Chapter 8
(Phoebe's POV)
Today is the court hearing for Mr. Moore. It is a closed courtroom so nobody can go in. His lawyer assured that would happen. We meet at the courthouse at 12 pm with Teddy and Mrs. Moore. I hug Teddy and then hug Noel.
"Hi sweetheart," she says in my ear.
"Hi Noel," I say. She is wearing a soft grey pantsuit. She looks impeccable put together. I am in a blouse and slacks with heels and Nathan is in a suit along with Teddy. Nathan rests his hand on my back as we talk.
"How long should this take?" Nathan asks Teddy.
"I would say anywhere from an hour to two," he says and we nod.
"And there is no way we can come in?" Nathan asks.
"I wish there was, Nate. They pulled the mental health card," Nathan shakes his head and rests a hand on his hip. He does this when he is extremely frustrated.
"Noel, we better head in," Ted says. Nathan and I nod. We give Ted and Noel hugs before they head into the courtroom.
"Let's sit," I say and take Nathan's hand guiding him to a nearby bench. We sit down and I cross my legs. I take one of his hands in mine.
"It is going to be okay," I say. He kisses the back of my hand that he is holding.
"I hope so, my dad can be a manipulative piece of shit," Nathan says and I nod.
"No matter what happens we will get through it together," I say and he nods. I can tell he is super nervous. His leg is bouncing up and down. He is staring off into the distance. I decide to distract him. I go into my purse and take a sonogram picture Maisy gave me of our godchild. I hand it to him. He pales and looks at me.
"Phoebe," he says. I realize he thinks it is our baby. I really could screw with him in this moment, but I decide not to because of the situation.
"That is our Godchild," I say. He sighs and looks at me.
"You are going to give me a heart attack woman," he says and I laugh.
"Look at him or her," he says. He is observing the picture smiling.
"She is due in August right?" Nathan asks and I nod.
"She also gave me this," I hand him the envelope with the gender written on it that Maisy gave me.
"No way," he says as he opens it.
"I know, I thought it was the opposite," I say and he nods saying me too.
"So the gender reveal party is Saturday?" He asks and I nod.
"I am so excited," he says and I smile.
"I am too, this is going to be our first living thing we have together," I say and he laughs. He really wants a dog and I said we should wait for that commitment til we have a house and a yard.
"I think this will be really good for Mase," he says and I nod.
"I do too, she already is so excited. She is going to be such a good mom," I say and he nods smiling.
"I have to head back to work after this, do you?" He asks me and I nod.
"I just have one meeting," I say.
"I have a patient coming back for a post op check," he says.
"Maybe if our schedules line up we can ride home together," I say.
"Yeah I will stop by your office on my way out," he says.
"Perfect," I say.
We are now playing the waiting game. The courthouse is kind of depressing. All dark wood and very warm lights. It feels like you are in a poker lounge. Some marble floors and white walls would do this place wonders.
Finally the doors open and both Nathan and I stand up. Mrs. Moore is the first to come out. I can't read her face and that scares me. Down the hall I see Mr. Moore being escorted out by prison guards. Nathan sees to and his face drops. I rub his back as Teddy walks out.
"So?" Nathan asks.
"He got two years in prison," Ted says and I look to Nathan. He looks pleased.
"Thank you so much, Teddy,"
"Of course, Pheebs," he says and kisses my head. I hug Noel and then she and Nathan step aside to talk. Berkeley couldn't be here because she had exams.
"Do you think he'll get his sentenced shortened?" I ask Theodore.
"Not with the judge we just had, and if they do want to shorten it they have to call us back in for a hearing so we would fight it," he says and I nod.
"At least, this family gets some peace," Ted says and I nod.
"You are right," I say.
"Look Bubs, I have another hearing in an hour so I am going to go," he says checking his watch.
"I'll give the Moores your best, go ahead and go," I say and he hugs me and heads out. I sit on the bench waiting for Nathan and his mom to finish talking. When Nathan starts walking towards me I stand up.
"Let's go baby," Nathan says and I follow him out. Mrs. Moore had to go sign something in the courtroom.
We drive to the hospital. Nathan has his hand on my leg and the other on the wheel. "How are you feeling?" I ask him.
"I feel good. He got what he deserved. It is still my dad though you know? The one who shot hoops with me after dinner and yelled at me for missing curfew," he says and I nod.
"He obviously needs help, baby. Hopefully he comes out a better man than he went in being. For now, your mom and sister are safe. You are going to get through this and not alone. I will be here every step of the way," I say. He smiles and picks up my hand kissing the back of it.
"God, I love you Phoebe Grey," he says and I smile.
We get to the hospital, park, and head inside. I kiss him goodbye and head into my office. I gather my belongings and head into the staff meeting. It is about the use of technology. Snooze fest.
After my meeting I head down to my office. I start charting and working on my presentation I am making at the University of Washington, psychology department board meeting. I am so excited for it. As I am writing there is a knock on my door.
I say come in and see Nathan. He comes and sits down. I finish typing and look at him. "Hi baby," I say.
"Hi Bee," he says.
"How was the appointment?" I ask him.
"It was good, not too straining," he says and I smile.
"Good, do you want to head home?" I ask him.
"Yeah, I'm exhausted," he says and I smile. I stand up and put my coat on. He puts his hand on my back and we head.
When we get home nathan goes in our room. I go to the kitchen and make myself a sandwich. I was starving. After I finish eating I head into our room. I look on the bed and see nathan passed out. I smile and climb into bed with him. I end up falling asleep too.
—
Today is the Gender Reveal Party/ baby shower. Maisy only knows about the gender reveal part. She just thinks it's a couple of girls coming over, but really everyone is. Everyone is bringing presents and we have food and cake.
I decorated the common room in Escala in a very rustic themed way. It is all gender neutral and I have the gender reveal balloon in the middle. All the food is pink and blue and there is a table of little activities for the guests. There's a photo station too with a white rustic backdrop.
At the entrance there is a sweet little sign that Nathan helped me make. It's says "ten little fingers, ten little toes, two little eyes, one little nose, boy or girl, nobody knows" I am pretty impressed with the turnout.
I feel a hand on my hip and I turn. It is Nathan. "Hi baby," I say and kiss him. He looks around and smiles at me.
"Hi Bee, people just pulled up out front," he says and I nod. Maisy was told to get her a half an hour later than everyone. Her husband Blake knows.
I am in a floral long sleeve dress with heels. It has pink and blue in it. Everyone starts arriving and giving me hugs. The present table is filling up quite rapidly.
Nathan and I got her a car seat. It was on their registry so we grabbed it pretty quick. I get myself a mom-osa. A little creative idea I had. It's a mimosa bar.
Soon I hear Maisy's laugh and everyone turns. I walk forward and see her walk in. She is in a long white off the shoulder dress. Her bump is popping today. She covers her mouth as she sees everyone. She looks at me and the huge overhead sign I had made that says Baby Jenkin in cursive.
"Phoebe," she says shaking her head.
"Welcome to your baby shower and gender reveal," I say and she laughs hugging me.
"Phoebe, you've outdone yourself," she says. I smile as she goes around talking to people and hugging them. I get her a mom-osa but it's just orange juice.
The shower is in full swing there is music and lots of talking and laughing. Ted and Liv walk up to me. I give them both hugs.
"Hi guys," I say.
"Phoebe, you seriously have an eye for decoration and design," Liv says. I look around and shrug.
"I guess I've never really thought about it," I say and she smiles.
"You did good, Bubs," Ted says and kisses my head.
I decide to start the gender reveal. I get everyone to quiet down by turning off the music. "Hi everybody, I would like to invite the mommy and daddy to be up here," I say. It's just a small platform. Blake helps Maisy up. She kisses my cheek.
"Are you guys ready?" I ask. How I did it was I had two boxes. One pink one blue. They are each going to hold one and open them at the same time. The gender of the babies box will have confetti and strings that fly out the other will be empty.
I hand them each their box. Maisy has pink, Blake has blue. "Okay you guys, on the count of three… one, two…. three," I say. They rip open the boxes. Maisy's box opens with confetti and strings.
"It's a girl," Maisy shrieks and drops her box hugging me. I laugh and turn her to Blake who she about tackles. Everyone is cheering and taking pictures.
"I knew it, I knew it," Maisy says. I smile and hug her.
"Thank you so much for doing this, Pheebs," she says and I smile rubbing her bump.
"Nothing but the best for my peanut," I say. She kisses my cheek and heads out to be hugged by everyone.
"You did it again, Grey," Nathan says and kisses my head.
"That is almost Moore to you," I say. I always correct him when he calls me Grey.
"That's right, my almost wife," he says and holds my hand brushing my ring.
"I can't believe we are going to have a girl goddaughter," he says and I smile.
"We are going to spoil her," I say and he nods laughing.
"Yes we are," he says and I lean up kissing him.
After the party we head home. When I get home I shower. I feel so gross after all the party set up and talking to people. Nathan of course looks perfect. I sit at the kitchen counter and he comes in.
I am in his T-shirt and sweatpants. My hair is wet and on my back. Nathan comes over and kisses my head. "Mmm you smell good enough to eat," he says and goes to the fridge.
"Why don't you then," I say as he grabs a water. He turns to me smirking and opening his water.
"Don't tempt me," he says and takes a big gulp of his water.
"You think today turned out alright right?" I ask. He sets his bottle down and comes over to me. I turn and look up at him from my bar stool seat. He cups my cheeks and kisses my forehead.
"Today was perfect. You did an amazing job, Bee. You always do," he says and I smile.
"It was my first time doing something like this, and I don't know," I say. Nathan shakes his head.
"Maisy is so lucky to have a friend like you," he says and I smile.
"Are you just flattering me?" I ask and he shakes his head.
"You need to give yourself more credit," he says and I smirk. He takes my hand and leads me to the couch.
He starts the fire and comes over with a blanket. He wraps it around me and pulls me to him. I lay my head against him as he runs his fingers through my hair. "Have you ever thought about us doing it?" He asks and I look up confused.
"Doing what?" I ask.
"Having kids," he says. I look up at him surprised.
"Well… I mean of course I have. Seeing you with the kids at children's makes it impossible not to," I say. "I do imagine a little boy with brown curly hair and big blue eyes running around dribbling a basketball," I say. Nathan laughs and kisses my head.
"What about a little girl, with brown hair and beautiful grey eyes?" He asks and I smile.
"Maybe, but I want them to look like their daddy," I say. It is so easy to talk about stuff like this.
"Well they have a gorgeous mommy who needs to contribute," he says and I laugh shaking my head.
"Trust me I'll do my part," I say and he laughs kissing my head.
"Are you still going to lunch with Berkeley and her boyfriend tomorrow?" I ask Nathan. Berkeley invited him so he could get to know Cole. Which I think is precious.
"Unfortunately," Nathan sighs taking a sip of his drink. I slap his thigh playfully.
"Come on, she wants you to get to know him," I say.
"I know, I know, I just don't know how I feel about the kid," Nathan says and I roll my eyes.
"You've met him once," I say.
"Yeah and I got a weird initial feeling," he says.
"Just try for me," I say and he smiles.
"Fine, I will," he says and I smile.
We end up just chilling on the couch until we head to bed. It was quite the day and we were both pretty exhausted. I am on my side facing away from Nathan. When he gets in bed and climbs in behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
When I wake up in the morning, I head out into the kitchen. I start making myself breakfast assuming Nathan is working out or running an errand. He always is up before me.
I grab myself a cup of coffee and read through my texts. When Nathan walks in I smile as he is carrying a box of donuts.
"Babe, what's the occasion?" I ask him.
"You are too thin, and I wanted donuts," he says and I laugh taking a donut with sprinkles eating it.
"I shouldn't be eating this with our wedding so soon," I say and he rolls his eyes.
"Do we even want to get into this conversation?" He asks and I shake my head no. I eat my donut and wash my hands. Nathan comes back in the kitchen.
"When's lunch?" I ask rubbing his shoulders.
"I'm leaving here soon," he says and I nod wrapping my arms around him. He turns so we are facing each other.
"Mmm are you sure I can't skip it and stay here with you," he says against my neck.
"I'll be here waiting for you when you get back," I say and he starts kissing my neck. I melt into his arms and he lifts me up on the counter. We start to makeout and he starts to get handsy.
"Nice try," I smirk and pull his hand out of my shirt.
"What is the worst that is going to happen?" I ask him.
"I don't know. I just hate the thought of Berkeley being in a relationship and being sexual," he says and I laugh.
"She is 22, you and I were having sex at 17," I say and shakes his head.
"I know, but she is my sister she is never allowed to have sex," he says and i smile patting his shoulder. I know well that Berkeley has had sex. She got drunk and told me all about her and Cole's sex life.
"Well how do you think Teddy felt?" I ask him.
"Probably horrible, but I love you so much and would never want to hurt you," he says and I smile cupping his cheeks. I kiss him on the lips.
"How do you know that Cole does not have the same intention as you," I say.
"You always get me, Grey," he says and I smile leaning in and kissing his cheek.
"Now go the sooner you do, the sooner I can get you to myself," I say and smack his butt. He laughs and kisses me before heading out.
While Nathan is gone I do some wedding planning stuff. I order my bridesmaids gifts and shoes. I get very into it and end up falling asleep on the couch with my laptop in my lap.
I feel someone sit down next to me. I reposition myself as my warm laptop is taken off my lap. I feel Nathan's hand brush up and down my face. I smile and hold it to me. I open my eyes and see my beautiful fiance sitting next to me.
"Hi," I smile.
"Hi beautiful," he says and I laugh.
"How was lunch?" I ask him.
"It was good, I really like Cole," he says and I smile sitting up.
"Really?" I ask and he nods smiling.
"He is funny and very in love with my sister," he says and I smile.
"That makes me the happiest," I say and he smiles.
"Now back to what we started earlier," he says and crawls on top of me.
I am so in love with this boy.