The Heart of Tomorrow (Book Two) (The Tomorrow Series 2)

by Nugen Isbell, Megan

  “I thought they fed you in first class.”

  “All the first class seats were sold out.”

  “What?” I laughed. “You’re actually flying coach for me?”

  “I’d ride in cargo if it got me to you,” he said lightheartedly, but I could feel a lump forming in my throat and it grew quiet for a few seconds. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

  “What?”

  “How much I love you. You should know by now that I’d do anything for you.”

  I swallowed hard through the lump in my throat. I did know. He’d shown me from the day we met, but I always had that little corner of doubt in my mind that didn’t quite understand why he loved me the way he did.

  “Go get your breakfast,” I said quietly. “Fly safe. I’ll be waiting for you. I love you.”

  “I love you too. I’ll see you soon,” he said and the line went dead. I glanced at the clock, wishing I could somehow speed up the next six hours.

  I couldn’t sit around the apartment. I’d go crazy waiting for him. I decided to return to the market. The cupboards were at a minimum since I’d only purchased junk food and I was anxious to make him dinner that we’d eat together. I chose to make something that would pass the time preparing: my mother’s beef stroganoff with homemade noodles. The noodles took so long to make that I couldn’t recall the last time I’d actually invested that kind of effort into a meal. I had nothing but time now and I busily got to work mixing the ingredients when I returned home.

  I still had time to kill when they were done and so I went around the house making sure everything was perfect for his homecoming. I stopped at the door to the spare room and looked inside. The room was rarely used and I tried envisioning what it would look like painted a soft green or yellow with a crib and changing table instead of a king sized bed and armoire. I shook my head. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since I found out I was pregnant. It was too early to start planning a nursery.

  I was reading on the couch when Drew texted shortly after one o’clock to tell me he’d landed. I knew it would be at least an hour before he was home after getting his luggage and grabbing a cab. Still, my heart started pounding in anticipation knowing he was so close.

  I tried relaxing while I waited, but nothing could calm me and when I finally heard the doorknob turn, I practically jumped to my feet.

  He pushed the door open quickly and then I saw him standing in the doorway, staring at me in a way he never had. He looked as if he’d been up all night too by the circles under his eyes. My mind was whisked back to the first moment I’d looked into those eyes. I never could’ve imagined then that Drew and I would be here now. I couldn’t have prepared myself for how stepping foot into his office that day would change my life.

  “Natalie,” he said softly, dropping his bags and walking towards me. He stopped in front of me, his eyes locking with mine and then he pulled me to him. The moment I felt his arms around me, the tension started to lift and for the first time since finding out, there was a twinge of excitement about the baby and what it meant for our future.

  I almost protested when he let me go, but then I felt his hands on my hips as he lowered himself on his knees. Slowly, he pushed my shirt up as he gazed at my stomach before pressing his lips gently against my skin, kissing it sweetly.

  “I can’t believe our baby is in here,” he said softly, tracing his fingertips over my stomach. “It’s incredible.” He kissed my stomach again and wrapped his arms around me, resting his head against my belly for a long while. I rubbed his head while he held me and then eased himself up, cradling my face in his hands. I could see tears in his eyes as his gaze moved over me. “I have never seen you more beautiful than you are right now and I have never loved you more,” he said as he brushed his lips against mine, so gentle and sweet.

  “You’re okay with this then?” I asked nervously and I saw him balk a little.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”

  “You’re not afraid?”

  “Of course I’m afraid,” he laughed lightly. “The responsibility of bringing a life into this world terrifies me, but I want nothing more than to be a father and to have you by my side as we figure it all out.”

  I felt the tears sliding down my cheeks, but I also knew I was smiling. He was smiling too and he wiped my face before he took my hand, leading me to the couch. We sunk into the cushions and I rested my head on his shoulder as he draped his arm around me.

  “Thank you for coming home.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you found out.”

  “Me too,” I said honestly and he sat up, looking at me with serious eyes.

  “Are you okay?” he asked gently and I shrugged my shoulders.

  “I really don’t know how to feel. I don’t understand how this even happened. I haven’t missed my pill. Ever.”

  “Then this baby must be destined for greatness since it had to fight every obstacle to get here,” he said with a happy smile, but I was still trying to wrap my head around the situation, so I wasn’t sharing his eagerness. I tried to smile as he was, but I could only manage a nervous grin. I could see the bewilderment on his face and he took my hand, pressing his lips to the back of it. “You do want our baby, don’t you?” he asked and I hated hearing the worry in his voice.

  “Of course I want our baby,” I answered. “But…this wasn’t in our plan. We weren’t even on the same coast and I just applied to graduate school. We were just starting to make some headway into figuring out our own lives and now…”

  “This incredible gift happened,” he interrupted and we sat quietly for a few moments. “I know the timing’s not ideal, but I believe things happen for a reason. You came into my office for a reason and I fell in love with you for a reason and now that reason is here.” He placed his hand on my stomach, smiling at it. “Everything will work out. You may have to put off grad school for a while, but everything will come together. I love you, Natalie.” He took my hands and stared into my eyes. “I’ve always wanted to be a father. The only thing that makes this better is that I’ll be doing it with you as my partner.”

  I felt a sense of relief wash over my body knowing that he was going to be by my side through everything. There was no doubt that he loved me and somehow this would all work out. The corners of my mouth turned up into a nervous smile and when I blinked, a few more tears fell down my cheeks. This time though, I thought they might be tears of happiness.

  ~~~

  “You didn’t need to go to all this trouble,” Drew said as he did the dishes. I’d tried helping him clear the table after our stroganoff dinner, but he’d insisted I sit down and rest. I had a feeling he’d be treating me like a China doll until the baby came.

  “I needed to keep my mind occupied,” I told him.

  “Even though it was delicious, and I sincerely mean that,” he grinned over to me. “I want you to take it easy.

  “I’m fine, Drew.”

  “You’re pregnant though.”

  “Exactly. I’m pregnant. It’s a condition, not a disease and I’m fine aside from being tired.”

  “That’s normal though,” he chimed in as he loaded the last dish into the dishwasher. “While on the plane, I found this website called babycenter.com and it tells you every symptom for each stage of pregnancy. I even signed up to receive weekly emails about the baby’s stats. Right now Baby Saben is about the size of sesame seed.”

  I couldn’t stop myself from laughing and he closed the dishwasher, leaning against the counter, grinning a crooked smile at me.

  “And how do you know that?” I asked him.

  “I plugged in your due date and they gave me a rather detailed diagram and descriptions,” he said with a playful smile.

  “And how’d you know my due date? I don’t even know my due date.”

  “Well, I’m assuming it happened when I was here for the engagement party, which was five weeks ago, and my guess is it was the night I told you you’d
never forget me when I was done with you and it looks like I was right.”

  “I guess so,” I laughed and then his smile faded and he gazed over to where I was sitting.

  “It’s good to hear you laugh, Natalie,” he said and then paused for a few moments. “When I walked in earlier, you looked terrified and I’m glad you’re smiling now.”

  I looked out the window at Central Park for a moment before meeting his eyes again.

  “You always make me smile,” I said and it grew quiet between us for a few moments as he continued to look at me with a soft smile. “You seem excited about this, Drew.”

  “That’s an understatement,” he said, walking into the living room where he’d left his bags. We hadn’t done anything since he got home other than take a long nap since neither of us had gotten much sleep. It was time for dinner when we woke up and so his luggage remained by the front door.

  “What do you have there?” I asked when he returned a moment later, holding something navy blue in his hand.

  “Well,” he said, an excited grin on his face. “I was walking towards baggage claim and this caught my eye. I couldn’t resist.”

  He splayed the material onto the table and I started to laugh when I realized it was a baby t-shirt that read: Born to be a Yankee Fan.

  “You didn’t,” I laughed, grabbing the shirt and holding it up, amazed at how tiny it was.

  “I did and it’s suitable for a boy or a girl.”

  “That it is,” I grinned, folding the little shirt into a neat square and then reached across the table, taking his hand. “Thank you for being so supportive…for making me feel like it’ll be okay.”

  He squeezed my hand and leaned in, brushing his lips against mine.

  “I’m sorry you had any doubts that I’d react any other way.”

  “I was scared.”

  “I know, but we’re on this ride together and I don’t plan on getting off any time soon.”

  I felt myself getting teary eyed again and he reached for a napkin, drying my eyes.

  “I can’t seem to get control of my emotions,” I said between a laugh and cry.

  “Another side effect of pregnancy due to the hormonal changes in your body. See? Babycenter does come in handy,” he said with a smile and I stood up, encouraging him to do the same, burying myself in his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. We stood quietly until he pulled back, taking my hand and leading me down the hall to our bedroom.

  “I’ve never wanted you more than I do right now,” he said, brushing his fingertips over my cheek that started to burn with want at his touch. “And I assure you,” he began, but paused to kiss the corner of my mouth in a way that made my breathing quicken. “Based on my extensive research, sexual intercourse is completely safe during pregnancy.” His hands were roaming under my shirt now, warm and soft as they moved over my skin.

  “That’s good to know,” I whispered as he began planting kisses on my neck while he inched my shirt off, tossing it to the floor and then easing me onto the bed. He stood above me, sliding my pants off before undressing himself.

  “I’ve also learned that some women even experience a surge in their libido while pregnant,” he said and I couldn’t help but laugh, but then I stopped as I concentrated on the way his body felt on mine. It’d been too long since I’d felt him. His hands moved gently over my body as he kissed me slowly while we got reacquainted.

  “Your body is exquisite,” he whispered softly in my ear as his hands continued to move over my skin before he stopped and rested his palm on my stomach.

  “Don’t stop,” I whispered, missing the feeling of his wandering hands, moving my hips to encourage him.

  “I won’t, Natalie. I’ll never stop.”

  Twenty-Nine

  I think I was in a daze the next few weeks. We didn’t tell anyone though. I kept it quiet at work, going about my business as if nothing was wrong, although the fatigue wouldn’t go away. I learned to deal with it and the pregnancy was our secret. Even though I still couldn’t believe it, I was coming to grips with the fact that Drew and I were going to be parents. He was attentive and kind and didn’t want me lifting a finger. I didn’t mind the royal treatment, but I didn’t want him to think of me as the delicate flower he was treating me as.

  I’d gone to the doctor’s office where they confirmed the pregnancy and gave me prenatal vitamins before scheduling my first appointment with the doctor for an ultrasound. Even though I’d gone into the office knowing I was pregnant, it was still a shock to hear it confirmed and I only half-listened to the nurse giving me instructions.

  It didn’t seem to matter I hadn’t given my full attention at that first appointment since Drew was constantly sharing what he’d learned with his Babycenter app with me. I found it adorable how excited he was about becoming a father and he was nearly busting with anticipation as he got ready to leave for the office since I’d be meeting him at lunchtime to have the first ultrasound done before heading back to work.

  I was excited too, but I couldn’t ignore the apprehension as well. I had no idea what to expect and as I stood in front of building 435, I took a deep breath and walked inside. It was a relief that he was back in New York. It’d only been a few weeks, but having Drew with me each night had already changed everything. I was still terrified, but he always had a way of making me feel that everything would be okay.

  The elevator opened and the gold script sign with the Taylor and Saben emblem greeted me, followed by Christa’s smile.

  “Hello, Natalie,” she said when I approached. “Drew said he was expecting you. Just sign in and head back.”

  “Thank you, Christa,” I said, quickly signing my name in the register and then headed through the maze of desks until Court and Anna Beth came into view. They were both busy working, but looked up when they heard me approach.

  “Well, well,” Court began “If it isn’t the she-devil who ruined our good time.”

  “What?” I exclaimed. “What kind of greeting is that?”

  “A well-deserved greeting.”

  “What is he talking about, Anna Beth?” I said, looking over to her and she just rolled her eyes, which was often the case when it came to her interaction with Court.

  “The poor baby is whining because he’s actually had to do some work ever since your fiancé returned to the fold.”

  “Do I need to tell Drew you were goofing off while he was busting his ass in L.A.?”

  “Granny Annie over there is an exaggerator. I worked,” he said and then a grin spread on his face. “Just maybe not as hard.”

  He started laughing and I shook my head.

  “I am actually grateful for Drew’s return,” Anna Beth added. “It was a welcome surprise. It’s good to have things back to normal.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” I said and then looked around. “Where is he, by the way?”

  “A meeting with Taylor. I think he’s a little pissed that Drew came back actually. They’ve been having lots of meetings since his return. He should be done in a few minutes. He mentioned he had an appointment at noon and you must be it,” Anna Beth answered. This was all news to me. Drew hadn’t mentioned any of this. Then again, we didn’t spend our time talking about his job. “Speaking of which, I need to get this to him. I’ll be right back.”

  She picked up a folder and made her way towards the conference room, leaving just Court and me. He looked up from his desk and raised an eyebrow.

  “What’s that look for?” I asked, going over and sitting on the edge of his desk.

  “Curiosity.”

  “What are you curious about?”

  “Mr. Saben’s sudden return.”

  “He decided things in the L.A. office were settled enough to come home.”

  “Bullshit, Natalie. He was supposed to be there at least another few months and then three weeks ago he just shows up. It’s all very suspect.”

  I could feel my stomach knotting and it wasn’t from the mild case of mornin
g sickness I’d experienced a few times. Nothing ever got past Court. Anna Beth was easy because she didn’t like to butt into other people’s lives. Court was a different story entirely though. He made a business out of it.

  “He just needed to come home,” I said, hoping my aloofness would deter his interest.

  “Drew doesn’t roll like that. There had to have been a reason,” he said, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his chin. I could practically see the thought bubble above his head as he tried to figure it out.

  “Why can’t you ever just let things go?”

  “Why don’t you just tell me, Natalie? I think I’ve got the answer to my query anyway, so just tell me already.”

  I could feel my heart start to beat from nerves. I should’ve known Court wouldn’t relent. Ever since I’d known him it hadn’t been in his character. Why should I think he would change now?

  “You think you’re so clever, Court,” I grinned, trying to throw him off.

  “He knocked you up, didn’t he?” he said softly so only we could hear and my stomach nearly flew out of my mouth as my face turned beet red. There was no denying it now. “Holy shit! I was kidding! I didn’t really think it. I mean…a little piece of my mind toyed with that, but I didn’t think there was actually any credence.”

  I could tell he was about to burst and I had to admit it felt good to let someone in on our secret.

  He stood up, pulling me down the hall to a secluded corner.

  “I want the details, Natalie.”

  “There aren’t many details to share, Court. We’re going to our first ultrasound appointment in an hour. Other than that, I have no news.”

  “Was this planned?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “I didn’t think we needed to have the safe sex talk, Natalie,” he grinned playfully and I slugged him.

  “I was on the pill. I don’t know how the hell this happened,” I said and then Court’s face turned serious.

  “How’s Drew with it? He’s been in an unusually good mood since he returned.”

  “He’s wonderful. The baby is all he talks about.”