Chapter XXIII

A Matter of Trust
~ * * * ~

The honeymooners had spent a wonderful day touring the wine regions of Italy. They were headed to Venice next, but decided to stay at a quaint inn for the night. Jax had been very quiet since Gene had told him the news about the baby, and Gene had been worried about that.

She came out of the bathroom to find Jax sitting in bed staring out into space. She sat on the edge of the bed, touched his cheek, and said, "Jax, what's wrong? Are you upset about the baby?! I had so wanted to make you happy with the news, but you seem a little upset."

Jax looked at her then, but didn't know what to say. She took his silence as disapproval of the news. "Oh, Jax," she said, "I really hadn't planned this. It just happened. Ironically, I think it was our first time at the barn! I thought you would be pleased. I thought that I could finally give you something that no one else had ever given you - a child of your own!" Tears were streaming down her face and Jax' heart nearly broke. He gently touched her stomach and said, "Gene, darling, I'm not upset with you! I love you! Nothing could make me stop loving you! Don't you know that. This has nothing to do with you or the baby - I'm scared, Gene. That's the truth. I hate to admit it, but I'm scared. A baby is a huge responsibility and I don't exactly have a great track record. I'm afraid I'll make a horrible father!"

She smiled at him and hugged him, "Oh, Jax, you'll see....it'll be wonderful! We have so much love between us, I know we have enough love for a little baby, too! I just know it!"

She was so close to him then, he could smell her perfume and feel her heart beat - or was that his heart beating. He felt the same old longing come over him, but he was afraid of hurting her. Already, he thought, this baby is coming between us.
"Jax, you will make a wonderful father! I just know it. I've seen you with Meg and Emma - they adore you and I know you adore them. Are you sure that's the reason," she asked, "are you sure you're not afraid that you won't love me as I get fat!"

She was visably upset now and that was the last thing he wanted. He pulled her up onto his lap and stroked the red hair he loved so much, "Gene, darling, don't you know I love you! I don't care if you gain weight. I love you. Nothing can change that! You, my darling, are the first woman to ever capture my heart and my soul and I won't ever give up on that. I plan to love you to the day I die!"

As if sensing his thoughts, she lay down next to him and pulled him on top of her, crooning in his ear, "I love you Jax....I love you." He pulled away a bit and looked at her. "I want you so much, Gene, but I don't want to hurt you or the baby."

"You won't hurt either one of us," she said, "it's OK, Jax, I want you too! I love you darling....." She began kissing his neck as they each lost themselves in each other.

Afterward, they lay side-by-side in each other's arms. "That was amazing," he said, "and you are amazing. You are even more beautiful now than the day I married you. And, I can't believe that is my little baby you are carrying inside of you!"

"Oh, Jax, I have been waiting to tell you since our wedding night. I am so happy, darling.....you have made my life complete. You and the baby are my life....you'll see, we're going to be so happy."

He kissed her forehead thinking that he was truly blessed the day he met this incredible woman. He was beginning to like the idea of the baby growing inside her. He caressed her stomach, marvelling at the forces of nature. He could already feel a small buldge where her stomach had once been flat. That's my child, he thought, my child, and I will try to be the very best father a kid could have!

Meanwhile, back at the Jamison ranch......

Olivia waited until she knew Leila would go upstairs to take care of Simon. He had been crying for about 15 minutes, and she knew Leila would not ignore him. She quietly crept down the stairs and into the library, where she found Mike waiting for Leila to come back. "Oh, hello, Mike," she began, "I didn't know anyone was in here. Where is Leila?"

Mike just shot her a look and said, "Simon was crying so she went upstairs to check on him." "Oh, and he does adore her, you know," was her reply. "As a matter of fact, I had wanted to discuss him with you, Mike. It's a professional question..."

He was quick to reply, "You have nothing to worry about, Olivia, I checked him out thoroughly and he is just fine. As a matter of fact, he's a very healthy little guy."

I was going to have a cup of tea, would you like to join me?" "That would be very nice," he said. She went over to the sideboard and placed the tray with the tea and cups she had brought in. She turned her back to him so he wouldn't see what she was up to. "Cream and sugar?" she cooed. "Just sugar" was Mike's reply. She put a teaspoon of sugar into the cup and then dropped something else into his cup and stirred it.

She handed him the cup of tea and waited until he drank it. She made small talk for a few minutes until she saw that he was getting a little unsteady. When he dropped his teacup on the floor, she knew he was ready. I hope this all goes as planned, she thought. Oh, well.....here goes.

She untied the belt holding her robe and allowed the robe to fall to the floor. Underneath she had nothing on except for a pair of scant panties. She climbed onto his lap and started unbuttoning his shirt and fly. He tried to protest, but she could see he was too weak to do much of anything.

He looked up at her, but could hardly focus. "What....wha...what are you doing? Who..." his voice trailed off. All he could see was the blonde hair. He thought it was Leila - "Leila, that you?"

Good grief, Olivia thought. Is she all this jerk can think of? Here I am trying to seduce him and he's thinking of Leila! Hymmm....I hope I didn't give him too much of that stuff, he's acting a little strange.....

Damn, she thought. I must have given him too much - he's not responding at all. He's just sitting here like a lump. What a dud! At that moment she heard footsteps in the hall. Ah, show time, she thought - at least I can make this look good!

She heard the inevitable gasp she knew Leila would let out, and turned around pretending to be shocked. "Oh, Leila, oh........I'm so....." The mention of Leila's name seemed to snap Mike out of his stupor. "Leila, Leila, where..." He could barely make out her figure standing in the room. He tried to jump up, but couldn't find his legs.

Leila took in the scene and felt something out of place, "What's going on here?" she said.

"Oh, Leila, I'm so sorry," began Olivia, "I didn't want to but Mike just kinda forced me - he yanked off my robe and began groping me! I tried to get away, but he's so strong...."

Leila looked at Mike. His eyes were rolling and his speech slurred, as if he were drunk. But it couldn't be, she thought, I've just been gone about 15 minutes. Something just isn't right.

Mike had managed to get to his feet, dropping Olivia to the floor as he did. She scrambled to cover herself with her robe. He stood in front of Leila trying to maintain his balance. "Leila....Leila....it's you my love. But how...." and he looked down at the floor at Olivia.

He looked back at Leila and some sort of reasoning came into his mind. Oh, no, he thought, this can't be happening. "Leila, this isn't what it looks like....."

Before Mike could finish the sentence, the room began to spin and he slumped into Leila's arms. Leila could barely hold him up, and she gently eased him to the floor.

Mike was on the floor passed out cold. Olivia looked a little worried and hurried over to peek over Leila's shoulder. "He isn't dead, is he?" she asked. Leila was furious with Olivia and snapped, "What did you give him, and how much?"

Olivia was scared, "I, I don't know what it was....I just gave him the whole vial. I didn't think it would hurt him."

"Well, it's obvious your little pea brain didn't think this one up. Who put you up to this," Leila snapped at her. Olivia merely looked at her with her eyes wide and Leila knew who it was. "Help me get him upstairs into the guest room, but, you and I are not finished."

Olivia was shaking, "Is he going to be alright?"

Leila was furious and just as worried, "You had better hope so!"

To be continued.......

The honeymooners had spent a wonderful day touring the wine regions of Italy. They were headed to Venice next, but decided to stay at a quaint inn for the night. Jax had been very quiet since Gene had told him the news about the baby, and Gene had been worried about that. She came out of the bathroom to find Jax sitting in bed staring out into space. She sat on the edge of the bed, touched his cheek, and said, "Jax, what's wrong? Are you upset about the baby?! I had so wanted to make you happy with the news, but you seem a little upset." Jax looked at her then, but didn't know what to say. She took his silence as disapproval of the news. "Oh, Jax," she said, "I really hadn't planned this. It just happened. Ironically, I think it was our first time at the barn! I thought you would be pleased. I thought that I could finally give you something that no one else had ever given you - a child of your own!" Tears were streaming down her face and Jax' heart nearly broke. He gently touched her stomach and said, "Gene, darling, I'm not upset with you! I love you! Nothing could make me stop loving you! Don't you know that. This has nothing to do with you or the baby - I'm scared, Gene. That's the truth. I hate to admit it, but I'm scared. A baby is a huge responsibility and I don't exactly have a great track record. I'm afraid I'll make a horrible father!"
She smiled at him and hugged him, "Oh, Jax, you'll see....it'll be wonderful! We have so much love between us, I know we have enough love for a little baby, too! I just know it!" She was so close to him then, he could smell her perfume and feel her heart beat - or was that his heart beating. He felt the same old longing come over him, but he was afraid of hurting her. Already, he thought, this baby is coming between us.	"Jax, you will make a wonderful father! I just know it. I've seen you with Meg and Emma - they adore you and I know you adore them. Are you sure that's the reason," she asked, "are you sure you're not afraid that you won't love me as I get fat!" She was visably upset now and that was the last thing he wanted. He pulled her up onto his lap and stroked the red hair he loved so much, "Gene, darling, don't you know I love you! I don't care if you gain weight. I love you. Nothing can change that! You, my darling, are the first woman to ever capture my heart and my soul and I won't ever give up on that. I plan to love you to the day I die!"
	As if sensing his thoughts, she lay down next to him and pulled him on top of her, crooning in his ear, "I love you Jax....I love you." He pulled away a bit and looked at her. "I want you so much, Gene, but I don't want to hurt you or the baby." "You won't hurt either one of us," she said, "it's OK, Jax, I want you too! I love you darling....." She began kissing his neck as they each lost themselves in each other.
Afterward, they lay side-by-side in each other's arms. "That was amazing," he said, "and you are amazing. You are even more beautiful now than the day I married you. And, I can't believe that is my little baby you are carrying inside of you!" "Oh, Jax, I have been waiting to tell you since our wedding night. I am so happy, darling.....you have made my life complete. You and the baby are my life....you'll see, we're going to be so happy." He kissed her forehead thinking that he was truly blessed the day he met this incredible woman. He was beginning to like the idea of the baby growing inside her. He caressed her stomach, marvelling at the forces of nature. He could already feel a small buldge where her stomach had once been flat. That's my child, he thought, my child, and I will try to be the very best father a kid could have!

Olivia waited until she knew Leila would go upstairs to take care of Simon. He had been crying for about 15 minutes, and she knew Leila would not ignore him. She quietly crept down the stairs and into the library, where she found Mike waiting for Leila to come back. "Oh, hello, Mike," she began, "I didn't know anyone was in here. Where is Leila?" Mike just shot her a look and said, "Simon was crying so she went upstairs to check on him." "Oh, and he does adore her, you know," was her reply. "As a matter of fact, I had wanted to discuss him with you, Mike. It's a professional question..." He was quick to reply, "You have nothing to worry about, Olivia, I checked him out thoroughly and he is just fine. As a matter of fact, he's a very healthy little guy."	I was going to have a cup of tea, would you like to join me?" "That would be very nice," he said. She went over to the sideboard and placed the tray with the tea and cups she had brought in. She turned her back to him so he wouldn't see what she was up to. "Cream and sugar?" she cooed. "Just sugar" was Mike's reply. She put a teaspoon of sugar into the cup and then dropped something else into his cup and stirred it. She handed him the cup of tea and waited until he drank it. She made small talk for a few minutes until she saw that he was getting a little unsteady. When he dropped his teacup on the floor, she knew he was ready. I hope this all goes as planned, she thought. Oh, well.....here goes.
She untied the belt holding her robe and allowed the robe to fall to the floor. Underneath she had nothing on except for a pair of scant panties. She climbed onto his lap and started unbuttoning his shirt and fly. He tried to protest, but she could see he was too weak to do much of anything. He looked up at her, but could hardly focus. "What....wha...what are you doing? Who..." his voice trailed off. All he could see was the blonde hair. He thought it was Leila - "Leila, that you?" Good grief, Olivia thought. Is she all this jerk can think of? Here I am trying to seduce him and he's thinking of Leila! Hymmm....I hope I didn't give him too much of that stuff, he's acting a little strange.....
	Damn, she thought. I must have given him too much - he's not responding at all. He's just sitting here like a lump. What a dud! At that moment she heard footsteps in the hall. Ah, show time, she thought - at least I can make this look good! She heard the inevitable gasp she knew Leila would let out, and turned around pretending to be shocked. "Oh, Leila, oh........I'm so....." The mention of Leila's name seemed to snap Mike out of his stupor. "Leila, Leila, where..." He could barely make out her figure standing in the room. He tried to jump up, but couldn't find his legs. Leila took in the scene and felt something out of place, "What's going on here?" she said. "Oh, Leila, I'm so sorry," began Olivia, "I didn't want to but Mike just kinda forced me - he yanked off my robe and began groping me! I tried to get away, but he's so strong...." Leila looked at Mike. His eyes were rolling and his speech slurred, as if he were drunk. But it couldn't be, she thought, I've just been gone about 15 minutes. Something just isn't right.
Mike had managed to get to his feet, dropping Olivia to the floor as he did. She scrambled to cover herself with her robe. He stood in front of Leila trying to maintain his balance. "Leila....Leila....it's you my love. But how...." and he looked down at the floor at Olivia. He looked back at Leila and some sort of reasoning came into his mind. Oh, no, he thought, this can't be happening. "Leila, this isn't what it looks like....."	Before Mike could finish the sentence, the room began to spin and he slumped into Leila's arms. Leila could barely hold him up, and she gently eased him to the floor.
Mike was on the floor passed out cold. Olivia looked a little worried and hurried over to peek over Leila's shoulder. "He isn't dead, is he?" she asked. Leila was furious with Olivia and snapped, "What did you give him, and how much?" Olivia was scared, "I, I don't know what it was....I just gave him the whole vial. I didn't think it would hurt him." "Well, it's obvious your little pea brain didn't think this one up. Who put you up to this," Leila snapped at her. Olivia merely looked at her with her eyes wide and Leila knew who it was. "Help me get him upstairs into the guest room, but, you and I are not finished." Olivia was shaking, "Is he going to be alright?" Leila was furious and just as worried, "You had better hope so!"