Tessa stirred when she felt Brad's hands sliding over her tummy.  She opened her eyes to find him leaning over her naked body.  He'd lowered the sheets, his eyes trained on her very pregnant stomach.  Self consciously Tessa lifted the sheet to hide her nakedness.  Brad stopped her hands.  His eyes slanted to hers, his head lowered again and his lips very gently brushed over her stomach.  Brad's palms cupped the sides of her bulging tummy.  He smiled adoringly at his wife.  Encouraged, Tessa raised her hands.  Her palms clutched the bulging muscles over Brad's forearms.

'I love you my darling wife.'

'I love you too,' she whispered, reaching out to cup his face.

'I want to make love with you,' Brad pleaded huskily.

Last night  had been amazing; sensational; fantastic.  She wanted nothing more than to make love with him again, now that she got affirmation that her husband still loved her elephant sized body.  Did they have time?  Tessa looked at the bedside clock.  She'd overslept, comfortably in Brad's arms the entire night.   She and Brad were expected in a meeting in precisely fifty five minutes.

'We don't have time,' she pulled Brad down.  Her actions belying her words as her fingers raked through his hair.

'I'm going to call Bentley and say my pregnant wife has delayed us.'  If they got out of bed now, they could make the meeting, but if Tessa yielded to his request, they would be very late for the meeting.'

'So I get the blame?' Tessa captured his lips in a sensual kiss, thereby demonstrating her sanction to the cause of their delay.

'I'll make it worth your while, I promise,' Brad expertly took over the lead from his wife.

Brad held Tessa in his arms, pressing contented kisses on her silky throat after their gentle yet exhilarating love making session, now everytime Tessa tried to get out of bed, Brad restrained her.

'Whoa!' Did you feel that?'  Brad jerked back in the bed.

Tessa chuckled.  'I guess your baby is sending you a message.'

'Baby, you listen to daddy,' Brad spoke with mock severity.  'This is my wife.'

'Don't threaten my baby,' Tessa grinned lovingly.

'So you happy with me being kicked at?' Brad scowled.

'Stop being a drama queen,' Tessa pressed her lips to Brad's.  We should wake up now,' she breathed.

'Shower with me,' Brad negotiated.  Tessa raised an eyebrow.  She knew what Brad intended to happen in the shower.

'Darling, I don't think we---.'

'Just shower,' Brad interrupted her.  'I don't intend to take any adventurous risks,' he grinned.

'You promise.'

'I promise my love.'  Brad was looking forward to just having her naked body in his arms, lathering her with tons of scented soap, and just luxuriating in a shower with his wife.

'Go on out,' Tessa laughed softly.  'I want to wash my hair.'

Brad sighed.  'I'll arrange breakfast,' he draped a towel around himself.

'Can I have a gown please darling,' Tessa requested as she finished her shower.  For some reason she was feeling tired.  She'd love to just climb back into bed and sleep the morning off.  When she got out of the bathroom luckily with her gown on, and her hair tied in a towel, Lyndon was in their bedroom.  Father and son were giggling about something.

'Morning baby,' Tessa smiled.  'You're up early?'

'We're ready for school,' Brad cleared his throat, alerting his wife to the fact that it was not early.

'Why are you using my daddy's shower?'

'Er---I ran out of shampoo,' Tessa made her way to her wardrobe and dressed up in a hurry.  Her husband was smirking and conveniently, had not come to her rescue.  Lyndon studied his mummy and thought she looked tired and was in some discomfort.

'Why didn't you fall pregnant my daddy?'

'What!'  Brad's brows knitted together.  He looked at his son through the mirror, as he buttoned his shirt.

'So momma does not have to be in pain?'

In the mirror, Brad's eyes lifted to his wife's.  Tessa was not in pain, but Brad would not deny that the additional weight pregnant women carried must surely be a source of discomfort.

'I'm not in pain angel,' Tessa smiled.  'I suppose God wanted mummies to nurture babies before they are born.'

Lyndon pondered on what his mummy had spoken, he did not seem too pleased with God's decision.

'That is one thing I agree with God about,' Brad grinned, 'I don't think I would like to be pregnant.'

'She should have made babies smarter,' Lyndon announced.

'She?'  Brad questioned, as he knotted his tie.

'God,' Lyndon explained.  'She should have made sure babies can talk when they are born.  If God was a man, he would build them to make sure they could talk, and that they never cried.

'Why you chauvinistic---,' Tessa hurled.

'Son, let's go have breakfast,' Brad strategically dragged Lyndon out of the line of fire.  He could still hear his wife, ranting, even after he shut the door.  Little did Lyndon know the can of worms he'd unearthed.

When Tessa finally entered the breakfast room, father and son were busy with breakfast.  Brad looked up cautiously.  Lyndon smiled innocently at his beautiful momma.

'Can I touch baby please momma.'

'Sure angel,' Tessa kissed the top of Lyndon's head, before she took her seat.

'I can't wait for Jack to come momma,' Lyndon looked up excitedly at his mummy.

'Don't call baby "Jack," Tessa pleaded, cupping Lyndon's cheek.   'Now hurry and finish up.'

'There you go,' Brad placed a loaded breakfast tray in front of Tessa.  She gawked.

What, am I eating for six?   'I---I.'

Tessa was about to remonstrate at the enormous meal placed in front of her.  When she saw the threatening look on Brad's face, she knew better, than to argue.

'I will be done just now,' she mumbled and picked up her knife and fork.  She wondered if Dr. Leighton did tattle tale on her after all as she worked through her first course of fruit and muesli and  distastefully eyed the hot buffet on her tray.

When Tessa got to the office, she was totally distracted during their meeting, which Bentley kindly shifted.  Or was it her body craving Brad all over again.  A surge of electric energy ripped through her as the unforgettable memory of Brad making love to her last night, kept heating up her body as she sat at her desk.  The tips of her fingers tingled.  Moisture formed in her deeper most parts.  Wonton desire filled her for more of Brad's possession.  After the meeting the desire just intensified, even though Brad was not even in front of her.  Her husband was totally focused and in work mode in his own office.

At one P.M. Tessa strode into Brad's office.  He was leaning over the round table where he conducted meetings, studying the morning's edition of GR.  Tessa grinned.  Normally her husband scanned all the international media at home electronically, before he left for the office.

'Are you bored?' Tessa laughed.  Finding his body irresistable, her palm slipped under his jacket.  She caressed the firm expanse of flesh on his back.

'I want to redesign our front page,' he murmured distractedly.  'I don't like the layout anymore.'

'Come home with me.'

Brad looked up from the newspaper.  He had thought his wife had come to kiss him goodbye.  Instead he heard a tone of voice he only heard when they were in bed.

'My afternoon is not free,' Brad spoke, though he was ecstatic at his wife's train of thought.  He did not want her slipping into that cocoon that kept him on the outside.

'You're the boss,' she whispered pulling his head down.  'Make it free,' Tessa kissed Brad with a hunger he last remembered from when she was still single.

'You starve me for six weeks and now you can't get enough of me?'

'I'm sorry,' she groaned.  'Believe me I wanted you so much,' the expressive rims of her emerald eyes reflected her sincerity.  Her hands slipped through his shirt.  Her roving fingers feathered over his chest evocatively.  She felt Brad's body respond.  His erratic breathing fanned her cheek.  Steel hands gripped her waist, moulding her against his pelvis.

'Come,' Brad laced his hands through hers and walked out.

'Where's Bentley?' Brad enquired, coming out of his office.

'He's having lunch,' Keri smiled.

'Don't you lunch together?' Brad questioned.

'No!___one of us has to man the office,' Keri answered uncomfortably.

Brad nodded, still gripping Tessa's hand tightly.  'Tell Bentley I'm going home with my wife.  He must reschedule my afternoon appointments.'

'Are you okay, Mrs. Blakely?'  Keri observed Brad's protective hold on Tessa's hand

'Yeah,' Tessa smiled.  'See you tomorrow,' she spoke as Brad ushered her out.

'Thank you,' Tessa smiled, pressing a kiss to Brad's bare shoulder.

'For what?' He traced a finger up the soft flesh of her inner thigh.  Tessa purred pleasurably.

'For loving me,' she whispered.

'Then I should thank you as well,' Brad pushed her onto her back and leaned over her.

'You've been so patient with me,' her finger traced over his lip.

'Once or twice, I was tempted to seduce you into submission,' his palm followed the sexy curve of her waist.

Tessa smiled, she wrapped her arms around Brad and hugged him.  He was definitely a gift from God in her life.  Tessa doubted if she could have had this bliss, married to any other male.

'Do you mind if we shower and get dressed.  I think Lyndon's back from school.'

'I bet he's going to be surprised to find his daddy home,' Brad laughed as he got out of bed.

Brad showered and was casually in corduroys and a sweater.  Holding hands, they walked into the warm kitchen to find Lyndon having his afternoon snack.

'My daddy, you are home,' a milky moustache formed above Lyndon's upper lip.  He jumped out of the chair and dived into Brad's eager arms.  Tessa's eyes lit up admiringly as she watched Brad hoist Lyndon up and hug him fiercely.  She lowered herself into a chair in the convivial kitchen.  Her breath choked in her throat as Lyndon angled his face in the crook of Brad's shoulder.

'Hi sweetheart, can mummy get a hug?'

'Hi momma,' Lyndon smiled, extending his hands towards Tessa.  Brad carefully placed Lyndon on Tessa's lap.

'You not resting today momma?' Lyndon asked with concern.

'Daddy and I were,' Tessa kissed his cheek.  'We came down to greet you.'

'Momma?' Lyndon whispered in Tessa's ear.  He looked slyly at Brad who was filling up the percolator.

'What is it angel?' Tessa asked with concern.

'Tell my daddy I want to eat in the restaurant tonight,' Lyndon whispered in Tessa's ear.

Tessa groaned silently.  Firstly she was really not up to going out tonight, not in her highly pregnant state.  Secondly, they hadn't made a reservation, although she suspected her husband could get a table even at ten minutes notice.

'Why are we whispering?' Tessa asked in the same undertone.

'My daddy said I must be patient and not trouble you until Jack comes,' Lyndon whispered again.

'I see,' Tessa met Brad's enquiring look and decided to mediate on her son's behalf.  'Darling we would like to go out to dinner tonight.'  Tessa cupped Lyndon's head, against her chest.  'Say yes,' she mouthed the words to Brad.

Brad raised an eyebrow disapprovingly.  The look he gave Tessa indicated he thought she needed to rest as much as possible.  His look continued to question whether she would be comfortable in a restaurant.  Tessa raised her own eyebrows at her husband compelling him to consent to their son's request.

'Very well,' Brad conceded.  'I shall make the reservation,' he stormed out of the kitchen.

'Yesss!' Lyndon raised a triumphant fist into the air.

'I'm going to have to find a way to make it up to your daddy, Master Blakely.'

'I promise I will be a good angel for you momma,' Lyndon nodded his head earnestly.

The grimace was still etched on Brad's face as he changed into a tux and evening shirt.  Tessa was relaxed, feeling good, physically.  She was relieved she managed to get some rest this afternoon after their extracurricular indulgence.

'Darling,' she snaked her arms around Brad's neck.  'Don't be cross,' she pleaded.

'You need to rest,' he glared at Tessa.

'We're just going to have a meal,' she sighed.  'It's not like I'll be doing any laborious task.'

'Oh---oh,' a tiny voice spoke from the doorway.

'What's wrong?' Tessa turned to enquire of Lyndon.

'I want to dress up just like my daddy,' Lyndon looked down at the casual trousers and polo shirt, Stacy dressed him into, as per Tessa's instructions.

'What you're wearing is fine Lyndon,' Tessa stated.

'Please momma,' Lyndon wrapped his arms around her knees.  'I have a white jacket just like my daddy's---please,' he begged.

She sighed at his plea and that irresistible puppy dog look.  'We must hurry,' she clasped Lyndon's hand in hers and went back to his bedroom.  Tessa opened his closet that held his formal attire and removed a pair of black evening trousers, white shirt and a matching white tux.

'My daddy is wearing a tie momma,' he stalled, when Tessa was leading him out again.

'Lyndon Blakely, you're going to eat dinner in the kitchen, if I get another squeak out of you.'

'Sorry momma,' he whispered and looked over his shoulder to make sure his daddy was not within earshot.  Tessa put the tie around her neck, stood in front of the mirror to get the knot correct and pulled it over Lyndon's head.

'How do you know how to do the tie momma?'

'She's had lots of practice,' both their heads lifted to see Brad looking rather handsome, leaning against Lyndon's doorframe.  Tessa giggled at the private joke.  Lyndon laughed although he was not sure what the joke was about.

As they walked into the restaurant, Lyndon was in the middle proudly holding his mummy's and daddy's hands.  Tessa smiled when she heard soft sounds of ooh and ahh. She was certain her young son was stealing the show tonight.

'May I?' Lyndon insisted on helping his mummy into her chair.  Tessa was astonished to discover her rather comfortable looking chair came with a luxurious backrest.  She was certain her husband had made the unusual request telephonically.

'Thank you Lyndon,' Tessa smiled at her son.  Tessa's eyes reached up to Brad, silently thanking him as well.  She got a wink, the intimate acknowledgement pleased Tessa.

As Brad and Tessa were gazing into each other's eyes.  They heard Lyndon speak.  'We shall have your finest champagne,' he requested in his father's most authorative tone of voice.

Brad and Tessa laughed simultaneously.  The maitre d' looked to Brad.  'Bring it on,' Brad stood up.  'Make it the non-alcoholic one,' Brad murmured in an aside to the wine steward. 

'Momma, I shall have a steak, just like my daddy.'

'But daddy had not ordered yet!'

'We're having steaks,' Brad's eyes met Tessa's with a wide grin.

Tessa flipped through the menu unenthusiastically, 'I'll settle on a smoked salmon salad,' she announced.

'Excellent choice Mrs. Blakely,' Lyndon announced in a remarkable imitation of a patronising waiter as he closed all their menus.

Tessa threw her head back and laughed.  'You're on a roll tonight, aren't you Blakely junior.'

'I told you I'm going to be a good angel for you momma,' he flashed Tessa a charming smile, 'and I'm going to eat --all my vegetables.'

Tessa was not swayed by Lyndon's last statement of intent, he did not sound very convincing.

Over the next week as Tessa was nearing her eighth month of pregnancy she was discovering her movements were becoming more and more restrictive.  Previously she could skip up the stairs blind folded, now she made each step with the greatest of difficulty.  Seeing her discomfort one evening, Brad innocently suggested they convert one of the rooms downstairs into a temporary bedroom.  She turned on him and very nearly bit his head off.  Brad silently cursed himself, as his wife went on the offensive about her burgeoning weight.  She snapped at Brad if he took two breaths of oxygen instead of the one.  Every morning she went on the rampage, having a screaming match with her wardrobe.  Brad strategically began his swimming sessions just before she began her morning fellowship with her wardrobe.  Lyndon was not spared either.  He also began tiptoeing around his momma.  He waited impatiently for "Jack" to makes its appearance.

'Lyndon Blakely how many times have I told you not to have your toys strewn around the lounge,' Tessa demanded.

'Sorry momma,' he blinked anxiously.  Brad looked up from the television, a sympathetic smile directed at his son.

'I want them picked---,' Tessa shut her eyes for a millisecond as a spasm in her abdomen almost choked her.  'Now, before I return.'   With herculean effort Tessa made her way up to her bathroom.  She clutched her stomach as another excruciating spasm shot through her.  She bit on her lower lip and tried to ride out the pain.  She was not in labour.  It felt nothing like a contraction.  The spasms had been coming intermittently over the last week.  Generally it was just one very sharp jolt and that was it for the day.  Today she'd had three attacks from it.  She sobbed as the pain caused her a near blackout.  Tessa had been terrified to call Dr. Leighton.  She hid them from Brad as well.  Fear gripped her now.  She did not want to lose this baby, not when she had tried so desperately to fall pregnant. 
Oh please God, please---let my baby be okay.

Tessa reached for her mobile and dialled Dr. Leighton.  She prayed her call would be answered.

'Dr Leighton,' Tessa almost cried with joy.   'Something's wrong---,'Tessa sobbed.  'I'm not in labour' she breathed heavily, 'but I am having the most excruciating spasms.'

'Tessa,' Dr. Leighton spoke in her calm professional voice.  'When did they start?'

'About a week ago---.  It was just once every day.'

'And today?'  The calm, soothing voice enquired.

'I've---just had the fourth one,' Tessa sobbed from the untenable pain.  Even labour with Lyndon had not been so devastating.  'Is my baby going to be okay?' Tessa whispered.

'I need to see you Tessa, now,' the doctor instructed.

'Perhaps---I can come in the morning,' fear made her procrastinate.

'Where is Brad?' Dr. Leighton enquired.

'Downstairs with Lyndon---.'  As she spoke those words, her bathroom door opened.  Brad stood there flabbergasted, seeing his wife in agonizing pain, clutching her tummy.

'Tessa!' Brad rushed forward and lifted her into his arms.  He placed her on the bed and spoke into her mobile.

'Hello?'

'Brad.  This is Dr. Leighton.  I want to see Tessa right away.'

'Yes.  We are on our way,' Brad snapped the phone shut.

'Darling,' he knelt down at her side.  'Why the hell did you not tell me?' his eyes were filled with moisture.  Instinctively, he knew something was wrong.  'Can I give you a mild pain killer before we leave?'

'No,' she whispered.

Brad worked with military precision.  He called the limo driver.  He then placed Tessa's emergency bag that she'd packed two weeks ago, at the doorway.  He called Stacy to watch over Lyndon until he returned.  Brad spoke to Lyndon gently, assured him Tessa was fine, but they were going to the hospital.  He asked Lyndon to kiss his mummy.

'I love you baby,' Tessa gave Lyndon a brave smile.

'I love you too momma and I will be a good boy,' he hugged Tessa.

Brad carried Tessa into the limo.  She clutched Brad's arm tightly as another spasm hit her.  Willing away the tears, she shut her eyes tightly and focused on the pain, hoping to overcome it.

'I'm so sorry Brad,' she whispered.  'I must have been hell to live with this last two months.'

'Don't talk my love,' Brad cradled her in his arms.  He pressed a kiss to her temple.  'You're going to be fine and baby is going to be fine,' he tried to convince himself with those words.

'In here,' Dr. Leighton had the doors opened, waiting.  Brad gently lowered her onto the bed.  'l'll do an internal inspection, then the sonar,' she slipped on a pair of gloves.

'I'll wait outside,' Brad thought Dr. Leighton was dismissing him.

'Brad don't leave me,' Tessa reached out for him.  He looked at the doctor, she nodded.

'I'm here darling,' Brad sat at her side.  He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.  'I'm here,' he whispered.

Brad watched as Dr. Leighton worked methodically.  She prodded.  Checked Tessa's blood pressure, fired questions at Tessa that she just barely responded to.  He wished he could tell something from the doctor's face, but her stoic expression gave nothing away.  Brad saw the doctor administrating an injection into the vein in Tessa's arm.  His eyebrow shot up questioningly.

'It is a very mild sedative.  It is just going to relax her muscles.'

'What's going on?' Tessa demanded.  'Do you know what the problem is?'  She watched as Dr. Leighton studied the sonar printout.

Dr. Leighton looked from Tessa to Brad, a very sombre expression on her face.

'Tessa you're bleeding internally.  I am going to perform an emergency C-Section right now.'

'What!'  Tessa cried out.  'Is my baby fine?  Tell me my baby is going to be fine.  Brad!' she screamed.

Brad put his arms around Tessa protectively.  Tears rushed down his face.  'Dr. Leighton?' he dragged out in a husky, hopeless voice.

'I cannot tell right now,' she spoke compassionately.  'I have to operate on you right away Tessa.'

'But---what---why am I bleeding?  Where am I bleeding?'

'From the scan, there is a concentration of blood around the hepatic portal vein.'  She circled the area on the monitor for Brad and Tessa.  Their untrained eyes were unable to pick anything untoward up from the scan.  'I do not want to give you a diagnosis until I see what's going on there.'

'Am I going to die?  Please save my baby---I---.'

'Tessa!  You are going to be fine,' Brad gritted his teeth.  He was not angry at his wife.  It was more a forceful declaration of faith.'

'I must prepare the theatre,' Dr. Leighton clutched Tessa's hand reassuringly.  'Brad I'll give you a few minutes with Tessa, whilst I alert the anaesthetist.'

'I'm going to die---,' Tessa cried.  'Brad, I am so sorry.  I love you so much---.  Take care of Lyndon---of our baby.  Call her Jessica,' she smiled through her tears, 'if it's a girl.'  Tessa placed her wedding band on the pinky finger of Brad's right hand.

'Tessa, stop it!' Brad growled.  'You are not leaving me, do you hear,' he shook her shoulders.  'You are going to be fine,' his voice choked.    'Doctors perform Caesarean births all the time.  Hell, celebrities opt for C- Section deliveries as a matter of choice. '

Tessa held her breath.  She tried to be brave for Brad's sake.  She knew internal bleeding had serious ramifications.  How much blood has she lost?  She dare not tell Brad, she had silently been carrying the pain for a week.  It was a miracle she survived this long, if she'd been bleeding for a week.

'You were the most amazing husband,' Tessa reached out for Brad's face.  She gasped as another spasm hit her like a ton of bricks.  'Promise me---,' she whispered.

'Anything,' he finished, just to ease her breathing.  He clutched her tightly against his chest.

'Promise me--- you will marry--- children need ---mother,' he barely heard her whispers.

'No!' he yelled.  'I NEED you,' Brad howled.    'We need you.'

'Promise---,' she shook his arm.'

'Charlotte---.'

'No,' Tessa cupped his face.  'You ---need to be taken care off.'  That thought killed Tessa, more than her unknown condition was doing.  The thought of another woman in Brad's arms was infinitely more painful, but she needed to give him her blessings.  'The children will need a young mother,' she smiled bravely.

'You're not leaving me Tessa,' Brad sobbed.  'You promised to love me forever.'

'I love you ---so much,' Tessa laced her hand through Brad's.

'It's time,' Dr.  Leighton rushed in.  She was already scrubbed and in her theatre garb.

'Stay with me ... till the end,' Tessa held Brad's hand.  He looked at the doctor, his eyes bloodshot, his face tear-stained.

'You may stay until the anaesthetic kicks in,' she smiled gently.

Brad was given a theatre gown.  He held Tessa's hand as she was wheeled into the theatre.  It was freezing. He watched as his wife shivered violently.  The various monitors and machines were making soft intermittent noises.  Tessa stopped the gas mask before it could knock her out.

'Tessa?' Dr. Leighton questioned in surprise.

'Promise,' Tessa demanded, cupping Brad's face.  Her life was in a critical state.  The medical staff were attempting  to save her life.  Brad quickly answered.

'I promise.' He kissed her lips.  'I'll be waiting outside for you,' Brad assured Tessa.  'I love you,' he whispered in her ear.

Tessa nodded to Dr. Leighton.  The gas mask was placed over her nose and mouth.  Nine seconds later, Tessa's eyelids slowly closed as her body surrendered to unconsciousness.

            -end chapter thirty three-