Lily’s POV.
Ryan wakes me up after getting ready and I get ready in half hour. After wearing shorts and oversized t-shirt, I go down. Ryan already has put my bags in his car, so we have breakfast and leave his cabin.
I take a last look at the cabin as the car starts moving and remember all the beautiful memories I spent here. Ryan takes my hand once we are on main highway. I look at him and squeeze his hand and smile at him.
Yes we will miss this place where we moved one step ahead in our relationship and yes we somewhere fear that after going back to our real world we will face some complications. But we also know that we will handle it when we face it. Together.
We have lunch before entering Queens in car only of burgers near a park then soon we reach a block away from my apartment. Ryan tells me when to meet him as he could not come to my apartment because of security cameras. As he would be busy today and I would be tired, we can’t meet tonight.
“We can meet tomorrow night.” Ryan says.
“I can’t say anything right now. But I will let you know.” I say as I have to visit Lucas and if my periods came I am not going anywhere.
“Fine. Take care till then.” He says and kisses my cheek.
“You too.” I say.
I hold his cheeks in my hand and kiss him sweetly and soon that kiss turns fast and intense. We are breathless by the time we come apart but still not happy to leave each other. I peck his lip one last time then open the car door.
He helps me take out my bags and waves at me as I go towards my apartment building. I wave back till I turn a corner then go straight to my apartment with long face.
I enter my apartment and look around the empty spaces. As I already had lunch, I clean up my apartment a bit and unpack my bags. I make calls and let my family and Richard know that I am back and take nap after that.
In the evening, my period comes after some pain in my abdomen. I feel relieved as well as guilty for feeling that. But I assure myself that there loads of time to have kids later for me.
I give this news to Ryan and tell him that I would meet him on weekends before leaving for wedding. He tells me that we will stay in a hotel near airport and he will drop me there.
“Would you not join me?” I ask.
“I wish I could but I have meetings that whole week. But we will enjoy this weekend together before you go. Okay?” He asks.
“Okay.” I say.
“How are you feeling?” He asks.
“Confused but I really don’t want to get up from bed but I have to go make dinner or go out for it.” I say.
“You will feel better after having dinner. Don’t worry I send something for you.” He says.
“No. I don’t want anything heavy. I will just order a pizza.” I say.
“Fine. Have dinner and rest.” He says and we hang up.
I call Emma next and tell her about my plans. She asks me to stay with them for two three days before going away again and I say yes as I want to see my niece and nephew. After a while, I hang up.
I place an order for crinkle fries with creamy and spicy dip, veg extravaganza pizza of medium size and butterscotch mousse cake for dessert. It comes after an hour and I eat it as I watch TV.
The next two day goes like that only and I just relax in my apartment. I don’t buy any groceries as I would not be staying in apartment for long. I ask Lucas to wait for me as I want to go home with him and pack my bags on Tuesday late afternoon.
It was sudden decision but it was right as I have to be back by Friday to do different packing for my trip. I text Ryan about my plans. We talk for sometime and he asks me to have dinner with him tomorrow night. I tell him I would try and let him know.
I take subway to Manhattan and as I exit the station, I see my brother waiting there for me. I hug him and tell him about my trip in car. I also brought souvenirs for all of them. We reach home soon and Ethan jumps up and down when I enter it.
“Aunty is her, Mumma.” He shouts on the top of his lungs as he runs towards me, “What did you brought for me? Another baby? Maybe baby brother?”
“What?” I ask in surprise as I laugh.
“Ethan!” Emma says as she comes out of the kitchen.
“But you said that she will give me baby brother.” Ethan says with a pout.
“I hope somebody tells me soon what is happening here and why is my nephew demanding a baby from me. Tell me Emma.” I say as Lucas brings my bags in.
I take one from him and see Ethan sulking then going to sit on chair. Emma comes near me and we hug each other while Lucas takes my bag to my room. He will come down after getting changed and giving kisses to his princess Eve.
“What happened to Ethan?” I ask as I sit down on sofa and see him.
“Nothing. As Eve is girl and can’t play with him, he is thinking that if Eve was a boy they would at least have same interest. He was demanding me to have a boy, seriously. So to calm him I told him that you will give him brother he wants because I am done with having babies. Two and I am done.” Emma says as he brings me coffee and sits beside me.
“Don’t worry I will talk to him.” I say.
“Okay. Anyway he will understand your words better as you are a younger sister too. I bring down Eve to meet her aunt but till then keep a watch on oven, we are eating spaghetti today.” She says and goes after I nod.
I take out the gifts I brought for him and go near him and say, “Ethan, look what I brought for you. And not just one but two gifts and that too bigger than Mom and dad’s gift. See.”
“But I want someone to play with me.” He says with pout.
“Don’t you have friends?” I ask.
“Yes but not at home.” He says.
“Fine but don’t you think Eve would play with you when she will grows up?” I ask as I take his hand.
“But she is a girl. My friends said that she will play with dolls and other girls of her ages when she will grow up.” Ethan says and I can see he is getting jealous about it.
“Well that is because maybe your friends haven’t tried playing with them. Do you know you Dad is so much older than me?” I ask.
“Yes. Exactly seven years.” He says as he shows me seven fingers.
“Yes. But do you know who had the first honour to join my tea party?” I ask.
“Who?” He asks as he gets curious.
“Your Dad. And do you know who taught me to play it? Guess.” I ask.
“Dad?” Ethan ask as he giggles.
“Yes. I did had my friends too but I had them because I knew how to play different games and I was taught by my big brother. That is why I love him so much. He helped me learn so many things. Now you also have little sister, right?” I ask and when he nods I continue, “When Eve grows up a bit, she will look up to you to learn so many things. Rather it be a little brother or sister, you will always be big brother and would have equal responsibility to teach them how to play.”
“And one inside tip, little sister always takes your side.” Lucas says as he comes down.
“Really?” Ethan asks and when I nod he hugs me tightly.
The ping sound comes from oven and Lucas goes to see it after kissing our forehead. Emma comes down with Eve and I coo at her as I take her in my arms and sit down on sofa. Ethan comes at my side and caress her head so carefully and lovingly.
“Eve, you take your time to grow up while I will learn new things to teach you. Then we will play together and become a team. I promise.” Ethan says and I smile at them. Emma mouths thank you to me and I blow a kiss to her.
“Now what about the gifts I brought? Aren’t you going to se it?” I ask and he jump down the sofa and starts opening the wrapping.
“It is a telescope. It is so cool.” Ethan exclaim as he looks around the room with it.
“What’s in the second one? Check it.” Lucas asks as he comes out.
“Wow! It is walkie talkie and cool hand gloves.” Ethan shouts at top of his lungs that Eve starts scrunching up her face at the noise.
I sway her, so she doesn’t cry while Lucas and Ethan look at the gifts. Lucas shows him how to use it and tells him about the tiny ball on the gloves is a compass. Telescope was my idea but gloves and walkie talkie was Ryan’s idea.
“You should not have brought something like that for him.” Emma complains.
“It is okay Emma. This will help him only. He would enjoy playing games and would become more smart like his parents.” I say.
“Yes and wait till Eve grows up then they start playing pranks and tricks on us. Ethan you go in that room and we will test it.” Lucas says with a boyish grin.
“Someone is excited about this gift.” Emma teases Lucas as Ethan goes in another room and I laugh.
“Of course I am. Remember Lily, when we used to team up and sneak cookies?” Lucas asks.
“Yes. Do you know Emma whenever Mom was baking something or brings home some desserts, Lucas and I would get her out of kitchen somehow and steal the treat.” I say.
“Then we will go to our secret hideout and enjoy our sweet victory.” Lucas says.
“But do you know Dad always used to caught us?” I ask.
“Yes. They both knew what we were doing and I once heard them laughing at our prank and praising us that we are so smart and have such good team work that we will come out of any bad situation together.” Lucas says as he looks down and I feel smile come to my face too.
“Well a child should play while he just a child and let him or her learn their lesson themselves only.” I say.
The walkie talkie in Lucas’s hand makes sound and Ethan says, “Is Bravo Daddy there, this is Alpha Son here. I repeat is Bravo Daddy there. Over and Out.”
We try to control our laugh as father and son duo play for sometime and I talk with Emma about what happened in my absence. I give them family gift of matching t-shirt of light blue color. For Eve, I also brought princess dress and dozen of cute head bands.
I give Emma a beautiful mitten gloves and to Lucas I give a jacket. I also give them maple syrup bottle. After giving gifts, Emma puts Eve in bassinet and we have dinner together.
I go for a walk with Ethan to nearby ice cream shop and bring it home as he has two layer cone. After dessert, we all go for sleep. I text with Ryan for sometime and let him know that not only Ethan but Lucas also liked his gift.
The next two days I spent with my family were the bestest. Ethan and I played so much as it is his vacation. I would coo to Eve all day and send pics to her grandmother to make her jealous.
Emma and I go for shopping for my upcoming trip and she asks me about how my relationship is with my secret boyfriend and when I blush, she starts asking for details. I talk to her about how wonderful our week was without giving away any specific details.
“So are you happy?” She asks me.
“Yes. Very much.” I say.
“So when are you going to meet him again?” She asks me.
“We will meet this weekend as he won’t be able to join me in wedding.” I say.
“That is why you are leaving on Friday morning, huh?” She asks as she tilts her head in teasing.
“Come on, Emma.” I say and change the topic.
We come back home and see Grace there too. It is Thursday and she can’t resist coming here. She take Eve in her arms as soon as we come back. I shake my head at her when she makes face at me and laugh.
We make a feast that night and have it in garden together. We talk till late and eat BBQ. I enjoy my time with them then go for sleep. The next morning I get ready and pack my bags.
As I start to go Ethan says, “Do you have to go?”
“Yes. But I would be back soon. I promise.” I say and kiss his cheeks and he smiles.
I am going in taxi to my place even though Lucas insists on dropping me. But I deny it saying he would late for his work. I give last kiss to Eve, Ethan and Emma and sit in the taxi.
As soon as I get in my apartment, I get call from Richard and we talk for a while. He asks me to have dinner with him next week but I tell him that I would be leaving for a friend’s wedding soon and would surely have dinner with him next to next week.
After arranging my apartment, I pack my bag and go out for lunch and also to store for some things I forgot to buy. After coming back I decide to ask Ryan about our plans for weekends.
“Hi.” I say to Ryan.
“Hi.” Ryan says and his voice makes me sigh.
“I am packed and ready to go. So when and where are we meeting?” I ask.
“I have booked a room for us in Hotel Deluxe. I will send you the email, show it to the receptionist and she will take you to your room. You can go there now also. I would be there soon, okay?” Ryan says.
“Okay. I would be waiting for you. Bye.” I says and hang up.
I call a cab and take it to the hotel. I show her email and she takes me to my suite on top floor. She shows me around the room then leaves after giving me instruction on different services provided by them.
Now all that is to do is wait for my boyfriend, Ryan.