Legally Bound (21 page)

Chapter Thirty Three

“H
ello,” Paige said groggily into the phone. She had fallen asleep after her shower. Her whole body felt drained and her mind was racing with the words she still couldn’t say out loud.

“Um, h-hi it’s Marie,” a nervous voice came through the line. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Hey,” Paige inhaled. “It’s fine, I think it’s about time for me to get up. What’s up?”

“I-I,” Marie sighed into the phone. “I wanted to talk to you. I feel terrible about what happened. It’s all my fault. I never should have brought her here. I knew she can get these silly notions and do stupid things but… Paige, could we just talk? I have to fix this.”

“Slow down Marie,” Paige sighed. “Whitney and Bobby’s actions are their own. You don’t have to fix anything.”

“Oh Paige, but you don’t understand, would you please come to lunch was us. Mother and the ladies just want to make sure you’re okay. Mother thought it would be nice to go do a little shopping and then maybe you’ll be open to listen to what I have to say,” Marie said anxiously.

“I would love to have lunch and go shopping but I don’t think you need to explain anything for your brother.” Paige sat up in bed and brushed her hair out of her face.

“Maybe not but I want to anyway,” Marie said sadly. “We’re all meeting in the foyer in about an hour. Is that okay?”

“Sure that’s fine. Thanks for calling, Marie.”

“Thanks for answering,” Marie sighed.

Paige hung up the phone and it all hit her. The tears started to stream down her face as she cupped her hands to her still flat belly. In just a few shorts months it won’t be so flat and while everyone wanted to help Bobby and fix things for him, they couldn’t fix this.

Paige cried herself out then pulled herself out of bed and went to change to go out. She pulled on a purple sundress and slipped on a pair of purple jeweled flip flops. She had hair her straighten yesterday while she was being pampered but after last night it was more than she wanted to deal with today. She pulled it up into a ponytail.

There wasn’t much she could do with her puffy eyes so she grabbed a pair of sunglasses and her purse then took off to meet everyone downstairs. She could hear the women talking before she reached the foyer. When she came into view all conversation stopped.

Paige locked eyes with Camille who was standing in the corner as if she was afraid Paige didn’t want her there. Paige sighed to herself and ran over into her friends arms. She didn’t think she had anymore tears but they came spilling over as soon as Cam wrapped her arms around her.

“I wanted to give you space,” Camille whispered in her ear.

“I know Cam. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I was doing it again,” Paige sobbed.

“You weren’t doing anything, honey. I just know the ropes,” Camille said gently. “I was a bit surprised you called after Peter to be honest with you.”

“I guess I’m growing up. It was never your fault and I got a best friend out of the mess,” Paige sniffled as Cam rocked her back and forth.

She was growing up. The past was the past and it wasn’t Camille’s fault. She had no idea that Eric had a girlfriend or that he had just talked his girlfriend, Paige, into sleeping with him the night before, saying how much he loved her. It wasn’t Camille’s fault that the night after losing her virginity, Paige saw the man that took it coming out of her sorority sister’s room.

Camille had felt so bad after that she’d pushed her way into Paige’s life. They had liked each other before the whole Eric fiasco. When Camille found out what she had been placed in the middle of, she refused to give up being friends with Paige.

Strangely they had become best friends when it was all said and done, but not without consequences. Anytime Paige had a boyfriend cheat on her she wanted nothing to do with Camille for weeks. It had taken two months after Isaiah before she would answer Cam’s calls.

“No, I got the best friend. You got the slut that always manages to ruin your love life,” Camille grumbled.

“You’re not a slut. Don’t talk about my best friend like that. If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t know what it is like to finally really love someone,” Paige whispered and squeezed Cam.

Camille pulled away and wiped the tears from Paige’s face. “Or to be loved back, don’t let him get away honey.”

“It’s complicated,” Paige said almost to herself.

“I think some fresh air will help you clear your head,” Minnie said as she stepped up beside Paige running a hand down her ponytail. Paige nodded and they all began to make their way out the door.

~B~

“That was lovely,” Minnie sighed as they all sat around the table in the restaurant. They’d gone to a few shops and in one Minnie had them all fitted for cocktails dresses she was ordering for each of them as her treat. They would be for the end of the vacation party she was planning.

Paige felt odd to be getting fitted and was so glad that the party would be in a few short days. She could see the subtle changes in her body as she stood in the fitting room mirror. Of all people she thought that Julia would enjoy the fitting the most, but she seemed to have her mind else where the entire time.

“Thank you again Minnie,” Paige said as she looked across the table. “You really don’t have to take care of the dress, I’d be happy to.”

“Nonsense, James and I love throwing these little parties and it was a pleasure to treat you girls,” Minnie beamed. “Now for more pressing matters, Paige I was hoping you would hear Marie out.”

Paige looked down at her lap and started to fidget with her napkin. She knew this was coming, but she still wasn’t ready. She took a deep breath to summons her strengthen then looked up and squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.

“Marie, I will let you speak your piece but I will tell you now that I don’t know what it will change,” Paige said.

“Thank you,” Marie sighed in relief and began to tell Paige of the events that led up to last night and all she knew of the events that had unfolded. Paige sat and listened growing more frustrated and concerned about Bobby and all the damage that was done.

“Wait, she was sleeping with Chad. Nathan told me that Chad helped her take those pictures but I didn’t know he was cheating on you,” Paige gasped and reached for Marie’s hand to squeeze it.

“I should have known. Rita tried to warn me about Whitney all the time. I used to think it was just because they hate each other but I guess Rita was just really being a good friend and not wanting me to be hurt in the process,” Marie shrugged.

“Listen Marie, it sounds like you are trying to blame yourself for all of this. It’s not your fault,” Paige tried to reassure her.

“Paige, Bobby loves you so much. I would hate to think that someone I brought along caused you two to break up,” Marie said sadly.

Paige pressed her lips and shook her head. “Bobby and I have a lot to work out and trust me, your little friend is not the biggest issue,” Paige muttered as she started to push food around her plate.

Minnie looked at Paige knowing there was more to what she was saying, but not sure this was the time to press her for what was really bothering her. Minnie wanted the plans Bobby was making to workout. She was sure he would be crushed if it all fell apart now.

“Well at least we know that if Bobby does miss treat you Camille and Marie will be there to slap him around,” Ellen chuckled.

“What are you talking about,” Paige asked with a small smile.

“Oh gosh,” Julia almost choked. “Whitney called you something rather nasty and Camille snatched her off the ground.”

“And Marie slapped her,” Ellen cut her off to finish.

“Definitely not one of your most lady like moments, Marie,” Minnie said while looking down her nose at Marie. Marie bowed her head and looked into her salad. “But I don’t think I could have done a better job and I know I wanted to be the one with a stinging palm after the pleasure.” Minnie smirked and laughed.

“Now I’m sorry I left so soon,” Paige giggled as the waiter arrived to take away their salad dishes and place the entrees down in front of them.

As soon as the veal and pasta dish was set down before her and the aroma rouse to her nose and her stomach churned. Paige pushed the plate away and lifted her hand to cover her nose. Tears welled in her eyes as her fears rushed over her. This was really becoming a reality she couldn’t run from any longer.

“Paige dear, is everything alright,” Minnie said with concern when she noticed the sudden change in Paige.

Paige shook her head as the tears started to fall. She looked down into her lap as if the answers where there. “I think, no I know, I’m pregnant,” she sobbed.

Paige could hear the forks and knives clattering and the sharp gasps around her. She looked up through her lashes to see Minnie’s reaction first. Minnie was sitting with her eyes wide and her hands clasped together as a smile split her face.

“Paige, that’s wonderful,” Minnie gushed.

Paige shook her head. “I haven’t told Bobby and I don’t know if he wants this. I do, I really want a baby, this may not be the most opportune time but I want it more than anything. If Bobby doesn’t I… I’m scared I may loss him,” Paige sniffled.

“Oh Paige,” Minnie tsked and stood up to round the table. Camille stood and everyone moved over a seat so that Minnie could sit next to Paige. Minnie placed an arm around Paige’s shoulders. “My son is a determined man. He always has been, but when it comes to you I believe he would move heaven and earth to make you happy. Bobby wants you in his life and this little bundle of joy that you are carrying is only going to make him more determined to have you.”

“But what if he’s not ready? I didn’t mean for this to happen. I know how important his career is to him. We haven’t even been dating that long and this happened before we were, I just feel like I let everything get so out of control. What happened last night means nothing, because I’m going to lose him anyway,” Paige sobbed and hiccupped.

“Paige, drink this water dear,” Minnie said as she placed a cup in her hand and waited for her to finish the glass. “Now take a deep breath. That’s a good girl. Now… at thirty five I think it is well pass time that Bobby gives me a few grandchildren. Career or not Bobby will love this baby and you.

“And as far as the length of your relationship, James proposed to me two months after our first date and here we are thirty seven years later. Bobby isn’t going anywhere Paige. When Mairettie men find their true love it is a forever kind of love and they know it from the start.”

Paige wiped her eyes and gave Minnie a small smile as she pulled her in for a hug. “I want to take a test to make sure, but I’ve been sick every morning since the day at the water fall and thankfully Bobby sleeps like the dead. I have been able to cover it up most mornings,” Paige sighed heavily and shrugged. “I’m going to be a mother. I… will you all keep this between us until I tell him?”

“Sure,” Camille and Ellen chirped while Marie nodded with a big smile on her face.

“Well, don’t worry about me telling Marcus. He barely speaks to me anymore I don’t even know what I’ve done,” Julia mused to herself.

“You’re young, he’s in the middle of prepping for his first big case without his brother and father over his shoulder. You just got engaged and he is surrounded by his family and it’s drama. Things will be clearer once you two are back home,” Minnie said nonchalantly.

“I hope so. Whenever I mention the wedding to him now he gives me this look and says we can talk about it later,” Julia almost whined.

“You’re on vacation. Relax, there is plenty of time to plan your wedding when you get back home,” Camille said warmly.

“I guess you’re all are right. It’s just I want everything to be perfect you know,” Julia replied.

“When the time is right it will be,” Minnie said then patted Paige on the hand. “We will all keep your secret until you tell Bobby. James is going to be absolutely thrilled.”

“I just hope you’re right that Bobby will be,” Paige huffed.

“I have no doubt,” Minnie beamed at her.

~B~

The rest of lunch went by on a much lighter note. You could feel all the excitement about the new baby on the way. Paige started to think about her parents and how she was going to break the news to them now that she was admitting the truth to herself finally.

Minnie, Marie and Camille sat with her while she took a pregnancy test to confirm what she already knew. There was no going back now. She could see in all of their eyes that it was only a matter of time before one of them let the truth slip.

Paige sat on the bed in her bra and panties waiting for Bobby to come in from wherever he had been all day. She didn’t want to text him because he said he had something to take care of. This was all something she wanted to say in person. The hours ticked by only increasing her nerves. She wasn’t ready to tell him but she knew she had to soon.

As the hours grew later Paige was just agitated. He should have been back by now she kept telling herself. Then it started to sink in that maybe he wasn’t ready to see her.

Maybe he needed sometime too. He hadn’t text her either. He wouldn’t stop texting last night. Before she knew it she couldn’t hold her eyes open any longer and she was fast asleep.