Baby Steps

Chapter Two

//Kate's Pov//

I walk Harry out to his car and he gives me one last hug before opening his car door. "I'll call my mum and Gemma and trust me everything will be okay."
"Yeah until my dad finds out and then he kills both of us!"
"He won't mr Goldman has always liked me."
"Yeah but you've never knocked up his daughter before," I say and Harry's eyes widen. We both laugh and Harry bites his lip. "How do you think Seth will react?"
"I don't know. Honestly I don't know who I'm more worried about my dad or Seth. You know Seth was always protective of me in high school."
"He's your older brother, his job is literally to be protective. Do you think he'll punch me?"
"Probably not but just to be safe don't wear white," I say and Harry looks at me worried. "I'm kidding.. maybe."
"Wow that so helps," Harry says and I shrug.
"Seth always loved you growing up.. you have nothing to worry about."
"Maybe but like you said that was before I knocked up his sister," he says and I can't help but laugh.
"You need to go or you're going to be late for work.." I say and he smiles. He waves at me before getting in the car. I wait until Harry is gone and run inside to get dressed for work. I change into a pair of purple scrubs and my tennis shoes and go get into my car.
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I pull up to the vets office about half an hour later and see my co worker, Brittany, walking inside. I quickly get out and run up to her. "Hey Kate," she says and I smile. "Miles said that we have a mandatory staff meeting today."
"Oh?"
"Mmhm. Um do you think he'd let me off early today? I have some important business I have to take care of."
"I'm sure he would" Brittany says smiling. We walk in and she sits down behind the counter. I walk back past the counter into the back hallway looking to see if Miles is here yet. "Kate!" A friendly voice says behind me and I turn around.
"Oh hi Kara.
"Hey you okay?"
"Yeah um I'm looking for Miles do you happen to know if he's here yet?"
"No I'd check the back. But he should be here by now I mean we open in like ten minutes."
"Thanks Kara".
"Anytime. Hey did you get a haircut or something?"
"Nope."
"Are you wearing makeup?"
"Uh uh.. I mean mascara but that's it."
"No highlight or anything?" She asks and I shake my head.
"There's just something different about you.." she says and I remember that many people seem to "glow" when they're pregnant.
"I uh I didn't do anything.
"Okay well uh I'll see you later," Kara says and I nod. I walk to the back room and see Miles sitting down in a chair reading a file. "Miles?"
"Oh Kate... come in," he says a warm smile on his face. Miles is the manager of the pet clinic, or in other words my boss. He's one of our head veterinarians alongside being the manager so he has a whole lot of responsibility. He's also one of the sweetest men I know so as far as bosses go he's pretty damn great. He stands up from his rolling chair and I smile.
"Um so since Molly is back from vacation I was wondering if I could take off early?"
"Uh yeah is there a reason?"
"No uh just some things I have to take care of."
"What time were you thinking?"
"Maybe four thirty?" I ask and he nods.
"Just half an hour? Yeah of course.. you're going to help me put Missy under for her operation today right?"
"Yes sir."
"What would this clinic do without you?" He says and I smile. "Can you get me Missy's file and get out the tools for Candy's surgery?" I nod and run off suddenly feeling a little dizzy. I grab onto the wall and take a deep breath before going up to the front counter to find the file.
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Miles finishes stitching up Missy and we walk out of the room. We both take our masks off and Miles smiles. "Thank you for helping me. I think you may be our best vet tech."
"Thank you. I was a little worried I wasn't going to be any good because it did take me a bit longer to finish school but.."
"Relax you're great."
"Thank you."
"So how are you handling your break up with James?"
"Um surprisingly well," I say and he laughs. "You know I think we might've actually ended things in a good place."
"I'm glad to hear that," He says and I smile. "Hey you've just gotta help me with like two more patients and then you can head out for the day."
"Kate? Mr Baker was hoping to speak to you since you assisted Dr Lambly, in his cats testing."
"Uh what was his cats name?"
"Mr Whiskers."
"How original. I gotta go."
"Okay I'll talk to Missy's owners," Miles says and I smile. I follow Brittany to the front lobby and she points out a man who looks like he's in his early thirties. "Mr Baker?
"Oh please call me Devon," He says and I nod.
"Okay Devon you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes it's been a few days and we haven't gotten the results back yet.."
"Yes and I would love to help you but only a Dr can give you back the results I just assist in the testing," I say and he sighs.
"Okay. Thank you.."
"Of course is there anything else?"
"Um excuse me if I'm being a little straightforward but has anyone ever told you you're beautiful?"
"Yes my ex who I just broke up with a few weeks ago"
"Oh.."
"Yeah so I'm not really interested in starting anything but thank you."
"Well I'm sure I'll see you again if you end up changing your mind," he says. He picks his cat carrier up off of the plastic chair and walks out. "Well you certainly shot that down quickly," Kara says and I sigh.
"Yeah... I just uh I have too much going on to worry about a relationship plus me and James just ended things a few weeks ago." Not to mention I'm pregnant with the child of a man who is not my boyfriend, fiancé or husband, just my best friend.
"Whatever. Your loss," Kara says and I sigh.
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I finish up for the day and go home to get ready. I dig through my closet and sigh. I can't find anything to wear. But then again I'm not even sure what you wear to tell your best friends family that you're pregnant with his child. My phone buzzes and I walk over to my bed to pick it up.
'Can I get dressed over there?' Harry asks and I take a deep breath.
'Yes'
'Are you nervous?'
'No..'
'Are you lying?'
'Yes'
'No reason to be nervous my family loves you Kate'
'Yeah but still'
'There's still time to cancel'
'No they need to know I'm just scared everybody's gonna hate me.. and be soo disappointed in me'
'Let's just take it slow. Okay?'
'Okay'
'Be there in twenty' he texts and I decide to go take a shower before he gets here.
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After a nice relaxing shower I go into my room and pull out a cute navy blue shirt and some skinny jeans. I throw it on and sigh. There's a knock on my door and I run to it. I hold onto the towel sitting on my head as I run and quickly open the door. "Hey."
"Hey how was work?"
"It was good.. and you?"
"Long, kinda stressful. Our boss was in a shitty mood today."
"Oh I'm sorry.." I say and he shrugs.
"Gemma just texted me."
"She did?"
"Yeah she was asking if she could bring Michal to dinner. Look if you just want it to be the two of them tonight since this is a big deal I will tell her no."
"I mean I love Michal he's so sweet but I really don't need any added pressure or judgement."
"Say no more," Harry says pulling out his phone. I walk into my bathroom and grab my hairbrush. I unwrap my hair from the towel before sitting down beside Harry on the couch. "Um... Kate you're dripping."
"So?" I say and he shakes his head.
"I don't know why I bother with you.."
"Do you think your family is going to supportive?"
"I know my mum will.. and Gemma will probably be thrilled."
"But what if I decide to give the kid up for adoption?"
"They'll support you then too just like I will.."
"Thank you for being so great."
"Always," He says and I smile.
"Okay you need to go get dressed and I need to blow dry my hair," I say standing up.
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I look out the window and fiddle with my bracelet. "Would you relax?"
"I can't... this is isn't like telling them we're dating I'm telling them that I'm pregnant with your kid, and to make matters worse is we're not dating we're just two best friends who for some reason slept together and now..."
"Oh my gosh breathe woman,• Harry says looking over at me. "The stress isn't good for you or the baby."
"How do you know that?" I ask and he shrugs.
"I just assume it's not," he says and I chuckle. He pulls up to his mothers house and into the driveway. "Okay Kate if you do not breathe we're not even gonna make it past the doorway cause you're gonna hyperventilate."
"You're right you're right," I say unbuckling. Harry gets out of the car and races around to open my door. I laugh and he shrugs. "Man Harry, Anne sure did raise you well," I say. We walk up to the door and he knocks.
"Harry! My baby!" Anne says answering the door. She gives Harry a hug before coming over to give me one. "Can I get y'all something to drink?"
"Uh a water please.."
"I should probably stick with water too... I'm driving," Harry says and Anne nods. She gets us two glasses of water and hands them to us. I take mine and go to sit by Gemma in the living room. "Hey Kate."
"Hi Gemma," I say and she smiles. "How's Michal?"
"He's good." Gemma says and I smile.
"Kate are you sure you don't want any champagne?" Anne asks and I shake my head. Harry sits on the other side of Gemma and I look at him my eyes full of fear. Harry stands up and comes to sit beside me. "I can't do it.." I whisper and he looks at me.
"Can't do what?" He says our voices both at the tone of a whisper.
"They're gonna hate me."
"My family could never hate you, in fact if my mum was gonna be disappointed in anyone it would be me so just breathe," Harry says and I nod.
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We go through dinner making small talk and eating. Or rather Harry eats and I just play with the food on my plate. "Do you not like it?" Anne asks me and I look up from my plate.
"Oh no it tastes great I just don't feel that great."
"I'm sorry dear."
"Not your fault," I say and she nods. I look at Harry who nods. I shake my head and he grabs my hand from underneath the table. "Mum we have something to tell you," He says and she wipes her mouth with her napkin. "Both of you." We look over at Gemma who gives us a big warm smile.
"Mom, Gemma, Kate's pregnant," Harry says and nobody says a word. I feel my heart begin to race and Harry squeezes my hand. "Wait is it James' baby?" Gemma asks and I shake my head.
"Then who the hell is the father?" She asks. I look at Harry and Gemma's mouth falls open. "You two are having a baby?" Anne says and we nod.
"Are you disappointed in me mum?"
"Oh Harry I could never be disappointed in you. You'll be a great father," she says giving harry the reassurance I'm sure he's been looking for. His dad wasn't really in the picture growing up so I'm sure he's just as terrified to raise a baby as I am. But the thing is I know he's great with kids so I couldn't imagine him not being a good father. "Except for we haven't quite decided what we're doing yet.." I say looking down.
"What do you mean?"
"We might not be raising the baby..."
"Well whatever you two decide we will support you and you would both be great parents," Anne says and I can't help but smile. "Dessert?" Anne stands up from the table grabbing my plate for me as she walks over to the kitchen counter. I clear my throat and Gemma comes over to me. "Do you hate me? Or Harry? I mean I know it's stupid and we screwed up cause we're not even dating but.."
"Relax I don't hate either of you.. there's nothing that could make me hate you. You're like family to us. And mums right we will support you no matter what," Gemma says and I feel my eyes begin to fill with tears. "No no don't cry!"
"I can't help it, it's the damn hormones," I say and we both laugh. She walks away to go help her mother and Harry looks at me with a smile on his face. "Told you there was nothing to worry about."
"Okay you were right. This is just such a crazy situation. I mean you're my best friend and we've never been romantically involved and for some reason we just decided to sleep together and now we might be raising a kid?"
"Sounds like something off a soap opera," Harry jokes and I laugh. "That's almost a smile. First one since we got here. Now that it's out in the open can you relax?"
"Yeah.."
"So when are we telling your family?"
"Um... I don't know they're busy and.."
"Kate."
"Tomorrow morning. Meeting for breakfast before work."
"And you actually called or texted? Made sure they're coming?"
"What you don't trust me?"
"Come on.."
"Okay I know I don't want them to know because I'm scared of their reaction but yes I actually did text and I can show you!"
"Show me then," Harry says and I sigh. I pull my phone out of my pocket I tap on the group chat and show him the messages. "Okay," Harry says and I sigh.
"Do you need some support? I can stay again? And I can stay on the couch or in Eleanor's room."
"I don't think Eleanor would want you to stay in her room," I laugh. "Plus she's coming home tonight."
"Do you want to call her first and make sure?" Harry asks and I nod. I dial her number and tap my fingers while it rings. "She might be on the plane already," I whisper and he nods. It goes to voicemail and I sigh. "I don't want you to have to be alone so I'll stay until she gets home. Just let me swing by my house for some fresh clothes for work," he says and I smile.
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We pull up to my house and I sigh. "Do you want me to make you something to eat? You barely ate at mums."
"Would you?"
"I'd love to," Harry says and I smile. We walk inside and he takes a look inside my pantry. "How bout spaghetti?" He asks and I nod. He smiles and pulls the ingredients out of my pantry. He turns on my stove and I sit down in the living room.
I turn on the tv and hit play on the tv show. "What are you watching?"
"The Flash."
"Is it any good?"
"Hold on you're telling me you've never watched The Flash?"
"No. I'm more into the marvel side than dc."
"Marvels good too" I say and Harry smiles. "Why don't I wait till you're finished and then we can watch The Flash from the very beginning that way I don't have to spend the whole time explaining things to you?"
"Okay," Harry smiles. He finishes making my spaghetti and puts it on a plate and brings it to me. "Thank you Harry," I say and he smiles. "Okay ready?" He smiles and nods and I hit play on the show.
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I wake up the next morning with my head laying on Harry's shoulder. I look at Harry who had fallen asleep in his clothes and sigh. I knock on Eleanor's bedroom door and it quickly swings open. "Hey why didn't you wake me when you got home last night?"
"Cause you and Harry seemed so peaceful," she says and I sigh.
"There is no me and Harry," I say and she shrugs. "How was your trip?"
"It was good.. kinda sad to be home though," she says and I nod.
"I'm actually kinda glad you're home," I say turning my head to look at Harry.
"And why's that?"
"Because I have something to tell you," I say and she turns around to look at me. She turns on the coffee pot and sighs. "Can it wait till after coffee?" She asks and I nod.