CHAPTER 44

Nicholas looked at Nadine to see her guilty look and that confirmed his suspicion; a pregnancy test kit.

Nicholas felt his heart racing wildly in hope and joy then fear. All the emotions assailed his senses.

The thought of Nadine pregnant with his child again made him so excited. He would be a man given a second chance not just at love, but also fatherhood.

He was going to be there every step of the way, watching her progress, watching his child grow from sitting to crawling to walking.

It seemed the Fates finally deemed him worthy, alas.

He watched her move out of his arm to grab the incriminating kit off the floor. She turned to face him and gestured with it in her hand awkwardly "It's a pregnancy test kit."

"I know that much," he replied grinning. "Are you pregnant?" He was prepared to sweep her up in his hands and dance around with her.

"I don't know yet. That's the reason I got the pregnancy kit."

"But you think you are?" She nodded. "Then we should find out right now."

Before she knew what he was doing, he swept her off her feet, both of them naked, and carried her up the stairs.

"You aren't going into that bathroom with me Nicholas Cole." She scrambled down from his arm when he started to carry her into the bathroom.

"Why not?" His plan was to be there every step of the way, even the moment she confirmed the pregnancy.

"I just need a little bit of privacy, please."

"OK."

Nadine was so nervous her hands shook as she waited for the result.

Right then, she desperately wanted the result to be positive. She wanted a mini Nicholas, a little boy with his smile and naked charm.

She was going to love the child like she did Nichole and this time, Nicholas would be there with her all the way, loving and supporting their baby as much as she does.

But alas, the test came out negative. She didn't know when she started crying like a baby, her sobbing sound alerting Nicholas and making him barge into the bathroom uninvited.

She rushed into his waiting arms, extending the kit to him. He gazed down at the 'minus' sign and dropped it to the floor carelessly, gathering her in his arms and taking her to the bedroom.

He sat down on the vanity chair with her craddled in his arms.

"Shhhhh. It's OK honey. We just have to try harder."

She was being dramatic. Hours ago when she picked up the kit, she had been a bit skeptical about being pregnant, but also, a little part of her heart wanted it.

Nicholas confessing how he truly felt about her had changed everything.

Knowing how he felt about the idea had made her really want a baby, his baby. It was so hard to see her hope shattering with the single minus sign.

"I just missed my period since the incident in your bathroom so I thought I was pregnant. I'm so sorry," she said in between body wracking sobs.

"Hey. Stop crying and there's nothing to be sorry about alright?" She nodded jerkily.

"I'll love to keep trying until we've a baby."

"Really?," she asked, gazing up at him with teary eyes.

"Yes, really. And we start now."

He took her lips and kissed her with the love overflowing in his heart.

Then he made love to her slowly.

.........

"I can't. My whole life is here." Nadine moved to rise out of the bed.

Nicholas had made love to her until she forgot all about the depressing experience with the pregnancy test then he had brought up the topic of where they'll be living.

"Come on, it's just Nichole's breaks in the city."

"No."

In Folks, Nicholas was a normal figure and that she could deal with. But in New York, he was a celebrity. She had finally read enough about him on the internet to know that much. And she couldn't deal with all the attention that brought.

She hated attention. All her life, she always tried to blend in. That way, she didn't have to live up to people's expectations.

And she most definitely didn't want to be compared to Nicholas' past girlfriend. According to her research, he had gone through a whole beautiful bunch of them.

Being in Folks was safe and it was bliss.

"Why not? I'm making the bigger compromise moving my work here. I can always fly in to New York when it's absolutely necessary."

"Because I've never lived that life and I don't want to."

"Nana, Nichole is going to love the idea. Just give it some thought."

"But I don't want to. The life you've over there, it's not for me. Look at me, do I belong in the celebrity limelight?"

He did look at her, standing in all her naked glory before him with all her previous reservations gone.

And he loved what he was seeing.

He wanted to flaunt her, show the world she was his but not to the point of choking her with the invasiveness of the paparazzi.

He moved off the bed to stand before her, taking both of her hands in his. He turned over the diamond studded platinum engagement band, loving the fact that he was the one that put it there. It was caveman of him and he wasn't saying it to her less she flies off the hook, but he owned her, body and soul. And he loved that.

And she most definitely owned him too, forever.

"I'm looking honey and I'm head over heels for what I'm seeing. I want to show you off. I want to attend functions with you and dance with you while the world look on."

"I'm so.."

"What?"

"Lacking compared to women you've dated in the past and the world will see that and make the comparison."

"Don't you ever say that again about the love of my life and mother of my child. You've got everything I want in a woman. You've got me hooked Nadine. Who cares what the world thinks?"

"Me. I've seen woman you date."

"If you still think you are lacking, then I've not done enough of convincing you." He pushed her down to the bed before she knew what he meant.

And by the end of the night, she wasn't just convinced but she knew in her heart that she was all he wanted.

............

***One month Later.***

"I'm so nervous."

That was the only word to explain the dread she was feeling inside her.

She was getting married to the love of her life

It was her wedding day, a day she had anticipated until that moment.

What if Nicholas didn't show up at the altar?

They had both decided a small wedding in the church in Folks. But nothing about the wedding, except the town had turned out small.

News of the wedding had gotten to the press faster than she could blink and the town was brimming with visitors, making her inn super busy.

But she didn't even have the time to manage that., her aunt was doing it for her.

Old Will had finally approached her about the building when news of her marriage got out. She had refused him and still couldn't find out why he desperately wanted the place. She was never giving it up and she was going to make sure it passed to her child.

That was the least she could give a wealthy heiress like Nichole.

Nicholas was freakishly wealthy. He had spent lavishly on her trousseau, despite all her protests about fending for herself. And she had been persuaded to quit her part-time job.

She smiled, remembering his successful efforts at persuasion.

She just hoped the crowd that had come to see Nicholas Cole tie the knot find her worthy and she hoped her husband wasn't getting cold feet like she was.

..........

Nicholas watched as Nadine made her way towards him in her strapless white wedding dress on the arms of her uncle.

Perfection.

And she was all his.

He was happy she was finally going to be his legally, before God and man. He was going to devote all his life loving and caring for her, no doubt about that.

His gaze didn't leave hers till she stood before him. Her uncle dropped her hand in his, it felt cold in his grip, giving him a warm smile.

He would be forever grateful to the older man. He had been there for Nadine when he couldn't.

Nadine couldn't stop looking at him.

He was there, ready to tie himself to her forever.

"Hey," he murmured smiling. "Are you alright?"

She nodded her head feeling more than alright seeing the joy and confidence in his eyes.

They turned to the priest who started the ceremony. She said her vows in a calm sure voice but Nicholas' voice boomed in the church, reassuring her further of how much he wanted the union with her.

"I thereby pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

He placed a perfunctory peck on her lips, his eyes promising more to come. They both turned to the cheering crowd as Mr and Mrs Nicholas Cole.

Nicholas turned to his new wife and whispered in her ear. "I love you Mrs Cole."

"And I adore you Mr Cole." She couldn't keep the grin off her face.

Nichole rushed into Nicholas' arm and he carried her high.

"Finally, I've my own family. I just need a little sister now," she said grinning, her face almost splitting with it.

"That wish I'll do my best to grant," Nicholas said with a meaningful look towards his wife.

Nadine sighed keeping her secret to herself, for now.