Chapter 24
NINA
Nina’s knees were so weak she thought she might collapse onto the tiles beneath her feet.
Theo was back, and he wanted to be with her.
He wanted to raise Jack with her. It was everything she hadn’t dared hope for, and despite her reservations about trusting him again after how he’d hurt her, she knew, somehow, that he was telling the truth.
She’d known it longer than Theo had, maybe. She’d seen him play with Jack, had seen the love there even when Theo hadn’t seen it himself. She’d seen how he looked at her and how he spoke about them, and some part of her had known, or at least hoped, that he meant it.
And he did. A few days ago, Nina would have launched herself into Theo’s arms and kissed him until her head spun. She would have told him that she loved him, too, because she did. She loved him.
Yet now, things were different. Nina had her own secret — the baby growing inside her.
Her baby. Theo’s baby. The baby she hadn’t told him about.
Even though she was willing to forgive Theo for being done with her, Theo might not be ready to forgive her for keeping the news about his child from him.
Nina felt deeply that what she’d done was wrong.
She’d hoped to find the right time, but she couldn’t wait any longer.
“Nina?” There was worry in Theo’s eyes, and Nina knew the longer she dragged this out, the worse it would be for both of them. Still, she struggled to find the words.
“I… we…” She stuttered, then sighed. “We slept together.”
“And I handled it terribly,” Theo nodded, “I pulled away after that, and I shouldn’t have. It was the best night of my life. I—”
“Wait.” Nina held up a hand. “Please. Just let me say this.”
Theo nodded and fell silent.
Nina took a deep breath. “We spent the night together, and… I’m pregnant.” She dropped one hand to her stomach. “I’m pregnant with our baby.”
Theo’s eyes widened. For a long moment, Nina thought that he was going to turn away in anger or just shake his head. Then, suddenly, he closed the distance between them and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Oh, Nina,” he whispered into her hair, “this is wonderful.”
“Really?” Tears filled her eyes as she pulled back and looked up at him. “Do you mean it?”
“Of course,” Theo smiled down at her. He was the same man she’d lived with, but he was different, too.
Something had changed in his brown eyes.
“Being around Jack has shown me how wonderful it is to have a child in one’s life.
Another baby could only be good news. I know it won’t be easy, but we can figure it out together. Aren’t you happy?”
Nina nodded through her tears. “I am. I’m so happy. I was just worried you’d be mad that I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“I don’t think I have any ground to stand on there,” Theo said with a smile. “I’m just glad that you’re giving me another chance now. You are giving me another chance, aren’t you?”
Nina laughed softly. “Yes. Now that you know about the baby, yes, of course. We can both have another chance.”
“And this time, you don’t have to be on your own.” Theo pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. “We can do this together.”
“Together,” Nina nodded. Gathering her strength, she looked up at him. “Theo… I love you.”
His eyes lit up, and he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingertips lingering on her cheek.
“That makes things easier then.”
Nina laughed softly at his response, but her humor quickly faded, turning into something else.
Theo was looking down at her with such warmth, such love, that her heart began to race.
Her worry and her anger had faded, replaced by love and desire.
She rose onto her tiptoes as Theo bent his head towards her.
Already, she could imagine his lips on hers, gentle but firm, as he pulled her close.
“Mom! Theo!”
They pulled apart as Jack came running down the hallway.
“Jack!” Nina held out her arms to hug her son. “Your performance was amazing. How did you find us?”
“Mrs. Heller told me you were over here.” Jack turned away from Nina and hugged Theo around the waist. “You came! I knew you’d come.”
Theo ruffled Jack’s hair, as he’d seen Nina do so many times. “I promised, didn’t I? I had to see SuperJack’s first big performance.”
Jack puffed up at the praise. “Was it good?”
“It was great!”
“And are we coming home now?” Jack asked. He turned to Nina, looking sheepish. “I know you said we don’t live with Theo anymore, but…”
Nina glanced at Theo. Then she looked back down at her son. “Yeah, buddy. I think we’re going home.”
Jack beamed and threw himself forward to hug both Theo and Nina at the same time.
The adults’ eyes met, and they both smiled as they wrapped their free arms around each other to complete the group hug.
In that moment, with the three of them — soon to be four — all together, Nina was sure that life could never get better.
“Do you want to say goodbye to your friends?” she asked Jack when they all separated. He nodded, so they left the classroom and went back to the area where all the parents and kids were gathered. Nina took Theo’s hand, and he squeezed it with a smile.
For the next few minutes, Jack went from friend to friend, giving high fives and hugs.
Nina was so filled with pride at her son’s kindness and friendliness that she worried her heart would explode.
Instead of networking, as he usually would have, Theo stayed right by her side, his arm around her waist, while they waited for Jack.
A few people came over to say hello, and they chatted politely, but it was clear that Theo’s whole attention was on her and Jack.
After a while, Jack returned, grinning.
“Can we go home now?” he asked. “Home home?”
Nina laughed. “Sounds great. We’ll have some dinner, then get you off to bed. It’s been a big day.”
“Oh, man,” Jack said, already looking sad at the prospect of bed.
He rebounded quickly as they left the school, Theo and Nina still holding hands.
Nina led the way towards her old car, which was parked near the back of the lot.
She wasn’t sure how Theo had arrived, but it didn’t matter.
They all seemed to understand that they’d travel together.
“Dinner,” Theo said to Nina softly as Jack walked ahead, humming to himself. “Then dessert.”
Nina shivered blissfully at the word, already imagining Theo’s kisses and his arms around her, his hands gently stroking across her skin. This time, their night together really would be the beginning of something new.
They were halfway to the car when someone called out behind them.
“Theo!”
They both turned to see none other than Charles Ackley striding towards them across the parking lot.
“I told him about the ruse,” Theo whispered to Nina. “He’s probably furious.”
She squeezed his hand. “You did the right thing. It’ll be okay.”
“I looked for you inside, but they said you’d already gone.” Charles stopped in front of them. He wore a tailored suit and a smile — and he didn’t look furious. “First, I want to congratulate Jack on his performance. I’ve heard it was splendid.”
“Thanks,” Jack said brightly.
“Second, I wanted to talk to you, Theo.”
“I know you’re upset, and we can set up a meeting soon,” Theo said, “but for now, I need to get home. I need to be with my family.”
“I wouldn’t dream of keeping you. I just wanted to give you this.” Charles handed over a folder. “It’s the contract, just as we agreed. I’ve already signed. All you need to do is sign and courier the contract back to me, and we can get started.”
Theo frowned, not taking the folder. “What do you mean? You still want to work with me?”
“I do,” Charles nodded. “You shouldn’t have lied, and I’m still disappointed about that, but it’s clear to me that you really are the kind of man you said you were.
You really do care about your family more than anything — and that’s exactly the man I want to work with.
So, if you’re still interested, we can get started. ”
Theo still didn’t take the folder. He looked down at Nina, sighed, and shook his head.
“I can’t. It wouldn’t be right, not after the lies.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake!” Nina took the folder from Charles.
“Thank you very much,” she smiled, and turned to Theo.
“You deserve this. Yes, you messed up, but you’ve made things right, and that’s what matters most. Just like I always tell Jack.
” Theo nodded, then looked back at Charles, who chuckled, his eyes shining merrily.
“I can’t argue with that,” Theo said, laughing finally. “Thank you, Charles. I’m looking forward to being in business with you.”
The two men shook hands. Then Charles said his goodbyes, and Nina, Jack, and Theo got into the car.
“It looks like you get to have your cake and eat it, too,” Nina said to Theo.
“I got lucky,” Theo said, “incredibly lucky, when I ran into you on the sidewalk that day. Or, rather, when Jack ran into me. I wanted a contract, but I got so much more.” He smiled at her. “Thank you, Nina. For everything.”
“There’s no need to thank me.” Nina fastened her seatbelt. “Just take us home. We have a future to start.”