TWO MONTHS LATER...

'Kiss me darling,' Tessa urged, pulling Brad closer to her. Brad dragged his lips to hers. His palm closed over her breast.

'Tessa___ ! Oh good Lord!'

Tessa pulled away. 'Darling! What is it? What's wrong!'  Brad! Talk to me.'

'You're pregnant,' his head dropped onto her chest.

'What!' Tessa was elated. She jumped up. Brad was knocked off. The duvet went flying off.
'I am? H ___ how do you know?' Tessa looked at Brad. He was not angry. He was calm and he seemed to be deep in thought.

'Brad?' She whispered.

He was far away, thinking about the day Tessa gave birth to Daniel, the day he almost lost his wife. The day she made him promise, if she were to die, he must remarry for their children's sake. Brad turned now to look at Tessa.

'I'm ___ pregnant?'
She wanted to believe it. She wanted it to be true. She had not stopped taking her contraceptive pills, because Brad had instructed her to keep taking it.

'Yes.'
Brad leaned over Tessa. His hand closed over her breast again, measuring it. It had definitely increased in size. Like it did the last two times she was pregnant.
'You're pregnant,' his eyes met hers. His fingers dropped lower over her flat tummy.

'I'm going to keep this baby right?' Her palms cupped his face appealingly.  'I mean, I did not disobey you. I'm still on the pill. I didn't know I'm pregnant.'

His fingers feathered her cheek. He smiled. His head lowered, his lips brushed hers, ever so tenderly. 'We're keeping our baby,' he promised huskily.

'Oh Brad, thank you,' tears filled her eyes. 'I love you so much. I can't believe it,' she sniffed. 'Why didn't I know I'm pregnant? I had absolutely no clue whatsoever.' Tessa brushed the tears away. 'I still had a cycle last month, ... or was it the month before that?' She was thoughtful.

Brad laughed. Very gently, he hauled his wife onto his chest. 'Clearly you are the most fertile woman on this planet.'

'You're happy darling?' Tessa asked, looking down into the depths of Brad's eyes.

'I'm happy for you my love, because it's what you wanted. My only fear is your safety. I will only stop fearing, after you deliver this baby and look into my eyes again,' Brad's voice was hoarse; his eyes glassy.

'I'll take care.  I promise.' Tessa cupped Brad's face. 'I'll do everything you want, even if you want me to stop working,' she vowed, kissing his lips.

'Let's hear what Dr. Leighton has to say tomorrow morning,' Brad pushed the strands of hair away from Tessa's face.

'Tell me you love me,' Tessa whispered.

'I love you darling,' Brad held her in a vice grip. You are the only woman I want,' he claimed passionately. 'You do not understand what you ask when you demand I take another wife ___ in your place. You are the beginning and the end of me Tessa.' Tears streamed down Brad's face. Tessa swallowed, she lifted her thumb and tenderly brushed the tears away.

'I can only pray, we'll be together, forever,' she whispered emotionally.

'That's my daily prayer,Brad murmured, 'that I am here for you and our children, for always.'

Tessa wrapped her arms around Brad's neck. She laid her cheek on his chest and held him tightly. 'We were making love,' she smiled.

'I just want to hold you,' Brad spoke throatily, 'but if you want to___' He did not complete his sentence.

'I want to stay where I am,' she murmured, snuggled atop Brad's body.

Bentley knocked on Brad's door and walked right in. Brad looked up, from packing his briefcase to leave.

'Whatever it is Bentley, it must wait till tomorrow. My wife is tired, she wants to go home.'

'I asked Mrs. Blakely if I could have ten minutes, she said it was fine,' Bentley looked nervous.

'Why does my wife always give in to you?' Brad folded his arms.

Bentley smiled and hovered nervously. 'Would you sit sir?'

Reluctantly Brad seated himself on the edge of the table. 'Yes?' Brad waited expectantly.

'I wished to discuss a personal matter with you,' Bentley started.

'You want a raise?'

'No sir. You pay me enough.'

Brad laughed, 'now how many bosses would hear a comment like that?'

'You do and thank you, but sir what I wish to discuss is,
l ___I wish to ___ marry Keri.'

'What!'

'If you oppose it ___ then I won't,' Bentley blurted.

'You've proposed to Keri already?'

'No sir. I wished to talk to you first.'

'Why? I'm not Keri's parent.'

'Well, us working together, has ___ implications,' Bentley mumbled.

'I see. So Keri's the one?'

'Yes sir,' Bentley smiled for the first time, since he walked in there.

'You sure?'

'Yes sir,' came the emphatic response without hesitation.

'Can I call my wife in here?'

'Can I know first if you approve sir? If you do, that's half the battle won.'

Brad laughed. 'I'd say if my wife gave you her blessing Bentley, then you needn't have come to me.'

'Well sir, perhaps if Mrs. Blakely knows you support it, then she will agree.'

'My wife has a razor sharp, intellectually enhanced mind of her own Bentley, and she is not easily influenced. You know that rather well, but for the record, I support you one hundred percent.'

'Thank you sir,' Bentley spontaneously lifted his arms, then dropped it.

Brad laughed. 'I think it's in order Bentley,' Brad extended his arms, and patted Bentley on the back.

'Brad reached over and buzzed Tessa. 'Darling will you come into my office.'

'Yes?' Tessa walked into Brad's office.

Brad looked up at his wife. She was looking more radiant each day. In fact she was glowing and she never stopped smiling. Brad could ask Tessa for the moon and she would hand it to him on a silver platter.
Dr. Leighton had confirmed her pregnancy. Tessa was now ten weeks pregnant. Brad was monitoring her progress like a mother hen.

'Have a seat darling,' Brad held a chair out for Tessa. 'Bentley would like to say something.'

'Oh?' Tessa looked curiously from Brad to Bentley.

'Mrs Blakely ___ I  ___ wish to marry Keri,' he uttered, before his courage failed him.

Tessa's eyes widened, then she laughed. 'That's wonderful, congratulations! Keri didn't say a word.'

'She doesn't know yet, Mrs. Blakely.'

'What!' Tessa looked surprised.

'Bentley didn't think we'd approve.'

'Why ever not? You are two consenting adults.'

Didn't Mrs. Blakely know, if the boss said no, I would not marry Keri?

'As long as you take care of her,' Tessa warned, 'or you will have me to deal with.'

'I will take care of Keri. I promise,' Bentley offered his assurance unhesitatingly.

'I guess this does affect logistical arrangements,' Brad laughed.

'What do you mean sir?'

'From now on, whenever we travel abroad Keri will always join us.'

Bentley accompanied Brad, on every occasion when Brad and Tessa travelled out of London. Brad understood all too well from his wife's history how separation destroyed relationships. He would always make sure Tessa and their children travelled with him, wherever he went. He would ensure the same for his trusted and loyal P.A.
A happy employee is a productive employee. That was Brad Blakely's motto.

'Thank you sir.'

'You've set a date then?' Brad asked.

'No sir.'

'Unless you plan on a wedding very soon, you may want to think along seven months from now, when our next baby is due,' Brad suggested. 'Keri would be free then.'

'I beg your pardon sir?'

'You not planning on going on your honeymoon by yourself are you?' Brad grinned.

'No sir,' Bentley looked uncomfortable.

'Tessa and I will be on leave then. It would be an ideal time for the two of you as well.'

'Yes off course.' Clearly Bentley did not think that far.

'Bentley,'

'Yes, Mrs Blakely?'

'Keri would have her own ideas about planning her wedding, but Brad and I will pick up the tab.'

Brad smiled and nodded.

'Excuse me!' Bentley was shocked.

'The wedding co-ordinator, the venue, Keri's dress, the rings, menu, drinks ___, the honeymoon, you name it,' Tessa smiled.

'Thank you very much Mrs. Blakely. I will discuss your benevolent gesture with Keri, but I insist on buying our rings.'

'Off course, I understand,' Tessa stood up and walked to Brad. She rested her palm on Brad's chest. 'I'm happy for Keri,' she murmured. Tessa remembered the heartache Keri had endured in New York.

'I'm happy for the both of them,' Brad looked down into Tessa's face.

'Well you got a romantic evening to plan Bentley. I'm taking my husband home. Congratulations again,' Tessa smiled happily. 'So I must walk out of here with a straight face?' Tessa laughed.

'Yes please!' Bentley pleaded.

'My daddy, teacher gave me homework,' Lyndon rushed into Brad's arms.

'I hope you've come to show me it's finished,' Brad lifted Lyndon into his arms.

"My daddy" Daniel mimicked, looking up from his toy trains quizzically at his brother.

Lyndon scowled at his younger brother's snide antics.

'Good afternoon Daniel Blakely,' Tessa raised her eyebrows at her younger son.

'Good afternoon Tessa Blakely,' Daniel mimicked his mummy. 'I don't want a bubble bath and I don't want my supper,' he answered dismissively, rolling onto his tummy to continue dissecting his train tracks.

Tessa folded her arms and exchanged a knowing look with her husband.

'Daniel come here,' Brad instructed, still holding Lyndon in his arms.

Daniel sighed heavily and dragged his feet to where Brad was standing. 'Yes daddy.'

'It's good manners to greet your mummy and daddy when they arrive home.'

'Good evening daddy,' Daniel looked up at his daddy from underneath his long lashes. 'Do I have to kiss you too?' Daniel wrinkled his face distastefully.

'Only if you love me,' Brad smiled.

'I love you,' Daniel grinned and puckered his lips. Brad laughed, as he bent down and offered his cheek to Daniel for his kiss.

'Your turn mum,' Daniel turned to his mummy.

'I'm not settling for that excuse of a greeting,' Tessa lowered herself onto the settee and crooked her finger at her younger son. He looked over his shoulder as if his mum was talking to somebody behind him. Tessa bit on her lower lip. Brad went ahead and just laughed.

'Daniel Blakely, come here,' Tessa held out her arms to Daniel.'

'As long as you not going to read me a story mum,' he negotiated.

'I just want a hug, my baby,' Tessa pleaded.

'I'm not a baby,' Daniel rolled his eyes and climbed onto his mummy's lap.

Brad and Tessa had sat both boys down individually and told them about Tessa's pregnancy. Lyndon had been happy at the announcement of another sibling. Daniel had not shown much interest at the time. Perhaps now, he hoped the sooner his mother got another baby, she would stop smothering him.

'I missed you,' Tessa hugged the little brat.

'I missed you too mum,' Daniel gave his mum an endearing smile. He fiddled with her wedding band, inspecting the intricate design curiously.

'What did you and Stacy do today?' Tessa kissed him.

'Momma can I speak to you?' Lyndon interrupted, from Brad's arms.

Tessa looked up at Lyndon. 'Yes off course angel,' she smiled.

'Not here,' Lyndon replied, sliding down from his daddy's arms.

Tessa looked at Brad. He shrugged his shoulders as if implying he was clueless.

'Excuse me Daniel,' Tessa rose. She held out her hand to Lyndon. 'Let's go into the kitchen.'

'Would you like a chocolate drink?' Tessa opened the refrigerator.

'No thank you,' Lyndon climbed onto one of the chairs.

She was not expecting Lyndon to say no. He never said no to chocolate. Tessa walked to Lyndon's chair. She lifted Lyndon up and sat down again with Lyndon on her lap.

'What's wrong sweetheart?' Tessa cupped Lyndon's cheeks with both her palms.

'Are we getting a girl baby momma?'

'What?' Tessa laughed softly.

'I don't like Daniel,' Lyndon looked hurt. 'He's always making fun of me.'

'Oh darling,' Tessa hugged Lyndon. 'Please, ___ you can't not like your own brother. He's still a baby. Daddy and I are still training him. Though, I will have a word with Daniel. You are both very different, but don't ever think something's wrong with you, okay?'

'Okay momma,' Lyndon lowered his head.

'I love you angel.'

'I love you too momma.'

The Blakely's were busy with dinner. Brad and Tessa were being entertained by the Blakely jester when Tessa's mobile rang. Tessa knew Brad did not allow interruptions to disturb their dinner, especially mobile phones. She cast a cursory glance at the screen and looked at Brad pleadingly.

'It's Keri,' Tessa announced apologetically. 'You know why she's calling,' Tessa beseeched.

'I will allow it just this once Tessa,' Brad's tone was grave.

'Hey Keri,' Tessa took the call at the dinner table. In the background Daniel was imitating his father's voice. Brad and Lyndon were laughing softly.

'Tessa,' Keri's voice was jubilant. 'I'm so sorry to disturb you, but I just have to tell you something. Mr. Blakely won't mind me calling you will he?'

Tessa's eyes flew across to Brad. His eyes were trained on Tessa as if hurrying her to get done with the call. 'Go ahead Keri,' Tessa smiled calmly.

'Oh Tessa the most amazing, wonderful, fantastic thing happened. 'Bentley just proposed to me. He organized this romantic dinner for us and then he went down on his knee! OMG, can you believe it Tessa. I'm ecstatic! I'm shocked. I can't believe it! I guess I should shut up and allow you to say something.'

Tessa laughed. 'I hope you said yes.'

'Off course I said yes. Bentley is so remarkable, so splendid, so marvellous. Oh, I'm so happy, Tessa.'

'I'm happy for you too Keri,' Tessa smiled. 'Congratulations, from Brad and myself.'

'Let me go back to my man,' Keri spoke softly. 'I begged him to allow me to call you. He said I could tell you tomorrow, but I managed to twist his arm,' she laughed conspirationally. 'I just had to tell you Tessa.'

'I don't know if you're going to be able to fall asleep tonight Keri,' Tessa laughed, so I'll see you in the morning.'

'Good night Tessa,' Keri laughed as she ended the call.

'Sorry,' Tessa murmured to Brad.

'Okay, I guess we can finally have pudding,' Brad smiled at the boys. They chorused their excitement loudly.

'I want chocolate,' Lyndon declared.

'I'll have strawberry,' Daniel licked his lips.

Like the proud mother that she was, Tessa looked at her sons adoringly. Both her boys were such a blessing. She could not wait for her third baby to be seated at the table as well.

Would it be a girl? Will she have her daddy wrapped around her little finger?

Tessa smiled to herself.

-end chapter forty three-