In Name Only Read online

  As pre arranged, Sky conceded and agreed to move in with Ben, a lovely beachfront home with a lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean. She would reside with him until after the baby was born, then she would be free to live at her own house with her precious baby, forget the past and look forward to her future with her child. However, the idea of relocation was still an option in her mind. God know Ben wanted nothing to do with his child or the mother.

  The other members of he Smith family made her feel welcome. Every Sunday as tradition, the entire family attended church and after dinner at Ms Georgie’s house. Of course all had to attend. Sky had tried to back out, but Ms Georgie was not having it.

  “You’re family, as part of this family you are required to be here.” She had told Sky. Ben certainly did not want her there. That was the only time she saw him was at those dinners. She begun to dislike going to Ms Georgie’s for dinner on Sunday. The tension between her and Ben affected the family. There was no laughter or pleasant conversation like before when she had joined them for dinner. She remain quiet and Ben was just plain grumpy.

  There living arrangements was like two reluctant roommates. Ben bedroom was upstairs, while Sky’s was in a guest room downstairs. Thankfully, they never ran into each other. Sky made it her mission to avoid Ben at all cost. After she re-opened her shop, she made it her duty to be out of the house by 4 am each morning except for Sunday, which she would leave for church before Ben in her own car. They never arrived at church together, nor did they sit together in church. There was no pretense in their relationship, both knew where they stood with one another, and Ben forbade his family to get involved, and they respected his decision.

  Another Sunday dinner and from where Ben stood, leaning against the marble mantel, his eyes taking in the scene before him. Edward and Jonathan engrossed in a serious chess game, Nyja, and her new husband engrossed in each other. His mother and Jana gossiping, and sweet manipulative Sky politely listening.

  Ben found it irked him that she never once looked at him, nor acknowledged his presence, neither through dinner nor after. At home, he didn’t see her at all. That’s what he wanted, wasn’t it; not to be in her company; just get through this situation with as less drama as possible.

  Every morning when he rose, there was always a pot of hot coffee and pastries for him, and when he returned home, a meal warming on the stove, however, no Sky. He should be glad, but for some reason it bothered him that she could avoid him so completely. He realized he was not as angry at Sky as he was in the beginning. Sky had already been living with him for a couple months, the proof of her pregnancy slapping him in the face, when he did see her on Sunday.

  He still held on to the stubborn notion Sky had tricked him, and the family was not sure if he would ever give up on his belief. When they would arrive for Sunday dinner, Ben ignored her, just as she ignored him. This broke Georgie’s heart. How can Ben just callously disregard her?

  Lately for some reason, Ben found himself rushing home in the evening just to see her, and he did not know why. When he would arrive, she would already be in her room. Ben now watched her closely. He knew she felt his eyes on her, although she never looked at him, but her small hands clenched in fist. He also didn’t realize how much she was starting to show.

  Ben’s conscious started getting to him. He was starting to feel regret for the way he had acted towards her. He knew he hurt her. Jana and his mother just said we told you so. Ben made a decision he would try to be civil to her, talk to her at least.

  Sky woke in the middle of the night craving sardines and ice cream. She remembered she had brought some when she went to the market. In her pajamas and barefoot she went to the kitchen. She took out the can of sardines in mustard sauce, and a large helping of pistachio ice cream, Sky sat at the kitchen bar to enjoy her snack.

  Ben was having trouble sleeping, which happened most nights lately. Hearing a noise, he rose. Silently he moved down the stairs. The sound was coming from the kitchen. Quietly, he eased the door open. Sky’s back was to him so she didn’t see him, and she was talking to herself. Ben listened.

  “I’ve been thinking what I will name you when you arrive; I thought if you are a boy, I will name you Benjamin Thomas, I’m sure your father will not like that, but I don’t care, and if you are a girl, I want to name you Zoë Georgiana, after your grandmothers. I doubt that you will ever meet your father, but I will make him known to you, he may hate me, but if he ever meets you, he will love you as much as I do, I’m sure of that. He is a good man, he is just angry with Mommy right now. You just came to us so fast, we did not expect it, but you are here inside me and I will never regret how you came to me. Everything will be fine, I promise you.

  Ben heard her get up from the stool. He eased the door shut and moved away going to the stairs. Just as she pushed the door open, she saw him and stopped surprise to she him. This the first time she saw him other than Sunday. Their eyes met.

  “Sky, you okay?” he asked softly.

  She nodded than moved pass him. As she passed, Ben reached out and took her hand. Sky tensed. She turned her head to look at him. She was still beautiful he thought. How he missed the woman he met those few months ago. Ignoring the tension in her body, Ben pulled her to him, holding her around her waist close to him. He could feel the roundness of her belly pressed against him. He took his finger and raised her head; her hazel eyes met his. Sky tried to pull away, but he tightened the hold he had on her. Ben lowered his head, and gently touched his lips to hers; she gasped pulling away from him and rushed into her bedroom closing the door, leaning on it.

  Ben stood outside the door, wondering why he did that. He knew why, he could not resist. He missed her mouth, damn it, he missed her. The sound of her voice, they way she laughed, and he especially missed her passion. He had not been with another woman since he married her. Then again, maybe his lack of sex was getting to him, and he needed release. The one thing he refused to do was be unfaithful, even if this was not a real marriage. Ben went to her door.

  “I’m sorry Sky,” he said through the door.

  Her door slowly opened. She went to him; standing on her toes she timidly pressed her mouth to his. Not needing any more encouragement Ben lifted her carrying her to the bed, gently laying her down, joining her on the bed.

  When the kiss broke, Sky lifted her pajamas over her head. She was beautiful, he thought as his eyes surveyed her body. Her breasts were fuller, and her stomach rounder than he thought. She was silent, her eyes dark with passion. Ben did not hesitate. He rose and removed his pajama bottoms. He was hot for her. His manhood throbbing, he wanted to sheath himself inside her, and he did. She lifted her hips to receive him sighing as he slide in to her wet body. She moved slowly beneath him, meeting his slow movements in her, getting more enflamed by her soft moans of pleasure. She reached up and caressed his face, pulling his head kissing him with fervor. Ben was going to lose his control. Their bodies were in exquisite harmony with one another. Her walls tightened, and she was just as ready as he was. Her legs circled his hips and she pushed up to meet him. Ben slipped his hand beneath her bottom, and sank deeper in her. She moaned again, and together they exploded in a downpour of fiery sensations.

  Ben eased his body from her afraid his weight was too much for her. Each remained silent; contentment and peace flowed between them. The minutes clicked by, Sky lifted her legs and got under the covers. She did not speak to him; she turned to her side away from him. Ben lay quietly beside her wondering if this was a mistake. After a few minutes, he heard her soft breathing; she had fallen asleep. Ben rose from her bed and gently closed the door.

  The next day at the shop, Sky berated herself for her weakness. When he kissed her, she lost all sense of her pride, and allowed him make love. God, she wanted his touch so badly. Even after the way he treated her, she still craved his touch. From now on she had to remind herself, Ben did not want her or his child. It would be imperative that she remember that one important fact in their relat
ionship.

  Sky lay across the bed reading a new baby book Jana had given her when she heard voices. Thinking it to be Ms Georgie she came out of the room. A very attractive woman was sitting on the sofa in the living room; Ben was not there. Sky could not believe he would bring a woman to the house where she resided with him. At least David had that much respect for her. She knew Ben probably saw other women, since they were not sexually active, at least not since the last time in was in her bed.

  “Oh you must be Ben’s roommate, Hi, I’m Dina,” the woman spoke. Ben was standing at the top of the stairs. Sky felt her heart breaking, than what did she expect they were not a couple. She turned to see him, their eyes met.

  Sky turned to leave the room.

  Ben dropped his head. He had not meant for Sky to see Dina. Dina should have stayed in the car as he asked her.

  Dina had been overseas with the Seventh Fleet in Yokusuka, Japan, when he married Sky. He did not want her to hear about his marriage from outsiders. Not that he owed her any explanation; he did it out of courtesy. They had been casual friends for about two years, promising nothing to each other, it was what it was, in fact that how Dina wanted it. Her career was her first and only priority, and she let all know it. She meant to become an Admiral. Ben admired her for her ambitious nature, sometimes she was a bit over ambitious, but they had good times together, but nothing like Sky. Where Sky was sweet, Dina was a tough, hard, and very controlling, although she couldn’t control him, not to say she didn’t try. That’s was why she was attracted to him, he believed. He was a challenge to her, and she wanted to conquer him and he knew it, he knew Dina had no love him; she loved her career and herself.

  Unknown to Sky and Ben, Dina looked at Sky with disgust in her eyes. Her cold brown eyes glared at Sky. She remembered the conversation she had Ben. He told her he married this creature because she was pregnant, and he needed to protect his clearance. Dina understood that being military herself. All Dina knew was Ben was hers. It was an unspoken promise that one day when her career was where she wanted it she would marry him even if she had to propose. That was all right, she would cross paths with Ben’s bride someday soon, and make her understand, that her situation was temporary, as soon as the brat was born, she had to go.

  Chapter Eight

  Everyone was sitting in the living room after dinner talking ,after Sunday dinner. Ben leaning against the mantle; Sky sitting in the high back Queen Anne chair idly caressing her growing belly, and getting more irritated by the minute. Since the visit from Dina Sky knew any hope she had for her and Ben was lost. She was fat, irritable, and tired of her situation. She fed up with Ben, and she tired of feeling sorry herself. She would soon deliver, and she needed to be strong, if for no else for her child.

  Sky had a blank expression on her face. She could not get over the fact that Ben had brought another woman to where she was living. She was all right with him not acknowledging as his wife, but to flaunt his woman in front of her was too much. She wanted to go back to her own home, she didn’t want to live with him anymore, she didn’t care what he wanted, or what was proper for his careers sake, what about for her sake. She did not feel well today, she had been having this nagging pain in her lower stomach. She was fat and swollen, and she was not sleeping well at night. She was tired, and she was tired of Ben.

  Ms Georgie looked over at her, at six month pregnant, Sky seemed wan, and withdrawn to her. Besides that, dark circles settled under her eyes. This worried Georgie’ Sky did not look well.

  Sky looked over at Ben, her eyes narrowing. Ms Georgie’s brows rose, she nudged Jana who sat beside her. Ben was in deep conversation with Jonathan.

  “Benjamin, I’m going to my own house,” she said in her soft tone interrupting Jonathan who had been talking.

  Ben glanced over at her. “No, Sky.” he said blandly, “Now what happen, Jonathan?” Ben continued dismissing her.

  Georgie watched with pleasure, as she watched Sky‘s eyes glare at her son. She was angry. Sky slide to the edge of the chair rose slowly moving toward Ben to confront him.

  “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you,” she said her voice rising.

  Jana looked at Georgie and smiled. The two women had been waiting for the day Sky stood up to Ben. Sky was pregnant and pregnant women were not the best-tempered women at this time.

  “No, Sky, it’s out of the question,” he replied again dismissing her. Sky glared up at him.

  “I’m going to move in my own home,” She stated in a firm voice. The tension in the room thickened. Sky did not let that deter her. “Benjamin whether you like it or not, I will not be humiliated by you again. You bring your woman to the house, knowing I’m there, I don’t care that you don’t acknowledge me as your wife, but I am certainly not your roommate, you don’t care how I feel, well I do have feelings, Ben. The silence I can live with; my dead husband did the same thing to me, but he never flaunted his women in front of me. I don’t care who you date, but I will not live in a house with a man who has no respect for me or my feelings, you can hate me and believe what you want Ben, I just simply don’t care, but I will not live with you any longer.”

  “You made this mess, Sky, and you…”

  “Go to hell Ben!” she shouted and turned from him. Everyone’s mouth dropped open. Sky eyes closed tightly against the hard pain in her side.

  Georgie saw the look of pain on her face, and went to her putting her arm around her shoulders.

  “Edmond get over here,” Ms Georgie cried, alarmed. Edmond rush over to Sky.

  “What is it Sky?” he asked, concerned.

  Sky placed her hand under her belly. “I have pain here,” she said breathing out, almost panting.

  “Come on lay down,” Ed instructed leading her to the sofa. Edmond eased her down. He placed his hand on her belly. Edward could feel the movement of the baby and the hardness of her stomach. Sky grimaced when she felt more pain. Edmond took her pulse; it was racing.

  “Get my bag from the car Son,” he ordered his Jonathan. Jon rushed from the house.

  Ben stood aside, concern on his face. He did not want the child but he didn’t want anything to happen to it or Sky. Jana and Ms Georgie watched with worried expressions on their faces. Jon returned with the medical bag.

  Edmond took her blood pressure and shook his head. “Her blood pressures too high, we have to get her to the hospital now!” he said rising.

  Ben stood stunned genuinely concerned about Sky. He may not want her but he didn’t want anything to happen to her and the baby.

  Edmond looked over at his brother. Come on Ben!” Edmond said

  “What can I do?” he asked shrugging. Edmond shook his head and lifted Sky from the sofa.

  His mother glared at Ben. “I know you better be at that hospital, now test me Benjamin and see what happens!” she said as she and Jana followed Edmond from the room.

  Ben dropped his head. What was wrong with him? Did he hate Sky so much that he did not care about her health, or the health of his unborn child? Is he that heartless? This was not all Sky’s fault, he was a willing participate in this, more so than she was. He wanted her the moment he saw her, damn it he still did.

  Jonathan watched his uncle, the look of disappointment on his young face. He did not like the way he was treating Sky. He had always taught him to be a courteous to woman, be kind and gentle.

  “Do you hate her that much Uncle Ben?” Jonathan asked.

  “I don’t hate her, I just hate what she did,” Ben stated.

  “What did she do?”

  “She trapped me,” Ben said brusquely to him.

  “How?”

  “She got pregnant damn it!” Jonathan looked at him thoughtfully.

  “By herself?”

  “Don’t get smart Boy!” Ben yelled at Jon.

  Jonathan shook his head; he was going to the hospital. He walked pass his uncle than stopped.

  “Your wrong Uncle Ben, she a nice lady, and I don’t think she trapped
you, I think you trapped yourself.” Jon left him staring after him.

  Sky lay on the examination table, Georgie stood beside her holding her hand, as Dr Yancy examining her.

  “Your blood pressure too high Sky, your swelling and your gaining weight to fast,” she said shaking her head. I think its toxemia,” she said. After the blood test, I’ll know more. Sky looked over at Ms Georgie with tears pooling in her eyes. Georgie gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

  “For now let’s see what going on in there,” Dr Yancy said preparing the Ultra sound equipment.

  “Is my baby okay?” Sky asked frantically.

  Dr Yancy spreads a cool jell on her stomach and put the instrument on her stomach. “We will see in a minute,” she said looking at he monitor. “Okay there, look Sky can you see your…” Dr Yancy paused looking closer at the screen. Ms Georgie and Sky looked seeing the baby inside her. They looked at each other and smiled.

  Dr Yancy looked at Sky smiling. “Looks like twins to me,” she said.

  “Twins!” Sky and Ms Georgie blurted out together.

  “Yep, there are two of them in there, want to know if a girl or boy?”

  Ms Georgie and Sky looked at each other each woman with tears in their eyes.

  “Yes,” Sky said choked. Dr Yancy looked closer. “It looks like girls to me. A nurse came in handing her Sky’s test results. Dr Yancy silently read over the report.

  “Now Sky, it appears you have a case of Toxemia, I need to keep you overnight, and monitor you, but after your released, you have to stay on complete bed rest and follow a strict diet.”

  Sky frowned. “What do you mean complete bed rest?”

  “It means you are not to get out of the bed, only to use the bathroom and such, everything else you will do in bed, understand, it important for the health of your babies and for you.”