Chapter 22
Mae
After spending time with my mother I headed home. I still felt like someone was watching me, but I could never pinpoint where the person was. I walked through the door and did everything as I would normally do. I went to the bedroom where the blinds were drawn and carefully peaked out. I couldn't see anyone out there standing or creeping around.
I must be paranoid, too many scary movies lately. I pulled out a frozen pizza and started to bake it for dinner. I have been craving these, and Alex always gives in because he likes them too. I sit in a recliner and start watching television.
I wake to hear the oven going off and then suddenly stopping. I walk into the kitchen to see a grinning Alex pulling the pizza out of the oven. He places it on the counter and walks over to me, and wraps his arms around me.
"Hey, Baby. You looked so comfortable I didn't have the heart to wake you." He kisses the top of my head.
"Thanks for helping. How was your day?" I ask as I grab us some plates.
"Good, but I had a surprise visitor." I turn and face him raising my brow in question. "Declan came by and apologized. He feels like an ass for everything. He also told me something that has me worried."
We sit down at the bar and start eating. I'm waiting patiently for whatever he has to say. He looks worried, and I don't think I am going to like where this is going. I nudge his elbow, telling him to come out with it.
"Tanner has been following you. Not often, but following you nonetheless. Declan is going to talk with him and make sure to get him to understand why he can't be doing that. Neither of us thinks he is the one who ransacked your apartment, but that is our opinion." He takes my hand in his and rubs soothing circles on it.
"I did feel like I was being watched and followed today when I left work. I didn't notice anyone, but I had a creepy feeling." I tell him looking into his eyes.
"Why didn't you call me? I would have met you and made sure that you are safe." He raises his voice slightly.
"I thought I was being paranoid from watching too many horror movies." Alex has never taken that kind of tone with me.
"Mae, anything could have happened to you! It's not just you now, you need to think about the baby!" This time he all but yells.
My eyes immediately begin to tear up, and I feel them begin to drip out of my eyes. I know that my hormones are all over the place, but that was harsh. He has never yelled at me and to think that he is now when I am vulnerable. I slowly stand from the table and take my plate, and put it by the sink. I take a deep breath and release it. I turn back around to see Alex looking guilty.
"First, don't you ever suggest that I don't think about this baby with everything that I do. Second, I don't care if I'm being the biggest bitch on the planet. Don't you ever make me feel like that again, I am thinking clearly, and I am taking my safety seriously."
"Baby, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I was so scared that I could lose you. I'm sorry."
He walks up to me and gets on his knees in front of me. He puts his head on my stomach and whispers something to my stomach. He wraps his arms around my waist and holds don as if he is scared to let go. I can feel him shaking a little as he grips onto me.
"Alex. You need to understand why I'm upset. I know you're sorry and I forgive you. But do you know why I got upset?" I ask in a steady voice.
"I yelled at you, and I made you feel less than perfect. And that isn't true. You're perfect to me, and I should never make you feel any less than that. I am so sorry. You are going to be an amazing mother, hell you already are. Don't let me being a jerk make you think otherwise."
He stands to his feet and takes both my hands in his. He lifts them to his lips. He looks me in the eyes, and I see the guilt is still there. This is the first time that we have argued about anything. For a first argument, I think that we have done a pretty good job of figuring things out fast.
"I love you, Alex. I know we will fight from time to time, but let's always make up before we go to bed. I don't want us to ever go to sleep with either of us mad at the other." I feel another tear slip down my cheek.
"I promise. I love you so much, Mae." He puts his hands on my cheeks and rubs away the tear.
He gently pulls me to him and kisses me. I can feel how desperately he wants me to feel his emotions, his guilt, sadness, and sorrow. I kiss him back with just as much emotion, knowing that he needs this. I know that this won't be the last time that we ever argue, but I pray that they are far and few between.
*********
"I don't want you going to the appointment without me. I'll come by and pick you up, and we'll go together." Alex says as he drives me to work.
"Ok. That sounds like a good idea. I was going to suggest getting Max to take me and meet you there, but I forgot he has the day off." I say smiling at him.
"How'd he manage that?" Alex chuckles.
"He is going to get a new phone and number today. An ex-fling has been calling him, constantly trying to get him to change his mind. Poor guy doesn't learn." I laugh a little.
"Always breaking hearts. Here we are. I love you, Mae. Please be safe and have a good day." I lean over the console and give him a kiss.
"Love you more."
I am in the kitchen pulling out a batch of cookies when the girl working the front comes back and tells me that there is a customer who would like to talk to me. This is a pretty normal thing lately so I clean myself up a little and head out with a smile on my face.
"Hi, I'm Mae. How may I help you?" I smile kindly at her in hopes that if she's mad it will soften the blow.
"I just wanted to meet the woman who made this amazing cake that I just bought." The woman has a massive smile on her face and I smile back at her. "I have been dying to meet you for a while now. You are lovely, aren't you? Any man would be lucky to have a girl like you." She chuckled as she said this.
"Thank you very much for the compliment. Is there anything that you would like or need help with today?" I smile at her again trying to be nice.
"Oh, no dear. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I'll see you again soon." She winks and turns to head out the door.
"That was hilarious. That's the first time she has asked for you. She's in here all the time." The girl says.
I just shake my head and giggle. I look at the clock and see that it is almost time for Alex to come get me. I grab my stuff and change my clothes. I walk out to find Alex there waiting for me.
The office is pretty busy when we get there so we take a seat and wait to be called. Alex is noticeably excited and is constantly fidgeting. They finally call my name and we head back. I lay back and the tech squirts the gel on my stomach and we both stare at the screen.
Alex holds my hand tightly as the sound of the baby's heartbeat fills the room. There are so many changes since the last time that we saw the baby. Tears are pouring down my cheeks as I watch with wonder. The tech moves all over my stomach taking pictures and measurements.
"Do you want to know the sex guys?"
"Yes!" we both answer at the same time. The tech bursts out laughing and so do we.
"Congratulations. It's a boy."
Alex kisses me with tears running down his cheeks. We are both so happy that everything is fine with our child. Neither of us really cared what we were having as long as the baby was healthy. I clean up and take the photos that we copied for us and we head out the door.
"Come on Mommy let's get you home."