New York City
"Wow, Mommy! The buildings are so tall!"
"I know, baby. Isn't it amazing?"
"This is us," Luke said as the uber driver pulled up to the curb.
"Whoa, babe," Elizabeth said. Even the awning over the entrance was fancy.
"Our home for the next 31 days."
Elizabeth couldn't complain about anything. His company paid for so much and took amazing care of him. She was beyond grateful that he didn't have to be away from them for 31 days.
"I miss my babies," Noa said, pouting.
"They're in good hands, punkin," Elizabeth told her.
"I know."
Vi, her husband and her kids were taking care of Bluey and Janette this time. Noa was at least glad they'd have kids to play with. That made Elizabeth smile. Noa was such a blessing.
"Here we are. Apartment 8A. Eighth floor, first door on the right," Lucas said.
"Wow!" Noa yelled, running in the extremely nice, spacious apartment.
"Inside voices, baby," Elizabeth told her. Though, Noa had it correct.
"I know its really nice, but isn't that a good thing?" Lucas asked. "If we need to live somewhere for a month that isn't home, it should be enjoyable." He hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek. "There's a jacuzzi tub in the master bath."
"Dibs!" Elizabeth giggled, squirming from his lips.
"You can have dibs as long as that includes me."
"I suppose that would be fine."
"Mommy! Come see my princess room! Its soooooooo big!" Noa shouted.
"Inside voices, Noa," she reminded her as she wandered up the stairs and down the hallway.
"Sorry, Mommy. See my big bed?!"
"Wow! This is big. Are you excited?"
"Yes! I have my own potty too! Right in there!"
"Your own bathroom?"
"This apartment has three," Lucas said from the doorway.
Three bathrooms. Because it was as big as a house. She couldn't wait to see the master if the second bedroom was this big.
"Well, husband, how did you arrange for a princess room for Noa?" she asked, knowing that he had connections and money.
"Joe Canfield. I asked him if he could take care of it. My guess is Minnie helped too."
"I'll have to thank them."
"Alright, so our groceries should be here within a few hours," he said, checking his phone.
"Grocery delivery, huh?"
"Easier than getting a cab, going to the store, catching another cab, hauling the groceries up here to the 8th floor and then putting them away."
"Good point. Let's check out the master."
He led the way down the hall and opened the door for her. "Whoa! Check it out," she said, walking over and sitting on a very cloudlike bed. "Gorgeous."
"Yes, you are."
"Wanna take a nap? This is a very nice bed."
"I'd love to, but the groceries are almost here and I need to get to work."
"You're leaving already?"
"Well, yeah. I'm sorry."
"Will you be here for dinner?"
"I don't think so."
"Alright."
"I have the weekends off, just like when we are at home." She nodded.
"I'm going to do some research and find some fun stuff to do with Noa."
He handed her a credit card. "Babe, I don't like using credit cards."
"I know but I'd like you to use it while we are here. We will just pay it off after but this way, you don't have to worry about a budget and you and Noa can have fun at the same time."
She nodded and walked into his arms. "I love you, Lucas Bouchard. Thank you for always taking care of us."
"Its truly my honor."
She reached up to kiss him, holding on for a few long minutes. "Are you sure you can't stay?'
"Mm. Yes." He kissed her again. "I am going to go say goodbye to Noa and then I need to go."
The security door downstairs buzzed for the apartment so she answered it and let the grocery guy up.
"Mommy? What are we going to do today?"
"Well, we need to unpack our suitcases and then maybe find a bookstore?"
"Yay! Yes, I need books!"
They did leave most of her books at home, so it would be fun to get some new ones.
"Can we get all dressed up and go to lunch?"
"Dressed up?"
"Yeah. I brought my princess dress and a tiara."
"Well, maybe not today, but yes. I'm sure we can have a fancy lunch at some point."
"Can we go to the toy store? That big one when we were here last time? Please?"
"I will put that on the list of things to do."
"Yay. You're the best, Mommy."
"Thanks, punkin!"
…..
About an hour later, they were in a cab headed to a nearby bookstore. Elizabeth took Noa's hand as they walked across the busy sidewalk and into the door of the cozy store.
"Wow, Mommy! Look at all the books!"
"I know! This will be so fun." She wanted some coffee so once they found some books, she was going to get a cup and they could sit down and read for a bit.
About thirty minutes later, Elizabeth's phone lit up with a text.
"Hey, love. Did you find something to do?"
"Hi! We are at a bookstore, Noa's request."
"Sounds fun. I wish I was there."
"Work not fun?"
"Just meetings. We are on break right now. Miss u."
"Miss u more."
"Maybe all three of us can go to the bookstore this weekend."
"Sounds perfect, hon."
She had her own idea about Saturday morning. They were going to sleep in a bit, make pancakes and stay in their pajamas all day. Maybe watch movies. It sounded perfect.
"I have plans for us on Saturday," she texted.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yep. No details right now."
"Surprises, huh? Sounds good to me."
"Mommy! Look, this princess has a dress just like mine! Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?"
She put her phone down and hugged her adorable daughter. "No, actually, you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, punkin."
"You're pretty too, Mommy."
Elizabeth put her on her lap, against her baby bump. "Wanna help me make breakfast for Daddy this weekend?"
"Can we eat it in bed?"
"Absolutely!"
"Can we have whipped cream on top?"
"Sure."
"And strawberries?"
"Okay."
"And chocolate chips."
"We'll see."
"Alright. I guess I'll help," she said with plenty of six-going-on-twelve sass.
"Silly girl. Alright, let's go buy our books and get back home."
"Okay, Mommy."
A couple books for each of them later, they wandered back in the apartment, grateful for an elevator.
….
Lucas got home around nine pm and found Elizabeth reading in bed, looking beyond gorgeous.
"Hey," he whispered, shutting and locking the door.
She smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Locking the door?"
He untied his tie and she put the book she was reading down. He sat next to her on her side of the bed.
"How was work?"
"I don't want to talk about work."
"Are you hungry? We got Italian for dinner."
"I am."
"I can go get you someth…" she began, but he hushed her with a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth.
"Oh," she whispered, placing her hands on her belly.
"What?"
"I felt it move. Like a flutter, a bump."
He moved his hands to her belly and waited, leaning his forehead against hers.
"It might be too early for you to feel it, babe. It's so tiny."
He pulled out his phone, curious how big Baby Bouchard was this week.
"Let's see, at twenty one weeks….a carrot. He is the size of a carrot. And I should be able to feel him move soon!"
"Him?"
"I mean, I know we said we would wait until we got back to Hope Valley but what if we got an ultrasound here? To find out?"
She felt another flutter bump sensation. She grabbed his hand and gently pressed it to her. "There. Feel it?"
He smiled. Big. "Yes. Hi, baby. It's Daddy. Oh my goodness. I love you so much."
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her belly, his eyes watery. He had missed all these wonderful milestones with Noa. He was going to soak up every single one with this little person.
"I heard a name on the radio in the cab, Beth. For a boy."
"What was it?"
"Cayson. Cayson Lucas, since you want Lucas in there somewhere."
"Cayson," she whispered. "Cay for short." She kissed him and smiled. "That's a good one. Its absolutely on the list."
"Great."
He climbed over her legs and laid next to her, propped up on his elbow, a spark in his eye that she recognized very well. "So…are you tired?"
"What did you have in mind?"
….
Saturday morning
"Daddy! Wake up! I helped Mommy make Pancakes and they smell very yummy," Noa said, climbing up on the bed where Lucas was dozing.
"Mm. Just five more minutes, okay sweet pea."
"But, I made a smiley with the whipped cream and the strawberries are the eyes and its melting. You gotta wake up, Daddy!"
He opened his eyes and smiled. "Alright. I'm awake. I'm awake."
"Happy family pajama day, Luke," Beth said, setting a tray on the bedside table. "Punkin, go get a couple towels.We don't want to spill on the bed."
"Family pajama day?" Luke said, sitting back against the headboard.
"Yep. Its a thing because I made it up and that's what we are doing today. Pajamas, breakfast in bed, board games and books, take out and movies. All day. Just the three of us."
"Sounds perfect."
"Got the towels," Noa shouted, running and putting the towels on the bed.
"Thanks, buggy."
As they ate, Noa entertained them with a million questions. "How did the baby get in your tummy, Mommy?"
Elizabeth looked at Lucas and blushed. She knew the subject would come up eventually. However, that didn't mean she was necessarily prepared to explain it to their six year old.
"Well, when Mommy's and Daddy's love each other very much, they make a baby out of something from Daddy's body and something from Mommy's. Then God makes the baby grow inside. When it gets big enough, it comes out."
Lucas braced himself for the need to be more detailed, but Noa just sat quietly and then nodded. "Okay."
Noa took a few more bites and looked at Elizabeth's tummy. "When, Mommy?"
"When what, love?"
"When will the baby be big enough? I want to meet them."
"I do too, bugs. It will be around Christmas Time."
"That's a really good Christmas present!"
"The best!" Lucas agreed.
"Is it a boy or a girl? I want a brother."
"You do?" Elizabeth was shocked. She thought her little princess of tea parties and all things pink and purple would want a sister to share those things with.
"Yup!"
"Well, we don't know what it is yet but after we fly back home, we will find out."
"Can I help you decorate the baby's room?"
"Of course you can."
"Cool. Can we watch a movie now?"
Lucas handed her the remote and watched as she figured out how to find Disney Channel all by herself.
"Great job handling that," Lucas told Elizabeth quietly. "It didn't phase you at all."
"Well, I figured it was coming but I can't agree with you that it was easy. I just figured, she doesn't need to know details. Not at 6 years old."
"Smart woman," he told her, placing a gentle kiss on her jaw and a hand on her tummy. "I love you, Beth Bouchard."
"I love you more."