Page 65 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

Nash blinked, staring at her belly. Relief that she was okay poured over him. But then the panic came with the reminder of just how powerless he was in this situation. What if something had been wrong? What could he have done except rush her to the hospital and hope for the best?

“Can you feel it?” Bella picked up his hand and pressed it against her warm stomach.

A steady thrum of energy hummed up his arm at her touch. He met her whiskey orbs, so full of joy. Bella was lit up like she’d swallowed a thousand suns. She was breathtaking. This close, he could smell her sweet rose scent, filling his nose and bathing him in want.

Thud. Thud. Thud. He couldn’t hear anything else except the pounding of his blood in his veins as the fire spread. Need. Lust. Desire.

And then the most amazing thing happened. A tiny flutter rippled under her skin. Nash sucked in a breath, falling to his knees, staggered by the tiny life that had just made his or her presence known. That’s my baby. My son or daughter.

Warm, glowing joy burst in his chest, expanding his rib cage with unstoppable excitement. Happiness swelled so big he thought he’d explode. Instead, he found he had more room for it than he’d believed himself capable of having. A fullness crashed over him. Love grew and tangled for the unborn baby. His attention darted up to the woman who had made this moment possible. The mother of his child, Bella, smiling over at him.

Then, a sickening fear twisted inside him. All the warmth turned into something ugly and malicious, incinerating any goodness he’d felt. Love meant loss. It meant he was vulnerable to pain he never wanted to experience again. Only there was no escaping this. It was too late. He’d fucked up and created a life that now depended on him to keep it safe. I’ll fail her—him—all of them.

Nash shot to his feet, stumbling out the door as the air evaporated from his lungs. Unable to draw breath, he clutched his chest and ran towards his house. Away from Nova’s. Farther from Bella and their baby and Eli. If only he could run fast enough to go back in time and escape the inevitable. He’d fail them one day. He knew it in his marrow. Because Nash knew what they didn’t—he really was a monster.

30

ISABELLA

Isabella adjusted the shopping bags on her arm as she carried her coffee to an empty table in the bustling café. It was within walking distance from the college campus in the city of Dark Cove. It was only twenty-five or so minutes from the farm but the atmosphere made the two towns seem like night and day. Tall buildings, honking cars, and crowded sidewalks made it feel like she was in Boston, not New Hampshire.

“Did you want a brownie? I got an extra one just in case,” Nova said, taking the seat across from her.

Isabella shoved her bags under the table by her feet. “I guess we can’t let it go to waste.”

Nova smiled and passed it over on a napkin. “Of course not.”

Their table jostled as a child-size blur ran into it. Both Nova and Isabella steadied their drinks.

A beautiful raven-haired woman turned around, her hand holding the little boy’s who’d run into their table. “Oh no, I’m so sorry.”

“That’s alright,” Isabella said.

“Elise?” Nova asked the woman, standing.

Elise blinked a few times, studying Nova before she nodded warily. “Yeah. Nova?”

Nova beamed. “How are you?”

Elise’s attention flicked to Isabella and then back to Nova. “I’m good. This little guy keeps me busy. Right, Malaki?” She turned to the little boy with Down syndrome next to her and smiled affectionately.

“Oh, you’re a mom? Wow!”

“Well—”

“Elise is my daddy’s girlfriend. Elise and Daddy, sitting in a tree!” Malaki teased, his smile glowing.

Elise tucked a strand of hair behind her ear revealing a cochlear implant. “Well, you two enjoy your coffee. I’m gonna get this guy to story hour.”

“Bye!” Nova waved. Elise nodded and left the café with the little boy in tow. She turned back to Isabella. “I’m sorry I totally didn’t introduce you. She’s an old friend from college.”

“Ahh. Makes sense why I don’t remember her.” She sipped her coffee, savoring her limited caffeine indulgence.

“Did you get everything you needed from the maternity store?”

“I think so. Thanks for coming with me.” She broke off a piece of a brownie before slipping it in her mouth. She moaned and closed her eyes, rich, dark chocolate exploding on her tongue. “Oh, this is good.”

Nova laughed. “Isn’t it? I always get one when I come into the city.” She broke her own treat in half and ate it. “So, are we not gonna talk about the elephant in the room?”

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