Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins
Chapter 290

"Phase one of the solution," Victor says, walking back into the room and handing me his cell phone, the screen already lit with a call. "What?" I ask, curious. "What's this?"

"A little mini conference," Victor replies, smiling at me. "I thought that...someone with more experience in this area could perhaps help."

Curious, but a little hesitant, I take the phone from his hand. Victor smiles encouragingly at me and then moves to the door, ready to give me some privacy. Tentative, I raise the phone to my ear and begin. "Hel...hello?"

"Evelyn!" Annabeth's warm voice rings out on the line.

"Oh, Annabeth!" I say, my eyes lighting up as they fix on Victor. He grins at me, pleased that I'm pleased, and then gives me a nod, closing the door behind them. "It's so great to hear from you! Except - did Victor call you? I don't know precisely what's happening." Annabeth laughs a little. "He did call me - he told me what happened this morning. It sounds like you could use some help."

"Yes," I say, sighing, leaning back against my pillows and adjusting myself so that I'm comfortable, the snacks and the medical supplies shifting noisily on the bed around me. "I had an episode of exhaustion this morning - almost fell down. How am I supposed to do all of this?" I ask, a little frustrated. "Be a Luna? And a mom? And be pregnant?" "Evelyn," Annabeth says, her voice kind, "you've got to learn how to delegate."

"Delegate?" I say, my voice a little skeptical. "That doesn't sound...like me."

"I suspect not," she says, and I can hear her smile in her voice. "Let me guess," Annabeth continues. "You raised your boys by hand, and went to college at the same time, and started your practice without any help, and barely got any sleep and wore yourself down to the nub while doing it?"

"Well," I concede, a little rueful. "All of that is true. But the point is that, I did do it all."

"It's impressive, Evelyn," Annabeth agrees. "But imagine what more you could have gotten done if you'd let people help you."

"But I didn't have anyone to help," I say, still not wanting to give in to the idea.

"That's not your situation now," Annabeth counters.

"But..." I hesitate again, not wanting to say my true reason for wanting to do it all myself.

"Evelyn," Annabeth laughs, "is the real reason why you're adverse to all of this the idea that nobody can do it as good as you can? That if you let someone else plan your wedding, it won't come to fruition precisely as you'd like it? That if you let someone else have a hand in raising your children, that you could have done it better?"

"Oh my god," I laugh, almost bending double (though of course that's impossible now) at how much she's read my mind. "Really, am I that obvious?"

"No, darling," Annabeth replies warmly. "It's just that you're not the first overburdened mom to feel this way. We all do, at some point or another. But we've got to learn to share our burdens and to ask for help. The fact is that you can't do it all, and that your wedding will be gorgeous no matter what you do, and that your children will be wonderful children even if you let someone else take some of the shifts caring for them. It's all right, Evelyn. Ask for help."

"But Victor," I say, looking towards the door and speaking my thoughts as they come to me. "He never asks for help. And he has so much on his shoulders - he stays up all hours -"

"Victor never asks," Annabeth interrupts gently, "because you're already there, giving help, without him having to."

I blink in shock, swiftly realizing that she's right. Victor never asked me to take a hand in half of the tasks I do I just...do them. He doesn't have to ask for help because I spend so much of my time anticipating his needs, consciously or not. And it's not that he cares less, or doesn't try to anticipate my needs, it's just...

"Wow," I say, still bowled over by that idea.

"And further," Annabeth continues, "he's not performing the side hustle of growing two little Alpha babies in his stomach. Victor pushes himself, Evelyn, but you match him step by step while pulling a second shift while you're pregnant. You've got to recognize that, and learn to delegate, so that you can concentrate on the things that matter. Or, so you can take on new projects as they occur. People want to help you, darling. Ask for it."

"Thank you, Annabeth," I whisper, truly moved by her advice and her concern, as well as her steady guiding hand. "I think I really needed to hear this."

"Anytime, darling. I'm so excited for you. I want to help however I can."

"Oh," I say, perking up a little, "does that mean you'll be over this afternoon to watch the twins while I have a nap?"

"No," Annabeth says, breezily. "I replace ways to delegate my own child care, let alone taking on yours. I love your children, but they're at a very sticky age. Send them to me when they're fifteen, then I'll put them to work."

I laugh, nodding, truly invigorated by her ideas. "Thanks again, Annabeth," I say.

"Let me know how it goes," she closes warmly, "I'll see you in two days at the wedding."

I'm all smiles, the next day, when Victor's "plan," comes into action. And by come into action, I mean walks into my bedroom. I'm grinning ear-to-ear as three of my favorite people fill the room - Miss Georgia, Bridgette, and Burton. Victor gives me a wave and closes the door behind them once we're all assembled. "Thank you so much for agreeing to help me," I say, my heart in my throat. "I know that you have other jobs - I couldn't believe it when Victor told me that you'd agreed to step aside from them for a few days to help me out -"

"Of course we want to help," Bridgette says, sitting on the edge of the bed and giving me a big smile. "And well," she hesitates, glancing back at Burton and Georgia, "not all of us have jobs..."

"And two of us were here anyway," Georgia says, giving a shrug. Burton just nods happily, standing beside her.

"Come and sit," I say eagerly to Georgia and Burton, patting the bed next to me. Georgia does, but Burton - predictably - simply steps closer, standing at the edge of the bed with his hands neatly folded behind his back. "You're sure you don't mind? I really... wouldn't ask, I would never ask, if the doctor hadn't told me that I was pushing myself beyond my limits."

"You shouldn't hesitate to ask," Georgia says, giving me a warm smile.

"And you should know that we're all very eager to help," Burton continues, giving me a steady nod.

"Okay," I say, smiling around at them, still feeling as if - well, as if I'm an imposition. I'm not at all used to asking for help. But I square my shoulders, leaning in to Annabeth's advice. A Luna delegates so that she can concentrate on the things that matter. And right now? What matters is making sure that I'm healthy for my little girls.

"Okay," I say again, suddenly excited for the plan. "Burton? You're wedding." I point to a pile of white notebooks at the end of the bed. "Everything you need - all of my plans, all of the phone numbers? They're in there."

"My pleasure, ma'am." Burton says, giving me a deep bow. "With me at the helm you can rest assured that everything will be...fabulous."

I give him a wide, pleased grin, and then turn my attention to Bridgette. "Bridgette? You're kids," I say, nodding to her. Georgia's mouth drops open a little at this - I think she, of course, expected to be given more complete care of lan and Alvin, perhaps functioning as nanny as well as teacher.

"Because you," I say, turning to Georgia, "I know that you, oddly enough, doubled majored in education as well as architecture."

Georgia's mouth drops open a little in surprise that I've remembered, but then she nods eagerly. "So you," I continue, "are going to do everything I was doing to ensure that the house gets built." Her face pales a little with anxiety at this news, but I quickly wave a hand to dissuade her.

"Don't worry," I say, pointing to a pile of red folders at the end of the bed. "I know nothing about building - it's more person management. But," I continue, biting my lip eagerly. "If you enjoy this work...maybe we can have you help design the school? As the next project?"

Georgia gasps a little in excitement, bending to pick up the red folders and nodding eagerly. I beam at her, pleased that she's so excited to get to work.

"Bridgette?" I ask. "Are you willing to take the boys?"

"Thrilled," she says, sliding an unconscious hand over her stomach. "It will be good practice." She gives me a sly little wink and I gasp. But quickly she shakes her head, letting me know...it's still too early. But perhaps... "Amazing," I say, looking around at the three of them. "This room will be base command - I'll be here whenever you need me. But until then? Let's get to work!"