Lucky Me

The Boss

Hey! After about 4 months, lots of anxiety filled health issues and scares, I have decided to actually write again. I'll be amazed that there are any people still reading this book as I have been so bloody inconsistent with updates. But if you do happen to still be reading, then thank you for sticking with me. I hope you enjoy this small chapter. xx

LUCY POV

I sat in the dark, somewhat depressing room which was Nigel's office on one of my rare Saturdays off. He was finishing on a call with one of our vets but welcomed me in once I'd poked my head through his open doorway. I fidgeted in the chair as I caught a whiff of his empty pasta pot his had his lunch in. The aroma had my gut doing somersaults and I really wanted to knock the damn thing off his desk and into the trash bin beside it. But even he would think I was nuts if I did that. I just sat there, staring at the thick cream coloured Mayonnaise as the remnants of it clung to the transparent plastic pot. I was never a fan of the God awful stuff, but Jesus Christ it was the work of the devil towards my pregnant body. I could feel the colour slowly draining from my face as it practically dared me to look away-

"Lucy?" Nigel's voice boomed throughout the room, making me jump out of my Mayo-filled hate fest. My head darted up to look at him, my eyes wide. "Nige" I chuckled sheepishly. I hadn't even realised he had finished on the phone just now. "how are ya?" He asked, interlinking his fingers and leaning forward on his desk with a smile. Better if you'd throw out that fricking pasta pot.... I mumbled to myself. "not bad... I uh..."

"Great! I mean, not that I don't enjoy seeing you here on your days off...But it's like I see you more than my wife" He snorted, knowing just how much time I usually spent at this place. "now that we have the staff to train up under your supervision, he will be cared for expertly. Meaning you can spend a little less time worrying about him so much, and actually start having a life outside of this place" he said, throwing his arms up emphasising the building around us. "You're my best Staff member Lucy, and I don't want you working yourself into the ground." he added. I  nodded at him, and glanced down to my sweaty palms for a second before speaking up myself. 
"I um, well that's kind of why I'm here actually..." I swallowed nervously. "oh?" Nige responded almost immediately, his eyes wide as he awaited the rest of my speech.

I inhaled a deep breath, and shakily exhaled before looking back up at him. "I'm...I'm...." God why was this so hard to say?! 

"I'm pregnant" I stated, sounding a lot less confident than I had hoped I'd sound. I looked him in the eye and the man just sat there. Eyes wide. Slack jaw-ed. For around a minute. Silence. We just sat in silence. 

I couldn't stand it anymore. "Man, screw this!" I huffed and knocked the fucking pasta pot into the trash before sitting back in my seat with a satisfied sigh. My actions actually seemed to kick start Nigel's brain as his eyes watched my moves before landing back on my face. "I-I um, I..." he stammered. He let out a huff and looked back at me exasperated once again. "I am happy about it" I finally said, causing an actual visible wave of relief to wash over his face. I couldn't help but smirk at that. 

"well congratulations then Lucy!" his face suddenly cracked into a smile. "I must say, it has come as a rather big shock..." he chuckled lightly. "you're telling me!" I laughed back. "How long have you known?" he asked, apparently now a little more at ease, as he leaned back into his high backed leather chair. "I'm nicely into my 4th month" I said, "I've had my first check ups and a scan" I continued. "things are looking good so far" I nodded with a smile, not really realising I was cradling my stomach as I spoke. 

"Wonderful!" he beamed, a wide smile and kind eyes shining back at me. "and I expect you're here to discuss your maternity leave?" he questioned. But I shook my head, "well no, not really" I replied. "I mean, sure we will have to at some point, but I've a little time before that." I said, "what I wanted to discuss really was, well, firstly to tell you I was pregnant, and secondly, I haven't told anyone else here, and I wanted to keep it quiet for as long as I physically can. But," I sighed, "I'm going to have to delegate some of my jobs to the rest of the team" I said with regret. "of course! of course, it goes without saying dear girl. Not a word we discuss ever leaves this room anyway. But anything you want to talk to me about, my door is always open. And don't worry about some of your duties. We can pass them off to the trainees, you can use it as a way to assess their capabilities and what not. Like measuring and weighing Groot now. Of course those things can't be expected of you now. No heavy lifting" he smiled. "Thank you" I nodded gratefully. "I will start looking into things for you with HR, get some info together and we can get things sorted and in writing before you leave to have your little one" he advised, to which I nodded. "Thanks Nige. I'm totally out of my depth with all this" I laughed nervously, rubbing my forehead with the back of my hand. "So am I Lucy" he chuckled. "I don't think we've ever had a staff member leave to have a child yet" he pondered. "amazingly" he added with a laugh. "we'll figure it out together" he winked, making me smile.

"but tell me" he added, "are you okay?" he asked, looking at me with his gentle hazel eyes. I took a shaky breath, Man that was a loaded question. But I found myself nodding. "I am..." I began, "it's been one hell of a rocky road for me so far...I mean, I was never expecting this to happen..." I looked away from his gaze briefly, "but once I got my head around...it... I knew that I could give it a damn good try. I mean, it's not the way I imagined I'd be bringing up my child, but I know I have good family and friends around me." I nodded. "and I appreciate how supportive you are of me" I added. "absolutely." he nodded kindly. "and I will help in any way that I can. If we need to be flexible with shifts, child care...we will figure it all out" he assured me. I smiled at him, feeling a little lump in my throat a little. I hated this softer mushier side of my that my pregnancy seemed to bring out of me. 

"It isn't my place to ask, but...is...I mean, will you be supported by..." I could see the amount of awkwardness that exuded from his body right now, and I smiled. "It's okay Nige..." I sighed, "I aren't going to lie, when I told him, he freaked out. And I mean, literally ran away. I thought that he had no intention of being in his child's life, and I was dealing with that thought. But we've worked through it- we're working through it" I corrected myself. "he is a good man. Despite all this. He is the best man I've ever known. And honestly I know that he'll make the greatest father. But right now, I'm making him prove himself over and over before I give him that second chance with me." I told him. Maybe more than most would divulge to their boss, but I knew where I stood with Nigel. 

He nodded in understanding, "as always you seem to have it set in your mind what you're going to do. And as always I'm backing you. So thank you for coming to me today to give me a heads up" he smiled, "I best start thinking about who will cover you once you do go on maternity leave." He pulled a nervous expression. I couldn't help but laugh. "sure. As long as I can help with choosing said cover?" I asked hopefully, with a smile and he grinned, "wouldn't expect anything less" he answered. "Great" I grinned glancing at the clock, "well I better be heading back home now, I have my friend coming over to talk nursery stuff" I pulled a face this time before I reached down to grab my purse. Nigel chuckled again. "well have a good afternoon, and I'll see you on Thursday" he said. 

"yup. bright and early. If my morning sickness doesn't kick my ass again" I whined. I reached out and grabbed the door handle just as Nigel spoke up again. "and Luce?"

"yeah?" I turned back to him, "as much as I'm so happy for you, please don't be coming in here dropping anymore bombshells this year. Or the next..." he winked at me. But his smile faded slightly when I said, "well actually...."

He raised a brow at me, "about the father...."