WEEKS: 25-30

I spend days day-dreaming in my office. Sure, I still did some work, but not gonna lie, it was hard to concentrate. Dad wasn't talking to me at all, it had been weeks and he hadn't tried to make any sort of contact. I was starting to get discouraged; maybe this was, maybe this was the end of our relationship, and me losing the last member of my family.

Adding to all the family issues, apparently, I was late in preparing for the baby – or so Eva and Jordan kept telling me. Apparently, by now I should've started preparing for birth – I mean Jesus, the baby was as tiny as a peapod, and weighed about an ounce! What should I prepare for, exactly? I didn't know, but over the last few weeks, I burned time in the office watching birthing videos... and let me tell you, I'm starting to have second thoughts about this whole baby thing. Also, that's normal... again, apparently.

I was thirteen weeks in, and my bump was getting bigger and fast! People started to ask to feel it around my office, and I was not the kind to engage in socializing around the office. Now, however? I was discussing 401K with Pam, my assistant, and talking what sort of birth I wanted with Karen, the receptionist! At the tattoo parlor, I couldn't escape as I intended either! Stella was pressuring me for a baby shower, and Rocco of all people was asking me if I could feel it kicking.

I wanted to run away, it was all happening so fast, and I felt... lost. Jordan was there, and his mom. They had been great, even helping me out around with groceries shopping, making meals and leave them on my fridge-freezer. They were the perfect future dad and grandma. I guess that only made it the more difficult. I couldn't stop thinking how my own mom would be thrilled to do all these things for me. How my brother would be excited to be an uncle, how everybody would be hands down helping me plan for everything – even the nursery.

I tried to push all of these thoughts aside and relished on the fact that the risk of miscarriage had dropped down, or so Dr. Madrugo had told me over the last scan. I had another scan due this month, and could barely wait to make sure everything was really ok. I had awful nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night with the most terrible dreams. Luckily, though, Jordan had taken into himself to take care of the two of us. I was pampered with long baths, foot and back massages, and plenty of food.

I shouldn't complain, I know, but I was just extra moody and annoyed as well lately. I guess... it was just the baby taking over, and my body going crazy with the changes. My bump was swollen and getting hard. I started developing the weirdest cravings for hot dogs and dark chocolate together, cheese over a jelly doughnut sounded heavenly to me, and Jordan nearly gagged at my homemade twinkies topped with mayo.

"Knock, knock!"

I looked up lazily, not caring about anyone that needed my help or my input on some issue around the office.

"Oh my God!" I gasped as I saw Amelia and Eva walking into my office "What are you doing here?!"

Amelia grinned and hugged me tightly. She kissed me soundly on my cheek and looked down at my belly. She made a mix of a smile and a wince, and I decided it was safer to ignore it.

"Bachelorette party, young lady." Amelia explained me, crocking one of her dark blonde brows "This weekend, remember?"

"Oh, that" I winced; shit, yeah, no, I didn't remember that at all.

"Yes, that!" Eva put in, pouting "You're going, don't give us the baby excuse for this as well."

"You know there's a massive list of food I cannot eat, don't you?" I crocked a brow, and Eva rolled her eyes "Also, I'm tired all the time; I'm not good company at the moment."

"Look, you can complain all night long that your feet hurt." Amelia put in, her long hands and elegant red nails gestured "But come. I haven't seen you in forever, and I want my favorite girls on my party!"

"Right, ok." I nodded, trying to smile "Do you want to go out for coffee? I'm done for today, need to get out of here honestly."

As the three of us sat on a nearby coffee shop and enjoyed the sunshine, my feet got some rest and my ankles appreciated the massive juice glass I was having Dehydration was my word of the day, every day; I felt like I needed liquids constantly.

"So... you're pregnant" Amelia smiled, tensely.

"Appears so" I shrugged.

"We've been through this already" Eva chuckled, taking a sip of her cider.

"Who's the... lucky guy?" Amelia wanted to know, but I could see an exchange of worried looks between the two of them.

"I'm sure Eva has filled you in on the details by now" I crocked a brow.

"She has... mentioned a lovely guy" Amelia shrugged.

"Right. Yes, well, his name's Jordan and he's a successful CFO for an oil company. We met at the Ritz in LA when I went away on a spa trip."

Amelia's forehead quickly wrinkled, and I snorted into laughter.

"Exactly. Look, I've heard it all, ok? I've had it from my dad, I don't need you coming down here and-"

"Wow, wow! Hang on!" Amelia interrupted me, her hands up "Look, Violet, I know this wasn't planned and yes, Eva has told me about Jordan. I have no hidden agenda by asking about the future father of your baby. You're gonna be a mom, for God's sake! If the daddy were some lying cheat bastard or something, you're damn right I would be screaming at you. However..." Amelia winced at Eva "I've... kinda already met him... earlier today."

"What?!" I gasped, turning red.

"I took her there." Eva shrugged "She wanted to meet him, and you are one to beat around the bush, so... I just took her there."

"Look, he's... odd, but he looks like a sound guy, and he definitely worries about you and the baby." Amelia shrugged, and her million dollar New Yorker smile brighten my day "You have a good one. Granted, he's very orthodox... but as long as he cares for you and that tiny little peanut..." She shrugged, squeezing my hand over the table "I'm happy for you."

I frowned. Staring at them.

"What happened to self-obsessed and prejudice Miss New York?!" I couldn't help to ask.

"Talk about personal growth, right?" Eva chuckled as well.

"I just... need to ask you something" Amelia frowned, her long nails playing with her straw.

"Go ahead..." I mumbled, suspicious.

"Do you see him like... crème brulee?"

"Like what?" Eva, and not me, snorted.

"You know, crème brulee!" Amelia tsked like we were the stupid ones.

"Yeah, we're gonna need a lot more information than that" I had to toss, crocking a brow.

"You go to a restaurant" Amelia laid the scene, her hands and arms opened wide "the waiter brings you the menu and you're like hey, I want the chocolate cake. And he's like: sorry, we're out, we only have the crème brulee. And you're like: meh, yeah, sure why not."

"Are you asking me if I'm settling?" I realized immediately.

"Props to her for the scene" Eva had to add.

"I guess I am." Amelia winced "Look, don't get me wrong, as I said, he seems like a solid guy... but are you happy with this?"

"This wasn't planned" I reminded her, shrugging.

"You're avoiding the question" Amelie accused me.

"You so are" Eva had to agree.

"Look" I grunted, enraged, tossing my hands up "I'm pregnant and he's the dad. I would do this by myself, really – I can deal with it. However, he wants to be involved and I cannot blame him, as it's his baby as well."

"But are you getting involved with him emotionally because of the baby... or because of you? If you're trying just because you're having a baby together... honey, that's the wrong reason" Amelia advised.

"I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking" I grunted, putting up my massive wall of ice.

"Ok, you definitely touched a nerve," Eva told Amelia.

"I know what I'm doing, and this is my life. Thank you both for worrying, really, but I'm fine. We're fine" I cut the conversation right there; this sort of discussion made me feel uncomfortable, as it indeed touched a nerve.

I was already overthinking all my feelings and desires, and now my best friends were joining the marching band?! Not a chance in hell!

"What time is your bachelorette this weekend, anyway?" I asked, as the uncomfortable silence set in around the table.

"This Friday. Eight o'clock for dinner, and the club afterwards." Amelia mumbled, barely looking at me "Will you come to my bachelorette?"

"You know I will." I smiled, my hand reaching for her tense one; she grabbed it and squeezed it hard "Honestly, though, I can't really party like you girls; my whole body is killing me."

"Well, I heard you have a personal masseuse now" Amelia wiggled her brows, and they both laughed at my blushed face.

There, peace was established again. As long as they both keep their noses out of my "relationship" with my baby daddy, things were great!

***

I opened my eyes to look into the clear light of day. I moaned at the pain in my lower back and feet. Shit... what time was it?! I looked at my nightstand and patted for my phone. Shit! Noon?! Wait, what day was it? Oh, thank God, Saturday... Amelia's bachelorette. Partying, dancing, virgin Pina Colada... yeah, I had gotten home late, and could only remember moaning I was tired and dropping to my bed. Jordan was there, and he had helped me change into my nightgown. He wasn't in bed, now. Had he left? Maybe I had been mean to him the night before...? God, I couldn't remember a single thing; my pregnant lady brain was starting to put on a show.

"Rise and shine, hardhead."

I moaned, and he chuckled, coming through my bedroom door and sitting on the edge of the bed.

"How're you feeling? Hangover?"

"I didn't drink" I frowned up at Jordan, turning on the bed and moaning.

"I made breakfast. Go have a nice hot shower, and meet me in the kitchen. You should really start to pamper me, for a change. I also need to be wooed!"

I actually chuckled at that, sitting up on the bed. He leaned in to kiss my forehead and caress my belly.

"What time is the appointment today?" He asked me.

"Four." I answered, moaning at the pain in my lower back when I got up "I feel like I was run over by a truck."

"Go have a shower. I'll wait in the kitchen" He winked at me, leaving.

A shower had been a lovely idea. When I put a top and yoga pants on, Jordan was already whistling to a rock song in the kitchen. I could smell eggs and parsley, orange juice and the Holy Grail, coffee!

He was barefoot, wearing his house slacks and an old grey t-shirt. He was the tallest man I had ever... dated? Was that the word, though? Jordan looked at me from over his shoulder and smiled. He kept singing along to the music, as he made his way to me, grabbed my round waist and slow danced to the song in the kitchen. I giggled, as his beard tickled my ear and cheek.

"You smell good" He whispered, biting my ear.

"It's your food" I disagreed, swallowing hard, as my throat turned dry.

"Hum..." He denied, his tongue doing unspoken things to my earlobe "No. It's definitely you. You're the tastiest thing on this breakfast bar."

"I'm not on the-"

I shrieked, as he pulled me into the actual breakfast bar, making me giggle. He kissed my neck down to my chest, all the time caressing my round belly and my legs. My heart was already beating fast to the sight of him alone; his touch only fueled me up, like gasoline on fire. I was quickly turned into a burning blaze, my legs suffocating his waist, and my hands shaking and gripping his muscled back. I heard Jordan mumble something sweet in my ear, as he caressed my body and pulled my shirt over my naked breasts. They were so sensitive and turned almost painfully hard when his rough palms caressed them.

He ground on me for a minute, and I moaned, begging at this point when someone rang on the front door.

"Fuck" I grunted, and Jordan chuckled.

"Ignore it" He shrugged but helped me put my shirt back on.

"I bet you it's someone trying to sell something" I sighed, jumping off the breakfast table with his help.

"Ditch whoever it is, and we can go back to our breakfast quickly" He whispered in my ear, as he let me go.

I practically ran to the front door and was both equally shocked as ecstatic to see my dad on the other side.

"Dad" I muttered, blinking in confusion.

"May I... come in?" He asked, looking embarrassed; he looked over my shoulder and definitely realized Jordan was there.

"Maybe this is not the best time" I muttered.

"I actually want to talk to the both of you, if that's ok" Benjamin Conrad quickly added in, as he spotted Jordan trying to disappear into the darkness of my bedroom.

I looked at my baby daddy from over my shoulder, and he was tense; his dark brows were pushed together in one monobrow, and his jaw was tense as a rope. I almost laughed at his pose, with no shirt on, his muscled tattooed chest and abs were on full display, menacing, and my dad jumped into my apartment definitely fearing for his life.

I closed the door behind me and gestured towards the living room.

"We should go into the kitchen, as Violet needs to have her breakfast" Jordan put in, not moving an inch.

Well, he was definitely not talking about my sexy time breakfast, but he was right about the food nonetheless.

"You're right." Benjamin nodded, pushing a tall bar stool and gesturing for me to hop in "C'mon, sweetheart."

"I'm having coffee." Jordan grunted, moving to the coffee maker "Benjamin?"

"I would love some, please. Three sugars."

I saw Jordan's quick smile, and he poured a nice coffee to my dad. I took a few bites of the eggs and parsley, the juice and the toast, as everybody settled down. Jordan leaned onto the countertop, still bare chest and all, eyeing my dad with a blank poker face. Dad cleared his throat, took a long drag of coffee – nodding in approval at the taste – and finally spoke.

"I'm sorry I've been out of reach over the last few weeks." He said, not daring to look at me "I... needed to think about... a few things."

I eyed Jordan, who kept his intense stare on my dad. His steel grey eyes usually made me feel like a poodle of hormones, but that intense predator look was ice cold when he stared at my dad, and it made me shiver.

"I admit I was... unpleasant to the both of you, and that I..." He shrugged softly "Unfairly judged the situation and... the people involved."

"Dad, you're gonna have to do better than that" I pressed, taking a sip of my coffee.

"Well..." He winced, rubbing his hair back; he finally took a deep breath and stared into Jordan's eyes "I apologize for my behavior. I meant no offence. However, this is my daughter, and you are definitely not the type I would imagine she would go for."

"I understand that. I'm not the type I would see my own daughter being with, either" Jordan shrugged, before I could scowl at my dad.

"I gotta say if you are half as stubborn and a loving parent as your mother" Dad chuckled "I am sure this baby will be just fine."

"What do you mean his mom?" I put in before Jordan could.

"Oh, yes." Dad chuckled "she came to see me, in the office." Benjamin explained us "Screamed at me and everything; I almost called security I'm afraid. However, she did put up a case for you. She said... awful things about me, and she... assured me you would be the best father in the world, and that she would kill you if you bailed out. That got me to give another thought about you two."

"My mom went to see you" Jordan grunted, embarrassed.

"Oh, yes, she did." Benjamin chuckled "She was tough, passionate, and she cursed more than any woman I've ever met. But, she had a point – I did judge you. I will give you the opportunity to prove yourself, as so far you are definitely showing you are committed to this baby and to my baby. You must understand, Jordan, she's all I have. Certainly, you, growing up with your mom alone, will know how it is."

I winced at that. Maybe dad was stretching it a bit; Jordan did know what it was like, but dad was still being a bit insulting and condescending in a way... Benjamin Conrad didn't have epiphanies, ever! This was weird, and I was suspicious. Still, if he was willing to cross the bridge and make peace, I was all in for that. Was Jordan?

"I understand what you mean." Jordan assured him, looking down at his coffee "I don't feel like I need to prove myself to anyone, but I'm going to be a dad soon... and if I were in your shoes... hell, I would've have locked my daughter home until she was fifty."

"Hopefully we'll have a boy, then" I put in, and the both of them chuckled.

"We're having a barbecue at my mom's this Saturday" Jordan started, and I pressed my lips not to laugh, imagining my stuck-up dad around the Marshalls.

"Oh, your mom did say that." Dad smiled, suddenly more relaxed "I made a promise I would try to go... are you two sure you... would like me there?"

"Of course, dad." I assured him, gathering all the courage I could manage and stroking his hand over the breakfast bar "We would be happy to have you there... we're all family now, after all."

***

"So, how was the ladies' night, after all?"

I chuckled at Jordan's question. I was on my laptop, in bed, going through some reports at work. We hade so many proprieties for sale at the moment, and enquiries were going crazy; we had dozens of viewings every day, and I wanted to make sure everything would go smoothly up until my delivery – whoever would step in for me during maternity leave would have to keep this big machine running as smoothly as it was now.

"Good. Tiring, though." I admitted, as he came out of the shower and wiped himself up on full display, to my delight "You're distracting me."

"When's Amelia's wedding?" He asked, ignoring my complaint.

"In about two months time. Will you come with me?" I asked carefully, not daring to look up from my laptop.

"You want me to go with you?" He asked, seeming surprised.

"Well... it makes sense, doesn't it?" I shrugged.

"Oh, isn't that romantic?!" He teased, and I scowled at him.

"Fine. Will you come with me, please?"

"You know I will." He shrugged, tossing the towel into the laundry basket and walking, fully naked, to my bed "You busy?"

"Hum hum." I assured him, as he kissed the back of my ear "You should put some clothes on or you might catch a cold."

"Actually, you should take your clothes off" He grinned, wiggling his brows.

I laughed at that and decided it was time for bed anyway. Laptop off, I cuddled into his arms in the darkness. His breathing was deep and close to falling asleep. I couldn't go into the sleep realm that fast these days, though. Either I had to pee every ten minutes, or my overactive brain would over think until it would tire itself out into exhaustion.

He mumbled something, caressing my back.

"What?" I asked; I thought he was asleep already.

"I love you."