By the 20th week of pregnancy, everyone in The Peninsula knew she was carrying Gabriel Love’s baby. Even though it was never officially announced, the way Gabriel treated her like his queen was obvious to them, Jamie was the one.
The Tattler Magazine published a whole spread of Gabriel’s birthday party where he posed with his ‘pregnant date’. The article covered his little known background and a long review of his businesses and dynasty with a mention of his ‘pregnant date’ a few times. It was the only personal information anyone knew of him at the time.
He spent every afternoon walking along the shore hand in hand with Jamie. They act like lovesick puppies with Melvin always ten steps behind.
He showered her with gifts, from the simplest like her favorite books, to the most extravagant like jewelries, designers maternity clothes, shoes, even to fancy trips he wanted to take her to before she was unable to board on an airplane.
“I asked Harold to turn one of the vacant rooms into a nursery back home … he was thrilled to hear he was going to be a grandpa,” Gabriel said.
“At your house?”
He was amused by the question, “Are you coming home with me?”
She was silent for a moment, she hadn’t decided on anything yet.
“In case you reconsider the arrangement … if not, you could always come over and stay for a few nights with the baby.” He didn’t want to pressure her.
She was starting to think that she should probably reconsider, “That’s nice Gabriel … I’d love that.”
He kissed her hand as they strolled by the setting sun, “What else do you want, Jamie? What do you really want from life?”
It’s funny, she always thought she had everything she always wanted before she met Gabriel. Now, she wasn’t so sure. “I’m pretty happy with what I have now, why do you ask?”
“Because I can give it to you … whatever it is, I’m sure it’s 99% doable.”
He was right about that, and that 1% that she actually wanted was him, all of him.
She smiled, “Well … maybe someday I want to build a conservation in Africa … for the tigers and the lions,” she chuckled, “But I guess that’ll have to wait.”
He stopped and faced her, “Consider it done.”
“What? Are you serious? I don’t mean now … with the baby coming and everything.”
“Of course not, but it’s done … you’ll have it … and how about that trip to Malta? Are you up for it? Or maybe some other exotic countries you want to visit? Nepal? Monaco? Anywhere in the world just point to the map.”
“Malta sounds nice for now,” she smiled and kissed him.
He had arranged the trip for weeks, she didn’t really want to go anywhere else. What he had planned for her worked for her so far, she didn’t need to change anything.
He lingered in the kiss, his arms wrapped around her waist. It felt like a lifetime that he searched for someone he could trust with his heart and soul. He had found it in her. When he broke away, his eyes softened. “I think I love you,” he said.
She stared at him and relished in the moment. “I think I love you too.” She couldn’t let that moment pass without telling him what she really wanted. “What if I want you? All of you … without secrets … without confidentiality agreements … I think that’s the only thing I want now,” her heart beated faster when she said it.
Gabriel didn’t flinch, his eyes still rested on hers, he kissed her hand, “Then you shall have that too.”
Perry had also turned their guest room into a nursery. Even though he said he was open for a change of plans, he seemed ready to welcome a baby in his life too. Jamie thought she really had to start talking to him about their newest development. Gabriel was ready to have a real relationship with her and she was too.
Perry came to visit that weekend, and whenever he was in Bhorma, Gabriel always invited him to have dinner on his boat. A nice fresh lobster dinner and white wine. They watched the sunset from the boat ride across Bhorma shores with a nice dinner and a little Frank Sinatra.
“We’ll have a party on my yacht after the baby is born, how’s that sound?” Gabriel was in a festive mood, he seemed to want to celebrate everything.
“You have a yacht?” Jamie was surprised.
“Yeah … it docks in France, we could fly there and celebrate in the yacht for a few nights, I’ll have them prepare a special room for you and the baby,” he sipped on his wine.
Perry seemed excited, he’s never been on a yacht before, “Have you guys decided on a name? For the baby?”
Jamie looked at Gabriel, “Not really … I have a few ideas though, if it’s a girl … Camille … or Kendall … I’m still looking for one if it’s a boy,” she held Gabriel’s hand.
“I always like the name Jack … have you decided on a name, Perry?” Gabriel kissed Jamie’s hand.
Perry was moved by the way they looked at each other, deep down inside he knew they were going to be together eventually, they just needed time. “No,” he didn’t want to be in the middle of them. “I think those are very nice names, the baby should be lucky to have either of those names,” he smiled and raised his wine glass.
It was already dark when they got back on the shore. They were walking back to The Peninsula, Jamie walked in between Gabriel and Perry.
Despite the mild headache she’s been having for the past two days, she wasn’t complaining. But it got worse after dinner and she felt a bit feverish.
Perry had gotten really friendly with Gabriel since they got to know each other on the island, they were talking and she could actually hear Gabriel laugh a few times. She didn’t want to interrupt them. She was going to talk to Perry in private later about reconsidering their arrangement.
Her feet were wet, the tide was getting high. But then she felt wet between her thighs, they weren’t close enough to the water to be that wet. She looked down to her feet.
“Gabriel,” she tugged his arm but he was in the middle of a conversation. “Gabriel,” she called again.
Gabriel turned to her. She was looking down on her feet. They stopped walking.
“What is it?” he couldn’t see clearly.
Jamie’s face was drained of colors, she pulled up her dress and there was blood dripping from between her legs. Enough blood to soak the length of her legs to her feet.