Chapter 7
Ellery
As I awoke, I reached over to put my arm around Connor, but his side of the bed was empty. I sat up and looked around. I didn’t hear the shower running and Julia wasn’t in her crib. I put my robe on and walked down the stairs to the kitchen. Connor was sitting at the table with Julia in his arms, feeding her a bottle.
“Good morning, baby.” He smiled as he looked up at me.
“Good morning,” I said as I walked over and gave him and Julia a kiss. “Why didn’t you wake me? I would’ve gotten her.”
“You looked so peaceful sleeping, and I was already awake when she woke up.”
I poured a cup of coffee and sat down in the chair next to him. He looked so sexy in his black suit, and I wanted to take him upstairs and devour him before he had to leave for the office.
“Is something special going on today? You hardly ever wear a suit to the office.”
“I have to go to court today. I told you last week,” he said as he looked at me.
“Shit, Ashlyn and the trial. I completely forgot. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You just had a baby and you’re still trying to adjust. Don’t worry about it,” he said as he put Julia over his shoulder to burp her.
Denny walked into the kitchen and headed straight to the coffee pot.
“Good morning.” He smiled as he looked at us.
“Good morning, Denny.” I smiled in return.
As Connor was burping Julia, she decided to spit up all down the back of his suit coat. I jumped up as he looked at me.
“Seriously?” he said.
I tried so hard to contain my laughter, as did Denny, but we both couldn’t hold it anymore. I took Julia from Connor and held her while Denny handed him a towel.
“Don’t you know by now that you shouldn’t feed a baby while wearing a suit?” Denny asked.
“I guess I do now,” Connor said as he walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs to change.
Claire came into the kitchen, and I handed Julia to her. I walked upstairs and into the bedroom where Connor was pulling out another suit from the closet. I stood there with a smirk on my face.
“What’s that look for?” he asked.
“I just think it’s funny; that’s all.”
“You think it’s funny that our daughter spit up all over my five-thousand-dollar suit?”
“I do, and you don’t need a five-thousand-dollar suit anyway. That’s a ridiculous amount of money to spend. No one is going to know it costs that much, and you look just as sexy in a five- hundred-dollar suit.”
Connor pursed his lips together and put the suit he pulled out back in the closet. As he started walking slowly towards me, I knew the look on his face, and I knew I was in trouble. When he approached me, I put up my hands to prevent him from coming any closer. He grabbed my hands and threw me on the bed.
“You know how much I love it when you babble on like that.” He smiled.
“Please, Connor, whatever you do, don’t tickle me,” I begged.
Suddenly, we heard Denny’s voice from downstairs. “Connor, let’s go. You’re already late.”
Connor kissed me on the lips. “You’re lucky, Mrs. Black. But make no mistake; we will continue this tonight.”
“I’ll be ready.” I winked.
Connor let go of my hands and walked back to the closet and pulled out his suit. I went back to the kitchen and took Julia from Claire. Shortly after changing his suit, Connor came down, grabbed his briefcase, and we walked him to the elevator.
“Bye, my beautiful little girl.” Connor smiled as he kissed Julia on her head. “And goodbye to you, my beautiful wife,” he said as he kissed me on the lips.
“Bye, babe. Good luck and call me.”
He gave me a small smile before the elevator doors closed. I took Julia upstairs to change her diaper. Since I couldn’t stop thinking about the trial, I was pissed that Connor wasn’t talking to me about it. I wanted to be there for him, but since Julia had been born, I hadn’t had time to think about anything else but her, and I was exhausted all the time. I changed Julia’s diaper and carried her downstairs to find my phone. As I grabbed it off the kitchen counter, I dialed Peyton.
“Hello, bestie. Did you and Connor have amazing sex last night?” she asked.
“Good morning, Peyton, and yes, we did have amazing sex, but that’s not why I’m calling.”
“Oh, I thought you’d want to talk about it,” she said with a disappointed tone.
“Are you busy today?” I asked her.
“I just have a few errands to run. Why?”
“Connor is at the courthouse because the trial is starting today, and I really want to be there for him.”
“Did he ask you to go?”
“No, and he wouldn’t either. You know how he is. I just wanted to know if you could watch Julia for a few hours?”
“Of course I’ll watch that beautiful goddaughter of mine!” she squealed.
“Thank you, Peyton. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. I’ll be over in about thirty minutes.”
As I was putting Julia in her bouncy seat, Denny walked into the kitchen. “I’m glad you’re back. I need you to drive me to the courthouse,” I said as I looked at him.
“Elle, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You shouldn’t go there.”
“It’s not a matter of if I should or shouldn’t. I want to, and I want to be there for my husband.”
“I understand that, but I don’t think Connor wants you there.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you know me by now?”
“Yes. Just let me know when you’re ready.” He sighed.
I smiled as I walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Denny.”
“You know he’ll probably yell at me for doing this,” he said.
“Don’t worry about it. If he says anything, I’ll take care of him.” I smiled.
I asked Denny if he could keep an eye on Julia while I went to get ready. As I was putting on my black skirt, Peyton came strolling into the bedroom, holding her.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Elle?” she asked.
“Of course I’m sure.”
“You know that bitch is crazy, and you haven’t seen her since you punched her out.”
“I know I haven’t and that’s why it’s time.”
I put on my black heels, handed Peyton the diaper bag, and kissed Julia goodbye. “Everything you need is in here. If you’re going to take her with you on errands, then you’ll need the stroller and it’s in the hallway by the elevator.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve got this!” She smiled.
“Denny, I’m ready to leave,” I said as I grabbed by purse and we stepped onto the elevator.