May 22nd 2022

Chapter 142
Our Joy For Hope

Deep down he knew not to worry so much, he did. He trusted in what he had been told and shown, that the incident from the day before did not mean that the world was falling apart and that if they did as they'd been recommended, all would be well. He knew that, and still when he woke up the next morning, Lucas felt stuck. Part of him wanted to just stay home with Maya, to look after her. If he were to call Juliet and explain the situation, he knew she would not bat so much as an eye. Of course, he'd be able to stay home with her, encouraged to even. But then the other part, and this one was the more level-headed one, knew that not only would she be well looked after already, but his sticking around, hovering about, would really only make matters worse, make it seem like things weren't fine. He'd just overwhelm the matter and his wife… He was better off carrying on with his day, and he would, no matter how unsure he was that he'd actually accomplish anything.

When he woke up, even if it was more or less what he did every morning these days, it felt particularly important for him to sit up, and move along, until he could find himself in conference with his unborn son or daughter. He rested his hand over Maya's belly, let his thumb graze lightly.

"Hey, Tiny," he whispered, smiling to himself at the nickname that seemed to just stick on the baby by now. "Good morning… You're okay in there, alright? You take it easy, keep swimming, and growing… Everything will be alright."

He'd done all the calls last night. He didn't want to, always hated to be bearer of any bad or worrisome news. That was probably how most people felt, but still… It would have been so much easier if they didn't have to go and put any kind of concerns on anyone, especially if they were going with this line of 'nothing's wrong, but just to be on the safe side…' But there were people out there, whether family or friend, who would care very much to know and be included in the situation, and it wouldn't have felt right to keep them out. Already, there would have been some of it going around the school yesterday, after Maya left, and there were enough people in there connected to them and theirs that he didn't see how they wouldn't already know at least something.

He'd called the Hunters first, didn't see how he could not. It wasn't even about their being Maya's parents, more that between the Clutterbuckets being told some of it when he'd picked up the triplets, and Nellie and Gracie being at the school… As would be the case when he'd next call his parents, the priority would be to both reassure them and prevent any temptation for any of them to get in their cars and hurry over. They'd find nothing to do, wouldn't get any new information, and Maya would just be resting… He saw no way of keeping them from showing up the next day, and on that at least he gladly gave free rein. If they were here, looking after her, then it would erase his concerns… some of them anyway. He'd also gone ahead and called the Hart-Lanes back in Tucson, because they were as much parents to Maya as the Hunters, as much grandparents to her children as them, too. They were too far to feel that kneejerk reaction of wanting to get to her, but they would absolutely want to be updated.

Talking to them, he'd known he'd have to also call around to the Hart-Lanes in Austin. He let Sam, Cara, and Teddy know what was going on with their big sister. When Eliza and Emma had come home, he'd told them, too, and he could imagine their reaction was not unlike that of their siblings', wherever they were when they got his call. As to their friends both near and far, he knew the news would already be making its way around, starting from Dylan and trickling down, with Riley, of course, and then the others… Notifications had been rolling steadily along, and he'd quickly gone in to explain everything. Nadine had been essential in this conversation. He doubted he would have had the reason in him not to remain firmly planted at home if not for her and what she had to say. Babies and pregnancy were her specialty and she showed it.

He'd kept the call to Ella for last. He needed to give his eldest as much attention in this as anyone, but maybe more. Her family mattered to her enough, as well it should, that this would be the kind of thing to make her want to drop everything and drive out from Houston. She was already so determined to make her way out the second Maya went into labor when the time would come, and the thought always made both of them smile, recalling the snowy December night some thirteen years past when MJ was born. This though… it would be something else.

As predicted, as much as he'd tried to soften the blow, when he'd told her, Ella had gone so quiet, like her breath had been yanked from her entire body. Lucas had taken this opportunity to lay out the information as he had it, boosted now by Nadine's words, and this at least seemed to have some effect, bringing Ella back around. She wouldn't rush out, no, but she'd definitely make her way out on Friday after her classes ended, and she'd be here all weekend. This would be more than fine, encouraged even.

"Not that I don't love this view, it's actually one of my favorites, but I think the five and under population is rising…" Maya's voice pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked up to find her smiling at him.

"On it," he moved to rise, then paused and came back to kiss her. "Good morning…"

"Good morning," she replied, keeping him nearby.

"How'd you sleep?"

"No worse or better than usual, so we'll call it a satisfactory amount. I promise I'll be good today." He smiled. Her joking around like this, as far as he was concerned, was as good of a sign as any that he could carry on.

So, he went and saw to the girls, while Maya made her way down the stairs. Eliza and Emma were already in the kitchen, tag teaming for breakfast. The triplets were out of their beds and making a bit of a mess, digging through their toys, and it felt to Lucas as though whatever part of them was mature enough to grasp what was going on around them knew that something was up with their mother, and they wanted to make her feel better the best way they knew how. Would he ever know if that was their actual intent? Probably not, but it was a nice thought, and he chose to honor it.

"Hey there, good morning…" Lucas chuckled as he looked into Marianne's room. She had already dressed, shoes on and everything, and now she was attempting to tie up her hair. It was not going so well, and she had frustration brows. "Here, why don't you tag me in on this one?" he offered his hand and was given both the elastic and a tap of her hand. Tag, you're it. "I think you were going for a high ponytail?" he asked as the triplets crowded around their big sister.

"Yeah," Marianne confirmed, and Lucas got to work. She looked eager to be done, and he could understand why. She wanted to go and see her mother.

"Everyone else is downstairs already, think you can help get one of your sisters down while I get the other two?"

Finally, they headed down. This morning, Marianne brought Remy along, while Lucas saw to Kacey and Lucy. The toys came along, too, and were delivered to a very thankful Maya.

"All set to go, huh?" she asked Marianne when she came up and embraced her.

"Daddy did my hair," she specified, still holding on.

"Yeah, I recognize his style…"

"Hey!" Lucas 'complained' in mock hurt, which got a few laughs going through the kitchen.

"I never said it wasn't nice," Maya assured him with a smile.

Both Katy and Melinda arrived at once, suggesting that they had organized themselves so one would pick up the other, which turned out to be so. Were they both supposed to be on triplet duty today? Not at all, but Maya's circumstances had changed and now so had theirs. They would stay here instead of taking them to either of their homes, as they usually did. Maya had a look to her like she expected to be treated as a fourth babysitting charge today and would have preferred not to. Still, she knew it came from a good place, so what was she to do?

In all these morning proceedings, as much as he'd kept an eye on his wife, Lucas had kept an eye on their daughter, too. He could tell Marianne was watching everyone and everything very closely. Their girl was a clever one, and always so full of empathy. Whether they behaved like it or not, she knew that everyone had worry in them, and so she felt it, too. When it came time for the two of them to leave, so he could take her to preschool, she dashed back to Maya, to hug her again, and she looked like she was this close to declaring she wouldn't leave, that she wanted to stay home with her mother. But in the end, she said her goodbyes and followed her father.

He didn't try to bait her into dancing and singing to the music on the radio as he drove. She probably would have done it still, if not so enthusiastically as she tended to, but instead he decided to talk to her. In all this time, since the previous afternoon, all they had told her was that everything was fine, everything would be fine, but that didn't work so well. It wasn't enough, not anymore. So, he tried to be clearer with her, not going overboard but giving enough so that she could hopefully understand better. It seemed to satisfy her. It was still going to weigh on her, he could see, and maybe for that, he felt a need to balance things out for her. When they reached the preschool, he quickly shot off a text to Maya's phone with a question. He knew deep down that she'd probably say yes, but he didn't want to assume, especially now. If she thought that it would be too much…

Maya: Go for it.

"Hey, pumpkin, what would you say about having a sleepover this weekend? Ella and Tori will be there, we can see if Winnie can come, and Harper and June…" Marianne looked up at him.

"Lily?"

"Lily, too."

"Francesca?"

"Sure…"

"Mia? Izzy? Nicky? Emily?"

"I… Why don't we see what their parents have to say, yeah? I'll give them a call today and ask." He could see her thinking something like 'well, what about Giulia and her brothers?' "I'll take care of everything. I promise." She considered this and finally nodded. They had a deal. "Great," Lucas smiled.

"Daddy?" she asked, motioning for him to come down to her eye level. He did. Once he was there, she said nothing, only put her little arms around his neck and hugged him, so he hugged her back. He couldn't say if this was her seeking comfort or her offering it to him. Maybe it was both. Whatever it was, he gave and received as good as he got.

"You have a good day, okay? That's all you need to do right now."

TO BE CONTINUED


See you tomorrow! - mooners