Chapter 55
KYLIE
After telling Luc I wanted to move in with him, we went on a shopping spree for the baby. The reality of now knowing her sex, her, we were having a baby girl, had given Luc the freedom to go wild in Target’s baby section.
We called our family on the ride to the store, and his mother had already hired a designer for the baby’s room as a present for us.
“Is this what I have to look forward to?” I asked, a bit overwhelmed by suddenly having Luc’s family in my life, too.
“My mom has two sons, and we all know Molly’s existence is tough on her. Jack never planned to have children; when I thought I couldn’t, my mother gave up on being a grandmother.”
“What is she like?”
“She’s warmer than she comes across, and eventually you’ll be able to see that side of her. She puts on a hard shell, but it’s for protection. My father’s affair had devastated her, and it changed the way she knew him. She’s excited, Ky. I think she wants this almost as much as I do.”
“Thank you for planning this today. It’s too bad your mom and Molly aren’t still in town.”
“Springtime in New England is still too unpredictable. When it’s warmer, my mom will be out here more. And you might get sick of her once the baby comes.”
I nodded and looked back down at the ultrasound pictures. My heart swelled, and I reached over the console to take Luc’s hand.
The summer passed slowly, and every road trip Luc took drained him more, further cementing his conviction to end his coaching career at the end of the season. The combination of the heat, my huge belly, and the ups and downs from him constantly coming and going pushed me over the edge, too.
He still asked me to marry him at least once a day. Some days he would ask me as we fell asleep together. This morning I woke up to a text:
Luc: Marry me?
Every time he asked, I got closer to saying yes. The last five months, while very much focused on the baby, had assured me he wasn’t only there because we were having a baby.
Work was busy, and I was in line for a promotion despite my impending maternity leave. Whenever Luc traveled, I buried myself in work to stay distracted.
When I moved out, Lily easily accepted it and had already filled her spare bedroom. Her new roommate was the son of a former family friend, one whom her father had defrauded. Her explanation made no sense, and I worried she was more desperate for money than she’d let on.
Kelsey and Sam had purchased a house in Concord that they were renovating and had been trying to get Luc and me to move out of the city with them.
The 45-minute train commute to work was a major deterrent, and the fact that I had been born and raised in the city made it more than a little tough to leave.
Luc promised that he would make either option work.
Kendra and Kelsey had grown closer, likely because they had worked together through the Minutemen’s organization. Time had also allowed Kendra and Crew’s relationship to strengthen even more.
With Kendra now working in the office of the Minutemen and directly with the ownership, I had to be careful about discussing Luc’s plans with her.
I didn’t want to put her into a situation where she felt like she was betraying me.
It had taken a long time for her to get over her betrayal when the man Kendra had just started dating had outed Kelsey and Sam’s private information.
Toward the end of August, my blood pressure had started to read as elevated, and I was being monitored more closely. As I headed for my blood pressure check appointment, Luc messaged me.
Luc: Are you almost there?
Me: Yes. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know as soon as I know.
Luc was in Baltimore for a road trip, and while he wasn’t supposed to have a phone in the dugout, he had snuck it in. My mom had warned that I could be induced at any point if they felt that I was pre-eclamptic, and with the swelling in my ankles, it was looking increasingly more likely.
She’d also begged me not to Google pre-eclampsia, and I ignored her. If reading those stories didn’t raise your blood pressure, then nothing would.
I checked in at the front desk and waited for my turn. When I was called back, I provided the standard urine sample. Between the blood pressure reading and the protein levels in my urine, they decided to put me on bed rest, and I had to go back the next day.
Me: Bed rest. Return tomorrow.
Luc: What does your mother think?
Me: She asked if you could fly home tonight. And she’s going to stay with me until you get home.
Luc: I’ll be on the next flight.
Luc knew that if my mother was staying over and asking him to get back, things were serious. And as much as I loved having my mom there, I wanted Luc.
Mom let herself into the house and found Liam and me hanging out on the recliner. Liam had become obsessed with my lap, and he sought out the baby’s heartbeat any chance he got. She wasted no time and immediately checked my blood pressure.
“Is Luc on his way home?”
“Yes. His flight will be here by 10:00 pm.”
“Good. It’s not an emergency, but I would feel better if you delivered.”
“Delivered? Like imminently? It’s not too early?”
“You’ll be 37 weeks tomorrow, Ky. If you’re pre-eclamptic, she’ll be better off outside than inside.”
Hearing those words made it so much more real, and more than a little frightening. Other than the swelling in my legs and feet, I felt normal. Normal enough that I was surprised every time they took my blood pressure, and it read high.
“I ordered takeout if you’re hungry.”
Mom pressed the fluid in my ankles and winced; what I had blown off as normal pregnancy swelling had been a sign of something much more dangerous.
She stayed up with me until Luc walked through the door before making her way to the nursery.
We converted the playroom to the baby’s room and added a spare bed for guests.
Luc carried me to bed, refusing to let me walk on my two feet. If I had thought he was a caretaker before, he’d exceeded every expectation.
“What are you thinking?” He asked, setting me on my side and helping me adjust the body pillow between my legs.
“I’m scared.” My voice shook, and he dropped to his knees beside the bed. “My mom said it wasn’t an emergency, but she’s likely safer outside of me.”
Luc’s eyes glistened, and he once again swallowed his fears and comforted me.
“It’s going to be okay.”
I believed him. I refused not to.