December
18 Weeks
It turns out when you have money behind you the world moves quickly for you. Harry had phoned on Wednesday morning to tell me we had an appointment with a new midwife on Friday evening at 6PM. I wanted to burst with emotion when he told me it was later in the evening so as not to interfere with my work. Despite not knowing much about my job or the shit-ton of work I had on for Forntam Hotels, it ruined me to know he'd had the decency to take it into consideration. I wont lie, I cried when I got off the phone to him. Especially when he told me he'd come and pick me up from work, we could grab dinner then go to see the midwife together.
So on Friday evening I was a jittery mess as I stood in the lobby, out of the cold rain, waiting on Harry to appear. I had a bodycon black midi skirt on with thick black tights and an oversized grey jumper. I was only getting away with the body con skirt because my jumper was hiding any glimpse of a tiny bump. I knew I would have to tell Amanda soon about my pregnancy because I'd need to organise maternity leave which I wasn't looking forward to. I hadn't not worked since I left school. Even as my parents put me through University, I still worked a part-time job. I was raised to understand the value of hard work. Despite having a mother that didn't work I still knew how important it was to work, earn an honest living and provide for yourself. Which was probably why I was struggling with the thought of Harry paying for my health care. I had to keep reminding myself that it was all circumstantial. I could allow Harry to pay for my healthcare because he wanted to, he could afford it and it meant more dedicated care for me and the baby.
As I stood in the quiet lobby of our building, I convinced myself I'd tell Amanda on Monday but before that I'd phone my mum tomorrow night and tell her first. I shifted my handbag which was heavy from housing my notes from the previous midwife, from one forearm to the other as my free hands twiddled with the silver ring on my forefinger. I was nervous about seeing Harry again. Despite being fine on the phone on Wednesday and being sweet telling me he'd pick me up and take me for dinner I was still hung up on the awkward end to our conversation on Tuesday night. I had deduced it came from me telling him I'd googled him but I wasn't sure why it was such a problem. He was the father to my unborn child I think I was justified in wanting to know as much about him as possible. I admit Google might not be the best source for valid information but it was the best I had at the time.
I looked down at my suede ankle boots that were crossed at my ankles as I felt my phone vibrate in my handbag. I looked up and saw the shiny black Range Rover idling at the curb. I pulled my phone from my bag and answered it.
"Do you have a brolly?" Harry's voice came through the speaker.
"...Shit, No" I answered
"Ok, wait there. I'll come and get you" I could hear his seatbealt unclick before he hung up. I stepped closer to the revolving door and watched as Harry's long frame got out of the Range Rover. He bolted to the boot and retrieved a big black golfing umbrella. He put it up quickly to stop his black coat getting wetter then came to the door.
"Thank you" I smiled coming out the other side of the door and immediately keeping tight to his outstretched arm that kept the umbrella hovering over me. "I took mine out this morning to fit my notes in my handbag" I explain as he guides me to the passenger side of the car.
"Rookie mistake" He smiles as he opens the door for me. The butterflies go for a little dance as he puts down the brolly and chucks it in the back of the car before getting into the drivers side.
He starts the car with a push of a button and pulls into the early evening traffic. Its the first week in December and London is alight with twinkling fairy lights as Harry takes us through the streets.
"Did you have a good day at work?" He asks glancing over at me.
I try to surpress a giggle but fail miserably.
"What?" He asks smiling.
"You're asking that like we've known each other for years... you don't even know I do"
"Hehhh, I'm trying" He feigns hurt
"I know, I know. I'm sorry" I twist in my seat to look at him better. He has a small smile playing on his lips so I know I haven't genuinely offended him. After Tuesday I'm worried about upsetting him.
"So tell me then" He gestures towards me. "What do you do in that pretty big glass building"
I smile at his compliment. Even if it is towards the building I work in. "I'm a graphic designer" I explain. "I mostly do graphic's for company logo's and websites but I've just landed a contract for Fortnam Hotels for a marketing campaign and a brand redesign"
"Wow" He looks genuinely impressed. "That's great. Have you always wanted to do that?"
"Pretty much. I was pretty good at Art in High School then took Graphic Design for my Higher's then got a Masters Degree in Graphic Design at Uni so I'm glad its still something I enjoy"
"Look at us learning about each other" He grinned as he pulled up outside a row of buildings and killed the engine. We get out and thankfully the rain had stopped.
"In here" He mumbles when he's on the curb beside me, and I follow him towards a cute little Italian restaurant with a green awning and marble pillars outside. The marble theme carries on inside the quiet restaurant. The waitress shows us to a small table in the far away corner.
"Does that always happen?" I ask as we take out menu's and the waitress disappears with Harry's coat. Revealing a black woollen jumper adorned with planets and stars. It looks expensive and designer and something my Gran could knit in equal measures.
"Huhhhh?" Harry asks looking up from his menu.
"Do waiters automatically recognise you and sit you far away from everyone else so as not to cause a commotion?"
"They do if I ask them to" Harry glances up before his eyes drop back to his menu.
"Oh" I nod in understanding before shifting my attention to my own menu. I immediately regret asking the question. Hoping to God that it hasn't ruined the evening before its even started. I'm looking forward to seeing the midwife with Harry. Its different from a scan because there is really nothing for Harry to do but sit there. But so far I've enjoyed everything a lot more when he's involved. Everything feels less isolating when Harry's with me.
"What're you having?" I ask, not that I particularly need to know right now, I'll find out soon enough when the waitress comes back for our order but I need to break the silence and see if he's ok with me.
"I cant decide" He hums still scanning the menu. "I fancy a pizza but the risotto is great here"
"Oh, I'm going to get the risotto so you can finish mine because I wont eat it all." I raise my eyebrows, folding my menu in front of me.
"Really? How come?" Concern marring his handsome features.
"Too nervous" I admit after we're interrupted by the waitress where Harry orders his pizza and my risotto. "I get really apprehensive before scans and midwife appointments"
"Why?" Harry asks, I'm distracted as he clasps his hands on top of the table. My eyes caught by his hands and all his rings.
"Fear?" I shrug when I answer him eventually. "I begin to convince myself that somethings gone wrong. I think I always will until I can feel the baby moving"
"You still haven't felt that yet?" Harry asks just checking.
"Nope. Google says it can happen anytime between 16 and 25 weeks. But first babies are usually later. So hopefully anytime soon"
"And I'll probably miss it" He frowns staring dejectedly down at his hands.
"You'd probably miss it wither you were in the country or not, Harry" His head shoots up as I shrug. "We don't live together" I point out. "Chances are we wont be together the first time it happens. But if it makes you feel better I'll not tell anyone until you're back and then pretend the first time is when you're there?" I smile hoping to soothe his hurt.
"No, I want to know the first time it happens wither I'm in L.A or not. Text me, morning noon and night. I want to know everything"
"Ok" I smile as the waitress places our food in front of us. "I'll text you morning, noon and night"
"I mean it Nora! Can't sleep for heartburn? I want to know. Swollen ankles? I want to know. Baby kicks? I want to know. I want to know it all"
"Wow, I have so much to look forward to" I joke as the chat dies down so we can dig into our dinner.
I stick to my word and leave Harry half of my risotto. Despite how delicious it is, I just cant finish it. The nausea is settling in as I glance at my watch that tells me we have half an hour before my appointment.
I watch Harry as he wolfes down every last slice of pizza and every last spoonful of risotto. I wonder where he puts it. His body looks like nothing but lean muscle. Even hidden under woolen jumpers and ripped skinny jeans I can tell he works out.
"You okay?" He asks as he places his card inside the black wallet that houses the bill. Shit I was day dreaming and I didn't even notice she'd brought the bill.
"Let me get that" I attempt to bat the leather wallet out of Harry's hand but he just pulls it closer to his chest.
"I don't think so" He smirks. "Tell me what you were daydreaming about" He smiles as the waitress comes over with the card reader. I sit in silence as he pays for dinner and she hands him his coat. I dislike the way she's watching him. Like he's a piece of meat. Her eyes are on stalks as he stands to shirk on his coat, and his jumper rides up just enough to show a slither of taut, creamy skin. I know it's exactly how I'm staring at him right now but I feel like I'm allowed. She, however, is not. I stand abruptly, my chair scraping over the marble floor. It does the trick and the waitresses eyes drop from Harry's body to the floor then she quickly scampers away.
"You can stop scowling at her" Harry breaks my train of thought.
"What?" I frown feigning ignorance.
"The waitress, you can put your claws away. She's gone" He smirks as he rounds the table towards me.
"I was not scowling" I argue. The lines in my forehead deepening as I scowl even more.
"Darling, you're scowling. You'll get premature wrinkles on that pretty little head of yours" He laughs flinging his arm around my shoulder and pulling me towards the exit.
"My skin is in its prime thank you very much. I'll get piles from being pregnant before I get wrinkles. I read that's a thing that can happen."
Harry nearly chokes on his laughter.
"I'm sorry I've done this to you" He lets go of me as he walks round to his side of the car. I stand awkwardly with my hand on the door handle until he looks up before opening the drivers door.
"I'm not"
*
"Hi, Nora Henley for an appointment with Dr Robins" Harry gives the receptionist one of his beautiful smiles. One where the dimple appears and the young receptionist cant help but blush. She taps a few buttons on her keyboard then looks back up, her blush slightly more under control.
"Just round to Waiting Room Two" She smiles politely and clicks a button under her desk. A set of automatic doors beside the reception desk open for us and Harry leads me through, easily finding our designated waiting room.
"Dr Robins? Really?" I giggle as I follow Harry down the quiet corridor. The walls are lined with art work and there's a plush, striped carpet on the floor, the biggest indicator we are not in an NHS GP's surgery any more.
Harry looks over his shoulder at me in confusion. "... yeah?"
"The baby doctor in Grey's Anatomy is called Arizona Robbins. Therefor I like this doctor already" I grin.
Harry let out a little chuckle as he held a door to an empty room filled with armchairs. There was not a hard plastic chair in sight.
"How do you know she wont phone a newspaper and tell them that Harry Styles came to the doctors with a pregnant woman?" I ask as I settle into the plush, velvet chair beside him.
He wrinkles his nose. "I don't really, but its probably not worth her job. Doctors are different because legally they cant disclose any information but receptionist aren't under the same oath, so technically she could tell whoever she wanted. But if it came out and I took legal action she'd lose her job because it will be against some company policy I guess. So is telling her 200 Twitter followers or the DailyMail that I was in a doctors surgery with a pregnant woman, which proves nothings really, worth losing her job over?... I assume not"
"True" I mumble in agreement.
"Stop fidgeting" Harry smiles, pulling one of my hands into his lap, holding it up to inspect my finger which I've subconsciously been picking at since we sat down. I wonder if he too can feel the weird buzz of electricity where his skin is touching mine. His hand is warm and the heat helps to soothe my nerves if only for a second.
"Look at the mess you're making" He chastises, turning my hand around to hold it in his. "Everything is going to be fine, there's nothing to worry about" He smiles. His intense gaze makes it hard for me to breath for a second. He doesn't release my hand so I'm left looking into his deep green eyes. His sparkling eyes are irresistibly charming and it's difficult to remember why I'm so nervous in the first place. I could feel my skin grow hot like I was bathed in hot sunlight. In reality it was the middle of winter and they could do with turning the heating up in here a little.
Our trance was broken by the sound of someone calling my name. I looked away from Harry's sharp eyes to see a woman in a skirt suit standing watching us with interest. I smiled and pushed myself out of the seat, Harry following close behind.
"Please have a seat" Dr Robins indicated the velvet seats in front of her large desk and she introduced herself. I gave her my previous notes then eyed Harry warily as the doctor read my notes. The ability he had to calm me already with just a smile was a little alarming but I had more important things to focus on right now.
"Great, so things seem to be moving, smoothly, in the right direction" Dr Robins smiled as she looked up from my notes. "There's a few blanks regarding the family history for Harry's side of the family which I'd like to fill in today. I want to do a full blood work up, do some measurements then we can have a little listen to the babies heartbeat. Is that okay?" She had a kind smile, one that put my at ease immediately.
"Great" I smiled, instinctively taking my grey jumper off. I shivered as I remembered I was only wearing a black vest top underneath. Harry sat quietly as he watched me get blood taken, and my blood pressure checked. He was very forthcoming with information when asked about his family history. Luckily for us there was also no major health concerns that could be passed down to the baby.
"If you can have a lie down on the bed Nora" Dr Robbins indicated the bed in the corner that looked more like a chaise longue than something you'd find at the doctors. I followed her instructions and pulled my vest top up and rolled her skirt down to reveal my stomach.
"Look!" Harry exclaimed suddenly causing me to whip my head towards him. Before I knew it he was standing beside me. "There's a bump" He smiled, his hand hovering over my tiny, rounded tummy.
"Can I?" He whispered, his hand poised at the ready.
"Sure" I smiled as his warm hand came to rest on my tummy. Despite knowing I'd been naked in front of this man this felt far more intimate. His large hand barely moved as he stroked his thumb across my skin. "I can't believe my baby is in there" He choked. His eyes had gone glassy as he stared down at my belly.
I just smiled, letting him have his moment.
After a second he retracted his hand, wiping at his eyes with his sleeve. "Wow. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me there" He shook his head before he turned to go back to his seat. I reached out to grab his arm.
"Don't. Stay" I pulled him back towards me and he smiled as he took my hand and stood by my shoulder.
"Ready?" Dr Robbins smiled feigning ignorance to the private moment Harry and I had just shared. She set to work with a tape measure measuring my bump before producing a small hand-held device with a probe attached. She had a familiar bottle of gel and squirted it on the end of the probe.
"Might be a little cold" She smiled as she pressed the probe against my stomach. She applied a little pressure and twisted the probe slightly and I subconsciously squeezed Harry's hand. He looked down and gave me a reassuring smile as Dr Robbins turned the volume up on her hand-held device and that familiar, heart-warming, life changing sound filled the room.
"Our own little choo-choo train" Harry grinned smiling down at me.
"Our one and only"