“I love you, both, very much.” His voice faltered a bit, but he continued, “You’re going to be great parents.”
The bliss evaporated as I remembered that this man I’d only met a few days ago but had come to love and respect-was going to die.
He pulled out some medical-looking device from his nightstand. “Doc gave me this. It’ll take some readings and let us know if you’ve conceived.”
He punched something into the device and placed its two suction cups on Seana’s belly. He nodded then smiled.
“Perfect. Just like Doc promised. I’m so pleased.”
“What does it say?” Seana asked, her voice trembling.
“You’re pregnant.” And with that William ushered us to our room saying all questions and concerns would be taken up in the morning.
“Greg?” Seana whispered when the door closed behind us.
I knew she was thinking about William’s death. My mind spun. Surely they could find another way. He had lots of money and influence. But I didn’t want to think about that now.
“We’ll figure it all out, sweetheart. I promise. Right now, all I want to concentrate on is the new life that’s growing inside you.”
I didn’t wait for another word as the rapture of the moment took us both. I planted my mouth on hers and placed her onto the bed. We made love until the early morning hours. She fell asleep before I did, allowing me to scan her exposed body that housed new life, our dream come true.
I awoke to the sound of Seana in the shower. Was last night a dream? Yes, a perfect dream and very real.
The communications panel lit. I answered it. William’s face appeared on screen.
“Good morning, Greg”
“Good morning. Seana is just now in the shower, and she takes about an hour to get ready. Do you want me to have her call you when she’s finished?”
“No, that’s okay. Do you mind coming down now? I’d like to talk with you.” I agreed and clicked off the panel.
I thought that like Seana and me, William must’ve wanted what we’d discovered between the three of us to go on. With all his connections, there had to be a way.
I found him at a table filled with breakfast fare by the pool. He poured me a glass of orange juice.
“Enough of the niceties, man. What’s up?”
William laughed. “A quick study. I like that.”
“Very quick.”
He hadn’t shaved, but the shadow made him look even better, if that was possible.
A dreadful thought occurred to me. If there wasn’t a way to save him and he didn’t want to die, the government would require Seana to end the pregnancy.
“Are you backing out?” I felt my stomach lurch into my throat.
William studied me before he answered.
“No, I’m not backing out.” And I was sure he meant it. The conviction of his tone told me so. One of the maids appeared bringing more food, but William waved her away. His brow was furrowed with intent.
“Then what’s this about?” I inquired hesitantly.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Okay.” I was willing to do anything that was within my means, no matter what he wanted.
Like the first night I arrived at William’s home, Bennie jumped in the middle of the table, disturbing some of our meal. The arrogant prick began nibbling on some crumbs that had fallen from William’s plate. Unlike before, William let the cat stay.
“Will you name the baby Heather, if it’s a girl?”
I smiled. “And William, if it’s a boy.”
“Thank you.”
“But surely there’s another way. Neither of us wants you to…”
“Die? I know that, Greg. Who would’ve thought I could find love again after all these years? Not me. That’s for sure.”
“Seana loves you. Hell, I love you. Let’s do something about this craziness. We can’t have you die. Not now. We want you to be part of this baby’s life and our lives, too.”
“It’s not possible. People with a lot more money and pull than me haven’t been able to figure out a loophole around that.”
“Then another death. Surely you can afford one accidental death.”
“There isn’t time to get another one. The die is cast. Doc will be here in an hour to get things underway.”
My mind screamed. This wasn’t right. We needed him. I sipped my juice to allow myself a moment. He was not an eccentric millionaire wishing to play some kind of game with us. “Please, William. Try? Call in favors. Whatever. You can’t leave us.”
“I’ve been alive for centuries. It’s time for me to go.” He laughed and it made me smile. “Who knows? Maybe Heather is waiting for me on some other plane, tapping her foot because I’m so late. I’m not normally a believer in such things, but I won’t know unless I follow her.”
Seana walked over to us in regal splendor with the midmorning light only adding to her beauty. Bennie noticed her and jumped to her feet. He was lord of the patio and would greet all who dared enter his court.
She reached down and paid him his homage with a few pats. “Am I interrupting?”
“No, Babe. But I do think I should go shower,” I said, rising. I pulled out a chair for her.
“Sit and eat,” William urged Seana.
“Okay,” Seana conceded. “It’s a beautiful day. Did you talk to him, Greg?”
“I did, but my convincing skills aren’t nearly as good as yours. Take your turn at bat.”
She nodded.
I left knowing she would try but fail. I hated what lay ahead for us.
The poison had a difficult task against a body with supercharged antibodies, but William’s physician assured us it was working. Seana, Bennie, and I were by William’s bed all day. He seemed peaceful most of the day, but into the night, he began to become agitated. The doctor increased his dosage at eleven-thirty.
The next morning, William looked at us and smiled. Then he closed his eyes and fifteen minutes later, the doctor checked his pulse. Nothing.
With tears falling freely from our eyes, Seana and I clutched each other.
William was dead.
Everyone is asleep upstairs except the cat and me.
I can’t believe it’s been more than a year and a half since we lost William.
A few hours after his death, his attorney told us what he’d done. We got everything, including his five homes around the globe and more money than we could’ve ever dreamed of. Seana never had to face her asshole boss again.
That wasn’t the big reveal, though. Not by a long shot.
I still miss him and sometimes even cry, realizing how wonderful William was to us, and especially to me.
Devious bastard had worked it all out with his doctor and attorney. They’d been able to purchase one accidental death, but unfortunately not two. I’d been led to believe that my injection that night was to keep me calm. It wasn’t. Like William’s, it had allowed me to procreate, just liked he’d planned. The test William had run with the strange medical device confirmed Seana had conceived not just with his baby-but mine, too.
Nine months after William’s death, Seana’s pregnancy ended in the perfect delivery of our son and daughter.
We’re celebrating their first birthday in a few weeks in Hawaii.
Bennie sits in my lap.
I pet the arrogant cat that I’ve come to adore. “Bennie, can you believe that three thousand people have already sent in their RSVPs to attend the big bash for William and Heather?”
His purring tells me he’s not surprised at all.