Chapter twenty
Lilly is sitting on the bed, holding her stomach and looking green. Rick is standing in the doorway of the bathroom and looking at her. He's finished getting dressed for work and is about to go downstairs for breakfast.
"Do you want some tea with honey?" he offers.
Lilly shakes her head.
"How about some plain toast?"
"Not yet. I might eat later on."
"Can I do anything?"
"No, honey, it's fine. You should get going, it's late," she smiles softly.
Rick straightens up his tie, walks over to Lilly and kisses her on the forehead.
"I'll pick up dinner tonight and then you and I can snuggle on the couch and watch a movie."
"Thanks, honey," she smiles softly again and waves as he leaves the room.
- - -
Grace shuffles into the kitchen and finds Eli pouring them both coffee. She sits down at the table and he walks over, hands her her coffee and kisses her on the forehead.
"'Morning," he murmurs as he sits down next to her.
Grace leans her head on his shoulder and yawns, "'morning."
Eli puts one arm around her shoulders and takes a sip of coffee with the other hand. Grace takes a sip of her coffee and yawns again.
"Do I snore that much?" Eli jokes and Grace giggles.
"No, no. I slept well, just not long enough I guess."
"Well, how does bacon and eggs, fresh juice and another coffee sound? And, I'll even take you to school," he offers and kisses her again on the forehead.
"You spoil me, bub."
"It's my job, babe," he smiles and gets up to start cooking.
Rick walks into the kitchen and pours himself a coffee.
Good morning," he beams.
Eli and Grace both wish Rick a good morning and he sits at the table to read the paper. Suddenly, Rick slaps the side of his leg and grumbles.
"E, I told Lilly that I would bring home dinner but I just realised that Mary and I will be working late. So, on your way home from work can you pick up dinner?"
Eli feels himself stiffen a little and Grace notices.
"Sure, Dad. After I pick up the girls we'll all go get dinner."
"Thanks, E," smiles Rick as he takes a sip of coffee and buries his head into the paper.
Before Eli can ask Rick what's so important that he has to work late, Zoey runs into the kitchen and bumps into him.
"Hey, hey, take it easy Zo," he laughs and ruffles her hair.
"Sorry, El, I'm just running late," she mumbles and blushes. She pours herself a juice and sits at the table.
Jessie walks into the kitchen and looks at Rick.
"Can't you hear Lilly? She's vomiting again."
Rick sighs and gets up from his seat. "Can one of you kids check up on her? I really have to go to work."
Eli looks at Rick and stiffens again. Grace quickly gets up and walks to the doorway. "I'll check up on her. Have a good day, Rick."
"Can you remind Mum to iron my shirt?" asks Zoey and Grace rolls her eyes.
"I think Mum has other stuff to worry about, Zoey," Grace tells her off and leaves the room to look after Lilly.
Zoey nods and grabs some eggs from the fry pan before Eli can slap her away.
"Hey Jess, I haven't seen Katie around lately. You two have a fight?"
Instead of answering she shrugs, grabs an apple and leaves the room. Eli makes a mental note to talk to her later.
Rick places his coffee mug on the counter, straightens his jacket and coughs.
"See you kids later. See you at the office, E. Don't be late!"
Eli does a mock salute and rolls his eyes. Rick walks out to the garage.
"Anyway, Zo, I'm leaving in twenty minutes so you better be ready," orders Eli and then he takes a bite of breakfast.
Zoey mimics Eli and does a mock salute. Eli can't help but laugh.
- - -
Eli is sitting at his desk sorting out the mail when Mary walks into the room carrying some papers.
"Eli, would you mind typing up these letters and sending them out ASAP?"
Eli looks up from his work and looks at Mary. Her red hair has been straightened and is hanging loosely down her back. Her black skirt and jacket clings tightly to her body and underneath is a low cut white t- shirt.
"No problem," he smiles and takes the papers from Mary and places them next to the computer.
Mary finds herself smiling back at Eli. "Thanks, you're a savior."
"Dad says you two are working late tonight. Anything special?"
"Oh, just refining the sketches for the Peterman project. Peterman's being a real dragon and needs everything by tomorrow."
"Wow, that's harsh. I know Dad's been stressing about it a lot."
"You're Dad is an amazing architect, Eli. He's really inspiring," she says and smiles warmly.
B/W Eli: It's like my Dad is her frigging hero. (rolls eyes)
"Yeah, he's pretty impressive and dedicated. His dedication is part of the reason why Lilly fell for him."
"How so?"
"He was dedicated in pursuing her," Eli smiles and laughs slowly.
Mary offers a short, small fake smile. "Well, thanks for your help. I better get back to work." She turns towards her office and then turns back to Eli. "Oh, and your father and I would like you to order in lunch. We'll be eating and working today. Thanks again," she offers a fake smile again and walks off.
B/W Eli: Would I choose a pregnant, nurturing woman over a skinny, ball- breaking red-head if I were Dad? (confused look)
- - -
Jessie and Grace are standing outside school waiting for Eli to pick them up. Katie is walking slowly towards them and Grace notices her and nudges Jessie. Jessie looks quickly over at Katie and whispers to Grace.
"I just remembered I left a book in my locker. I'll be back," she says and walks off quickly before Katie can reach her. So, instead she turns to Grace.
"Hey, Grace," she smiles softly but Grace can see the frown waiting to come out.
"Hey Katie, how've you been?"
"Ok I guess...busy with studying..." Katie looks down at her hands and sighs.
"I haven't seen you around lately. Everything ok?"
"Has Jessie said anything?" asks Katie, hopefully.
"No, but she seems depressed and she hardly goes out."
Katie sighs. "I miss her."
"I think she misses you too," Grace says trying to cheer Katie up.
"Well, can you tell her I'm here when she needs me?"
"Of course."
"Thanks Grace." Katie notices Jessie in the distance and Katie turns to walk away. "Take care."
"Bye Katie."
Katie walks off and Jessie catches up to Grace just as Eli arrives.
"She misses you, Jess."
"She'll get over it," Jessie replies as she gets into the car.
"I don't think so," Grace replies and then kisses Eli on the cheek.
Jessie hears Grace and Eli talking but ignores them and sighs.
Lilly is sitting on the bed, holding her stomach and looking green. Rick is standing in the doorway of the bathroom and looking at her. He's finished getting dressed for work and is about to go downstairs for breakfast.
"Do you want some tea with honey?" he offers.
Lilly shakes her head.
"How about some plain toast?"
"Not yet. I might eat later on."
"Can I do anything?"
"No, honey, it's fine. You should get going, it's late," she smiles softly.
Rick straightens up his tie, walks over to Lilly and kisses her on the forehead.
"I'll pick up dinner tonight and then you and I can snuggle on the couch and watch a movie."
"Thanks, honey," she smiles softly again and waves as he leaves the room.
- - -
Grace shuffles into the kitchen and finds Eli pouring them both coffee. She sits down at the table and he walks over, hands her her coffee and kisses her on the forehead.
"'Morning," he murmurs as he sits down next to her.
Grace leans her head on his shoulder and yawns, "'morning."
Eli puts one arm around her shoulders and takes a sip of coffee with the other hand. Grace takes a sip of her coffee and yawns again.
"Do I snore that much?" Eli jokes and Grace giggles.
"No, no. I slept well, just not long enough I guess."
"Well, how does bacon and eggs, fresh juice and another coffee sound? And, I'll even take you to school," he offers and kisses her again on the forehead.
"You spoil me, bub."
"It's my job, babe," he smiles and gets up to start cooking.
Rick walks into the kitchen and pours himself a coffee.
Good morning," he beams.
Eli and Grace both wish Rick a good morning and he sits at the table to read the paper. Suddenly, Rick slaps the side of his leg and grumbles.
"E, I told Lilly that I would bring home dinner but I just realised that Mary and I will be working late. So, on your way home from work can you pick up dinner?"
Eli feels himself stiffen a little and Grace notices.
"Sure, Dad. After I pick up the girls we'll all go get dinner."
"Thanks, E," smiles Rick as he takes a sip of coffee and buries his head into the paper.
Before Eli can ask Rick what's so important that he has to work late, Zoey runs into the kitchen and bumps into him.
"Hey, hey, take it easy Zo," he laughs and ruffles her hair.
"Sorry, El, I'm just running late," she mumbles and blushes. She pours herself a juice and sits at the table.
Jessie walks into the kitchen and looks at Rick.
"Can't you hear Lilly? She's vomiting again."
Rick sighs and gets up from his seat. "Can one of you kids check up on her? I really have to go to work."
Eli looks at Rick and stiffens again. Grace quickly gets up and walks to the doorway. "I'll check up on her. Have a good day, Rick."
"Can you remind Mum to iron my shirt?" asks Zoey and Grace rolls her eyes.
"I think Mum has other stuff to worry about, Zoey," Grace tells her off and leaves the room to look after Lilly.
Zoey nods and grabs some eggs from the fry pan before Eli can slap her away.
"Hey Jess, I haven't seen Katie around lately. You two have a fight?"
Instead of answering she shrugs, grabs an apple and leaves the room. Eli makes a mental note to talk to her later.
Rick places his coffee mug on the counter, straightens his jacket and coughs.
"See you kids later. See you at the office, E. Don't be late!"
Eli does a mock salute and rolls his eyes. Rick walks out to the garage.
"Anyway, Zo, I'm leaving in twenty minutes so you better be ready," orders Eli and then he takes a bite of breakfast.
Zoey mimics Eli and does a mock salute. Eli can't help but laugh.
- - -
Eli is sitting at his desk sorting out the mail when Mary walks into the room carrying some papers.
"Eli, would you mind typing up these letters and sending them out ASAP?"
Eli looks up from his work and looks at Mary. Her red hair has been straightened and is hanging loosely down her back. Her black skirt and jacket clings tightly to her body and underneath is a low cut white t- shirt.
"No problem," he smiles and takes the papers from Mary and places them next to the computer.
Mary finds herself smiling back at Eli. "Thanks, you're a savior."
"Dad says you two are working late tonight. Anything special?"
"Oh, just refining the sketches for the Peterman project. Peterman's being a real dragon and needs everything by tomorrow."
"Wow, that's harsh. I know Dad's been stressing about it a lot."
"You're Dad is an amazing architect, Eli. He's really inspiring," she says and smiles warmly.
B/W Eli: It's like my Dad is her frigging hero. (rolls eyes)
"Yeah, he's pretty impressive and dedicated. His dedication is part of the reason why Lilly fell for him."
"How so?"
"He was dedicated in pursuing her," Eli smiles and laughs slowly.
Mary offers a short, small fake smile. "Well, thanks for your help. I better get back to work." She turns towards her office and then turns back to Eli. "Oh, and your father and I would like you to order in lunch. We'll be eating and working today. Thanks again," she offers a fake smile again and walks off.
B/W Eli: Would I choose a pregnant, nurturing woman over a skinny, ball- breaking red-head if I were Dad? (confused look)
- - -
Jessie and Grace are standing outside school waiting for Eli to pick them up. Katie is walking slowly towards them and Grace notices her and nudges Jessie. Jessie looks quickly over at Katie and whispers to Grace.
"I just remembered I left a book in my locker. I'll be back," she says and walks off quickly before Katie can reach her. So, instead she turns to Grace.
"Hey, Grace," she smiles softly but Grace can see the frown waiting to come out.
"Hey Katie, how've you been?"
"Ok I guess...busy with studying..." Katie looks down at her hands and sighs.
"I haven't seen you around lately. Everything ok?"
"Has Jessie said anything?" asks Katie, hopefully.
"No, but she seems depressed and she hardly goes out."
Katie sighs. "I miss her."
"I think she misses you too," Grace says trying to cheer Katie up.
"Well, can you tell her I'm here when she needs me?"
"Of course."
"Thanks Grace." Katie notices Jessie in the distance and Katie turns to walk away. "Take care."
"Bye Katie."
Katie walks off and Jessie catches up to Grace just as Eli arrives.
"She misses you, Jess."
"She'll get over it," Jessie replies as she gets into the car.
"I don't think so," Grace replies and then kisses Eli on the cheek.
Jessie hears Grace and Eli talking but ignores them and sighs.
