My Ward My Woman

“You are taking up too much of Solomon’s time. With the baby coming I need him at my side. You’re a big girl you can take care of yourself. Surely you can see how your clinging to him like a lovesick puppy is making it hard for him to be there for his child.”

Each word was like a dagger in my heart but I didn’t let it show. I had no answer for her so kept my mouth shut. I know what Solomon told me, knew what he wanted. But it was obvious that she wanted something far different. She was speaking as though they were going to have a life together, and I was too unsure of myself, of our new relationship to say otherwise.

I wanted desperately to believe all those things he whispers to me as we make love. The reassurances that he’s made only last as long as we were wrapped together keeping the rest of the world at bay. But once I was away from him again, the fears and doubts returned and I was back to where I started until the next time we made love.

She was watching me now and I was beyond uncomfortable alone in the room with her. I was about to make up an excuse to leave when he walked in. I hadn’t even heard the front door open.

“Excuse me.” I started to leave but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back to his side. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here Jessica, is everything okay with the baby?” Her eyes followed our hands where they were joined and I saw a look of anger come over her face.

“We’re fine, I just wanted to see the father of my child is there a problem?” He squeezed my hand and I looked up at his face but the anger wasn’t showing there either.

“I’d just prefer you called ahead next time. Is that all? Alexandra and I have plans this evening.” Oh she didn’t like that at all. I held my breath and waited for her next move.

“Ask her to leave the room I have something to say to you that’s not for her ears.” He looked from her to me before kissing my forehead and placing a comforting hand on my side as he leaned into me to whisper in my ear.

“Go wait for me babydoll, I won’t be a minute.” I let go of his hand and left the room without a backward glance, but of course I stood just out of sight so I could eavesdrop.

“I don’t like that the two of you seem to be getting even closer than before. What’s with the hand holding and cute kisses? Anyone would think you two were an item.” Like you didn’t know that. What a snake.

“My relationship with Alexandra is none of your concern.”

“I beg to differ. I am carrying your child after all. The heir to the Magna dynasty.” I could almost hear the glee in her voice and wanted to throw up.

“You’re carrying my child yes, but you and I are never going to be the happy couple you have running around in your head. I was waiting for the right time to say this, but since you want to force the issue now’s as good a time as any.”

“I will care for the child of course, but as for marriage or anything else between you and I, that’s never going to happen. As to your child being my heir, the jury’s still out on that.” My chest swelled with so much pride and love in that moment I could’ve ran into the room and kissed his feet. But Jessica wasn’t finished.

“What do you mean? Of course we’re getting married. I refuse to bring a child into this world without marriage. Think how that would look to our peers. Why I’d be the laugh of the town.”

“I don’t love you. I think you know me well enough to know I won’t do anything I don’t want to, no matter who thinks what.”

“We’ll just see about that. What do you plan to do? Are you going to marry your ward?” I held my breath as she laughed. “Yes.” My eyes opened wide and my head snapped up in shock. My mouth formed the word ‘what’ but no sound came.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Very. She’s the woman I love. I guess you suspected as much, that’s why you made all those comments coming on to the end when you and I were still together. Well now you know.”

“It can’t be, you…what would people say? What about your friends? What about the business? Do you think anyone will stand for this? It would be a scandal…”

“You know better than that.”

“If you do this, I will be forced to abort this child.”

My mouth fell open in sick shock. The room was silent for the longest time after her threat and I held my breath in fear of what he would do next. I felt lost; she’d won. No way was Solomon going to let her destroy his baby. I turned and walked away before I could hear what else was being said. What was the use? I’m sure she’d said the one thing that was bound to bring him to heel.