Delectable Benefits

Twenty Three

Anya was sure Nick wanted something more from her and she just didn't know how to give it.

True to his word Nick kept his promise, his bad mood disappeared and it seemed he was genuinely happy. He didn't ask her what she was trying to keep from him. No, he simply told her the following morning after making love to her again all night in Vegas that he was going to wait.

Anya closed her eyes in misery as she looked out her office window. It was Christmas eve and there she was hiding in her office pretending to be shopping. Pam was looking for her. Anya had seen the messages and miss calls.

She had read them all, Lucas even sent her one last message. Nick is the man from your past and certainly the one you love in your present. But will he still be there for your future? Forever is a long time, Anya. Especially with what you are carrying inside you.

The man even knew she was pregnant.

Her office door opened and Pam walked in. The relief on her friend's face was clear. "Thank goodness," she said.

Anya got up from her seat and looked at her friend as she waddled towards her. "What are you doing here? You should be at home," Anya said worriedly.

Pam scoffed. "You're one to talk. You have three in there."

"I am a long way from my due date. You're due anytime. You should be at home, resting," Anya pointed out.

Pam glared at her friend. "You shouldn't be here alone and thinking of depressing thoughts. You have to stay positive."

Anya sighed heavily and assisted her friend to the sofa bed. Once Pam was comfortable Anya sat with her friend. "Did you come here alone?"

Pam shook her head. "The national guard and the CIA are with me. Everyone has been looking for you."

"Seriously?" Anya aked thinking her friend could be right.

"No, just Paul and me. Nick still thinks you're shopping." she noticed the unwrapped present on the table. There were three tiny booties on the table. "Oh."

"Should I tell him?"

"He is going to find out, sooner or later, your stomach is going to be bigger than a normal pregnancy. By your third trimester you might need to be put on bed rest and there is no one else in the house besides you. Or you can get one of his relatives to move in with you or you move in with them. But then again his wife will come after you with a butcher knife for getting pregnant again."

"I can tell him the baby is not his."

Pam laughed at that, "His mother knows its his, his entire family knows the baby is his. He is not going to believe you."

Anya shut her eyes and sat back on her bed. "Maybe after his wedding. I am never going to see him again."

"He's going to demand that you have twenty four hour care and that you live with him."

Anya shook her head, "Our agreement says no contact after the separation. Messages or all forms of information can be sent through calls, sms, chat, email or via text message. Video calls or person to person contact is not allowed."

Pam shook her head, "How about when your daughter decides to get married? Graduation? I am sure she would want to be with you two together nor bouncing from one wall to the other."

"Special occasions are an exceptions. Meaning Nicolette's birthday graduation, awards, ceremonies, Nicolette's wedding, baptismal are the only exceptions. Otherwise consequences will arise," Anya recited from memory.