Andy spent most of her day in her office, and the quietness weighed heavily on her, leaving too much room for thoughts to swirl around. Only days ago, she learned she was pregnant again, and the reality of carrying another child both excited and overwhelmed her, after her outburst that she was ridiculous for her, but Robert understood how she was feeling
Ryan quietly entered the room, his concern for her well-being evident in his gentle demeanour. "Andy, are you okay? You don't have to go through this alone," he said softly.
"I'm fine. You don't need to check on me every hour," she replied, forcing a smile, though her heart felt heavy beneath the surface.
"Still, how are you holding up with your dad's cancer coming back? That must be so hard to manage," he asked, his voice filled with empathy.
"It frustrates me," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I wish he could accept my help. I want him to be a part of his grandchildren's lives and to share those special moments."
"Have you had a chance to share those feelings with him?" Ryan encouraged gently, concern woven into his words.
"He won't listen," she said, tears shimmering. "He believes they'd be better off without me."
Just then, Pruitt entered the room, carrying an emotional weight that seemed to fill the air. "They are indeed better off without me," he said softly, his gaze distant yet filled with a father's love. "I've watched my children grow into such remarkable people. Bella looks so much like you when you were little. I need to say this: I'm dying. My last wish is to walk you down the aisle and see you marry the love of your life."
This was the second time he had spoken so openly about his fate in front of Andy and Ryan, who had become his family. The fear of leaving them, along with the frustration of being powerless against his illness, weighed heavily on his heart. With perhaps just a year left, he longed for precious moments—his granddaughter's first birthday and her wedding day. Although he had sought help at the hospital, the news was grim: the cancer had spread, and all that was offered was chemotherapy and radiation, which he dreaded for its potential to leave him weak and vulnerable.
Once her shift ended, Andy and Robert planned a small getaway to escape for a few days, hoping to unwind and deepen their bond. Ben and Bailey offered to care for Alex and Bella, while Rosie and Ryan kindly stepped in to help.
As the minutes passed, Andy took off her uniform, anticipation stirring. A gentle tap at the door brought a smile to her lips as Robert appeared with Bella and Alex, looking radiant.
"Alex!" she exclaimed, joy lighting up her face as he dashed into her arms.
Robert lovingly set Bella down, and she crawled eagerly toward her mummy.
"Oh my god, Bells, look at you!" Andy cried, her heart swelling as she lifted Bella into her arms, tears of happiness glistening in her eyes. They settled onto the couch together, savouring the warmth of the moment.
Just then, Rosie knocked and entered, her face brightening at the sight of the children. Bella, now quite the explorer, crawled straight to Rosie.
"No escaping you now, huh, little miss?" Rosie laughed, scooping Bella up with affection.
"She's been on a roll all morning," Robert chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Changing her took us forever!"
"She is growing up too quickly," Andy remarked, her heart filled with pride and wistfulness.
"Honestly, at this rate, she'll be walking down the aisle on our wedding day. How beautiful would that be?" Robert mused, a warm smile gracing his lips.
Rosie, ever caring, asked, "What are your plans for today?"
"Alex wants to go to the park, so I thought that would be nice. Then Ben will pick the kids up later, and we can head out for our getaway," Robert explained, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
