Lucky Coincidence // Stuart Twombly

II

"Are you sure I can go, mister Watts? I don't mind staying a bit longer to finish up that invoice," Lara stated, heaving her bag higher on her shoulder. 

"It's fine, Lara, you can go home. You worked hard today, you deserve a break," Sebastian Watts smiled. Lara muttered a quick thank you before hurrying away from the office. She made a beeline for the garage and soon found her car. She dumped her things on the backseat but quickly remembered that her niece was going to sit there so she moved everything to the passenger's seat. 

She pulled out of her parking spot and steered her car onto the road. It was only an eight-minute drive to her brother's house and she parked on the driveway. 

Before she could even close the car door, her overly excited niece ran up to her. "Auntie Lara!" She exclaimed loudly.

A large smile broke through on Lara's face as she lifted her niece in her arms. "Hi, Maddy! Are you ready to have fun tonight?" She chimed and Maddy excitedly nodded. 

"First I have to say hi to mommy and daddy." Lara carried her niece inside and found Jace in the kitchen. She set Maddy down and embraced her brother. "How are you holding up?" 

Jace sighed. "A pregnant wife who has mood swings every second of the day and the weirdest cravings at 2 am and a hyperactive toddler who loves to hide from me? I'm great," He sighed with a sarcastic smile. "No worries, I'll be fine. Once the baby is born, it'll get better." 

"I'm glad you're okay. Laura is upstairs I assume?" She asked and received a nod from her brother. "I'm going to check up on her." 

She ascended the stairs and quickly found the bedroom where Laura was sprawled out on the bed with two pillows stuffed under her legs to get her swollen ankles to reduce. "Hey, Laura," Lara softly greeted her sister in law. 

"Hi," She tiredly said and sat up slightly. 

"How are you feeling?" She sat down on the edge of the bed. 

"I'm so ready to pop this baby out. My pregnancy with Maddy was so much easier," Laura sighed. 

"Well, I came by to pick Maddy up and I'm sure Stuart is waiting for me at home. Have fun tonight and good luck at the hospital." Lara reached forward and hugged Laura. 

"You're an angel, I swear." Laura patted her cheek and Lara giggled. 

"It's nothing. I love spending time with Maddy, it's been forever since Stuart has seen her," Lara smiled. "I'll see you tonight." 

Lara went downstairs where she found her brother with Maddy's bag. She put it in her car and transferred Maddy's car seat to her own car. She placed Maddy in it and said goodbye to her brother. 

She steered the car back onto the street and dialed Stuart's number on the car kit. 

"Hey, babe," His voice chimed.

"Hi, honey. I've got Maddy with me, Jace needed a babysitter. I'm on my way home now, I'll be there in 15 minutes," She stated. 

"Okay, can't wait to see you again!" He said, causing a smile to break through on Lara's face. 

"See you in a bit, love you." She hovered her finger above the button to hang up the call but waited until Stuart had a chance to say goodbye as well. 

"Maddy, what do you want to eat tonight?" She asked her niece. 

"Pancakes!" Maddy cheered and Lara giggled. 

"Pancakes it is!" She smiled, gaining another cheer from her niece. Maddy loved anything related to pancakes, Jace even threw her a pancake-themed birthday party last year and found a guy online who dressed up like a stack of pancakes. Maddy loved it.