Page 66 of Jaylen

"I am looking at my life and it seems too frivolous."

"Look at me."

When he did, she took his hands in hers. "I happen to think you are great at what you do."

"You said I was too pretty and entitled."

"Well yes, you are. But you are also wonderful and sensitive." She kissed the back of his hands. "And I do not need my husband freaking out on me now. I am going to be a mess, hormones raging and some days, I am going to be as sick as a dog. Our child will be dazzled by what you do."

"Are you?"

She rolled her eyes and caused him to laugh, dispelling the awful knot in the pit of his stomach.

"Completely dazzled. Coming up?"

"I think we should break it to the old man together."

"I agree. Ready?"

He nodded and leaned over, kissing her gently on the lips. "Thanks."

"What I am here for."

*****

James stared at both of them in dazed shock. "You are certain."

"Positive," Anika told him with a smile.

"And you are, okay? Health-wise, you are doing good? Who is the doctor? We have a friend—"

"It's Alvin."

He looked at his son.

"Good choice. He will be discreet. You are going to want to be very careful. We do not want this to get out before—"

"We have that covered." Anika turned to her husband. "You are late for your appointment."

"I still think you should go home."

"I second that."

"I am not going to be ganged up on. I am fine." Getting on her toes, she kissed him. "I have work to do." With a wave, she left the room.

"This calls for a celebration," James said with a wide grin on his face. "You are going to be a father."

"Hopefully a good one."

James stopped in the process of pouring the scotch and turned to look at his son. "You mean unlike me?"

"If the shoe fits."

Putting the stopper back into the bottle, he came back to sit behind his desk. "You are spoiling what should be a very happy moment."

"I cannot seem to help myself." Jaylen shoved his hands in his pockets and started pacing. "I froze when I learned that she was really pregnant and all I could think about was what a lousy father you are.

I found myself asking the question, ‘will I be that way?’ I travel a lot. I am trying to cut that down to the minimum, but what if when the child comes, I find that I do not want to be there?"