Ben raised his glass to her. “I did.”
She clinked her glass with his and took a sip of her water.
“Please,” he said, motioning to the food in front of them. Liz picked up the dish and began serving herself some of the vegetables and chicken. She passed the dish to Ben. He filled his plate and set it down.
They both smiled as they took a bite of their dinner.
“How was your day?” he asked, looking at her.
“It was good,” she said happily before her face fell. She placed her hand on her stomach and stood up.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered before walking back to the house, hunching over as she walked briskly.
Ben jumped to his feet and followed her inside. He walked into the kitchen and looked around.
“Liz?” he called out frantically, hearing heaves from the bathroom.
He walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door. “Honey, are you okay?”
“I’m all r ...” she was cut off by a heave.
“Honey!” he said, trying to jiggle the doorknob.
The heaving subsided, and he heard her gargling. Eventually, Liz opened the door and looked up at him.
“What’s wrong?” he said, grabbing her shoulders softly.
“Well,” she said, smiling and looking to the side, “this wasn’t how I wanted to tell you.”
Ben looked at her, trying to piece together the logic in his mind. His face lit up as it hit him.
“Liz, are you …?” His voice trailed off.
She nodded and smiled. He laughed, brimming with excitement. He went to pick her up but stopped.
“Should I?” he asked, grinning from ear to ear.
“Maybe not right now,” Liz said, laughing.
“Oh my God!” he exclaimed, holding her in his arms.
He pulled back and looked into her eyes.
“We’re going to have a baby?” he asked.
Liz nodded and stared at him with admiration. He laughed again and held her.
The turmoil, obstacles, tears, and laughs had led to this moment ... holding his love in his arms and hearing they were having a baby. He thought back to the first night in her apartment, the diner, and the nights in his office.
How much anguish he felt when he thought he was going to lose her, the tears she shed when he told her she had to listen to his instructions, and fighting off the Moretti boys all led to this moment.
Ben looked down at her, and gratitude swept through him. It was all worth it, and one day they would be able to pass on their love story to their little cub.
He leaned down to her stomach and kissed it.
“We can’t wait to meet you.”
