20. Physics

Tap, tap…tap, tap, tap.

Will's pencil tapped the paper in sync with the music's beat, a slight way to release the impatience. In front of him lay a complicated blueprint that had taken him two weeks to complete. It would have been ready for construction.

But that was before the meeting with his client earlier that day. He had been informed that they wanted to take on a sleeker look with the introduction of their latest product. So, it was back to the drawing boards.

He had hoped to salvage most of the design and, after a few preliminary sketches to show them where he thought they could take their new concept, he had managed to merge his old plans with the new concept.

It was now a matter of physics to get the two to flow seamlessly as a functional building.

"Will?" Elizabeth's head appeared around the doorway. "Supper's ready. You coming?"

"As soon as I finish this." He turned back to the page, pencil poised to make a correction.

"Will…" She stepped up behind him at his worktable and let her chin rest on his shoulder. "I thought you finished this one."

"Not yet. They want a new direction." Will located his straight edge and adjusted a line by a hair.

"Hmm."

Her chin remained on his shoulder as he made a few more minor lines.

"Couldn't the builders do this sort of thing?"

"Not unless they're going to be paid as the architect as well." He turned and flashed a grin at her.

"Oh, fine." She sighed melodramatically and moved to the door. "Five minutes?"

"Anything you want, baby."

She stiffened. A long pause filled the room before she asked timidly, "Will?"

"Yeah?" Will's mind was only half-listening, filled with calculations as he reviewed the proportions of a two story window.

"What would you think…if we were going to have a baby?"

"Fine, that's fine."

"Will…you're not listening."

"Mhmm." He nodded absently.

"Will."

He glanced up, a twisting feeling in his stomach informing him that he'd missed something important. Amending the situation and quickly seemed to be the proper course. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Did you need something?"

She smiled in the most peculiar way. "Yes. A nursery."

"Why would-" The puzzle pieces connected and the pencil dropped from his hands.

A radiant smile encompassed his face, all thoughts of physics lost to thoughts of a tiny, new life.