Past Or Present

Chapter 9

Nicole's assignment with Steve had ended three weeks ago. She was back home in New York City. Today was a tough day Nicole. Today marked twelve years since she'd had her miscarriage. It was the afternoon. She was home by herself. Chase was working. He was in Philadelphia. Nicole was sitting in the living room thinking about the baby. As much as she was trying not to, she was also thinking about Sam. Her phone rang.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hey baby." Chase said.

"Hi."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm hanging in there."

"I wish I could be there with you."

"I wish you could to."

"Are you going to a support group meeting today?"

"No I just want to stay home."

Later that night Nicole had just finished dinner. She got a text. It read

I'm in the city at the Hilton, Main Street, room 1057. Please come. I need to talk to you. - Sam

An hour later there was a knock on Sam's hotel room door. He answered it. Nicole was standing there. Sam smiled. She went inside.

"Before you say anything, I'm only here because I don't want to be alone right now." "I lost the baby twelve years ago today."

"Come here." They hugged. "Are you alright?"

"No." "Every year I think about and remember everything as if it just happened."

"You can stay with me as long as you need to."

They spent the next four hours talking. They ended up falling asleep.

Sam woke up in the middle of the night. He and Nicole were both sitting up. Her head was on his shoulder. He grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and laid them both down. She woke up a little.

"It's ok Nic." Sam said. "Go back to sleep."

At around nine the next morning Sam woke up. He started kissing Nicole's forehead. That woke her up. He went lower until he was to her lips. They kissed for the next several minutes. She broke it without saying anything and got up to leave. She went for the door. He followed her and turned her around.

"Please don't get married Nicole." He said. "I love you so much, please." "And you love me."

"Sam, I'm not a kid anymore." "I've made a commitment to someone else." "I don't love you anymore." She left. In the elevator she started crying.