Culpables years later...

Chapter 15

(Next Day)

Nick

It was up and down at work. The point that we wanted to start a company in Germany triggered mixed feelings for most of us. But it was a great opportunity for my company to expand in Germany. There was already an application for the Germany company. Only a few of the company's partners who were on the board of directors thought we should stay in the States. Me and Simon disagreed. His position in New York and his status in the company forced me to talk to him.

I never really liked him tall. He was sympathetic to the way his work ethic was. After the thing that he really liked my wife and went out with her and touched her, I didn't like him that much anymore. The big people came in and out of the company. 

It was one meeting after another. But I tried to keep track of the time. Because I really wanted to get to the doctor with Noah on time for the baby. And when it came time, I paused on time and met Noah in front of the doctor building. I brought her a matcha. I knew she'd like to have a drink. 

She walked up to me and kissed me in greeting, holding her hip with one hand and holding her drink with the other. "Did you miss me freckles? I have a matcha for you too." "You're kind to me. Thank you Nick." We both smiled stupidly at each other. We paused for a while, but we had to go in. I gave her the drink and took her hand in mine. Once inside, we reported to the reception and filled out some forms. While we were waiting, I was given a dejavu. It was weird to be back after a few years.

It feels like we've been sitting here in the waiting area forever. "You want the rest? I can't do it anymore." Noah handed me her matcha, and I drank it. Honestly, I didn't like matcha, except the way Noah liked to drink it.

"Mrs. Leister? You're next." Finally. We both got up and went into the treatment room. Noah sat down on the gurney and I sat down on the chair next to it. "Is it just me, or is it weird to be back?" Noah was right, it was weird. "Yes, I feel the same way." "Hello, Noah. It's been a while. Hello, Mr. Leister." Doctor Hubber walked in happily. We both greeted him back, and he asked Noah to lie down and lift up her blouse. "Are you okay? Any pain? Normal pregnancy symptoms?" "It's all good. Morning sickness and strong hormones like back then." "That's good. How's Andrew doing? He's grown up, right?" "Yes, he's too cute. We're both excited about our next baby."

He smiled and he rubbed Noah's stomach with the cooling gel. He drove the probe over her stomach, and on the monitor, you could see the baby. It took my breath away the first time I saw our baby on the monitor. It was so small and innocent. "The baby's fine. It's evolving as it should be in that period of time. Here you can see the little legs and the head." "Is there anything we need to consider about this pregnancy?" Noah's question was valid. We wanted to do everything right this time, so it wouldn't end up like Andie's pregnancy. "Well, you know the rules of what you can and can't eat? Don't overdo it with activities and stress. If you keep all that in mind, you can come back and find out the sex in the next few weeks."

Noah and I smiled at each other. I grabbed her hand and squeezed her tightly. "We're going to take care of everything and do it right, doctor, thank you." He nods at us and kept looking at the baby to really check that everything was okay. After about a quarter of an hour, we were done, and while Noah was cleaning up herself,he made us another appointment.

We were on our way to the car when Noah grabbed my hand. She smiled at me in love and leaned her head against my shoulder. "You want to hear something?" "Sure freckles." "Andie already has female admirers. There's a girl who annoys him." "So a girl who likes him. He's growing up with women, as well as his father." Noah slapped me in the arm and shook his head. "Don't say that. Don't let him bang his way through world history! Besides, you can have the conversation with him when the time comes." At the car, I held open the door for her and kissed her hand. "Oh freckles, he's going to have his charm, and at some point there's going to be a woman who's going to fall in love with him. Just as you fell in love with me. Thanks to you, I am who I am today." My wife looked at me compassionately. "You can really find the right words sometimes to get yourself out of the situation."

I winced my eyes, and she had to hold off a grin. Eventually, I drove us to see the house. The place where the house was is really nice. The beach right next to the house, good and safe neighborhood, you had all the main shops nearby and still your peace and quiet in front of the inner city. 

During the ride, some music played quietly and Noah looked absently out the window. "Are you okay freckles?" She looked at me and nodded. She seemed to wonder if she should say something. "Have you talked to Lion lately?" I looked at her in surprise. "Yeah, but it's been a while. Why?" "Did you know he and Jenna have some problems?" "Jenna and Lion? Are you kidding? They've been the perfect couple since their marriage."

"I wish we could help them, but we can't, can we, Nick?" We couldn't. I didn't know their problems. Sure, Lion and I both had a lot of work to do, but usually every two weeks, we'd meet for a beer and talk. "Oh, and I may have told Jenna about the baby." I looked at Noah. The way she casually mentioned it was funny. "I'm okay. Should I tell Lion, then?" She sighed with amusement. "But we should tell our family soon. Do you want to take everyone out for dinner tomorrow night and tell them?" Noah was right. It's about time. "Yeah, that sounds good." Soon we arrived at our destination, and it was really nice what we saw. 

The broker obviously wasn't there yet, so we walked around. To be honest, I could well imagine living around here. Hand in hand, we walked the streets and got stuck in a cute café. 

There were families and couples sitting in there, and they were happy. I was never the type for anything cheesy or anything like that, but Noah changed me.

I enjoyed seeing people happy. Feelings had always been a burden to me, they were flaws that made me weak. So was sex. It was just human desire and nothing more. I promised myself all those years ago that I wouldn't allow any more feelings. I was just going to get hurt anyway. When I met Noah at the time, she was just a teenage girl you'd see on Tiktok all the time. She suffered just as much as I did when I was young. I trusted her and I learned to love again. She made me feel at home. It was like I had finally arrived.

"Can you imagine, fifty years from now, seeing us sitting here in that café? Like that old couple?" My gaze glided to Noah's, who was focused on an older couple. Really? Yes. Even in a hundred years. Until death do us part, and after that. "Till the end of us, Noah. Forever and ever." Their eyes became wet. I held the back of her head with my hand and pulled them towards me. Our heads were leaning against each other. 

Noah tried to smile, but still shed a few tears. "Shall we go further? There's a farmer's market up ahead." "Yeah better. Before I really start crying and more people looking." I looked around, and actually a few people were looking at us, but not angry or anything, but understandably and lovingly compassionate.  Together, we strolled around the market, and it was relaxing. It made me forget about my stress and our problems.

When the time came, we went to the house where the broker was waiting for us. "Pleased to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Leister. Are you ready to see the beautiful house?" "Yes, we are very pleased." 

He showed us the villa with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a kitchen, extra rooms, a huge garden with pool and a large garage. It was all so warm and open. Noah's look was worth a thousand words. She loved it. We liked everything, and we could already imagine how we were going to make it. At the end of the tour, the question of questions came up. "Well, what do you say?"

Our eyes met. Noah nodded briefly. "We'll take it." He clapped and pulled out papers to sign. The house was in my name, but honestly? Noah was the wife of the house, and she decided everything. I don't care. She should be comfortable and the kids. I was happy when they were.

He gave us the keys and some other documents and congratulated us. "We've found our new home, Nick." "We're finally ready to go." "Do we really want to take everybody out to dinner today and tell them? With the baby and the one we're moving out of the house?" "Yes. Everyone deserves to know. We're going to dinner at the new Italian's. I'm going to text them all." 

"What if they can't?" "Well, then take their time, Noah. We're family." She joined me in laughing and hugged me. "I love you, Nick." Her nose ran down my throat, and I had to smile. "I love you, too."