Christmas Eve morning
Lucas, Lilly and Mattie made breakfast for everyone and then everyone piled into the master to eat. They had been doing that since year one so it was a tradition that everyone expected and enjoyed.
"We have breakfast, babe," Lucas whispered, kissing Beth's forehead. Mattie carried a tray of pancakes, syrup and fruit and Lucas had another tray of plates, eating utensils and drinks. Lilly brought towels to put on the bed to protect it from messy food.
"Mm. That smells really good."
"Happy Christmas Eve, Mama," Mattie said with a smile.
"You too, Mattie."
Lucas handed the tray to Elizabeth and went to wake up the boys. "E and Vince. Breakfast in the master," he called down the hall. "You snooze, you lose."
The boys finally came in a few minutes later and laid down on the end of the bed, barely awake.
"Morning boys," Elizabeth said, laughing. Their messy hair, ratty pajamas and groans were so like the boys they were.
"Morning."
"Can you wake up for a minute? Dad and I have an announcement to make."
Ethan had fallen back to sleep and was now snoring, making everyone laugh.
"E," Vince nudged him with his foot. More of a kick than a nudge but it did the trick.
"Ugh, Vince. Stop."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and looked at their children that were awake. "So we were going to talk about this tonight at dinner but since we will be having a guest, we decided we would tell you right now that in about six months, we are having a baby."
The kids stared at them, no response. "Did everyone fall asleep?" Lucas asked. "No response?"
"Another kid? Aren't you too old?" Ethan moaned.
"Congratulations," Mattie said quietly.
"Yeah, congratulations," Lilly said, eating her pancakes.
Lucas and Elizabeth glanced at each other and shrugged. Maybe they just needed a bit of time to adjust to it.
After breakfast, Lucas and the kids went downstairs to do the dishes. He sent the boys to the attic to get the decorations for the tree that they were leaving to go get in just about an hour.
Elizabeth took a hot shower and tried not to dwell on the disappointment that she felt from the kid's reaction.
"Babe?"
Lucas stood at the sink and brushed his teeth. He heard sniffling in the shower so he turned around. "Beth? Honey, why the tears?"
"Maybe we are too old for this," she mumbled. "Another kid? I mean, we are going to be sixty when he or she is twenty. Sixty, Lucas."
She got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself. Then she wrapped her hair in another one and started brushing her teeth.
"Elizabeth."
She looked at him in the mirror.
"We are not too old to have another baby. I don't feel old, do you? Truthfully?"
"No."
"Don't let what a teenage boy says make you doubt this blessing. He blurts things out and isn't always kind."
"Can we ground him?" she asked, teasing.
"Sure. Whatever you want, love."
He wrapped her up in his arms and smiled. "I love you, Beth."
"I love you too."
"Let's get dressed and ready to go pick out our tree and then we can come home and watch a movie or something."
"Okay."
"You're okay?"
"I am."
He kissed her twice and went to get dressed. Then he headed downstairs to where the kids were. "Ethan, can I speak with you please?"
"Yeah."
He had Ethan follow him to the kitchen where it was devoid of siblings. "E, you are not in trouble. I just want to know if you are aware that sometimes your words can be hurtful."
"I guess. What are you talking about?"
"When you blurt things out like this morning during breakfast, that your mom and I are too old to have a baby…it was hurtful. Now, I know that wasn't your intention, but I just want you to promise that you will try to be more careful in the future."
"Okay." He folded his arms and frowned. "I'm sorry, Dad."
"Maybe say that to your mom, too, son. I appreciate it though."
"I guess I don't understand why we need another kid."
"Sometimes things happen when they aren't planned, E. But I can assure you that this baby, this sibling for you, is a blessing."
"But babies cry all the time and they stink."
"Right there, E. You need to choose your words better. I understand this is what you are feeling but its not necessary to say it in quite that way."
"Look, E," Elizabeth said, tears running down her face. "We are having a baby and yes they are a lot of work, but this baby deserves to be loved just as much as you do and your brothers and sisters. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry, Mom."
Ethan was a good boy and not demonstrative with his affection but seeing his mom cry changed his feelings for the moment. He walked over and hugged her.
"I love you, Ethan Lawrence William Bouchard."
"I love you too."
"And I love this new baby just like I love you. Now go help Vince with the decorations and change clothes. We leave for the tree lot in fifteen minutes."
"Okay."
"You alright?" Lucas asked, rubbing her back.
"My favorite jeans don't fit," she sniffed. "Which means my shorts that I was going to wear on our trip won't fit and I don't have time to go shopping for new ones."
"Oh boy. I'm sorry. I think we can find an hour or two to get you some new things. After we go pick out a tree, we can head to the mall, alright?"
"But I need to cook the ham and potatoes and the pies and…"
"Beth, Mattie and Lilly can start the ham. They know how."
"Okay." She had been teaching them both to cook for the last couple years. They could handle it.
They didn't leave in fifteen minutes. It was actually an hour but they ended up picking out a very nice tree and brought it home and put it up so it would be ready to decorate later.
Then Lucas and Elizabeth drove to the mall to get some clothes she could wear and be comfortable in on vacation. She bought maternity shorts with the elastic front panel that would grow with her, yoga pants and a couple sun dresses with empire waists. Then she sent him to the car while she picked out a new negligee.
When she got to the vehicle, her handsome husband was standing there, leaning against the car with a bouquet of roses in his hands and a smile on his face. Her tears just poured. Stupid hormones.
"Aw, honey."
She just waved him off and walked into his arms. "Just hormones. Thank you for the flowers."
"You deserve a whole field of them, Beth."
"I'm so blessed. I love you, Lucas."
She knew she was. She felt it daily with her four healthy kids, her parents, her husband, her job. She was so blessed and to think that they would have a fifth child was overwhelming but she was up for it. The moment she saw the little one's face, she would instantly be in love and nothing else would matter.
…..
"O, Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth."
Elizabeth and her girls sang the song they always did every year as they decorated their tree. Then they would all join in and take turns singing the favorites of each person.
Elizabeth caught the flirty looks between Mattie and Zane as the two of them strung the white twinkle lights in between the branches of the tree.
When it was time for Zane's favorite, Silent Night, he started in a rich baritone and Mattie joined, their voices so beautiful together. Instead of all joining in, everyone just watched the young couple sing together. Lucas put his arms around Elizabeth from behind and watched as he saw the connection the two had.
Elizabeth looked up at Lucas and smiled, kissing his cheek. She saw the same thing and they both had a feeling they were looking at the person who was going to marry their daughter.
After the tree was beautifully trimmed, Lucas took the boys to the dining room to tackle the gingerbread mansion. Elizabeth and Lilly sat down on the couch and turned on "It's a Wonderful Life" while Mattie and Zane chatted on the love seat a few feet away, hands intertwined.
"So this is what a Bouchard Christmas Eve is like," Zane said quietly to Mattie.
"Pretty much, yeah. Dad is helping Vince and E with the gingerbread mansion but he's also hanging mistletoe in strategic places around the house," she giggled. "Its a game with my parents. Mom always gets surprised at the places he puts it but I never hear her complain."
Zane nodded with a smile. 'My Dad is probably reading by the fireplace while Mom and the other kids are watching a movie. Our Christmas isn't as family oriented as yours but its still fun."
"You are always welcome to come here."
"I appreciate that. I am going home tomorrow though. We are going to open gifts once I get home."
"My mom told us this morning that she's pregnant," Mattie told him.
"Oh wow."
"Yeah. I mean I'm happy for them, it just doesn't affect me too much because I'll be off to college soon anyway."
"Do you maybe wish you were going to be around? To help your mom, get to know your sibling. Help raise them, teach them?"
"What are you really asking, Zane Coulter?" she teased.
"Alright…in the future, do you see kids there?"
"My kids or in general?" she asked. She turned toward him a bit, curling her legs up so her knee was resting against him.
"Yours," he said quietly.
"Kids are there. At least two, maybe three."
"Yeah, two. At least," he agreed. "Do you see…who your partner would be?"
"Yeah."
They looked deeply into each other's eyes for a long moment.
"I know I'm seventeen but I know what I'm feeling and I know my heart."
"And what is your heart saying?"
"Beth!" Lucas called. "Come see the mansion."
Elizabeth smirked at Lilly before they both got up and walked into the dining room.
"My heart is saying that…you are the one I'm supposed to be with," Mattie admitted. "You're my best friend and my first kiss and my first date. The one I want to know and see every day."
"Me too."
Elizabeth pulled Lucas to the doorway and they stood watching the young couple. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop but the conversation they're having is pretty serious, Luke."
"I don't know how I feel about that."
"I feel like they have known each other their whole lives. They care about each other, which makes sense."
As Zane leaned in to kiss Mattie, the parents stepped away, giving them privacy, trusting their oldest, perhaps the hardest thing they had done to date.
Another minute later, Zane and Mattie walked into the dining room to see the mansion.
"Wow. I have to say it's the largest gingerbread house I've ever seen," Zane told them.
"Mansion," Vince corrected.
"Mansion, yes. Well, I'm going to head out. I'm leaving to head home early tomorrow. Thank you, Lucas, Elizabeth for having me for dinner."
Not Uncle Lucas or Aunt Beth like he'd always called them.
"Thank you for coming," Elizabeth said, hugging him. "Drive safe, please. Give your parents and brothers and sisters a hug for us."
"I promise."
Lucas stepped over and offered his hand. "It was good to see you, Zane. Take care."
"I will, thank you."
Zane stepped back and took Mattie's hand and smiled at her. "Walk me out?"
"Yeah. I'll be right back," she told her parents.
As they stepped out onto the porch, Mattie giggled and pointed up. Mistletoe.
She stepped into Zane's arms and gave him a peck and then a second one.
"Text me when you get to your grandpa's house?"
"I will."
She sighed and gave him a hug. They didn't know exactly when they'd see each other in person again and unless someone went with her, she probably wouldn't be allowed to drive four hours to see him.
"Spring break?" he asked her. "Maybe you and Lilly can come down to visit."
"I'll ask." She felt a tear fall and he caught it with his thumb. "I miss you already."
He kissed her again and walked down the steps. "Bye, Matts."
"Bye."