Page 28 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

Nova and Isabella left him to change, shutting the door behind them.

“In the mood for a cup of coffee? Or I have tea?” Nova asked.

“Mom can’t have coffee!” Eli yelled through the door.

“I have decaf too!” Nova countered.

Isabella chuckled and headed down the stairs to the kitchen. “Tea would be lovely.”

Nova pulled out mugs and went to work preparing the drinks as Isabella’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Eli jogged past them, heading out the sliding glass doors to the back porch where the jacuzzi was situated.

Isabella pulled out her cell. Phillip’s name flashed on the screen.

Phillip: Hey, gorgeous. I’ve got some time off soon. I was thinking I’d take a trip to Shattered Cove and come see you and Eli. Up for a visit?

Isabella: We’d love to see you. Just text me the dates. I’m staying with a friend, but I can recommend a wonderful inn, and it’s right on the beach!

“Here you go. Do you take milk in your tea?” Nova slid the steaming cup in front of her on the bar.

“Just some honey if you have it?”

“Pshhh. Do I have honey?” Her friend laughed. “Two of my brothers run an apiary. I have so much honey I don’t know what to do with it. Good thing it doesn’t expire.”

“Oh, I forgot they were bee farmers.”

“Beekeepers, but yeah.” Nova set the jar of honey and a spoon beside her.

Isabella scooped out what she needed and stirred her tea. “I appreciate you letting us stay here. I’m happy to cook and clean in addition to paying rent. I don’t have a job yet; Mom and Dad have the marina under control, but they still need some help. I’ll be there a few times a week. But other than that, I’m going to look into getting some clients.”

“Clients? For what?” Nova asked, sipping her own tea.

“Massage. I had a pretty good base before . . . well, before my husband got so sick.”

“Now that I will take you up on. You want to pay your rent in massages? I’m all for it.” Nova giggled. “Can you do that when you’re pregnant? I mean, like, when you get closer to your due date?”

Isabella sipped her tea, the sweet herbal notes wrapping around her like a warm hug. “Not when I get too far along. My belly will probably get in the way. I don’t know, maybe I should wait until after the baby is born. I wouldn’t want to get all those clients just to have to take months off.”

“And the father? Sorry. If it’s none of my business, just tell me to fuck off.”

Isabella laughed. “No, it’s fine. I can only imagine what the gossips are spreading now…” She cleared her throat. “It was a one-night stand. I confronted him, told him about the baby, but . . .” Nash’s accusation still stung. His silence had told her all she needed to know. She wouldn’t be getting any support from him. “Well, he’s made it clear he doesn’t want to be involved.”

“Asshole.”

Isabella nodded. “I mean, I didn’t plan for this either. But I had hoped he would at least give it a try to be there. I don’t know. Maybe when the baby comes he might change his mind?” The brash way he’d treated her after they’d had sex and then again when she’d stood on the dock to talk to him as he ignored her flashed in her mind. Maybe it was better that her child didn’t have a father like that. “Or not.”

“It’s his loss,” Nova loyally agreed.

“What about you? Why do you need me here to get your mom off your back?”

Nova rolled her eyes. “Oh, God. Seriously, I know enough about your situation to know you understand a very involved mama.” She laughed. “But in all seriousness, I love her to death. She and Daddy saved me from a pretty bad situation. My biological mom couldn’t take care of me and I ended up in the system for a little bit. By some miracle, the state found out my mom had a half sister. And the next thing I know, Mama Emerson was pulling up in front of the group home to take me here. She adopted me as soon as the paperwork could be filed. I owe my parents so much. And I know I’m disappointing them, but . . .”

Bella reached across the table and took Nova’s hand. “I heard about what happened to your fiancé.” She gave her fingers a squeeze. He’d passed away overseas during deployment. “Are you just not ready to move on?”

Nova hesitated, old pain flashing in her gaze before she nodded. “Something like that.”

Isabella reached out, covering her friend’s hand with hers, hoping to provide comfort. “I get it.”

Something told her Nova was hiding the true story—but then again, so was Isabella.

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