"We haven’t gotten much time together alone. I thought it would be nice."
I smiled and nodded, though I could tell she was holding back. There was more that she wasn’t telling me. Before I could say anything else, Rachel appeared with two plates.
"Thank you, Rachel." Lilli smiled at her warmly and Rachel rubbed her back and winked at her.
"Thank you, Rachel." She smiled at me and turned to head back into the house.
"How was your doctor’s appointment? You haven’t said anything, so I assume that everything is okay?"
I watched her chew the bite she had already taken before she answered.
"Yes, everything’s good. I should hear back in a couple of days about the blood test." She took a large drink of water.
"Test?" Worry creased my forehead.
She nodded. "Yeah, I had to have blood taken to test for gestational diabetes." Lilli put another forkful of pasta in her mouth.
"You have diabetes?" I was confused.
Shaking her head she swallowed. "No. Well, I don’t think so. It’s a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy." She shrugged. "The test determines if I am developing it."
"Do they think you are?"
She shook her head.
"What does it mean if you are developing it?"
"Means I will have to adjust my diet or I could need medicine to control it." Lilli looked up from her plate and clearly saw the worry lines etched into my face. She smiled and tilted her head. "The doctor doesn’t see any signs of it, so don’t worry so much. It’s something all pregnant women get tested for."
I exhaled a breath and continued eating my meal. She could have mentioned that before I had a momentary panic attack. We continued to talk over dinner, having a light conversation and catching up. I pushed my plate away, having finished, and the conversation switched back to the babies.
"So, baby names…" Lilli started.
"Yes?"
"I’m assuming you would like to name the boy after you?"
"Well, it is tradition. However, if you don’t want to then—"
"No, no, that’s not what I’m saying." She shook her head and put her hand up. "I think that it would be nice to carry on your family name."
"Oh, okay." I smiled, extremely happy that she wanted to name the boy Aidan Walsh IV.
"Any ideas for the girl?" She furrowed her brow as she asked.
I shrugged and sighed.
"Honestly, I hadn’t thought too much about the names." I looked up and saw her face fall slightly. "Did you have a suggestion?"
Lilli sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and then started to chew on it. She needed to stop that before I stripped her down and took her right here on the patio.
"I've been working with a few ideas but I don’t think I'm ready to share them yet."
"Come on." I pressured with a crooked smile.
"No, not yet." She shook her head.
Before I could press further, she sat up straighter and leaned back, pressing her left palm to her stomach.
"Are you alright?" Getting to my feet, I quickly moved next to her before she could answer.
She nodded before answering in a groan, "I’m fine. One of them has taken a liking to my rib cage."
I flinched a little at the thought and then I placed my hand on her stomach. "Wow, is that..?"
"Yep." She groaned, clearly still uncomfortable.
I could feel the hard lump under her skin and a chill rolled over my body at the thought of feeling that push into my rib cage.
"I need to get up." She said, pushing her chair back. I helped her stand.
Lilli stood and started walking around the patio.
"Ah, much better." She breathed deep and exhaled. With a slow turn, she caught me watching her. "Standing seems to make more room in there. The pressure on my rib decreases."
All I could do was nod.
She approached me, grabbing my hand. "I’m not done with you tonight."
If I thought my smile couldn’t have gotten any larger, I was wrong. My smile was from ear to ear and I quickly wrapped my arm around her waist, walking into the house with her.
She pulled me to the theater where we curled up on the couch and watched a movie together. About halfway through the movie, my favorite movie, I could tell by Lilli’s breathing against my chest that she was asleep. I finished watching the movie, holding her close to my side.
Once the movie was over, I hesitated on moving, fearing that I would wake her up. Deciding that I didn’t want her to sleep on this theater couch, I shifted. My plan was to pick her up and carry her to the bedroom, but it was spoiled when she woke up from my movement.
She yawned.
"I’m sorry." She pouted.
I lightly kissed her lips. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Thank you for tonight."
"You don’t have to thank me." She kissed me quickly before moving to stand. I helped her.
"Lilli?"
"Hmm?"
"I have something I need to discuss with you." My voice was shakier than I'd intended.
"About?"
"Come to my office with me, please?"
I took her hand in mine, waiting for her reply. She nodded. Keeping hold of her hand, we walked to my office. My briefcase and the large, mahogany box were sitting on my desk.