"Did you get into the mimosas?" Viola eyed Maggie with a small grin.
Maggie rolled her eyes at her mother. "So, one month to go." Maggie turned her attention to Elora and her round stomach.
Elora nodded.
"Yep, thankfully it will be all over soon."
"We should all go out to dinner before the baby comes." Phoebe chimed in.
"Oh…can we go to the Japanese Steakhouse?" I begged.
Elora nodded in agreement.
"That sounds so good." Elora and I were both lost in thoughts of food before Phoebe snapped us out of it.
"If either of you starts drooling I will slap you." She rolled her eyes, a playful smile on her lips.
True to our word, two weeks later we were all seated around a large private table waiting on the chef to arrive and cook our food. The smell of the food from the other tables was driving Elora and me into a hunger craze. When the chef arrived everyone told him to start with our food.
I’m sure I moaned out loud with almost every bite of noodles, shrimp, vegetables and chicken. Aidan was rubbing my thigh or wrapping his arm around my shoulder during most of the night. Once I was finally full, Elora and I sat back, talking amongst ourselves about how we were feeling.
"Are you okay?" Elora seemed to be a little off, causing me some concern.
She nodded and drank her water. After wiping her mouth she spoke.
"I’m just a little tired." She shrugged. "I’ve had this huge burst of energy the past couple of days, I think I wore myself out." She smiled, rubbing her shoulder.
"Maybe we should call it a night, so you can go rest." She nodded in agreement with James’ suggestion.
Celia, Dixon, Oscar, Phoebe, Aidan and I stayed about an hour longer talking and laughing. I, of course, ended up with dessert in front of me. At the first sign of my own tiredness, Aidan ushered us from the restaurant, so he could get me home.
It was roughly five in the morning when I heard Aidan answer his phone. Burying my head in pillows and blanket, I silently cursed the caller.
He nudged me.
"Whhhaaaaat?" I groaned.
"James took Elora to the hospital." He whispered, wrapping his arm around me.
"Is she okay?" I was immediately wide awake.
"Mmhmm…she went into labor a couple of hours ago." He snuggled closer.
"Should we get dressed and—"
"Are you crazy?" His head snapped up as he looked down at me incredulously. "Lilli, you are almost seven months pregnant. I think you should sleep and then we will go to the hospital after the baby is born."
"Are you sure? I feel like maybe we should—"
"It will be fine, Lilli. Sleep." With that final order, he pulled me closer.
After laying his head back on the pillow, his hand found my stomach. It took me a little while but, eventually, I fell back asleep.
~
Aidan
Lilli and I got up a couple of hours after the phone call from James and went to the hospital.
We arrived to the maternity floor and found everyone in the waiting room, including Elora’s parents.
"Lilli, Aidan…" Viola walked toward us, giving us each a hug and kiss to the cheek.
"Viola." I smiled and kissed her back.
"We're having a baby!" Elora’s parents boasted in unison.
"Has anyone been back yet?" Lilli asked, taking a seat next to Maggie and Jason. Maggie immediately started rubbing Lilli’s stomach.
"Not yet. We're still waiting." Anne stated impatiently.
"These things take time." Viola patted Anne’s arm.
"I’m starving." Lilli stood. "I’m going to go get something to eat before I get cranky."
"I’ll come with you!" Maggie jumped up, linking arms with Lilli. As they passed me, I ruffled Maggie’s hair and kissed Lilli.
"Be right back." She smiled up to me. I nodded.
"So, how is Lilli feeling?" My head snapped at the sound of Uncle Henry’s voice.
"Good. Lilli and the babies are fine." I smiled.
"That is great to hear." He seemed to relax significantly. "So, have you gotten the completed paperwork from the lawyers about AIS?"
I furrowed my brow. We were here for the birth of his grandchild and the asshole was concerned about the fucking inheritance.
"It’s taken care of." I curtly replied.
"Any more information about the birth control pills?" Liam inquired with genuine concern.
I shook my head. "Not yet? But, I assure you, I will continue to dig until I find out."
"Why bother?" I glared at my Uncle Henry's ability to brush off the incident. "The outcome was for the best and no one is hurt."
"What the hell, Henry?" Liam spit out, before I could say one word. "The poor girl was drugged, which is not only illegal, but was also a risk to her health."
"I’m just saying…" Henry shrugged.
"I suggest you don’t say anything else about it." I snarled. "And don’t you dare say one fucking thing about any of it with Lilli around. Do you understand me? I will not have her upset over your lack of compassion!"