Chapter 3-Happy Birthday

Considering it was the Fourth of July weekend, getting a flight back to Tampa was a lot more difficult than I thought. However, Leslie came through for me and got me an overnight flight right after my birthday.

When I walked through the front door of Carter's mansion, I was super-tired and wanted nothing but sleep.

But someone turned on the lights and shouted "Surprise!" I nearly jumped ten feet in the air.

"Um, what's going on?" I asked as I set down my duffel bag and purse.

Leslie, dressed more for a cocktail party, approached me and announced, "It's for you, silly. Since you spent you're birthday with your dad, we thought we'd surprise you when you got back. Happy 18th birthday, Melanie!"

"Oh," was all I could say before Leslie gave me a tight embrace. Then, her housekeeper and former nanny, Mrs. Norberry, a tiny, elderly woman with sweet eyes, hugged me as well.

The rest of the party consisted of people I had encountered at work, waiters, hors d'oeuvres, and I got tons of presents, mostly baby stuff, like diapers, bottles, formula, even a crib. I glared at the Simmons siblings the whole night for letting that detail slip.

Finally, Leslie took over as hostess so that I could slip away to my room to sleep. I was pretty sure that I was about to pass out any moment now if I didn't make it to my bed.

However, as I got closer to my room, this weird feeling started to spread through my body, like I was being pulled by an invisible cord.

I let it lead me straight to my room. I slowly opened, nervous about what was behind the door. But once I turned on the light, the room was empty, but the window was open. I closed it slowly, and peered outside.

Nothing out of the ordinary, except for some party guests who decided to go skinny-dipping. I grimaced and closed the drapes.

I sighed when I climbed into the bed, sinking into the soft mattress. I hadn't even bothered to change out of my t-shirt and jeans.

I closed my eyes and smiled slightly. Suddenly, the bed shifted, and someone wrapped their arms around me. Immediately, I tensed up, my mind alert.

My mystery guest only snuggled closer and sniffed my hair, their hot breath on my neck. I took a deep breath and shifted so that I could see their face.

I clapped my hands and the lights came on. I gasped and crawled out of the bed as fast as I could, my heart pounding in my chest.

Andrew smiled and climbed out of the bed. I backed up into the wall, figuring out a way to escape. And I could tell that Andrew knew it, too.

I closed my eyes as he crept closer, waiting for my imminent death. But nothing happened.

I opened them and stared right into his crystal blue eyes that could read the depths of my soul. My hands flew protectively to my stomach.

Andrew didn't say anything for a while, but finally, he spoke.

"Happy birthday, Mel."

I think I passed out after that.

AN: Sorry about the shortness of this chapter, but Andrew is back! And he and Mel have a LOT to talk about. The baby gender poll is still up BTW, but I'm gonna close it by the fifth or sixth chapter. So review and vote!