Amanda's Bridal, Nashville
Andrea, Lucas' step-sister, Julie with her youngest Peter, and Vi were there helping pick a wedding dress for Elizabeth.
"I have two daughters," Julie said, explaining to Andrea.
"May I hold Peter?" Andrea asked, itching for a baby fix. She wanted to be a mom so badly. Thankfully, Lucas and Elizabeth were making her an aunt but anytime there was a baby to be held, she was there.
"Of course. He's all snuggly and warm and has a full tummy so enjoy," Julie told her, handing him over.
Andrea sighed once the little guy was in her arms. "Heaven," she whispered.
"Do you have kids, Andrea?"
"No, I'd love to be a mom though."
"Does your husband or boyfriend want kids?"
"I don't have either of those. Not for lack of wanting one. Just hasn't worked out."
"Well, you never know when you might meet the right person. Look at Beth and Lucas."
"You're right."
Elizabeth walked out in a dress but they could all tell she wasn't loving it.
"Not the one?" Vi asked.
"No. I do like the neckline though."
"So sweetheart neckline is a want," the consultant said.
"Yes and I know that by October, I'm going to be showing more than this so the waist needs to be more forgiving," Elizabeth mentioned.
"Got it," the consultant said with a smile. "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"How far along will you be by your wedding?"
"Five months."
"How exciting!"
"It is."
"Let's go for dress number two."
Lucas sat in Lee's house watching Julian while Rosemary took a nap. He was having fun using his rusty Spanish but he missed Beth. Alot. He knew it would be good for her to get away for some girl time but he didn't like not seeing her every day.
"Wook," Julian said, putting his pudgy hand on Luke's knee.
"Hi, hola!."
"Missing Beth?" Lee asked.
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you go with her?"
"Its a girl's trip and its for her wedding dress. Not something I should see yet."
"You could send her flowers, let her know you are thinking of her."
"Great idea!" He had Julie's address, where they were staying, so he picked up his phone and within 5 minutes, flowers were sent.
"Did Rosie start with the new nursery yet?"
"Yep! She's right on schedule. She's due March 2nd and she's got everything all set in her mind what she wants."
"Are you guys going to find out genders?"
"Absolutely. Rosie needs to know so she can decorate accordingly."
"Beth wants to wait. I want to know!"
"This is just me, Luke, but my feeling is that the woman is doing all the work, pains, aches, contractions, weight gain, labor and delivery. I think she gets to choose."
Luke laughed. "You are one hundred percent correct, bro. Thanks for setting me straight."
"Happy to help."
"Poop, Papa!" Julian yelled.
"Let's go, Julian." Lee took his hand and led him to the bathroom while Luke stayed behind and texted Beth.
"I love u!"
He didn't expect a text back right away, but it felt good to send it and know she'd see it soon.
"I love u 2!"
"Hi! Did you find a dress?"
"No, not yet. We are going to go to dinner soon and back to Julie's. I can call you then."
"Sure. I miss you."
"I miss u too."
He felt like a teenage boy with a really big crush on the head cheerleader. He wanted to hop on the next plane and fly there, just to hug and kiss her.
"Wook! Pooped!" Julian yelled, running over to him.
"In the potty?"
"Si!"
"Way to go!"
It was so cute how proud he was. As gross as many people would find it, Lucas couldn't wait to deal with his and Beth's kids potty training. He looked forward to urging them on, congratulating them and celebrating. He may even throw a party.
"Julian pooped in the potty!" he texted Beth using the poop emoji and a toilet.
She texted back clapping hands and a heart. "U are 2 cute, husband."
Elizabeth laughed as they drove to the restaurant downtown.
"What's funny back there?" Julie asked.
"Julian, our friend's little boy, apparently used the potty and Lucas is very excited."
"Wait until your little one does that. He'd probably throw a party."
"Probably. A poop in the potty party!"
All of the girls laughed and agreed, knowing Lucas, he would do that.
That evening when returning to Julie and Jake's house, a beautiful bouquet of white tulips sat on the table just inside the door.
"Ooooo, I wonder who got the beautiful tulips?" Julie said, winking at Elizabeth.
"Mama!" four year old Kellie yelled, running over and hugging Julie's legs.
"Hey, Kelliebellie. I missed you!"
"Me, Mama?" Rayna, the three year old said.
"Yes, Ray. You too." She kissed their heads and put down Peter's car seat.
"And me?" Jake said, standing in the doorway, with an apron on, covered in something sticky it looked like.
Julie walked over to him and kissed him twice. "Always, hon."
Andrea tried not to be jealous of Elizabeth's sister, but she was. She wanted that so much. Maybe Julie was right. Maybe she'd find someone and a year from now, maybe she'd be married too.
"I got these beautiful white tulips…I wonder who they are from," Beth texted Lucas.
"Me! Who else?"
She called him next and he picked up immediately. "I miss your voice," she told him.
"I miss your face," he said back. "How many days until you're home?"
"Just two. I think we can make it."
"Maybe."
"So we are going to look at more dresses tomorrow. Fingers crossed I find the one."
"You could wear that purple silky thingy you wore on the first night you slept over."
"I'm sure you would love that, but um, no. I will not be wearing that to our wedding. I can try to wear it soon after though, if Boo isn't taking up too much room by then."
"Promise? Its my favorite."
"I promise."
"Don't forget to take Lee and Julian to get new suits. Navy please."
"Will do."
Lucas looked up when the doorbell rang. "Someone's here. I'll call you back, hon."
"Okay. Love you."
"Love you."
He opened the door and gasped. "Janette? What are you doing here?" He couldn't help but look down at her very swollen stomach. Crap.
"Lucas, may I come in?"
"I guess." He opened the door and let her through. She better not suggest what he assumed she was going to.
She walked right to the couch and sat down, noticing the throw pillows and throw that added color to the drab room.
"Janette?"
"We need to talk."
"About…"
"This baby. Our daughter."
"No."
"No, what?"
"We have not been together in…"
"Eight months and three days. The night we got to Oahu to be exact."
"No. That's not possible. You were on birth control, Janette."
"Yes, well, nothing is 100%." He knew that to be true, with Elizabeth taking a pill a few hours late and now Boo was on the way.
"I want a paternity test. For all I know, this baby is that bartender's."
"I didn't sleep with him, Lucas."
"I don't believe you."
"Fine. I know that she is yours. Once we get a paternity test, you will also know the same thing."
"Until then, please go."
"I'll let you know when I go into labor."
"I don't want to know. She's not mine."
"Bye, Lucas."
He paced the house after she left, totally lost and confused and overwhelmed. He texted Lee. He needed an outside viewpoint.
"Lee, are you busy?"
"Give me a moment."
A moment later his phone rang. Lucas sat down on the couch and answered.
"Lee."
"Bro, what's going on?"
"Janette just…she's…it can't be…"
"What? I need more words, Luke."
"Janette just showed up at my door and she claims I'm the father of the baby she is carrying."
"Is it possible?"
"No. I mean, yes, but no."
"When was the last time you were with her?"
"Apparently eight months and three days ago. She says the baby is mine! What am I supposed to do? How can I tell Beth?"
"Get a paternity test, to begin with. The baby is probably that bartender's."
"That's what I said but she said she never slept with him, which I don't believe for a moment."
"Dude…"
"Please don't tell Rosie."
"I can't keep secrets, bro. You know that. If she asks, I will tell her."
"I know…I just need to tell Beth before Rosie does."
"If it were me…"
"Yeah?"
"If it were me, I'd get the paternity test and tell Rosie immediately."
"Yeah. Thanks for talking it out with me."
"Good luck, Lucas."
"Thank you."
The next couple days went by and he stressed about the possibilities and how he would tell Beth and how she would react. Now, she would be home in about five minutes and he needed to tell her. He had to get it off his chest.
"Luke?" she called, walking in the door.
He hurried down the short hallway and scooped her up in his arms, gently but firmly. "Babe, I…we need to talk."
"I need to pee and then sure. We can talk."
He held on a bit longer and she could feel the tension in him. "Babe?"
She pulled back and saw his eyes. "Come with me." She led him to the bathroom, did what she needed to do and then they walked into the bedroom and sat down. "What is it?"
"Babe, I can't lose you."
"What? I'm not going anywhere."
"What if…babe….Janette came over and…"
"And…" she prompted.
"She's pregnant. Very pregnant."
Elizabeth pulled back a bit but kept her eyes on him. "Okay."
"She says the baby is mine."
"Is it?" She asked the question, but she didn't really want to know.
"To be completely honest, I don't know. She swears she didn't sleep with that bartender but…babe, I don't believe her."
"But you won't know unless you take a test."
"Right."
"Then that's what you'll do. That will ease your mind and mine."
"How are you so calm?" he asked as she changed into a clean pair of black leggings and one of his t-shirts.
"If the baby isn't yours, we have nothing to worry about."
"What if she is?"
"A girl, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Well, if you are having a daughter, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know!" he said with a lot of frustration. "If I have a baby, I can't not love it. Seriously, Beth. I am not someone who could look the other way."
"I know."
"But you and I…we are building a life here with Boo. This can't be happening."
She hugged him tight and kissed him silent for a few moments, giving him a much needed distraction. "Babe, we are a team. I'm not leaving you and we will always be together. I promise. No matter what."
"Gosh, I missed you, Beth."
"I missed you more."
…..
The next day, Lucas texted Janette to tell her that he needed her to make an appointment for them to get a paternity test done. He didn't want to wait. He needed to know if his life was going to change even more than it had already changed.
A few days later, the test was done and the doctor had said that they would have the results within a week. In the meantime, Beth was not throwing up in the mornings anymore and felt Boo move twice. She had made a couple hats for Boo and their wedding was getting closer.
Finally, Lucas received the envelope in the mail from the clinic where they did the paternity test.
He was scared to open it, but Beth insisted that she would support whatever decision he made if the baby was his.
"Okay, Lucas. Let's see what it says."
He tore the envelope open…..