Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 54: Decorations for a growing family

"Mama, I've got it. Don't pick that up."

Hayley took the box from Juliet and set it on the floor.

"Hay, you don't need to do that. I've got it."

Shaking her head, she began taking the stuffed animals out of the box and setting them on the dresser.

"You're not supposed to lift anything heavy remember?"

Sighing, Juliet nodded and went about arranging the stuffed animals on the dresser.

"I know. So, how's school? What's it like in New York?"

Hayley smiled and finished arranging the stuffed animals.

"It's bigger than Miami, that's for sure. You should see Central park. It's really something to see in the Fall. I hear it's even better when it snows. School is hard, but I'm making it. Coffee is my best friend."

Juliet laughed and rearranged another stuffed animal on the dresser.

"Coffee is what got me through medical school Hay. Coffee is about to become your best friend. Buckle up, the next eight years are going to be busy."

Juliet putting on a smile pulled out a grainy black and white photo and handed it to Hayley. Hayley got tears in her eyes and spoke.

"Is this her?"

Nodding, Juliet fingered the photo and then let her eyes wander to the stuffed animal on the dresser. It was a penguin.

"Well, it's a little early to tell, but I have a gut feeling it's going to be another girl. Your dad doesn't seem to think so. But he's been wanting a boy to add to the family for years."

Hayley's face fell as she pulled a newspaper clipping from her pocket.

"Mama, who's Ed?"

Juliet's face paled, and her breath caught in her throat. Hayley helped her into the rocking chair in the corner of the room.

"He was my first husband. I was still working for him in the research department at the university when I was pregnant with you. He was a manipulative and abusive man. You don't have to worry about him. He's dead. You were a secret. Everyone else Uncle David and I worked with suspected that I was pregnant, but were too afraid to say anything. Ed never found out. There were a few times I was sure he knew. He only kept me employed under him so that he could use my research. If he'd found out about you, I don't know what I would've done."

Hayley swallowed and pulled up a chair.

"If he found out about me, what would've happened to us?"

Juliet had the blankest stare on her face, as she stared at something beyond Hayley.

"You and I would've have been his science projects. Believe me, it's better if you don't know what he would've done. He can never do anything to either of us."
Hayley continued to watch her mother and her blank expression.

"What happened to him?"

Swallowing again, Juliet tried not to make her voice sound so far away.

"Karma got him. He was hit by a bus in an intersection right after I told him that Aunt Rachel was pregnant with your cousin Julian."

Hayley furrowed her eyebrows and frowned.

"I'm sorry I brought him up mama. This must cause you a lot of pain."

Juliet grabbed for Hayley's hands and set her lips in a thin grim line for a few seconds.

"That is a part of my past that I want to forget about. You are a miracle. Just like the rest of your sisters. I have been blessed with a gift. Knowledge is also a gift. So, tell me more about what you want to do after you graduate medical school?"

Hayley smiled. She knew where she was going, and how she was going to achieve her goals.

"I've decided I want to help you continue your Fertility research. Mama, you've helped a lot of women. You brought me into the world as a result of your research actually coming to fruition. Are you sure you're not a genius mama?"

Juliet only shook her head and tucked a piece of curly hair behind Hayley's left ear.

"I can't completely take the credit for the things I've done. Uncle David is partly responsible for helping me."

Hayley looked Juliet in the eye and smiled.

"Oh mama, you are being too modest. What about your morning sickness?"

Sighing, Juliet sat and looked up at the ceiling for a moment.

"No point in acting proud. It would make me look pompous, and I don't want to be seen as someone who only wants the money. As for the morning sickness, it's gone."

Hayley settled on the floor next to Juliet and looked around the room.

"You know, I'm really starting to like this Seafoam green color."

Juliet put a finger up to her lips and smiled.

"Dolphins would look really good on these walls. What do you think?"

Hayley nodded and grabbed for Juliet's hand.

"I think dolphins would be perfect."

James entered the room and smiled. Walking over to the rocking chair, he pulled Juliet to her feet and wrapped his arms protectively around her growing baby belly.

"This room is goin' to be beautiful blondie. So, how's my boy doin' in there?"

Juliet giggled a little and put and hand on top of his over her belly.

"She is doing just fine. James I've got a gut feeling this is going to be another girl. Don't get your hopes up."

James smirked and looked at the pile of stuffed animals on the dresser.

"A stuffed bat? That's a boy's toy right there."

Rolling her eyes at James, Juliet leaned back and looked into his eyes.

"Girls can like bats too James. I want Mayra to have all kinds of toys. I played with my cousin's trucks as a kid. But I was more of a tomboy than Rachel."

James watched Juliet for a few moments and then got down on his knees and spoke towards her stomach.

"I dunno if ya can hear me in there or not, but you are most definitely a boy."

Juliet shook her head once more and pulled James in for a kiss. When they pulled apart, she grinned and stared at the seafoam green painted walls and planned.

"I'm telling you James, this baby is a girl. With our luck, we've got all girls."

James sighed but gave a dimpled smile to Juliet.

"We'll see blondie."

To Be Continued...