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"We've got to talk," He said not sure how far to take it at this moment.
"Talk? Again, and at this hour?" She grabbed the clock by her bedside and shoved it in his face. "Do you know what time it is? Don't you ever talk during the day?"
"Best time for talking is when things are clear in your head. Don't you think?"
"Well, I'm certainly not clear in the head at the moment. Honestly Nick, don't you ever sleep?"
"No, not much anymore. That's why I'm over here, instead of home in bed. Now, sit up and let's talk." He had her at an advantage and he knew it. He'd have to keep her this way if his plan was going to work.
"I will not. Wait for me in the living room…"
"Not this time. This will do just fine. I don't want any rehearsed speeches you might throw at me. I just want to sit and talk sensibly."
"Sensibly, at this hour?" Her voice rose, her eyes burned into him. She must have realized he wasn't going to leave because she weakened almost instantly. "I'll need some coffee."
"I'm sure Dorothy is already making some." Nick chuckled.
"Would you at least hand me my robe?" She gestured for her closet.
"No. You don't need one. Relax. I've seen you in less, remember?"
She turned scarlet and he laughed aloud.
"So what's on your mind?" She frowned, looking at him.
"A lot. I've been doing some pretty heavy thinking as a matter of fact and there are some things still bothering me. I think we need to settle them." He tried to keep his mind on the issue, but every time her gown strap wandered so did his mind. He tried to keep his eyes glued to her face.
"Things? What things?" She fumbled with her gown.
"When I first approached you, you said you wanted a baby. You told me about your marriage, your divorce, and your losing Ralph's baby. But, it occurred to me that we haven't discussed a few things."
"Such as."
"Your qualifications."
"My qual—"
"Yes, your qualifications—as a mother." He smiled, enjoying the way her face turned such a bright red. She was instantly angry, as though he'd pushed some kind of button in her brain. Good. Angry people didn't always think straight, he was counting on that.
"What's to qualify? I'm a woman, aren't I?"
"That's not enough. Being a woman doesn't automatically make you good mother material, especially these days, when a woman assumes the role of a man in business. I can count on my hand a number of bad mothers in my old neighborhood. They were women too. I don't want that for my kid."
"Nick—you're out of your mind. You can't possibly compare me to—to them." She sat up on her knees and looked at him.
"Am I? And can't I? Actually, I think I'm thinking very clearly. You were an only child, rich, spoiled, those papers told me that much, even if I hadn't gotten to know you a little. You've always gotten your way about things, one way or another, as you have this time, too. Your parents weren't around much. You said so yourself. Bad examples. It's not your fault. You haven't had much family life. How could you possibly know how to handle a baby, by yourself? So, I've got some questions for you."
She unfolded her feet now and let them dangle on the edge of the bed as she eyed him carefully. "What kind of questions?"
"You want a job being a mother, don't you?"
She nodded numbly.
"Okay, so have you ever babysat?"
"Well, no, but…"
He shook his head, "Not good. Have you ever carried that kind of responsibility around with you? Do you know what the colic is, and how to treat it? Do you know how to change a diaper, when to burp it, lull it to sleep? The burping can be a real experience with a newborn. Mrs. Polasky's baby took nearly an hour sometimes and would cry all that time."
