Two Hearts And A Baby

He sat at his desk looking toward the model of the building he was working on, but something wasn't right about it. How could he fix what's wrong when he couldn't figure out what it was? Getting ready to take a break and grab a drink the doorbell suddenly rang. She stood outside the door trying to decide whether to knock or just leave. Finally, she rang the bell, but then chickened out and began to turn away when the door opened. A gust of frigid air hit her face and he stood there handsome as ever. She didn't think she could go through with this but then he spoke.

"Hi Julie, I wasn't expecting you today isn't our date tomorrow night," Kincade asked casually even though he felt uneasy.

"Yes, our date is tomorrow but I really need to talk to you," Julie answered.

She glanced up to see a puzzled look on his face, but he replied, "Very well, why don't you come in."

He stepped aside allowing her to move pass him into the entrance closing the door firmly causing her to tremble. Walking past her she noted he wore faded blue jeans with a loose-fitting white shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and he wasn't wearing any shoes. His bare feet padded across the solid wood floor as he made his way toward the back of the house. Julie on the other hand wore sandals they made a flip-flop sound as she quickly followed him.

"Would you care for something to drink," he asked as they came into the kitchen.

"No, thank you," she softly answered.

He didn't stop just continued into the back room, which contained his home office. Kincade Jordan was a successful architect he spent most of his time at the office, but he still needed a place to work at home. Therefore, Julie was here because he always seemed to be working, they had to schedule their dates just like two business associates. Walking into his office, he sat down behind a desk with designs for a building covering it. She looked around this was the first time she'd been in this room. His desk sat in the left corner of the room while the rest of the furniture consisted of some filing cabinets, a large table where a model of a structure was sitting, finally a large plush sofa sat against the wall across from the desk. To finish off the room a single chair sitting next to a large floor lamp.

"Julie, what's bothering you," he finally asked after some tense moments.

She sat down in the chair then clutched her hands together in her lap and after a few minutes of fidgeting she spoke, "Well, I think we should end our relationship."

She sat in silence for a few seconds then finally looked up to see surprise then relief cross his handsome face, "I see, I'm a bit surprised maybe you should tell me why you feel this way."

She sighed, "I feel our relationship isn't going anywhere," standing up she began to pace, "For Christ sakes Kincade we have to set up an appointment just for a date. Look at what happened when I arrived here you were surprised to see me and it's because I made an unexpected visit. I just don't think I'm suited for this type of relationship."

When she finished, she sat down and looked at him he smiled then chuckled, "It's all right Julie I understand you're not the first woman who's dumped me for the same exact reason. It's best if I just shrug it off and let you go especially if it's your wish."

He watched as relief clouded her blue eyes, "I'm sorry Kincade, I thought things would work out."

"Don't worry it was fun while it lasted," he stood approaching her.

She glanced up as he stopped before her reaching down, he pulled her to her feet. Once she was standing, he tugged her into his arms for a fierce hug. She hugged him back then with his arm around her shoulders they walked back toward the front door. At the door, he leaned down giving her a soft feathery kiss on the lips.

"Thank you for the time, Julie, I hope you find happiness someday."

She smiled up at him, "You also."

He opened the door she waved goodbye as she made her way down the stairs to her car. He stood in the doorway for a while after she left just staring out over the neighborhood unexpectedly a feeling of loneliness washed over him. He didn't like the feeling quickly shutting the door going back into his office to work on the project. He started to think maybe Julie leaving was a blessing in disguise because now he could focus on the Slade project.

One-week later Julie sat in the kitchen belonging to her and her sister Faith crying. She couldn't believe things had taken such a horrible turn. She broke up with Kincade because their relationship wasn't going anywhere now a complication decided to intervene.

"I can't believe it we were so careful using protection every time. How could this have happened," Julie sobbed.

Faith tried to comfort her sister, "I'm sorry Julie, but even condoms aren't one hundred percent full proof. Have you decided what you're going to do now?"

Julie released another sob before hiccupping and finally through more sobs said, "Have a baby what else can I do I'm not getting an abortion."

"I know but are you going to tell him," Faith studied her sister closely as she waited for an answer.

"No, it's over between us, I won't make him a prisoner of my stupidity," she firmly stated.

Faith tried not to laugh but couldn't help it. The laugh however came out more sarcastic than one of genuine mirth, "You've got to be joking Julie, he's just as responsible for this as you are. I mean it does take two to make a baby, it's a two-way street not a one."

Julie interrupted her before she continued her tirade knowing Faith, she'd go on forever if she didn't, "Look I realize that, but I'll not go back to Kincade and force him into something he doesn't want. I was miserable in that relationship so for these reasons I can't go back."

"Don't you think I know that I've been sitting here and watching you be miserable. I would never ask you to go back to him, but I think he should be financially responsible at least. I mean for crying Christ sakes it's his baby too."

Julie glared at her sister and shouted, "I said no, I'll not be dependent on him for anything from now on this is my baby."

Faith was surprised, "But Julie."

She cut her off, "No and I want you to promise me you won't run off and tell him about this baby."

Faith sat staring at her sister wondering what had suddenly gotten into her. Usually, she was calm and serene but looking at her, now you wouldn't think so. Suddenly Julie slammed her palms flat on the oak table that sat off to the side of the kitchen, "Damn its Faith promise me!"

She shrunk a little from her sister surprised at her sudden outburst, "Alright I promise I won't go near Kincade Jordan."

She released a deep sigh of relief then flopped down into a chair next to Faith. She felt relieved Faith wasn't going to tell Kincade anything about the baby.

Four Months Later

Faith sat in a little café with her best friend Sam it was lunchtime, and they always ate at the same place. It was Halloween night and all plans needed done for them to attend the costume party were complete. Of course, they've always attended the same one for the past six years.

"So, what does your costume look like," Faith said between bites of pasta.

Sam chuckled, "You know I'm not going to tell you."

She gave him a pout, "We go through the same thing every year. I don't understand why you can't just tell me."

Sam took a bite of his sandwich, "Because I love to see the look on your face when I walk through the door."

Faith rolled her eyes, "Fine."

"How is Julie doing?"

Faith sighed and pushed her plate away, "Physically alright mentally I'm not sure."

"Explain," he said as he too pushed his plate away.

"She seems to be over the morning sickness, but she sometimes just sits in the rocking chair in the nursery."

"How is that strange?"

"It's not the act that's strange but the look on her face as she rocks," Faith picked up her coffee to take a drink.

Sam nodded his head, "She gets a faraway look. It's like she isn't even in the room but somewhere else that's only in her mind."

"Exactly, but when I ask her if she's okay she says yes then gets up and begins cleaning or cooking something."

The server came by picking up the dishes leaving the ticket, "I guess we better get back to work."

"I guess," Faith grabbed the ticket because it was her turn to pay. They walked to the front where she paid the cashier.

Work went by quickly after lunch and Faith couldn't wait to get home. She had the perfect costume for tonight's party in addition, she was anxious to see what Sam was going to be wearing. The party they were going to was one that Sam's friends hosted every year. Pulling into the complex were her and Julie's condominium was located Faith parked then hurried into the place.

"Julie I'm home," she dropped her briefcase and computer bag on the table next to the door as she did every day.

There was no answer, so she shouted again, "Julie where are you."

"Back here in the nursery," Julie finally answered.

Once Julie decided not to tell Kincade about the baby, both women decided they would share a room. This left the second room vacant, which they turned into a nursery for the baby. As usual, Faith found her sister sitting in the rocking chair with her hands on her protruding belly staring off into space.

"Are you alright," she asked.

Julie looked up and faintly smiled, "Of course."

"Hmm."

Julie stood leaving the room to head toward the kitchen, "So you and Sam are going to the annual Halloween party again this year."

"Of course," Faith followed her into the kitchen.

"What is he going as?"

Faith chuckled, "He wouldn't tell me it has to be a surprise as usual."

Julie shook her head, "You two are so weird."

"I know, but it's so much fun."

She looked at Faith, "I can't ever see you settling down and having children."

This was a new one for Julie, "How can you say that."

"The way you and Sam go about I just don't ever see it," Julie stated firmly.

Faith didn't like were this was going, "I want children someday but for now why can't I have some fun."

"There's nothing wrong with it, I was just saying," Julie seemed off again.

"Are you sure you're alright."

"I'm fine now get ready for your party."

Faith left the room to get ready this year she decided to go as cat woman. She was ready in under an hour, which was perfect because just then Sam knocked.

Julie opened the door and shouted, "Good lord Faith will you come look at this," Faith walked into the room to find a drag queen Sam standing in their living room.

She started laughing, "No wonder you didn't want to tell me about your costume. Sam, you really are crazy."

"I know but you love me anyway," he spun around in a circle causing the girls to laugh again.

The party was in full swing when Faith and Sam got there. She was reluctant to leave Julie home alone to pass out candy after the conversation, but she insisted so they left. Now at the party nothing else matter except having fun and she was certainly having fun especially when a masked man approached her.

Kincade decided to go to a costume party that one of Slade's friends was throwing. He usually didn't go for this type of thing, but Slade said he needed to loosen up a bit after the breakup with Julie and with work. Therefore, he agreed to go and dressed up as Zorro. The party was going on already when they arrived, but he found he was having loads of fun. Then he saw her she was taller than most of the women here and was dressed as cat woman all in slick black leather. As she moved those long legs while wearing spiked boots, he was enticed to her and tempted to do naughty things. He finally made it to that side of the room just as she'd finished talking to some drag queen. She turned and dark blue eyes meet his and they sparkled with mischief.

"Well hello Zorro," her voice was just as erotic as her body.

"Care to dance Cat Woman," his voice was deep and rich.

Faith couldn't make out his eyes in the dim light, but they were dark like his hair, "Only if later I can unmask you," she laughed as they made their way to the dance floor.

"I'll have to think on that," he laughed as they began to dance.

The music was pumping their bodies fit perfectly together as they began to dance a little dirty. Kincade couldn't believe he was even here dancing like this with some strange woman but at this very moment, it seemed so right. He could sense she was just as turned on as he was but then the dance ended.

"How about a drink," he said.

She agreed they went to the bar to grab something he ordered a whiskey, and she ordered the same, "Are we going to tell each other our names," he took a swig of his drink.

"I kind of like the mystery of Zorro maybe later tonight we can unmask each other then get names," she laughed again.

He found he liked her naughtiness and was beginning to have some real fun as they continued to tease each other. They danced again his body was on fire for this delectable cat woman. Then the drag queen ran up to her and whispered something in her ear.

"Are you sure," her voice changed to one of concern instead of fun.

"Yes," the drag queen said.

"Oh, God let's go," she looked at Zorro, "I'm sorry I have to go it's an emergency."

She started to walk away and Kincade realized he hadn't gotten her name, "Wait I didn't catch your name," however, the crowd of people had already swallowed her up, "Damn it!"

Slade came up to him just as he swore, "What happened."

"Nothing, I was dancing with this really hot woman, and she had to abruptly leave. I didn't catch her name."

"Man, that sucks," Slade shook his head.

"Let's get out of here," Kincade turned to leave, and Slade followed.

"God, I hope she's okay," Faith said as they made a dash into the hospital emergency room.

A woman at the counter spoke, "Can I help you."

"Yes, my name is Faith Summers, my sister Julie was brought here she's pregnant."

"I'll buzz you back she's in room 120," the woman said as she pushed a button.

Faith and Sam went through and straight to room 120. They entered and found Julie hooked up to a baby monitor and it was beeping steadily with the baby's heartbeat. Julie looked up and smiled at the two because they looked so ridicules, "You didn't have to come."

Faith walked up to Julie and kissed her forehead, "Of course I did."

"Who called you anyway," Julie asked.

Sam spoke, "I have a friend who works here at the emergency room and when she saw your name, she knew to call me."

"Oh spies," Julie chuckled.

Faith and Sam laughed too, "Are you alright."

"I'm fine I tripped falling then started spotting blood, so I came to the emergency room just to be safe."

Faith sighed, "What have the doctors said."

"They said the baby is fine and still attached but I should rest and not do too much for a few weeks."

"Then that's what you'll do," Faith stated firmly.

"But what about work," Julie declared.

"No work, I'll talk to your boss and explain everything. I know you have some vacation, and it won't take away from your maternity leave it'll be fine."

Julie nodded her head in agreement, "By the way it's a boy."

Faith looked at her then at Sam and they both whooped with joy, "A boy, but I thought you didn't want to know."

Julie smiled, "I didn't, but then when they were ultra-sounding me, I couldn't help myself. So, I asked it's a boy."

She was almost five months along she'd scheduled an ultrasound in two weeks, but they would double check just to be sure. After some time, they released Julie to go home and rest for two weeks.

Julie spent her two weeks doing absolutely nothing and felt a bit better for it. She still has this awful feeling something was going to go wrong Thanksgiving was upon them. The girls treasured this holiday because of all the family they lost. Being the only two left made this holiday even more special for them Julie baked pies for a couple of days. She woke early on Thanksgiving morning to start the turkey. Faith always slept in on this day no matter how much she tried to wake her up.

"Faith get up lazy butt up I need help with some of the cooking," Julie shook her sister for the sixth time that morning.

Faith groaned and rolled over mumbling, "Go away."

"If you hadn't stayed out so late with Sam you wouldn't be tired," Julie scolded.

"God, you sound like Mom," Faith covered her head with her blanket.

"I need something from the store, so you have two choices. Get up and go to the store or get up and watch the turkey," Julie turned to leave the room.

Faith sat straight up, "Alright I'll watch the turkey I don't feel like going to the store."

"Either way I don't care," Julie walked out of the room.

Faith sighed heavily as she rolled out of bed. She loved Julie with all her heart but sometimes she could be a pain in the butt. Lately her moods have gotten worse, but Faith contributes it to the pregnancy. They never talk about Kincade the baby's Father, she tried a few times, but Julie became enraged, so they never discussed it anymore. Julie drove the short distance to the closest grocery store it didn't matter if it was more expensive because she wanted to get back home. Faith was getting better about things they didn't argue about her telling Kincade about the baby anymore. She even helped her plan, so they could have someone home with the baby always. There would be no daycare for the baby and Julie had decided that Faith would make a great mother someday. Pulling into the store she located a parking spot as close as possible. Exiting the car and walking into the busy store she knew she was beginning to show but wore big clothes, so no one noticed yet.

Making her way to the aisle that held the gravy, she grabbed a couple of large jars. She turned to head back toward the front of the store to check out and there he was. Kincade was frustrated he was here at the store because he'd forgotten the one thing his Mother asks him to get every year for Thanksgiving. The cranberry sauce he'd been so absorbed in his work lately that he completely forgot. As he started down the aisle, he noticed her just as she bent to grab some gravy she straightened turned and stared at him in shock.

He smiled at her, "Hi Julie," he called.

Julie didn't reply she just turned and hurried in the opposite direction. Kincade stood for a few minutes confused then started to follow calling her name. She could hear him calling but darted down another aisle in the hopes of avoiding him. Finally, when she hit the front, she went to the line with less people in it.

She prayed he wouldn't see her, "Good morning, Happy Thanksgiving," the checker greeted Julie.

"Happy Thanksgiving," Julie absently answered then looked behind her that's when she saw him come out from the aisle she'd ran up.

Kincade was scanning the store looking for her he didn't understand why she'd run from him. They had separated on good terms besides she's the one who ended the relationship. Julie prayed the woman would hurry up, so she could get out of the store before he spotted her.

"That'll be six dollars and seventy-eight cents," the checker told Julie.

Julie reached into her purse grabbed a ten and handed it to the woman. The woman took the ten then gave Julie her change, "Your change is three dollars, and twenty-two cents have a wonderful day."

Julie took the money then smiled at the woman, "Thank you, have a wonderful day to."

Kincade spotted her at that exact moment, "Julie wait."

He saw her rush out the door and wondered about her behavior but finally decided to grab what he came for then head to his parents. Julie jumped into her car before letting the breath she was holding out. Her heart was racing so fast she thought for sure it would jump out of her chest. Almost coming face to face with Kincade brought home how much she really wished she could tell him about the baby. Maybe Faith was right it would take some pressure off her if she had him to help but she didn't want to tie him down. Then a thought came into her mind if she was having this much trouble with this then if something should happen to her would Faith be able to do it all by herself. Maybe she should rethink the Will she was setting up so after Thanksgiving she'd go see the lawyer. As she drove back to the condominium, she shook her head why was she talking as if she wasn't going to raise her child. The Will is just a precaution for if something should happen. The death of her parents proved that, so she wanted to insure if anything happened to her, her son would be well taken care of.

Pulling in and parking Julie went into the condominium and sighed with relief. She didn't want Faith to know she'd encountered Kincade at the store. She would be angry with her for not taking the opportunity to tell him about the baby. She would sit for at least an hour and tell her how stupid she was. How could she not tell him when he was standing right in front of her? Julie will be asking herself the same thing for the rest of her life. When she felt, her emotions were in control she went into the kitchen where Faith was sitting at the table completely dressed. Faith looked up at her and could sense something wasn't completely right just the way Julie looked at her.

"What happened," Faith glared at her sister.

"Nothing, why," Julie walked over to the oven to check the turkey.

Faith still glared at her, "I don't believe you."

"Of course, you wouldn't," Julie slammed the jars of gravy down on the counter.

Faith just looked at her completely stunned by her outburst, "Whoa back up just a second."

Julie turned to her, "No you back up a second I told you nothing was wrong, and you don't believe me. I don't have to tell you everything that's bothering me," Julie instantly regretted her harsh words and burst into tears, "I'm sorry Faith it's just been so rough lately."

Faith stood and went to her sister hugging her, "Oh Julie it'll be alright."

Julie continued to cry while her sister soothed her, and they both realized this Thanksgiving neither one would forget. It finally sunk in they only had each other and this baby a baby no one planned they would hold onto him at any cost. This was a new beginning for the sisters.

Kincade arrived late to the house, and this wouldn't make his Mother happy. He parked and hopped out of the car when the door opened, and Susan came out.

"Mom is furious right now," she looked haggard.

"I'm sorry, I forgot the cranberry sauce then I got sidetracked at the store. Then traffic was horrible," he hurried up the stairs and into the house followed by Susan.

Susan didn't think this was going to be a particularly good Thanksgiving and she was right because the minute they entered the kitchen Mom was all over Kincade.

"How can you be late? You know I like to start things on time and not be delayed."

"I'm sorry Mom, it's been a long week then the store was crowded plus traffic was horrible."

Emily looked at her son, "Fine let's get dinner on the table so we can finish our night."

He smiled walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek, "It looks great."

She tried to be mad at him, but it was hard, "When are we going to meet the new woman you've been seeing."

Kincade groaned, "Damn."

"Kincade watch your mouth," she scolded him.

"Sorry, real soon," he moved toward the kitchen door to escape.

"What is her name," Emily grabbed the cranberry sauce container and emptied it into a bowl that matched all the other China she used.

Kincade stopped, "Christina."

"Christina what," she picked up the bowl that now had a spoon in it which also matched the silverware they used.

"Stewart," he replied as they left the kitchen for the dining room.

"I knew some Stewart's, I wonder if she's related," Emily was hoping so because that meant great breeding. Her daughter had done well with Howard Alderwood so now it was up to Kincade to make a perfect match. The rest of the night was perfect for her after finding out this information.