CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Nash
“Walter, I assume you’ve spoken to the board?”
“Yeah, that is why I am calling, Nash, given your request for leave they have drafted a contract and emailed you a copy to review, then when you finish your leave we can discuss the nuts and bolts.” It was the best news I’d heard today, a real check in the box I needed in the plan for our future.
“That sounds reasonable, Walter.” I downplay my excitement but I couldn’t wait to tell Beth, knowing I didn’t need to leave for a couple of weeks would be a huge weight of both off our shoulders. “I truly appreciate it.” I decided to invite her to lunch, and then I can break the news to her there.
I’d taken Beth to work before heading back to my hotel room, working on tying up some loose ends and as promised, the draft of the contract had come through for me to look over.
Nash: I have news, and I want to take you to lunch. Pick you up at 1?
Beth: You’re being bossy, we both know I don’t respond well to that.
Nash: Let me make it up to you then by taking you to lunch today at, say 1 o’clock?
I am waiting downstairs when Beth appears from between the opening elevator doors. I pull her into my arms as she reaches me, and cover her lips with mine. It had been far too long since I had kissed her last.
“Whoa, stud, that is a whole lot of PDA right there.” She pulls back but stays locked in my arms.
“Is there something wrong with that?” I lace my fingers through hers and guide her toward the waiting car. “Come on, I have a reservation for us and I can’t wait to share the news with you.”
“So you’re telling me that you don’t need to leave yet?” I’d just filled Beth in about the draft contract, and how there was no need at the moment for me to head back to London.
“Not yet I don’t. I will need to in a couple of weeks but for now I’m staying in Willow Bay.” Reaching across the table, I take her hands in mine. “Now, I am going to be here when you have your first appointment with the midwife, and I want to go with you.” Her smile is the only reaction I needed from her; there was no way she was going to that appointment on her own. I was keeping my promise and could practically cartwheel over the idea.
Once I’ve dropped Beth back at work I head over to my hotel suite. I had an email alert to say the books I had ordered have arrived so I planned on doing as much research before our appointment as possible. My goal is knowledge, and if I could learn anything to help put Beth’s mind at ease throughout this whole pregnancy I knew myself that I could be on the right track of showing her how committed I was to her and our baby. Another check in the box and a big old Pro for her list.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Gibson. I believe we had a parcel arrival for you, it has already been sent up to your room.”
I thank the girl at the reception desk, and make my way to the elevator bank, heading directly to my suite.
The rooms have been cleaned, and I find the parcel of books is sitting on the desk, I immediately rip off the tape and remove the books, thumbing through some of the pages I scan bits and pieces and some of the photos while searching for the information that relates to the fifth and sixth week.
I spent hours researching, meticulously making notes. The sun had started to set before I take a break to stretch out my tired muscles.
Beth is already home before I get there. She opens the door as I’m still climbing the front steps. “Well, this is a nice welcome, sweetheart.”
“Don’t sound so surprised, I was actually just heading out.”
“Oh, you were?”
“I have dinner with my parents tonight. Sorry, I thought I had told you.”
“Not that I recall.” She pushes past me and pulls the door closed behind her. The reception is icy cold and it felt like we were taking two steps back, all the progress we’d made halted in quicksand.
“It’s David’s anniversary.”
“Oh.” I kick myself, annoyed that I wasn’t more aware.
She is halfway down the path before she turns back to face me. “Did you want to come with me?” Shyly, she invites me.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, I would like it if you did.” She smiles and I find myself smiling back at her, practically skipping down the path. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and together we make our way over to her parent’s house, like a real couple.