Wife by Wednesday
"Hey, hon," Samantha said as she moved to a chair across from where Jordan stared out the window.
Jordan offered a half smile, all she could manage after the stroke. Her eyes lit up with recognition and she lifted her good arm, which Samantha grasped in a tight grip.
"M-Miss you." Jordan's words were slurred.
"I missed you, too." She'd only missed one scheduled visit, but Samantha knew Jordan looked forward to them. It wasn't like her baby sister had a lot in life to pull her out of bed in the morning. "Have you been eating?"
"Yes," she said with her mouth, but her head shook in denial. One of the things that Samantha had learned to do was to read Jordan's body language more than her words. The words didn't come easy, and often didn't match Jordan's thoughts. Facial expressions and gestures were the key to understanding her.
"Do you want to help me with some of this Mongolian Beef? It's from the Golden Wok, your favorite place."
Jordan smiled. "I like there."
"I know. Me, too." Samantha opened a box of takeout and the scent of spicy beef spilled into the air. After fixing a rolling tray in front of her sister and a small plate of food, Samantha pressed a fork into Jordan's hand. Jordan hated to be fed. Even though her sister struggled to get the food in her mouth, she wasn't happy if she didn't do it on her own.
"I-I seen… uhm… I see – " Jordan struggled to find the words.
"You saw who?" Samantha bit into her late lunch, realizing for the first time that she hadn't eaten all day. She and Blake had arrived late the previous evening and slept in. Before lunch, they'd both gone their separate ways, Blake to the office, Samantha to see Jordan. Food didn't even cross her mind. The tantalizing flavors exploded in her mouth and her stomach rumbled with appreciation.
"Mom."
Samantha's fork stalled.
Jordan nodded.
Samantha placed her fork down. "Honey, Mom's been gone for a long time."
Jordan's brow pitched together as if searching for a memory. "At night. Seen her at night."
"In a dream?"
"Yes." Jordan shook her head. "At night."
Now Samantha was confused. Did Jordan see someone who looked like their mother? Maybe a new aide at the home? Or was she dreaming of their mother and signals were crossed in her brain.
"I think of her sometimes, too."
"I miss her."
Samantha placed a hand on Jordan's knee. "I miss her, too."
****
"I need to fly to New York," Blake told Samantha nearly a week later.
"I was wondering when you'd start traveling again."
She knew Blake spent more time in his jet than in any of his homes. To have had him in her bed every night for nearly a month was a luxury she didn't think would continue forever.
"You can come with me."
They were drinking coffee on the veranda overlooking the ocean. A routine they'd both enjoyed since their return from Europe. Part of her wanted to jump at the invitation. But the practical part of her kept her from accepting. The internal clock in her head, counting backwards with the time she had remaining as Blake's wife, was getting louder every day. The harder she tried to ignore the click, the worse it dug into her soul. There were times, like now when he was smiling at her and encouraging her to travel with him, that Samantha felt like their marriage was more than a piece of paper. More than a mercenary act they'd both wanted. The way Blake made love to her and held her even if they were both too tired to do anything else, dripped into her heart daily.
"I shouldn't," she sighed.
"Why not?"
"I've neglected Jordan. She didn't eat well while we were away and she's been having trouble sleeping."
Blake reached for her hand. "You don't have to feel guilty for having a life, Samantha."
"I know. But it's hard. I'm all she has."
"You can always move her in here. We can hire full time help."
It was the second time Blake had offered to relocate her sister. And if her marriage to Blake wasn't temporary, she'd take him up on his offer in a millisecond. "We've been over this. It wouldn't be fair to bring Jordan here, then pull her away after…she won't understand. That kind of stress results in illness and medical setbacks."
"But – "
"Please don't. I know you mean well, but I have to look out for her long-term interest."
Blake drank his coffee and dropped the subject. "I'm only going to be in New York for the weekend. Senator Longhill is having a small campaign dinner and I should attend."
"He's the one who wants to give tax cuts to exports, right?"
"You have been listening."
Samantha tossed her unruly hair back and raised an eyebrow. "All this beauty and a brain. Shocking isn't it?"
"It's nice to have a conversation with a woman outside of the bedroom."
"Oh, ouch."
"I suppose that isn't fair."
"I hope not. Otherwise I might have to draw a line between your words and what I've pictured as your father's personality."
Blake slammed his hand into his chest. "Oh, that hurt!"
"Honesty is our code word, my darling Duke. I'm sure all the women haven't been that bad."
"All the women, you make it sound like I had a harem."
"You had a lot more than me."
He laughed. "That wouldn't have taken much, my darling Duchess."
"Still…"
"I might have been able to talk to the previous women in my life, but I didn't confide in them like I do you." Blake's eyes narrowed, as if he was surprised to hear his own confession.
That proved something… didn't it? Blake had to feel more for her than any of the temporary women in his life.
"So you need to schmooze the Senator. Keep him on your side of the shipping fence."
"Exactly."
"When are you leaving?"
"Friday morning."
She pushed aside her cold coffee and squeezed Blake's hand. "I'll miss you."
His gaze traveled to hers before he pulled her hand to his lips for a tender kiss.
But her words weren't repeated back.
****
Blake used to looked forward to cocktail parties. They were often a breeding ground for an affair, or maybe even a one-night stand. As he walked around the room, overflowing with beautiful women, his thoughts were of his wife. Of Samantha being by his side where they could mingle, drink, and comment about the different personalities in the room.
Her guilt over her sister was palpable. After returning from Moonlight their first day back, Samantha was close to tears. Jordan meant everything to her and Blake was helpless to relieve any of the stress related to Jordan's care.
Sure, Jordan wouldn't understand when it would be time for Samantha and her to move away, but surely the year would be worth it. With some effort, he and Sam had taken Jordan off Moonlight's property for a trip to the zoo. The day had brought so many smiles to the girls' faces that Blake wanted to play hero and make it possible for them to be together more.
The constant trips back and forth to Moonlight seemed to tire Samantha. She even skipped her morning exercise routine more than not. Blake didn't mind since it meant he could spend more time with her before going to work.
"Penny for your thoughts?" A familiar and unwanted voice sucked him out of his daydream. He straightened his shoulders, ready to face a woman scorned.
"Vanessa."
Much taller than Samantha, Vanessa in heels nearly looked him in the eye. As always, she was perfectly manicured, from the top of her blonde head, to the tips of her toes peeking through the jeweled stilettos cradling her feet.
The sweet smile she wore used to work, but now he only heard the term Samantha used for his ex… viper.
"So nice of you to remember my name."
He supposed he deserved that. It wasn't as if he had the opportunity to break it off with her before he decided to pick a bride from Samantha's service.
"Don't be ridiculous." He kept his voice low and forced a smile on his face.
"I knew you were ruthless, I just never thought you were a coward. You could have told me about your plans. I might have been able to help you out instead of that mousy woman you're – "
Blake lifted the hand he held his drink in, cutting her off. "Have some respect, Vanessa, Samantha is my wife."
"For how long, Blake?" she whispered, leaning in.
His gaze narrowed, but his smile never fell. "Green isn't a good color on you."
Vanessa's lips fell into a tight line. "Jealous… of her?" Her snide laugh brought a few eyes from the crowd toward them. "You've tied yourself to a woman raised by thieves. Trusting her with your last name will be your downfall."
"Thank you for your concern." The calmer he was the more upset Vanessa became. How did he not see this side of her when they were together?
"Women like her won't be happy until they own your soul. You'll wish it was me you'd asked to be your wife." The viper said her peace and stood back.
He leaned in, so only she could hear his retort. "The only thing I wish for, Vanessa, was that I'd met Samantha before meeting you." It was ugly, but he'd had enough of Vanessa's venom spewing about his wife.
Instead of a glass full of liquor splashing in his face, Vanessa did something unexpected. A sick smile spread over her lips as if she held the world in her hands. "Oh, my. You do care for the girl. Even better. Enjoy the pain, Blake." Then she walked away.
****
Blake extended his trip to New York through Wednesday, which would have sucked even more had Samantha been feeling better. She made good use of the time by making an appointment with her long-time doctor and friend to obtain a more convenient source of birth control.
Sitting on an exam table wearing a flimsy hospital gown, Samantha braced her arms against the chill in the room. The stress of her marriage, and worries about her sister, were keeping her awake at night, and wreaking havoc with her appetite.
A slight knock on the door proceeded Dr. Luna's entrance. In her mid forties, Dr. Luna had been Samantha's doctor since her teenage years. She'd prescribed every antibiotic she'd ever taken and held her hand through the death of her mother.
"There you are. We were wondering when we were going to see you in here."
"Hi, Debbie." The formalities went away a long time ago, which made it even easier to walk into the office.
Debbie hugged her before taking a seat on a rolling stool. "It's good to see you."
"Life got a little crazy."
"I know. It's not every day I see my patient's faces in the tabloids. I can't believe you're married. I didn't even think you were dating anyone."
"Blake and I didn't wait once we knew what we wanted." Which wasn't a complete lie, but certainly not the truth. So far, the line had worked on everyone Samantha had delivered it to. "Part of the reason I'm here is to get on those birth control pills we talked about."
Debbie smiled. "Of course. You'll wonder why you waited to take them once you start."
They talked about the pro's and con's of the pill for some time before Debbie asked, "So what else is bothering you?"
"I'm not sure. I haven't had my usual energy lately. At first, I thought I was just being lazy, on an extended honeymoon. But my appetite is gone most of the day and I'm more tired than normal."
Debbie scribbled a few notes on her chart. "Any fever?"
"No."
"Cough?"
"No."
"Nausea, vomiting… change in bowel habits?"
"A little queasy. But I think it's just because I go so long between meals."
"Hmmm," Debbie stood and removed her stethoscope from around her neck. After listening to her lungs, she said, "Lay back."
Samantha relaxed on the exam table while Debbie pressed on her belly. "Any pain?"
"No."
"When was your last period?"
Samantha glanced at the ceiling. "I'm due any day."
"When was your last one?"
"I don't remember. I've always been irregular." A sick feeling started to grow deep in her stomach.
Debbie tilted her head to the side. "What have you and Blake been using for birth control?"
"I'm not pregnant."
"I didn't say you were."
Samantha sat up, unable to lay any longer. "Condoms. And we've never forgotten. We've blown through nearly every box he owned." A nervous laugh left her lips.
"Condoms have a two percent birth rate."
"Debbie, I'm not pregnant."
The doctor patted her on her arm before reaching behind her and grabbing a cup. "You know where the bathroom is. Let's remove pregnancy from possible reasons for your malaise so we can start looking for another source."
Samantha hopped from the table, ignoring the slight tremor in her hand. "Fine."
The next ten minutes were the longest in her life. Sam searched back in her calendar on her smart phone to the time before she and Blake had met, desperately trying to prove Debbie wrong before she walked back in the room.
But when the door opened, and Debbie stepped through the doors, Samantha's heart plunged to the ground.
"Congratulations."
Sam jumped to her feet, shaking her head. "No."
"We can run a serum test, but these things are accurate. You're pregnant, not sick."
Everything stood still. The institutional style clock on the wall ticked away the seconds and the room closed in around her. Sam's chest started a rapid rise and fall as she struggled to take a deep breath. Tears stung the back of her eyes. "But we were careful."
Debbie patted her hand and encouraged her to sit back down. "I can see this is unexpected. Maybe you both wanted to wait to start a family, but it is what it is."
What was she going to do? Blake trusted her. How could this be happening? They'd been careful.
"Sit down." Debbie helped her on the exam table again. "Take a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay."
"You don't understand." How could she. Debbie saw a newly married woman. Anyone else would be thrilled with the news of a baby.
"Then help me understand. What are you afraid of?"
The loving smile on Blake's face turning to hatred when he learns of the pregnancy. All the trust and mutual respect would end the minute she told him the news.
"It's not what we wanted," Samantha whispered, lost in her thoughts.
"You're not the first newlywed to get pregnant. I'm sure your husband loves you. He'll understand."
But he didn't love her.
A tear dropped down her cheek.
"Samantha?"
Her gaze traveled to her old friend whose concern was etched into her face. "What's wrong? You didn't cry when your mother died, or when your sister ended up in the emergency room." By now, Debbie was sitting beside her, her hands holding Samantha's.
Sucking in her bottom lip and forcing her eyes to dry, Sam shook her head. "Women are emotional creatures. Especially pregnant women." Oh, God. I'm pregnant.
"Are you sure that's all it is?"
Unable to tell Debbie the truth, Samantha nodded. "I'm in shock. I need time to adjust."
"You've always adjusted, no matter what's thrown at you."
"I know."
"All right. Let's go over a few things you need to know. I'll be sending you to Dr. Marzikian…" Debbie outlined the first few months of pregnancy, which Samantha listened to with half an ear.
As she walked out of the office with a prescription for prenatal vitamins instead of birth control, Samantha never felt so alone in her life.
By the time she reached her car, the tears were streaming down her face and she was helpless to stop them.
****
Jeff Melina, Blake's personal lawyer, sat across from him shaking a paper in the air. "Your father was a jackass."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"I've never seen a more iron-clad will in my life. You'd think there'd be some loophole somewhere to negate what he's asking you to do."
Not the words Blake wanted to hear. "There has to be something."
Jeff tossed the papers on the desk. "I've looked. It's like your dad knew you'd marry long enough to collect, then divorce."
Confiding in his lawyer couldn't be avoided from the beginning. "Blows my plan all to hell."
"If you could find an unscrupulous doctor to jack up Samantha's medical records, saying she's unable to get pregnant… oh, forget I said that."
Blake shook his head. "Samantha is seeing her doctor back in LA this week to get on the pill."
Jeff tapped his desk. "So you are sleeping with her. I didn't think you'd hold out."
"It was easier to give in than pretend we weren't interested." Blake could hardly wait for his flight later that night to get home to sleep with her again. He'd missed her. When they spoke on the phone earlier in the day, she didn't sound right. Like something was bothering her. He'd asked, but she let on like nothing was wrong.
"You know… there is something you haven't considered."
Blake thought himself a very thorough man. "What would that be?"
Jeff leveled his gaze to Blake. "Get her pregnant."
"What about 'going on the pill' did you not understand?"
"You need two forms of birth control that first month."
Blake stood and started to pace. "Jesus, Jeff. You're kidding me, right?"
"Women have tricked men into unwanted pregnancies for centuries. They always want equal rights."
Blake shook him off. "Stop. I know you think I'm an ass, but I'm not that far gone." Obviously his lawyer was, which might be a good thing in a courtroom, but not in this situation.
"It's my job to find a way to legally get you what you want. It's just a suggestion. You might try asking her."
"Ask her to get pregnant?"
"Why not? She obviously had a price the first time."
Blake's jaw started to ache. Jeff was treading a thin line, even if it held some truth. "She's not a hooker, Jeff."
"You're paying her ten million dollars to be your wife for a year and you're sleeping with her."
Blake was on the desk in a heartbeat. Gripping the edge, he shoved his face next to Jeff's. "Don't go there."
"Whoa, boy, back off. I didn't realize you actually cared about her. I'm sorry." Jeff's face had gone ashen.
As Blake stepped away, he wondered if he'd have to find a new lawyer. Something in the way Jeff spoke about Samantha as if she were no more than a piece of furniture, made him see red.
"I think we're done here." Blake needed to get out of the office before he started throwing punches.
Jeff smoothed his tie as he stood. "If she cares about you half as much as you seem to care for her, she might say yes to having your baby. Women are emotional that way."
Where had Blake heard that before?
Maybe.