Two days later, American Girl doll store
"Ooooo Mommy! Look at all the beautiful dolls! And they have so many clothes! Can I get one that looks like me?"
"Let's see what we can find."
Elizabeth couldn't believe the sheer number of accessories that were there for each kind of doll. It was endless.
"This one, Mommy! Look, her hair is just like mine and her eyes too!"
"Wow, sweets! She does look like you!"
"She needs a purple dress and pajamas too."
For the next hour, they wandered around and picked out two outfits, believe it or not, two stuffed hamsters to represent Janette and Bluey, and purple dresses and pajamas with a tiara.
Lucas had insisted that she use the credit card while they were in New York so she did and she put a dent in it, even if it wouldn't seem like much to Lucas.
Next they went home and while Noa played with her new doll and hamsters, Elizabeth took a nap. Baby Bouchard was making her so tired.
Around dinner time, she woke up to find Noa and her doll and hamsters laying next to her fast asleep.
She picked up her phone and smiled. "Coming home early. Get dressed up. Minnie and Angela are coming over to watch Noa so we can go out. Love u!"
A night on the town with her sexy husband in New York City? Yes please! Good thing she took a nap.
"Hi, Mommy."
"Hey, sweet pea. Guess what? Do you remember Miss Minnie and Angela?"
"Yep. They were nice."
"Yes and they are going to come watch you while Daddy takes me to dinner."
"Yay! Do you think they will play with me and watch movies?"
Elizabeth thought for a moment about how to explain. "So do you remember that Angela has that walking stick?"
"I think so."
"Well, that means that she can't see. So she uses that stick to help her not bump into things or get hurt."
"Oh. So she can't ever watch movies?"
"Well, no, but she can listen to them. But maybe you can think of other things to do with her."
"Maybe we can tell stories? Maybe Miss Minnie can read to us out of my new books?"
"Sure and sing songs too."
"Yes! This is going to be so fun, Mommy!"
"I'm glad, honey. Now, wanna help me pick what dress to wear for my date with Daddy?"
…..
Elizabeth held Lucas' hand as they walked out of their apartment complex. "Babe? A towncar?"
"Yeah. I thought it would be nice to go out with a driver to take us to dinner."
"Sure."
The driver opened the back door for them, Elizabeth got in first and scooted over and then Lucas followed. "Thank you," he told him and then turned to Elizabeth.
"Plus, I can hold your hand and we can use our privacy to our advantage," he whispered, raising his eyebrows to make her smile.
"Well, husband. What do we need privacy for?"
"For a little of this," he said, kissing the corner of her mouth. "And some of this," he said, kissing the other side, slipping his hand along the waist of her figure hugging black dress.
"Mm, okay, I can see the benefit, I suppose."
"Right?" They took advantage of their dark back seat all the while making sure her makeup and hair didn't get too messed up, giving them away.
As they pulled up to the curb, the driver got out and opened the door. "Sir, just message me and I will return later."
"Thank you, Lawrence. I appreciate it."
"Mm, Italian," Elizabeth said as they walked into the dark and moody restaurant.
"Reservation for two, Bouchard," Lucas said, stepping up to the host.
"Right this way, sir."
"This is so nice, hon," she told him as he reached for her hand across the small table. "Thank you for arranging this."
"One of my coworkers was talking about dating his wife with intention. As I listened to him talk, I realized that it was a very smart thing to do. I don't want us to lose track of each other. To forget to be romantic or do something as simple as talking."
She nodded and squeezed his hand. "It could be easy to do, I think. Life is full of distractions."
"It is but you are my best distraction, sweetheart."
"Good grief, you are going to make me cry in public, Lucas Bouchard."
He covered their hands with his second one and looked up as the waitress approached their table.
"Evening, folks. My name is Maryanne. Welcome to Mareluna. What would you like to drink?"
"Water," they said in unison.
"Very good." She handed them menus and left them for a few minutes to decide what they would like.
"Let's get cheesy focaccia for an appetizer," he said, looking at the menu.
"Okay. That sounds wonderful. The carbonara also sounds amazing."
"I'll get the lobster ragu and maybe we can share."
After ordering, Lucas, still holding her hand, looked into her eyes. "You look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you. You know how I feel about you in that sexy suit and no tie thing you got going on."
"Yep. I know."
She slipped her shoe off and slid her toe under the hem of his pant leg, making him smirk. "What are you doing with that toe, love?"
"Who me?"
"Mm. Tell me what you and Noa did today."
"We went to the American Girl doll store and then we took a nice nap."
"Naps. I love naps."
"Me too. This child of yours that I'm carrying is exhausting me."
"Were you that tired when you were carrying Noa?"
"Oh yes."
"I can't wait to find out what it is. I'm hoping for a boy."
"You and Noa both. Personally, I don't know if I'd know what to do with a boy."
"I have the focaccia for you," Maryanne told them, sliding the warm and fragrant bread in front of them. "Enjoy."
……
At Lucas' and Elizabeth's apartment
"Do you want to hold my doll, Angela?" Noa asked. "She has really soft hair and a purple dress."
"Sure. She sounds beautiful."
"She is. Can I ask you a question?" She put the doll in Angela's hands.
"Of course."
"Have you ever been able to see?"
Noa asked it in such a gentle manner and with no judgment. Angela didn't mind answering the sweet girl.
"When I was a baby I could."
"How come you can't see now?"
"I got sick and had a really high fever. Because of the fever, my sight went away."
"Oh. That's sad."
"I'm not sad. I'm happy. My family takes care of me and I love them. It doesn't matter that I can't see."
Noa stayed quiet for a bit so Minnie thought reading a story might be in order.
"Do you want me to read you a story?" Minnie asked.
"Yes, please."
"Once upon a time…."
…..
Later
Lucas and Elizabeth walked in around 10 Pm. Minnie was reading on the couch and Angela and Noa were somewhere.
"Hey, we're home."
Minnie stood up, stretched and smiled. "How was your evening?"
"Wonderful and romantic," Beth said, smiling back. "Thank you for watching Noa, Minnie. Did she go to sleep easily?"
"Once Angela said she would have a sleepover and tell her a bedtime story."
"Oh…"
"She doesn't need to stay. Angela was just being sweet. I'll go get her."
"Its fine, Minnie. She's welcome to stay. You are too."
"No, ma'am. I appreciate that but I have never slept a night without my Joseph and I don't intend to start now. If you're sure Angela can stay..."
"Absolutely," Lucas told her.
"Alright then. I'll come in the morning to get her, if that's alright."
"That'll be fine."
"I'll check the girls and meet you in the jacuzzi," Elizabeth told him after Minnie had gone.
As Elizabeth slid into the perfectly warm jacuzzi with Lucas a few moments later, she sighed and leaned back against him.
"The girls are asleep, both in Noa's big bed. Noa is holding Angela's hand. It's the sweetest thing."
"I'm glad they're friends."
"Me too." Elizabeth looked back at Lucas. "Thank you for tonight. It was perfect."
….
The next week or so, Noa asked about Angela a lot and even stayed the night at the Canfield's one night. They had a picnic in the park with the Canfields, a fancy tea party and Noa begged and succeeded in going into the teddy bear factory to find two of the softest teddy bears ever. One for Angela and one for baby.
A few days before it was time to head back home to California, Lucas had an evening planned with both of his girls.
"We're going to ride in the carriage, Daddy? Just like Cinderella?" Noa squealed, jumping up and down.
"Yep! Doesn't that sound fun?"
"So fun! I'm glad I wore my tiara and cape! I'm so princessy!"
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile. Noa was a dream. Elizabeth and Lucas finally had news to tell her too as part of the evening.
As they clip clopped through Central Park, Elizabeth squeezed Luca's hand, telling him to spill their news.
"Guess what, sweet pea?" Lucas said to Noa.
"Daddy! Look at the trees and there's ducks!"
Lucas chuckled. She was easily distracted. "Honey, Mommy and I want to tell you something exciting."
"Okay!" she said, turning to look at them.
"Mommy and I finally heard that you are officially Noa Faith Bouchard!"
"I got your name now? That is really cool, Daddy! I'm a Bouchard too!"
"You are!"
"I know how to spell it! B-O-U–C-H-A-R-D!"
"Wow! You are so smart."
"Mommy helped me memorize it."
Lucas felt like finally, his life was full. He had a daughter who now had his name, another child on the way, a wonderful, amazing wife and a great job. What more could he ask for?
……
Airport in LA
"I get to see my babies!" Noa squealed, skipping through the airport a few days later. "I love New York, but California is way better."
"I need to use the bathroom," Elizabeth mentioned. "Come on, punkin. You need to try."
"I don't gotta, Mommy."
"Have to, baby. Not gotta."
"I don't have to, Mommy."
"I'd like you to try anyway."
While Elizabeth and Noa were in the bathroom, Lucas waited on a bench and took out his phone.
"Call me," his mom had texted.
He took a moment and did just that. "Mom?"
"Hi, Lucas."
"What's going on? I got your text."
"I…your Dad and I are going to come visit you. Hopefully soon. It needs to be soon."
"Of course. Let me chat with Beth and I will call you back, alright?"
"Lucas. Its important that its soon."
"Mom, what's going on? You're freaking me out a bit."
"Its…we need to talk in person."
"Okay. I'll call you back in a few minutes."
"I love you, son."
"I love you too."
"Luke?" Beth said, walking up to him as he ran his fingers through his hair. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know exactly. Mom and Dad need to visit. She kept saying that it needs to be soon. Beth, I'm freaking out a bit."
Elizabeth put her arms around his waist and hugged him. "Tell them to plan to come whenever they can. We will make it work."
"Its scary…what if one of them is…" she put her fingers against his lips.
"Little ears can hear, love. Let's go home and we can talk. I'll drive."
"Babe."
"Whatever it is, we will get through it together."