Chapter Two
“When are we going to tell everyone?” Emilie asked Nick, as she put on some make-up before AJ’s beach party.
“After the wedding?” Nick suggested, and Emilie shook her head.
“Our parents need to know soon,” Emilie told him, and she turned to him. “Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?”
“I hope it’s a little girl, so it’s just like you,” Nick grinned at her.
“Ah Nick,” Emilie blushed, and she smiled. “If it’s a girl, can we name it Isabella?”
“Sure, that’s a nice name,” Nick nodded, and Emilie run her fingers through his hair. “Well Sweetie, we’d better get going.”
“AJ has called here about a dozen times, wanting to know the news,” Emilie reminded him, as she put on her silk jacket.
“Want to tell everyone at the party?” Nick suggested, and Emilie nodded.
“Might as well tell everyone at once,” Emilie agreed, and Nick nodded. He cautiously helped her up from her vanity chair, and helped her towards the door.
“Want to tell your parents now?” Nick asked, and Emilie thought for a moment.
“Not really,” she replied, and Nick patted her shoulder in reassurance. “But, might as well now, not later.”
“Okay, I’ll be here to support you,” Nick assured her, and they walked downstairs. Emilie walked into the kitchen to see the twins’ Nanny Cameron, feeding the two babies. Both of them were now almost ten months, and they squealed when they saw Emilie and Nick.
“Emmy!” Paisley shrieked, and Cameron turned around to give them a smile.
“Hi,” Cameron said, as he turned back to the twins. “How’s it going?”
“Pretty good,” Emilie replied, as she went over, and planted kisses on Paisley’s and Gracie’s faces.
“Your parents are out by the pool with Mike, Jordan, Brandy, and Clarissa,” Cameron told them, and Nick thanked him. They headed out to the pool to see Mrs.Parker lounging in a chair with a magazine, while Mike and Mr.Parker barbecued spare ribs. Jordan, Brandy, and Clarissa were splashing around the pool, as Emilie wondered if this was such a good time to tell everyone.
“Hi there,” Mrs.Parker smiled at them, as she put down her magazine. “Heading out?”
“Yeah, AJ’s having a beach party,” Emilie said awkwardly, and she stood at the edge of her mom’s lounge chair. “Mom, Nick and I need to tell you and Dad something.”
“What’s wrong?” she looked at them alarmed.
“Something big,” Emilie answered, and Mrs.Parker nodded.
“John, come here,” Mrs.Parker called her husband over, as they stood up. “Let’s go to the beach house.” Nick and Emilie nodded, and she followed them to the beach house.
“Okay, what’s up?” Mr.Parker asked them, as they all sat down on the couch and chairs.
“I’m pregnant,” Emilie answered, and Mrs.Parker almost fainted over.
“You’re what?” Mrs.Parker raised her eyebrows.
“Pregnant, as in, I’m going to have a baby,” Emilie answered, and Mrs.Parker nodded.
“Emilie, I don’t know what to say,” Mrs.Parker glanced at them. “But obviously, Nick and you are planning on getting married, so the next natural step is to have a baby.”
“Naturally,” Mr.Parker agreed, as Mrs.Parker stood up.
“So, congratulations,” Mrs.Parker’s eyes filled with tears. “How many weeks are you?”
“Five,” Emilie answered, as she gave Emilie a kiss, and then Nick.
“Wonderful,” Mrs.Parker nodded, and she looked at Emilie sternly for a moment. “Don’t you dare though not finish your education. I want you to keep going to school.”
“I plan on it,” Emilie nodded, and Mrs.Parker hugged them again….
*****************************************
“Tequila please,” LeighAnne Littrell ordered, as she waited at the bar where AJ was serving drinks.
“Where’s Nick and Emilie?” Brian asked AJ, as he sipped his martini.
“They’re coming I hope,” AJ answered, as he filled up LeighAnne’s glass. “I tried calling them all afternoon, but nobody answered.”
“I wonder what’s going on,” Brian commented, as he put his hand on his wife’s back.
“There’s a lot going on,” AJ answered, as he gave LeighAnne her drink. “More than you can even imagine.”
“What?” Brian raised his eyebrow.
“Ask Nick,” AJ responded, as he took the next person’s order behind Brian and LeighAnne. “Here he comes now with Em.” Brian looked at him confused, and he turned to see Emilie and Nick walking in. For some reason, their faces were glowing with happiness. LeighAnne raised her eyebrows at Brian, and they both sauntered over to Emilie and Nick.
“Hi Brian! Hi LeighAnne!” Emilie smiled at them, and Brian leaned over to kiss her cheek.
“Hi,” LeighAnne smiled at them. “How are you doing?”
“We’re doing great,” Emilie answered, as Nick kissed the top of her head.
“AJ told us that there’s something big going on,” Brian told them, and Emilie and Nick exchanged happy glances.
“There is something wonderful going on,” Nick replied, as Brian nodded. “We’ll tell ya in a bit.”
“Tell us now!” LeighAnne begged them, and Nick nodded at Emilie.
“Okay,” Emilie smiled. “I’m pregnant!”
“You’re pregnant?” LeighAnne shrieked, and everyone felt silent at the party.
“Who’s pregnant?” Kevin called, as he walked in with Kristin.
“Emilie is,” Brian answered, as he leaned over and gave Emilie a hug, and then gave Nick a long hug. There were tears evident in everyone’s eyes.
“No way!” Kevin laughed, as AJ came over to join them.
“I am,” Emilie assured him, as AJ give her a hug.
“Awesome!” Kristin squealed, and she reached over to give Emilie a hug.
“Damn Nick,” Kevin teased him. “You’re faster than Brian and I are.”
“Not really,” Nick blushed, and Emilie smiled at him.
“Well congratulations!” AJ called, as he raised his class. “To Nick, Emilie, and the baby.”
“This is surreal,” LeighAnne gushed, as she took Emilie’s hand, and led her over to an empty table. Kristin followed her, and then Amanda soon joined them. Howie soon arrived, and Nick headed over to the dock with AJ, Kevin, Brian, and Howie.
“So, how does it feel buddy?” Kevin asked them, as they sat down on the edge of the pier.
“It feels wonderful,” Nick commented. “I mean, I’m really scared about everything.”
“Of course you’re scared,” Brian assured him. “This is a really exciting, but scary experience.”
“What does Emilie think?” Howie wanted to know.
“She’s excited, but she was scared about what her parents were going to think,” Nick answered honestly, as the breeze whipped his blond hair around.
“What did they say?” AJ asked, as the sunset started to set in the horizon.
“They were pretty happy about it,” Nick admitted, as he took a sip of his martini. “My parents, I don’t know how they are going to react.”
“How were they about the wedding?” Kevin asked.
“Mom was a bit shocked, but she was happy because I was marrying Emilie,” Nick said, as a seagull floated by. “My parents really like her.”
“Why wouldn’t they?” AJ asked. “She’s a sweetheart. You’re really lucky Nick.”
“I know,” Nick nodded. “I just can’t believe I met my soul mate so young. It’s a bit crazy.”
“Well, you and Emilie deserve each other,” Brian patted his back. “So, the wedding is next Saturday! Are you guys close to being ready?”
“Well, Emilie is,” Nick replied nodding. “She’s just having Brandy as her maid of honour and then Clarissa is going to be the flower girl.”
“And you’re having all of us are your ushers?” Kevin raised his eyebrows.
“Why not?” Nick shrugged, as he glanced over at Emilie. “Wow, she’s incredible. She’s been so amazing over the last few months.”
“Yeah,” they all nodded in agreement, as Nick looked out onto the ocean, and couldn’t help but smile…
“Kinda faded, but I feel alright, thinking about making my move tonight, can’t pretend that you’re only my friend, when you’re holding my body tight…” sang Marnie Santoni, as she listened to her walkman, on American Airlines Flight #134. Her older sister Melissa sat beside her, as she looked through a book about tarot readings.
“Marnie, you’re a bit loud,” Melissa told her, and Marnie glanced at her.
“What?” Marnie shrieked, and Melissa sighed. Melissa shook her head, and returned to her book.
“Look Marnie, I can see palm trees!” Melissa shrieked, as she looked out the window.
“Wow!” Marnie breathed in, as she glanced at the beautiful scenery. “This is surreal! Can you believe we’re in Orlando?”
“No,” Melissa laughed, as she put her book in her purse. “Who’s meeting us at the airport?”
“Nick and Howie, I believe,” Marnie answered.
“What about Emilie?” Melissa asked, and Marnie shook her head.
“Emilie has school,” Marnie replied, and Melissa nodded. “Anyway, I talked to Howie this morning, and he said Emilie and Nick had some big news last night.”
“Maybe she’s pregnant,” Melissa suggested, and Marnie’s eyes opened wide.
“No way!” Marnie exclaimed, as the pilot came on the loud speaker. “Emilie told me that they did it in Tampa, but there was probably no way she could have gotten pregnant.”
“Did they use protection?” Melissa asked and Marnie shook her head. “Is Emilie on the pill?”
“No, at least, I don’t think so,” Marnie shrugged again. “In that case, man, she could be pregnant. That’s unreal!”
“Well, I had a hard time believing she was pregnant,” Marnie commented, as the plane landed onto the runway.
“Hmmm…I don’t know,” Marnie shrugged, as she started gathering up her belongings.
“Neither do I,” Melissa smiled, and they waited as the plane slid into the terminal hallway. Marnie and Michelle waited, as several people headed off the plane, and then they merged themselves into the enormous line up.
Marnie Santoni met back in high school, and ever since, had remained close friends. Marnie is 21, and has layered black hair, that goes about down to her shoulders, and big brown, cat eyes. Melissa on the other hand is 23, and a little taller then Marnie. They had recently begun hanging out with Emilie more, and that’s when Emilie had called them, almost three months before, and invited them to the wedding. What Marnie didn’t know though was that Howie had been speaking with Trevor Guthrie from Soul Decision about possibly writing a duet together for his sister Pollyanna. Knowing how much Marnie adored Trevor, Emilie had Howie call Trevor, and set up a blind date for them for the next night, and if everything went well, Trevor was planning on coming to the wedding as Marnie’s date.
Marnie and Melissa slowly made their way through the crowd and walked through several hallways, and ended up at the US customs desks. They waited in line, and were quickly waved through. Marnie and Melissa walked through the line, and were greeted by two guys wearing hats. One was tall and one was short, and they held up a sign that read Marnie and Melissa Santoni.
“Nick? Howie?” Marnie raised her eyebrows, and the short one nodded.
“It’s us,” Nick commented, as Melissa could barely contain a laugh.
“What’s with the get ups?” Marnie teased them, and Howie laughed.
“So, we don’t get recognized,” Howie answered, as he shook their hands.
“This is my older sister Melissa,” Marnie introduced them, and Melissa shook Nick’s hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Nick smiled at them. “How was your flight?”
“Alright,” Melissa answered, as she followed them towards the baggage claim, and they headed down the escalator.
“What are we doing tonight?” Marnie asked, as they grabbed a cart for their luggage.
“Probably going to go get a bite to eat or something when Emilie gets home,” as Howie winked at Nick.
“Who’s all going?” Marnie asked, and Nick almost laughed.
“Just some friends of ours,” Howie answered, and Marnie looked at them confused. They quickly gathered up their luggage, and headed out to Nick’s Jeep.
v
“Hey, what’s the big news?” Melissa asked, as they tossed the luggage into the back of the Jeep.
“Well, I don’t know if Emilie wants to tell you herself, but I’ll tell you,” Nick answered, as they all climbed into the car. Howie went up front, and Marnie and Melissa climbed into the back of the Jeep.
“Emilie’s pregnant?” Melissa raised her eyebrows.
“Yes she is,” Nick nodded, and Marnie squealed.
“Omigoodness!” Marnie shrieked, and Melissa looked at her. “When? Where?”
“Well, we found out yesterday and she’s five weeks along,” Nick answered, as he merged into traffic. Howie cell phone suddenly rang, and he reached done to answer it.
“Hello?” Howie answered. “Hi Trevor!”
“Trevor?” Marnie cried, and Nick gave him a Look to shush.
“Trevor Martin,” Nick replied, covering quickly. “A close friend of Howie’s.”
“Oh,” Marnie nodded, but Melissa looked unconvinced. Nick looked back into the rearview mirror, and his eyes met Melissa’s.
“Trevor Guthrie?” Melissa mouthed, and Nick nodded. Melissa smiled widely, and glanced over at Marnie who had her eyes out the window, totally unaware that in virtually minutes she was going to meet the man of her dreams…
