Once they had finished their desserts and made their way to the door, Mrs. Pam marched inside.
"There you two are! I been looking for you – I tried to find your house, but you know I ain't been there yet."
"I promise we'll invite everyone over soon," Grace reassured her with a smile.
Mrs. Pam waved her hand. "Don't you worry about that. Besides, I got somethin' for you."
She handed her a plastic grocery bag with a casserole dish inside. "I wanted to make sure the two of you is eatin' enough."
"Ma, I'm sure there's a kitchen in that house of theirs," Louis told her as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Hush," she reprimanded. She then planted her hands on her hips. "And I have a visitor for you."
She then gestured behind her - only to furrow her eyebrows. She opened her mouth when Lyra came inside.
"Sorry! I got a little lost."
Her eyes then roamed the space. "And if you guys are finished, we should probably head outside."
The baby, who snuggled in a carrier on her chest, started to whine. Lyra softly kissed her little girl's head.
"Mommy's coming, Sorin. Just a little bit longer, okay?"
"We really should head outside so we don't cause a stir," Jeannie offered. She then pushed open the door, and they all followed her onto the sidewalk.
Louis then nodded toward his mom. "We'll head over to the diner. Make sure everything is ready for tomorrow."
Mrs. Pam wagged her finger at them. "Your brother and Rikki is doing some wedding plannin'. You make sure you two help them."
Louis rolled his eyes before Jeannie elbowed his side. He winced while Mrs. Pam shook her head.
She then shooed them down the sidewalk. "Gracie needs to catch up with her friend, and we all need to get goin' anyway."
Waves and goodbyes ensued before Louis and Jeannie headed toward the diner. Mrs. Pam pulled Grace in for a hug before she lowered her voice.
"I put somethin' extra in the bag just for you's. Some prenatal vitamins for the little one."
When they pulled back, the older woman offered a smile. Grace couldn't help but return it.
She waved before she caught up with her son and daughter-in-law.
Liam's phone then rang. He grabbed it and glanced at the caller ID. "It's work – I gotta take it."
Grace nodded before he stepped to the side. With a wide smile, she then turned her attention to her friend.
"I'm so happy to see you! I feel like it's been ages!"
Lyra returned her smile. "Since this sweet girl was born." She then placed a sweet kiss on her baby's head.
She started to whine once again, just as Liam joined them. He tilted his head.
"Is Sorin okay?"
Lyra nodded. "She's just hungry. I need to stop and give her a bottle."
With a nod, Liam then offered, "Then you and Grace can head to our house," earning a confused expression from his wife.
He ran his hand along her back. "There's a problem with some of the furniture going out. New guy cut something the wrong size – I've got to fix it."
His blue-green eyes then filled with worry as he started rubbing circles into her back.
She squeezed his hand. "Go, and take the car. Do what you have to do – I'll be fine." She then smiled at Lyra. "Besides, we have some catching up to do."
Lyra returned her friend's smile. Liam and Grace then shared a kiss before he turned and headed on his way.
The red-head turned back toward her friend. "Let's get you and this precious girl settled."
Lyra nodded before she and Grace continued down the sidewalk. She then let out a chuckle.
"I was on my way to your house when I dropped Sorin's diaper bag. Mrs. Pam helped me, and we soon discovered we were looking for the same people. And well, that was all it took."
Grace couldn't help but giggle. "She adopted you right then, and then she decided that since you guys couldn't quite find the house, you'd find us instead."
With another chuckle, Lyra confirmed, "That's the gist of it – she's definitely one of a kind." A smile then made its way across her face.
"And she's also incredibly warm and caring. I'm so happy I got to meet her."
The corners of Grace's mouth quirked upwards. It quickly faded as a wave of dizziness hit her.
She came to a stop and closed her eyes. She breathed in and out slowly.
Lyra reached out and touched her shoulder. "Grace, are you okay?"
She nodded as she opened her eyes. She then waved her hands. "Of course – I'm fine. Just, uh, needed to stop for a second."
Lyra furrowed her eyebrows. "As long as you're sure. You're really okay?"
Grace nodded once again. She then gestured in front of them. "The house is just past that crosswalk. It's nestled on the corner."
Lyra followed her movement. She then ran her fingers through her caramel hair.
"I honestly don't know how I missed it."
The pair continued walking as Grace explained, "Well, for starters, we're in New York City, so it's easy to get lost. And the house is a little obscure – it sits way back from the sidewalk and streets, and it's covered in moss. Not to mention the fence, and the big tree in the back."
Lyra burst out laughing, eliciting a confused expression from her friend. When she sobered, she linked her arm through Grace's.
"It was mostly rhetorical, but I appreciate you answering."
Grace shook her head as they came upon the crosswalk. She pressed the button.
As they waited for the "walk" symbol, she surmised, "Oh, I wanted to ask how the photography business is going. I know you had to take some time off after Sorin was born."
Lyra pushed her hair behind her ear. "I just started back a few weeks ago, and I've already been incredibly busy. But Nolan's been amazing."
She then smiled and added, "Of course, he always is. He has been since the moment I met him."
Grace smiled. "You two really are perfect together. And this sweet girl…" She paused as she lightly brushed Sorin's arm, "is a beautiful reminder of that love."
Her hand then wandered down to her stomach. She shook her head as they came upon the house.
"Oh, Grace, it's a beautiful house. I wish I could have seen it sooner."
She couldn't help but smile. "Well, you're here, now. And I'm so glad you are."
The red-head then unlocked the door before they walked inside. Grace directed Lyra toward the living room before she headed into the kitchen.
Once she put up the casserole – as well as the vitamins – she joined her friend. When she settled on the couch, Lyra finished preparing a bottle.
As she settled the baby in her lap and began feeding her, Grace looked on with a smile. "She looks just like you."
The corners of Lyra's mouth quirked upwards. "Almost – she has her daddy's smile."
Grace tilted her head. "You know what? I can see it." She then giggled, and Lyra soon joined her.
When they stopped, Grace rested her chin in her hand. "It almost seems like yesterday that we were freshmen trying to find our way around campus. I think we got lost a few times. Or several."
"It's no wonder we got lost between 171 buildings and 22 dorms. And we couldn't exactly help each other since our schedules were so different."
With a sigh, Grace recalled, "I remember being so homesick those first months. I missed my parents, my family and friends, Liam – it was hard."
"I know," Lyra sympathized as she offered a caring look. She then told her, "But look at us now – I'm pretty sure we could commute between the Upper East Side and the Village with our eyes closed."
Grace chuckled. Her eyes then focused on Sorin. "And you doing it with a baby in your arms." Her eyes glazed over as she continued to stare at the baby girl.
Her head snapped up, startling her from her reverie. "There's that look again, Grace."
She feigned confusion. "What look? What are you talking about?"
Lyra shot her a knowing look. "Something is up with you. I'm not entirely sure what, but I know it's worrying you."
Grace pondered before she shrugged. "It's just that Liam and I are still newlyweds, and there's still a few growing pains."
Lyra narrowed her eyes. Before she could form a response, Sorin wiggled in her arms. She picked up her baby's bottle.
"Look at you! All finished! Ready to be burped?"
Sorin gurgled. Lyra giggled before she said, "I'll take that as a yes." She placed the bottle aside and reached for a burp cloth.
She readjusted her little girl and gently patted her back. She soon burped.
"There you go, my sweet girl."
She placed Sorin back in her lap and grabbed a toy from the diaper bag. The baby squealed happily as she reached for it and began to play.
Lyra's phone then rang. She grabbed it from her pocket and said, "This is one of my upcoming sessions. I better take it."
Grace nodded before Sorin reached for the phone. Lyra moved it from her grasp - and told her "no, no" - but it was no avail.
Lyra sighed. Grace then offered, "Here, I'll take her while you talk."
A grateful smile crossed her features. "Oh, thank you! I appreciate it." She then leaned down next to Sorin.
"Auntie Grace is going to hold you for a few minutes while Mommy talks on the phone."
She then handed the baby to Grace. She cooed softly as she settled the baby in her lap.
Lyra redialed the number and leaned back against the cushions. As the other line picked up, she greeted, "Hi. How are you?"
She listened before she shot Grace a look. She mouthed, "Kitchen?" Lyra then received a nod before she stood and walked away.
Grace turned the baby in her arms. She looked up at her and squealed. The red-head couldn't help but giggle.
A shadow then crossed her features as she sighed. "You really are so precious – and I know how happy you make your parents."
Grace brought the baby close to her chest and hugged her. "I just wish I could be as happy about my little one – he or she deserves to be loved like you are."
A gasp erupted behind her. "You're pregnant?"