Page 55 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“It’s despicable, is what it is. How he took advantage of my daughter while she was grieving,” her mother hissed.

Isabella froze. Anger and disgust roiled inside her until she saw red.

Nancy Plotts adjusted her purse over her shoulder. “Disgusting. And if I were you, I’d be terrified for her safety. You know what happened to his fiancée—”

“That is enough!” Isabella’s frosty tone surprised even her.

Both women’s heads whipped towards her. Her mother’s mouth opened, no doubt with admonishment for speaking that way to her. Isabella never raised her voice to her mother. But this wasn’t right, and in front of Bella’s son, no less.

“You two should be ashamed of yourselves. The man you are speaking of is the father of your grandchild, Mama. He’s a good man who’s been through a lot. You may not know what it’s like to lose someone you love, but I do.” Tears burned the back of her eyes, blurring her vision. Eli’s hand gripped hers.

“Nash Emerson didn’t take advantage of anyone. I was the one who asked him to spend the night with me—not that it’s any of your business. So if you’re going to spread gossip about someone, get your story straight.”

“Mija—”

“No, Mama. I said enough!” She spun around and rushed outside, thumping into a hard body.

She pushed past, making her way to the dock just in time. She fell to her knees and vomited into the ocean. She spat, dizzy and fighting another bout of nausea as sweat beaded on her forehead.

A large palm rubbed her lower back in soothing circles as she stared into the water below.

“Can you get your mom a bottle of water, bud?” Nash asked.

She didn’t know whether to be relived it was him or embarrassed he was seeing her losing what little breakfast she could hold down. Footsteps padded away, she assumed Eli doing as he asked.

Isabella wiped her mouth with her hand and then washed herself in the cleaner water of the ocean below. She scooped a handful of the seawater and pressed her cold hand on the back of her neck, sighing in relief.

Eli returned. Nash opened the water and handed it to her. She pulled some in her mouth, swishing and then spitting it out a few times before taking a small sip.

“Thank you.” She carefully stood.

Nash reached out to steady her as she walked back to the loading area of the marina.

“How can I help?”

She couldn’t look him in the eyes. Had he heard the awful things her mother and Nancy had said about him? “I’ll be fine.”

He tucked his hands in his pockets. “At least let me get you something in your stomach. I read that it can help with the morning sickness. We can get some soup?”

He read? And where would they find soup in July except for a grocery store? She was grateful he was trying though.

“It’s fine. I have some crackers in my purse and I don’t want to spoil my dinner.” She checked her phone for the time. Phillip should be here any second.

“You got dinner plans?” Something flashed in his dark gaze that looked a lot like jealousy. But that was a silly idea. Nash didn’t want her like that; he’d made that clear from the beginning.

“Yeah.”

“Uncle Phillip is here!” Eli announced.

She’d forgotten he was still standing nearby. He ran towards the Tesla parked by the marina entrance on the side of the building.

Phillip got out, a bright smile on his face as he raised his arm for a high five from Eli. “Hey, little man. How have you been?”

“Mom said we could go look at a boat I want to buy,” Eli informed him.

Phillip’s eyes widened before he glanced at her. “Really? I mean, I knew she was the best mom ever, but wow. You are one lucky kid.”

Phillip opened his arms to Isabella, and as she hugged him, she relished the familiarity in his touch. He’d been there for her every step of the way with Robert in the end. That had bonded them.

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