Mid July

Elizabeth walked into her apartment after work about a week before she was going to move, hot, exhausted, starving and missing Lucas.

It was quite the combo. One more hour and she could call him. She sat down on the couch and looked around at the boxes she had packed. She had so much to pack and she kept putting it off because she had been concentrating on all the paperwork that was involved with turning the business over to Flo and Molly.

Someone knocked on her door so she sighed, got up off the couch and walked over.

"Luke? Oh my goodness! What are you doing here?" She loved that he kept showing up and surprising her.

He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist so she could reach to kiss him. And kiss him. And kiss him.

"I didn't want to wait. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too."

Her stomach growled and they both laughed as she slid to her feet. "Hi," she said quietly.

"Hi, love. We should order some food. How about that Thai place you love?"

"Yes, please." Her appetite had returned for the most part. She only threw up in the morning now and then she just nibbled throughout the day. She had gained a few pounds in her tummy and her jeans didn't fit anymore.

"What do you want?" he asked, taking his phone out of his pocket.

"You." He looked over at her and smirked.

"We can take care of that in a bit, but we need to feed you and my baby first."

"Or while we wait?"

"Sure. One thing at a time, love. What sounds good?"

"Thai basil chicken with extra rice."

"Yum. I think I'll get Shrimp Curry."

She took his hand and led him down the short hall as he finished ordering takeout. "Forty minutes," he told her as she shut the bedroom door.

……

Later

"So what's new?" he asked later, as they shared their Thai food under a blanket on the couch.

"I'm too fat for my jeans," she admitted.

"You are not fat."

"No, but my tummy is growing."

"Which is a good thing."

"Yes, it is. That means that Baby Boo is growing well."

They had affectionately named the baby Baby Boo and he had caved to her desire not to find out the gender. They had agreed that with their second, they would find out the gender no matter if they conceived naturally or adopted. With this one, they'd be surprised.

"I have a question," he said, taking a bite of his curry.

"Shoot."

"When should we get married?"

"I'm not sure. We could do it now, before I'm showing. Just elope or something."

"Um, I'm shooting that down. Babe, your dad is already struggling with all of this. I don't want to deprive him of walking you down the aisle or you of having the wedding you deserve."

"And I do want my sisters there and their families. And Rosie and Lee. Oh and Flo and Molly!" she said, making him laugh. "Okay, so no eloping."

"Right."

"So, I think we should wait until after Boo is born."

"So next summer?"

"Yeah. That sounds good."

"Maybe a wedding on the beach on Lake Michigan."

"That sounds perfect."

Lucas looked around the room.

"Where are the rest of your boxes, Beth?"

"This is all I've done so far."

"Babe…"

"I know but I've been so tired and not feeling good…I sort of just choose to do other stuff instead."

"I'll do it. Just sit there and tell me what to do, alright?"

"I can help."

She stayed where she was though and watched him for a bit, packing her books in just his boxers. She couldn't complain about the view, that's for sure.

"Good Lord, you are so hot." He just flexed his muscles and she turned pink and giggled.

Lucas finished the bookcases and moved to the kitchen where nothing had been packed at all. "Babe?"

She didn't answer so he turned around. She was asleep, in her silky shorts and tank top, her hand over her tummy and looking so gorgeous he just wanted to lay next to her. Packing needed to be done though so he opened the cupboards.

Beth's phone buzzed on the counter. It was her Mom so he picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hi, Lucas?"

"Yes. Hi, Grace. How are you?"

"I'm good. So you flew in early."

"I did. Right now, I'm packing up the kitchen while Beth naps."

"Sweet man. Well, Will and I were going to have you both over Friday but since you are early, what about tomorrow night?"

"Sounds good to me. When Beth wakes up, I'll ask her to be sure she doesn't have to work."

"Great. Talk to you soon."

"Bye, Grace."

"Ask me what?" Elizabeth said, walking up behind him, hugging him from behind.

"Your parents want to know if we can come over tomorrow night instead of Friday."

"Sure, I guess. If you are up for it."

"I'll go wherever you go, love."

"Okay. I'll text them in a bit."

She reached up to kiss him. "I'm going to shower. I'll be out in a bit."

He nodded and kept packing, moving on to the tupperware containers and junk drawers.

……

The next evening

"Do I look okay?" Lucas asked, adjusting the collar of his gray polo and then re-tucking the shirt into his dark jeans.

"Always," she told him, stepping from her closet into the room.

"Seriously, Beth. I want to make a good impression."

"You already did that. My parents know that I love you and that you are good to me. You don't need to try very hard, Lucas."

He put his hands on her hips and gave her a hug, holding her as close as he could. He relaxed, letting the stress of wanting her parents to accept him as not only Beth's husband but the father of their grandchild fall away.

"I love you. All of you, Lucas. I love that you are here early just because you missed me. I love that you packed for me, allowing me to rest. I love your heart, babe. They know you are a good man."

"Alright."

"Now, do I look alright?"

"Always," he said, winking.

…..

After a very enjoyable dinner, William asked to speak with Lucas in his office. Lucas felt like William was in a better frame of mind than he had been when they spilled the beans about Boo. So he wasn't nervous.

"I just want to apologize for my reaction, Lucas. Truly. I was brought up a certain way and I hoped that my girls would follow in my footsteps. I know its old-fashioned, they've told me."

"I understand, sir. I accept your apology but there's no need. It was a shock to me too. But I love your daughter, sir. With all of my heart and our baby too. I will support Beth and love her and our family for the rest of my life, I can assure you."

"Thank you for your honesty. Now I have a question."

"Alright."

"Is there room for another in the moving truck of Beth's?"

"Well, someone needs to drive Beth's car to Michigan so you are welcome to it."

"Count me in. I will see if I can get Gracie to come too. We want to see Michigan and see where Beth and our new son-in-law and grandchild are living."

"Happy to have you, sir."

"Will."

"Will." Lucas shook his hand and then went out to find Beth. She was in the room upstairs.

"This used to be my room, hon," she told him.

"Its nice. Teenagerish."

"Yes, well, they haven't made many changes since I moved out."

"How many years ago was that?" he wondered, walking over and joining her on the bed.

"A while. Mom said I should take whatever I want to Michigan because she wants to use the room as a sewing room."

"Makes sense."

Beth pulled a wooden box out from under the bed and smiled. "I forgot all about this stuff. I definitely want to take this home."

"Yarn and some sticks?"

"Knitting needles, sweetheart. I've always wanted to learn and I guess I forgot all about it. I could make a blanket for Boo!"

"That would be nice."

"And a scarf for you and me and some hats. Wow! This is going to be fun."

"Whatever you want, love. Maybe in our new house, when we finally find one, we can make a room for your crafts and stuff."

"And an office? I can combine the two but I will need a place where I can work."

She didn't know when she would take the time to start her new branch of Thatcher's Events, now that she was pregnant. Was it wise to start and then take time off for maternity?

"What's on your mind, Beth?"

"Does it make sense to start my business before Boo arrives? Maybe I should wait? Until after our wedding?"

"We will be fine if you do but what do you want? Do you think you'll be bored or go crazy if you don't work?"

"I just know that any income will help. But I also want to be home with Boo as long as possible. So maybe if I wait, I can do that."

"Well, you still own a part of Thatcher's Events here so we will get a little income there. I would love it if you could be home with Boo as long as you want. So if that will make it happen and make you happy, I'm all for it."

"That's awesome. Thank you, honey."

He leaned toward her and kissed her twice.

"Oh! Luke, when we get me all moved home, I think I should sell my car and get a new used one with more room."

"Good plan. We can come up with a budget and see what we can do."

Beth was familiar with budgets. Thankfully, her business had paid for all she needed so she hadn't ever been hurting for money. Now, she knew that Lucas made good money but it wasn't endless.

"Sounds good. But right now, let's just go back to my apartment."

……

Michigan, Lee and Rosie's house

"I can't believe it, Lee. How is it possible?" she said, feeling lightheaded. They both stared at the stick that just changed their lives again.

"We stopped worrying, sweetheart. We stopped worrying and we were blessed."

"I'm…shocked. Truly and completely. A baby."

"Yeah. Looks like Julian is going to be a big brother."

"Mama!" Julian yelled, standing up in his crib across the room.

"Hola, mi amor!" she said, walking over to pick him up.

"Potty, Mama!"

He had been learning a few English words here and there and this one was important.

"Okay. Let's go!"

"Yay, Mama!" he said, clapping his hands when he was successful.

"Yay! Good job!"

"Papa! I do!" he said, running over to Lee.

"Yay! I'm so proud. Te amo, mi hijo."

Rosie walked over and shared in Lee's love. "I think we should celebrate, Lee. How about we see if my Dad can come watch Julian? We can go to a movie. Popcorn and soda sound amazing right now."

"Sure. Sounds good."

Rosie's Dad John was busy, however, so that night they stayed in, watched a few episodes of Cocomelon with Julian and once he was asleep they turned on an old movie and ate popcorn, snuggled on the couch.

"Oh boy," Rosie said, pushing the popcorn away.

"What, Rosie?"

"I…I think popcorn wasn't a good choice." She got up and ran to the bathroom.

Lee was clueless about pregnancies. Lucas might know something though. He called him.

"Hey, bro. How are you?"

"Can Beth eat popcorn?" he asked, skipping over the hello part of the conversation.

"I believe so. Why?"

"Just curious."

"Okay." Lucas was confused. "You alright, Lee?"

"Rosie's pregnant. Don't tell anyone."

"Are you serious???? That's awesome! Congratulations."

"What's going on?" Beth asked in the background.

"Can I tell Beth?"

"Sure."

"Rosie's pregnant."

"No way! I'm texting her right now! It will be so fun to be pregnant together!"

"Beth's excited. Congratulations again, Lee."

…..

They picked up the moving truck a few days later and they were ready. Everything was packed and William and Grace came, ready to drive Beth's car to Michigan.

"Ready, Beth?" William asked, wrapping her in his warm fatherly arms.

"I'm going to miss you, Daddy," she said, bursting into tears.

"Well, honey, I'm going with you so we have a few more days before we have to say goodbye."

Elizabeth opened her arms to her mom too and they just hugged for a bit. "We are so proud of you, Bethie," Grace told her, drying her tears.

"You are?"

"Of course, dear. You are so amazing and smart and beautiful and you found a wonderful man to share your life with."

"I did, didn't I?" she said, winking at Lucas. It all started with a girl's trip to Hawaii and she ended up falling in love.

"You did."

"He is pretty great."

"Thanks, love," he said as he picked up a box. "You're pretty great too." He opened the door and looked back. "Not to break this up but let's get loading the truck so we get home."

"Coming, sweetheart."