Alexa always knew she'd have to live up to what she was born to do. Having children is inevitable and she's come to term with it. Having a child's foot on her bum forced her to face reality.
But when the doctor called her home in the hottest hour of the day congratulating her on her first born she forgets the multiple pep talks she has given herself since marrying Grayson Ryker.
You knew this would happen, Alexa tells herself, you knew babies were to come.
Grayson works mindlessly, unknowingly becoming more and more a father as the minutes pass. Alexa rests a hand on her flat stomach in awe. A living, growing human being is inside her womb. She will never be the same, she will never just be Alexa: Timothy's youngest daughter, wife to Grayson Ryker. No, she will forever and always be a mother.
That idea scares the living wits out of her.
Hours later, nausea creeps up her body. "A baby." Her voice is soft and airy. "A real baby."
"Missus Ryker. . . are you all right?" The evening maid watches her employer with a hand on her stomach and another on her mouth and thinks the worst.
Alexa's unfocused eyes try to focus on the tall, black woman. She tries to smile but it comes out sadly.
"Perfectly all right, thank you. What time does my husband return exactly?"
"He should be home any--."
The click of the front door cuts the woman off. Alexa's pulse quickens. What if Grayson can tell of my motherhood with just a glance? What if Grayson isn't entirely ready to be a father? Oh Jesus.
The maid scurries away, dusting anything in her sight as Grayson stomps into the family room. His slick black shoes seem to shake the house as Alexa's mind races to think of something to say.
The wind is knocked out of Alexa when she sees her husband, like it's the first time. His brown hair is styled back with a thick gel he uses every morning, his muscles are perfectly defined in the button up shirt he's sporting, and his tall stature gives his wife the chills. But Alexa's favorite part of her husband is his smile: the very smile he has right now.
Grayson pulls his beautiful wife into his arms. "Hello, darling. How was your day?"
"Eventful." Her mouth feels as though somebody has stuffed cotton into it: as though a cat has taken her tongue. "Are you hungry? I've made dinner."
Their fingers interlace as his smile grows. "Starving." As the two make their way through the relatively large home they share Grayson sparks a new conversation. "House seems a tad empty, doesn't it?"
Alexa hesitates. Droplets of sweat bead on her forehead, no doubt ruining her thin layer of makeup. "More than a tad empty." Alexa feels like she could drop dead any moment.
The extravagant dinner table has two place settings across from each other already done with two plates of steaming food. Grayson's mouth waters at the smell of the rice dish his wife prepared. He feels spoiled in every way possible. His only hope is Alexa feels the same.
As the two dive into their dinner for the night Alexa tries to think of ways to break their parenthood to Grayson. Just say it. Just tell him. She quietly pushes more food into her mouth as Grayson describes his day to her.
He can feel something is off, but until she tells him he's going to keep quiet.
The sun sets behind the couple, the sky splashed with a bright orange and soft yellow. Alexa adores looking out the large window and seeing the overly warm colors of the sky. Grayson adores watching his wife look out the window. Her eyes are brighter when she's happy, and he'd do anything to make her happy.
"Grayson." Grayson stops speaking and waits for his love to continue. Her eyes are trained on the sunset. But they flicker to him for a moment, making sure he's paying attention. "Grayson, I love you."
Their hands intertwine again across the table. "I love you, Alexa."
"Guess what?"
"What, beautiful?"
A blush fans across Alexa's face. "I'm pregnant."
Grayson stands, untangling their fingers. Alexa mirrors his actions, her heart breaking with every step Grayson takes away from her. Tears gather in her crystal blue eyes. "Gray. . ." Her voice cracks as the first tear falls. "Where are you going?"
He turns to face her just before he can climb the stairs. "To the bathroom."
"Why? I just told you I was pregnant and you go to use the bathroom!" Angry bubbles in her short body. How dare he? He said he adored children.
"It's not very manly to cry in front of my wife, now is it?" His voice is soft, almost broken. Alexa's heart soars at his words. She makes her way to him, launching herself into his arms.
Instinctively he wraps his arms around her to keep her from falling. Her tears soak through his shirt.
Without Grayson's permission one of his follows.
