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

by Nugen Isbell, Megan

  “Isn’t there anything wrong with that man? He’s hot as sin, loaded and a stand up guy to boot. Don’t fuck this up, Natalie. Guys like him come around never in a lifetime, but you’ve got him.”

  “I know,” I said with a smile. “But, you have to swear you won’t say a word to anyone and I mean anyone. We haven’t even told our families and if you say something, I’ll never forgive you.”

  “My lips are sealed,” he said, zipping them.

  “That doesn’t give me any assurance. Loose lips doesn’t even begin to describe your blabbermouth.”

  “I’m offended, Natalie.”

  “No, you’re not. Now, I mean it. Mum’s the word.”

  “Cross my heart,” he said and then he took my hands, a sincere smile spreading on his face. “How’re you feeling?”

  “I’m okay. I think I’m still in shock, but I’m all right.”

  “Let me know if you need anything…anything at all, okay?”

  “Thank you, Court,” I said, leaning in and hugging him, before pulling back. “We should get back though. I don’t want Drew thinking I told you.”

  “Or that you ran off with me,” he said and I started laughing as we made our way back to his office.

  Anna Beth had returned, but Drew was noticeably absent. I sat down beside Court’s desk and we all visited for a few minutes before Drew finally made an appearance.

  “I’m sorry to keep you, Natalie,” he said, leaning down and giving me a quick kiss. “You look lovely.”

  “Thank you,” I said, not thinking the gray knit dress I’d chosen was anything special. He, on the other hand, looked impeccable as always in perfectly pressed black pants and a white dress shirt and tie.

  “We should go. We don’t want to be late.”

  He held his hand out to me and I took it, getting to my feet. I could feel his excitement oozing from him.

  “And where are you two headed?” Court asked innocently, but we made eye contact and I shot him a warning glare. I knew he was just testing the waters to see how Drew would react.

  “An appointment,” was all Drew said. “I’m not sure if I’ll be back or not.”

  Court raised an eyebrow at me and I knew what he was implying.

  “I’ll see you guys later,” I said to him and Anna Beth and Drew took my hand, leading me towards the elevators.

  “Are you excited?” he asked quietly as we made our way down.

  “Yes. You?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.

  “It’s all I could think about all morning. I could hardly concentrate during my meeting with Taylor.”

  “Is everything okay between you two?”

  “It’s fine. He would’ve preferred if I stayed in L.A., but I told him if it’s that important, then he should get his ass to California.”

  “And how’d that go over?” I asked as we stepped into the building lobby and made our way to the doors.

  “He’s going next week,” Drew said with a laugh I could only describe as vindictive.

  Drew hailed a cab when we stepped outside and it wasn’t long before we were walking into the doctor’s office. I was nervous and excited, but Drew held my hand as I checked in. They took me to an exam room shortly thereafter. I was surprised when I was asked to strip down to a gown like I was having my annual checkup.

  “Hello,” the doctor said when he walked in a few minutes later. He shook my hand first and then Drew’s. “I’m Dr. Phelps. It’s nice to meet you, Natalie.”

  “You too,” I said and then turned to Drew. “This is my fiancé, Drew Saben.”

  They exchanged cordial greetings and then the doctor explained what would be happening. I hadn’t expected a full internal exam, but that’s what I got. I had to admit, it was a little awkward having Drew present for such an intimate exam.

  “We’re going to begin the ultrasound now, Natalie,” he said reaching for a wand. “We have to do an internal because the fetus it so small at this point.”

  I nodded and tried to make myself comfortable as he positioned the wand. He turned on a monitor and as I stared at it, I couldn’t tell what I was looking at. It seemed like nothing but gray and white blobs melting together. Then the image began to steady and Dr. Phelps pointed to the screen.

  “This is the baby,” he said, tracing a grainy white image in the shape of a bean. There were little protrusions sticking out and one end appeared more bulbous than the other. Dr. Phelps explained to me it was the head. I could barely comprehend what he was saying to me as he began taking measurements and pointing out all of the details of the baby because I was in shock that I was looking at my child…our child. It seemed surreal and I was only jostled out of my thoughts when the doctor said, “And now for the heartbeat.”

  He hit a button and a whoosh-whoosh sound filled the air. I felt a lump form in my throat as I listened and Drew’s grip on my hand tightened. I turned to look at him and he was staring intensely at the screen with a smile I’d never seen before on his face. I thought I saw tears in his eyes and then he turned to meet my gaze. He squeezed my hand even tighter as our eyes met and in that moment I’d never loved him more.

  ~~~

  We hadn’t said much the rest of the appointment. We listened as Dr. Phelps told us my due date was in mid-February and we sat with a nurse who explained the dos and don’ts of pregnancy. Luckily they gave me a packet with all of the information because I was still in a cloud during most of the discussion.

  Drew sat across from me in a little booth at a café we’d found and we both picked quietly at our lunches. I think we were both still trying to process what was happening, but that smile I’d seen in the exam room had never left his face. It was subtle and content and I liked the way it made him look.

  “Can I see the pictures again?” he asked, referring to the ultrasound images.

  “Of course,” I said, reaching into my purse and handing them to him.

  He stared at each picture for a few seconds before turning to the next and then he looked up and smiled at me.

  “It doesn’t seem real, does it?”

  “No,” I answered softly.

  He put the pictures down and slid out of his side of the booth and sat back down beside me, draping one arm over my shoulder and resting his other hand on my stomach.

  “It’s incredible, Natalie,” he said softly into my ear. “There’s a baby inside of you.” I heard his voice crack and he kissed my temple, his lips resting there for a while. “What I feel for you right now,” he said gently, pausing to take a breath. “I cannot express in words. I can tell you I love you, but it’s so much more than that. You’re everything to me, Natalie. You and this baby. You’re everything.”

  I turned to him and he reached up, running his fingertips over my cheek before gently brushing his lips over mine.

  “Let’s get married,” he said.

  “We are. Remember?” I asked, playfully flashing my ring at him.

  “No. I mean I don’t want to wait.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked and I could feel my heartbeat quickening.

  “I’m talking about not waiting. I’m talking about just doing it.”

  “But…we…we’ve hardly planned anything.”

  “Doesn’t matter. It can be as simple or as extravagant as you want. We can make it happen. I just want you as my wife and I want us to be married when this baby comes.”

  He took my hand, holding it to his lips and kissing the back of it fiercely.

  “Okay,” I said, a little smile turning up on the corners of my mouth. “Let’s get married.”

  Thirty

  When Drew said he wanted to get married, he wasn’t messing around. He hired a wedding planner a few days after the doctor’s appointment. We decided on August first, which only gave us a month to plan. I didn’t want anything extravagant. Drew was on board with a low key wedding, but he still wanted me to have the wedding I’d always wanted. We finally decided on a small ceremony at an old mansion in
Connecticut. I wanted something out of the city and away from the congestion. The ceremony would be by a lake and the reception inside. The whole process was overwhelming and I didn’t think we could pull it off.

  “What do you mean you’re getting married in a month?” my mom had exclaimed when I told her.

  “We don’t want to wait.”

  “But, that’s so soon, Natalie. We won’t have any time to plan.”

  “We’re taking care of everything, so you don’t need to worry about anything.”

  “What about your dress? I’d like to be there when you pick it out.”

  I could hear the sadness in her voice and I hated hearing her that way.

  “Court and I are going start looking tomorrow. I’ll send you pictures before I make my choice or we can Skype,” I said, trying to pacify her and I was met with a long pause.

  “This is not how I imagined my daughter’s wedding,” she said despondently. “I just don’t understand the rush.”

  I hadn’t planned to tell my parents about the baby this soon. I wasn’t ready for anyone to know yet, but there’d be no hiding it for much longer and telling her would be the only way she wouldn’t pester me to wait longer to get married.

  “We want to get married before the baby arrives,” I said softly and I heard her gasp, followed by complete silence.

  “Baby?” she finally whispered.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  The silence settled in again and I thought I heard her sniffle. She was crying.

  “Is that why he proposed?”

  “No. He proposed before I got pregnant,” I began. “It’s important to him that we’re married before the baby comes. That’s why we’re moving forward so quickly.”

  The silence settled in again and I waited for her to say something. I knew she needed time to absorb what I’d just told her.

  “I agree with Drew,” she eventually said, but her voice was flat.

  “Are you mad, Mom?” I asked nervously and I waited anxiously for her response.

  “I’m not mad, Natalie,” she sighed. “I’m very surprised and I’m trying to process this.”

  “Me too,” I said, a lump forming in my throat and the silence that was becoming too familiar settled in again.

  “I can’t help thinking about how everything’s been different since you moved to New York,” she said quietly.

  “I know,” I agreed, not able to deny it. “Aren’t you at least a little happy about the news?”

  “Of course,” she sighed. “Drew is a good man, but I don’t want you to forget who you are.”

  I wiped away a tear that had fallen.

  “Please don’t tell anyone that I’m pregnant. Not even Dad. I’ll tell them when I’m ready.”

  She sighed again and I knew even though she didn’t want to, she’d honor my request.

  “I won’t say anything,” she stated. “And I’m here if you need anything. Anything at all. And, Natalie,” she said, pausing for a moment. “I think you’ll be a wonderful mother.”

  “Thank you, Mom,” I choked out and then the line was dead. I sat staring at the phone, her words echoing in my ears. I hadn’t planned this. This wasn’t supposed to happen now, but it had happened and hearing my mother believed in me made me believe in myself.

  I felt heavy hands on my shoulders and I looked up to see Drew standing behind me. I thought he’d been busy in his office.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, sitting down beside me.

  “I just told my mom. I hadn’t planned on telling her, but she kept pressing me about rushing the wedding.”

  “How’d that go?” I could see the concern on his face.

  “It went fine. She’s in shock obviously.”

  “Aren’t we all?” he grinned, taking my hand and kissing the back of it.

  “She said she thinks I’ll be a good mom.”

  I felt him tilting my chin up until our eyes met.

  “She’s right,” he said, brushing his lips lightly over mine. “You’ll be the most wonderful mother.”

  “Despite how everything has gone, I think this is all going to work out after all,” I said, feeling that my words might actually be true.

  “I’ve decided that sometimes life’s biggest curveballs turn out to be the greatest blessings.” Our eyes met again and he rested his hand on my stomach. “And I never expected to be blessed this much.”

  “I’m glad you’re home,” I said, reaching up and kissing him. “I don’t know what I’d do if you were still in California.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he said, kissing the top of my head and then sat up, pulling me gently with him. “How about a walk and some ice cream in the park?” he asked and I didn’t hesitate to agree.

  “Sounds perfect,” I answered and as he led me outside, I was grateful for these simple times with Drew. As he held my hand, I forgot about the stress of the wedding and my fears of motherhood. It was just him and me and at that moment, it was all I needed.

  Thirty-One

  “That’s it! This is the one!” Court exclaimed as I walked out of the dressing room. We’d been at a fancy boutique he insisted we try for over an hour. I’d already tried on five different dresses, but none of them had felt right. This one though, was an entirely different story. The moment I slid it on and looked in the mirror, it’d felt different, almost as if it’d been made for me, and Court’s reaction only solidified my feeling.

  “I think you’re right,” I said, turning in the mirror, watching the train flow behind me. It was simple, but elegant: strapless and form fitting as the long skirt flared out freely, ending in a small train with intricate bead work.

  “Of course I’m right. One does not watch every season of Say Yes to the Dress and get these kinds of matters wrong,” he said, coming up to me and running his hands over the material.

  “What would I do without you?” I laughed, staring at myself again.

  “It’s a good thing we don’t have to find out,” he said, leaving my side for a moment to grab a veil and then returned, placing it on my head. “Perfection.”

  I looked at my reflection, almost not recognizing the person looking back. I was getting married and soon after, I’d be a mother. My life was changing and if I thought about it too hard, it scared the hell out of me. That’s why I focused on the present and simply picking out a dress.

  “You look happy, Natalie,” Court said, coming up behind me and placing his hand on my shoulder.

  “I am.”

  “Good. You deserve it.”

  He gave me a quick hug and then started fluffing the veil I was wearing.

  “Will you take a picture so I can send it to my mom and get her opinion?”

  “Sure thing,” he said, pulling my phone from my purse and snapping a picture. “Are you gonna buy it?”

  “I’m not sure. Shouldn’t we try some more shops?”

  “Why? This one is perfect and,” he said, raising an eyebrow at me, “you don’t have the gift of time in this matter.”

  “Very true,” I said, sliding back into the dressing room, followed by the attendant who had helped me put it on.

  I handed the clerk Drew’s credit card and we scheduled a time to pick up my dress after the alterations were done. My phone rang just as we were finishing up and I glanced at it, seeing it was Drew.

  “Hello?” I greeted him, noticing how cheerful my voice sounded.

  “You sound like you’re in a good mood,” Drew responded and I could tell by his tone that he was smiling.

  “I am. We found the dress. I’m paying for it right now.”

  “That was quick.”

  “It was, but it’s perfect.”

  “Are you going to show it to me?”

  “No. You’re not seeing it until I’m walking down the aisle,” I teased and I heard him scoff.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Dead serious. You’ll just have to wait.”

  “You’re a cruel woman, N
atalie.”

  “I may be, but I assure you, it’ll be worth the wait.”

  “I have no doubt,” he said. “Now, I’ll leave you to your shopping. Hurry home though. I’m bored with this work I’m doing and I can think of other activities I’d rather be engaging in.” I could hear the longing in his voice, which made me blush.

  “Court and I are going to grab some lunch and then I’ll be home.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” he said and before I could say anything, he’d hung up. I smiled at my phone before putting it away and finishing the transaction.

  “Now that that’s settled, let’s eat,” Court said, linking his arm with mine as we walked onto the busy Manhattan sidewalk.

  We decided on a little café near Bryant Park and as we ate, I was reminded of our lunches when I still worked at Taylor and Saben. The only thing missing was Anna Beth.

  “How’ve you been feeling?” Court asked me between bites.

  “All right, I guess. I’ve nothing to compare it to though. The worst though is my back’s been hurting the past few days and I’m a tired. It was the worst this morning, but I’m feeling pretty good now.”

  “Any morning sickness?”

  “A little, but I guess it could be worse. The smell of cooking chicken turns my stomach though,” I laughed. “Drew tells me it’s all perfectly normal for this stage.”

  “Drew?”

  “He gets these updates in his email. I think it’s rather cute actually. I don’t have to do anything because he’s always there to keep me informed.”

  “That man is so in love with you it’s pathetic,” Court teased. “Although I should thank you. He’s been on Cloud Nine since returning from L.A. He’s always been easy to work for, but now it’s a breeze.”

  “You’re welcome. Now,” I said, grinning at him, “I need to use the bathroom, yet another glorious side effect of pregnancy. Constant peeing.”

  I set my napkin down and made my way to the ladies room, waiting a few moments until a stall became available. I went inside and I felt my stomach drop when I pulled my pants down. A large drop of blood covered my underwear. I told myself not to panic. It could be anything. In one of the emails Drew had forwarded to me, it mentioned that spotting can sometimes occur during pregnancy. This worried me though. It seemed like more than spotting.