The Boot - Next Steps (Book 2)

Chapter One

LUCY

My heart stops as I stare at the small plastic stick. That one word displayed on the screen was going to change my life. Things have just started to be stable again after so long of unpredictability, and I honestly could have used a break from it. But clearly, life has other plans in store for us.

I jump when there is a knock on the bathroom door. "Lucy?" Tim says. "Are you okay?"

I don't know why, but I suddenly feel the need to tell him the news right away. I know how sad he was to miss the beginning of my pregnancy the first time, and I can't take that experience away from him again. Besides, I need him right now. I need my partner.

I go to unlock the door, opening it just wide enough to peek my head through. "Where's Sasha?"

"I put her down for a nap," Tim replies. "Are you okay, baby?"

I shake my head, trying and failing to keep the tears from falling down my cheeks. He sighs sadly as if it causes him physical pain to see me so upset. He cups my chin in his hand, swiping the pad of his thumb to wipe my tears.

"I- I- I- I need- I- I need to- to show you- show you s-s-something," I stutter.

"What is it?"

I open the door further, taking his hand and gently tugging him into the bathroom. I shakily point with my free hand to the tests on the counter.

He is confused at first, but the second his eyes land on the tests, I can practically hear his breath hitch in his throat. He takes a step closer but remains silent. He picks up the test and examines it closely.

"When did you take this?"

"Just now."

Despite what I had expected, which I'm not entirely sure what that was, Tim immediately wrapped me up in a hug. His warm breath fans over my ear as he drops his voice to a whisper. "No wonder you haven't been feeling good."

I laugh despite myself. "What are the chances?"

"Y'know, one day, I'd like to knowingly get you pregnant," he jokes.

My face falls as I pull back to look him in the eyes. "What are we going to do?"

He sighs, crossing his arms as he leans back against the wall. "That's a good question."

"What do you want?"

"Hm?"

"We already have triplets, two of them are still in the NICU. We haven't done this before, and we have essentially been thrown into the deep end of parenting. Can we really handle all of that while you're recovering from being shot and while I'm pregnant?"

"I think that we can handle anything life throws at us. We've been able to do it before. At this point, it feels like we've seen it all. And we still came out stronger than before. I don't think it's a question of whether or not we can handle this, because I'm positive that we can. I think the real question is if we want to go through that again."

"I want to keep it," I say softly.

He pulls me into another hug. "Then that is exactly what we are going to do."

This moment is perfect, and I want nothing more than to relish in it, but like all good things, it had to come to an end. The moment is interrupted by a loud cry coming from the nursery. "She's hungry."

"I will forever be amazed by your second sense. Damn."

"I need to go feed her,"

"I'll come with you,"