The Whispers

13

Bea lay on Nate's chest listening to the steady beat of his heart. It felt awesome have him so close like this. She knew she'd have to tell him about the baby, just not now. This might be the last time she has him this close and this content. It wouldn't hurt to just enjoy the moment and leave the rest for later, right?

She sighed and cuddled even closer.

"That was amazing," she murmured wearily.

"Mmm," Nate agreed. "I thought I'd never get the chance to show you just how out of control you make me feel."

"For a man who so loves control, that must have been hard to confess," she smiled against his chest.

"Yeah." His words were followed by a deep chuckle that shook his body, the he sobered. "I felt like history was repeating itself. Difference was you aren't pregnant."

He realised the mistake of his words as soon as they left his mouth. Even before she felt Bea grow rigid in his arms.

She stiffened at the last part of his speech but mostly the part about history. She raised her head to look up at him. "What do you mean 'history repeating itself'?"

Might as well get it over and done with.

Deep in her gut, Bea felt she already knew the answer even before Nate uttered the one word she feared.

"Beth."

A long stretch of silence followed and the air between them crackled with palpable tension.

"Which Beth?" Even though she asked this, she knew the answer.

"Your Beth." Damn! "My Beth." Double that. "Rebecca's Beth." Dude, what the fuck!

Bea waved her hand to stop him from saying more.

"I get the point." She sat up, gathered her clothes and started getting dressed.

"Beatrice, wait."

She stopped with one leg in her pair of jeans.

"For what, Nathan?" She looked away to hide the tears that threatened to spill. "So that you can lie more?"

"I didn't lie to you!" Nate got up to dress too. He felt too exposed with Bea covered and him not.

Disgust was written all over her face as she looked at him. "You lied to me about loving me, Nate. All along you've been feeling guilty because the ghost of your beloved wife haunted me."

"Bea, I didn't..."

"Just shut up, Nate!" She exploded. "Shut. Up. And. Get. Out." She pointed to the door gazing menacingly at him.

Nate decided that giving her a little time to calm down would be good for them both. Clearly she wasn't ready to talk.

Nate quickly dressed, sensing Bea's distress. He wanted to hold her against him to ease the hurt and betrayal he knew she felt but he knew that would only worsen things.

Bea slumped on the couch as soon as the door closed behind Nate.

Nathan McCarthy.

How could she have been so stupid? She'd trusted Nate with all her being. Well, even though she'd not trusted him enough to tell him about...the baby. Not that it matters anymore.

He was gone. Hopefully for good this time.

Her heart broke further — if that was even possible — at the thought of never seeing him again. Ever.

Its for the best, she said forcefully inward. Enough musing, Beatrice!

She showered and dressed in scrubs, readying herself for work.