Will and Emily agree to try to meet during the workweek to try and preserve the limited time JJ gets at home, although they all agree on Emily visiting all three of them (Henry included) at least once on the weekends or when their schedules permit.
Emily takes off work early on Tuesday evening to attend an OB appointment before her prenatal yoga class. It's a smooth visit. Dr. Novak tells her that her triple screen was fine, and that while she can choose to undergo an amnio to be safe, there's no strong indication for it when weighed against the small risk of miscarriage. Emily agrees that it isn't an option she wants to pursue, so they schedule her in for her next ultrasound in a month. Dr. Novak also advises her that this is the point in the pregnancy where she should be looking into researching making a plan for the birth, registering for classes to prepare, and getting her home ready.
With a start, Emily realizes there's only 25 weeks left until she's due. She thinks of those plans, of the birth and a house to come home to, imagines Will in it. It feels ridiculous, too soon. She spends the yoga class thinking about this, not really able to clear her mind. She's known both of them for years, was there before Henry was even born. It's not difficult at all to imagine.
On Wednesday night, after a day at work that Emily's convinced drew on entirely too long, she and Will meet for their first official date. They meet up at the restaurant Will had chosen (after consulting with JJ, who had pretty much told him where to go.) Before they head in, Emily catches Will staring at the tiny bump that has developed underneath her dress seemingly overnight.
She smiles her brilliant smile at him, tells him that it's okay to touch. He gently cradles her abdomen with both his hands, face lighting up. She notices he's not wearing his ring. Seeing her gaze, Will nods at her unasked question. "We thought it would be easier if I wore it around my neck for now. No unwelcomed questions from strangers or the impression of impropriety."
Emily laughs as they walk in. "We wouldn't want to be improper, would we?"
After they get seated and really get into their conversation, it's so easy. This isn't a complete stranger; it's her best friend's husband, her own friend. Emily had come to the date expecting conflicting emotions, wondering if she'd feel guilty when they chatted about JJ, if things would be irreparably awkward once they acknowledged that he is a man with a wife. Emily isn't deluding herself, she knows that guilt and jealousy will occur one day, but the rest of it is just painfully easy. Good.
She's happier around Will than she's been in a long time. The respect he treats her with puts her finally at ease, able to let her guard down, to trust him. He is kind, gentle, everything which she'd never truly imagined for herself.
Will thinks of his call to JJ earlier that evening. She'd wished him luck, told him not to be too nervous, told him that she loves him and knew he loves her and that no amount of love he felt for another woman would ever lessen that. "Try to make peace with it," she'd said.
Peace, Will thinks, as he touches her tiny little baby bump and imagines that the child inside could one day be his.
They leave on a good note, having both enjoyed the night greatly. Will walks her back to her car again, stops her in front of the door, gently kisses her cheek. Emily almost can't stop smiling as she drives home.
If they're going about making a family the wrong way, it doesn't yet feel wrong.