As Nick picked up the phone to call his parents, he asked about Steve, “What was that all about Steve?” “Oh. You’ll never believe it. Steve is in California in jail,” I said smiling. “Well, what did the bastard do to go to jail,” Nick said chuckling. “Apparently he was stalking another girl back home. The girl pressed charges. The Police had enough evidence to arrest him,” I went on. “Well, finally,” Nick said. “Yeah, he then went to court and was charged with stalking and harassing. He’s in jail now for it,” I said. “Thank goodness. I was kind of worried about Steve harassing you while you’re pregnant,” Nick said, “You don’t needed the added stress or any stress for that matter.” “I can see you are going to be one protective husband,” I said smiling. “And why shouldn’t I,” Nick asked. “I know. We’ve got a precious bundle of joy we need to look out for,” I replied. Nick smiled at me. “Yes, we do,” he replied. Nick started to dial the phone and then put the phone down. “What’s wrong,” I asked. “I was thinking. Why don’t you call my parents and give them the news,” Nick suggested. “Shouldn’t it come from you,” I asked. “No. I think Mom will get a kick out of hearing it from you,” Nick replied. I walked over to the phone, picked it up and began to dial. It started to ring. “Hello,” Jane answered. “Hi, Mom,” I replied. “Annie! How are you? How’s Nick,” she asked. “Oh, we’re doing fine. Merry Christmas,” I said. “Merry Christmas to you, too, sweetheart,” Jane replied, “so what’s up? Did you guys get the package we sent you?” “Yeah, we got the package. Thanks. Mom, we have some news for you. I told Nick that he should tell you and Dad but he wanted me to tell you,” I explained. Jane was quiet on the other end, “why? What’s wrong?” “Well, uh … we’re pregnant,” I said. “What?! You’re pregnant,” Jane squealed, “Bob, Annie is pregnant! Nick and Annie are having a baby!” I could hear Nick’s brother and sisters yelling in excitement. “I’m gonna be an UNCLE,” Aaron yelled. I started laughing. Nick smiled as he saw me laugh. He knew then that his family was excited. “Oh my god! Annie when are you due,” Jane asked. “I don’t know yet. My first appointment isn’t for a couple of weeks. We’ll know then,” I told Jane. “Annie, Dad wants to talk to Nick,” Jane said. “Okay,” I replied. I handed the phone to Nick, “It’s Dad.” “Hello,” Nick said. “Son! Congratulations,” Bob said. “Thanks,” Nick replied. “Wow, my son a father,” Bob said. “Yeah, I’m gonna be a Daddy,” Nick replied. Nick and his Dad talked for about half an hour. “Okay, well you all take care, I love and miss you all and Merry Christmas,” Nick said. He then hung up the phone.
“Well, they’re happy,” I said smiling. “Yeah, they are pretty excited. Especially Aaron,” Nick said chuckling. “I am, too,” I replied. Nick approached me and embraced me. “You are the most amazing woman,” he complimented. “Why thank you Mr. Carter,” I said giggling, “I try my best.” We both fell into a deep and passionate kiss. We finally broke free. “Nick, shouldn’t you call the guys,” I asked as I looked into his deep blue eyes. “Yeah, I guess I should, huh,” Nick replied. Nick made the phone calls. The guys were really excited for us. They never thought that their youngest brother would become a father before any of them. They decided to get together right after Christmas before the second tour began which was January/February.
The next week, our wonderful news was in the paper. It was hard to keep anything a secret with Nick’s celebrity status. But being a celebrity and a celebrity’s wife, it came with the territory. Nick was a little upset that the reporters somehow got a hold of the information. Again, there were reporters and fans crawling at the gate of our home. “Geez, these reporters never give us any rest of privacy,” Nick said in frustration after reading the paper. Of course, the tabloids also got hold of our news but turned it into something negative. They claimed that I was pregnant with another man’s child. That really ticked Nick off. “Honey, you know that this is going to happen. There is nothing you can do about it. Everyone is into your fame and fortune to make money,” I said. “I know but damn! Why can’t they just leave it alone,” Nick asked. I approached Nick and embraced him, “Nick, as long as you, me, the guys and our family know the truth that is all that matters.” I kissed him passionately and he responded. He pulled away smiling, “You know, what would I do without you, Annie?”
At that moment, the phone rang. It was AJ. “Hello,” Nick said. “Hey man! Frack, what is up with the papers and the tabloids?” “Bone, I know. I saw it. It’s amazing how they get a hold of these things,” Nick said. “Yeah man. I about died from laughing reading the Enquirer,” AJ chuckled. Nick smiled and chuckled. “Well, as my baby said “that is the life of a celebrity.” “I guess so,” AJ replied. They talked for a few more minutes until they both hung up the phone.
I was in the kitchen looking for some munchies. I had a serious craving for something but I didn’t know what I wanted. “Looking for something to eat,” Nick asked smiling. “What do you think,” I replied smiling, “I’m craving for something but I don’t know what I want.” “Hey, remember that burger place I took you to the second time we met,” Nick asked. My eyes widened at the thought. My mouth actually started to water. “Yeah, I do,” I replied, “that’s what I want! I want a hamburger with lots of mayonaise, mustard, ketchup, everything!” Nick laughed, “Okay, come on. Let’s go there for lunch. After that we’ll have an ice cream cone.” I giggled at the suggestion he made. Nick was more than willing to give me anything my heart desired at this point. Afterall, I was carrying his baby.
We both got into my Durango and headed to the burger joint. Nick could not believe my appetite. “Geez baby! Slow down,” Nick said. I took the napkin and wiped the mayonaise off of the corners of my mouth and then took a big sip of my Pepsi. “Dang,” Nick replied. I chuckled, “Well, I’m hungry!” “I can already see me going out for late night snacks,” Nick smiled, “but you know what? I don’t mind at all.” “Sweetie, what do you want? A boy or a girl,” I asked. Nick smiled, “I told you want I wanted. I want a girl.” “Well, what if we get a boy,” I asked. “Well, we’ll just have to send him back for a refund,” Nick laughed. “Nick! That is not funny,” I yelled. “I know, I know. I was just trying to be funny,” Nick replied. I smirked at his response. “Hey, I’m sorry. I was just kidding,” Nick replied noticing the look on my face. “Well, I didn’t find it funny,” I replied tears welling in my eyes. I didn’t know why all of a sudden I felt like crying but I did. “Your hormones are raging,” Nick said rubbing my back. “What,” I asked confused. I had never been pregnant before so I really didn’t know what the heck he meant. “Hormones? What do you mean,” I asked him. “Well, your body is going through a major change and your hormones are trying to adjust to that,” Nick replied. “How do you know,” I asked curiously. “I did have biology in high school. Didn’t you,” he asked. “Well, yeah but it wasn’t one of my better subjects,” I replied. “Well, when you see the doctor, he or she will explain,” Nick said. “Now, come on. Finish your burger before baby Cater gets upset,” Nick said smiling. He kissed me on the forehead and then lingered a kiss on my lips.
I was into my second trimester. I was huge and I was only almost 4 months pregnant. I had just woken up but Nick was still fast asleep. I laid on my back staring at the ceiling since that was the only way, other than to lay on my side, that was comfortable laying. I was massaging my tummy when Nicola Jean Carter kicked. We had found out at my last appointment that we were having a girl. Nick was absolutely ecstatic about it. And I was happy that I was giving him what he wished for. I smiled, “Okay, okay. I know you’re hungry.” It was 7:30 am and I forced myself to get up. I slipped my robe on and walked downstairs to the kitchen. I opened up the fridge, “Okay, Nicki. What is it you want for breakfast?” My first instinct was to grab the cheese and the jug of milk. Nick had made sure that I had enough dairy products since Dr. Arahas told us that calcium would help mine and Nicki’s bones. “Okay, Nicki. What else do you want,” I asked as I rubbed my swollen tummy. I spotted the loaf of sourdough bread. I proceeded to turn the broiler on. I sliced a few slices of the cheese, lined them up on the bread slices and placed them under the broiler. The smell of the sourdough toast and cheese made my mouth water.
At that moment, Nick came up behind me rubbing his hands on my belly. “Hey Mommy, what are you eating?” I smiled as I turned to face him and placed a kiss on his lips that lingered for a few minutes. “Nicki and I are having sour dough toast with melted cheddar cheese slices and a glass of milk,” I replied. “Mmmmm, sounds really good and smells good,” Nick replied looking into the broiler. “Do you want some,” I asked. “Sure, why not,” Nick replied. I started to make him a couple of slices while I ate mine. The whole time, Nick was holding me with his hands on my belly. He hadn’t felt Nicki kick yet and was anxious to feel her. “Are you going to be stuck behind me the whole day again,” I asked giggling. “Well, what if Nicki kicks and I don’t feel it,” Nick said. “Honey, you will. I will tell you when she starts to move,” I replied. “I know, I know. But when you tell me, she stops moving,” Nick replied. “Maybe she is teasing you. I’m sure she knows how anxious you are to feel her presence,” I said laughing. “Boy, she is a little stinker already,” Nick replied. At that moment, a huge kick came from Nicki on my left side. Nick felt it, “Oh my God! She kicked! She kicked my hand!” I was laughing so hard I couldn’t stop. “Babe, she kicked my hand! I felt her,” Nick yelled. “I know silly. She heard you call her a little stinker,” I replied still laughing. Nick laughed, too. “I guess she is trying to tell Daddy that she isn’t a little stinker,” I said.
“So, what do you and Nicki want to do today,” Nick asked. I didn’t give it a second thought, “How about a walk on the beach?” Nick and I loved the beach. And I was determined to have Nicki love the beach, too. I wanted her to know that the beach was where her Daddy and Mommy first met. “Okay. That sounds like a nice thing to do today,” Nick replied, “how about we pack a lunch?” “Okay, that sounds really nice. Just the three of us,” I replied. We packed some lunchmeat, bread and stuff with some sodas and then got ready. Nick had gone ballistic with the maternity shopping. I went through our walk-in closet trying to pick what to wear. The first thing that caught my eye was the white embroidered maternity dress Nick had bought me when we first found out about Nicki. I wasn’t even big enough to wear it when Nick bought it. He was so excited at the time. I hadn’t worn it yet so I pulled it off of the hanger and laid it out on our bed. I had already taken my shower and Nick was taking his now. I sat at the vanity just looking at my reflection. My chestnut brown hair cascaded past my shoulders to the middle of my back. I took my brush and began to brush my hair. I pulled it up into a ponytail at the base of my neck and then twisted it upward. I took a clip and clipped it tight against my scalp. I let the length of my hair that wasn’t clipped drop naturally. I pulled a few strands of hair around my face. After I was satisfied with how my hair and face looked, I proceeded to get dressed.
By the time Nick was done, I was finished dressing. He had his white beach pants on with no shirt and was towel drying his golden blond hair. He happened to look up and see me standing in the middle of our bedroom fixing my dress. He gasped, “Wow!” I looked up at Nick, “What?” Nick approached me placing his finger underneath my chin, “You are absolutely beautiful.” He bent down to kiss me and I responded. “Why thank you Mr. Carter,” I said smiling. Nick looked at me with adoring eyes and then started to finish getting dressed. We were out the door in the next half-hour on our way to OUR beach.
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CHAPTERS 49 THRU 51 (FINAL CHAPTERS)