The sun was setting, casting a peaceful orange glow through the window of the kitchen where Luci was humming softly while she worked. The oven was on, making the room even warmer than usual that hot summer night, and it was clear by the sheen on Luci's skin that she'd been working hard. Renlaen's birthday was the next day. He was turning fourteen and Luci still couldn't believe it. It didn't seem so long ago that Luci had held him for the first time, peering down at his pale little form while Erondal Silverthorne looked on anxiously.
Luci had fallen in love with Ren instantly, despite the circumstances of his birth, and fourteen years later she was still thanking the Light that Erondal and Howl had mutually made the best decisions for the child. Erondal could have fought for Ren. He was legally the grandfather, and Howl and Leightyn hadn't been married. Technically, Renlaen was a bastard. He had no name unless someone wanted to give him one. Luci had spent days begging Howl to claim Ren. He needed a mother...and Luci could be a mother. In fact, she'd just discovered that she was pregnant with Seth and Raynie only the month before Ren was born. Howl was his father, and Luci believed Renlaen was owed a fair chance. The baby...was innocent in it all, and they could only guess at what kind of life Ren would have had under the seemingly cold and discreetly criminal Silverthorne name.
Howl had finally agreed, only once it became apparent that his wife was not going to let it go. He knew, too, that Ren had a better chance at happiness with the Sunscripts. Luci knew that Howl didn't want the reminder...but it didn't have to be that way. Ren could be their child. The lack of fight from Erondal had been an unexpected turn. Howl had spent the next days preparing for court and gaining his legal backing...only to find that Erondal was willing to hand the baby over without any legal battle. All he asked was the allowance to be a part of Ren's life. It had been Luci's insistence there, too, that granted that seemingly small request. The threat had been Leightyn. Leightyn was dead. Erondal was no threat to them anymore. Howl was skeptical, but accepted the terms- and the baby.
Fourteen years later, the tantalizing smells drifting through the Sunscript home were a clear sign of how dedicated Luci was and how earnestly she'd kept her promise to love the son that she hadn't actually given birth to, as three different sized layers of vanilla bean cake baked in the oven. While that cooked, Luci was busy with three different bowls of frosting, each a different shade of blue; and potatoes boiled on the stove for the potato salad that Luci would have made and ready to chill that night to go with Ren's chosen meal the next day. She'd gone shopping for him and, despite Howl telling her to go easy, fifteen beautifully wrapped packages were stacked on the floor of Luci's closet.
Howl wouldn't approve. Ren had been in trouble often lately and even just that day Luci had ended up at the school to collect Ren early. He was suspended now for fighting in the locker room- he'd broken the other boy's nose. Though he'd refused to explain to Luci why he'd been fighting, she gave him the benefit of the doubt, as she always did, because he seemed so genuinely upset and angry.
Howl wouldn't find out about the suspension until the day after Renlaen's birthday. Luci didn't like keeping such secrets,but she knew Howl would punish him harshly and very possibly cancel the party. Ren needed the party. He needed to know he was loved and that he had his family behind him. Howl often told her that she was too willing to overlook, that she was blind to the way Ren manipulated her. Luci disagreed. She thought Howl was actually too hard on him, especially in comparison to how much he let Raynie get away with. There was a clear prejudice in the way he treated their children...and so, more often than not, Howl and Luci simply disagreed and remained at an impasse. However...Howl always had the final word. That was why Luci wouldn't tell him just yet.
She glanced up just in time to catch Ambrie walking into the kitchen. The other woman seemed to sense that Luci was looking at her and visibly hesitated in her step as she lifted her nearly empty water jug. “Good evening, Luci. I'll...I'll only be a minute. Just refilling...”
Luci smiled, though she knew Ambrie couldn't see her, impressed as always at Ambrie's accuracy in knowing who she was walking in on. It didn't matter that the kids were still out at the beach with their friends. Ambrie would have known no matter how many people were in the house. “Hello, Ambrie.” Luci's warm smile was audible in her tone. She and Ambrie weren't close friends, but they had spent a lot of time together over the years caring for all of the children. Not to mention that Luci and Howl both still watched closely for furthering signs of trouble with Kvohthe. Howl was often too busy and things had become too awkward between him and Ambrie for him to directly ask. So Luci watched for him...and she was good at it.
Even now, Luci's gaze fell to Ambrie's midsection and the loose clothing that flowed around it. She knew Ambrie's secret, but hadn't said anything. Whatever the reason for hiding it, Ambrie clearly didn't want anyone to know. “Kvohthe isn't home tonight?”
Ambrie looked a bit startled as she turned the water on and shook her head. Was it that obvious? “No. He had to work late.” Luci nodded. It seemed that Kvohthe worked late often these days, though it was no secret, at least to the Sunscripts, that he'd left this job at the museum weeks ago. “I see. Would you like to join us for dinner tonight?”
Ambrie shook her head again and turned the water off, closing the lid of her bottle before turning around to face Luci. “No, thank you. I ate something earlier.” Awkward. It always was. Ambrie felt awkward with most of them, save Cyprus and Seth specifically. She always felt like everyone else was judging her and disapproving. They watched too closely and...frankly, she wasn't sure why. She knew Howl still cared on some level, but Luci? Ambrie and Luci never had really become friends. “Thank you, though.”
Luci turned to switch the stove off and reach for the strainer, nodding as she did so. “Alright. You'll be here for the party tomorrow, though?” Ambrie took a few steps, heading toward the door. She clearly wasn't looking to stay and chat, though she did pause at Luci's question.
“Yes. Yes, we'll be here. I think Kvohthe will be here. But I will be, either way.” She hesitated again, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Do you...need any help? With anything?”
Luci was hauling the boiling pot of potatoes to the sink, dumping the water effortlessly as she smiled again and shook her head. It was funny how ingrained body language was. Ambrie couldn't see such gestures, but everyone still naturally did it. “No, I'm fine here, thank you. I think you should definitely go rest. You must be exhausted.”
Ambrie nodded as Luci declined the help and started to turn again but stopped suddenly at Luci's next words. She frowned, looking quite startled which, if nothing else, confirmed Luci's suspicions. “Why do you say that?” Luci stopped then, gently setting the steaming pot on the counter next to her and wiping her hands with a dry towel as she glanced at Ambrie again. ”Ambrie...you can't hide it forever. Clothes...can only do so much.”
Ambrie paled visibly and Luci almost felt bad. She wasn't trying to call Ambrie out. It was meant to be a friendly...warning, perhaps? The secret wouldn't be secret much longer. “Does Kvohthe know?” Ambrie sighed slowly, a shaky exhale that accompanied her slow nod. “Y-yes. He knows.”
“Why are you hiding it?” Luci asked softly. She stepped forward, disregarding the way Ambrie stiffened slightly at the approach. She'd become so skittish...
“We aren't going to make you leave just because you're having a baby, Ambrie. We care for you. The more the merrier...right? This is...good news?”
Ambrie took the opportunity and ran with it. She wasn't about to admit the truth to Luci. But she could use Luci's assumption to her advantage. “Yes...yes, it's good news.” Mostly. “I'm...so happy to hear that. I didn't want to impose...any more than...”
“You're not imposing. We want you here.” Luci reached out and touched Ambrie's arm. “It's okay, I promise.” Ambrie nodded, her hand falling to her, apparently visibly, swollen stomach. ”Thank you. I appreciate that...so much. Just...do me a favor? Please? Don't...don't say anything yet. Let me...let us...announce it when we're ready?” Luci frowned, not really sure why Ambrie looked so desperate. There had to be more to it. But she'd pushed enough.
“I won’t say anything.” Luci promised. “It's not my place to do that. It's safe with me.”
“Thank you...” Ambrie exhaled again, the breath trembling as she nodded and smiled, but pulled away. “I should...”
Ship the same person with more than one person?
OTP PERSON A is the Bachelor/Bachelorette
And OTP PERSON, B, C, D, E, F.. etc etc are contestants on the show
Who does Person A choose to be with in the end?
