Baby Steps

Chapter Three

//Kate's Pov\\

I sit in the car with Harry and look out the window. "Kate would you say something?" Harry says as he pulls up to my apartment. I hadn't said a word since the big blowout with my dad and Seth. "Like what? My own father thinks I'm a damn slut! And did you see the look on Seth's face? That's exactly what I was afraid of," I say and he sighs.
"So what do you regret your decision not to get an abortion?"
"No Harry that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying it hurts. Cause I made a mistake and now nothing is ever going to be the same."
"You're right it's gonna be different. But why is that a bad thing?"
"Because Harry.."
"Because you have to decide if you want to try to raise a baby or not? I don't understand that."
"Of course not because you have people to help you and you would be a great father!"
"You don't have to raise the baby if you don't want to we've been through this."
"I know," I say and look down. "I'm just scared. Either way that's nine months that I have to carry a baby, and who knows if my family will ever talk to me again, this just isn't an ideal situation Harry."
"I know it's not but we're gonna get through it. I'll be there for you the whole way."
"It's just all so much."
"And that's why we'll just take it day by day, baby steps," Harry says and I smile.
"Is that some sort of pun or something?"
"I mean it wasn't meant to be but sure.. I promise I'll help you through every second of it."
"Thank you," I say and he smiles.
"Are you gonna be okay?" He asks and I nod. "I'll bring you dinner after work."
"Have you told any of our friends?"
"Not yet figured family first plus it's not my place to tell."
"It's your kid too," I say and he nods.
"We can tell them together soon, he says and I nod. I get out of the car and wave before going inside to get dressed. "Kate? Is that you?" Eleanor yells and I take a deep breath.
"Yeah," I say and she runs out of her bedroom.
"How'd it go?"
"Um my dad thinks I'm a slut so ya know could've been better," I say and Eleanor shakes her head.
"I'm so sorry," she says holding her arms out. I run into her arms and begin crying again. "He really said that?"
"Yeah.. and then he told me I was making a mistake in having the baby. That I couldn't be a mother."
"Kate don't listen to him. You'd be great mother and Harry would be a great father."
"Well yeah Harry would be but my dad was right... I can't be a mother..."
"Kate Elizabeth Goldman! Don't say that! You could be a great mother if you wanted!"
"I don't know... I mean I lost my mum at a young age and I just wouldn't know how.." I say and Eleanor sighs.
"You can. You don't have to but I really think you should think about it you and Harry would be great parents.."
"It's so weird my baby daddy is my best friend," I laugh and Eleanor shrugs. "I have to get to work.."
"Come on take a day off. I'll take you shopping or we can watch movies. I'd say we could go to the bar but.."
"I can't drink.. I know.. and it doesn't matter I need to go to work. If I end up keeping this baby then I'll have to support the baby and myself somehow," I say and Eleanor nods.
"I can bring you lunch?"
"That would be great.."
"So who all knows you're pregnant?"
"You, Gigi, Harry and now our families."
"Gigi knows?"
"Well I actually asked her to bring me a pregnancy test and she took me to the doctor so yes. But she doesn't know that Harry is the father," I say and Eleanor sighs.
"When are you planning on telling her?"
"Soon."
"Soon?"
"I don't know Eleanor! Just soon!" I say and she sighs.
"Maybe we should go out tonight! Just us girls!"
"Really? That's your solution?"
"It might take your mind off of things."
"But I can't drink. Which is all I wanna do right now because this is such a shitty situation!"
"Okay well we don't have to go to a club or anything we can just hang out. But I genuinely think you need to get out of the house and maybe we can do another group hang out."
"Yeah because that ended so well the last time," I say and point at my stomach.
"You know what I'm just trying to help there's no reason to be bitchy," Eleanor says crossing her arms.
"You're right I'm I'm sorry."
"Can I tell Louis?"
"No."
"Okay well even if I don't tell him it doesn't mean Harry won't they're best friends. That's how we met remember?"
"Yeah I remember," I say and she smiles.
"We were like what thirteen?"
"I want to say sixteen"
"God who knows," I say and she smiles.
"Let Gigi and I take you out. Or we can all hang out as a group. Obviously you and Harry aren't gonna sleep together again."
"And you know that how?"
"I don't. I just don't see it happening again," Eleanor says and I nod.
"I could use a night out in the city with my girls," I say and she smiles. "I really have to get to work. So I'll see you later?" She nods and I smile.
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I get to work fifteen minutes late and sprint inside. "Why were you late? You're never late," Brittany says and I try to catch my breath so I can answer.
"Um it was a crazy morning," I say and she gives me a look as if to ask why. "Long story. What do I need to do?"
"Uh talk to Miles? I don't know."
"Where even is he?"
"He's in room one," she says and I nod. I walk to the first door on the left and open it before walking inside. "Kate. Hi."
"Hi Miles I'm so sorry I'm late it was a crazy morning and-"
"No need to explain we haven't even had anyone in yet.." he says and I smile. "We have a man bringing in his dog for an x ray would you mind doing that for me when he gets here?"
"Not at all," I say and Miles smiles. "What's his name?"
"Mr Barnett," Miles says and I nod. I walk out into the front room and sit in the spare chair next to Brittany. "Well?"
"He said when a man named mr Barnett gets here to take his dog back for an x ray. And I know miss Feldman is bringing in both of her dogs today to get their shots. So I'll take care of that," I say and she nods. My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my scrub pocket. 'Girls night! Woohoo!'
'I can't drink so we may not be clubbing'
'Whatever! When are you telling me who the dad is?'
'Maybe tonight'
'Ooh is he cute??'
'Yeah he's cute I guess' I type and shake my head. I mean it's not that I like Harry or anything but he is rather attractive. God it's kind of weird thinking about my best friend like that. But it is also a little weird that I'm currently pregnant with his baby. The fact that we even slept together is so weird.
'Do I know him?' My phone buzzes pulling me out of my thoughts.
'Uh yeah..'
'Oh?' Gigi says and I sigh. The bell rings indicating that someone has just walked into the building. 'Gtg talk later' I say before putting my phone away.
A girl with light brown hair and freckles walks towards us with a parrot and I laugh. Brittany elbows me and I clear my throat. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Yes I called yesterday about four thirty. I need to get my parrots wing checked out."
"Well Molly can handle this one," I say and Brittany nods. Brittany hands the girl a clipboard and some paperwork. "Please fill these out and we'll get to you in a bit," Brittany says before turning towards me. I laugh and she rolls her eyes. "Where is Molly anyway?"
"She's unloading the delivery from yesterday."
"Alright I guess I'll go talk to her. Wish me luck?"
"Good luck."
I walk to the storage room and see Molly putting some gloves on the rack. "Hey Molly. How was Hawaii?" I ask and she turns around to look at me, her black hair flipping when she does.
"It was great. What do you want?"
"Why do I have to want something?" I ask and she gives me a look. "You're helping out with the parrot."
"No way I hate working with parrots!"
"Well so do I! That's exactly why you need to do it. Plus I covered for your ass for like a week so you kinda owe me," I say and she sighs.
"Fine" She says and sets down the box of surgical masks. "So are you gonna unload?"
"Might as well until the two patients I have to do get here, I say and she nods. "Plus it doesn't look like there's much left."
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Lunch rolls around and I slip off my gloves, toss them in the trash and wash my hands before walking out of the room and into the front lobby. I see Eleanor standing at the front desk talking to Brittany and Kara. "Eleanor what are you doing here?" I ask and she smiles when she sees me.
"Bringing my best friend lunch. I told you I was remember?" She says and I nod. I take a deep breath and nod. We walk back to the break room and sit down at a table. "Gigi was asking me all kinds of questions about the father," I say and Eleanor bites her lip. "Oh my god Eleanor did you already tell her?"
"No of course not! It's not my place! Trust me I'd tell Louis way before I'd tell Gigi. Which Louis is a little hurt he didn't get an invitation."
"To what?"
"To go out tonight."
"He wants to go to girls night?"
"He just wants to get out."
"Tell him to go with Niall and Harry or some of his other friends."
"When are you planning on telling Louis?"
"Soon. I just need an entire night where I'm not thinking about it ya know?" I say and she nods. "It's gonna take over and change my life. For nine months I'll be eating for two, going to dozens of appointments a month, and god this is stressful."
"Just please promise you'll remember to breathe," she says and I nod.
"Now what did you bring me for lunch? I'm starving," I say and Eleanor laughs.
"You're starving?" She asks and I point at my stomach. "Touché. I brought Italian." She pulls the food out of the bag and I rub my hands together. "So what exactly do you wanna do tonight?
"I want to get a drink but I can't do that.. so let's go downtown and just hang out there I guess," I say and Eleanor smiles. "Truthfully I don't care what we do as long as it takes my mind off of everything."
"It'll be fun. We haven't had a girls night in forever!"
"That's cause Gigi's always with Zayn and you've barely been home."
"I'm sorry I'm home for like a month though!"
"Except for the nights you stay at Louis'," I point out and she shakes her head.
"I'm not gonna stay with Louis!"
"Whatever Eleanor."
"No not while you need me."
"I will be fine. He's still your boyfriend and you can't put your life on hold for me plus the nights you stay at Louis' Harry can come over."
"Ooh."
"Not ooh."
"What?"
"Harry and I are just friends. Best friends."
"You mean best friends that slept together?"Eleanor says and I put down my fork.
"Yeah"
"He's also the father of your child."
"You don't need to remind me Eleanor."
"Well.."
"Can we talk about something else? Please?"
"Fine," Eleanor says and I take a deep breath.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I finish for the day and go home to shower and change. I change into a yellow shirt, some black shorts and some wedges. My phone begins ringing and I pick it up off of my bed. I answer it and sigh. "Hey Kate. I just got off of work what sounds good for dinner?"
"Actually Harry I think I'm going out with Eleanor and Gigi tonight. I need a girls night to help take my mind off things. I'm sorry.•
"It's not a big deal. I'll just see if Niall and Louis wanna meet."
"Speaking of Niall and Louis you haven't told either of them yet have you?"
"No did you want me to?"
"No. I was sorta hoping we could tell them together."
"I'll talk to them about hanging out. And maybe we can tell them tomorrow," He says and I smile.
"Thanks Harry," I say as I hear a knock on my door. "I gotta go. I think that's Gigi."
"Okay have fun and be safe"
"I will. Thanks Harry," I say before hanging up.
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We walk into a restaurant and a cute host leads us over to a table. "Damn. He's hot," Gigi says and Eleanor laughs
"You have a fiancé," " I say and she shakes her head.
"Not for me.. for you!"
"Oh no Gigi I-"
"What?"
"I don't know if I want a relationship right now."
"Why not?"
"Well let's see there's the small matter of I'm pregnant, not to mention the fact that James and I have not even been apart a month yet!"
"So? He's attractive. Unless of course you and your baby daddy are dating!"
"We're not!"
"Will you tell me who he is now?" Gigi asks and I sigh. I look over at Eleanor who nods. "I uh I don't know Gigi."
"Wait you don't know who the dad is?"
"No no, I do. I don't know if I should say right now."
"Why the hell not?"
"Because.."
"Oh for crying out loud Kate, just tell her!" Eleanor yells causing a few people to look at us.
"Wait Eleanor knows?"
"You were the first to know I was pregnant!
"So I should know who the father is!"
"Okay fine do you really wanna know?"
"Yes!"
"No judgment?"
"None"
"It's Harry.."
"Harry? Harry? Wait Harry? As in our best friend Harry Styles?"
"Yes," I say and Gigi's mouth falls open. "Okay can you stop looking at me like that?"
"You and Harry slept together?"
"Yes we did now keep your voice down!"
"Oh relax nobody's gonna know who we're even talking about," Gigi says and I glare at Eleanor.
"Thanks," I whisper and she shrugs. "Gigi if I knew you were gonna judge me I wouldn't have told you."
"I'm sorry you're right. But when did that happen?"
"About three weeks ago when we all hung out at his house. It was after everyone left and then the other day I realized I'd missed my period and I called you to bring me a pregnancy test."
"Oh Kate.."
"I know it's all screwed up and-"
"Screwed up is putting it lightly," Gigi says and Eleanor smacks her. "Ow. I mean least it's with someone you know would be a good father and help you every step of the way."
"Yeah you're right."
"Kate doesn't think she'll make a good mom"
"Why not?"
"Because my dad said I wouldn't.."
"Oh.. Kate that's not true!"
"He also said I was a slut.."
"Oh my god no! That's not true at all!"
"Isn't it? It's not like Harry's the first guy I've ever slept with.. I mean I lost my virginity to my high school boyfriend. And then I broke up with him two months later in the middle of graduation!"
"That doesn't make you a slut."
"I sure feel like one."
"You're not. You are a great person you're dads just saying that cause he's pissed you're pregnant and it wasn't apart of the plan he had for you," Gigi says and Eleanor nods.
"She's got a point,"Eleanor says and I sigh.
"I could use a drink right about now," I say and they both laugh. "I'm serious."
"I have a question,"Gigi says and I sigh.
"Shoot."
"Are you and Harry gonna start dating?"
"What? Why would you ask that?"
"I don't know," Gigi says and Eleanor smirks.
"No we're not gonna start dating. Okay we just slept together I don't even know why.."
"I have an idea," Eleanor says and I give her a dirty look.
"Shut up," I say. Gigi and Eleanor turn their heads and I look at them confused. "What are you two looking at?" I ask and Gigi turns my head. I see the host walking towards us and sigh. He smiles at me and stops in front of our table.
"We're a little short staffed tonight so can I get y'all something to drink while y'all wait for your waiter?" He asks and Gigi grins.
"Whiskey," she says and I roll my eyes.
"Pepsi," Eleanor says and the guy turns to look at me. He has really pretty light blue eyes and a bit of scruff. "Oh um just a water please," I say and he nods. He walks away and my eyes trail down to his butt. "Someone's drooling," Gigi says and I roll my eyes.
"I'm not drooling!" I say and she scoffs.
"Whatever. You were literally staring at his ass," Eleanor says and I gasp.
"Could y'all be any louder?"
"I mean do you want us to?" Gigi asks and Eleanor laughs.
"I hate both of you!"
"Ask him for his number!"
"What? No.
"Why not?"
"Gigi we already went through this-"
"What was it you told me this afternoon?" Eleanor says and I shrug.
"I said a lot."
"You told me not to let your pregnancy keep me from living my life. But you need to do the same thing."
"It's just it's a complicated situation"
"That just sounds like an excuse to me," Gigi says and I sigh. Eleanor gives me a look and I shake my head. The man comes back a minute later with a tray of drinks and Gigi grins. He hands out our drinks and begins to turn to leave. "Excuse me sir!" Gigi calls out and I look at her knowing what she's about to do. "What's your name?"
"Uh Logan," he says and I bury my face in my hands. I want to crawl under a rock. "I'm sorry Logan I know this is quite blunt and you have a job to do but do you think my friend is cute?"
"Uh yeah," he says and I bite my lip. This is the most awkward moment of my entire life. "Would you like to give her your number?" Gigi asks and I squeeze my eyelids shut.
"Yeah," He says and grabs a napkin. He pulls out a pen and writes his name and number down on the napkin. He slides it towards me and smiles. "Thanks," I choke out and he nods before walking away. "Oh my god I hate y'all!"
"You love us and you know it!"
"Do I?" I say and she they nod.
"You can't hate me I didn't do anything," Eleanor says and I sigh.
"Okay got me there but what the hell Gigi? That was embarrassing!"
"Oh relax. Now you have his number."
"I didn't want it!"
"Yes you did. You just don't want to admit it."
"Even if I did want it I didn't need your help."
"Whatever. Sometimes you just need a little push and I gave it to you."
"That's not a little push you asked if he wanted to give me his number," I say and she shrugs.
"How do you think I got Zayns number?"
"Well I know none of your friends asked for you.."
"Whatever."
"Okay starting now no more baby talk and we're all gonna have fun. Deal?" Eleanor says and we both nod. "And Kate chill out Gigi was trying to do a nice thing for you."
"But it was embarrassing Eleanor-"
"Kate it was a nice thing to do. It wasn't handled the best way, but now you have his number and it's all in the past. Okay?"
"Ugh. Fine," I say. I stare at the napkin and sigh. What kind of guy would want to get into a relationship with me when I'm pregnant with another guys child? And not just some other guy either no, my best friend. I shake my head and take a deep breath.
I don't want to think about that anymore tonight. Too bad I can't drink because I could really use something strong right about now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After dinner we walk around London talking, laughing and smiling. Gigi's phone buzzes and she holds up a finger. "Hey babe," she says and I smile.
"Tell Zayn hi for me," I say and she nods.
"Kate says hi. Yeah well I don't know, might just crash at their place depending how late it is. Are you with Harry and the boys? Ok well don't get into too much trouble."
"Zayns with Harry?" I ask and Gigi nods.
"Why?" Eleanor asks and I shake my head.
"Oh I was just wondering cause he was gonna bring me dinner before I decided to go out with y'all."
"Okay.. if you say so," she says before starting to walk again.
"What?"
"Nothing.." Eleanor says and I look at gigi who shrugs. She stops in front of a fountain and smiles. "Eleanor what the hell are you doing?"
"Let's have a photo shoot!"
"No. No no that's weird!"
"It's not weird its fun!" Gigi says and Eleanor nods. "Ooh we can take some preganancy photos and post them on Instagram!"
"Uh no.."
"Why not?" They say practically in sync.
"Because first off I'd like to tell the boys in person. Plus there's no reason to announce I'm pregnant if I don't keep the baby."
"Fine can we just have one for us then?" Eleanor says. Gigi nods and I laugh. "You're lucky I love you guys," I say setting down my purse. I walk over to gigi and wrap my arms around her. She hugs me back and we smile.
"You guys do realize people are staring right?" I say through my smile. Eleanor nods and I roll my eyes. "Kate come sit down on the fountain," Eleanor says and I shake my head but do as she says. "Cute, cute, ooh yes honey!" I throw my head back and laugh.
"Okay Eleanor go get in there," Gigi says taking the phone out of Eleanor's hands. Eleanor sits beside me on the fountain and I lay my head on her shoulder. "Ooh my besties are so hot!" Gigi yells and we all laugh. Gigi looks around and sees a skinny red head walking in our direction. "Excuse me would you take our picture?" Gigi asks and the woman nods.
Gigi sits on the other side of me and I take both of their hands in mine. The lady hands Eleanor back her phone and we stand up from the fountain. "Let's go shopping!" Gigi says and I laugh. "Unless you wanna go home?"
"No lets go," I say and she smiles.
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I sit down on the edge of my bed and take a deep breath. "Hey," Gigi says walking into my bedroom.
"Hey."
"Did you have fun tonight?" She asks and I nod.
"I did and it really really helped so thanks Gigi," I say and she smiles. "Are you bout to go back over to your place?"
"Uh I was just gonna crash on the couch if that's cool?"
"Yeah of course."
"Goodnight Kate," She says and I smile.
"Night Gigi," I say and shut my bedroom door. I change into some comfortable clothes and crawl underneath the comforter. 'Hey you awake?' I type and wait for him to answer.
'Yeah what's up?' Harry says and I sigh.
'Nothing just wanted to talk'
'Oh?'
'Yeah..'
'How was girls night?'
'It was good. Helped me take everything off of my mind.'
'I'm glad. You up for brunch tomorrow?' I read Harry's text and smile.
'Yeah. Will the boys be there too?'
'Of course. We can tell them tomorrow'
'Thank you for being so great Harry'
'Always. I'd be there for you even if it wasn't my child'
'You're too sweet Styles'
'There's no such thing as too sweet'
'True.'
'Get some sleep Kate'
'Goodnight Harry
'Goodnight Kate'