Chapter 39

Josiah, James, Brad, and several other men arrived to the club ahead of the appointed time for George and his men to arrive. He'd shut the club down to the public for the night to give them the privacy to discuss business or other matters without worry of being overheard by the wrong people. The club was still empty save his men and the bartenders that he'd chosen specifically for the night. He wasn't too worried about the night going badly since everything was still so new. He decided to just try to relax a little, have good conversation with George and let George think his guard was completely down. Maybe, if George thought Josiah wasn't worried about what he was up to, that would bring everything to the surface to be dealt with accordingly.

A half hour after Josiah's arrival the doors to the club opened and George and an assortment of men following him walked in. George spotted Josiah immediately and greeted him jovially. Josiah returned his salutations and back slapping in the strange way that men often greeted each other. It always seemed just shy of a brawl, especially in the instances the men seemed to be trying too hard to appear friendly.

"I'm glad you made it alright, George. Why don't you and your men make yourselves comfortable and get some drinks. Everything is on the house, of course." Josiah offered graciously, wrapping his arm around George's shoulders as he led the way to the bar to see that drinks were given. Once George was provided for Josiah led him to the table that he'd had set up with poker chips and a deck of cards in the center. "Fancy a game of poker?" Josiah asked as he took his seat and gestured to a seat close to him, though the table was outfitted with four other chairs which soon became occupied with men from both of their crews.

They passed their night playing cards and drinking as most groups of men did, as if they were old friends. They stayed away from controversial topics to keep it light between them. Josiah wanted to steer the conversation to more business heavy topics, but all attempts were averted by George. Josiah wondered if it was because George just wanted to keep it light, or wanted to avoid the topics because he didn't want to share his true intentions with him. It didn't matter either way, really. There would be time soon enough that he wouldn't be able to avoid the subject.

****

Rossalyn, Chelsea, and Jessica waited for the men to leave impatiently. Sarah arrived just as Josiah was walking out the door to go to the club. She smiled and waved at him as she passed him at the doorway. She had prepared to arrive before he left so the pregnancy test was in her purse, safely out of view since Rossalyn wasn't wanting to tell him about her suspicions.

"Hey! You made it!" Rossalyn said with a smile as the door closed behind her sister-in-law.

"Yeah, I wouldn't miss this for love or money. The kids are spending the night with my parents so I actually don't have a curfew for a change." Sarah told her and Rossalyn laughed, though knew if the test came back positive, that would be her future for the next 18 years.

"Makes you feel like a real grown up, huh?" Jessica said, putting an arm around Sarah's shoulders and giving her a playfully gentle shake.

"Oh yes, that is the truth. Having young kids makes you feel like a teenager with a curfew again. Even when you have a babysitter, you have to be home by a certain time so the babysitter can get home." Chelsea nodded in agreement.

"Well, lets get Sarah a well deserved drink while we send Ross off to potty." Jessica said and gave Rossalyn a pointed look.

"What am I? A puppy?" Rossalyn asked with fake heat as she watched Sarah dig in her purse and come out with a box. She grinned at the three ladies in front of her that giggled as she took the box from Sarah. "I'll meet you guys in the entertainment room in a few." She gestured to the hallway the room was located down then turned in the direction of the bathroom.

Rossalyn went to the restroom and took the test without incident. Once her hands were washed, she took the test with her to the entertainment room. Sarah had gotten her a good test that should be pretty idiot proof since it would tell her in words whether or not she was pregnant. They were waiting for her in a group just inside the door.

"Well?" Sarah was the first to ask when they looked up and seen her coming into the room.

"I don't know yet. I came straight in before the test finished processing." Rossalyn said holding out the test face up.

They walked over to the desk and laid the test on the top then huddled around it with impatience pouring from their pores. Rossalyn honestly wasn't sure what she was hoping for. She wanted children, but everything was so new with her and Josiah. It wasn't a matter of whether or not he'd be happy. She knew he would be, despite the stress going on with George. That was another reason she was reluctant to be happy about the possibility. She didn't want her child promised to someone who was a part of a family that had spent years doing their best to kill Josiah. She wasn't sure if she loved Josiah or not, but she was sure that she cared for him tremendously. Despite the circumstances of how they came together he'd been nothing but caring of her and treated her with the utmost respect. She knew that with time she could come to love him.

She honestly had wanted more time with just them to get to know each other better. There were so many things she was still learning about him, and he about her. She had wanted more time to explore with him, to travel with him, see all the things she'd always wanted to before settling down to start their family. She felt her breath catch in her throat as the test revealed the answer to her. Those things would have to wait, or take place with a child in tow. Because the word 'pregnant' was displayed in bold black on the results screen of the test.

She stood frozen as the three ladies with her exclaimed in excitement and completely disregarded her frozen silence for the moment. The result was exactly what they had been hoping for. She wasn't unhappy about the result, but was processing the sudden shift of her world.

"Holy shit I'm pregnant." She whispered somewhere between shock and awe.

"Was that not the answer you wanted?" Sarah asked noticing the look on Rossalyn's face.

"It wasn't the answer I didn't want. I honestly think either way wouldn't have been the best for me. Everything is so new with Josiah and I that I just wanted a little more time before this. But ready or not, it begins." Rossalyn said then gave them a shakey smile.

"Oh sweetie, I was the same way when your brother and I found out about the twins. I had just came to terms with being pregnant then they told me there would be two. It is normal to feel a little panicky. But you've got us and Josiah. You're not alone." Sarah pulled Rossalyn into a hug.

"You still want to go out? Or would you rather have dinner and movies here?" Jessica asked.

"Are you kidding? We have something to celebrate. We're still going out." Rossalyn said and let a genuine smile come to her lips. Once the initial shock started fade, she was able to start feeling a little more happy about the whole situation.

The girls went out and celebrated the good news and did a great job of ignoring the guards Josiah had assigned them for if they left the mansion. They shoo'd them off to a discreet distance to be able to discuss how to tell Josiah and all the different things that mothers to be discuss with their girlfriends when they first find out they're pregnant.