The soft light of morning crept into Bella's apartment, glancing off the walls and waking her from restless sleep. She shifted on the bed, the blanket draped over her legs sliding to the floor.
The faint clinking of dishes caught her attention. She thought it was a thief at first but sighed when she saw him. Lucas stood in the kitchen, his sleeves rolled up as he poured coffee into a cup.
"You're still here?" she asked, her voice groggy. She thought he left after what happened last night.
He turned, a faint smile softening his sharp features. "You weren't feeling well after dinner last night. Thought I'd stick around in case it turned into something worse."
Bella blinked, a little surprised but warmed by his concern. "Thank you. I feel better now. You didn't have to stay, though."
"I wouldn't leave if you weren't okay," he replied simply, placing the coffee in front of her. His tone carried that quiet confidence she had come to associate with him, but there was also a tenderness in his gesture.
She took a sip of the coffee, letting the warmth seep into her. "Well, I appreciate it." Lucas nodded and glanced at the clock. "Rachel's going to need breakfast soon. I'll take care of it."
She wanted to refuse him, tell him that she can handle this on her own but knowing how tired she was, she choosed not to. Moreover she also need food to replenish her energy.
By the time Rachel was ready for school, Lucas had everything prepared. They had a light breakfast made by him. He waved her off with a faint smile as Bella stayed by the door, watching her daughter skip down the hall. Soon after her, Lucas also left for his office.
The apartment grew quiet after Rachel left. Bella moved around the space, tidying up when her phone buzzed. She picked it up, seeing Lucas's name flash across the screen.
"I need to tell you something," he said once she answered. Bella frowned, sensing the weight in his voice. "What is it?"
"My parents want to visit this evening," Lucas said. "They want to meet Rachel." Bella's breath caught slightly, her grip tightening on the phone. "Here!Tonight?"
"Yes," he confirmed. "I'll be there as well, of course. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly." There was a pause before Bella exhaled. "Okay. I trust you." She don't know when this feeling of trust grew in their relationship, was it when he agreed to keep the child or was it from the starting, when she asked him, a stranger, to help her, which he did too.
The day passed in a blur of preparation. Bella couldn't stop herself from fussing over every detail, cleaning the apartment twice and making sure Rachel's room was spotless.
When evening arrived, Bella found herself pacing the living room while Rachel colored in the corner. Lucas arrived just before the knock at the door, stepping in and giving Bella a reassuring nod before opening it.
"Mom. Dad," Lucas greeted warmly, stepping aside to let his parents in. Alessandra, elegant and poised, immediately enveloped her son in a hug before turning her attention to Bella.
"It's so lovely to see you again, Bella," Alessandra said, her voice warm and kind. "It's lovely to see you too," Bella replied, her nerves tingling beneath her calm demeanor.
Matteo stepped forward, giving Bella a polite nod before noticing Rachel peeking out from behind her coloring book. "And you must be Rachel," he said, his voice deep but inviting.
Rachel tilted her head, studying him before grinning. "You sound like him!" She pointed her hands towards Lucas. Matteo chuckled. "I suppose I do." He handed her a small box wrapped in paper. "A little something for you."
Rachel's eyes lit up as she unwrapped the box to reveal a set of brightly colored pens and a sketchbook. "Wow! Thank you!" she exclaimed, her excitement infectious.
Alessandra smiled warmly. "We thought you might like to draw. Lucas mentioned you love coloring." Rachel nodded eagerly and ran off to test her new pens, leaving the adults to settle in.
Dinner was a casual affair, with Lucas subtly leading the conversation to keep the atmosphere light. Alessandra asked Rachel about school, while Matteo engaged Bella in questions about her work and how she managed everything.
"You seem like you're doing an amazing job with Rachel," Alessandra said earnestly. "It can't be easy, but it's clear she adores you." Bella smiled, feeling the sincerity in her words. "Thank you. She's my world."
Matteo, observant as ever, leaned toward Lucas. "You've chosen well, son." Lucas's calm expression didn't falter, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes as he nodded. "I know."
As the evening wore on, Alessandra leaned over to Bella, her voice low. "You've done so much for Rachel. It's truly admirable. I can see why Lucas cares so much for you."
Bella's chest tightened slightly at her words. The approval of Lucas's parents felt unexpected yet comforting. When dinner ended, Alessandra and Matteo prepared to leave, hugging Lucas and Bella warmly.
"We're so glad we got to meet Rachel," Alessandra said. "She's a delight, and we're looking forward to seeing her again soon."
Rachel waved enthusiastically from the doorway as Lucas walked his parents to their car. Matteo lingered by the car, pulling Lucas aside. "Does she know?"
Lucas stiffened but kept his voice calm. "Not yet." Matteo's gaze was heavy, searching his son's face for any sign of doubt. "And you think it's wise to keep it that way?"
Lucas's jaw tightened slightly, his calm demeanor remaining intact. "I'll tell her when the time is right. Until then, I don't want anything to cloud what we're building."
Matteo nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "Just don't wait too long. She deserves to know who you are."
Lucas watched as his parents drove off, the weight of his father's words settling heavily on him. When he returned inside, Bella was cleaning up the remnants of dinner.
"How did it go?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder. "They loved you," Lucas said simply, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Bella exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I'm glad. I didn't want to mess this up." "You couldn't if you tried," Lucas replied, his tone steady.
Bella glanced down, the weight of the day catching up to her. "Thank you for making it easier," she said softly.
Lucas met her gaze, his expression unreadable but filled with quiet understanding. "You don't have to do it all alone, Bella. Remember that."