"I'll get it." Quickly, Luke made his way to the living room, where he opened the door to his Mrs. Carmichael, Lucas, and Gwinifer. "Uncle Lucas! Grandma!" As they approached the front door, he took a step back. "Where is Grandpa?"
"Parking," Lucas answered.
Everyone followed Luke to the outdoor patio where he yelled out in excitement, "They're here!"
Harper welcomed everyone with a smile.
"You look wonderful, dear." Mrs. Carmichael said sweetly to Harper.
"Thank you, Clara. You look fantastic yourself. Have you been to the beach?"
"Yes, dear. My sweet time in the Bahamas was certainly therapeutic. Where is Alex?"
"He's upstairs, changing," Harper replied.
"Then kindly excuse me as I make a phone call," Mrs. Carmichael said, hurriedly making her way off of the patio.
Harper's gaze shifted to Lucas, who was approaching her. "Would you want something to drink?"
"No, but thank you. You look great." Even though it had been years since he accepted Harper's rejection, Lucas could still feel a slight flutter in his stomach whenever he saw Harper. However, he was able to swiftly get over this feeling and hug her. "I think pregnancy really brings out the best in you. Do you remember when you were pregnant with Luke?"
Gwinifer reached for Harper and gave her a quick hug as soon as Lucas released her. "I was going to say that."
At that moment, they watched Mr. Fritz and Lila walking onto the patio.
"We're here! We're finally here," Lila yelled, cheerfully.
"I appreciate you driving Dad here, Lila," Harper said.
"Well, I certainly don't want to miss your husband's cooking. Alex is a rock star in the kitchen, but don't tell him that. So, yeah, the two-hour drive is worth it."
Everyone laughed and agreed on how Alex turned out to be a really good cook than even surprised Mrs. Carmichael. Then Alex came downstairs and joined them.
"Hello, everyone. Please, everyone, make yourselves at home." He smiled as he moved from person to person, giving them a hug. "Have you seen Mom?"
Harper paused for a bit before responding, "Um, she went to the restroom."
"Hello, sweetheart. How are you feeling?" Mr. Fritz asked her as he joined them.
"I'm fine." She smiled as she added, "I just need to keep as much distance as possible from any smell or scent... like any perfume."
"Do you know whether it's a boy or a girl?" Lila asked.
Harper smiled as she turned to Alex. "Well, okay, I suppose I should go ahead and announce it now..."
"Oh my gosh! I have a feeling that it's a boy!" Lila yelled out her prediction with gusto.
Paula showed a slight expression of irritation by rolling her eyes. "I think it’s a girl. How you glow and blossom every day is very telling that it's a girl. You become more and more beautiful each day."
"Why, Paula, thank you very much."
"Wait! Isn't there going to be a gender reveal party? Lila asked.
"No," was Harper's short response. "As far as parties and gatherings are concerned, I don't think I'll ever have the energy for that right now. Until I give birth, this dinner celebration tonight will be my last one."
"Oh, that's cool." Lila smiled, but her voice carried a trace of disappointment in it.
Harper cast her gaze across the room and brought her hands together in front of her chest. "Okay, so, are you all ready to know whether it's a boy or a girl?"
"On the way here, Lucas and Gwinifer couldn't stop talking about it," Mrs. Carmichael's voice could suddenly be heard as she emerged from the living room and joined the others on the patio.
"Hello, Mom." Alex gave her a warm hug and planted a peck on the top of her head before pulling away.
His mother then said quietly to him, "Your sister wanted to come."
"And I am grateful to you for not letting her."
Seeing Mrs. Carmichael's lips open again to respond, Harper broke the slight tension between Alex and his mother by revealing the gender of their baby. "We're having a *girl*!"
As a collective cheer broke, everyone's eyes lit up in excitement. Alex's mood instantly lightened and he chimed in with pride in his eyes, "We're having a healthy, stunning, smart girl."
"Oh, I'm sure!" Both Lila and Paula nodded their heads in agreement.
"Thanks to Harper's strong genes, I mean, just look at Luke... " Lucas teased, nodding the young boy's way.
Alex grunted and shook his head in response to the playful punch from his brother. Luke looked away to avoid the unexpected attention.
"Oh my, our young heart-breaker is blushing!" Lila let out a teasing gurgle of delight.
"No, I'm not blushing!" Luke scowled. Everyone laughed at his reaction and response. Just like his mother, the kid never liked the attention.
"Luke is a gentleman," Paula said, saving Luke from further teasing. "He's not going to break any hearts."
While listening to his family and friends talk, Alex couldn't help but crack a smile. He missed this. Hearing them always brought him a sense of contentment and happiness, as well as a sense of pride in the decision he had taken years ago. He quickly went off to the kitchen as soon as everyone's attention was drawn to Mr. Fritz and his new property on the beach and prepared the pasta. Once he was done, he carried it out to the patio and carefully set it next to the bowl of salad.
"Dinner's ready," he announced, before returning to the kitchen to get the two bottles of wine.
As they took their seats at the table, Harper turned to Gwinifer and asked, "How are things in Paris?"
"Great, but still not as breathtaking as Velaris. You really ought to make the trip and check it out. The rehabilitation efforts that Hazel has put in over the years have been simply impressive."
"Alex and I, I'm sure, would be thrilled if we got the chance to go back. But, we'll see." She switched her attention to Lucas, who was sitting in front of both her and Alex, next to Gwinifer. "And Lucas, how come I don't see an engagement ring on Gwinifer's finger yet?"
They all burst into laughter and started throwing questions and speculations on why Lucas hadn't proposed to Gwinifer yet.
"We're not in any hurry, people. Okay?" When the teasing and quesitioning died down, Lucas made it quite clear for everyone else. "Gwinifer and I are pretty much just taking things in stride and enjoying life together."
Mrs. Carmichael, who was seated on Alex's right side, gave Gwinifer a shrug of her shoulders. "I don't know what that means, darling."
Gwinifer gave a small smile. "Well, Lucas is right. There is no need to rush things."
Harper smiled briefly before feeling Alex's hand on her stomach under the table.
During dinner, the conversation flowed smoothly like fine wine. Their conversation continued to include juicy details about how Lucas and Gwinifer ended up together after his third trip to Paris, as well as Alpha Redmane's brand-new City of Velaris. The only two things that were left unsaid were the ones that were on everyone's mind: Alex's father and sister, as well as Francine.
When dinner was finally over and they had finally stopped gushing over Alex's pasta, he brewed a pot of coffee, and then everyone headed to the outside lounge.
Harper and Alex's dreamy lounging area that extended from the patio where they had just finished dinner drew quick admiration from Mrs. Carmichael. "Oh, I love what you and Harper have done here, Alex. It's suite impressive."
"Is there any news on Francine?" Harper asked and sat with Gwinifer alone on the daybed.
"She's still in Lemelherv, assisting with the Royal Reform." Gwinifer cast a sidelong glance toward her bulging stomach. "Harper, it has been years since she and Alex broke their bond. And I had a brief conversation with her a few months ago."
"You spoke to her?"
"Yes, and she said that she had already forgiven you a very long time ago. So you should quit worrying about her. Okay?"
"Okay." Harper turned to gaze at Luke, who was standing by the pool with his father and Lucas. Her shoulders slumped as she said, "I hope she can come to visit us and just… I don't know …talk?"
"I do not doubt that moment will come, even if it might not be today or tomorrow, but I do not doubt that it will come. Although, the important thing right now is that no one is hurting anymore," Gwinifer added as Harper nodded her head. "Look at how your father and Alex's mother are laughing and talking. You have to admit, it's amazing. Just take a look at Lucas and Alex. And just look at Luke and how happy he is!"
"I get your point and couldn't agree with you more." Harper sighed. "Well, it's been years."
"You're absolutely right." Gwinifer grinned, nodding. "And actually, it's been *eight* years."
"Has it? Oh my god. Has it really been that long? Time flies fast!"
"Absolutely."
"And what about you and Lucas? Come on. Spill the beans."
Gwinifer softly laughed. "Well, yes, we're kind of into each other. I'm not going to deny that, but we've agreed to take our time and not rush things. There are still a lot of things that we both want to achieve on our own."
"Okay. You're right. There is no need to hurry." Harper wholeheartedly agreed.
Soon after, Mrs. Carmichael, Lila, and Paula joined them on the daybed, while Mr. Fritz went to join the other guys by the pool.
"What was Luke's initial reaction when he found out that he was going to have a baby sister soon?" The question came from Mrs. Carmichael.
"He couldn't believe it at first. After that, he went on to say that he couldn't wait to see his baby sister. He's quite excited, and he enjoys feeling and stroking my tummy when his sister kicks." She took Mrs. Carmichael's hand and placed it on the spot where her daughter kicked the most. "Since I ate, she'll be more active now."
"Oh, that’s amazing!" A cheerful expression appeared on Mrs. Carmichael's face. "Are you planning on having a natural birth?"
"Yes, normal delivery ."
After some time, when they began suggesting baby names and a baby shower, the men joined in, and for the next couple of hours, they all gathered around and talked just about anything. It made for a pleasant evening overall. Luke, on the other hand, was the one who noticed his mother's effort to stay awake later on.
"Dad, I think it's already past Mom's bedtime."
"Thank you, buddy."
"And I think I should get going too." Mrs. Carmichael looked over at Alex as she stood up. "I told your father I wouldn't be out late."
But Alex didn't say a word, and instead just frowned when his father's name was briefly brought up.
"Dad, you don't have to go just yet," Harper told her father sweetly.
"I'd love to stay longer, Harper, but you're going to need every second of sleep you can get right now. And Lila's driving me back…"
"I have to get up early the next day too, so I'm sorry, Harper, but we have to go," Lila said, pouting apologetically.
"And we still have an early flight to catch tomorrow," Lucas said,
"Call me, dear. Let's have lunch. Let's get started on the preparations for that baby shower." A broad and excited grin spread across Mrs. Carmichael's face.
And with all of that said, Harper and Alex saw each of them to the door and hugged them repeatedly as they left. The very last two people to go were Lucas and Gwinifer.
"We’ll be back in a couple of months." Before she left, Gwinifer gave Harper a big bear hug.
"Hey, Mom... Dad, I was wondering if it would be okay if I stayed with Grandpa? I'll be back on Sunday, so I don't miss school on Monday," Luke assured them, his blue eyes pleading.
"Great strategy, Luke, to ask for our permission as your grandpa leaves." Harper tried to frown at her son though she had to admit that leaving her no time to think it over was, indeed, quite a good strategy.
"Dad, please?"
"Your mother always has the final word, Luke. You already know that, buddy," Alex said to Luke before lovingly smiling at Harper.
"Please, Mom."
"Fine."
"Yes! Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad!" After giving his parents a hug, Luke tore off in a sprint down to Lila's car in the parking lot. "Grandpa! Wait for me! She said yes!"