Spectrum 2

23

Natalia's POV

As I drive to the house that was once ours, I feel myself wanting to get sick. This is hard for me. This is not easy in any way, shape, or form. 

"Please don't do this to me." I mutter to the baby who has been making me sick nearly every single day. "Not right now, at least."

I wait for the nausea to pass, which thankfully does after a few minutes. I see the house come into view and take a deep breath.

"You can do this, Nat. You've got this." I speak softly to myself. 

Almost in reply, I feel the baby kick gently. If this is her way of encouraging me, she's doing a pretty good job. Feeling her kick is new to me, but I love it when it happens. Sometimes when I tap on my stomach, she'll kick in response. It's pretty cool. After I got over the initial shock of it all, that is.

As I approach the front of the house and knock, Grayson answers within seconds. His eyes light up as he sees me. He smiles at me the same way that he always did. I missed that smile. I never wanted to stop seeing it. 

"Hi." He he says in a short breath.

"Hi." I smile in reply. 

His eyes travel down to my stomach and widen as he looks at me. 

"You're...wow." He says, trying to find the words.

"I know. I'm big." I reply, stepping into the house as he moves to the side.

"Yeah." He nods. I shoot him a confused look, not knowing whether or not to take this the wrong way. He notices my reaction and quickly adds. "Not in a bad way! You're just...you can definitely tell that you're pregnant." 

"Well, I am six months in." I reply.

"Yeah." He nods. "You are." 

We're silent for a minute before he clears his throat and adding, "You look amazing, though. Beautiful. You always look beautiful." 

"Thank you." I smile.

"Let me show you to the bedroom. I mean, you know where it is, but-"

"Thank you." I smile, taking him out of his misery.

He leads me down the hallway towards the master bedroom. As I enter the room, the same familiar smell fills the air. Even in this new home, he has managed to fill it with his scent. I have missed this smell more than anything. 

"I figured you could hang up whatever you were wearing for the wedding tomorrow." He says, gesturing to the closet. "I left some empty hangers for you."

"Thank you." I reply. 

"Of course." He nods. 

The silence fills the space once more and we're left with the awkward tension. I don't know how I'm supposed to react right now. I have no idea how all of this is going to go, but I just hope it's better than how it's going right now.

"Nat, I-" He begins before getting cut off by the doorbell.

"Are they here already?" I ask with wide eyes.

"Shit. I'll go answer. Just...stay here for a minute." He mutters as he exits the room.

I ignore his comment and follow him down the hallway. He can't just keep me locked in the bedroom all night. He has to face this head on.

"Nat, what are you-"

"I'm meeting them at the door. I'm not going to be hidden away in the bedroom." I counter, crossing my arms.

"I just-"

"I'm answering the door." I reply, moving in front of him.

"Fine." He sighs, standing next to me in anticipation.

The second that I open the door, his mother shrieks and pulls us in for a hug. She jerks away the second that she notices me.

"Natalia! Oh my God! I had no idea! When were you going to tell me, Grayson?" She nearly screams in excitement.

"It's a pretty new thing for all of us." He replies, rubbing my shoulder gently.

"It doesn't look very new!" She exclaims, rubbing my stomach gently. "You're getting huge!" 

"I...yeah." I say with a laugh. "Hi, Jillian."

"You're telling me that one of my babies is getting married tomorrow and the other one is expecting their own baby?" She asks, tears filling her eyes.

"Mom." Grayson groans. "Please."

"Let me have this moment!" She scolds him.

"Where is Dad?" Grayson asks, looking around the corner.

"He's getting our stuff from the car!" She smiles. "He's not going to believe this!"

"No he will not." Grayson mutters to himself. I give him a look of confusion and he offers a tight smile in return. 

"Keith! Keith, come up here!" She yells towards the driveway.

"I'm getting our bags!" He calls back in his gruff voice.

"Keith get up here right now and see this!" She yells in reply.

I can hear him struggling to carry all of their bags as he walks towards the house. I quickly step to the side to let him get through.

"Aren't you guys only staying for like...two nights?" Grayson asks, eyeing their bags suspiciously.

"Yes, but Sofia and Shane's gifts are in here. If we had known about you and Natalia, we would have had much much more. Ooh I can wait to go shopping with you!" Jill exclaims with excitement.

"Shopping for what?" Keith asks, placing the last bag on the ground and turning his full attention to us. "Woah!" He says with wide eyes surprise.

"Hi, Keith." I laugh, offering him a hug.

"Hi, Kiddo." He laughs, looking at me with surprise.

"Grayson. We had no idea." He says, giving him a suspicious look.

"It's a newer thing." He repeats.

"It doesn't look that new." He says with a laugh. 

"Well, it is." He sighs. 

"Gray, do you mind showing me to our bedroom? And helping me out with these bags?" He asks.

"Of course." He shrugs, grabbing one of the many bags and guiding Keith down the hallway.

"Natalia! I had no idea! I'm so happy right now! I'm going to be a grandma!" She shrieks.

"You already are a grandma." I laugh.

"Not to Grayson's kids, though! Oh, I'm just so happy! He said he never wanted kids! I knew that was a lie, I just knew it!" She adds with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess it was." I say, offering a small smile.

"Come on! Let's get to the kitchen! I brought some stuff that we could just warm up so that no one had to cook." She says, grabbing one of the cold-safe bags and taking it to the kitchen.

One thing I know for sure is that this is going to be a very long two days.