Four months later, April
Elizabeth rubbed her tummy, loving the knowledge that she was carrying her and Lucas' child and it was their secret. They would be telling Aria as one of her gifts for her birthday, but that was another week away. Now, it was just a private secret for the two of them.
"Come on, bugs," Elizabeth called down the hall. "Time to leave." She was saying goodbye to her room for the last time and making sure she hadn't left any toys behind.
Their new house was waiting for them. They had found a new home in a subdivision that had never been lived in. They had gotten approved for a mortgage, signed paperwork three weeks before and today was moving day.
"Okay, Mommy. I didn't forget anything."
"What a relief," she said, kissing the top of Aria's head.
Elizabeth looked around one more time at the house that she had moved into just after losing Jack. She had to downsize to afford a place to live on only her income. Now, things were different. She wasn't alone anymore and needed a bigger house. She had a family and it was growing. The baby and a brand-new puppy that was joining them on Aria's birthday.
Lucas popped his head in the door. "Are my girls ready?"
"Yeah, Dad. We're coming."
"Great!"
He was excited to move. To make the new house their home. Hang shelves and paint walls. Move their new leather sofa into the family room in front of the fireplace. Watch Elizabeth cook dinner in the kitchen. Watch Aria and her new puppy that she was going to love playing in the backyard.
"Sad?" he whispered to Elizabeth as she walked out the door past him.
"A little. But…I'm ready."
They locked the door behind them and got into his truck with the trailer they were transporting to the new house. It was thankfully only twenty minutes away. Still in Fall River and Aria's same school district and more centrally located between the hospital and Lucas' job in Rhode Island.
When they pulled up to the house, Faith and Carson were there waiting, along with William and Grace.
"Are they here together?" Elizabeth muttered, raising her eyebrows toward Lucas.
"Same car…so…."
"Wow." She got out of the truck and opened the door for Aria and then walked over to her parents. "Hi, Mom and Dad."
William hugged her and then Grace and then he took Grace's hand.
"Something you want to tell us?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.
"We…are dating," William told her.
"Dating."
"Yes. Your mother and I decided to try again."
"Oh! That's wonderful! I knew you still loved each other."
After more hugs, William walked over to the trailer with Lucas and Carson and started to carry heavy things in while Elizabeth, Aria, Faith, and Grace went into the house with lighter boxes to start unpacking.
Faith pulled Elizabeth into the large pantry storage off the kitchen and shut the door. "Guess what," she whispered.
"What?"
"I'm pregnant!"
"Faith! That's amazing! I'm so happy for you!"
"Thank you. I'm surprised you hadn't guessed. I've been drinking ginger ale and eating saltines for a month."
Truth be told, Elizabeth hadn't noticed because she was trying to hide her own nausea and look as if she wasn't feeling terrible. "I'm pregnant too!" Elizabeth whispered.
"Are you serious???!!!" Faith said way too loudly.
"Shhhhh….only Lucas knows. It's a surprise. We are letting the cat out of the bag at Aria's party. Until then, no one can find out."
"Okay, sorry! I've always hoped we could be pregnant together. When are you due?"
The door opened and Aria popped her head in. "Um, Aunt Faith? Mommy? Why are you hiding in the closet?"
"No reason, bugs. Just chatting."
"Well, I thought we were supposed to be unpacking. Nana Grace and me are the only ones doing the work and you said we can only play Monopoly if we unpack the WHOLE kitchen. Just sayin," she said with tons of sass in her almost eight-year-old body.
"You hush, Aria May. We are coming right now."
She pretended to chase Aria, making her giggle.
"You are full of sass, Aria May."
"I know," she told her hugging her waist. "But you love me."
"I do. So very much. But sassy Aria needs to be more respectful, alright, bugs?"
"Okay, Mommy. Sorry. Sorry, Aunt Faith."
"Thank you, sweetheart," Faith told her.
"You got a baby in there, Aunt Faith?" Aria asked, looking at her tummy, which now that Elizabeth knew, she could see the bump.
"Oh my gosh, Aria," Elizabeth said with a laugh. How embarrassing.
"Its alright, Beth. Yes, Aria, I do have a baby growing in there."
"Cool! Mommy, do you have one?"
"Aria, let's get back to unpacking, okay?"
"Ooookay."
"Thank you."
Elizabeth's face turned red and Grace noticed but she didn't say anything. Another grandchild would be amazing.
After a couple hours, the men went to get food for dinner while the women sat around the table and played Monopoly with Aria and drank coffee and hot cocoa respectively.
"How did your baby get in there, Aunt Faith?" Elizabeth had just taken a drink of coffee and struggled not to spit it all over the table. Grace chuckled, sipping her coffee and Faith turned red.
"Aria…what has gotten into you today?"
"I don't know." She shrugged.
"Maybe I should have sent you with your father and uncle and Grandpa."
"I'm surprised you and Lucas haven't had that discussion with her yet," Grace muttered.
"I think it's probably time…basics anyway."
"What discussion?" Aria asked, rolling two ones. "Yay! Give me all the money! I got snake eyes, Mommy!"
…..
Lucas saw Elizabeth's text and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny over there, Luke?" Carson asked.
"Oh my goodness. Apparently we need to have a 'birds and the bees' discussion with Aria."
"You haven't done that already?"
"No. It just never came up. Apparently Faith is pregnant and Aria noticed and then asked how the baby got in there."
Carson laughed this time and William smiled but kept his thoughts to himself.
"Congrats, Carson. I'm happy for you and Faith."
"Thanks, man. We've been trying for awhile and it finally happened."
"Yeah, it takes awhile sometimes. With Clara and I…it took six months before she got pregnant with Aria."
"And with Elizabeth?"
"Three and…um…I can't answer that question."
"Pretty sure you just did, friend."
"Crap. Okay, William and Carson, I'm hereby swearing you both to secrecy. Please please don't tell anyone. We are telling all the guests at Aria's party next week as part of Aria's gift so you'll have to act surprised."
"I won't mention anything to Grace," William said. "However, if she asks, I won't lie. We can't start our relationship out with secrets."
"Of course. I understand. Carson?"
"I'm pretty sure Beth probably told Faith but yeah, I won't say anything."
"Congratulations, Lucas," William said, turning around and shaking his hand. "Really. I'm happy for you and Beth."
"Thanks, William. That means a lot."
When they pulled up to the Italian restaurant, William got out of the vehicle before Lucas could even unbuckle himself.
"Dude," Carson said, giving Lucas a fist bump. "Congratulations. Both of us having babies."
"Yeah. She's excited. Its something she's always wanted, to carry a baby and experience everything and Aria wants a sibling."
"Are you excited, Luke?"
"I am." He really loved this new season of life that they were starting. New marriage, new house, new baby and soon a new puppy. Definitely exciting stuff.
…..
After a couple hours, they were completely moved in, though not all unpacked, and fed. Elizabeth was exhausted so she dozed in the recliner as Aria and Lucas watched an animated movie on the new big screen Lucas had insisted on buying.
They were in the family room and being early spring in New England, it was chilly so Lucas had turned on the gas fireplace which helped her feel comfy and cozy.
"Time for a bath and bed, babe," Lucas told Aria after the movie was over. "School tomorrow."
"Ugh. Can't I just skip school?"
"Nope. Scoot."
"Fine." Aria wandered up the stairs to her new bathroom and bedroom. "Can I use bubbles?"
"One cap."
"Okay. Thanks, Dad."
Lucas got up and took the popcorn bowl and hot cocoa mugs to the kitchen, rinsing them and loading them in the dishwasher. He found the soap pods under the sink, placed one inside the washer and started it.
"Hey," Elizabeth said, walking up behind him and resting her cheek on his back, her arms around his waist.
"Hi, sweetheart. Did you have a nice nap?"
"I suppose so. This baby is making me so tired."
He turned and wrapped his arms around her, just holding her for a bit. "We did it. We moved."
"Mmhm. It's a beautiful house. I'm glad we have room to grow."
He smiled and pulled back, bending down to kiss her slight bump through her shirt. Nine weeks along, ten by Aria's party. The ultrasound showed a strong heartbeat.
"Daddy? Why are you kissing Mommy's tummy?"
He stood up fast and looked at Elizabeth, raising his eyebrows.
"I thought you were taking a bath, Aria."
"I don't know where the bubbles are."
"I'll show you," Elizabeth told her, walking away from Lucas. "I'll meet you upstairs, Luke!"
He turned off the lights and made sure the doors were locked and headed upstairs. Maybe he should draw a bath for them too.
…..
By the end of the week, Elizabeth was so very ready to get the birthday party and secret over with. Her emotions were all over the place and morning sickness was no joke. Then, Aria invited four friends from school to her party and she wanted Nana Helen, Nana Grace and Grandpa William and her aunts and uncles and kids.
So, Elizabeth not only worked through her morning sickness but she planned Aria's party through it too.
"Can we swim in the pool, Mommy?"
"Sweetheart, it's way too cold. This summer maybe you can have your friends over again and you can swim."
"Can my friends stay the night after my party? Please?????"
"Let me talk to your dad and I'll let you know."
As soon as he returned from the airport with his mom, she'd ask.
This was Aria's first birthday that they've celebrated as a family and in the new house and she wanted to make it extra special. Maybe Elizabeth's mom could help with the sleepover too.
"Babe, are you sure?" Lucas asked her as they were cozy on the couch that evening.
"I'm sure that I want this to be an amazing birthday for her. If I have Helen and my mom helping too, it should be fine."
"We can also just let Aria know its not a good time."
Elizabeth kissed his cheek and smiled up at him. "It will be fine, even if I need to camp out in the family room with them."
He pulled her legs onto his lap and started massaging her feet. "I'm not sure that I want you to sleep anywhere but right next to me, Beth."
"Oh my gosh, Lucas. That feels so good. I'm sure one night of me sleeping in another room won't kill you."
He moved quickly and laid down next to her on the couch, pressing his forehead into hers and placing a gentle kiss on her lips. "It just might. You fit perfectly here in my arms." His fingers slipped beneath the hem of her t-shirt, resting on her hip. He loved the feel of her skin. "You're so beautiful," he whispered.
"Thank you."
"The Nana's can sleep down here. I'm not giving you up."
She smiled and moved so their mouths fit together perfectly like puzzle pieces. Yeah, the Nana's could sleep down here.