The Billionaire and Me - Complete Series: BWWM Alpha Billionaire Romance (13 page)

Time passed and life resumed to normal until the doctor called.  I didn
’
t think it was the doctor who was going to call as it was so late so I let Blake get the phone.

“
Hello?
” 
I heard Blake say. 
“
Yes, she
’
s here.  Amanda, it
’
s for you!
”

Getting up from my seat I reached for the phone. 
“
Hello, this is Amanda.
”

“
Hi, Amanda, I wanted to let you know your results are in,
”
a woman
’
s voice said.

“
And
…
?
” 
I asked.  Why was she pausing?  Wouldn
’
t it be easier to give a
“
yes, you
’
re pregnant
”
or
“
no, you
’
re not
”
easier than just waiting like this?

“
Congratulations are in order!  You
’
re pregnant!
”

Pregnant.

I knew it was possible but I didn
’
t really think about it.  Now it was a definite and not a
“
maybe baby
”
.  I thought I had grown pale which would be quite the sight to see.

“
Thank you,
”
I said.

I hung up the phone as the news sank in.  I felt both excited about the news and yet apprehensive because a baby was a big game changer in our lives.  It must have been a honeymoon baby and Blake and I hadn
’
t quite discussed children yet.

“
What was that all about?
” 
Blake asked.

“
I
’
ve got some big news.
”

“
Which is?
”

I couldn
’
t think of a way to phrase it and I certainly didn
’
t want to drop subtle hints as I both felt it was dumb and the fact that Blake would never pick up on them.  Suddenly I blurted out,
“
I
’
m pregnant!
”

Blake stopped and looked at me with wide eyes. 
“
You
’
re
…
we
’
re
…
a baby?
”

“
Apparently so.
”

“
Wow.  I mean
—
that
’
s wonderful!  Am I acting right?  I mean, how are expectant fathers supposed to react?
”

“
Are you happy about it?
” 
I asked.

“
Yes!  Are you?
”

“
I am.  Then I suppose we
’
re doing something right.
”

Blake nodded,
“
Wow.  I always wanted kids but I didn
’
t think we
’
d be having them so soon.
”

“
Nature had other ideas.
”

“
I was also a good surprise so these things do happen.  You
’
ll need to see the doctor regularly and I
’
ll take you to the appointments.
”

“
Oh, you mean to say you can
’
t send the royal doctor over here to examine me?
” 
I teased.

Blake grinned,
“
Which one would that be?  There are multiple countries still with kings and queens?
”

“
I
’
ll have to think about that,
”
I said.

“
I
’
ll also have to check my connections.
”

Expecting a baby pushed my plans along rather than stopping them.  It made me want to be able to finish this program for the kids before the baby made his or her grand appearance.  Once the baby was born there wouldn
’
t be much time for work as I would be a full time mother.  Was I already a full time mother despite not having birthed the baby yet?  Did motherhood begin the moment that we found out we were expecting?

It wasn
’
t worry that made me think about and ask these things but rather a genuine curiosity.  As a child I had always asked questions and showed a great curiosity in the world.  Now that these things were happening to me that curiosity came back.

Which reminded me, I had to tell my parents!

I called up Mom as she
’
d be most likely to pick up the phone.  Dad would probably be out back working on something or another.  Dad did like to spend his retirement tinkering with objects and seeing what made them tick.  Mom did joke it kept him from raiding the kitchen and wreaking havoc in there.

Dad did have a talent for building and putting things together
…
as well as taking them apart.  Perhaps it was a good thing that he worked away on his
“
toys.
”

I heard the phone ring and then ring again until the answering machine picked up.  My guess was they were probably busy seeing friends or out grocery shopping.  Most of the time at least one person was home.

I left a quick message saying I had important information and for them to please call me back.  I wasn
’
t entirely sure of the etiquette but announcing that I was pregnant on an answering machine message didn
’
t seem appropriate.  Some things were better told face-to-face, yet I didn
’
t feel it right to announce such a thing on a message.

Where was an etiquette teacher when I needed one?

No, scratch that.

I would probably get my rapped across my knuckles with a ruler simply for doing half the things I did today.

That and some of those etiquette teachers seemed very strict and unforgiving.  I knew my way around basic etiquette but don
’
t think I would
’
ve lasted very long with a strict etiquette teacher.

I went back to my written plans about what to do with the program for the kids.  I had thoughts of renting out a building for the time being.  I knew Blake could easily afford to buy the building and then some, but part of me was worried that if this had failed then we
’
d be out that money that was spent.  When that happened the building would either have to be sold once again or even be demolished for something new to be built in its place.

So what was the correct answer?

I knew I refused to sink on this project yet I had to be realistic about it.

I would have to see the building, have it examined by someone of my choosing to make sure it was safe to inhabit.  Then there was also the matter of getting certificates and programs to make sure that children could stay in there.  I hadn
’
t worked with young children for so long that I had forgotten what went into most of the certificates and certifications.  I knew the basics of CPR and First Aid were necessary but what about the rest?

Maybe I should
’
ve gone into day care instead of college administration.

It didn
’
t take long for me to think that my body and hormones were trying to kill me.  We were supposed to be on the same side, weren
’
t we?

Even trying to rent a building could turn into a stressful experience.  If I wasn
’
t afraid that antacids could possibly harm the baby they would probably have become a food group by now.  I was normally fairly good at handling changes and stress but everything combined seemed to be getting the better of me.

My hormones were trying to kill me!

It did remind me of what had happened earlier on the way to this place.  Blake had decided to take a short cut that went past a hospital.  On the side of the hospital was death being stopped by a man holding the universal symbol for medicine.

When I pointed it out with
“
He
’
s saying
‘
not today
’
death!
”

Blake had looked and slowly said,
“
Uhhhhh
…
.oh-kay.  Someone has an odd sense of humor.
”

“
Are you jealous you didn
’
t think of it first?
” 
I joked.

“
Actually, yes I am.
”

We both laughed at that.

When were inside the potential building it was something that we all looked around.  It was a well-lit area with a large area for kids to play in outside.  But what was the interior wiring like?  What about the area where this building was?  Was it safe for kids?  Was it safe for adults?

Perhaps I was being paranoid but I also wanted to research the area.  I didn
’
t want to plunk down money and have it be in a bad area where bad people could invade and create trouble.

I knew any people working or volunteering there would have to go through a background check and drug screening.  I had to when I started working at that college and these days it was extremely routine for people to have to do that.  Especially when working with potentially at risk kids.

Then there was a question about the kids.  I certainly couldn
’
t be having them treated as potential criminals.  What were we going to do?  Put them all through metal detectors before they could enter?

Obviously there would have to be rules set up for them that they would have to follow.  Would their also be rules for them to be able to
“
get in
”
?  Would this just be open for a select few or for all?

What would the place be called?

Advertising it would be easy.  With the internet just about everything was possible!  You could promote almost anywhere and everywhere!  Getting the word out would be the easy part of the ordeal.

These were important things that needed to be figured out and discussed.  I knew Blake would offer his advice where possible, but he was not an expert in such subjects.  Instead, I
’
d have to try to seek out teachers for help and advice.  No one would know better than they would.

“
I want to swing by the schools to try to talk to the teachers,
”
I told Blake.

“
Why?
” 
He asked.

“
Who better than to give ideas and even help out?
”

No matter how old I got I always felt nervous going into the principal
’
s office.  I suppose we all did as it reminded us all of being children again and how much power that principal had.  We could be sent there for something possibly good, but it was most likely bad.  I still think they designed those halls and rooms that way to intimidate the kids.  I know they sure did with me when I was that age.

Blake didn
’
t seem to be as phased as I was by being here.  I didn
’
t know how or if the hallways and offices of private schools differed from public schools.  Either that or Blake had never spent any time at all inside a principal
’
s office.

The principal was a stout woman who was dressed in a semi-formal jacket and pencil skirt.  She sat down across from Blake and me. 
“
Normally I
’
d assume you two were parents rather than someone trying to start up a program for kids,
”
she admitted.

“
It
’
s something I
’
ve been wanting to do for a while now.  If we reach out to more at risk kids we can get them off the streets and give them something to do.  It
’
s when they
’
re on the streets they
’
re risking trouble and getting into dangerous situations.
”

“
I agree, but how do you plan on going about it?
”

“
I was hoping to be able to set up an after school program for them.  Somewhere safe that they can go to and spend time until their parents pick them up.
”

“
Something like a daycare then?
”

“
In a way.  I
’
ve seen that the day care here only watches the really young kids.  Up to the third grade.  The older kids need extra help as they
’
re at the most risk.
”

The principal nodded a little,
“
Yes, but where do we come in exactly?
”

“
I was hoping that I could speak to your teachers for advice and help on these kids and their needs.  There
’
s no one size fits all but I
’
m hoping to find the most common needs of these kids to help them.
”

“
You
’
ll have to do it after school hours as many teachers are busy.
”

Blake cut in,
“
Why not set up a time to call?
”

“
If one of the teachers has the time to talk that can be done,
”
the principal said.

I would
’
ve preferred a face to face discussion but I would accept whatever I could get.  I would want to keep a note book with me so I could take notes and ask questions.

I knew some of these teachers did believe in their kids and may even be willing to help in their free time.  Many teachers, if they saw potential, in a child they would do their best to bring it out.  I had no reason not to believe any of these teachers would be any different.