When 3 turns into 4

Ric was zipping up his duffel bag by the front door, the away kit already peeking out from under the flap. The morning felt too early, too quiet.

"Three nights," he said, glancing at Elenora. "And I'll text every five minutes."

"You'll forget the second the whistle blows."

"I'll text during halftime, then."

She raised a brow.

He stepped forward, one hand sliding over her bump, the other wrapping around her waist. "I'll be back before you know it. No lifting anything. No painting. No doing 'just a little bit' of something."

"No fun, basically."

He kissed her softly. "Exactly."

⸻

A few hours later — knock at the door.

Alessia stood there in leggings, a hoodie too big for her, and an overnight bag slung over one shoulder.

"You're not the only one whose man abandoned her," she grinned.

"Declan too?"

"Gone. Group stage in Portugal."

"And your plan is?"

"Couch. Tea. And some very opinionated DIY."

Elenora laughed and stepped aside. "Welcome to your sanctuary."

⸻

SATURDAY MORNING — THE NEW HOUSE

The walls were still blank in the kids' rooms. Paint swatches taped everywhere, old IKEA furniture leaning against corners, stuffed animals peeking from half-unpacked boxes.

"Let's do it," Alessia declared. "Kid-room blitz."

Elenora tilted her head. "You mean: let's sit on the floor and tell the others what to do?"

Exactly ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.

And in stepped Katie McCabe, Leah Williamson, Caitlin Foord, and Lotte Wubben-Moy, arms full of bags, snacks, paintbrushes, and chaos.

"This feels suspiciously like team bonding," Katie smirked, flopping onto the rug.

"You all volunteered," Alessia said. "I have receipts."

Leah looked at the plain white walls of Lucia's room. "Pink?"

"Pink everything," Elenora groaned.

"Say less."

The room turned into a storm of laughter, music, and disorganized excellence.

Lotte helped Lucia paint her name on the wall in soft gold script. Caitlin assembled Eli's race car bed with IKEA instructions in one hand and crisps in the other. Leah oversaw fairy light installation like it was a tactical backline. And Katie...

Katie drew a dinosaur mural on one wall with terrifying skill.

By mid-afternoon, Lucia had glitter in her hair, Eli's room looked like a race track, and Elenora sat on a beanbag watching it all, her hand on her bump, the house finally feeling like home.

Alessia flopped beside her, both hands under her belly.

"This was good," she said softly. "I needed this."

"Me too," Elenora replied.

Leah passed by, holding two juice boxes. "I love that the pregnant ones are on their thrones while we peasants work."

"Grow a uterus and we'll let you sit," Alessia called back.

⸻

Later that evening — nursery.