The Baby Interview

by Robbie Terman

  "Can we talk?” Cole stepped closer.

  She backed toward the cooler. “I'm busy now.” She turned back to Mrs. Cohen. “We could combine pink and yellow roses."

  "Please, Lucy,” Cole interrupted.

  Lizzie stepped around the counter. “I can help Mrs. Cohen."

  Lucy shot her young employee a look that would have made a dog whimper. “I need you to stay at the register."

  Lizzie slunk back behind the counter.

  Behind her, Lucy heard Cole sigh loudly. “Fine. If this is how I have to do it, so be it."

  She ignored him, opening the cooler and pulling out an assortment of roses.

  "Ever since the ultrasound, I can't stop thinking that our child should know he or she was conceived in love."

  Gasps echoed throughout the store.

  Lucy inwardly cringed as she continued grabbing roses. The cat was certainly out of the bag about her pregnancy.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lizzie rush into the back, presumably to tell anyone who hadn't heard. Her suspicion was confirmed when two more employees indiscreetly stepped out to the counter.

  "He was,” Cole continued. “Or she was. At least on my part."

  There was another series of gasps, this one louder than before.

  Lucy looked down at the mess of flowers in her hand, a mismatched conglomeration that was enough for five centerpieces, let alone the one Mrs. Cohen needed.

  "That's fine,” Mrs. Cohen exclaimed, pulling them from her hands. “Listen to the young man."

  Lucy looked down at her hands, now bereft of flowers. They were shaking. Slowly, she turned to face Cole.

  "I don't understand.” Her voice, hoarse and raw, barely reached a whisper.

  "I love you.” Cole's voice was crystal clear, not even a tremble.

  The only gasp this time came from Lucy. Tears she hadn't even known filled her eyes fell down her cheeks. “But you said...” She choked, unable to repeat his marriage of convenience proposal.

  "I was afraid you didn't love me back.” For once, it was Cole's cheeks that reddened. “I was a coward. But I've realized it doesn't matter. I want our child to know his father loves his mother, even if she doesn't love him back. I realized you both deserve that much."

  Lucy wiped away her tears and swallowed away her fears. “She does."

  Cole's brow creased. “She does what?"

  "The baby's mother does love the father. Very much."

  Cole's jaw dropped. Then, he erupted with a loud shout of exaltation. Sweeping her up, he swung her around to thunderous applause and cheering.

  Being in his arms again felt like being home. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, pressing her lips against his pulse. Now that she was against him, she realized he was shaking and she tightened her grip on him. “I love you,” she repeated.

  "I love you, too,” he whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her. “More than I ever thought possible.” He set her down. “There is one more thing I wanted to tell you."

  He bent down on one knee. “Ask you, actually."

  A wave of dizziness came over Lucy. She swayed on her feet unsteadily.

  Cole clasped his hand to hers.

  In the background, Lucy could hear Lizzie screeching with delight.

  "Lucy Chaple, will you marry me?"

  Actually, the only words she heard before she fainted were ‘will you marry...'

  The rest she just assumed before she hit the floor.

  "Lucy! Lucy! Someone call an ambulance."

  Cole's voice seemed to get closer and closer as she pulled herself out of oblivion. “No ambulance,” she croaked, wetting her dry lips. “I'm okay."

  She felt herself enveloped in Cole's embrace before she even opened her eyes. When she did, she saw the fear etched on his face.

  "Lucy, don't move. Lizzie is calling an ambulance."

  "No ambulance.” She managed to pull herself up as her head cleared. “Lizzie, do you hear me? I don't need an ambulance."

  Lizzie looked at Cole with uncertainty.

  "I'm fine,” Lucy promised. “It was just shock. I felt overwhelmed by everything."

  "But the baby?"

  "The baby is fine. We're okay.” Lucy sat cross-legged, facing Cole, and a circle of people formed around them. Someone handed her a bottle of water and she took it gratefully.

  "So, you were saying,” she said after taking a few sips.

  He frowned. “If it's too much for you, we can figure things out later.” He put a hand against her abdomen.

  She entwined her hand over his, so they both cradled their child. “You were saying,” she repeated more forcefully.

  A grin broke out on his face and he scooted closer to her. His eyes locked on hers. “Lucy Chaple, will you marry me?"

  "Yes!"

  The resounding declaration came from at least six different people in the store, including Lizzie and Mrs. Cohen. But it was Lucy's voice that rang most clearly.

  Wrapped in each other's arms, she repeated the words just for him. “Yes, Cole. I will marry you."

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  Epilogue

  Five years later

  "I'd like to propose a toast to my brilliant brother, Dr. Ben Chaple. Top of his graduating class at Stanford. And who has made his sister a very happy woman by deciding to do his residency close to home at the University of Michigan.” Lucy raised her glass. “To Ben."

  The fifteen friends and family members gathered at Ben's rental house repeated the cheer, clinking glasses and downing champagne.

  Ben, who had graduated medical school a few hours earlier, gave Lucy a cautious hug, careful not to press against her stomach. “I'm a little hard to maneuver around these days.” Lucy said, cupping her protruding belly. “But you can do better than that.” She pulled her brother in closer.

  "I'm so glad you were here today, sis."

  "As if I'd miss this,” Lucy retorted, finally letting go of her brother. She'd missed him fiercely since he'd moved to California.

  "If Dr. Wells had told me she didn't want me to fly, then Cole, Lily and I would have driven across this country.” Six months pregnant with their second child, she and Cole had found out only a week ago that this one would be a boy.

  "Mommy!” Four-year-old Lily came barreling toward her at top speed. She was the perfect mix of Cole and Lucy, from her blonde hair and blue eyes to the dimple in her left cheek and her skin that so easily showed her feelings.

  "Careful,” Lucy scolded as Lily ran into her and wrapped her small arms around Lucy's legs. “Mommy isn't very balanced when she can't see her feet."

  "Grammy and Grampy said we're going to Disneyland,” Lily squealed.

  "What?” Lucy looked up. “Mom? Dad?"

  Miriam and Jerome Donovan both looked sheepish as they nodded.

  She was never sure why, but from the moment she and Cole had told his parents they were getting married, Miriam and Jerome had treated her like their own. They were crazy about Lily and took her on vacation with them at least once a year.

  "Lily found out that Disneyland is in California,” Miriam explained. “I thought we'd take her for a few days; give you and Cole some time to yourselves.” To her plastic surgeon's dismay, Miriam had gotten several laugh lines over the last few years.

  "I like the sound of that.” Cole appeared at her side and put an arm around her. “But I wanted to be there the first time Lily met Mickey Mouse."

  Lucy smiled. Cole was a completely devoted father. As much as she and Cole enjoyed their time alone together, he hated missing anything that happened in Lily's life. Especially the firsts.

  "Why don't we all go?” Lucy suggested. “I'm sure Cole and I will have plenty of opportunity to sneak off by ourselves. We can make it into a family trip. Ben, are you and Amber free?"

  Ben glanced at his wife of two years, who nodded enthusiastically. “We're in."

  "Don't forget about me. I wouldn't miss this for the world.”
Nanny Hilda walked up behind them.

  Lily let go of Lucy's leg and ran to Nanny Hilda.

  She scooped the child into her arms and held her against her hip. Nanny Hilda was still living with them and taking as good care of Lily as she had taken of Cole when he was a child.

  "Of course,” Lucy said. “We wouldn't dream of going without you."

  As Miriam and Jerome discussed travel plans, Cole pulled Lucy into the room they were using in Ben's house.

  "How are you feeling?” Cole placed a hand against her belly.

  She leaned into him and laid her head against his shoulder. It amazed her sometimes that she seemed to be more in love with him every day. She kissed his neck, and worked her way upward. “Do you think anyone would notice if we stayed in here for a while?"

  Cole turned the lock on the doorknob, and gave her a dimpled smile. “I think Lily will be sufficiently spoiled for a while without us.” He pulled her with him onto the bed. “Besides, we need to take full advantage of this week off work. We're going to be busy when we get back."

  Lucy nodded, ripping at the buttons on Cole's shirt. “I'm interviewing all next week to make sure the flower shop is covered while I'm on maternity leave.” Only the sight of Cole's bare chest kept her from grimacing as she added, “I hate interviews."

  Cole ran a hand up her thigh, his fingers finding her center. She moaned as he teased her. “I love interviews."

  "Really,” she panted, already coming close to her pinnacle as Cole used his other hand to play with her overly sensitive nipple.

  He looked down at her, love shining in his eyes, her love reflecting back. “Of course. That's how I found you."

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