It's always been you

Chapter 45 - 7 months

LUCY POV

I was 7 months pregnant today. Two months to go and then mine and Oliver's baby would arrive. I'd decided to keep the gender a surprise. I was starting to her uncomfortable. My balance was off, my feet and legs were swelling, I constantly had a killer back ache. And the morning sickness was still hanging around.

Right now I was sitting alone on the patio rubbing small circles over my stomach as I felt my baby repositioning. A foot caught me in the ribs and I winced. "You ok Luce?" I looked up to the door and saw Joe holding out a cup of tea for me. "Somebody keeps kicking me in the ribs." Joe sat down with me and looked like he wanted to say something. "Spit it out Quinn." "Can I-.....nevermind" " Joe what is it?" "Can I feel a kick?"

Joe was the first person to ask. Most people just swooped in and rubbed my belly. When he asked me the question I realised he'd never touched my bump. I took his hand and placed it flat on the top of my bump. There was nothing for several minutes so Joe went to take his hand away. "Wait." I held his hand in place. And then there was another almighty kick to my ribs and his eyes widened. "Was that-" "that's your niece or nephew Joe."

Joe smiled and his eyes got misty, he then talked to my belly. "Hello in there. Please stop kicking your mum so much. She's a nice lady and we all love her a lot so please be more gentle." As if in retaliation there was another big kick making us both smile sadly. He gave my belly another few pats and said "I'll get you something to eat Luce."

I decided I wanted to go inside so I hugged and puffed, heaving myself out of my chair with a groan. As I waddled inside I found Joe making a sandwich at the bench, he turned when he heard me and rushed to sit me down. He knew my balance was complete bull shit at the moment.

"How's the nausea today?" "Still there. But I haven't actually been sick for four days so that's a win." We heard the front door open and close and then heard a voice call down the hallway. "Helloooo?" It was Richard. "Kitchen!" We both called back.

He rounded the corner and smiled when he saw me. I say smiled but his smile hadn't reached his eyes for four months. It was four months today since Ollie died. He sat down at the table with me as Joe kept making our lunch. "You hungry Richard? Want a sandwich?" "Yeah go on thanks Joe." Then he turned to me and looked like he wanted to say something but didn't know how.

"Everything ok Richard?" He took a deep breath and then told me. "I heard from the crash investigation unit today. The same two officers." "Oh." He paused again before saying "we have a court date. He's been charged with manslaughter and the police are pushing for maximum penalty." "So they fucking should! He should get the death penalty!" We glanced up at Joe not expecting his outburst. "Sorry". He continued making lunch before placing it in front of us.

"I'm worried about you being at the courthouse Lucy." "Richard I'm not missing it. I want him to look me in the eye." "Sweetheart it's going to be a media circus. Especially with your pregnancy being public knowledge now." I winced and thought back to when my pregnancy was leaked to the press by another patient at the hospital, forcing Phillip to release a written statement on the family's behalf. It was posted on Richard and Sarah's social media accounts. I had deleted all social media months before the wedding.

The same statement was shared on their Instagram pages and Twitter accounts.

It has come to our attention that a patient at Saint Jude's hospital, released some personal information about our daughter in law, Lucy to the press and we feel like we need to share something with you all.

Lucy is currently 5 months pregnant with our first grandchild, that was conceived before our son Oliver was killed 2 months ago. Oliver knew about the pregnancy and was present at Lucy's first OB appointment and got to see his child's heart beat before he was cruelly taken from us.