Read Online Obsession (Endurance) by Shayne McClendon - Free Book Online Page A

honey?”
    “I…I
almost struck him, Mom.  I wanted to claw out his eyes.  I
barely stopped myself.”
    She
nodded in complete understanding.  “We all realize the stress you’re
under.  I’m fine with sending him away and I’ll find Theresa another
assistant, a female.”
    “No,
that’s giving my weakness power.  I have to get stronger.  I can do
that.”
    After
a long silence, Mom said, “Ellie, I bought you some books.  I didn’t want
to give them to you until you were ready.  I think they’ll help you
understand what you’re going through and explain what will happen next.”
    Dad
patted my knee, “It’s all going to be alright, Ellie.  You’re due in early
March.  We’ll have everything ready by then.”  Tilting his head, he
asked, “Do you think you’ll want a nanny?”
    “Not
sure about a nanny, can I think about it?  I need to get the room next
door ready.  I…I need to hire painters.”
    Mom
laughed.  “The room is already filled with a ridiculous amount of toys and
decorations.  I’ll have a decorator come in and talk to you.”  She
smoothed my hair and asked if I had a theme in mind.
    “Something
happy, Mom.  Something cheerful.  Nothing corny and no wall-to-wall
pink.” 
    They
sat and simply talked for a long time about everything and nothing, taking my
mind off the stress and the uncertainty that was rocketing through my
system.  It was pleasant and relaxing. 
    When
I fell asleep, I didn’t dream.  It was the deepest sleep I’d gotten in a
long time.

Chapter Seven
     
    The
next months passed quickly and without incident.  I kept up the swimming
and Mom brought in an instructor who taught me yoga and Tai Chi that was safe
for the baby.  I focused on my writing and worked behind the scenes with
the charities. 
    I
still ached randomly but Theresa said my body was still healing and carrying a
baby – serving me well, all things considered.
    I
didn’t want the outside world to know I was pregnant so I didn’t leave the
house.  Because of the attack, everyone would know the truth of conception
and I wouldn’t have my child carry that stigma for the rest of her life.
    My
folks brought in a team of attorneys who created confidential documents
regarding the artificial insemination I’d supposedly had done.  The birth
certificate would list ‘father unknown’ but when my daughter asked one day, I’d
tell her how badly I wanted a child and I didn’t wait to find the perfect
daddy. 
    She
was now and always would be my child, my little girl.  It
was the same story that would be provided to the media once the memory of my
attack faded. 
    Thanksgiving
at Elysian Fields saw the arrival of all my parent’s closest friends.  All my closest friends, though I’d kept them at a distance, were already
here.  Nelinda and Sarah cornered me in my father’s library and coaxed the
real story out of me about conception and I held them as they cried.  Zoe
and my mother were there for moral support then we all went back to the
party. 
    We
enjoyed the festivities and laughed more than I had in a long time.
    For
Christmas, the females on staff presented me with a quilt of memories they’d hand
sewn for the baby.  It was created from special fabrics like my old
Halloween costumes and ballet outfits, contained photos and ribbons I’d won,
and made me cry like a fool for twenty minutes. 
    The
men on staff presented me with a shadow box filled with more mementos from my
childhood.  They must have gotten things from my old trunks in the attic
that my parents rifled through.  I could tell both gifts were more for the
baby to see and I was more grateful for their kindness than I could express.
    My
team bought me two nickel-plated 9mm’s and a set of small daggers.  Si
looked at me and said, “After the baby arrives, we train.”  I smiled and
nodded. 
    That
night, when the excitement finally wore everyone out, I found another gift in
my bedroom.  It was a small