"Only Mei and her family are coming?" Elizabeth confirmed with Lucas.

"So far. Yeah. People could show up. I gave everyone details so you never know." He shook his head and sighed. "Maybe it was a dumb idea to even suggest it. Those people don't like me."

"They don't know you. They only assume they know what you are like. When they give you a chance, they will see how amazing you are."

"I appreciate that, babe, but you are a little biased."

"Maybe but I also know you. You are hot and sexy and a good kisser…"

He laughed, pulling her closer. "Not sure those things will ever come up at work. And a good kisser? Just good?"

"Shush, you."

They laid down on the couch, face to face, noses bumping, legs intertwined.

"It wasn't a stupid idea," she assured him, teasing his lips with hers.

"Okay."

He tipped his head and kissed her deeply, conveying his appreciation for her endless support.

"Mm," she said when they pulled back. "I retract my earlier adjective about your kissing talents."

He chuckled, feeling Boo kicking as her tummy rested against his. "Hi, Boo."

"Let's take a bath and look at baby names while we drink our tea," she suggested.

"Alright."

As they lay in the water, she held her phone out so both of them could see. "So I know you are pretty confident Boo is a girl, babe, but we need to choose boy names too."

He nodded and kissed her cheek, rubbing her tummy as they relaxed. "Theo. I like that name."

"Short for Theodore?"

"No. Just Theo. Theo Martin Bouchard?" he asked. "If you think putting my dad's name in there makes sense."

"Of course, Luke. I was going to suggest that or Lucas."

"I like Theo Martin."

"Well that was easy. Now if Boo is a girl, we should make her middle name a Hawaiian name."

"A nod to where we met and fell head over heels. Perfect."

They didn't decide on a girl name that evening but chose to keep thinking about it.

Three days later, they signed paperwork on their house and received the keys.

"Let's go see the house," Elizabeth said, barely able to contain herself as he walked her to her car.

"I need to get back to work. You can head over there though."

"I'm not going without you, Lucas. We need to go there together. Our first house together, love."

"Okay, well, after work, lets go then."

"Okay."

She could see he was acting differently. She assumed it had to do with going to work.

"Babe? What's going on?"

"Nothing." He leaned down and kissed her.

"I know its not nothing. I'd love to know what you are worried about."

"The barbecue is this weekend and still no one has said they are coming except for Mei. It seems like a waste of money to even put it together."

"Its not a waste. Even if Mei and her family are the only ones that come, that's still going to be fun. We can play horseshoes and make s'mores and drink hot cocoa. It will still be fun."

"Okay."

She kissed him again and got in her car. "I love you, Lucas. Have a good day at work."

"Thank you."

She headed over to Rosie's to hopefully plan some details for the barbecue with Lee.

"Tia Beth! Come!" Julian yelled, pulling her by the hand and dragging her to a room down the hall.

"Oh wow, Rosie," she said, seeing the gorgeous twin nursery. "Will you give me ideas for Boo's nursery? You are so talented."

"I'll share my pinterest board with you."

"Thank you. I hope you don't mind that I came over. I was hoping to chat with Lee about the barbecue."

"All done!" Lee said from the doorway.

"The planning? You're done?"

"Si."

"I'd love to see what you have come up with."

"Great."

He led her to his office. "So, I know that so far, Lucas has one family coming, but in case more come, I was thinking that the food that we serve needs to be easily stored and frozen so we don't waste it."

"Good plan."

"So I was thinking burgers and dogs or chicken and then since its November, we can serve a cold macaroni salad and not worry about it being in the elements. Then for games, we can do horseshoes and kickball or we can sit around a firepit and roast marshmallows and drink hot cocoa. It doesn't have to be complicated. Simple is better and it can still be fun."

"Cornhole is fun. Let's add that as well."

"Yeah. I'll add it."

They chatted a bit longer and then Beth left, going home to make dinner for her and Lucas. She was thinking they could eat dinner at the new house, like a picnic.

She found candles and a blanket to sit on and then she put a roast chicken in the oven with some veggies.

She changed into a flowy dress that she had bought and slipped on some comfy sandals.

"Be home in 30," his text said around 5pm.

"Drive safe. Special plans for dinner!"

That made Lucas curious. He wasn't in the best mood but seeing Beth helped ninety nine percent of the time.

She opened the door wearing a beautiful dress and a smile on her face. "Hey, handsome. How was your day?"

"Can I just have a hug?"

"Of course." She wrapped her arms around him and held on as long as he needed her too. "Babe. What happened?"

"Nothing new. I just don't know how to change things. I'm so frustrated."

"Let's see who comes to the barbecue and go from there."

"You look beautiful, Beth." He reached up and tucked her curls behind her ears, changing the subject.

"Thank you. Now I made dinner and we are going to eat it but not here. So, why don't you go change or whatever you want for a bit to decompress and then we will go."

He did change and use the restroom and then they were on their way.

"Are we going to the new house?"

"Yep."

She held out her hand and he intertwined their fingers. "I love you, Beth."

"I love you too. I'm excited to move in! I can't wait to decorate. We need to set a budget."

"Okay."

"We don't have to talk about it tonight but maybe by the weekend so I can get some ideas. I'd love to move in before it snows."

"Okay."

They pulled into the driveway of their new house about twenty minutes later. Lucas walked around and opened her door for her, holding out his hand "My lady."

"Thank you, kind sir."

"Dinner smells amazing."

"Roast chicken with veggies."

When they walked in, they set up the candles on the mantle of the fireplace and spread a blanket on the floor.

"So good, Babe," he told her as they ate. "Thanks for doing this. Making the night special."

"I know you've been struggling and I just wanted to make a good memory and celebrate our new house. Celebrate making our home for us and Boo. Just have a romantic date."

"Thank you for putting in that effort."

"We need to, Luke. We have to put our relationship first."

He nodded, sighed and put his plate down. "I got a phone call today."

"Oh yeah? From whom?"

"Janette. I didn't talk to her. She left a message. Do you want to hear it?"

"Sure."

Lucas picked up his phone and pushed the voicemail button.

"Luke, it's me. I just wanted to apologize for trying to claim you were my baby's father. You're a good man and the father….well, he's not. I'm sorry. I hope you are happy in your life and that you get everything you've ever dreamed of. Bye."

"So she's sorry, but I still don't get it," Beth said, taking another bite of chicken.

"My guess is, she hoped I would take her word for it that I was the dad."

"You are a good man, Luke, and you could have technically been the dad…timing and all. But that wasn't fair to you at all."

"No, it wasn't. It makes me wonder…well hope that she's okay. That she is making it, bills and such."

"You're a good man, but I'm glad you're my husband and Boo's Daddy. Not hers."

"Me too."

As they finished eating, Lucas found "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran on his phone and helped her up.

"Dance with me?"

She smiled as she stepped into his arms, listening to the lyrics as they swayed.

"I wish we could just stay here," she mentioned, settling her head on his shoulder.

"We could but you need a bed, not a hard floor."

"You could be my bed," she flirted.

"Mm. Well, why don't we grab an air mattress this weekend and we can sleep here?"

"Okay."

"For now, let's just dance and then head home."

"You Are The Reason" played next and then "When a Man Loves a Woman."

Instead of being focused on Beth who fit perfectly in his arms, he was stewing on his failure of a barbecue to bring his team at work to accept him.

He was grateful that Mei was coming but…he needed to make a change and one that would work to pay their now much larger mortgage and all their needs coming up with Boo. He needed to keep insurance obviously and that meant even though every bone and muscle in his body told him to quit, he wouldn't. Not until he had a plan.

"Babe?"

"Yeah."

"It will be fine."

He sighed and stepped back, starting to clean up their leftovers. "You don't know that."

"I do know that whatever happens, what's important is that we are together and love each other and don't lose sight of each other."

"I'm not losing anything, Beth. I'm just stressed. I'm sorry. I'm not good company tonight."

She grabbed his hands and placed them on her belly to get his attention. "We don't have to talk about it, babe. Just know I'm here."

She hated to see him unhappy and overwhelmed. It hurt her heart. But pushing him seemed not good right now.

Boo kicked him and at least made him smile. "I bet she's going to be just as gorgeous as her mother."

"Or he could be as handsome as his father."

He looked deep into her eyes, marveling at the depth of his love for her and their child. He didn't deserve them but he was beyond grateful to have them.

"What?" she whispered.

"Nothing. Let's just head home."

"Alright."

She hoped that everyone in his department came so he wouldn't feel so dejected all the time. She wanted him to be happy. The barbecue was coming fast so she wouldn't have long to wait.