to his office, closed the door, and leaned back in his chair.

She goes on. “You and I… I mean… I was thinking…” She curls hair behind her ear.

“What is it?” He listens intently.

She bites her lips. “Do you still want to try?” Her throat clears itself nervously.

“What?” His brows join. “What are you trying to say here, Clair?”

“Okay…” She takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly “What I’m trying to say is...Do you still want to be with me?”

He couldn’t believe his ears. He listened more clearly. He couldn’t have heard correctly.

“I mean… fix us… our relationship.” She bites on her lips more causing them to get red and slightly plump.

He swallows. His insides sore but he keeps it together and releases a held breath. “You know I want you… that… more than anything.”

Her eyes close and she smiles. “um…” Her cheeks were turning a deep shade of red and her next words weren’t coming to her.

“Are you saying you want to be with me, Clair Kent? That you’re going to give me another chance?...”

It took her a second but she responded. “Yeah…” She whispers.. “that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“Are you sure?” He could let himself feel happiness, not just yet. “I want you to know for sure that this is what you truly want. That…”

“Jacob…” she cuts him off. “I’ve been feeling like this for a little while… I’ve just been ignoring it… but I don’t want to anymore… I just want you… our family...”

He sinks into his seat and his eyesshut themselves. It felt incredible to hear her say that. Euphoric. To be wanted by Clarissa, it gave him goosebumps. He took in this moment for a minute but then he remembered. “I…” he scratches his jaw. “I have a really important meeting I’m late for... and a few other urgent things.” It was a busy day he had planned for a long time. Of course, it would be the day his wife wanted him back.

“Of course, I understand… I’m going to see Baylee anyway.”

“Clair…” He whispers. “I can’t wait to come home.”

She smiles shyly and teases. “Hurry up then...”
~~~