Part 173
"Mommy! Uncle Nicky and Aunt Becca are here!" Jesse laughed as she and Howie opened the door and Nick swung her up in his arms.
"Hi peanut! I hear we have a room to paint?" Nick held her upside down as she giggled, grinning at Sarah who was laughing in the kitchen doorway.
"Yes! And I have Barbie posters to put on the walls, too. You can put them up for me."
"Did you help daddy shop?" he asked, setting her on her feet.
"Oh, yes," she replied seriously. "I wanted a different poster, but daddy said no," she pouted.
Nick raised his eyes at Howie and stifled a laugh when he mouthed 'N'SYNC'.
"But I got a REALLY cool one instead!" Taking Nick's hand, she led him off toward her room. "Is Aaron Carter really your brother?" she asked as Nick burst out laughing.
"I'd better go see what trouble they're getting into," Howie said. He kissed Sarah and hugged Becca before following Jesse and Nick to her room.
Sarah didn't even know where to begin, but one look at Becca told the entire story. Her eyes were still puffy from crying and there were huge dark circles beneath them. It was easy to tell that she hadn't slept well and that she was just waiting for Sarah to say 'I told you so'. She could also see that her ankles were swollen again and that she'd taken off her rings and left them at home.
"Come on, Bec, help me fix lunch." She put her arm around her friend and together they set off for the kitchen.
"What can I do?" Becca asked.
"Park your butt on that stool and tell me what to fix," Sarah said, pulling fresh veggies and deli meats out of the refrigerator.
"I can help," Becca protested.
"I know, next time," Sarah agreed. She looked at Becca who sat lost in thought. It was agony, but she bit her tongue and waited for Becca to talk.
Finally Becca spoke. "He knows," she said quietly.
"All of it?" Sarah asked gently.
Becca nodded, dashing away the tears that seemed to be ever-present of late. "All of it."
"That's good, Bec. You know that, right?"
"I know," she sighed.
"Was he very angry?"
"Not as much as he should have been, I guess," Becca shrugged, reaching for a raw carrot stick to munch on.
Sarah chuckled. "Did he really threaten to haul you to the ER?"
"Damn straight, and he would have done it, too. Sarah, why am I such a screw-up?"
"Bec, don't get me started. You know I love you to death, but-"
"Never mind. I can beat myself up enough for the both of us." Becca sighed and rubbed her temples.
"Headache?" Sarah frowned.
"A little. Doctor Warren said that was to be expected while I adjust to the meds."
"How's your pressure today?"
"Lower than last night. She told me not to take it but every three or four days once I'm on the pills. That way I won’t obsess if it fluctuates up and down."
"Sounds logical," Sarah said as she fixed a tray of lunchmeat and cheese. "What about side effects, is this stuff safe?"
"I guess," she shrugged. "It’s as safe as it can be given the alternative, a stroke or death." Becca laughed cynically.
"That's NOT even funny." Sarah frowned at her, dropping the knife she was holding.
"Sarah, I have to laugh. I did enough crying last night to last me a lifetime."
"What happened to me was NOT your fault, not even remotely."
"That's what Nick said, too, but-"
"Becca, it's in the past and that's where it will have to stay. Let it go. Please? If not for me then for Nick and your baby."
Becca began to cry softly. "Why can't I do this right, Sarah?"
"Bec, do 'what'?" Sarah wiped her hands on a towel and came to sit next to her.
"I can't even have a baby the right way. I see all these healthy, glowing women and I want what they have. I don't want to be sick, Sarah, I just want to have a normal life and a normal pregnancy."
"Sweetie, you're married to Nick. I'd say that's about as far from normal as you can get!" She laughed as Becca chuckled and tossed her tissue at her face. "Seriously, there's no such thing as a normal pregnancy. Every one is different, you know that."
"But what if the meds don't work?"
"You're how far along? Wait, you have what, 5 weeks or less to go?"
"Pretty much, why?"
"Then you're home free, Becca. Even if worst came to worst, they could still deliver the baby safely, even this early. He might be a little small-"
"SHE," Becca reminded her.
"Like I said," Sarah grinned. "Anyway, stop worrying. That's what you have Nick and me for. Just concentrate on 'you' for a change, okay? We'll handle the worry part."
"I'll try." Becca squirmed in her seat.
"What?" Sarah asked.
"Oh yeah, the other side effect."
"Oh no."
"Yep, I get to pee myself blind for the next five weeks."
"Oh good God, and Nick thought you were bad before?!" Sarah laughed loud and long. "You know where it is, second door on the right. While you're down there, stop in and tell the 'children' that lunch is almost ready."
Sarah had everything set out for lunch when Becca returned from the bathroom followed by three strangers with paint on their noses and hands and just about everywhere else imaginable.
"Mommy! My room is beautiful!"
"It is?! It looks like you three got more paint on yourselves than on the walls."
"Aw, Sarah, come on," Nick said. "You can't slight the creative process, right peanut?"
Jesse thought for a moment before answering. "What's a … cre- cre- …. process? And why do you call me 'peanut'? My name is Jesse."
Nick laughed as Becca stifled a giggle and then he got down on one knee so he was eye level with Jesse. "Well, a creative process is what you do to make something really special. You have to plan and think before starting your work."
"Oh," she said. "What about-"
"Why do I call you peanut? That's easy. It's because you're just the same size as a peanut!" He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her off to the bathroom to clean up, both laughing hysterically as Howie followed them.
Becca watched them go, and even Sarah was touched at how well Nick handled Jesse. "Bec, he's gonna be so good. I know I give him a lot of grief, but he's going to be a great dad."
"I know." Becca's eyes began to water again and Sarah groaned.
"God, come on and help me make drinks."
They were still laughing together when Howie, Nick and Jesse joined them.
After lunch was finished, talk turned to Sarah's upcoming performance in Los Angeles. She was so excited that Howie could barely get in a word, and Nick and Becca sat back and enjoyed her enthusiasm.
"Bec, you're coming aren't you?" Sarah asked.
"I'm planning to, as long as I get the all clear from the doctor."
"She has one more checkup before we head out again. If her pressure is ok then she can come. If not-"
"Nick, I'll be fine," Becca said quietly. "I have to be."
"Of course you will," Sarah insisted. "Just be a good girl and do what Nicky tells you to do."
Becca groaned and Nick smirked. "I like that," he said.
"Don't push your luck, blonde boy," Sarah retorted. "Be nice to my sis and take care of her. Do NOT give her any grief."
"I've got something I can give her…" Nick said, leaning over to nibble on her ear as she blushed.
"What, Uncle Nicky? What are you gonna give Aunt Becca?" Jesse asked innocently.
Howie roared with laughter. "Lesson number one for dads, Nick. Watch what you say in front of the children because it always comes back to haunt you."
The rest of the afternoon was spent down on the beach watching Jesse and Nick chase seagulls as Becca napped under a palm tree. Sarah and Howie talked quietly, making final plans for her concert and just enjoying their last bits of privacy before the tour resumed.