A Baby Affair (Parent Portal 2)

He clung to the logic in that as, night after night, he poured himself into Amelia, holding on as though he never had to let go.

But he knew he did. And that when the time came, he would.

* * *

Amelia loved being pregnant. She loved feeling her daughter move inside her, sharing her body. Loved being a part of the miracle of creation. Of knowing that she was helping to bring a human

being into the world—someone who might grow up to make the world a better place.

And she loved the passion she felt in Craig’s arms, night after night. Who knew hormone surges could provide such a wonderful side effect?

She’d figured the way he made her body buzz would fade, but as weeks passed she craved him more, not less.

Lying in his arms one Wednesday night, having just exploded with an orgasm that went on and on, she wished he’d just spend the night for once. She needed to sleep and didn’t want to wake to find him gone.

Snuggling against his naked body as he lay on his back beside her, she rested her belly up against his side, finding his support of the weight rather nice, and closed her eyes.

Just as she was drifting off, Isabella jabbed her a good one about an inch below her right rib. There’d be another one or two, and then the baby would settle, she knew. The pattern was becoming pretty regular, almost as though the baby was telling her good night...

“I gotta go.”

Before she’d even comprehended the meaning of his words, Amelia was lying naked and alone with the cold breeze left by Craig’s abrupt departure from the bed. He was stepping into the beige shorts he’d worn. A black, short-sleeved shirt half hung off the end of the bed.

“Wait.”

He buttoned and zipped his shorts, reached for his shirt. She grabbed it.

“What’s wrong?” she asked him. So she’d been reaching a bit, thinking he might stay. She knew he had to get home to Talley. But he also didn’t usually jump out of bed so fast that she felt as though she’d been dumped. Not since that first time.

“Nothing. Come on, give me my shirt.”

She lifted it to her breasts, covering them. He turned, clearly avoiding her.

“Look at me,” she said. “Please.”

When he did, her whole being settled into a sense of foreboding. “Craig?”

There was pain in the shimmery glint in his eyes, in the tightness around his mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me. We said this would only work if we were honest with each other. What’s going on? Did you meet someone?”

Dread filled her, a painful weight starting to bloom in her chest. She’d known it was going to happen. Was prepared for it to happen. But had put off dealing with it until the baby was born. Somehow, in her mind, she’d settled into the idea that she had Craig until after Isabella came.

He looked at her, but didn’t answer.

“Did you?” she asked, and then, forcing into her voice a lightness she absolutely didn’t feel, said, “Because if you did, it’s okay! You just need to tell me. We’ll still be friends, and you can get whatever updates you want or need on Isabella.”

“Give me my shirt.”

She handed it to him, getting up to grab a pair of lightweight sweats and a T-shirt, pulling them on as she followed him out to her living room.

“Please don’t leave like this.” She had tears in her voice, and her eyes. “I understand if you’re done. But... I don’t...we said we were friends...” And then it dawned on her. “She doesn’t want me in your life, is that it?”

It made sense.