Chapter 50
The days seemed to fly by as we tried to get the final arrangements done for the wedding. We had decided to have the ceremony at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, with the traditional wedding service, yet adding some very special moments from Nick and I. We had decided on our own vows, Nick had a song he wanted to sing to me, I had a song for him, and then there was my small plan for Nick that the others were involved with. I wasn’t sure I could pull it all off, but I would sure try. I had arranged, without Nick’s knowledge, a very special moment where I could do something for him. Howie, Brian, AJ, and Kevin had agreed to help me with whatever I needed.
Nick spent a lot of time on the phone in the other room, obviously discussing some sort of plans, with whom, I was not sure. Howie would call often to check on the arrangements for he and I. Brian spent more time than anybody talking to Nick. You would have thought that they were like gossiping school children.
The day was only a week away, and it felt like I still hadn’t gotten anything done. I pulled out my checklist and ran down it.
Cake, check. Refreshments, check. Decorations, check. Priest, check. Church, check. Limo, check. Dress, check. Bridesmaid dresses, check. Flowers, check. Bouquet, check. Invitations sent out, check. My small gifts for Howie, Brian, AJ, and Kevin, check. The ring for Nick....umm, ahhh.....
“Ohh no!!! What did I do with it?” I said aloud. I had started to panic when I realized that I couldn’t find his ring. I knew I had gotten upset the other night and threw it across the room, but I didn’t see it. What had I done with it??!!
“Heather, honey, what is wrong?” Nick asked, with more than a look of concern in his eyes.
“Umm, nothing, nothing. It is okay. I just lost track of something and I am trying to remember where it is. That’s all.” I said.
“Well, what is it? Maybe I can help look for it.” He offered.
“Ummm, no babe, that is okay. I will find it, honest. It is no big deal.” I responded.
“Are you sure?” Nick asked again.
“Yeah...it’s okay.” I finished and then went rummaging through all my stuff.
No matter what I did, I couldn’t find it. I have the tendency to put things in the weirdest places. Believe it or not, I have also been known to put things in the fridge. So, naturally, that was the first place I looked.
I paced back and forth through the house, but to no avail. Nick came in to the study, and saw me sitting there, with a very pale face. He was concerned, and decided to press the issue.
“Heather, now what is wrong? I know that whatever it is you lost, it must mean a lot to you. Come on, just tell me what it is and I will help you look for it.”
“Nickolas, listen to me. I can’t tell you what it is, okay? I am sorry, but it is something that I must find. And if I can’t, then I will have to have it replaced, but it just won’t mean the same to me. So, please, just let me look for it.” I stated, sounding very irritated that he was nagging me.
When he heard ‘Nickolas’, he knew it was serious. He decided to get out of my way and do something constructive. All the wedding nonsense was getting to the both of us, and we didn’t want to have another fight. He got up and went to the bedroom, grabbed his keys, and made his way to the front door.
“Heather, I am going over to meet with my folks. I have a few things to take care of with Aaron and Angel. I needed to make sure that they have all the details to the ceremony. Mom and Dad invited us for dinner tonight, so I will be back to get you in a bit. Okay? I hope you find what you are looking for.” Nick said, noticeably hurt that I wouldn’t tell him what I was looking for.
He walked out the front door without another word, as I tried to run to catch him. I stood at the door and watched him drive off. He didn’t even look back to see if I was there. I knew that I had been really harsh with him lately, and felt terrible. I decided to call Jane to tell her to have him call me as soon as he arrived.
“Jane, please, tell him to call. I really blew up at him this time and hurt his feelings. Please, please tell him that I really want to talk to him.” I said, starting to cry.
“No problem Heather. Look, you both have to learn that fights happen, and they aren’t the end of the world. I am sure that he will be fine. Don’t forget that being pregnant brings lots of mood swings and stuff. Nickolas will just have to learn to deal with it. I will have him call as soon as he gets here.” She said gently, trying to reassure me.
“Thanks, Jane.” I said softly.
“Heather, you can call me Mom....okay?” she replied.
“Sure, and thanks Mom.” I finished and then hung up.
*** *** ***
Nick had driven all the way to his folk’s house in silence. Normally he had some sort of music playing, but this time, he just wanted to think. He was really worried about the past two weeks. He pulled into the driveway and was quickly meet by Aaron and Angel.
“Dude! Where is Heather? We thought she was coming.” Aaron asked.
“Umm, she wanted to be alone for a little while Aaron. She will be here later for dinner though.” Nick said sadly.
“You didn’t make her mad again, did you Nick?” Angel asked her big brother.
“Angel, I don’t want to talk about it right now. Okay?” Nick said as he walked up to the house.
Aaron and Angel just looked at each other and knew that it wasn’t good. “You don’t think that they will break up, do you Aaron?” Angel asked, feeling nervous. “I like her so much...she is really cool.” She added.
Aaron just shook his head and they walked into the house, stepping right into the middle of Nick’s conversation.
“Nickolas, you need to learn that she is going to be moody. Don’t worry about the fight, just give her time to cool off and be supportive. She called, and she wanted you to call the house. She wanted to talk to you.” His mom stated.
“She called? I thought she didn’t want me to ‘bother’ her. She made that pretty clear.” Nick said sarcastically.
“Nickolas, get your butt in the other room and call her. Now.” Jane demanded.
Nick just gave her a look and marched into the living room to call. He let the phone ring several times.
“Come on, please pick up.” He said out loud.
After the sixth ring, I finally picked up.
“Hello?” I said, slightly out of breath.
“Heather? Baby? You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah...I was in the bathroom...sorry.” I answered, embarrassed.
“Oh, sorry.” He said, with a slight laugh.
“Hey, I wanted to apologize Nick. I didn’t mean to get mad. I am just really angry at myself. Because of my childish and pathetic moods lately, I did something I am very ashamed of. I umm, how do I tell you this...?” I said.
“Yes?” Nick asked.
“Well, I umm, I lost something that was for you. I lost your...” I said, being interrupted by him.
“...wedding band.” He finished.
“How did you know?” I asked.
“Well, remember last weekend? After you went to take a shower, I went to get something to eat and then to watch tv. I saw something lying on the floor next to the fireplace and went to pick it up. I opened it and it really touched me heart. I knew that it must have found it’s way there when you got upset, so I placed it on the top shelf of the entertainment unit. I was hoping you would just tell me that you had misplaced it, rather than chew me out.” Nick said gently.
“Oh Nickolas, I am sorry. I just was so angry that I had lost it. I wanted it to be very special. I had it made just for you, so that you would never forget how I feel.” I said, starting to sniffle.
“Look, baby, there’s nothing that you can’t tell me. I wouldn’t have been upset if you had lost it. I mean, it is only a piece of jewelry, something that can be replaced. Now, fighting over stuff like this is not worth losing you...a ring can be replaced, but, I can’t lose your love.” Nick finished.
All I could do was let the tears pour down my face. “I promise you won’t lose me Nickolas. Never. I love you and I am so sorry that I treated you so badly.” I said sincerely.
“It’s okay Heather. I love you too. Please don’t ever forget that. Now, I am on my way back to get you. Mom and Dad will have dinner ready in a couple of hours, so let’s put this all behind us and have a great dinner.” Nick said. “I love you, see you in a bit.”
With that...Nick winked at his mom and took off out the door.
*** *** ***
~On the way back~
“What time is your appointment at the doctor’s, Heather?” Nick asked as we drove back to his folks house.
“Umm, it is at 10:00 am on Tuesday morning. You are going with me, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Oh, I wouldn’t miss it for the world Heather. I heard that the doctor will be able to let us hear the heartbeat. She will use this thingie on your tummy called a doppler or something like that, and it will pick up the sound of the heartbeat. That ought to be really cool.” He stated, very enthusiastic.
“Nickolas, you never cease to amaze me. You really need to hook me up with those books you are reading. Do the guys know what you’ve been reading on your spare time?” I questioned with a giggle.
“Umm, yeah...and they tease me about it all the time.” Nick answered.
We just laughed as we drove. I couldn’t believe that all this was happening. We were finally getting married, we would get to hear our baby’s heartbeat and our life was going so well. It was all such a blessing and it made me feel so good. Just a few more days...and we would have two weeks at some amazing destination, that Nick would not reveal to me. All I had to get through was an oh-so-pleasant visit to my doctor. And that was just two days away.
We enjoyed a very pleasant dinner with Nick’s folks and then found our way back home to get a good night’s sleep.