Christmas Eve
Starting the year they got married, including on their honeymoon, every Christmas Eve morning, Lucas made breakfast for Elizabeth and brought it to her in bed. This year, he would do the same but Miss Mattie wanted to help feed Mommy.
She was sitting up on the counter, kicking her legs, stealing pieces of fruit from the plates Lucas was getting ready. "Daddy? When is Nana and Poppy coming? I want see them and Auntie and Uncle."
"After breakfast, baby."
"I can eat fast!"
"I don't want you to choke, Mattie. You need to eat slow."
"But I want see them."
"I know. Me too and they will come soon."
Lucas handed Mattie two carnations to put in the vase on the tray. "One flower for Mommy and one for Mattie."
"Pretty, Daddy."
He kissed her forehead and both cheeks, making her giggle. "You know what else is pretty?"
"What?"
"You and Mommy. So so so pretty."
Lucas added more fruit to the tray and added a plate of pancakes, a small pitcher of syrup and three forks before helping Mattie hop down and heading upstairs with her.
"Remember, Mattie girl, quiet voices in case Mommy is sleeping."
Elizabeth lay in bed, a smile on her face. She could hear him loud and clear and she knew what was coming. Her family was perfect and she loved every single moment they had together. Especially these traditions they had made when they first got married.
"Mommy!" Mattie whisper-yelled. Lucas shook his head, rolling his eyes. She had tried anyway.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and smiled. "Happy Christmas Eve, Mattie!"
"Hi, Mommy!" she yelled, climbing up and wrapping herself around Elizabeth. "We gotta eat so I can see Nana and Poppy and Auntie and Uncle."
"They'll be here, baby. We just have to be patient."
"Morning, love," Lucas said, bending down to kiss her. "You are so beautiful in the mornings."
"You are very sweet, husband. Thank you for breakfast."
He walked around to his side of the bed and slipped under the covers, trying hard not to spill anything. "Fruit and pancakes."
"And syrup!" Mattie announced.
"Yes and syrup."
Lucas reached over and placed a hand on her tummy. "How's baby this morning?"
"Good. Hungry."
She was thankful that somehow she escaped the awful morning sickness that she had with Mattie. Yes, she still had a bit of nausea but mostly, she was just exhausted. That would go away in time and she took full advantage of taking a nap when Mattie did.
"I got us all a present that we need to open before the family comes," Lucas announced.
"So early? Why not at midnight when Gran is here?"
Gran was coming over and spending the night so she could spend Christmas morning with Lucas, Elizabeth and Mattie.
"I have my reasons."
He got up and grabbed the large gift bag from the closet. "I wondered what that was," Elizabeth said. "But I was good. I didn't snoop."
"I appreciate that."
She giggled when she opened the package. Inside there were three t-shirts. A larger blue one that said, "We're pregnant but mostly her," a smaller pink shirt that said "We've been keeping a little secret!" and a Mattie sized shirt that said "Promoted to Big Sister!"
"These are awesome, babe."
"I got some for the family too that they can open when they come over."
"That's so great. Everyone is going to be so excited."
"Look, Mattie. I got you a new shirt!" Lucas told her, holding it up.
"Wow! Thank you, Daddy."
"You know what it says?"
"Nope."
Lucas chuckled. "It says you are going to be a big sister."
"I am?"
"Yep! I have a baby in my tummy," Elizabeth told her, placing her tiny hands on her bump.
"You do? Wow!" Mattie reached over and lifted up the edge of Elizabeth's shirt to look for the baby. "Where, Mommy?"
Elizabeth giggled again and pulled her shirt up above the bump. "Right here, sweet pea. Way inside, Mommy. Its growing big and strong so that when its time to come meet us, it will be safe."
"Oh. When is baby coming to meet us?"
"Not too long." She didn't know how to describe that to a not even four year old. "When you turn four it will be almost time."
"Okay." Mattie nodded and put Elizabeth's shirt down and then laid down between her parents. "I watch Bluey, Mommy?"
Elizabeth handed her the remote to the tv, knowing Mattie knew how to find it on her own. "Sure, baby."
…….
That afternoon, the whole family had assembled at the duplex, happily hanging ornaments on the tree and decorating it. Some of the adults were drinking eggnog and singing songs. The kids, twelve year old Carrie and fourteen year old Abe were playing with Mattie.
Gran was sitting in a recliner by the fire, staring into the flames. Elizabeth walked over and knelt by the chair, gently taking Gran's soft hand in hers. "Gran?"
Gran turned her head and placed her palm on Elizabeth's cheek. "Yes, dear?"
"Are you alright?"
"Right as rain," she told her with a small smile. "Missing my sweetheart but doing fine. Don't worry about me though. That babe inside needs you to be perfectly healthy."
"How did you know?"
"I can tell. You have a glow about you."
"We are going to announce it in a bit. I guess it won't be a surprise to you."
"No. Not at all. Are you happy, Elizabeth?"
"Very."
"Good."
Elizabeth got up on her knees and gave Gran a long hug. She loved her so very much. She couldn't imagine being alright after losing your husband of so many years. The love of her life.
"I love you, Gran."
"And I you, dear."
"Will you come live with us? Please? I don't like the thought of you being in that big house all alone."
"Now, what would Lucas say about that?"
"We've talked about it before. He'd be fine with it."
"What about your dream of moving to the beach? I'm 90 years old. I don't do the beach."
"We aren't moving to San Diego. Its not the right time for us. Plus Lee and Rosie and the kids are being transferred to Pensacola."
"That's my home, Beth. I raised Martin there. I married and loved my Larry there and there are too many memories for me to leave it now."
"I understand. What if we moved in with you?"
"Beth, I am just fine. I promise you. You and your husband and family need your own space. You have that here. I need my own space too."
She hugged her again. "Okay, Gran. I had to try."
…..
That night, late, everyone had gone home, full of Christmas Eve dinner and happy that there would be another little Bouchard by summer. Elizabeth had fallen asleep with Mattie on the couch in the living room.
Lucas sat on the floor next to Gran's rocker, watching the fire. He could see she was lonely and he would be too. He didn't know how he would live without Beth. But she was strong.
"Are you happy you're going to have another great-grandchild, Gran?"
"Yes, Lucas. I am very happy. Babies are a blessing."
"They are. One hundred percent." He looked over at his girls, snuggled up on the couch. "I can't imagine feeling more love for anyone than I do at this moment."
"Don't ever stop telling them that, my sweet Lucas. Always make sure they know."
"I promise." Lucas took his Gran's hand in his and covered it with his other hand. "Gran, I'm so sorry you lost Grandpa. I miss him very much."
"So do I, Lucas. Every moment. I know that it won't be long and I won't be missing him anymore."
"Gran, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that my heart is buried with your grandfather. I'm saying that I miss him so very much and I don't want to feel so broken anymore and I'm ninety years old, so…."
"Gran, please…"
"I love you, Lucas. Don't ever doubt it. I'm only telling you what I can feel will happen. I'm not saying anything else that you may be thinking."
His tears rolled down his face and he didn't bother to stop them. He felt like he was losing her already and that hurt so much.
"Honey, come here," she said, opening her arms. He knelt in front of her and let her hold him as well as she could. "Everything will be just fine."
"Not if you go too. It won't, Gran. I need you. My kids need to know their GG. Beth and I need you."
"Hush now, love."
Elizabeth watched her husband and his Gran and it broke her heart. She could feel their connection, just as she always had from the moment she met Emma and Larry. She felt the love and she had instantly wanted to be part of the family. She could feel his heart breaking and how much he respected the woman who held him so lovingly, even though she was such a tiny woman and he was so tall.
At that moment she knew if it was a girl that she was carrying, somehow she'd incorporate Emma into her name.
….
Christmas and New Years came and went. Elizabeth's mild morning sickness went away and she and Lucas started working on a few interior design projects for their new business.
Elizabeth walked around Lowes with Mattie in the seat of the cart, looking for a certain faucet for the kitchen sink for the Yost's. They were very particular people and Elizabeth loved shopping, especially when not spending her own money.
"Brushed nickel," she mumbled, looking up and down the aisle. "Aha! Gotcha."
Mattie giggled. "Gotcha."
Her phone buzzed in Mattie's hand. It was Rosie. "It's Auntie Rosie, Mattie."
"I want talk."
"Go ahead."
"Hi, Auntie Rosie! Its Mattie."
Elizabeth grabbed the faucet while Mattie kept talking.
"Yep. Yep. Mama is shoppin," Mattie told Rosie. "I dunno."
Mattie's side of the conversation was so adorable.
"Here, Mommy!"
Elizabeth took the phone before Mattie dropped it somewhere. "Hi, Rosie."
"Hey, Beth. So you're shopping?"
"Yeah. Luke and I are remodeling the kitchen for a couple here in town. Needed a faucet and now we are going over to grab some tile. How's Florida?"
"Its been two days. The kids are driving me nuts. I'm exhausted and our house, while much bigger than the apartment in San Diego, is full of boxes and I'm afraid I will never get unpacked."
"I wish I could come help you."
"You have so much on your own plate, Beth. I do miss you though."
"I'll ask Luke and see when I can come down and visit. Maybe I can for a long weekend before I get too pregnant."
"That would be awesome."
Later that night….
"Babe, I think it would be great to have you and Mattie go visit but I really need your help with the new business."
"I was just thinking about going for a weekend. I promise I'll make sure everything is good here before I go, okay, sweetheart?"
"Just a weekend?"
"Yep, leave on a Friday, back on Sunday."
"It will be weird without you and Mattie."
Mattie came running in the room, yelling and skipping and then exited the same way.
"And way too quiet."
"Basically two days, Luke. I think you'll make it."
"Tomorrow is the ultrasound right?" he asked, changing the subject.
It was their first ultrasound for this pregnancy. At almost seventeen weeks, it felt weird to be missing that part. They had heard the heartbeat though which was comforting. They wanted to have it a few weeks back but there had been a flu outbreak in the doctor's office so they had to reschedule.
"Yes. 10:30, babe."
"That's great."
Elizabeth rested her hand on her tummy, which to her recollection was more pronounced than when she was at the same stage with Mattie.
"Mattie? Time to have a bath and jammies," Elizabeth said.
"Okay! I love bubbles."
"I know. Let's go, sweetheart."
Lucas caught her hand and pulled her in for a kiss. "I love you and I don't like the idea of not sleeping next to you, even for two nights."
"But we can go?"
"Sure."
"Thanks, Luke."