Those Who Laugh Last...Chapter Nine {E/T, Gwen}
by sadhappygirl
 
 

      Dr. Hunter waited patiently in her office while Gwen finishd dressing in the examinating room. It was Gwen's first prenatal visit and she was a bundle of nerves.

"Is everthing alright with my baby?" Gwen blurted out as soon as she walked into the room.

Dr. Hunter gestured for her to sit down.

"Mother and baby are doing great." She replied with a reassuring smile. "Everything is on schedule."

Gwen let out a sigh of relief. "I was so afraid that I was doing somhing wrong." She confessed. "I wasn't eating properly at first because I couldn't keep anything down."

"Morning sickness is a terrible thing to go through." Dr. Hunter agreed. "I thought I was going to starve to death in the first trimester of my pregnancy."

Gwen giggled, it was reasurring to know that she wasn't the only one that was experiencing that problem.

"I'm going to prescribe some iron pills and prenatal vitamins for you to take." Dr. Hunter explained as she handed Gwen the prescriptions. "Do you have any questions?"

"No, no yet." Gwen smiled. "But I'm making up a list for my next vist."

Dr. Hunter began to laugh. "Keep up the positive attitude Gwen." She advised. "It's good for the baby."

"I will try my best." Gwen replied.

Dr. Hunter walked Gwen out of the office and to the front desk where she scheduled Gwen next appointment.

"If you have any questions before your next visit please don't hesitate to call." Dr. Hunter reminded her.

"Okay." Gwen replied. "I will see you next month."

She ran into Ivy on her way out the door.

"Ivy." She greetd. "I almost didn't see you there."

Ivy greeted her with a warm smile. "Gwen darling how are you?"

"I'm great." She replied cheerfully. "And you?"

"I'm fine, considering..."

Gwen nodded, she knew what Ivy meant.

"You have my condolences Ivy about your daughter-in-law."

"Why thank you Gwen, at least someone in this town feels sorry for me."

Gwen chuckled. "I feel sorry for anyone that get stuck with Theresa."

"Does that include Ethan?"

"As you know there is an exception to every rule."

"I completely understand dear." Ivy said. "He gets that from his father's side of the family. The Bennett men are very slow on the uptake."

"Dear God, please let my child take after me." Gwen begged.

"Gwen are you alright dear? You look distracted, did I say something to offend you?"

"Oh no." Gwen assured her. "I just remembered that there is some pace that I have to be."

"Okay, don't let me keep you."

"I'll see you around Ivy."

"Gwen just becuse my idiot son broke up with you is no reason why you can't stop by and visit."

"I will like that very much Ivy, in fact I'll give you a call and set up something for next week." Gwen said as she rushed down the hospital corridor.

Ivy waved after her. She glanced at the title of the door Gwen had stepped out of.

"Dr. Lois Hunter, OB/GYN." She cocked an eyebrow. "Hmmm, I wonder." She said suspiciously.

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Colyer Fox tapped his well worned, custom-made, boots impatiently against the floor. The tall, lean Texan was causng quite a stir...

Of the female kind...

The dark-haired, six foot-two, rugged outdoorsman with the piercing gray eyes, walked into Hotchkiss Enteprises as if he owned the place.

He greeted every female he passed with a wink, a smile and a pleasant "How ya do."

"Southern hospitality." His father said. "Gets them all the time."

He glanced at his watch, the meeing with Miss Hotchkiss should have started a half hour ago...

"Excused me m'am?" He asked the young female sitting at the front desk. "Would it be much trouble if I wait for Miss Hotchkiss in her office?"

He flashed her one of his killer smiles.

Angel, Gwen personal assisant, turned several shades of red. It was obivious that her mind was not on business.

"I'm sure Gwen won't mine." She replied timidly. She escorted him to Gwen's office. "Can I get you anything before I leave?" She offered. "Like a cup of coffee, bottled water, tea?"

Coyler chuckled, showing off his dimples. "No thank you m'am." He said. "I'm fine..." He gave her the once over. "...for now."

Angel blushed again and close the door behind her.

It took his father three months to set up this meeting with Hochkiss Enterprises and for Miss Hotchkiss to be late was a strike against the company in his book.

He surveyed his surroundings to get a better feel of the person he would be dealing with. He noticed the rows of photographs on the selves around the room. The pictures consisted of the same five people.

"She's very close to her family." He said to himself. He glanced at the funiture. "She might be a little too frilly for me." He continued.

As he continued with his twenty guesses, Gwen rushed off the elevator.

"Gwen..." Angel began.

"I know I am late." Gwen interrupted. "But some idiot that that it would be ha ha funny to spray people with water. I had to go home and change." She explained. "I know that I am late for an important meeting with Mr. Colyer Fox, just give me five minutes to get myself together then send him in...I got to get ready to do some major ass kissing."

A wave of nausea came over her...

"Are you alright?" Angel asked. Gwen shook her head.

"Make that ten minutes." She corrected as she bolted for her office.

"But Gwen, he is waiting in your office!" Angel yelled after her.

Her words fell on deaf ears...

Gwen tossed her purse and attache case in the nearest chair and headed for her private bathroom.

Colyer stepped in her path...

"Nice for you to show up." He smirked.

"Who are you?" She asked, trying to get passed him.

"I'm your three o'clock meeting."

"Mr. Fox? I'm sorry I'm late, I can explain...but now I have to..."

Another wave of nausea over came her...

"I already wasted nearly forty minutes of my time waiting for you."

"Please Mr. Fox, let me pass by." She pleaded.

It was too late...

Her lunch of grilled chicken and mix vegetables was all over the front of his shirt...

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Gwen was mortified...

"Ohmigod, I'm so sorry." She cried. Her face turned a deep shade of crimson. "I'm sorry." She ran into the bathroom and grabbed a handful of paper towels.

Coyler's heart went out to her as she apologized profusely.

"Don't worry about it." He said gently. "I should be apologizing to you. I shouldn't have stopped you from going to the ladies room."

"I'll pay for the dry cleaning, just send me the bill."

"That won't be necessary." He said.

"What a way to make a first impression." Gwen wailed. "First I'm late and now this..." She cried even harder. "I am usually a very put together, on top of her game, executive...not this whiney female you see in front of you, ask anyone..."

He believed her, and from the investigation his father had done on Hotchkiss Enterprises before he considered doing business with them, it was quite obvious that Miss Hotchkiss was a major player.

He gently wiped the tears from her eyes...

"Miss Hotchkiss, I am sure my father is not going to regret doing business with Hotchkiss Enterprises." He replied.

"Huh What? But I haven't made the presentation yet." She protested.

Colyer shrugged his shulders.

"I tell you what, have a messenger send your proposal to my hotel room at the Harmony Inn and I will sign the papers when you meet me for dinner tonight."

"Are you sure that you can trust me around food after what had just happened?"

Colyer chuckled. "I'll make sure you have a clear path to the ladies room." He joked.

Gwen cheeks turned a bright pink.

"So do we have a deal?" He asked.

Gwen nodded. "Okay, Mr. Fox we have a deal."

My father is Mr. Fox." Colyer grinned. "My friends call me Coyler."

"Gwen."

"So Gwen, I'll see you at the Harmony Inn's resturant at seven?"

"Seven will be fine." Gwen agreed.

Colyer flashed her one of his killer smiles. "I can't wait for tonight." He teased.

After he left, Gwen called Sheridan and told her what had just happened.

"Wow." Sheridan laughed. "Who would have thought blowing chunks all over someone can land you a date." She quipped.