His Change of Heart: Unexpected Pregnancy Romance Read online

  After, she racked her brain, going over every last details of the last days and weeks, looking for clues that might have told her that something was wrong, she but she came up with nothing. There hadn’t been any real arguments between them. And if she remembered, they had seen each other everyday during the last weeks, which was a record for them because of their busy schedules. Will had made certain he was there for her. And when she had asked him about the amount of time he was taking off work to spend with her, he had told her not to worry, that he had delegated some of the less important contracts and litigations to two of the other lawyers at the firm because he wanted to be with her.

  They had been standing in the kitchen, and he had wrapped his arms around her, kissing her passionately. She had been so impressed that he was making time for her. She certainly hadn’t thought anything about it when he had picked her up from work every day last week and the week before that. He would call and tell her he was on his way to get her. Then he would drive to an upscale restaurant where they would have drinks and then an intimate dinner. And there were the times in the last week when she had come home and had found him cooking dinner for her. He had met her at the door with a glass of red wine in hand. Then he had ran her a hot bath for her, and massaged her tired feet after, with a special scented lotion he had purchased at an organic shop in Soho.

  He had also spent every night at her place, even when he had to go to court early the next morning. She had found it a bit surprising at first because they usually alternate their time between his place and hers, but she hadn’t actually given it a second thought. She was just happy that he was there with her. And they were enjoying each other’s company. He had been extremely attentive to her too, hardly ever leaving her for long periods of time. Even business calls which used to take an hour or two to get through were done in thirty, forty minutes max.

  And they had done the usual things together. Will had never let on that he was planning to break up with her and move hundred of miles away. No wonder he had wanted to make love to her every night he was over. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her. God! He was having break up sex with her, and she didn’t even know it. She hadn’t thought anything about his insatiable sexual appetite because they were so sexually compatible. They made love almost every time they were together and enjoyed it. Their love life had never been a problem, neither had it been boring or forced. There were times when Will would kiss and fondle her and they would end up having sex right then and there—whether on the kitchen floor, on the rug in the living room in front of the fireplace, in the shower, or in the Jacuzzi at his place.

  And thinking about their times together made Avery missed him even more. She squeezed her eyes shut to block out the still fresh memories, as she struggled back to the bathroom. She switched on the bright light, and was greeted by the strong whiff of the organic shampoo Will used, and the after scent of his cologne. And she burst into tears again.

  It only reminded her that he won’t be coming around anymore—washing his hair in the shower the mornings he slept over at her place, or splashing cologne on his naked body with her watching him. She leaned heavily on the door and closed her eyes. Then she went and splashed cold water all over her flushed face. After, she peered at herself in the large mirror, and the face looking back at her didn’t seem like hers. Her face was tear-stained. She looked awful—beaten up and sad. She couldn’t believe her appearance had changed so drastically in a matter of hours. She also couldn’t remember the last time she had been this miserable or she had cried this much.

  And the time she had lost her parents didn’t count, because she had been too young to grasp the enormity of what it was to lose someone you loved. She had grieved her parents the best way she knew how—the way any twelve year old would. But what she was feeling now was nothing compared to back then. It wasn’t the same thing. She was experiencing full blown misery. She was still in love with Will, and her heart wasn’t ready to let go of what she was feeling for him.

  She decided to run a bubble bath. A good soak in the tub for an hour or so would probably do her a world of good. But as she stood over the tub, her hands resting on the faucets, Avery realized that getting into the large tub only reminded her of the times she had spent there with him. They had taken dozens if not hundreds of baths there together, splashing around and giggling like kids, washing each other’s bodies and hair, sipping champagne, singing along happily to whatever song was coming from the stereo in the bedroom through the opened door, and making love when they felt like it.

  Avery shook her head absently and decided to take a quick shower instead. She turned on the water at full blast and stepped inside. She stood under the hot steady flow of water for a while without doing anything. She didn’t feel she had the strength to lift her arms to reach for the pouf. She just stood there and let the water pummel her tired body. Then she began to sob. The tears just kept coming and she made no attempt to stop them. She wasn’t certain she could, even if she wanted to.

  She felt so drained, both emotionally and physically. Her body felt as if it had literally taken a physical beating, like she had been through the wringer. And she felt like crawling up somewhere and staying there forever, but that clearly wasn’t a practical option or even a solution for her right now. Life went on, including hers, whether she liked it or not. The world as she knew it wasn’t about to come to an end because her relationship was in tatters.

  The phone was ringing when she stepped out of the shower and she decided to ignore it. She knew it wasn’t Jules, because she was on her way over. She grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped her wet hair in it. Then slipped into her robe and reached for the hairdryer to blow dry her hair. The phone ran again soon after, and she still didn’t move to answer it. It could be Will again for all she knew. She glanced at the clock. Jules would be here in ten minutes. She wanted to be dressed and ready, then. And if it was Will calling her, she didn’t want to talk to him. She had absolutely nothing to say to him. He was probably calling to check up on her for all she knew. And she would die if she heard pity in his voice, asking if she was okay in a way you would a wounded puppy or a child who had fallen and bruised her knee.

  The phone rang again, and she picked it up out of frustration. She realized that if she didn’t, it would just keep ringing. And the constant shrilling was annoying the hell out of her. If it was Will on the other line, she would just hang up on him. He hated when she did that to him, but at least he would get the message. She reached for the phone and said a quick hello, and was relieved when she heard Kat’s voice on the other end.

  Katherine Wilson or Kat for short was a close friend of hers. Technically, she was also a friend of Will’s. Kat’s fiancé and soon to be husband, Josh Warner was Will’s best friend. Will and Josh had been best friends since they were kids. They had grown up together on the same street in Long Island, and had gone to the same private school and college, and then onto Harvard. Josh was an investment banker on Wall Street.

  Avery had met Kat when Will had introduced them one afternoon at lunch right after they had started dating. She considered Kat to be one of her best friends, and hoped they would still remain on good terms despite Will not being in her life anymore. Kat was a buyer for one of the major fashion houses in New York. And she was very good at her job. After Will had left them that day, Kat had confided in her that Will wasn’t that forthcoming with the women he dated.

  “You are the first woman Will had actually taken the time to introduce us to,” Kat had told her with a huge grin.

  “Yeah, and why is that?”

  “He’s a very private person. Usually we would either hear about the woman he was seeing at the time when he was photographed with her in public, or through mutual friends of ours who had ran into him with said woman. Will is extremely secretive about his personal life, and especially about the women in his life,” Kat had whispered to her.

  “Well, he must be, because he never discusses his past relationshi
ps.”

  “You must have a very positive effect on Will for him to have arranged for us to meet you this soon. And with Will’s good looks, family connection and money, women are forever throwing themselves at him. Plus Will himself has the attractiveness and charm to attract a bevy of women.”

  “There is no denying that he does.”

  Then Avery had smiled coyly at Kat, and told her in the sweetest voice, not to worry, that she wasn’t one of those women. There was much more to her relationship with Will than any of the things she had mentioned. Plus she was one who took great pleasure in making her own money and paying her way. She most definitely didn’t need Will carrying her. Then, she had told Kat in no uncertain terms that she was with Will because she had fallen in love with the person he was, not because of his name and what he was worth.

  And she had meant every word of it. She had fallen in love with Will even before she knew about his life and his family connections. And yes, she had heard bits and pieces about him from the other teachers at the college, but that was before she had gotten to know him the way she did, including intimately. There was definitely more to Will than his good looks, charm and wealth. She had fallen for his other redeeming qualities—his honesty, fairness, dignity and modesty. In fact, with his bank accounts and notoriety out of the equation, she knew she still would have loved him. And she did love him, deeply.

  “Oh, hi, Kat,” she said wearily into the phone.

  It wasn’t like Kat to call her this time on a weekend morning. By her own admission, Kat said she didn’t get out of bed until well passed noon, or even later. She had probably heard about the break up from Will and was calling for details and to console her. She didn’t need Will’s friends to chose sides. In fact, she would feel better if they didn’t. Will was extremely private about his life, and she was surprised that he had actually said something to Kat and Josh.

  They hadn’t broken up that long, mere hours, in fact, and he was already out there advertising it to his friends. Again, not the man she thought she knew. To think of it, Kat and Josh probably knew all along that Will was planning to break up with her. She honestly didn’t know what to think or believe anymore. And she wasn’t in the mood to rehash any of it, and certainly not with Kat, no matter how close they were. It would have to wait for another time, when she was up to talking. Right now she just wanted to be left alone, to wallow in self pity, and deal with what she was going through.

  “Ave, are you okay?”

  “Yeah, why?” she asked, dreading the inevitable answer.

  “You don’t sound well. Are you sure everything is fine? I’m not calling at a bad time, am I?” Kat giggled sheepishly.

  A “bad time” for Kat meant only one thing—that she was in bed with Will and she was interrupting their lovemaking. So, Will hadn’t said anything to Josh and Kat. She wondered why. He probably hadn’t gotten around to it, at least not yet. Or he had decided not to tell them. But, eventually they would figure it out.

  “No, no, I just stepped out from the shower.” She was glad that she didn’t have to explain anything to Kat.

  “Good. So, are we on for lunch at Le Penuche? I’m calling everyone to make certain they arrive on time, and we don’t have to wait for anyone, you know with it’s like, being the weekend and all.”

  “Oh, no, Kat! I’m so sorry. I totally forgot about it.”

  She didn’t forget, but she wasn’t going to tell Kat the real reason she didn’t want to meet with her and the other girls. And the thought of sitting through lunch with a group of young women, hearing them brag about their perfect relationships wasn’t exactly on her agenda right now. She didn’t think she would be able to hold up without running from the room in tears. And since she wasn’t exactly up to telling them about what had happened with Will, she thought it was better if she backed out of this one and spend the day alone, drowning her sorrows in a bottle of wine with Jules. At least Jules didn’t know any of the girls.

  “What do you mean you forgot? We planned this weeks if not months ago. You never forget anything, Ave. What am I suppose to tell the other girls? You are the only one who wouldn’t be there.”

  “Tell them I’m so sorry,” Avery said in an apologetic voice.

  Kat was taking her bridesmaids to lunch, and then onto the spa for the full treatment—facials, manicures, pedicures, body massages. She felt it was necessary that everyone spent the time together before she took the final walk down the aisle. She hated having to cancel on Kat and the other girls, but she was dealing with a broken heart here—something much, much bigger than Kat’s bruised ego.

  “I really wish I could come, I really do, but today really isn’t such a good time for me. I will make it up to you, Kat, I swear. Can we do something next week, lunch, maybe?”

  “Sure. I can’t believe you won’t be there with us, Ave. I was really counting on you showing up. You are my maid of honor. It wouldn’t feel right or the same without you. Are you sure you are okay? You sound funny. Is Will there with you? Is there something going on between you two?”

  “Goodness, no,” Avery lied, ignoring Kat’s other questions. “I think I’m coming down with something. Some of the students were off sick with the flu this week. I think I’m getting what they had.”

  She managed to get in a few coughs and sniffles for effect. She hated the bold faced lie, but she had to come up with something plausible to convince Kat that the only reason she was missing lunch and the spa was because she had suddenly taken ill. And knowing Kat, she wouldn’t have taken it any other way.

  If Kat knew the real reason she was backing out, she would probably jump in her car, and be over here in no time. Kat would literally drag her out of the house.

  “In that case, you get a free pass. Stay in bed. I can’t risk getting sick this close to my wedding.” Kat actually sounded terrified. “I want to enjoy my honeymoon.”

  “I’m already in bed.”

  “With Will, I hope. He can afford to get what you have, but I can’t. Let him take care of you. Ask him to get you some chicken soup. There’s a great place on Fifth Avenue—I’ll call them right now and place an order for you. They deliver, and their food is strictly organic and vegan.”

  “Oh, Kat, you don’t have to do that. I can’t eat anything, not right now.”

  “Fine, Make certain you drink lots of fluid, then, maybe some ginger ale. You have that there, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I have a couple bottles in the pantry somewhere,” Avery lied, dreading Kat would offer to bring her some. “I’ll call you soon, Kat. Enjoy lunch with the girls and apologize for me. We will do something before the wedding. I promise.”

  “Get some rest, Ave. I will call you later to see how you are feeling. Get better soon.”

  “I will. Bye, Kat.”

  Avery hanged up before Kat could get in another word, or ask to speak with Will. She didn’t want Kat to know that Will wasn’t there with her, or that she had lied her head off to save face and to get out of meeting with them.

  She sighed and sat on the bed, gazing blindly at the phone. Thank goodness she had brought up that part about her being sick. Kat never would have let her off the hook that easily if she had known the truth. She loved Kat to death, but at times she could be a bit overbearing. And she wasn’t up to doing battle with her at the moment. She most definitely wasn’t in the fighting mood. She didn’t have an ounce of fighting power left in her.

  The phone rang again, and Avery screamed in frustration. She got up off the bed, went over and unplugged the extension from the socket. Then she went into the kitchen and turned off the ringer on the phone there. She heard the buzzer soon after, and went to buzz Jules in. At least she would be in for a few good laughs, even if it was for a couple hours. It would give her something else to think about, for now.

  Eight

  Will was waiting in the foyer of her apartment building when Avery got home from work on Wednesday evening. She saw him through the large glass windows as soo
n as she turned onto her street. He was close to the elevators, leaning casually on the wall, gazing impatiently at the front doors, as if he expected to see her walking through them any minute.

  Avery was surprised to find him there, and even more surprised that he wasn’t wearing a suit—which could mean only one thing—he hadn’t been in to work today. It was strange seeing him without his usual suit and tie on a work week, because he always wore one. He was casually dressed in a gray cashmere sweater, black cotton pants and a light Burberry jacket, instead.

  And Avery couldn’t help staring at him, and neither could she prevent the wild fluttering in her chest as she continued to gaze at him. She was glad that he wasn’t standing close to her to see the longing or the pain in her probing eyes. At that second, she thought of turning around and walking back to the coffee shop up the street and staying there until she was certain he was gone.

  It seemed very tempting, but it was late, and she was tired. She just wanted to go home and get into bed with a hot cup of tea. And she wasn’t going to let Will keep her away. Besides, he had already seen her. He had spotted her while she had been standing there considering her options. She hadn’t seen him come to the large windows, but he was standing there now, staring out at her with a puzzled look on his face, maybe wondering why she wasn’t coming inside.