“Yes, but…”
“Don’t, Danica. Don’t rewrite history so you’re the bad guy.” Alicia finally said what she had been holding in for so many weeks. “You’re not your father, my love. If something bad happens, it’s not because you’re a sociopath who made it happen. You are not evil. Do you understand me? You did not cause this. Now look at me and acknowledge what I said.”
Danica lifted her head again. There was that look Alicia loved in her eyes. “I fight with that idea every day of my life. Ever since I realized what a piece of shit my father is, I’ve wondered if…”
“You are not your father. Repeat that.”
“I am not my father.”
Alicia took her face into her hands. “You did not do anything wrong. We made love this morning. Rough love, but that didn’t do anything bad to me. Or our baby.”
“All right.” Was that a sigh of relief?
“I wouldn’t have married you if I thought you were anything like that terrible man. Besides,” Alicia kissed the top of her head, “our baby is fine. I did not have a miscarriage. It’s a scare. You’ll see. In two or three more weeks, I’ll be in the doctor’s office getting the good news. This baby is a fighter like us. It won’t leave us, especially when we need it the most.”
Danica’s hand went to Alicia’s thigh, rubbing it with scared conviction. “Are you sure? That was… so much blood.”
“I’m sure. Also, if you thought that was a lot of blood, you haven’t witnessed me on my period yet.” Alicia laughed. “You’re not going to for at least a year at this rate.”
“Promise me, precious. Promise me we’ll have our own family this time next year.”
“I promise.” Alicia pushed the wet hair out of Danica’s face. “I don’t give up easily, like you don’t. We wouldn’t have made it this far if we let me falling down some stairs set us back.”
“Good to know I’m not the only one with some black humor around here.”
“I hear it’s the family color.”
Danica stood, kissing Alicia with such conviction that she easily slipped beneath her.Yes, Danica. Make me feel loved and protected. Change my world with one kiss. Want me so badly that you can’t control yourself.
She knew that Danica wanted her now. That quickening pulse, that heat emanating from her skin, and, yeah, that hitching breath all pointed toward her wanting Alicia. Yet she refrained. In the end, Danica had plenty of self-control. Alicia was yet again physically vulnerable. Possibly wounded. Danica would content herself with some kisses and heavy petting until she had to pull herself away to return some neglected phone calls.
She stopped halfway across the room.
“Ms. Clayborn.”
The assistant stood in the bedroom doorway. How much of that did she see? Based on her weary countenance, it had to be since the first heavy kiss of the night. Alicia covered herself up with the blanket and cleared her throat.
“I’m sorry for the intrusion, Ms. and Mrs. Moreau.” Sarah Clayborn straightened out her gray pantsuit and fluffed her hair. “I simply came by to offer my condolences to Mrs. Moreau.”
Alicia received a wary look from her wife. “It’s all right.” She beckoned for Ms. Clayborn to enter the bedroom. “Give us a moment, Danica.”
Danica remained where she stood for a few more seconds before leaving in a swift motion. Ms. Clayborn stared at thespace Danica once occupied. It wasn’t until Alicia beckoned her again that she finally stepped forward with a submissive nod.
“I’m sorry about what happened to you today, ma’am.” Usually, Ms. Clayborn did not struggle with eye contact. If anything, her idea of it included staring people down until they recognized her for what she was: the head assistant of a ruthless businesswoman. “I… well, I know it can’t be easy. I know how desperately you and Ms. Moreau want children.”
I bet you do. At least she was discreet. Not once had Alicia been given reason to believe that Ms. Clayborn judged her, let alone spread some rumors around. “Thank you. It’s been a frightening day. I appreciate your concern.”
Ms. Clayborn finally made eye contact.Whoa. That was the most emotion Alicia had ever seen on the young woman’s face. What was that? Pity? No. It wasn’t just pity.
It was pain.
“Sometimes,” Ms. Clayborn offered as her strange parting words, “people like the Moreaus are so intent on their perfection that it carries through their genes. I don’t want to frighten you, Mrs. Moreau. I intend to only help when I say that I hope this doesn’t happen again to you, but…”
Alicia cut her off. “Miscarriages are unfortunately common.”
Sarah swallowed. “Yes, ma’am. They unfortunately are.”
“You’ll be happy to know, though, that I am still pregnant.”
