…..

After their long weekend up north, it was time for real life to begin again.

"Babe, question," she said as they pulled into the driveway of their tiny house.

"Yes, I want to go to bed early."

She giggled as he chuckled. "Me too, but that's not it."

"Oh. What is it?"

"I was thinking once we move into the new house, we could get a dog."

"Not a puppy though. We don't really have time to train one."

"I do. I'm not working right now and I need something to do."

"You will have the whole house to decorate, babe."

"Are we having our first fight?" She was totally joking but he got serious.

"No, babe, I'm not fighting. If you want a puppy..."

"Lucas, I was kidding. We can talk more about it. Let's just go unpack and get some dinner."

He had a serious look on his face so she leaned over the center console and kissed him. "So serious."

"I just..I want you to be happy. If a puppy makes you happy, I want you to have it."

She got out of the car, walked to his side and opened his door. Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him out.

She put his hands on Boo and smiled. "You, husband, make me extremely happy. You made me a Mama to Boo. You take care of me. You married me. I do not NEED a puppy but I do need you and Boo."

"You have me."

"I know and I need you to know that I do not need you to get me things to make me happy. I just need you."

"Okay."

"Are you sure? You seem quiet all of the sudden."

"We are back to real life. I don't know what to do with that."

"Nothing has changed except now I have your last name and we are wearing your parents' rings."

"It feels different. Don't get me wrong, I love that I can call you my wife. I don't know how to explain it."

"That's okay. Just remember I'm always going to be here. I'm never going to willingly leave you."

"Like Jeanette", were the unspoken words.

He pulled her as close as he could and they just held each other by the car.

"Is that what was bothering you, hon?"

"Maybe. I don't know. Let's go unpack and order some food."

So they did. He ordered Italian and they ate all the carbs, took a bath and headed to bed.

…..

The next morning,

"I need to go to work," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her goodbye. "I love you."

"I love you too."

She missed him already, even in her half asleep state.

"Luke."

He stopped at the door and looked back at her. "Yeah."

"I'll miss you today."

He would miss her too. It made his arms ache to hold her, his lips tingle, needing one more kiss. So he walked back over, sat next to her on the bed and cashed in on that kiss.

She smiled and adjusted his tie. "You look great."

"Thank you. So I'm going to mention the barbecue idea to the people at work. I really think it's a good idea to help build a rapport outside work."

She nodded. "Talk at lunch?"

"Yep."

He left and she drifted back to sleep for another hour before getting up to shower and eat. Her phone buzzed on the counter as she loaded the dishwasher.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Beth. Want to come over and keep me company?" Rosie asked.

"Absolutely. I will be there in about an hour."

"Sounds good."

As she was driving, she heard from Hannah their realtor that their closing was set for two weeks away. In two weeks they would have their keys! How exciting.

When she got to Rosie's, she stayed in her house for a minute and texted Luke.

"Hey, hotstuff. Hannah says our closing is November 7th."

…..

Bank of Ann Arbor, HQ

Lucas leaned back in his chair in the conference room to appear more relaxed. He wasn't. He knew how the people in the room felt about him.

"One more item we need to figure out before we head out to our desks."

They all stared at him but didn't have any feeling or emotion on their faces. At least they were making eye contact and he decided to ignore the eye roll from one of them.

"I thought it might be fun to get to know each other outside work so I'm organizing a barbecue. Its obviously not required for you to be there, but I'd really like to get rid of this tension that is always here and focus on positive things. The date will be November 12th. Its a Saturday. It will be at Condor Pavilion at 1pm. Families are welcome. My wife will be there as well and we'd love for you to join us."

They were all still staring but he could tell they just wanted to walk out.

"That's all. Have a great day, everyone."

He sat down with a sigh and hung his head. He was so stressed and discouraged. He got zero response and he was hoping at least one person would agree but whatever. He just wanted to see Beth. That would cheer him up.

He looked at his phone and saw her text about the closing date. At least that was good.

"Sir?" Mei, one of his employees said from the doorway.

"Yes, Mei?"

"My husband and I and our daughter would like to come to your barbecue."

"Great. That would be nice to have you there."

She nodded quietly. She didn't leave though.

"What's on your mind, Mei?"

"I just want to say that I don't hold your newness to the company or position against you."

"You don't?"

"No. I think you do a good job and honestly, you've put up with more crap from everyone than I would have."

"I appreciate you saying that Mei but may I ask you a question?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you concerned with what others will think? Your support and all?"

"Not anymore. It wasn't fair for me to go along with them as long as I did. I want to apologize for that and let you know that I will no longer go along with the crowd."

"Thank you, Mei. I'm looking forward to introducing you to my wife and meeting your family."

After Mei walked out, he texted Beth back. "Hey sexy. I'm so excited to finalize our house with you and I can't wait to tell you about my day."

Then he headed back to work.

…..

"Tia Beth? Story?" Julian asked, bringing her a book.

"Of course, buddy. I will read to you."

Rosie was dozing in her room so Julian and Elizabeth were playing and now reading.

"Tia, baby?" he asked, poking her tummy gently.

"Yes. I have a baby in there, just like Mama."

"Mama two."

"That's true. I only have one."

He leaned down and kissed her tummy, like Elizabeth had seen him do with Rosie's. What a wonderful little boy.

"Read?"

"Alright, let's read. Would you like some juice?"

"Yeah. Choos."

"Alright."

Within a few minutes, Julian was asleep curled up on the couch with her. She smiled at Lucas' text. She didn't feel sexy but she wasn't going to stop him from telling her she was.

"I can't wait to hear about it," she told him. "Roast beef for dinner and a special dessert."

"Does the dessert involve you in my favorite purple ensemble?"

"Babe, I don't think it fits anymore. Boo has grown. I can check though."

"Sad face," he texted, making her smile. "But not sad, because Boo is growing."

"Luv u."

"Ditto."

Lee sighed in his office down the hall. He had applied at six different places and heard nothing about interviews. He and Rosie were officially living off their savings and it wouldn't last forever.

There had to be something. He didn't have any experience in finance or he'd ask Luke if he had openings.

He heard a knock at the door. "Come in."

"Lee, I need to get going. Julian is in his bed and Rosie is sleeping."

"Thanks, Beth."

"How's the job search going?"

"Need any help party planning?"

"Yes!"

"I was kidding but I need something."

"Well, Lucas and I decided that I wasn't going to work while pregnant, or at least nothing strenuous. He did say that he and I could plan the barbecue that he is throwing for his team at work but maybe you and I could do it. I could use someone to do the heavy lifting so to speak."

"I'll do it."

"Awesome. That's great, Lee. I will be in touch and we can nail down the details."

"Okay. Thank you, Beth."

Beth got home and the house smelled amazing since she had been cooking the roast the whole day. Her tummy growled and she rubbed her tummy.

"Soon, Boo. We will have food soon. And Daddy is going to be home soon too. I can't wait to see him."

Boo kicked, making her smile. "Hi there. Are you a baby girl or a boy?"

"I think Boo is a girl," Lucas said from the doorway where he was leaning all sexy and hunky, his jacket off, tie undone.

"Crap, you look good," she told him, walking over to kiss him. "I have news too but yours first. After you are ready to talk."

"Did you get a nap today?"

"No but I was too excited to nap."

"Babe, you need to rest."

"We are going to bed early so I will get some rest a bit later."

He put his hands on her hips and lifted, setting her softly on the counter. "I'll finish dinner."

"I was going to cut up some sweet potatoes."

"I can do that. Tell me your news."

"Well," she said, clapping her hands. "Guess who is going to be working with me to plan your barbecue."

"Me?"

"Nope. You are off the hook. I hired Lee!"

"Lee. Lee Coulter?"

"Yes."

"Lee Coulter is going to plan a barbecue?"

"Yes, babe. Lee Coulter. He hasn't had any luck with finding a job so I hired him."

"Can you afford to hire him?"

"You and I need to decide what we can pay him. I didn't give him details like that. I knew we needed to talk."

Lucas nodded as he peeled a couple sweet potatoes. They chatted through the details and then they ate dinner.

"Tell me your news, Luke," she said as they lounged on the couch later.

"After our meeting this morning, I let everyone know I was throwing a barbecue."

"What did they say?"

"Nothing. Not one word."

"That's so rude."

"But after everyone left, an accountant Mei came back in and told me that she and her family wanted to come."

"That's great! Babe, it's working."

"I know. She also said that she wouldn't treat me like everyone else does anymore. That I don't deserve it and I'm doing a good job."

"She's right."

"Thank you."

"You believe that, right?"

"I suppose."

"Sweetheart, you work hard and you've spent way too long putting up with all the stuff they've thrown at you."

He pressed his lips to her cheek and sighed. "Beth, this is perfect. Laying here with you, talking about our day. Solving things together. This is how I've always pictured married life."

She wiggled a bit, laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

"Yes, perfect."

He felt something move against his hip. Her belly rested there so he wondered…

"Beth, did Boo just move?"

"Mmhm," she mumbled as she relaxed even more.

"I felt her. I felt her kick. That's amazing!"

He held her that way for long after she fell asleep, feeling Boo a couple more times.

He pulled out his phone to check how big the baby was. If he wasn't mistake, Beth was 23 weeks along.

"A large mango," he whispered. 1 and pounds. A foot long. Can hear sounds such as voices and the digestive tract is practicing for life outside the womb.

"Thank you, Lord. What a wonderful gift you have given us."