Missing You- Part 14

Oh so precious and lovely you are

Cherished as only you are

Not born but already

Changing our world

Miracle, The Corrs

Lizzie went home a few days later, taking with her Archie's letter and photograph for Katrina. Lexie knew about it but had declined when Archie had asked if she'd wanted to read it. The two were feeling a lot closer the further she went into the pregnancy, and between Archie, the other residents of Glenbogle and Juliya, Lexie was surrounded by all the love and support she could ever really wish for.

The party for Martha was coming up very fast and for some of the time it was actually refreshing for Lexie not to feel like she was the centre of everyone's attention. She had regular visits to the village doctor and was delighted to know that everything was progressing fine.

There was one thing that caught both Lexie and Archie completely off guard however, and it was the sudden departure of Juliya and her husband Aaron. One day when Lexie was out on her weekly walk with her friend she finally spilled the news that Aaron had gotten a job in Glasgow and that they were moving to the city to be closer to his family.

Lexie was so taken aback that she was actually speechless for a few seconds. Juliya looked at her anxiously, hoping that she wouldn't take it too badly.

" Do you have to go?" She finally managed to ask

" We do I'm afraid" Juliya replied, "It'll probably be easier all around to have Aaron's family around. And it means that I can go back to work when Lochlan gets older."

" Lochlan?" Lexie echoed, " You know the sex?"

" Aye" Juliya smiled, "We only found out yesterday and we were up half the night choosing a suitable name."

" Oh Juliya that's great!" Lexie smiled, leaning over to hug her friend, their pregnant bellies meaning that they couldn't actually get that close.

" Have you picked any names yet?" Juliya asked Lexie as they settled back on the moss-covered rocks where they always came to relax

" Us? No" Lexie mused, "I think we'll wait 'till we see what the little one looks like."

" Fair enough" Juliya smiled, then to Lexie's surprise started to cry

" What's wrong?" Lexie asked immediately, worried that something was wrong with Lochlan

" Oh Lex, You'll come and visit us if you're ever down in Glasgow won't you? You've become such a good friend to me in these last few months."

" Of course!" Lexie reassured, "Archie couldn't keep me away!"

Juliya smiled through her tears and let Lexie help her dry the few stray tears that ran down her cheeks.

" Thanks Lex. You'll keep me up to date with all your baby news won't you?"

" Try and stop me" Lexie grinned, " You'll be getting so many pictures and stories through the mail that you'll be begging me to stop."

Juliya laughed at the thought

" I'll expect one thing in return" Lexie added

" What?" Juliya asked hesitantly

" That you do exactly the same for me."

" Deal" Juliya answered, sticking out her right hand to embrace Lexie's in a firm, yet emotional handshake.

Part 15 Final

It was a sad day when Archie accompanied his wife to farewell Juliya and Aaron.

They had had them over to the big house for a send-off dinner, but the reality that they were actually going away for good didn't truly sink in until that morning when Archie and Lexie stood waving in the main street of the village, standing outside Juliya's newly vacated house as the car containing there friends vanished into the horizon.

It was only after she had gone that Archie truly realised how much Lexie and Juliya had helped each other. Still he did his best to keep his wife occupied, and made time to go for walks and do some of the things he knew she that had once shared with her friend. It wasn't the same but Lexie appreciated the trouble that he was going to to make her feel better.

Lexie planned to keep to her promise, and made sure that she kept in touch with her friend via letters and photographs, never once letting the thought cross her mind of whether Katrina had received Archie's letter.

Archie on the other hand knew that she had. Lizzie had called him not long after she had gotten home to confirm that Katrina would be coming to Martha's birthday, which was in addition confirmed by a letter directly from Katrina, also including the fact that she would be bringing her boyfriend Sean.

The fact that Katrina had a boyfriend didn't affect him as much as he thought it might have, and of this fact he was proud. He knew that he was very much in love with his wife and unborn child, and for once he was finally feeling like the ghost of his past girlfriend was slowly ceasing to haunt his current life.

Still it would be the true test when both Lizzie and Martha, and Katrina and Sean arrived the day before the party. All Archie could say was that Glenbogle would definitely not be boring for at least a few months.

I got the message long before you said you knew
There was no chance of us at all
With no velocity an empty heading hard and far too long
I spent two years alone with you
Just when I thought I had forgotten
You came back soft without a sound.

- 'My Favourite Accident', Motion City Soundtrack