The Lawes Girl

10

Her shrieking almost hurt Lucille's ears. And then Geegee's when Nina called her to tell her what Lucille had told her. "My baby boy." Geegee laughed. In less than an hour they had both called and told everyone they could. Then Geegee called her back. "Madison was a little disappointed. She says daddy and I are just going to turn him on her like we did to Luce." Nina laughed. "I don't even know what that means. She always feels left out. And it's a boys, so he's going to be daddy's boy. And mine. Madison's used to spoiling girls. And it would be so much fun if my baby's a girl. I would spoil her silly." Geegee laughed. Enjoying Nina's rant about spoiling her unborn nephew.

   It was awkward just standing there. Looking at her with a sandwich in one hand and her other arm crossed. Her normal look turned into a glare. That was bound to happen. "What?" She sounded grumpy. Taking a bite of her sandwich. 

    Nick could almost smile. She left him by the door. "I'm just waiting."

    "For what?"

"Last time, you ended up puking so..." He walked in. Shuting the door behind him. He noticed she wasn't wearing any shoes. 

    "last time you came looking for me I didn't puke."

"No. You were just very angry."

    "Why are you here?"

"I told you about dinner."

    "You said tonight or tomorrow." She sat down, taking another bite.

    "So you thought tomorrow?"

"I wasnt thinking about it." 

    "In any case. You're already eating. We could still go out. Do

you- would you like to go out?"

    "Sure." Lucille nodded. "It's a boy." Lucille smiled. "We could celebrate."

    "A boy? Really?" He smiled brightly. "Wow." What is he supposed to say? "That's... very great and amazing. My boy."

    Lucille nodded slowly. "I'll go get changed." Forty five minutes later she emerged from her room and headed for the kitchen with a sigh.

    Nick followed the sound. Amused to see her taking out a bag of chips. "You're eating again?"

    "I'm starving."

He arched a brow. "Let's do dinner then."

    She paused, halfway through opening the bag. A question in her eyes. "Have you been standing?"

    "No." He scoffed. "Well. I was. But when you were in there for almost thirty minutes, I sat down."

    "Ok." She faced the bag of chips. 

"Hey. Dinner. Something that isn't a snack. Come on. Let's go." 

     Lucille let go of it and followed him outside. "You're driving?"

"Yeah." He glanced at her over his shoulder. "You're surprised? If I can fly a plane, I can most certainly drive."

     "Are you bragging?"

"About flying planes or driving?"

     "How should I know?"

"You seem to like that I fly planes."

     "It's pretty impressive." He opened the door for her. Lucille looked at him with a smile. "Thank you. But please don't do that again?"

     "What, brag?"

"Hold a door open for me. I have hands."

     It came back to him. The man who stood there while she opened a car door and got it. An alternative. "So I shouldn't be a gentleman?"

     "You may want to act like it. But you're anything but." 

The truth of it all. He smirked. "You have a lot of rules Lucille." She got in the car. "Don't order for me, don't hold a door open for me..."

     "Not while I'm capable of doing it myself." She laughed. "Why are you driving yourself today?"

     "I drive when I'm not on work... work."

At the restaurant, the aroma of the foods they had ordered stirred her stomach. She was too nauseous to think of eating. "How old are you?"

     "What?" She looked up from the well presented food she'd had before but suddenly couldn't stand. "Oh. Twenty two."

     "Okay." 

"What uhh... what about you?" She let out a subtle puff of air. 

     "Twenty eight." She nodded. "Twenty two huh?" She nodded. "Did your parents bring you up with all those rules?"

     "My parents didn't raise me." She glared at the plate.

"Really?" He adjusted in his seat.

     Lucille closed her eyes for a second. "Yeah. I grew up in Italy. My parents had to send us awa-" She didn't get a chance before she was throwing up on the table. Nick got up abruptly, rushing to her side, he placed his hand on her back gently as she clasped her hand over her mouth. It was hard to ignore the gasps that followed the sound of her vomiting. She kept her head bent as Nick and an eager waitress led her to the restroom. Nick waited by the door while the waitress followed her in. He stood there like an emotionless body guard while people looked at him. But with nothing to really look at, they turned away.

    "Are you okay?" He asked seven minutes later when she came out. "Should we go? We should go." She didn't notice all the eyes on them as they walked out. "Was it the food? You barely ate. Did you even eat? What was it?" Did he have to act so caring?

    Lucille started laughing when they got in the car, hysterically. "It was the food." Nick watched in wonder at her reaction to it. "It didn't smell right. But I've ordered that a few times before." She blinked rapidly. "Baby boy." She touched her stomach. "I can't eat What I used to before." Her voice shook, like she was going to cry. Nick glanced at her. She was crying. But only seconds ago she was laughing. "And somehow, I eat everything."

    Damn it. "Umm... uhh... okay. How about we skip the fancy stuff and go have some ice cream and cake? Or something." He glanced at her again, gripping the steering wheel tight. "You can have ice cream and cake right?"

    "Yes." She wiped her cheeks. Why the hell is she crying because of food anyway? "But we don't have to. I mean-"

    "No I want to. I like sweets. Mostly candy. And they have that where we're going." She chuckled, then they fell silent. "So, do you speak Italian?" Lucille smiled. 

    An hour and a half later, Nick was driving her home. The atmosphere in the car wasn't that of uncertainty and hostility or pure anger and nothing, it was the atmosphere of two people getting along, although Lucille laughed harder than he thought she should have at most things, but she'd explained the effects of hormones to him and he understood and went with it. And through all the talking, Lucille for the life of her couldn't understand why he behaved the way he did at work. Even though he'd explained his reasons in less than ten words weeks ago. "You really like candy that much?"

    "Everything sweet." Nick replied. "You should see my desk drawer at the office. Or some of my coat pockets."

    "Do you have some on you now?" 

"I think so, I should."

    "Wow." Lucille shook her head. 

"Candy isn't only for girls."

    "I never said it is. Do you have some in your glove compartment?"

    "No." He said with a smile. She didn't need to find his other candies. "Not in this car."

    "I've never known anyone who's got that much of a sweet tooth and likes alcohol."

    "Now you know one. And don't you take alcohol?"

"Just wine and champagne. But only at events or when my friends come over."

    "So you don't take spirits or beer?"

"I've had them. But I prefer wines." 

    "Very sophisticated." He nodded in approval. 

"But that's over for now. Maybe for a year." She looked at her stomach. "Right honeybee?" She scoffed.

     He smirked, looking right at the dark road made bright by his headlights and streetlights. The next time he looked her way, she was asleep. Her head facing the window and her arms crossed. "Hey." He tapped her gently. After he'd parked the car in front of her house. "Hey wake up."

    She moaned. "I told you not to open the door for me."

"You were asleep so I had to."

    "Don't do it again." She sounded sleepy as she got out of the car. He followed her into the house and watched as she went straight for the bag of chips she'd abandoned. His face went back to its expressionless state. "Would you like something to drink?"

    "No. I've got to get up early for work. Good night Lucille."

"Good night."

    Hearing her front door lock behind him, he took out a tiny bottle of cocaine, poured some on the back of his hand and inhaled it. He rubbed the back of his neck, heading to his car. He had somewhere to be.

    Wes stood there with his hands behind his back, even though Lucille was standing beside him, he felt very uncomfortable. All eyes were on them as they were asked the same question for no reason whatsoever. "So, she wasn't lying? It's not your baby?"

    How many times would they have to answer the same question? "No. It's not." Wes answered. One of the matrons came over and whispered in Lucille's ear. She placed her hand on his shoulder, he turned to her as her hand pulled away, following the matron.

    "Why not?"

"Why do you want it to be?" Girls and their questions. "I'm not the only guy she knows. You know that right?"

    "Yeah. But-"

"It's not mine Betty. Okay guys? It's not mine."

    "It's a he Wes." A boy passing by corrected.

"He's not mine. You're clearly disappointed. I don't know why." He knew exactly why. "So let it bel, okay?" He smiled. "Come on, let's head to the common room, Lucille would be there soon." The whining group led by Rinnie followed him into the common room which was a place cloaked in sadness and some crying little children.

    Not long after Wes and the others had entered, Lucille strolled in. "Hey guys. Who wants ice cream or pizza? What do you guys want?"

    Someone hissed, "Not this crap again?" And commented.

Everyone heard it. Lucille smirked and bit her lower lip. "When I was seven, my dad sent us away. See, the month before, someone we cared about died, he was in the hospital with all these tubes in him and he looked so thin and fragile. To us it was scarey so we had nightmares. We used to wake up so scared. Then a month later, daddy says we're going on holiday in Italy. So he sends us away with aunt Mattilda. And when we get there, we go to aunt Mattie's cousin, aunt Rachel. After a few days, aunt Mattie leaves us. So days turn to weeks and no one else comes to spend the holiday with us in this little house. They had abandoned us. We thought it was because of our nightmares. We'd read Hansel and Gretel, so all we had to do was find our way back. But we took a plane and it was quite the distance from the airport, so how? And also, we. were scared. 

    Aunt Rachel didn't know what to do with two girls dumped on her who weren't even related to her in any way. It was 'clean your room, wash the dishes...' aunt Rachel isn't a wicked aunt. But when we were older, we went straight to boarding school. It didn't matter then. But before that, we just knew our parents didn't love us anymore... or want us. So between my crying and Nina's, we were piling each other's sadness on each other. It's hard to make someone feel better when you're going through the same thing.

    We didn't have someone really showing us they cared then, especially since aunt Rachel didn't owe us anything or have to care. She did care though. But its not the point. We didn't get warm encouraging hugs or ice cream or anything to try and cheer us up. But I come here to make sure you're okay. Especially when one of you gets adopted, because I- I may not know exactly what it feels like, but I sure as hell have an inkling." The sudden strain in Lucille's voice made Wes stand up. He made his way to her. "But if you don't want someone to care then sure. Why the hell not?"

    Her voice was raising. Anymore words and she might start to yell. "Hey." He gently held her by her shoulders, "You should go lay down." And steered her to a matron. "You've been on your feet all day."

    She didn't say a word as she left. Sadness was joined by surprise. Wes glared at the children. "Which one of you said that?" They all started talking, looking at each other, pointing fingers or defending themselves. "Shut up." They fell silent. "You're tired of ice cream and hugs? Some of you are older than eleven, you shouldn't even be getting those anymore, much less some one who knows how you feel or cares enough to make sure you're okay because parents didn't choose you. She's been coming here since this place opened up. You know, she may be pregnant now, but she's been a mother since she was nineteen. To all of you." He pointed at an older boy. "You've been here since the beginning right?" His hand moved to an older girl. "What about you? Would you guys be happy if she showed up like Nina does? Or not at all? You don't want what she brings to try and cheer you up? Then don't take it or participate." With his final words, he went to get Lucille. Leaving the silent common room.

    "Thanks for coming with me Wes." Lucille smiled, opening the front door to her house. "You didn't have to. But thanks."

    "I wasn't going to let you drive."

"I can still use my arms and feet you know? What is it with you guys?" She raked her hair back. 

    "Us guys?"

She clicked her tongue. "Nick didn't let me drive to the doctor. He had a driver do it."

    "And you let him?"

"Well, he wasn't going to be able to go with me, so he called it an apology."

    "He didn't go with you? You should have called me."

"But I got it done any way. If someone else insists I do what they want, I'm going the hurt them."

    "Warning taken." He lifted up his hands in surrender. "I'll spread the word." He chuckled. 

    "I mean it." She nudged him, smiling.

"I know." He took out his keys from his pockets. "I'll call you later." He tapped her nose and left.

     Lucille smiled. She felt lighter knowing Wes was okay with everything. Even after all the yelling he had done. But he wasn't okay with it. He was trying however. Less than an hour later, Nick was at her door.

     "Hi."

"Hi."

     "Would you like to go out?" He went straight to the point.

"Right now?" 

     "Yes."

"I'm really tired, and you're usually at work by now. You should be at work."

     He scoffed. "So would you. I moved some things around."

"You're going to have to unmove them. I'm not going anywhere." She looked at the car pulling up to the side of the road by her house. Nick's mother's car. He followed her gaze. "Looks like your duck's here."

     He smirked. "I should never have said that. She's not a duck. She's a swan." He murmured to be sure only Lucille heard.

     "Nicholas, you're here." Renee came up beside him. "Hello Lucille."

     "Good evening Mrs. Atkins." Lucille gave her a tired smile.

"Darling, call me Renee. You're just so stubborn." She placed her hand on her son's shoulder. "What are you both doing outside?"

     "I was just telling Nick that I can't go out with him."

"And I came to ask you to come out with me."

     What is this? "Thanks for the offer, but I just got back and I'm tired." And slowly getting upset. 

     "Got back from where?" Nick watched them.

"Seeing the children."

     That got his attention. "What children?"

"The children Nick. She has these-"

     "These?" He looked from Lucille to his mother for an explanation he cut short by asking 'these?'

     "Oh!" Renee placed her hand on her chest. "Of course you don't know. You didn't know her up until a month ago."

     "Only technically. Please explain."

"An orphanage Nick."

     "My sister and I are run one."

"Oh."

     "It's a lovely thing. I mean, I donate but I would love to see the children. Do you see them a lot?"

     "At least twice a week."

"That's very dedicated of you. Speaking of, you didn't tell me it's a boy." She looked accusingly at her.

     "I didn't tell anyone really. Just Nina."

"Not even your parents?"

     "Nina told everyone. I was too tired after to start calling people."

     Nick could see his mother was upset. He could also see Lucille didn't care. Even behind that smile. "Aren't you going to apologise?" Renee asked.

     "For what?" Lucille's smile brightened, then she scoffed. "Renee." Nick smiled. She finally calls her Renee. "I also told Nick." She's dragged him into it. "So don't point your eyes at just me."

     Renee drew back in shock, she looked at Nick as if to say 'are you hearing this?' "Well she's not wrong." Nick replied the obvious but silent question. "Who did you hear it from?"

     "Your father."

It was Lucille's turn to fall out of the conversation. "Before you ask, I was tired after I saw her. I didn't even tell dad till I saw him at work the next day."

     "And what, a call was too much?"

"I had work to do. And I figured he'd tell you. Which he did. And now you know so..."

     "So? It's not about knowing, it's about who I heard it from."

"I was busy." He shrugged. 

     "I only told one person."

"Defend yourselves. I'm going. But I'm very disappointed in both of you." She left the pair still standing by an open door.

     "Did you really only tell just the two of us?"

"Yes."

     Nick chuckled. "I'll be going on a business trip soon. When is you're next appointment with the doctor?"

     "In two days. Why?"

"I'll move more stuff around and come pick you up." Lucille nodded. "Rest up." He left.

   Lucille giggled as her mother massaged her shoulders. "Do you want to come work for me?"

   "Oh my goodness yes!" 

"Great answer. I was hoping you'd say yes. Now I don't have to ask the second question."

   "What second question?" Lucille's eyebrows furrowed. 

Madison shook her head. "If I tell you, you'll change your mind. And I want you by my side." She planted a loud kiss on her daughter's cheek.

   "What exactly would I be doing?"

"A few things."

   Eyebrows furrowed even more. "That's vague." She released them. "But I wouldn't be bored at home any more."

   "It's just for a few months. To keep you active."

"Mummy." Madison's heart skipped a beat when she heard her say that. "I don't care." Lucille giggled. 

   "Oh! My Cherrylu." She stopped massaging and hugged her. 

    It took five minutes of uninterrupted driving before Nick noticed. "Was that frozen cake you were eating?"

    "It wasn't exactly frozen solid. But I yeah it was. And don't question it, I just really like cold food right now." He nodded. They were both seated in the back of his car, on their way to the hospital, but first to his office to put somethings in order. Which he somehow forgot to do.

    "Will you wait in the car? It wouldn't take too long." He said, getting out once the car reached the office building. 

    "I've got to use the restroom."

"Okay, yeah."

    They walked side by side only to be ambushed by a glaring Melanie before they could split off to their separate destinations. "What is this?" She asked when she was close enough. Making them stop. "Why are you here? Why is she here? What are you doing here?" She turned from Lucille to Nick and back to Lucille. "Is this why you missed work? To be with her?" Nick stood there. Saying and doing nothing. Melanie gave up and turned to Lucille. "Are you trying to take him from me?"

    "Mel-" Nick started. 

"What Nick? I find you stuck in an elevator with her."

    "I stopped the elevator." He corrected. 

"What difference does it make? You refused to spend time with me because you were going to see her and twice I've been here and I was told you went out to see Miss Lucille." With no word from Nick... again, she turned to Lucille. The thief. "Can you not see he has a girlfriend? Can you not get a guy for yourself or are you just a s**t?" Lucille had a small smile on; hiding her growing anger at the lady's assumptions. "Why are you ruining this for me? You're always here. And if you aren't he's clearing up his schedule to go see you. Why are you ruining this for me?"

    There was no need to keep quiet anymore. "Ruining this?" Lucille shifted her weight to her right, smirking. "I haven't ruined anything. But if I were to, all I have to do is tell you that I'm carrying your boyfriend's child. Which by the way, is the truth." Her smirk turned into a glare. Melanie's mouth hung open in shock. She looked at Nick for some sign of something. But he was giving off no expression. Instead, he just scoffed, and walked between them. Lucille turned abruptly and headed for the restroom. 

    Melanie followed after Nick. "Nick, is she telling the truth? She's lying right?" They stood before the elevator door.

    It was impressive really, Lucille's reaction was only expected. But not for the reason he had thought. He slowly glanced at Melanie. "No. She's not lying." He didn't let her reaction find a voice. "Good job Mel, You ruined this." This stopped being fun months ago anyway. He stepped in the elevator. 

   "Wait, but Nick, I didn't- I just-"

"It doesn't matter. It never did." His comment was not referring to her incomplete statement or her. "Go."

    Months passed, and her stomach grew bigger. Lucille followed Nina to France, where Nina was shooting a movie. While Nina was on set, Lucille lounged around in their hotel room. "Nina," Her assistant called her attention while she read her lines. "Lucille is on the phone." 

    Nina stretched out her hand without taking her eyes off the page. "Thank you. Hi Lulu."

    "I'm fat." Lucille whined. "I'm big and my clothes don't fit anymore."

    "That's why you get new ones." Nina pointed out.

She wasn't just whining, she was crying. Nina lifted her head when she realised. "Is that why you're crying?"

    "It just makes me sad. And I keep eating, and eating."

"Maybe you should complain to Nick."

    "He's busy. And you're my older sister, I need you to comfort me."

    "With what? More food?" Lucille whined. "Okay fine. I'll figure something out. You're probably just bored, I'll send my assistant over, you can whine to her till I get back."

    When Nina was done filming, they both went back to their parents'. Sometime during the week, Nick was invited over to the Lawes house for dinner. While he sat there eating the delicious meal made by Mattilda, just as quietly as Madison and Quincy, Nina and Lucille where engaged in a conversation that had no room for anyone else. "Nancy got us a new house keeper."

    "Oh! I was going to do that." Nina pointed out. 

"She was just being nice."

    "Is she good? Cause you know it can't just be anyone." The girls talked so fast between bites. Only them understood each other. 

    "Well..."

"Are my things exactly the way I left them?" No answer. "This is why you didn't want me to go home isn't it?"

    "I wasnt even supposed to tell you yet."

"I'll kill her. No. Don't look at me like that. Her maid ruined my things."

    "She was trying to be nice Nina."

"I dont care."

    "Why do you have to..." They started arguing. It was a side to Lucille he'd never seen before. Arguing with her sister and eating. Nothing like the girl from work.

    "Oh my goodness, Redies. Stop it." Madison ordered, then turned to Nick. "These girls bring out the worst in each other."

    "No we don't." They chorused. Glaring at Madison. Nick smiled.

    "And Redies? Are you trying to impress him? By pulling out Redies?" Nina asked. Lucille chuckled. 

    "Don't attack me."

"Why not? You're the one who said Redies." Lucille pointed out. Madison turned to Quincy. "Don't look at daddy, he's not going to help you."

    "You wouldn't attack him like this."

"That's because daddy wouldn't try to impress anyone by saying Redies." Nina mentioned. 

    "Or impress anyone." Lucille pointed out. 

Quincy smiled over his dinner. Madison looked at him. "Quin-"

    "He's not going to help you mom." Nina eyes shined with mischief.

    "See what I have to deal with?" She turned to Nick instead. 

"You're still trying to impress him?" Lucille asked.

    "And he wouldn't say anything." Madison continued.

"Oh mom stop it. You did this all on your own. Don't try to drag daddy down with you. He wouldn't go." Nina stated plainly and Lucille nodded in agreement.

    "Fine." Madison gave up. Nick smiled brightly.

When dinner was over and Nick had gone and the rest of the family had gone to sleep, Lucille found herself hungry and headed to the kitchen, where Mattilda was baking a pie. "Mattie, what are you doing here so late? Are you trying out a new recipe?"

    "No sweetie. Seeing as you're eating more than you used to, I decided to make you something in case of a time like right now. You are hungry right?" Lucille nodded. "Your mom used to do it too, she'd wake up hungry. I'm sure you've noticed all the sweet things freshly made and kept in the fridge."

    "You've been doing that?" Lucille smiled. 

"Since you girls got back. Like a little food elf." Mattilda flashed a smile, giggling.

    "Thanks Mattie."

"You know, everyone's excited. especially Nina, she screamed when she told me it's a boy. And then she just kept talking. She is so happy." She set the pie in the oven and faced Lucille. "I know, you weren't happy when you found out. I hear a lot." Lucille was smiling, and crying. "So let's assume I know a lot. But you never came over to tell me, or talk to me." She waved her hand. "That doesn't matter. What matters is, everyone's excited, and here for you all the way through. So no matter how this whole situation keeps making you feel, remember that." She opened up her arms and Lucille moved into them. Holding onto Mattilda tightly while she sobbed. The sweet scent of blueberries and flour from Mattilda filling her nose. She came down to eat and ended up crying.

    "I don't know how you guys do it, but your place always smells sooo good. It makes me just want to stay forever." Doris said, looking through a rack of baby clothes. Nina in front of her and Tabby behind.

    "You're going to have to ask Lucille, she loves it. I'm hardly there. I don't have the time to clean my house myself."

    "What do you think?" Tabby asked, taking out a small green footie pajamas with frog ears on the hoodie."

    Nina looked at it in disapproval. "Gross."

"Oh but it's cute."

    "My baby's not going to be caught in that. Not as far as I'm alive."

    "What?" Doris looked in shock. "You know he's not your baby right?"

    "He is my baby."

"Lucille's just carrying him for you?" Tabby asked sarcastically. 

    "Exactly."

Both girls laughed. "You are really unbelievable." Doris remarked.

    "He's not going to wear that. No one is putting him in that."

"He's not your kid Nina. And he isn't born yet."

    "He's my nephew, so technically, he is. Oh! This is so cute." She held out a baby blue one. "He needs to know he has a lot of people that love him. Especially, his sweet aunt Nina. So no gross baby clothes."

    "You are so obsessed with him and he's not even here yet."

"Technically, he is. He just isn't born yet. And is there something wrong with loving my nephew? If there is Doris, please tell me."

    "There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that you sound like you might steal him away the second he's born. Tabby stop laughing." Tabby couldn't help it.

    "You think I'm going to steal him away? You haven't heard my mother talking about him. She has plans that scare Lucille."

    "I think you all have plans that scare Lucille. I mean, you named him the day after you found out about him." Tabby said, still laughing. 

    "Did Lucille tell you that?"

"She complained about it. She's not naming him Marvin Nina." Doris stated plainly.

    "If she doesn't, then fine. It's not going to change anything." Nina shrugged. 

    "Of course it wouldn't. That kid's already got so many people that love him." The others nodded in agreement. "Luce is so making me godmother."

    "Wait till she explicitly asks you Tabby. Although, it's definitely me. Are we done here? I saw a stroller Lucille will love." Doris changed the subject. 

    "This looks cute" Nina kept picking clothes.

"She's not picking you. You want to make money off of him. Just like you do with me."

    "That is so not true." Nina laughed at their conversation and joined in as they moved from one section to the other picking and picking like they hadn't picked three weeks before or weeks before that. Someone is going to have a lot of stuff.

    Lucille let Nick's piece of information sink in. "Six weeks?"

"Give or take a couple." He could see she wasn't very happy about this. "It's just another business trip." Why was he trying to assure her?

    "And you'll be gone for six weeks. It's longer than the others."

"It's part of the job." He searched her face. "Are you going to miss me?"

    She scoffed. "I've grown used to your company. And give or take a couple of days, I could go into labour-" the thought alone scared her.

    "And if that happens and I'm not back yet, then I'll come back just in time. I can't leave you both." He placed his hand on her round stomach. "I'll be by your side. So don't worry." His hand moved to the top of hers. "I wouldn't leave you. I'll be there. I already told my dad. If it comes down to it, he'll call me and I'll be there before you ask for me." She nodded. Giving him a small smile. 

    Lucille sat in her chair. The chair that always stood in the corner of her room had been pulled forward so she can watch her friends struggle with putting together a crib. Geegee and Nancy argued as they couldn't decide what fit where. Soon the argument turned into jokes and all three of them were laughing at their mistakes. Lucille itched to get out of the chair and help with the project that looked like it was about to fail terribly. She was so sure they would move past the base if they just let her help. But they wouldn't. One move and one of the girls would be over in a flash to sit her back down. She wasn't helpless, they knew that and they didn't care... well, the did. She would go into labour any day now. They'd turned a corner of her room into a space for the baby and his things. His things which had already been put away and waiting to be used on him. They'd called for help and Geegee was on her feet the moment the door bell rang.

    "Why do you need me here?" Wes' voice traveled through the living room. "Isn't this the way to Lucille's room?" He remembered from the tour Nina had so generously given the night of her house warming party. However, what crossed his mind was something else. "Is Lucille okay? Is she home? What is it?" Geegee giggled at his questions instead of answering. "Geegee?"

    She turned to face him. "Relax Wes. She's fine." They moved past the kitchen.

    "Then what is it?" She didn't say a word till they got into the room. Wes froze when Lucille looked at him. What had he been worrying about again?

    "Wes!" Nancy stood up. "We need your help." She went over to him and pulled him towards the mess of parts that are supposed to form a crib. "We need your help with this."

    He dragged his eyes a way from Lucille, who had been smiling at him. He blinked once, snapping out of his temporarily blank state. "What is this supposed to be?"

    "It's a crib, that needs to be put together and we need your help. He thought something was wrong with you." Geegee pointed out. 

    "Yeah I heard."

"I'm not good at this stuff you know?"

    "I'm sure between the three of us and the instructions, we can make this work." Nancy nodded with enthusiasm. He found a position for himself, picked up the instruction paper and went right to work. 

    "I still say this would progress better if I helped."

"Not happening." Nancy shook her head.

    "I can sit on the floor with you guys. This is so boring."

"What is it?" Wes asked.

    "Lucille's being stubborn. She wants to help fix up the crib." Geegee reported.

    "I doubt there's anything wrong with her doing that."

"Yes! Thank you Wes."

    "I suppose now that you're here, you can help her stand up after sitting on the floor for how ever long this takes." Nancy blurted. Lucille gasped in shock.

    "Is that why you wouldn't let her help? Because you can't help her up?"

    "Well-"

"There are two of you."

    "And one big strong you. We're not that strong."

"Luce, don't listen to them."

    "Can you imagine Luce, Wes wants us to lie to you." Nancy said.

    Lucille laughed. "Can you please just, let's finish this? Or call the person mom had fix up the one in her house?"

    "That's not as fun as this and you know it." Geegee remarked.

"Either way is good. Since I can't help. I'm going to get a snack."

    Even though they argued, at least they were able to really get started and fix some pieces. Nancy called Geegee's attention. "We have to go get those things Nina sent."

    Geegee stopped. "You're right." They both stood up. "We have to go get some things Nina sent."

    "She got more stuff? She wants to steal my baby."

Geegee laughed. "It's just another stroller she saw. And some other stuff. I couldn't really hear her over the phone. We'll be back soon." She stroked Lucille's hair. "Soon."

    When Lucille came back from closing the front door, she said, "For someone who isn't good at this, you're doing pretty great."

    "Am I? It must be your talent for it coursing through my hands. You've possessed me." He focused on the almost finished crib.

    Lucille laughed. "It must be my deep desire to help." 

"It's working." He smirked. "Now that their gone, if you want to help it could be our secret."

    She chuckled. "Tempting."

They talked and talked until Wes just had to ask. "How is Nick?"

    "He's fine. We talk as much as he can."

"Hmm." He didn't hear a word. "Hey, if you really want to help you can."

    "Are you trying to force me to?"

He scoffed. "I can't force you to do anything. But I'm almost done here so-"

    "Wes!"

Her voice squeaked, it got his attention. "Yes." He looked at her. Her eyes were wide, both hands on her stomach. "What is it?" He faced her fully.

    "I think the baby's coming." Wes froze. 

"Wes? Wes?!" Her heart was racing. Fear hugged her tightly. 

    "Yes?"

"Help me."

    "I-I don't-" He began to panic.

   The dim light lit the room. His phone was on the other side of the livingroom ringing off the hook. He dropped his somewhat empty glass of vodka on the side stool, took a long drag of his cigar, placed it on the ash tray and slowly pulled himself off the couch towards the phone, exhaling the thick smoke from his nose and mouth. "Hello?"

    "Nick!" He heard his father's voice. "You should be here by now. Lucille's having the baby. Get on the jet."

    The answer to all the questions he'd been asking himself since this started... To make it all real. "I'm not coming."