Chapter 6

Zach drummed his fingers against the Italian leather steering wheel. 'How can I top last night?' He searched for ideas. Like a light bulb illuminating a dark room, a thought occurred to him. He picked up his cell phone and dialed a number. He had the number programmed into his phone and never thought he would actually use it. After several rings, Zach was afraid he would get transferred to voice mail.

A sigh of relief escaped from Zach as he heard, "Hello" from the other end. "It's Zach, and I need your help." Zach explained his idea, asking the unlikeliest person for help. When Zach finished there was a deafening silence. Zach was taking another gamble in the relationship department, and didn't know what the results would be. Usually Zach doesn't bet on long shots, but somehow he hoped today would be different. 'Look at last night, who would have expected that.' Zach thought during the silent period.

"Alright, What time?" Ethan finally responded.

"Thank you, Ethan. Really, I owe you one. How is six o'clock?" Zach was relieved.

"You're welcome, Zach." Ethan responded. Ethan snapped his cell phone closed before he picked up the phone on his desk. "Get me John Gregor."

Greenlee began to hyperventilate. "Kendall, we are already late. We have to go."

"We can't go anywhere, until I get this off my chest." Kendall couldn't believe her own words.

"No Kendall, we have an appointment with Dr. Madden. We are already late. Let's go." Greenlee demanded in her snippiest demeaning tone.

"Listen Greenpea! Today's appointment AIN'T happening. Deal with it." Kendall fired back and stormed back into her condo, leaving the front door open.

Greenlee stood in the courtyard feeling like she was just punched in the gut. Her stomach felt sour and a wave of nausea passed through her at a high rate of speed. Her gazed followed Kendall's form into the darkness of the condo's interior. Slowly, as if in a dream Greenlee moved through the front door, gently closing the door behind her.

Kendall was sitting on the sofa with her back to the front door. Her head was cradled in her hands, elbows propped on her knees. Greenlee quietly moved through the living room, seating herself in front of Kendall's huddled frame. Kendall noticed Greenlee position, but did not raise her head to acknowledge her entrance. The two women sat without speaking for several moments. Finally Kendall began to explain.

"Last night, I had dinner with Zach." she started slowly.

"That explains the multiple dishes." Greenlee chimed in, frustrating Kendall.

'I swear she just has to hear her own voice.' Kendall thought before continuing her confession. "He is… We… " a smile crept onto Kendall face. She raised her head from a bowed position, but avoided Greenlee gaze of darting fire. "The cold exterior is an act. Really he is warm and playful and endearing." Kendall felt her cheeks grow warm as she continued.

"Yeah, sure. Did you forget how he came to town to ruin Maria and Edmund's marriage, or the sick murder mystery game" Greenlee laid the sarcasm and venom on deep and thick, causing Kendall's defenses to go up. "Oh yeah, lets not forget denying Ethan was his son."

Kendall bolted up from her seat, "Zach, promised he would never deny our child. That he would love and cherish our child."

Greenlee jumped to the upright position, which wasn't very high. "Was this a hypothetical conversation, or did you do the deed with that man?" Greenlee demanded.

Kendall did not answer Greenlee right away, which infuriated Greenlee. "Damn it, Kendall. How could you be so stupid? Zach doesn't care about you. You are another notch in the bedpost, a conquest."

Finally, Kendall exploded. "Zach loves me. I know this is hard for anyone to imagine, a man truly loving me. But he does. Last night, his biggest concern was protecting me." Kendall was at a point where her fury took over, leaving common sense and discretion behind.

"From what?" Greenlee yelled over Kendall's rant.

"Unprotected sex." Kendall shouted back.

Greenlee's face lost all of its color. "You had unprotected sex last night with Zach? You stupid bitch. You are taking fertility medication. The chances of you getting pregnant last night are probably over 100."

Kendall's head spun with the verbalization of her actions. But Greenlee continued her onslaught of hatred. "This is how you honor Ryan's memory. The memory of a loving man, by letting your libido take over, probably getting pregnant by Zach. I knew I should have never trusted you." The petite woman finished spitting the hateful words at Kendall and stormed out of the condo, slamming the door behind her.

Kendall was left with her own thoughts. 'Pregnant by Zach. Is it possible, one night.' She glanced at the area of floor in front of the fireplace, where she awoke that morning nestled in Zach's embrace. She lowered herself to a seated position in front of the fireplace. Unconsciously, she stroked the wood floor, allowing her thoughts to run away from her. 'Zach's baby. Her and Zach's baby. A little girl with dark curly hair and warm, cinnamon hazel eyes.' Kendall thought about Zach, how the gold slivers in his rich hazel eyes sparkled with mischievous excitement. How his intense voice soothed her deepest fears and concerns. Kendall didn't hate the idea of having Zach's baby. She smiled to herself, allowing her hand to lay on her tight, flat abdomen. She reached for a pillow and throw from the closest chair, laid down on the floor and drifted into a blissful sleep.

Zach's entrance into the boutique caused a few murmurs from customers and salesclerks. Zach enjoyed being the focus of attention. He confidently strode to the nearest salesclerk, "I need to see Mrs. Fargate, please." Flashing his most charming smile. The clerk scurried behind a taupe curtain. Emerging a few moments later was the eternal Myrtle Fargate, the honorary matriarch of the Kane women.

"Zach Slater, I should have know it was you causing all the hustle and bustle in a women's clothing boutique." Myrtle's banter always amused Zach.

"Mrs. Fargate, you are radiant as ever." Zach moved to place a gentle kiss on Myrtle's cheek.

"So, Darling, why are you here disrupting my store, with your sexy voice and sultry good looks?" Myrtle teased.

"I am here because I need your assistance." Zach explained his latest plan to the elderly woman causing her to brighten with delight.

"Oh, you are a sly one. I am just the woman you need. Well, besides my cherished Kendall. Consider it done. Where would you like everything delivered?" Myrtle beamed with self satisfaction, knowing that she was dead on about the true Zach Slater.

A little girl with blonde hair and big blue eyes squealed for her mother's attention. Myrtle and Zach both turned to admire the sweet child confined to a stroller. Zach's thoughts faded back to the previous night's dream and to his precious daughter.

Myrtle's low voice brought Zach back to reality suddenly, "Cute child, but she can't compare can she?"

"No, she can't." Zack admitted sullenly.

"Miranda is a child that just brightens a room by her presence. Well, she is a Kane after all." Myrtle kidded.

Zack felt a sharp pain of guilt. He hadn't been thinking about Miranda, as sweet as his niece is. He was thinking again about the child of his dreams.

"Well, then you should be off. Give all of my love to our girls." Myrtle started to physically push Zach out of the boutique.

Calling out from over his shoulder, Zack said, "Thank you Mrs. Fargate. As usual."

Myrtle laughed at the sight of him. If she didn't know any better she would say he was a man in love. In love with his wife. But there was something else behind his handsome eyes, something he was trying to hide. Myrtle promised herself she would find out the mystery, after she helped with his plot.