Chapter 21
The next few weeks go by without too many problems. Alex and I get set up with our obstetrician. Alex has never been more excited in the whole time that I knew him. He can't wait until we get to learn what we're having. Wedding planning is also coming along fast. We have a date set for two weeks from this Saturday.
We choose to have a small wedding with just our closest friends and family. My mother and Jacki have helped me a lot in getting all the things set up. Katie and Erica have helped me get my dress picked as well as the wedding party.
"Mae. Do you have any preference on your cake?" Max asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"In all honesty, not really. I'm just so ready to get all this over with. It's kinda sad though. I always thought that if I had found someone worth marrying, I would be excited to plan my wedding. Now that I'm here, I don't really care." I start laughing.
My emotions have been all over the place. Being pregnant messes with you big time. I have been going through extreme mood swings lately. I'm surprised at how well Alex has been handling all this. Last night I had called him a bastard for not getting me any ice cream from the store. The problem was I had never even asked him for ice cream. I then proceeded to cry for being a "super bitch" to him.
Alex spent the next forty-five minutes calming me down and taking me out to get ice cream. He never once lost his temper and never got frustrated with me. I'm not sure who coached him on how to treat a pregnant lady, but they did a damn good job.
"Is it really that funny?" Max asks as I continue to laugh.
"Probably not. But with my hormones going bat shit crazy right now, it is the most hilarious thing on the planet." I continue to laugh like a crazy person.
Rosetta manages to walk in during my episode and looks over at Max in silent question. He shrugs as I start to finally calm down. She sits herself down on a stool and looks at me in silent question.
"I found it hilarious that I didn't really care that much about the details of my wedding. Which is weird." I shrug as I say this.
"Considering everything that you've been through, I'm not surprised. The Tanner fiasco took a lot out of you. Alex has moved in like there is no tomorrow, so you have sorta been blindsided by all this. Not to mention the little person in you who is currently taking all your brain cells." She chuckles as she says this.
"I think I will try what you do then. I will try and think up something to symbolize your love with Alex." Max says, puffing out his chest. Max has grown a lot in his designs, so I am excited to see what he comes up with for our wedding.
I spend the rest of the day getting stuff ready for the diner. Rosetta has continued to stay busy not only here but at the diner as well. All this work is great, but it leaves me exhausted at the end of the day. I knew that pregnancy takes a lot out of you, but this has been rough. I'm ready for the point in time when I start feeling better. My phone rings and I see that it is the doctor's office.
"Hello."
"Hi, may I speak with Mae?" I hear a soft voice over the phone.
"This is she."
"This is Gabby from your obstetrician office. We have an opening tomorrow at eleven if you would like to come in sooner and learn the sex of your baby. We head you on the list to get a sooner appointment if possible."
"Yes, please. I will be there. Thank you." I hang up the phone and immediately call Alex.
"Hey bab, everything okay?" He sounds worried.
"I'm great. We just got an opening to go in tomorrow at eleven for the sonogram for the sex. Can you make that?" I hear him suck in a Hugh breath.
"Yeah, I can. My meeting got canceled. This is awesome!" I chuckle at his excitement.
After we hang up, I get my stuff together and head out the door. I need to stop by and see my mother about a few things, and I want to spend some time with her. I tell everyone goodbye and head on my way, not knowing that I was being watched.
Alex
"Alex, there is a visitor here to see you." I hear the temporary assistant call through the phone. I was lucky enough to find a guy who was not only capable but had no interest in me.
"Who is it? I wasn't expecting anyone."
"He says his name is Declan."
"Send him in."
This was a surprise. Declan and I had not spoken in weeks since the incident at Xavier's wedding. Declan has always had a hard time admitting when he is wrong, and that night he was beyond wrong. He insulted my girl, and that would not stand with me. I sent word through Xavier that we could talk when he got his head out of his ass and apologized.
"Declan, this is a surprise, what can I do for you?" He looks at me, and I can see it in his eyes. There is guilt written all over his face.
"I came to grovel and apologize. I was way out of line, and I would like to make an apology to not only you but Mae as well. I've always had a blind spot when it comes to Tanner, and I let that cloud my judgment that night. I can't tell you how sorry I am for not only that night but everything he put her through."
Part of me wanted to watch him squirm longer, but I knew he was sincere in his apology. I know that Mae felt the same way. She had tried several times to get me to invite him over so we could make up, but I was stubborn. I wanted him to know that he had made me suffer. I get up and walk over to him.
"It's all good, man." I stuck my hand out for him to shake. He pulled me into a hug, and we both chuckled.
"I hear that congratulations are in order. Not only are you getting hitched, but you put a bun in the oven." He laughs as he says this.
"I can't deny any of that." I laugh. "Mae has been the best thing to ever happen to me. I love more than I thought was ever possible. I think once you get to know her, you'll like her too." I say this trying to not come off as an ass.
"I'm sure I will. If you and Tanner both fell in love with her then I have no doubts that she is amazing. There is something that I need to tell you though." He has an exasperated look on his face.
"Tanner has been following her around some. I don't think he has done anything other than that. But you need to know that he hasn't given up on the hopes that she will be his again. He is starting to notice the pregnancy, and I don't think anyone has come right out and told him. Do you want me to do that?"
The look on Declan's face says that he is worried about the situation. Tanner has never been a violent person before, but who knows what this situation has been doing to him. I want to believe that he would never hurt Mae, but I can't risk it.
"Yeah, you can tell him, but make it clear to him that he needs to stay away from her. She's already told him once, and I'll say it again. He needs to stop following her and stay away. Her apartment was broken into, you know." I huff out the last part, still upset that we have no answers.
"You don't think it was Tanner do you?" Declan asks.
"Honestly, I haven't got a clue who did it. They ruined practically everything Mae owned. I wouldn't think that Tanner would do something like that, but he's changed. Mae doesn't seem to think it was him either." I pace around the room. "I'm just worried about Mae and the baby."
"I'll talk to him. Maybe convince him that he needs to go on a vacation for a while and clear his head. Maybe getting away can put some perspective in his mind about what he needs to do." Declan gives a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.
He is just as worried as I am that Tanner may be involved in all of this. Mae hasn't said anything lately about feeling like anything is off. I'm hoping that we are at the end of all this and can finally move on.