Category : Stories

Sub Category : Drama

Nine-Closure
The agonizing wait on the time to hit five o'clock. Jay was tired of staring at the computer screen all day. He looked up the clock every five minutes hoping for the hour hand to land on the five. Jay fidgited in his seat trying to find a comfortable position to ease his tense back. Parker didn't make it easy. He would settle into an awkward position that made his father uncomfortable. Plus, Jay's feet felt like fat sausages, due to swelling. 
"Two more months, two more months, two more months..." He repeatedly mumbled to himself while rotating his feet.
Jay looks back up at digital clock on his desk. Four thirty-five. He rolled his eyes. "Ugh!"
Jay gets up from his seat to stretch his legs. He takes out a zip-lock bag filled with pretzel sticks from his briefcase and munches on them, then sits back down in his seat. Ten minutes later, his cell phone rings. Jay answers it, Ava was on the other end.
"Hi." Ava pleasantly greets him.
"Ah, it's good to hear your voice." Jay says with a hint of relief in the tone of his voice.
"How is my baby doing?" Ava asks with a playful attitude.
"Tired, swollen, and exhausted. " Jay rubs his temples.
"Mmmhmm...and, how are you?" Ava jokes.
"Ha, ha. You're funny."
"Tell you what...how about I give you a relaxing massage from head to foot when you come home? Hmm?"
Jay liked the idea. "Yeah, that sounds great, babe. So, how was you're day?"
"It was good. I went to Starbucks with Izzy and Evan. Then we came back to the house and worked on the baby's room. It is turning out beautiful." By the sound of her voice, Jay could tell she was smiling.
"I can't wait to see it." Jay says.
"Oh, I wanted to let you know my parents called me and told me they will be coming to visit next week. They're going to stay with us. You're going to have to bear with my dad for a few days."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Jay asks.
"You know what I mean. Everytime you and my dad are in a room together, there is some measure of tension."
Jay denies it. "Nah! Come on, I like your dad."
Ava was silent for a moment. "My dad still intimidates you, right?"
Jay caved in. He nods his head. "Yeah...yeah, he does." He hears Ava giggle.
"My dad has always been a but overly protective of Grace and I. It is what he does. But I will see it if can talk to him. Maybe he will calm down some. But you shouldn't be intimidated by my dad, okay? Its not like you and I are dating anymore. So, I'll see you at home?"
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to that massage. I'll be home in twenty minutes. Love you." 
"Love you too. See you boys soon."
Jay hangs up and looks back up at the clock. Four fifty-three. He gets up, cleans his work space, then grabs his briefcase.
Jay punches his time card and heads to the front door. As he crosses the lobby, someone sitting on the lobby's couch had caught his eye. A woman with red, medium-length hair, long shapely legs, black heels, white skirt and a deep silky purple blouse. He knew immediately who she was. Kendra Saunders. The woman recognized Jay and addressed him. 
"Jayden?"
"Kendra." Jay was surprised his brother's ex-girlfriend was at his workplace. The situation felt awkward. He approached the couch. "Uh, hi. What are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting on someone." She says, also sensing the awkwardness. Kendra commences with small talk. "How are things with you and Ava?"
Jay nods. "Good. We got married about five months ago."
Kendra notices his belly. "And you're having a baby. That's wonderful. How far along are you?"
"Seven months."
"Girl?"
"Boy."
"Great." Kendra says.
There was a moment of silence between them. Kendra crossed her arms and sincerely says: "I heard about Ryan. I'm sorry, Jay." 
"Thanks."
"Did Ryan tell you that he was pregnant?" Kendra asks, trying to restrain her tears.
Jay confirmed by nodding his head. The thought of Kendra wanting the baby back had crossed his mind. But Ryan never mentioned anything about giving the baby up after its born. 
To protect the true origin of the baby, Jay casually says: "He mentioned it in his will."
"He was almost three months pregnant when he died. At the time, I was only thinking of myself when Ryan and I broke up. I realized that I really didn't want a family then. I guess just the idea of it was appealing. After I died I felt immensely guilty, wishing I hadn't been so insensitive and stupid..." Kendra wipes her eyes with a handkerchief. "Even now, all I can think about is...our baby died with him...and I feel like I sentenced them both to death! Oh! I understand if you still hate me for walking out on your brother." She cried some more.
Jay eased himself on to the cushion next to her and places his hand onto her shoulder. "Kendra, Ryan never held a grudge against you for leaving. He told me he was actually at peace with the way things turned out."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Really." Jay assures her. "And if you meet that guy that you are really and truly happy with, don't let him go."
Kendra dries her eyes and manages to smile. She hugs Jay tightly. "Thank you. Thank you Jay."
"You're welcome."
"Actually, I have met someone." Kendra admitted.
Kendra and Jay turned around when they heard footsteps coming their way. Jay sees his co-worker, Adam Danvers, approaching Kendra. Adam was an incredibly good looking man who worked in the shipping department. Kendra stands up and greets him with a kiss.
"Hey, Adam." Jay says.
"Hi, Jayden." He friendly replies. "I thought you left already."
"I was talking to Kendra for a moment. We haven't spoken in a long time."
"Jay is a friend of mine." Kendra says to Adam.
"Did she tell you about the wedding we planned in the spring?" Adam asks Jay.
"No, she didn't. You're getting married?"
"Adam and I are engaged. I'm really happy." Kendra says.
Jay smiles. "That's great you two. Congratulations." He looks at the time on his phone. "I have to hit the road. It was good seeing you again, Kendra. Bye, Adam."
Jay walked out the door to his car. And just as he was about to get in, he sees Kendra come up to him with a certain realization look on her face.
"Jayden, wait." She says. Jay stops.
"Ryan once told me that you were not able to get pregnant. You're normal. Is that true?"
Jay sighed. "Yes."
"Then how and when did you get pregnant before you and Ava got married?"
Kendra steps closer to Jay, figuring out the puzzle out loud. "You and Ava were married five months ago, but you have been pregnant for seven. Two months before your wedding, Ryan died, and you became pregnant without the ability to get pregnant."
"Kendra, there's something you should know." Jay closes the car coor. "Ryan didn't let the baby die with him."
"Wh...what?" Kendra was caught off guard.
"Ryan asked me to carry the baby in his will. Through extensive surgery, his baby was placed into an artificial womb inside of me."
Kendra looks at Jay's round belly. "The baby is alive?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me this is Ryan's baby?"
"I thought...you might..." Jay stammers.
"Want to keep the baby." Kendra finishes. Relief showed on Kendra's face. "Jay, to be honest, the baby is doing better with you than it would have been with me. I am still not ready for children and neither is Adam. Its just a relief to have some closure to know that the baby is safe. Ryan was right to choose you."
"Kendra!" Adam called.
"I will be right there." Kendra says back. She gave Jay one last hug goodbye. "What did you name him?"
"Parker."
"Parker. Good name." Kendra says. "I want you and Ava to be at my wedding next year. Please come?"
Jay smiles. "We'll be there." 
Kendra waves as she walks away. "Bye, Jayden."
Jay watches her go arm in arm with Adam then he gets into his car.
Jay comes home and drops his briefcase next to the front door. He waddles down the hallway towards the bedroom supporting his achy back. Before entering the bedroom, he decided to take a quick look at the baby's room. Unfortunately, there was a sign on the door which said: "No Peeking." It was written with a very bold blue marker. Jay retreated his hand from the door knob. He laughed on the inside. 
Opening the bedroom door, Jay sees that the room was lit up with scented candles. There was an old CD player that was playing calm, romantic music. On Ava's vanity, there was a plate of different cheeses, crackers, and vegetables. Ava was sitting on the bed, wearing a plush rose-colored robe, with her long brown hair over her shoulder. She was holding a bottle of shea-butter cream on her lap. 
"Wow, I really don't deserve you." Jay says, taking off his suit jacket. "This is very impressive."
Ava smiled at her husband. "Thank you. Please remove your shirt and pants. Then let the relaxing begin."
Jay undresses as quickly as possible. Then he goes to join Ava on the bed. She has Jay lay on his back with his head propped up on her lap. "Just close your eyes and relax." Ava says soothingly.
Ava proceeds to rub Jay's neck and shoulders down with the cream, then applies gentle pressure.
"Ahh...this feels fantastic." Jay mumbles, as he drifts off. "I love you."
"I love you too. So how was work?" Ava asks.
"Uncomfortable. Parker was incredibly active most of the day." Jay feels the baby. "He started getting calmer on the way home."
Ava gently massaged the pressure points on Jay's head.
"Guess who I ran into today?" Jay says to Ava.
"Who?"
"Kendra Saunders."
"Ryan's ex?"
Jay nods. "Yeah."
"What was she doing there?"
"Waiting on her fiance. She's getting married next year."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
"Good for her."
Opening his eyes, Jay says: "I told her about the baby."
"And does she want the baby back?" Ava sounded worried. "Kendra is the biological mother..."
"She says that her fiance aren't ready for children. She said she felt really guilty about leaving Ryan alone with the baby. Kendra believed it had died along with him. She needed to know the truth, she deserved that much. So I told her. Bottom line, she doesn't want the baby."
"That's a relief." She says.
Ava gradually rubs down Jay's arms.
"Come here." He says to Ava.
Jay gently takes hold of her head and brings her to his lips, both kiss slowly. He carefully moves up the bed's headboard and leans against it, Ava still in his arms. 
"So, what's under the robe?" Jay curiously asks.
Ava blushes as she seductively takes off the robe, revealing that little red bikini. She tossed the robe to the floor. "Surprise." She says very sensually.
"Wow!" Jay's eyes widened with fascination. "You're beautiful."
Ava leans in close and brushes her hand on one side of Jay's face. "You're not so bad yourself."
"Even with my big pregnant belly?" 
"Especially with your big belly." Ava chuckles. She puts her hands gently on Jay's belly and playfully kisses it a few times. Ava then returned to resume with her husband.
The heavy making out escalated, becoming more physically passionate. Jay was about to take off Ava's bottom piece when she stopped him.
"Wait..." she says, flipping her hair behind her.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you sure about this?" Ava asks.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, what about the baby?"
"We'll just have to be careful." Jay says. He continues to kiss down Ava's neck as his hands felt her back and curvy thighs.
Ava interrupts again. "But what if...?" 
Jay playfully rolls his eyes and shakes his head. Then he firmly says to her: "Ava Elise Evers, just shut up and kiss me."
She shrugs her shoulders. "I must admit, I like how assertive you are. Very sexy. You should do it more often."
"It comes with being pregnant. Keep talking, and you'll get "Assertive Jay.""
"I'll keep that in mind." Ava rubs Jay's chest and lightly nibbled on his ear.
Jay pulls in Ava's body against his own. All of a sudden, he lets go of her and lets out an expression of discomfort. "Oooh!" He immediately holds his belly.
"Jay? What is wrong? Did I hurt you?"
"No, no...you didn't. The baby pushed."
Ava soothes Jay's belly with her hands. "There, does that feel better? 
"Better, thank you. This kid is a handful." Jay sets his hands on Ava's hips. "Now...where was I?"
Ava tugged at the ties of her bottom piece. "Right here."
"Let's see what we can do about that..."