Page 108 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“Nash?”

The crash of glass breaking had her darting to her feet and stepping through the dusting of snow covering the ground.

Nash walked unsteadily, swaying, cloaked in whiskey fumes that burned her nose up close. His eyes were bloodshot in the porch light. She reached out to help him into the house but he flinched away, stumbling onto his ass.

“Nash!”

“Leave me alone,” he grumbled. “Don’t want to get my filth on you.”

She ignored him and slipped her hand in his. His skin was cold as ice.

She tugged but he pulled away like he’d been doing for days, rolling onto all fours and miraculously getting up on his own.

“Why are you doing this to yourself?”

He glared at her.

“Don’t do this. Please.”

So much sadness and turmoil were reflected in his expression. Isabella backed up from the force of it. He turned away and walked up the porch.

Maybe he needed something to look forward to. Something to remind him that he had a brighter future despite all the ugly past that had been stirred up.

“We have an appointment tomorrow at two for the baby.”

He didn’t even slow, just walked in the front door, holding it open for her. “It’s not safe to be out here alone.”

They were the most words he’d spoken to her in so long.

Despite being lost in his grief, he still worried about her. But she couldn’t help wondering if it was because he truly cared, or if it was from a sense of responsibility.

She wrapped her arms around herself and walked inside. He locked the door and disappeared into the kitchen. The clank of glass made it clear he was going to drink himself to sleep tonight once again.

Isabella didn’t fight the tears as they streamed down her face. She walked up the stairs and crawled into her bed where she curled around her pillow and sobbed quietly, more alone than ever before.

She wanted to be there to support Nash. But you couldn’t help someone who didn’t want it, no matter how much you loved them. He wouldn’t let her in. And she couldn’t stand to be rejected night after night. She loved him with everything inside her, but it was unrequited. How had she gotten back where she started? Her life was coming full circle, repeating the same cycle. She’d fallen pregnant and fell for a man who couldn’t love her back.

It was time she got off this merry-go-round once and for all.

* * *

The next afternoon, Isabella stared at the door, her hope extinguishing with every minute that Nash didn’t step through it. He’d known about this appointment since they’d set it a month ago. It was on his phone calendar and the one on the wall in the kitchen. She’d left a sticky-note reminder on the coffee pot this morning. But Nash was a no-show.

“I’m a little concerned with your blood pressure, so we’ll keep an eye on that. I’d like you to come in again in three days for a non-stress test just to be safe,” Dr. Wright said.

Isabella pulled her attention to the doctor. “Is something wrong with the baby?”

The doctor’s warm smile helped set her at ease. “No, nothing to be concerned about on that front. I’m more worried about you. Have you been under a lot of stress lately?”

She nodded hesitantly.

“It could be that. But I want to monitor you just in case. Especially with your medical history, it’s better to be on the safe side.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Great. I’ll walk you out, and you can schedule it with the front desk.” Dr. Wright stood.

Isabella followed him out and made another appointment before heading to her car. Climbing in, she started the ignition and sat there. One more sweep of the parking lot told her all she needed to know. Nash was a no-show.

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