Carrying the Billionaire's Baby: A Clean BWWM Billionaire Romance (The Billionaire Baby Mystery Book 1) by Courtney King Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Courtney King
head against his chest. “It’s okay. Everything is okay.”
Chapter 10
Sherry awoke to the sound of a fetal monitor and the beeping of the blood pressure machine. Richard was curled up in a chair beside her bed, sleeping.
She lay still, trying to feel the baby, then looked up at the fetal monitor. Still beating. Outside, in the hallway, she could see the nurses and the doctor talking to an older woman. The woman was waving her hands angrily, and finally the doctors relented and stepped away from the door.
Mrs. Black walked into the room, her eyes worried and her makeup perfect. A young doctor followed behind her.
“Is the baby okay?” Sherry asked.
“The baby’s fine, they said, just some pre-term labor and a little dehydration,” the doctor said, as Richard stirred awake.
“So, how long are they going to keep you?” Mrs. Black asked.
“Until her fluids are up and the baby’s heart rate is stable, maybe overnight,” Richard said. “You can go, mother. I’ll take care of things here.”
Mrs. Black gave Sherry one last long look, then left the room. The doctor made a few notes on a clipboard, and followed her out the door.
Richard turned back to Sherry, but she was fast asleep again, the monitors humming behind her. Richard leaned in and kissed her, lightly, on her forehead. He laid out the blanket and pillow on the chair in the corner of the room, and made himself as comfortable as he could.
***
The morning after Sherry returned home from the hospital, Marlene arrived at Sherry’s bedroom door with a breakfast tray. She set it next to her, then walked to the other side of the room and scrolled on her smartphone.
Sherry situated herself up in the bed, propping herself on the pillows. “How’s the weather out there?” she asked.
Marlene didn’t answer.
“Marlene,” Sherry said, a little bit louder this time.
“What?” Marlene asked, looking startled.
“I said, how is the weather outside?” Sherry repeated, adding a teaspoon of sugar to her tea.
“Oh, it’s a little chilly today. They say it might rain later.”
“Oh, I guess I’ll just stay here then,” Sherry said.
“Well, you don’t have a choice”, Marlene said, without looking up from her phone.
“I know. It was a joke.”
Marlene put down her phone, shook her head, and walked closer to Sherry’s bedside. “I’m sorry. I’m distracted.”
“It’s okay, I’m just trying to make the best of things.” Sherry smiled. “You don’t have to stay and watch me eat breakfast. I can call you if I need something.”
“I have strict orders from Richard to stay by your side”, Marlene explained.
“You really respect him don’t you?” Sherry asked.
“Of course, he’s my boss.”
“Can I ask you something personal?” Sherry asked.
Marlene shifted her stance a bit. “Uh, I guess.”
“Did you and Richard ever date each other?”
Marlene looked down at her feet and quickly answered, “No.”
Seeing how uneasy Marlene was with the conversation, she decided not to pry any more.
“Sherry, for a long time now, Richard has only had eyes for you. You should know that.” Marlene explained.
“Well, it hasn’t been that long”, Sherry answered.
“Yes, well even back when you were—” Marlene stopped short.
“Back when?” Sherry wanted her to continue.
Marlene started gathering Sherry’s plates. “Let me get these things out of your way,” she said as she hurried out of the room.
“Marlene, back when we were what?” Sherry pleaded.
“Nothing. Never mind.” Marlene rushed out of the room, nearly dropping the tray.
In the kitchen, Marlene slammed the tray down on the counter, spilling its contents.
“What’s the matter with you?” demanded Evelyn, looking up from her mid-afternoon wine.
“I can’t do this anymore. I can’t wait
Chapter 10
Sherry awoke to the sound of a fetal monitor and the beeping of the blood pressure machine. Richard was curled up in a chair beside her bed, sleeping.
She lay still, trying to feel the baby, then looked up at the fetal monitor. Still beating. Outside, in the hallway, she could see the nurses and the doctor talking to an older woman. The woman was waving her hands angrily, and finally the doctors relented and stepped away from the door.
Mrs. Black walked into the room, her eyes worried and her makeup perfect. A young doctor followed behind her.
“Is the baby okay?” Sherry asked.
“The baby’s fine, they said, just some pre-term labor and a little dehydration,” the doctor said, as Richard stirred awake.
“So, how long are they going to keep you?” Mrs. Black asked.
“Until her fluids are up and the baby’s heart rate is stable, maybe overnight,” Richard said. “You can go, mother. I’ll take care of things here.”
Mrs. Black gave Sherry one last long look, then left the room. The doctor made a few notes on a clipboard, and followed her out the door.
Richard turned back to Sherry, but she was fast asleep again, the monitors humming behind her. Richard leaned in and kissed her, lightly, on her forehead. He laid out the blanket and pillow on the chair in the corner of the room, and made himself as comfortable as he could.
***
The morning after Sherry returned home from the hospital, Marlene arrived at Sherry’s bedroom door with a breakfast tray. She set it next to her, then walked to the other side of the room and scrolled on her smartphone.
Sherry situated herself up in the bed, propping herself on the pillows. “How’s the weather out there?” she asked.
Marlene didn’t answer.
“Marlene,” Sherry said, a little bit louder this time.
“What?” Marlene asked, looking startled.
“I said, how is the weather outside?” Sherry repeated, adding a teaspoon of sugar to her tea.
“Oh, it’s a little chilly today. They say it might rain later.”
“Oh, I guess I’ll just stay here then,” Sherry said.
“Well, you don’t have a choice”, Marlene said, without looking up from her phone.
“I know. It was a joke.”
Marlene put down her phone, shook her head, and walked closer to Sherry’s bedside. “I’m sorry. I’m distracted.”
“It’s okay, I’m just trying to make the best of things.” Sherry smiled. “You don’t have to stay and watch me eat breakfast. I can call you if I need something.”
“I have strict orders from Richard to stay by your side”, Marlene explained.
“You really respect him don’t you?” Sherry asked.
“Of course, he’s my boss.”
“Can I ask you something personal?” Sherry asked.
Marlene shifted her stance a bit. “Uh, I guess.”
“Did you and Richard ever date each other?”
Marlene looked down at her feet and quickly answered, “No.”
Seeing how uneasy Marlene was with the conversation, she decided not to pry any more.
“Sherry, for a long time now, Richard has only had eyes for you. You should know that.” Marlene explained.
“Well, it hasn’t been that long”, Sherry answered.
“Yes, well even back when you were—” Marlene stopped short.
“Back when?” Sherry wanted her to continue.
Marlene started gathering Sherry’s plates. “Let me get these things out of your way,” she said as she hurried out of the room.
“Marlene, back when we were what?” Sherry pleaded.
“Nothing. Never mind.” Marlene rushed out of the room, nearly dropping the tray.
In the kitchen, Marlene slammed the tray down on the counter, spilling its contents.
“What’s the matter with you?” demanded Evelyn, looking up from her mid-afternoon wine.
“I can’t do this anymore. I can’t wait
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