I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. Ethan’s kindness, even after everything I had put him through, was overwhelming.
I had shut him out, thinking only of my fears and doubts, but here he was, focused on what mattered most-the baby.
Ethan stepped closer, “Nadine, I don’t care about anything else right now. We need to make sure you and the baby are okay. That’s all that matters to me.”
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “I’m sorry, Ethan,” I whispered. “I was so scared… of everything.”
He shook his head, gently placing a hand on my shoulder.
“You don’t have to apologize. We’ll figure this out together. But right now, we need to take care of you.”
I nodded, realizing that maybe, just maybe, I didn’t have to face everything alone.
I looked up and saw Sydney with an apologetic look as if she was sorry she couldn’t stop him.
“Don’t worry, Syd, it’s fine. I’ll handle it from here,” I said, trying to smile through my tears.
I turned to look at Ethan as he moved closer. He raised his hand, silently asking if he could hold me.
I nodded, and he gently took my hand.
“Nadine, why are you trying to hurt yourself? You have me and Sydney. You don’t have to go through this alone,” he said softly.
The tears kept flowing, unstoppable. “The time we spent apart was the worst time of my life,” I confessed.
As Ethan held my hand, I thought about how I had tried to handle everything on my own. I thought I was protecting myself, but really, I was just hurting both of us.
“Ethan,” I breathed out his name again. “I’m sorry for shutting you out. I have so much baggage, and I don’t want to drag you into it.”
“I know, Nadine,” he said softly.
I looked at him, stunned.
“You know?” I asked again, not sure if I heard him right the first time. I knew Sydney would never tell anyone what was going on in my life, so how he knew was a mystery to me.
He looked at me and nodded. “Yes, I know. I wasn’t just saying words when I told you I’m here for the long run with you. What I feel for you is way beyond anything I imagined, and I’ll be damned if I let you go easily.”
His words hit me hard, and my heart raced inside my chest, pounding with all the emotions flooding through me. This man had made me feel more loved in just a few months than I ever thought possible.
“Everyone is worried about you,” Ethan said gently. “Lily keeps asking about you.”
“Isn’t she your mom?” I asked, a bit surprised.
He smiled softly and nodded. “Yes, she is. It’s just that everyone called her Lily while we were growing up, and the name just stuck.”
“Oh, I see,” I replied.
“I’ve booked a doctor’s appointment so we can check on the baby. We need to make sure everything is perfect,” Ethan said gently.
I looked down, feeling a bit overwhelmed, but he lifted my chin with his finger.
“Nadine, stop overthinking it. Just get up, get dressed, and let’s go.”
I glanced down at myself and pouted, “I haven’t had my bath yet.”
He smiled, stood up, and kissed my forehead. “Then I’ll leave you to freshen up while I go downstairs,” he said.
I nodded as he looked at me one last time, his face full of smiles, before he quietly left my room.
As soon as Ethan stepped out, I rested my hand on my chest, feeling my heart race.
It felt good to have someone who cared so deeply, someone willing to be part of every moment, even the small ones.
I wasn’t used to this kind of support, and it was a little scary.
I gathered all the strength I could and made my way to the bathroom. Looking at myself in the mirror, I noticed my eyes were dull and lacked their usual spark. With dark bags Ethan and I were clearly on the same page about that.
I placed my hand on my stomach and saw that it was starting to show. It was more noticeable because I was naked, but I knew it would be hidden when I got dressed.
Thoughts raced through my mind about the baby’s gender, but I was determined to be a better parent than what I had experienced.
I promised myself that my child would never go through the mess I endured.
Seeing the changes in my body reminded me of everything that had happened recently-the growing bump was a visible sign of the baby, but it also brought back memories of Logan and the contract.
I decided to take a shower, hoping the warm water would help clear my mind. As the water cascaded down my body, I lost myself in thought. The warmth made my skin redden, but it was soothing, even if just for a moment.
The steam created a small sense of peace amidst the whirlwind of emotions I had been feeling.
Afterward, I stepped out, wrapped a towel around myself, and went back to my room. I quickly chose a simple, classy blouse and some nice shorts.
I dried my hair, pulled it into a bun, and applied some makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes. I added mascara to make my eyes pop and put on some lipstick. After gathering my essentials and packing them into my bag, I walked downstairs.
I thought about the upcoming doctor’s appointment and what it meant for the baby and me. It was hard not to feel anxious.
I glanced at my reflection in a mirror near the stairs. The makeup and fresh clothes made me look more put together than I felt.
When I got downstairs, I saw Sydney and Ethan chatting and laughing together.
They seemed to have a great relationship. As Ethan noticed me, his eyes swept over my body, and I felt self-conscious under his intense gaze.
I took a deep breath and tried to steady my nerves.
“You look beautiful,” Ethan said, stepping closer and taking my hand. “Shall we?”
As I held his hand, Sydney gave me a wink and a thumbs-up.
“Thank you,” I muttered.
“I wish I could be there for your first appointment, but I have to seal a business deal,” Sydney said.
“It’s not a bother, Syd. I trust you’ll ace the deal,” I replied.
“Thanks, my lucky charm,” she said, kissing both my cheeks as Ethan and I made our way out of the house.
His car was parked outside. He opened the door for me, but before I could get in, I paused. He stopped too, thinking I might be changing my mind.
Instead, I tiptoed and kissed his cheek. I felt him stiffen slightly from the touch.
“Thank you for everything,” I said.
He smiled broadly and replied, “You’re welcome. Let’s get going, Nadine, so we won’t be late.”