Chasing His Rejected Wife
Chapter 73 -

Jessica

"Well, you've officially entered your second trimester." Dr Strand announced with a broad smile as she flopped back into her seat. "I'm also happy to say that the babies are doing better than expected and if things continue in this vein, it should be smooth sailing from here."

I let out a relieved breath, my lips widening in a smile, probably my first genuine one in the weeks following the debacle with Aiden. I absently placed a hand over my belly and looked down, inwardly praising my babies for being good. At thirteen weeks, my baby bump was more evident, likely due to the double load I was carrying and I'd fallen into the habit of touching it whenever I thought about my babies or needed some form of comfort or reassurance. And I've needed a lot of those lately.

"That's good to know," I said, looking back up.

Strand nodded and flipped through my test results, pausing to glance at me now and then. "We'll need to monitor your sugar levels though, that means making some adjustments to your diet..."

She launched into a spiel about the importance of diet, exercise, and regular sleep. Finally, she wound down with, "Remember to take things easy in the coming weeks; I still don't like the fact that your sleep pattern is irregular, though I know most women have similar challenges, especially during the early stages. However, the meditation exercises I recommended should help sort that out. Are you still doing those?"

I flushed and lowered my eyes to avoid her probing stare as I shook my head. "Umm...not really," I admitted quietly.

"Hmm..." Her lips pursed in slight disapproval but she merely asked me to give it a shot and to let her know after a week if it worked or not. I nodded agreeably and promised myself to try it.

“I'd also recommend a small vacation, if that's possible." Dr. Strand added. "Nowhere strenuous and certainly no cruise ships or anywhere that requires vaccines, but somewhere nice and peaceful should help. A change of environment might just be what's needed to help you get a good night's rest."

I was struck by the idea. "I'll think about it. Thank you."

Truth was, I hadn't been up to much of any sort of physical activity in the last few weeks. The first week after Aiden had left, I had spent most of the time curled up in a miserable heap in my bed, the covers pulled up over my head while I wallowed in self-pity.

Until Anna, who had shown up shortly after Aiden's departure, had lost patience with me and dragged me out of my bedroom. She'd done her best to keep my mind off my dreary thoughts, filling our days with chatter and activities, and once my bed rest was over, she had made sure I left the apartment at least once a day.

But the nights were when the thoughts and feelings came crashing back, plunging me into a deep gloom as depressing thoughts and regrets whirled over and over in my head. When I managed to fall asleep, it was plagued with dreams that had me waking in fits and starts; tears rolling down my cheeks, still exhausted.

I left the doctor's office armed with a new diet regimen and more instructions and headed for the visitor's area to meet up with Anna, who had accompanied me to my appointment, mostly because I was terrified of running the risk of bumping into Aiden.

But he hadn't shown up today. Again. This was my second visit to the hospital since the fight, the first had been after the bedrest. Both times now, Aiden had stayed away. Anna had told me she'd demanded that Aiden stay away from me when he'd shown up at her doorstep and once I had gotten past the shock that he'd braved the risk of my best friend punching his lights out just to make sure I wasn't alone, I had wondered if he would do it.

His absence today might just be the answer to that question and I didn't know how to feel. On the one hand, it took a strain off my shoulders because I'd fretted and worried about what to do or what to say when I next saw him.

But on the other hand, it felt like... abandonment. A crazy feeling, one that I tried to rationalize away as absurd. Because after that bombshell, I had resolved to have nothing to do with the Brown family, and it was likely that Aiden had arrived at that decision too. So, I should be happy.

And I am happy. I told myself firmly. I could finally move on with my life and put all that messy business behind me.

But what about the babies? A small voice whispered at the back of my thoughts. Has he given up on them too?

I had no answer to that. I sighed and shook off my melancholy thoughts and went in search of my friend. There were a couple of people seated in the obstetrics waiting room but she wasn't there. Puzzled, I checked the restroom, but with no luck, I sent her a text instead.

I waited a while but she didn't reply so I sent another one that I would be waiting in the cafeteria. I was starting to feel hungry so might as well pick up something while I waited for her and left the OB department. I decided to take a shortcut through one of the older sections of the hospital, one that was no longer open to visitors and thus guaranteed to be deserted. My footsteps flattered as I came upon an unexpected sight. My missing best friend was pressed up against the wall, while Vincent stood in front of her, arms braced against the wall on either side of Anna's head. They stood toe to toe, chest to chest, nearly nose to nose, glaring at each other.

They didn't notice me immediately, so I stood there, watching. Vincent's head was lowered to meet Anna's defiant gaze, a dark, hungry look in his eyes that was guaranteed to make a woman's heart flutter. He said something to her in a low voice and she responded with an obstinate shake of her head, one small finger rising to jab at Vincent's chest defiantly as she hissed something in reply.

I idly wondered if I should interrupt them or just turn around and pretend I hadn't seen them. From the looks of it, Anna seemed to be holding her own in the confrontation, if the exasperated expression on Vincent's face was any indication. Then I wondered what they could be talking so heatedly about. Surely, it still couldn't be about that incident with the name-calling thing?

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From what Anna had told me, Vincent had adamantly rebuffed her attempts at apologizing and after a while, she'd given up and chalked him up to a bad one-night stand experience. She'd declared she was done with the matter, but from the looks of it, that wasn't quite the truth.

Because even from where I stood, it was clear that there was something that simmered and swirled between those two. Something other than animosity. It was evident in the way she unconsciously arched into him, the way he moved even closer until even air couldn't get between their lower halves.

Ah damn, I felt like a peeping Jane then, looking in on something I shouldn't. I made to turn and walk away, but my sneakers made a slight scuffing sound and their heads whipped in my direction. They jumped apart like two teenagers who had been caught and I felt my face heat in embarrassment.

"Eh, sorry," I said, chuckling awkwardly. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

Anna slipped free of Vincent and hurried towards me. My eyebrows rose as I noticed her red face of mortification. Anna seldom blushed or looked embarrassed for that matter so this was a surprise.

"Hey," She skidded to a halt in front of me, a trifle breathlessly, lips slightly swollen. "Have you finished? How did it go?"

I shrugged. "It's fine."

I lifted my gaze past her to Vincent who had come up slowly behind her and now stood watching me impassively.

"Jessica," He said, nodding in greeting. His gaze drifted over my face and stomach.

"Vincent, hello," I replied, trying to smile, but my face felt stiff. Seeing Vincent this close, made me think about Aiden. "It's been a while, how have you been?"

The corners of his mouth lifted in a rueful smile. "Yeah, can't complain. Meeting with your OB today? What's the verdict?"

"Yeah, just got done," I replied, tucking a strand of loose hair behind my ear. I ached to ask where his friend was and what he was up to, but I forced myself to keep quiet. I cradled my belly and smiled softly. "Second trimester now and they're doing great."

Will he tell Aiden the news? I wondered, feeling my mood dampen and quickly dismissed the thought from my mind.

"That's great," Vince said, sounding sincere. Suddenly, his phone started to ring and he glanced at the screen and grimaced. "I've got to get back to work, but listen, we should get together sometime over lunch."

I heard Anna's sharp intake of breath and felt her go tense beside me. "That's not..."

"Yeah, sure," I broke in hastily before she could say anything else. "We should catch up."

He smiled and turned to leave. I waited until he was out of earshot then whirled on my friend, eyebrow raised. "Start talking."

Anna let out a groan. "It's nothing."

I snorted in disbelief. "Right. So, the kiss was nothing, hmm?"

To my delight, color stained her cheeks and she spluttered, caught off guard. Then her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Wha...how long were you watching us?"

"Not long. But enough to know you two are horny for each other." I gestured at her mouth. "And unless you've somehow started using lip fillers, the kiss must have been a good one."

Anna quickly touched her lips and sighed in exasperation.

"That damned man. He's somehow got it into his head that he could make me forget every other guy I've been with with just one silly kiss." She grabbed my arm and started tugging me back towards the waiting room. "C'mon, let's go. I wanna drop by the bar and make sure those idiots haven't ruined me while I've been away."

"Hmmm..." I let myself be pulled along, deciding I'd just grab something at her bar since we were heading there. "So, did it work?"

Anna shot me an indignant look over her shoulder. But just at that moment, we entered the waiting room and I lost track of her response as soon as I caught sight of the man standing there, talking to Dr. Strand. "Aiden," I whispered.