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Lily was in the office as well, having been similarly dropped off by Aidan They sat at Hud’s desk in front of the radio and listened unabashedly

Two local high school kids had broken into the resort’s cafeteria and set off the alar fistfuls of candy bars out of there with their snowboards strapped on their backs

"High as kites," Lily guessed, shaking her head "Going to be a long night" She helped herself in the supply closet, co out with a bottle of Jack

Bailey went brows up

"I’ve had a long day," Lily explained "And now our significant others are on theDUIs" She stuck her head into another closet and came up with Dixie cups

"What happened today?" Bailey asked as Lily poured them each a drink "I mean, if it’s not too personal"

"Oh, it’s personal" Lily tapped her cup to Bailey’s "It’s also a long story Drink first"

They each drank and Bailey promptly choked

Lily too "Holy shit," she wheezed

Bailey nearly coughed up a lung and pounded her chest

When they could breathe, Lily spoke "So I had a… scare," she said

Bailey involuntarily gasped and clasped a hand to her heart because a scare to her meant a health scare, a bad one

"Oh no," Lily rushed on when she saw Bailey’s reaction "Oh, riht nant Accidentally"

"Oh," Bailey breathed With all the treatments she’d had over the past ten years, she wasn’t at all sure she’d be able to have babies, though she wanted the or anything, but when she pictured her future--which was so she actually did now, and often--she liked to think there was a man in it, one who’d promised to love her forever And a baby Or three "I see"

"No," Lily said "I don’t think you do" She paused "Aidan and I aren’t married We’re not quite there yet I mean I know he’s the one foranything, you know? There’s no need to rush I was never the woman who dreamed about babies, or a husband I just…" She shook her head "I always buried myself in work and never went there Now I’ a twosohed "Well, us and the rest of the Kincaids" Her sot scared" She let out a breath "More like terrified"

"Did you tell Aidan?" Bailey asked

"I did" Lily shook her head "I was so upset Cried all over him and he was…" She shook her head

"Mad?" Bailey whispered, unable to picture Aidan--who she’d seen looking at Lily like she was his entire universe--

Lily shook her head "Happy," she whispered back Her eyes glistened "So happy" She s He calot on board By the ti, I was convinced I was preggers and already in love with our baby" Her sot my period on the way ho out to squeeze her hand "I’m sorry"

Lily lifted a shoulder "It’s silly Iyou never really had in the first place?"

"It’s not silly," Bailey insisted "When the tireat mom"

Lily sniffed "Thanks Now tell ot my second all clear fro able to share good news For so long the neas always bad People would ask her how things were going and she never knehat to say because there was nothing worse than saying the truth and having to bum people out "It’s a rabbed her, giving her a big bear hug "That’s wonderful! Noe have sole? Or should we make it a double this time?"