In celebration of reaching the halfway point of this story, I decided to write a bonus scene! If you read the first part of my legacy, you’re familiar with Trella and Alec’s love story. I wanted to give them a moment back in the spotlight, and I hope you enjoy this glimpse into their thoughts and emotions during a life-changing moment.
This scene probably takes place around chapter 2.20
Trella was nauseous again. She groaned and squinted at the clock on the far wall. It was 5:54 am and her alarm would be going off in six minutes. The room was still dark and Alec was sleeping soundly beside her. She rolled onto her back and pushed the blanket off her, trying to breathe through the nausea.
Archimedes, her old and beloved feline, jumped onto the bed and sniffed her face, his tiny whiskers tickling her cheek. What was the cat up to? He didn’t usually bother her while she was sleeping. She groggily lifted an arm to pet him, and he let out a sweet little meow and curled up on her stomach.
Oh god, she was going to throw up, but she didn’t want to move him when he was being so unusually affectionate. She slowly tried to squirm out from under him, but he stubbornly wiggled right back onto her stomach.
“Alec.” She whispered to her husband. When he didn’t wake up, she reached her arm over and patted his back. “Alec!”
He mumbled and rolled over. “Huh? What? Is something wrong?”
“I feel sick. I need to get up but Archimedes won’t get off me! Can you pick him up?”
He smiled sleepily at her, humor in his dark eyes, before realizing she was serious. He sat up and gently scooped up the black cat, who let out a dissatisfied squeak.
“Sorry buddy, your mom is making me be the bad guy.” He said softly.
Trella bolted out of bed and ran to the bathroom. She heard her alarm go off just as she slammed the door.
A few minutes later she opened the door and walked slowly back to the bed, where Alec was leaning against the headboard, watching her with concern.
She thought he was so damn gorgeous. Even after being together for almost twenty years, it took her breath away seeing him shirtless. Years of playing professional sports kept him muscular and she wanted to run her fingers down his solid arms and trail her tongue down his abs.
“Trella. We should talk about this. You’ve been sick a few times now.” He said gently. “Have you missed a period?”
His voice broke her train of thought and a laugh bubbled from her mouth as she sat on the bed next to him.
“What’s funny?” He asked confused.
“You asked if I missed a period and I’m just thinking how hot you are and it’s ironic because that’s the kind of thinking that got us into this predicament.”
He smirked and reached for her hand.
Then the reality sunk in and she hung her head.
They hadn’t talked about this yet, but Trella suspected it. This was the last thing in the world she needed right now. She was on birth control. She was too old for this. She had a career. She had a teenager. It was unfathomable.
“I’ll pick up a test on my way home from work today.” She whispered.
He wrapped his arms around her.
“What are we going to do if you are… pregnant?”
Hearing the words out loud caused her breathing to speed up. Panic rose, and tears welled in her eyes.
“Alec, there’s no way we can do this. Oh my god how did this happen?!”
He pressed his forehead to hers, grounding her for a few moments. Then he put a finger under her chin and lifted her face, looking her in the eyes.
“Trella, we can do anything if we have each other. I’ll stand by you no matter what. Just get the test and we’ll figure it out from there.”
She relaxed and buried her face into his shoulder. They had been through so much together; financial scares, parenting storms, career woes. They would make it through this. He was her safe place, her soulmate, her everything.
Trella could hardly calm her breathing as she walked out of the obstetrician’s office, hand in hand with her husband. Her mind was racing and her body was vibrating with the chaos of it all.
Two months ago, Trella sat on the bed with Alec, staring at the positive test, and honestly considered terminating the pregnancy. She had experienced so many emotions from sadness to frustration to anger to uncertainty.
They had stayed up late, discussing every pro and every con. They talked about all the ways this would change their lives. They cried and they laughed. Then she started to feel something like, anticipation?
In the end, they decided it was meant to be.
Now they just found out they were having twins. Twins!
They reached the end of the hallway and turned a corner into the bright lobby. She looked up at Alec, and as if sensing her eyes on him, he looked down at her and returned a brilliant smile. Just before they reached the doors, anxiety hit like a wave and her steps faltered.
“How are we going to tell Isis? What if she doesn’t understand? She’s been acting out so much lately and I’m scared to upset her even more.”
Without giving him a chance to answer, she continued bemoaning. “Alec, we barely know how to raise the child we already have! This is crazy!”
He stopped walking and gently pulled her close, cupping her face in his hands. Trella knew he used this move when she was overthinking or stressing about something.
“We can’t predict her reaction so let’s not stress about it. All we can do is make sure she knows we love her. You are an amazing mother, Trella. Everything will be okay.”
He kissed her forehead and added, “And I’m an amazing father, soooo, we’re good.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his waist. She never got tired of feeling petite besides his huge frame.
She smiled into his chest and said, “I am so lucky to be your wife.”
“I’m the lucky one. I love you to death and can’t wait for this new chapter with you.”
They looked into each other’s eyes and kissed, right in the middle of the lobby. Strangers passed by, slightly annoyed they were blocking the doorway. Trella was aware of nothing except her husband’s large arms circling her, protecting her, wrapping her in joy and optimism.
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