NYLON ~ CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO ~ SURPRISE
Caleb held a coat out for Hanna to slip into and she buttoned it over her expansive belly. Hanna picked up her purse and followed Caleb downstairs to the garage.
"Where are we going?" Hanna asked when they were comfortable in the car.
"There's this great place I heard about from a guy at work," he explained. "He said their tacos are amazing."
"I'm not really feeling tacos," Hanna replied.
"Come on," he laughed. "They've got other stuff too. Just trust me."
"Fine," Hanna sighed, "but I'm getting dessert."
"Sure," he laughed. "Anything for you and the baby."
Hanna smirked and leaned back in her seat rubbing the side of her belly to soothe the growing baby. Finally Caleb pulled up to a contemporary building toting a fancy restaurant on the first floor. Caleb got out and handed the valet his keys before walking around to help Hanna out of the front seat.
"Thanks," she said when she was back on solid ground.
"Let's go," Caleb grabbed her waist. "I have a reservation."
"Oh fancy," Hanna teased as they stepped inside. Caleb led her to the elevator and pressed the call button. "Why are we going upstairs?"
"I reserved us a special table," Caleb told her.
"Oh ok," Hanna smiled following him into the elevator. Caleb pressed the button to the third floor. The elevator shifted into gear and Hanna felt her stomach do a somersault. She pressed her hands to her belly and let out a small whimper.
"You okay?" Caleb asked nervously checking his phone.
"Yeah," Hanna smiled rubbing just below her belly button as the doors opened.
"Surprise!" came a chorus of voices as the elevator landed. Blue balloons and streamers were hung up everywhere. Along the wall were long tables piled high with cupcakes and petit hors d'oeuvres
"You guys!" Hanna's eyes teared up as she scanned the room recognizing her mother and all of her friends.
"Don't look at us," Spencer told her. "It was Caleb's idea."
"Babe," Hanna turned to look at him. "You did this? Is this why you and Spencer have been sneaking away for private conversations all the time?"
"Yeah," he smiled. "I thought you could use a day of fun with your friends before the baby comes."
"Thank you," Hanna said giving him a hug.
"Come on!" Aria grabbed her hand. "Spencer planned games."
"Typical," Hanna laughed as her friends dragged her away from Caleb. She watched a wide grin spread across his face as he looked around and then turned on his heel to leave the girls to their party.
Hanna slipped her key in the slot and pressed the button to reach the penthouse. The doors opened and she stepped into the dark foyer. She tiptoed into the bedroom and saw Caleb asleep in bed. She quietly changed into a nightgown and then stepped close to the bed. She pulled away the covers and slowly slipped underneath next to Caleb.
"Hey," he groaned rolling over to face her.
"Sorry," she whispered. "I didn't want to wake you."
"It's okay," he smiled. Caleb propped himself up on his side and softly placed his hand on her growing belly.
"I had a lot of fun today," she told him. "Thank you for putting that together."
"You're welcome," Caleb kissed her sweetly.
"You've been really great," Hanna said, "through this whole thing. I never expected any of this."
"I just want us to be happy," Caleb told her.
"Me too," Hanna replied.
"Hey," Caleb stroked her cheek, "how about I take the day off tomorrow? We can hang spend some time together."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Hanna asked. "You'll probably have to take time when the baby comes. I don't want you to use up your vacation days."
"I'm a partner," he reminded Hanna. "Plus, we've only got a week left before the little guy takes over."
"Okay," Hanna smiled. "Let's do it. We'll have a Haleb day tomorrow."
"Haleb it is," he said. Caleb kissed her cheek. Hanna rolled over onto her side and pressed Caleb's hand to her swollen abdomen.
Hanna woke up to the sun streaming through the delicate curtains. She rubbed her belly to soothe the kicking youngster and then turned her head to glance on the other side of the bed. There was an empty space where Caleb usually was. She slowly crawled out of the bed and stepped into the kitchen.
"Good morning," Caleb smiled when he saw her in the archway.
"Hey," Hanna replied. She inched toward him and gave him a kiss. "Ready for Haleb day?"
"You know it," he said. Then he grabbed a frying pan and set it on the stove. "We should probably get some food in you because I've got huge plans for today."
"You're something else," Hanna laughed.
"I hope that's a compliment," Caleb teased.
"It is," she assured him. she paused for a second. "You really have been amazing through all of this."
"Why do you say it like that?" he asked after a pause.
"What do you mean?" Hanna asked.
"It's like you expect me to get up and leave at any second," he told her. "I hope you know that's not who I am anymore."
"You're right," Hanna said finally. "It's just, sometimes I forget that we've changed and I just remember sitting on my window ledge crying my eyes out because I loved you so much yet I hated you just as much…and, I really want to believe that you'll be here for me and the baby no matter what. It's just that…there was that one time when you weren't."
"Hanna," Caleb sat down next to her and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I made a commitment to you and I made a commitment to this baby when we slept together after Spencer's wedding. I will always be here because you and this baby are my family now. Can you believe me when I say that?"
"Yeah," Hanna smiled. "I believe you. Except that we didn't conceive this little guy after the wedding. It was actually after you drove me home from Spencer's that one time."
"Well," he teased, "in that case I'm out of here."
"Shut up!" Hanna slapped him.
"Okay," he smiled. "I promise to always be there for you and this baby. I thought I made that clear when I proposed to you."
"Well, engaged isn't married," Hanna said. "You better come through on this promise."
"I will," he kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Hanna smiled.
Now you know why Caleb and Spencer were being so mysterious. It was definitely good news! Coming up next is some serious drama so I hope you're excited! Again, thanks for all the reviews, you guys are amazing and you totally make it worth my while to keep updating this story. I do have a question for all my loyal readers, though. Hanna's going to have the baby REALLY soon so I'd love your suggestions on what you want to see beyond this. Should she and Caleb get married soon? What about the other girls? I really want to bring in more storylines for them.
