A week later
Elizabeth found Noa in her room, on her knees, watching her pair of hamsters. Again.
"Noa Faith, bath time."
"I'm busy."
"Wrong answer, punkin. Let's go. Get your jammies and clean undies and let's scoot."
"But…"
"Now…"
"Fine." Elizabeth knelt in front of her daughter and raised her eyebrows.
"I know you love your hamsters…"
"My babies, Mommy."
"Alright, your babies. I know you love them but you need to listen when Daddy and I tell you to do something or we will have to take them back to the store."
"Please don't do that, Mommy. I'll be good. I'm so sorry."
"We won't if you promise to listen."
"I promise."
"Alright. Jammies and undies please. I'll meet you in the bathroom."
"Okay, Mommy." Now blew her hamsters kisses. "Night, Janette. Night Bluey. Mommy loves you."
Elizabeth smiled. When Noa had mentioned she was naming one of her "babies" Janette, instead of Bandit, after her "bestest friend," Elizabeth could only be grateful. Janette was fun and a good person and now a friend of the whole family, not just Lucas. She had treated Noa well and taken the initiative to get to know Elizabeth too. She looked forward to hearing about Madrid which was where Janette was now.
"Mommy?" Noa said as Elizabeth gently washed her curly hair.
"Yes, punkin."
"We are going on a trip."
"Yes, we are. In about a week or so."
"Can I take my babies?"
"No, Sweets. We are going on an airplane. So Nana Grace and Grandpa William are going to take care of them, remember?"
"But they need me!"
Elizabeth had explained this before and the pout that was now on Noa's face was a result of being tired mostly.
"Sweetheart, Nana and Grandpa will take care of them. Everything will be fine."
"No it won't," she said, crossing her arms.
Elizabeth rinsed Noa's hair and then held out a towel. "Come on, time to get out."
"This is NOT fair!"
"Hey what's going on?" Lucas asked, standing in the doorway.
"I want Daddy!" Noa said, reaching for him.
He raised his eyebrows and took her in his arms. "Why were you yelling?"
"Mommy says I can't take my babies on our trip! It's not fair!" she sobbed, burying his face in her shoulder.
"She's right, Noa. Hamsters don't go on planes."
"Why?"
"Because they don't. Let's get you in your jammies and read our book, alright?"
"I don't want to."
"No stories?"
"No."
Lucas kissed Elizabeth and smiled. "A bath sounds good."
She winked. "I think so too."
…
Thirty minutes later, jacuzzi bath
"Tomorrow I need to make a list for our trip. Things to pack. Oh and Noa and I are heading to The Book Spot and to get our hair trimmed."
"The Book Spot? I'll meet you there."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I'd love to walk around with you," he told her, his lips grazing her neck. "I remember one of my favorite kisses of ours took place in a bookstore."
"Mm. In Cambridge, yeah. That was good."
Everything with this man had been full of favorites and first times.
She turned her head and kissed his cheek. "All our kisses are my favorite."
"You can't pick one?"
"Well…our first kiss was pretty memorable. Down by the river…"
"You said I could call you my girlfriend."
She chuckled. "Now look at us."
"Mmhm. Married with the most gorgeous, strong-willed daughter in the world."
"That she is. I hope we have a baby soon," she mentioned.
"We will."
"Its been four months."
"Maybe our vacation will do the trick. Get our minds off it. They say to stop worrying and it will happen."
"I wouldn't say I'm worried. Just wondering why is all. I'm only 27 and we didn't even try with Noa."
"It will happen at the perfect time," he assured her. "Trust me."
….
The next day
Faith knocked on Elizabeth's door and walked in. "Beth?"
"Kitchen!"
"Auntie Faith! Come see my babies, please. I have two and their names are Janette and Bluey and they are soooo cute!" Noa pulled on Faith's hands to get her to follow.
"Hold on, sweetie. I will come see them in a moment." Faith kissed the top of Noa's head.
"Hey," Elizabeth said, walking towards her friend. "How are you?"
"Pregnant!"
"What? That's amazing! Congratulations, Faith!" They hugged and hugged and cried and then went to sit on the couch. Noa followed, playing on the floor with her giant Legos.
"When are you due?"
"The doctor said January 2nd. I'm so amazed and happy and terrified. I want this so bad."
"You deserve this."
Faith blew her nose and sighed.
"What else?" Elizabeth knew her best friend. She carried the weight of the world on her shoulders when she should be nothing but happy.
"I don't know what to do. We put in an adoption application last month. Carson wants a child almost as badly as I do and I don't want to adopt. What if I lose this baby too, like the others? I mean at least we've done the application already and could still have a family. I feel so selfish."
Elizabeth didn't want to get in the middle of her good friend's marriage.
"What should I do?"
"Talk to Carson."
"I don't want to hurt him. Six years of trying and losing babies and fighting. It's been very hard."
Elizabeth took her hand and squeezed. "You are so strong but you and Carson are even stronger together. My suggestion is only that, a suggestion. Go away for the weekend. Just be with each other. Try to remember why you love each other. Why you made your vows. Talk. Love each other."
"Yeah. That's a good idea."
"But tell him everything that is on your heart. He deserves to know."
Faith nodded and sighed. He had only stood by her through everything. She owed it to him to have the hard conversations. Especially since it had to do with their future.
"Thanks, Beth. Now tell me about your trip."
……
The next week
"Noa, sweetheart, we need to go. We can't be late for the airport."
"But, Nana and Grandpa aren't here yet. I can't leave my babies alone."
"Honey, your babies will be fine for a while. Now let's go!"
"Uber is here," Lucas called. "Let's get going."
Elizabeth picked up Noa and grabbed her suitcase, knowing she wouldn't come on her own.
"Noooooooo. My babies need me!"
"Shhhh," Elizabeth said, handing her to Lucas.
"I got the booster in the car," Lucas told her.
"Noooooo, Daddy."
"Noa, please behave. I promise your babies are going to be fine."
"I wanna stay home."
He stopped walking and looked at her. "Bugs, listen to me. We are going on a trip and we need you to stop misbehaving now. Got it?"
It must have been something she saw in his face because she nodded, sniffled and buried her face in his shoulder.
"I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you too, Daddy."
As they drove to the airport, Elizabeth held Noa's hand and tried to explain how pets were different from people. That they could be alone for a while and it would be fine. Noa sniffled and stared out the window.
"I'm gonna miss them, Mommy."
"I know, baby. Let's try to have fun and tonight we can talk to Nana and maybe she can send a picture of Janette and Bluey."
"Okay. That sounds good."
…..
Cape Cod
"Oh my, Lucas. This is gorgeous. I'm so glad you found this place."
He kissed her cheek as he walked by with their suitcases. "I'm glad you like it."
"Mommy? I'm hungry."
Elizabeth picked up Noa and hugged her. "Guess what? While you were napping I looked up places we could eat. So as soon as we get all our stuff in, we are going to go get dinner."
"Okay."
Spanky's Clam Shack had an amazing location right on the water. Delectable lobster ravioli, which Elizabeth devoured, chicken strips and fries for Noa and New England Clam Chowder for Lucas.
After eating, the three of them walked along the water's edge as the sun set. Lucas took Elizabeth's hand in his, threading their fingers together.
"If I'm not pregnant by the end of September, I think I want to see my doctor," she mentioned as they strolled behind Noa who was picking up shells.
"Alright but I have a good feeling about this vacation. I think being here and relaxing is going to do the trick."
"I hope so." Knowing Faith was pregnant made her a bit envious though Faith and Carson had been trying for a whole lot longer than she and Lucas had.
"Promise me, Beth."
"What?"
"That you'll push it out of your mind for the next two weeks."
"I'm not sure I can but I'll try."
"This will be like our second honeymoon, plus our five year old."
She laughed and squeezed his hand. "That sounds nice."
"Like tonight, we can make dessert and dance in the sand and swing in the hammock…"
"And what else?" she prompted.
"Hm. We could get in the hot tub."
"Absolutely." She slipped her arm around his waist and smiled. "I bought something new and lacy. I could slip into that."
"Let's go!"
She giggled as he hurried ahead.
"Where's Daddy going?" Noa asked.
"He's a silly man, punkin."
Noa shrugged and went back to scratching in the damp sand with a shell.
"Is it blue?" he asked, coming back.
"Is what blue?"
"The new lacy thing? Blue?"
"Black," she flirted, stretching up to kiss him.
He groaned and fell back into step beside her, putting his hand in her back pocket. He would try to be more patient. "Do you think Noa will notice if we put her to bed early?"
"Very likely."
"We should go to the store I saw down the street. We can get ingredients to make brownies."
"Sure and get a bottle of wine?"
He nodded. "Ready to go, sweet pea? We need to get to the store before it closes."
"Can I call Nana?"
"Sure. You can call while we drive."
"Yay!"
He handed his phone to her and picked her up.
"See my shells, Daddy? I'm gonna put them in a jar with sand and take them home to Hope Valley!"
"Wow! That's a great idea. Maybe we can find a starfish to put in there too."
"Cool!"
As they drove the few blocks to the small store, Noa chatted about her babies.
"Do they miss me, Nana? I miss them so much. My room here is big. They could fit here."
"I'm sure they miss you, Noa, but Grandpa and I will take such good care of them."
"Can you tell them I'll be home soon and I love them?"
"Of course, sweetie pie."
"Thank you, Nana. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Okay, sweet pea. Let's go shop so we can get home."
"Can we watch a movie, please? Can I have popcorn with lots of butter and MMs?"
"Together?"
"Ew, no. Two bowls."
Lucas smirked at Elizabeth and all three of them got out of the car. Elizabeth grabbed Noa's hand and then Lucas.'
"What movie should we watch?" Elizabeth asked.
"Frozen, of course!" Noa said, skipping. "I see the popcorn!"
Lucas had a feeling he would need to continue to be patient that evening before he'd get to enjoy the sight of his gorgeous wife in her black lace. That's OK. It would be very worth it.