Page 48 of Secrets, Scandals and Baby Shoes

It was a familiar conversation, one they’d had a hundred times since the moment they’d first held baby Dominic in their arms in their hospital room almost a year ago. He’d been wearing a knitted blue hat and had wrinkles all over his tiny face, which Elliot joked made him look more like an old man than a tiny baby. Lucy had whacked his shoulder, though she’d secretly agreed.

Now, baby Dominic was growing each day and looking more like both his parents and his uncle. He certainly had his namesake’s personality, too, always smiling and entertaining everyone. He waved to everyone he met and was already trying to walk. Lucy was pretty sure he’d start with a run.

“Are you looking forward to today?” Elliot asked.

“Definitely.” Lucy smiled at him. “But we’d better get this little guy — and ourselves — dressed first.”

“I’ll get Dom changed while you get dressed,” Elliot offered, holding out his arms for the baby. Dominic, still sleepy, held out his arms for his father with a cute smile.

“Thanks.” Lucy slipped off to the bedroom she and Elliot shared, where she chose a pretty, oversized blue sweater and a pair of black leggings for the occasion. The family was taking a road trip up to the Massachusetts beach where they’d gone in college. It would be baby Dominic’s first little vacation, apart from a few nights spent with Lucy’s parents a month or so ago. Elliot hadsuggested hiring a babysitter, but they’d both decided against it. A family trip would be more fun, even if it wasn’t as relaxing.

In fact, nothing about their lives since the moment they’d reconnected eighteen months ago had beenrelaxing,per se. They’d spent their first few months together working hard to get Borderless in good shape so that they could both take time off when Dominic arrived, while also reconnecting, finding an apartment to buy together, and buying baby supplies. Lucy had been right: shopping for baby things was far more fun with Elliot by her side.

Elliot had also decided to sell Keype. Lucy had assured him that he didn’t have to, but Elliot was resolute. He loved his company, but it was nothing compared to how much he loved Lucy and their son. He wanted to be able to spend all his time in New York, not in Chicago. The sale had meant quite a few trips to Chicago, often together, to sort things out, as well as a quick tour of Europe for Lucy’s babymoon and a chance to connect with clients, as they’d wanted to. Between the baby shopping, work, and travel, they were busy all the time during Lucy’s pregnancy. Except, of course, when Elliot had finally convinced Lucy to get off her feet in her eighth month so that he could bring her toast in bed and massage her feet.

If they’d been busy then, though, they were three times as busy after little Dominic arrived. Sleepless nights and spit-up followed, along with sweet, gummy smiles and adorable tiny fingers and toes that made everything worthwhile. If anything, their son had brought Lucy and Elliot closer together. As they learned, side-by-side, how to rock him to sleep and put on his tiny onesies, they’d argued and joked and talked and laughed and learned to rely on each other through everything. They’d also worked here and there, but thanks to a great managementteam at Borderless, they’d had plenty of time to be together as their little family.

Now, they’d have a new adventure: their first trip as a family of three. Everything was already packed, so once Lucy was dressed, she fed Dominic breakfast, had some tea with honey and toast, and got in the car. Elliot drove. Though they argued a little about directions, most of the drive was spent listening to music, entertaining baby Dominic, and watching the snowy trees whoosh by outside the windows. It was unseasonably cold for April — but all the more beautiful for it.

“We’re here,” Elliot said after a while, pulling up outside the house. They were in the same town they’d visited back in college, though this time they were staying in a cute bed and breakfast that was on the Borderless app instead of in the house they’d rented last time. As they carried sleeping baby Dominic and their bags up to their room, Lucy reflected on how far she’d come since she’d been a young college student on vacation with her brother, his friends, and the guy she liked. So much had changed, and Lucy was so grateful to her brother for helping to bring her and Elliot together.

They had a quick but tasty lunch in the B&B’s restaurant, then bundled up and strapped Dominic into his baby carrier.

“He’s going to think that the beach is always cold,” Lucy said as Dominic babbled and turned his head to look at seagulls and white-capped waves.

“We’ll have to take him someplace warm next,” Elliot suggested. He took Lucy’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Shall we go this way?”

They strolled across the boardwalk at the top of the beach. It was mostly empty, but it was no less beautiful for the cold. Tiny red crabs scuttled across the sand, the sky was a clear blue, and the ocean was capped in white-tipped waves. It looked like a scene from a storybook — or from Lucy and Elliot’s past.

“Do you remember the last time we were here?” Elliot asked as though reading Lucy’s thoughts.

“Of course.” Lucy smiled at him. “We always wanted to slip away for a little alone time, but we never could.” The more bittersweet part was that it was their last weekend as a couple in college before their long separation.

“True. I still feel that way.” Elliot gave her a quick kiss. As they walked on, little Dominic fell asleep in the carrier, and Lucy snuggled him tighter against her chest. It felt peaceful, walking like this with Elliot’s hand in hers and their baby sleeping soundly on her chest.

“We could slip away for some alone time soon,” Lucy suggested. “The B&B offers babysitting as part of its family-friendly service.”

“Are you quoting from the Borderless app now?” Elliot teased. “That might be nice, though. But there’s something I wanted to talk to you about, and I think baby Dominic should be here, too.”

“All right.” Lucy felt a moment of worry. She and Elliot had vowed to talk more if things were difficult, but this last year and a half had been some of the best times of Lucy’s life. What did he want to talk to her about?

“The last time we were here, I was so happy,” Elliot began. “I felt complete for the first time in my life, and I knew we were meant to be together. Of course, the next few years brought a lotof struggles that we didn’t expect — our distance, your brother’s illness, all that. And I know there will be more struggles to come. But I also know that, as long as we’re together, we can handle anything.” Elliot squeezed her hand. “I love you, Lucy, and every day that I’ve spent with you has been one of the best days of my life. I never want to be without you again.”

“I agree,” Lucy said, squeezing his hand in response. “You and me and baby Dominic together — I can’t think of anything more perfect.”

“Me neither. And that’s why I’d like to ask you something.”

Suddenly, before Lucy could blink, Elliot was on one knee on the boardwalk. Her mouth fell open as he held up a ring box, inside of which a beautifully cut diamond sparkled on a golden band. Tears sprang to Lucy’s eyes, even though she was smiling.

“Lucy Elizabeth Winter,” Elliot said, his lips lifting into a smile that melted Lucy’s heart, “would you make me the happiest man on earth and be mine, forever?”

“Yes!” Lucy said. “Absolutely, I will!”

Elliot slid the ring onto her finger, then gave her a quick, tender kiss. At that exact moment, baby Dominic stirred in the carrier on Lucy’s chest, and they both laughed softly.

“I wanted to ask while he was here because he’s part of our family,” Elliot said softly. “And I like to think that he’s happy for us, just like his namesake would have been. But… I also hired a babysitter for tonight so that we can have a romantic dinner out, just the two of us.”

“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?” Lucy kissed Elliot again, just once, before dropping a kiss onto Dominic’s fine hair.

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