Chapter 10 The Way Things Were

Abigail gasped. "What?" "Just four weeks. I just found out," Talia said. Abigail was at a loss for words. Talia rested her hand gently over her stomach. "I was going to tell him on his birthday. It was meant to be a gift, but now… I'm not sure it'll be good news for him." Abigail's voice softened. "Maybe it's not as bad as it seems. Thalia's pregnant too. Even if Lucien still has feelings for her, it doesn't mean he wants to be someone else's baby daddy. "He's been good to you these past few years. Maybe he really has moved on and just wants to build a life with you. Thalia showing up probably brought back some old memories. That happens. But once she's gone, things can go back to normal." Talia asked softly, "Can we really go back to the way things were?" Abigail stayed silent. A crush that had lasted over 20 years was like an iceberg. Most people only saw the tiny tip, but the emotions buried beneath the surface were deep and overwhelming. Only Lucien knew how much was hidden there. At last, Abigail said, "For the baby's sake, give him one more chance. If he still chooses Thalia, I'll go with you to get an abortion." … The next day, Talia had a morning shift. Lucien wasn't home, so she took a cab to the hospital on her own. Mornings were always hectic for doctors. After doing her rounds, giving instructions based on each patient's condition, and briefing Lisa on the special needs of a few postpartum patients, Talia finally made it back to her office for a sip of water. As she opened the office door, she heard her phone vibrating. It was Lucien. She answered, "Hey." Lucien's voice carried a hint of guilt. "Talia, are you at the hospital?" "I've already finished rounds," she replied. "Sorry. I was planning to drive you this morning, but something came up at the last minute." Talia let out a soft laugh and asked deliberately, "What came up?" He didn't answer right away. "Something at work?" she asked. "Yeah." Then, he quickly added, "You're off at five, right? I'll come pick you up. We can go home together." They had only gone to the Reese estate for his birthday meal with Brenda. Tonight they'd be going back to their apartment downtown. "It's a busy day. I might not be done by five," Talia said. "That's okay. I'll wait as long as it takes." "You've got so much going on at work. You can really leave by five?" "I handled most of it last night," Lucien replied. "I see. So there won't be any more late-night emergency calls pulling you away?" she asked. Lucien's voice lowered. "No. That won't happen again." The OB-GYN ward was unpredictable. When things got busy, even a dozen people couldn't keep up. But on quiet days, time crawled. Talia wasn't scheduled for outpatient duty today, and the patients on the ward were all doing well. There was nothing that needed extra attention, so once the clock struck five, she was free to leave. Lisa gave her a wink. "Dr. Ainsworth, your husband's been waiting outside for a while now." Warmth bloomed in Talia's chest. "How long has he been here?" "Maybe half an hour," Lisa said. "And between you and me… there's a surprise waiting." Talia looked skeptical. "A surprise?" Lisa laughed. "You two have been married for three years, yet he's still this romantic. We're all jealous." A nurse nearby clasped her hands under her chin, her eyes full of admiration. "Dr. Ainsworth, you must've done something incredible in your past life to end up with a husband like that." Lisa nodded like a bobblehead. "Exactly! If more men were like him, who'd still be afraid of marriage? I'd go all in with the wedding, the baby, even another kid if that's what it takes." Curiosity got the best of Talia, so she quickened her pace toward the lobby. Lucien stood front and center, wearing a crisp blue-and-white striped shirt with navy slacks. A matching sleeve garter was wrapped around his upper arms. He had a thing for sleeve garters, though most people couldn't pull them off. On someone too slim, they tended to slip out of place. On someone heavier, they dug into the arm and looked awkward. But Lucien had the kind of build that suited them perfectly. His broad shoulders, solid frame, and defined muscles gave the accessory just the right fit. Paired with his gold-rimmed glasses, he looked effortlessly polished and refined. Especially now that he was holding a massive bouquet of roses. People coming and going at the hospital entrance couldn't help but stare. Talia finally understood what Lisa had meant by a surprise. She tried to remember what day it was. Her birthday was still half a year away, and their wedding anniversary wasn't for another three months. Could it be the day they first met? No, that couldn't be it. They had first met on a blind date she'd managed to fit in during the National Day holiday because she'd been swamped with work at the time. That holiday was still weeks away. Maybe Abigail was right. Thalia's sudden return had only stirred up some buried feelings in Lucien. Once his head was clear, he'd still choose the life they had together. Talia curved her lips into a faint smile and walked toward him. Lucien noticed her coming and smiled. "You've had a long day. These are for the amazing Dr. Ainsworth." The bouquet was huge, and Talia struggled to hold it. "Thank you." It wasn't 999 roses, but there had to be at least a couple hundred. Lucien carried them effortlessly in one hand, while Talia couldn't even see the sidewalk with the bouquet in her arms. Lucien chuckled and took it back from her. "Better let me carry that." Talia's cheeks flushed. "Okay." Lucien held the bouquet in one hand and opened the passenger door with the other. "Get in." Talia was still a little uneasy after what happened last time. She paused before peeking inside. The passenger seat was empty, and so was the backseat. Thalia wasn't there. Lucien found it amusing. "What are you looking for?" Talia shook her head lightly. "Just figuring out where to put the flowers." "If you want to hold them, go ahead. If it's too much trouble, I'll just put them in the back seat." After a second of thought, Talia got into the car and held out her hands. "I'll hold them." "Hold on." Lucien leaned in and buckled her seatbelt before placing the bouquet in her lap. "Safety first." "Okay," she said. On the way home, Talia did something rare. She took a selfie with the roses and posted it online. Lisa was the first to comment. A flood of crying emojis, ending with one that screamed jealousy. Abigail gave it a like, then messaged her. "See? I told you. Lucien's not stupid. He's got a wife, a kid on the way, and a cozy home. Why would he throw that away just to play stepdad to someone else's baby?"