"About time you woke up."
Ughhhh Derek what did he want? I try getting up only to find a huge stomach. I'm pregnant? Derek comes over.
"Here let me help you." Derek says as he gets to my side.
"Thanks" I say as I stand up straight.
"You probably should get the girls up, you promised to make them breakfast."
"Yeah, okay."
I walk into a little girls room. Two little girls are in there. Both have light brown hair; it looks a lot like mine actually. The older girl has blue eyes and the younger one has brown eyes. The older girl has a hockey t-shirt and pink pj pants that have cupcakes all over them on. She is trying to get the other girl out of her crib.
"Mommy I was trying to get Lily out." The older girl says in a voice that sounds like mine but Derek's too.
"That's sweet but both of you could have gotten hurt."
"It's okay, daddy to the rescue!" Derek calls as he comes into the room.
Derek effortlessly lifts the girl out of her crib. "How's my Lilypad?"
"Good" the little girl says.
Finally I know one name. Lily pjs have candy canes all over them. The phone ringing pulls me out of my thinking.
"Hey Case, can you bring the girls down and start breakfast and I'll answer that."
"Okay" I don't know what else to say.
The girls lead me down to the kitchen. Everything matches perfectly; I obviously did most of the decorating.
"Hey girls, mommy's stomach is big so I need a lot of help can you do that?" It's so weird to call myself mommy.
"Yes" both girls say in unison.
"Okay what do you guys want for breakfast?"
"Pancakes!" The older one exclaims.
"Cakes" Lily yells out.
"Okay we will need a bowl."
"I can get it" the older one says.
"Pancake mix."
"Can me get it" Lily asks
"Yes you can." I measure out the water and set the measuring cup on the counter as Derek walks in.
"I can take over" Derek says.
"You sure" I ask just to make sure.
"Yep, you can bring the boxes of ornaments up from the basement."
"That's the Derek I know and hate."
"What?"
"Just kidding" I can't believe I let myself slip like that.
"Oh, okay. Good."
I start heading out of the kitchen. "Case, I already brought them upstairs. We can decorate the tree after breakfast."
"Okay" I really need to adventure this house, how long can I go without knowing where anything is.
"You can get dressed if you want or you can stay down here." Derek says.
"I guess I'll go get dressed."
I go back to the room and walk into a huge walk in closet. There are so many clothes! I decide on a blue long sleeve shirt that says New York across the chest. I try it on and it fits, now to find jeans. It only takes me four pairs until I find a pair that fits. I go to a door that must lead to the bathroom. There is a hairbrush on the counter, thank gosh. When I walk downstairs I see that there are two trees in foyer. Why do we need two? The mix of Christmas tree and pancakes smells so good!
I walk into the kitchen and sit next to Derek. He is way nicer than when we were in high school, but it's probably been years and years since then. We finish eating; I'll never admit this out loud but Derek is a really good cook.
"Hey Case, I'll wash the girls up if you get them dressed."
"Sure" what was I supposed to say?
"Daddy I can wash my hands all by myself!" The older girl says.
"Ok, Lauren but I need to help Lily and you might miss some spots." Derek explains calmly.
"Okay daddy."
I start cleaning up.
"I don't think so" Derek says.
"What?" I ask.
"You got leave something for the maids to do."
"Okay" of course there are maids.
I go to Lily's room first. I pick out jeans and a long sleeve shirt with a Christmas tree on it. There's a bathroom linking Lily and Lauren's rooms. Lauren is a little bit harder but I think she'll like the jeans and ballerina shirt. The girls got dressed and ask me to do their hair.
"Okay, you guys have to get me the stuff though."
"I can get it" Lauren says.
I put a ponytail in Lily's hair and French braid Lauren's. The girls lead me to where we are decorating the tree. Derek walks in with a hockey sweatshirt from high school and faded jeans on. A memory suddenly comes to me.
"Derek Venturi shoots and scores! That will be another championship for John Hopkins." The announcer says. Derek is being high-fived and pounding fists with teammates. Another memory: Me and Derek are sitting on the couch really close to each other; and I'm wearing that hockey sweatshirt. Yes, we are watching a hockey game.
"Earth to Casey, hello anyone home, Space Case. Casey?"
"Yeah, yeah, what" How long was I spaced out.
"You were spaced out for awhile." Derek says.
"Oh, just thinking." That was a horrible cover up.
"I got the lights on we can start putting ornaments on."
"Okay let's do it." I say
I can see why I would marry this Derek. The kids are amazing and they are cute too. You can tell which ones Lauren made, they are pretty good for a five year old though. Stars, ballerinas, dance figures, hockey ornaments. Ornaments from when Derek and I where younger were also in the boxes.
"Mommy can you help me put this up?" Lily asked
"Sure, but I don't know how high I can get you." I tell her.
About an hour later the tree is finished.
"Hey, mom and dad are coming in tomorrow did you finalize plans?" Derek asks.
"I'm going to call them again just to make sure."
"Same old Casey" Derek says then laughs.
I grab my cell phone and scroll down to the entry that reads "Mom"
"Casey is something wrong?" My mom asks worryingly.
"Hi mom. No I just wanted to call to see if you about making sure about final plans for tomorrow."
"Casey, we are taking a taxi from the airport, you and Derek have so much to do. Lizzie and Edwin are driving because of the kids. Marti will be flying with us."
"Okay mom, just wanted to make sure."
"Casey, relax take a nice bath or something."
"Yes mom."
"Are you sure it's you still want us at the house?"
"Yes mom, it's fine there are enough rooms." I hope.
"Well Derek did say that he built the Casey dream house, and the Barbie dream house would have nothing on it."
I just laugh cause I have no idea how to reply.
"Lizzie said she has the kids sleeping situation worked out, so that one thing you don't have to worry about." Mom tells me
"That's good." I have no idea what's going on.
"Everything good then, because I can let you go if you have any more questions."
"Bye mom love you."
"Bye Casey, love you too!"