Chapter 150 Chapter 150 - Four Stars in the Ocean

Chapter 150 Chapter 150 - Four Stars in the Ocean
Adrielle Hale

The drive home took longer than I thought. We had to operate on a patient, and the surgery took many hours. During that time, I could only think about how I could tell Pedro about being pregnant again.

On the way home, I decided to stop at a store to buy some things to tell him. I bought a small wooden box, with shredded paper and crocheted bears. Two pink ones, one blue one, and one white one – since we still don't know the baby's gender. I don't want anything extravagant, just something that makes it special. I left a message in a small envelope.

“We've waited for you for seven years. Our life together is beginning. With your return, my love, we should become three, but now we will be four.”

I think I've never been so anxious for this. It should have been like this the first time. I should have felt all the possible emotions with a pregnancy with the father of my children. But all I felt back then was loneliness. This time, everything will be different.
I get back in the car. The security guards who got out and stayed at the store entrance also follow his car. I think it's time to end this pursuit with security guards acting like my shadow. But I don't think that stubborn man will agree.

I make my way home. The sun is setting; I think the view from the balcony must be beautiful now. I wonder if Pedro missed me during the day because I didn't see any notifications from him on my phone. Not even to tell me how it went with Abby or to ask why I was late.

As soon as I cross the gates of my house, I don't see his car. Nor the cars of the security guards who accompany him. When I get out and enter the house, everything is silent. The fish are calm in the aquarium, which indicates that Abby isn't home either—if she were, the fish would be swimming back and forth, frightened.

I see Minnie leave the laundry room with a basket of perfectly folded clothes.

"Oh, it's so good you're here, dear. Mr. Hernandez and little Abby aren’t home,” she says, placing the basket on the floor.

I frown, confused. I’m blinking more often than usual. And my mind is a little confused about this.

“Where did they go?” I ask, trying to reason about it. “Pedro didn’t tell me. He didn’t say anything…”

Minnie has a calm smile.

“I think he took her to the beach. She was craving a hot dog,” she replies softly, as if I shouldn’t worry about them leaving without even telling me. “They should be arriving soon, don’t worry. Are you hungry? I’ll make you something to eat.”

I nod, trying to reorganize my thoughts.

Pedro left with Abby.

And they didn’t tell me anything.

That’s strange.

“I… I’m going to take a shower,” I say.

Minnie agrees. I walk lightly towards the stairs to go up to my room. After a busy day, I thought I would arrive home and see the two people I love most, that we would have dinner later, but I'm a little restless and worried about them. They left without even saying anything to me.

What's this, Adrielle? Are the pregnancy symptoms already showing?

I take a deep breath and shake my head, banishing these crazy thoughts. I head to the bathroom to get under the shower and take a nice bath. I just need to relax. The water falls on me and my tense shoulders are more relaxed. Maybe it's the scent of the soap that also calms me. It's Pedro's scent.

After the shower, I wrap myself in a towel and walk to the closet. I don't know exactly what to wear now, I don't want anything too tight or that will make me feel cold.

I hear my phone ringing in the room. My steps are so quick towards it that I almost trip over my own feet. I hope it's Pedro. My heart almost stops when I see that it really is a call from him. I've never felt so at peace as I do now.

"Pedro…" My voice is almost terrified.

I can hear his laughter on the other end.

"It seems I worried you, my love."

"Don't do that again, please." I plead, releasing the breath I didn't even know I was holding. "Where are you?"

"At the port. Abby wanted to see the yachts and eat hot dogs. Sorry for not letting you know." He says calmly.

"When are you coming back? We have dinner, did you forget?" I ask, as if it were possible for him to have forgotten something he himself proposed.

Pedro laughs again.

"No, babe. I didn't forget." He replies calmly. "Uh… actually, I think you'll have to come to me."

"Is everything alright? What's happening? "I ask, exasperated, almost unable to breathe amidst the questions.

"Honey, calm down. I'm fine. Abby's fine. I just had a problem with the car. The battery died. Can you meet me in the port parking lot?" he asks calmly.
When we meet, Hernandez, you'll listen to me!
He seems calm while I'm almost drowning in worry.
"I'm coming to you."

I don't even wait for him to answer, I just throw my phone on the bed and run back to the closet. I mentally scold myself for running on such a slippery floor while I still have water running down my body. The wood is slippery, I could easily fall and hurt myself.

In the closet, I put on white lingerie. This time, I'll skip the pants, I'll wear a long white dress, with a light drape, a well-made corset, and no straps. My hair is loose and my makeup is light. I put on gold strappy sandals.

I don't even know if Minnie noticed me leaving. I leave the house with a speed that almost makes me regret it. I get into my car and start the engine. The security guards follow me as soon as I pass through the gates. I try to keep my speed below the street limit. I don't need to worry, they're fine. I don't even understand why I'm worrying.

It takes me a few minutes to get to the port. Pedro's car is the only one parked. There's no one else there. He's standing there, talking to a man in a white shirt, who nods before walking away.

I stop the car right next to Pedro's Urus. His eyes focus on me. Pedro is wearing a white shirt—which looks like linen—with beige dress pants. He's wearing brown derbies, his hair is neatly styled, and he doesn't seem worried about anything else. Seeing him so calm, I'm starting to think the car is in perfect condition. Abby isn't with him. In fact, I don't see her anywhere.

I turn off the car and get out. I walk lightly towards him. Pedro focuses his gaze on me.

"The battery didn't die, did it?" I ask, as soon as I stop in front of him.

He has a small, guilty smile.

"No. The car has never been better," he says, with a peaceful smile. "I just wanted to bring you here."

"Couldn't you just say that?" I ask, bringing my hand to his face. "Where's Abby?"

"With her parents." He answers calmly.

I frown, confused.

"I thought she was with you." My tone makes my confusion quite clear. I move away from him to look around. "Pedro, what… is happening?"

He smiles calmly, as if he wants to calm me down about whatever confusing thoughts I'm having at this moment.

"I told you we were going to have dinner together today."

"Yes, but… why are we at the port? You said you made the reservation." I retort, staring at him.

Part of me is starting to get annoyed by the calm and enigmatic man in front of me.

"Then follow me." He says, extending his hand.

I still have my brow furrowed, trying to understand how the man I love has become so enigmatic today. I feel a spark of anxiety and nervousness, as if this were happening for the first time. As if it were the first time we had dinner together. My only reaction is to touch his hand and let him guide me through the harbor. We trade the sidewalk for the marina's wooden walkway. All I see ahead of me are luxury yachts, and this is starting to bring clarity to the plans of the man beside me.

"Pedro… wait. Weren't we going to a restaurant? Wasn't that the reservation you made?" I ask, planting my feet firmly on the wood, unable to take another step without getting an answer.

"I never said it was a restaurant, love," he replies, turning to me and walking towards me. "I reserved the marina for us, with the mayor."

Is this really the man I know? Why does he want so much exclusivity?

I just remembered I left the box in the car. I thought our plan was to go to a restaurant, not have dinner on a yacht.

"Did you rent or buy a yacht, Pedro Hernandez?" I ask, while my eyes wander over the yachts in the marina. One of them is enormous, and something tells me it's clearly his.

"I bought a yacht so we could go for a ride and have dinner alone," he replies, his tone serene, as he leans close enough to kiss me, knowing I'm about to say something about it.