*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much.
Natalie One WEEK LATER:
I am sitting in my OB/GYN's office waiting for the results of my pregnancy test. I don't really need them to tell me what I already know but I like the reassurance of hearing it from the doctor that I am pregnant. I peed in the cup and had blood drawn. Now it is just a matter of waiting but even this feels like an eternity. It gives me time on to think if I should tell John or wait a little while. I don't know what's going on with him and Ashley. I haven't heard from him since last week. Jay told me that John has been really busy lately with wrestling. I hope to see John or at least talk to him soon. I'm really starting to miss him and I know Angelina misses him too. I am snapped out of my thoughts when there is a knock on the door. "Come in," I say.
The door opens and my OB walks in carrying my file. "Well, Natalie, I have the results from your tests," she says with a smile.
"Okay," I say knowing what she's going to tell me.
"Well, Natalie you are indeed pregnant! Congratulations!"
"Thank-you," I say with a smile. I don't know something about this news just makes me feel happy. It's like John and I are supposed to be together. Why else would I have gotten pregnant by him again? It's definitely fate.
"So we're looking at the middle of January for a due date," she says after looking over my chart. "I want to do an ultrasound to get an accurate due date and to see how far along you are exactly."
"Okay," I say.
"I will have the ultrasound tech come in shortly."
"Thank-you," I say before she walks out of the room.
The ultrasound tech comes in shortly after she leaves. I get prepared for my ultrasound which he does internally. They have always been uncomfortable. I hate it but as soon as my little bean pops up on the screen I forget how much I hate it. It looks so perfect even though it is no bigger than a pea. I feel the tears in my eyes as I look on the screen. It is absolutely amazing knowing that I have a little person inside of me. The tech points out its heartbeat the little flicker on the screen. I can't believe it has a heartbeat already. It is such a miracle. I have always wanted another baby maybe not this way but this is how I feel it's supposed to be. The tech measures the baby at 7 weeks and tells me my due date is January 15th. He even prints pictures off for me. I really wish John could be here so that he could see our little bean. It is all real to me now with the doctor's words and seeing it on the screen. I schedule my next appointment and leave the office. I have to look at my ultrasound pictures one more time before I drive home.
As I drive home I think about giving John a call telling him to come over this week when he gets off work so that I can tell him the news. I really don't want this pregnancy to be like it was last time. I want him to be involved. I want him to go with me to every appointment and I want him to be with me during delivery. I want him to see his child come into the world. I don't want it to be 8 years later and he meet his baby for the first time. I will not let history repeat itself. I really need him to be my support in this. I have no job and I just need him to be here for me as I go through this pregnancy. I pull into my driveway and I am shocked at what I see. I see Max's car parked in front of my house and him sitting on the porch waiting for me. I have no idea why he's here but I instantly feel fear for myself and for my bean. I put my hand on my stomach before getting out of the car and say, "it's okay, Bean, we'll be okay." I get out of the car and put the pictures from the ultrasound in my purse and head to my front door. Max rises as I get closer. "What are you doing here, Max?" I ask as I reach the porch.
"I had to see you," he says. "I miss you, Natalie."
"You are the one that decided to be with Callie," I say as I walk past him to the door. I put my key in the door and say, "you should leave."
"Can we talk?" he asks. "Please?"
"I really don't think there's anything to talk about and if you think you're coming into my house talking to me alone where you can beat the shit out of me you're mistaken. Go home, Max," I say.
"Nat, can we please talk? We don't have to go inside. We can talk out here if you want," he says.
"Max, I have to pee. I don't want to stay out here."
"It won't be long," he says.
"Max, let me go to the bathroom first. I'll be back out," I say going against my better judgment. I walk into the house shutting and locking the door behind me. I know he can't get in because I had my locks changed a couple months ago. I go upstairs use the bathroom and then call John before going out to Max. I think he can wait.
"Hello," says John as he answers the phone. There is something funny about his voice.
"Hey, Stranger," I say. "Haven't heard from you in a while. I thought you were getting back to me about Ashley?"
"I've been busy, Natalie," he says.
"I heard," I say. "I know you're busy but you and me really have to talk about something. I was hoping that you could come over tomorrow or Wednesday to visit with Angelina and hang out. I have something to tell you."
He is silent on the other end and then I hear him take a deep breath. "Nat," he says.
"What, John? What's wrong?" I ask. I know something is wrong with him. I can hear it in his voice.
"It's Ashley," he says.
"What about her? Are you getting a divorce or what?"
"No," he says sadly, "we're not."
"Why?" I ask. "I thought that was the plan."
"It was. I even told her I was leaving. I gave her the papers and everything and right before I walked out to go on the road she gave me a positive pregnancy test." My heart sinks. "She's pregnant, Natalie."
"She's pregnant?" I ask as I rub my stomach. That's pretty coincidental.
"Yes," he says, "I can't leave her, Natalie. Not right now." This just proves how good of a man John really is. He won't leave a woman he despises because she's pregnant with his child.
"John," I say. "What about us?"
"Nat, I don't think there is an us. I was all about fate bringing us together. I strongly felt like we were supposed to be together and then Ashley gave me the pregnancy test. I can't leave her not while she's pregnant."
"You don't sound excited," I say noticing the lack of joy in his voice.
"I'm not," he says. "I'm not excited. I didn't want it to be this way. She's upset because I gave you $20,000."
"How does she know?"
"The bank statements and she knows about Angelina too. She was pissed. She wanted me to stop seeing her. I won't do that. I can't do that to my daughter."
"Good," I say. "I won't let you do that to Angelina. So when are you coming to visit her. We really need to talk when you do."
"I don't know. Probably in about 2 or 3 weeks. Work is kind of busy right now and I need to be with Ashley a little bit. She has a doctor's appointment today."
"Oh," I say.
"Can't you just tell me on the phone?"
"No, John. It's not a telephone conversation," I say.
"Oh," he says. "Well, Nat, I have to go. I will call you to set up a time to see Angelina. Bye, Natalie."
"Bye, John," I say sadly. I don't know what just happened but I think fate just kicked our asses.
I do my best not to cry but these pregnancy hormones have me all over the place. I lay my phone down on the table and walk out the front door to see Max sitting down once again. He stands up as I walk out the door. "So we can talk?"
"I guess," I say.
"I'm sorry, Natalie. I'm really sorry. Things just went down the drain. I'm really sorry."
"Sorry for making a spectacle of me in front of your boss, sorry for sleeping with Callie behind my back, sorry for making me lose my job or sorry for beating the shit out of me and trying to hit my daughter? What are you sorry for, Max?"
"Everything," he says. "I didn't mean to make you lose your job."
"Well, you did," I say.
"I'm sorry," he says. "The job is yours if you want it. Callie sucks at running the hotel. I mean she really sucks."
"I don't want it," I say. I really don't want the job back. I still plan to find a job in New York or Connecticut. I don't want to work for Max again.
"You love that job."
"I LOVED it but not anymore. I don't love it anymore," I say. "And I thought you were all about Callie?"
"Callie is not the woman for me, Natalie. Ever since we stopped seeing each other all I can do is think about you. I need to be with you."
"You should have thought about that before you slept with Callie."
"I'm sorry about that. You're not going to let it go are you?"
"Nope," I say.
"Come on, Nat, don't be like that. I'm sorry. I made a mistake but I'm ready to move past it and make it up to you."
"And how do you plan on making it up to me?"
"I don't know," he says. "Natalie, I love you. Please just give me another chance."
"Why?"
"Because I love you. I have gotten help for my anger."
"I don't think a month of anger management is going to make you change."
"It did," he says. "It has helped me a lot. I know how to channel my anger. I feel horrible for everything I put you through. I know I can say sorry so many times but it's not going to change anything. I want to start new. I have really thought about us. I want to be with you. Please, Natalie give me another chance."
I think about it and then say, "fine, Max, but if you put your hands on me again we're done. If you cheat on me again we're done. I'm not putting up with it."
"Thank-you, Natalie," he says with a smile. "I love you."
"You're going to need to prove it," I say. I don't say it back because I'm not sure I love him.
"I will, Natalie. I will prove it. I want to make you my wife. Please marry me."
"Fine," I say. "I'll marry you." I'm not really sure why I agreed so fast it definitely wasn't my intent.
"Really?"
"Yes," I say. "Really."
"Natalie, I love you!" He says as he wraps his arms around me.
"Okay," I say hugging him back. I have no idea what I've just done. I think knowing John and I will never be together that there is no harm in giving Max another chance. John isn't going to like it but it's my life. He obviously didn't want to be in it.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.
*A/N 2: I am going to do my best to update this story this week but this may be the only update I can give. I am in the path of Hurricane Sandy so I may not be able to. If you're in the path of Sandy I hope you stay safe. : )