Nicola Taylor As I mixed the batter for my chunky chewy chocolate cookies, the intoxicating aroma of chocolate wafted through the kitchen, making my stomach grumble in anticipation. I could already picture Cole's reaction, his eyes lighting up as he took his first bite. Baking had become a therape
Nicola Taylor As I hurried into the classroom, hating that I was late. Cole was in London for this week on a business trip so I had to take Arabella to school every day this week. I guess I suck at time management because I’ve been late two days in a row this week. Mr. Paterson’s eyes lit up wit
I shot him a withering look. “Expand my horizons, you say? Look, I’d rather eat burnt toast for the rest of my life than join you at one of your extravagant parties. Hell would freeze over before you’d actually get what you are trying to get from me.” His face flushed slightly, but he tried to keep
Nicola Taylor Sitting in my car, I stared blankly at the steering wheel, my hands gripping it tightly as I tried to steady myself. My breath was shaky, and my chest felt like it was constricting, each inhale a little harder to manage than the last. Tears brimmed in my eyes, threatening to spill ov
Isabella’s expression shifted immediately. The usual lightness in her eyes was replaced by a serious, almost guarded look as she leaned in closer, hanging on to every word. “What did he say?” she asked, her voice low and steady, though I could hear the concern creeping in. I took a deep breath, “H
Nicola Taylor I stormed into the house, my mind filled with thoughts I couldn’t fully grasp. The anger that had built up inside me over the day was just waiting to spill over, but it was held at bay the moment I heard the sound of tiny footsteps rushing toward me. Arabella’s joyful giggles filled
I looked at her, feeling a lump in my throat. “But I’ve been the nice, understanding wife for so long. I’ve tried so hard to be patient with him. What more can I do?” Mrs. Kinsley’s gaze softened, but her words were as sharp as ever. “You’ve been nice for long enough, darling. Now it’s time to remi
Nicola Taylor I was smoothing out the wrinkles in the duvet, trying to make the bed look as perfect as possible, when I heard the door creak open. My heart tightened as I glanced up, my hands still busy, and saw Cole standing there, freshly showered, his hair slightly damp, his eyes searching mine.
"Are you excited for Aaron's party?” I asked, brushing through her locks as she watched me through the mirror.She nodded, swinging her legs happily. “Yes! But I have to take care of everyone. Because Aaron’s just a baby, and I’m the big sister,” she said, very seriously.An hour later, we were fina
Nicola Taylor“No, no, Cole, let go of me now!” I groaned, half-heartedly trying to wriggle out from under him. His weight was pressed against me, his warm, muscled arms keeping me pinned to the bed. Despite my protests, I couldn't stop a smile from sneaking onto my face.“Baby, sleep. It’s fine,” h
He blinked, looking a bit taken aback. “Of course. What did you have in mind? Movie marathon or something?”I forced a small smile, working to keep the nerves out of my voice. “No…like a date.”His brow quirked with interest, but he nodded, loosening his tie and hanging it on the back of a chair. “A
Nicola TaylorThe past few months had been tough, but I’d finally turned a corner. The nausea was gone, and I was starting to glow. People said I looked radiant, my hair had this newfound shine, and my skin had that pregnancy flush everyone raved about. But beneath it all, I was struggling. The wors
When I returned to the room, she was still curled up, her eyes closed but her breathing uneven. I knew she was only half-asleep, fighting the nausea that had been plaguing her all evening.“Tea’s here,” I murmured softly, sitting beside her and holding the warm cup close to her face, letting her inh
Cole HarringtonAs I held Nicola's hair back, feeling the warmth of her trembling shoulders as she cried and heaved in turns, my heart ached for her. She leaned into my chest as if she couldn’t keep herself up anymore, her face flushed and exhausted. I’d never seen her look so vulnerable, and it only made me want to shield her more.“Nicola, just tell me when you’re done, okay?” I murmured, trying to soothe her as best as I could. "I'll carry you to bed, and you can rest a little or sleep for a few hours.”Her face twisted in a mix of frustration and exhaustion. "I’m covered in puke, Cole… this is so gross,” she choked out, tears spilling over as she buried her face in her hands.I smoothed her hair and smiled, trying to keep her calm. “Hey, hey… do you want to shower first? I can run a nice hot bath for you.” She looked up at me, a fragile, helpless nod, her eyes puffy and red. It was like looking at a child who'd been through too much.I kept a hand on her back as I stood and turned
He nodded, his gaze meeting mine. “Alright. Last time… with Arabella, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt too young, unprepared, like I was in over my head. But now, even though this wasn’t planned, I feel more grounded. It’s just… I don’t want to make the same mistakes again,
Nicola TaylorThe quiet hum of the doctor’s office felt oddly comforting as I sat beside Cole, my fingers tapping against my knee. He didn’t say much, just held my hand, calm and steady in that way he always was when he was holding back. Part of me had expected more—something like shock or excitement—but his silence left me feeling exposed, like I’d hoped too much.After what felt like hours, the doctor finally walked in, her warm smile dissolving the tension a bit. “Congratulations,” she said, her tone cheerful yet professional. “You’re officially pregnant, Mrs. Harrington.”The words sank in, spreading a comforting warmth through me. I looked at Cole, waiting for something to flash across his face, some signal that he was thrilled or, at the very least, surprised. But instead, his eyes softened, and he smiled—not wide, not exactly happy, but something between relief and satisfaction. He squeezed my hand, a reassuring gesture, and nodded at me.“This is great news, isn’t it?” I said,
Cole HarringtonAs Nicola’s words sank in, I just stared, unable to process everything. She was sitting there, looking fragile in a way that broke my heart, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I think I might be pregnant, Cole," she managed, her voice trembling. "I haven’t taken a test, but I’m ten days late." She was holding back tears, bracing herself for my reaction.My silence must have been deafening because I saw her shoulders tense even more. I swallowed, pushing down my own whirlwind of emotions to focus on her, only her. I didn’t know what to say at that moment, but seeing her so scared, so vulnerable, made me realize that this was far more difficult for her than it was for me. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to sound calm. “Hey,” I murmured, pulling her closer, rubbing her back gently as I held her. "Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. I’m here, okay? You’re not alone in this." She buried her face against my shoulder, and I felt her release a shaky breath. It made me w