The Billionaire's Rumor

Chapter 8: Checking In

Felicity's eyes shot open as she felt her throat expand. She ran for the bathroom and dropped to her knees, yelling at the porcelain god. Her stomach hadn't felt well since Penny made her realize what Roger's plan was. The rich world really was a powerful one. Who knew what kind of dirty secrets they paid to have hidden. She was suddenly going to become one of them.

Levi wouldn't let that happen, would he? She brushed her teeth and went back to her bed where she picked up her phone. The last selfie she ever took with Marco was still her home screen. Three missed calls, all from her mom. She took a deep breath and hit the call back button.

Helen's bright face showed up on the FaceTime call. Felicity had her eyes and smile. “City, I haven't heard from you in weeks! How is my baby girl?"

Felicity fought the urge to roll her eyes, “Sorry, mom. I've been really busy."

“Well how busy could you be? You work at a nice bakery, and you get to go home every night." Helen scoffed.

“I've still been getting settled in my new place."

“I want to come see it sometime." Helen beamed, “Maybe I can help you?"

Felicity shook her head, “It's okay, I've got it, but I can give you a tour right now."

“Oh, I would love that!"

Felicity turned the camera and began to show her mom the apartment that she would be saying goodbye to faster than she said hello. The living room had pictures of her and Marco's wedding day and other adventures they had. A fifty-inch flat screen occupied the center of the room. The bedroom had a cozy queen bed with floral print bedding. A couple of turquoise nightstands stood on each side of the bed with those lamps she was gifted from her mother-in-law that she hated to the core, but Marco loved them, so she kept them. She would have burned the lamps with him if she knew she wasn't going to be questioned about it the rest of her life.

“So, there's my place!"

“It's adorable, City! I can't wait!"

Oh, but Felicity could. She preferred her mom not to come at all. Helen and Doug have been wonderful parents to Felicity and she was grateful for their support after losing Marco, but Lord help her if she didn't need some space to reconnect with herself. Find this new version of herself and get to know it.

“There's just something that concerns me, and sweetheart, please don't take this the wrong way, but you may have too many pictures of Marco up."

Felicity arched her brows in response to the audacity of her mother's bold statement. “You do know he's my husband, right?"

“Look, don't get upset please. Try to hear what I'm saying. I know you still love Marco and truth be told, you always will no matter what. But I feel that maybe it's time to try and move on. Say you start dating again; a real man will always respect a widow's feelings, but you've got to show that you're willing to move on."

Felicity let out a flustered growl, “Oh my God, mom, I will date again when I'm ready."

“Baby girl, I think you're ready now. You can keep Marco in your heart, but I don't think he would want you moping around and crying over the loss for the rest of your life."

Felicity wasn't sure how she was going to say it, but the conversation had the words tearing at the back of her throat, aching to get out.

Helen gazed at her through the screen, “Have I upset you?"

“No, it's just…I saw Penny about trying to get pregnant again with Marco's baby."

Helen blew out a sigh and shook her head. “Oh City, you really think now is the time to have a baby? Let alone Marco's baby? You promised me you gave up on that."

Felicity sat down on the couch and tucked her feet up beside her. She rubbed her hand over her face, trying to figure out how to word it all. “I know I promised, but I couldn't bring myself to give up. When he died, I promised him I would try to conceive a child so he could be a father. Even if he isn't here to see his child grow up. I want that child to know who his or her father is. I want to raise this baby here and see what brought them into the world."

Helen rubbed her hand over her face, groaning to herself. “I don't think this is a good idea."

“You don't get to make that decision for me, mom. I want this. There are single moms who raise babies all the time. Marco may not be here, but I want a piece of him to have with me."

“A baby is a huge commitment. Besides Felicity, I called you because there is something I want to talk to you about."

“Oh, mom, please don't let it be another one of those choir boys from your church that you want to set me up with again."

“Ichabod is a wonderful man who could have made you happy!"

“I was playing connect the dots with his receding hairline at the bar."

“So, he wasn't as handsome as Marco, but he was sweet."

“He was, but he's not for me. No one in this world is ever going to be for me. Marco was it. It's why I'm planning to have his baby and keep our damn pictures up."

“Felicity, I don't buy that for a second."

“Don't buy what?"

Helen's expression grew stern, “That you're so set on Marco anymore."

Felicity saw the look on Helen's face and shifted uncomfortably, “What makes you say that mom?"

Helen raised her eyebrows, “Because I know you're seeing Levi Bennett. That billionaire Roger's son. Why didn't you tell me?"

Felicity's jaw dropped. “How do you know about that?"

Helen held up a tabloid magazine. “Your father saw this in the checkout line at Walmart."

The headline read, “Levi reveals mystery girl's name. 'I've been seeing Felicity Griffin for a while. She and I are in love.'"