"Ok what about this one?" Jess said modeling a blue gingham plaid frock.
"I still see a bump! Just tell him first thing Jess!" Cece said, filing her nails.
Jess rolled her eyes. She had tried on 4 dresses, all failing to conceal the small bulging baby bump that was beginning to appear. It stuck out like a sore thumb against her small frame. "I can't just tell him! He's going to be so upset!" just then a pang hit her in her lower back, and she winced.
"Are you ok?" Cece asked, alarmed.
Jess rubbed her lower back. "Just some cramping. It's been going on all morning. Sadie said cramping is normal. Doesn't help that Nick has me all stressed out. He's already sweated through three shirts."
Cece stood up and hugged Jess. "It's going to be fine. Bob might be mad at first, but I think as soon as you show him that picture of baby Reggie, his hearts just going to melt."
"Baby Reggie? Oh, not you too!" Jess said stripping off the dress.
Cece rummaged through Jess's closet and pulled out a pale pink dress, made of flowy material with a high empire waist. "try this."
Jess slipped it on and smoothed the skirt down. "I can't really see much?"
"You look perfect! You've already got that glow thing down!" Cece said.
Jess wiped her brow. "Pretty sure that's just sweat from hoisting myself in and out of these clothes."
"Jess! Your dad is here!" Schmidt called from the living room.
"Show time!" Jess said, squeezing Cece's hand.
She met Nick in the hall, and straightened his tie. "You look, not sweaty."
"I've been standing with my pits in front of a fan for the last forty-five minutes. I can't feel my right arm." Nick replied, nervously.
"That might be a good thing later." She said, opening the door. Nick felt the perspiration on his skin, beginning to form.
"Dad!" She cheered, hugging Bob.
"Jess! You look beautiful! I brought you Cristal, your favorite!" Bob said.
Jess took the bottle and looked smugly at Cece. "Champagne! Dad you shouldn't have!"
"Anything for my baby girl!" he said. "Schmidt, Winston, Cece! How are you? Hello Rick, Nice tie, didn't know you owned one!"
"Be nice!" Jess whispered to her dad.
"Come in, Come in! Dinner will be ready soon. I'm making Roast Turkey with a cider gravy, a medley of root vegetables, lemon, parsley, garlic mashed potatoes, and a candied cranberry. . ."
"Excuse Schmidt, we got him the Gordon Ramsay cookbook for his birthday. . . and well watch out Hell's kitchen!" Jess said, steering her dad away from the kitchen and the nauseating smell of cooking food.
"Aw, Jess I was hoping you were cooking. I could go for some of those cute little rolls you make shaped like turkeys with walnuts for the eyes. . . " Her dad said, somewhat disappointed.
The truth was, the smell of anything at all cooking made her stomach roll. "Bob-o!" How's Oregon?" Cece interjected grabbing Bob's arm , seeing the panic in Jess's eyes.
"Bob-o? Rick keeps picking at his shirt like it's made of poison, and Jess you're more jittery than your mom on 4 cups of coffee. Are you kids smoking the grass?" Bob said confused.
Jess laughed, nervously. "Just excited to see you that's all! Hey, I think they just scored a goal." She pointed to the football game on tv.
Nick, Winston, and Bob all glared at her for a moment. "Can I get you a beer? Winston said, shaking his head at Jess.
XXX
"Jess, are you ok? you've barely eaten anything.' Bob said, eyeing Jess who was making trails of gravy through her mashed potatoes and breathing through her mouth.
"I'm still getting my appetite back from where I was sick. I'm just so full already!" Jess said, forcing a bite of carrot down.
Schmidt smiled, and opened his mouth to say something.
"Douche bag jar. Now. " Jess muttered under her breath.
Bob placed his napkin on his plate. "For some fancy Smancy complicated L.A. Thanksgiving, it was pretty good! Miss my turkey rolls though."
"You sure you don't want some wine?" He said holding out the bottle.
"Ummm. . .no I. . . ."
"She's my sober buddy!" Nick blurted out.
Jess gave Nick an evil eye.
"Sober buddy? You had 3 beers watching the game." Bob asked.
"Yeah, Jess is my sober buddy. Part of AA, you know, accountability. " Nick mumbled.
"AA that's pretty serious stuff."
Jess stomped on Nick's foot under the table. "Not an alcoholic or anything, he stopped drinking to get healthier, but he has, " she turned to face Nick. "NO. SELF. CONTROL."
She stood up from the table. "Well I'm finished. Anyone else? Can I clear some plates? Oh, what's that Nick? Sure, I could use some help." She grabbed Nick's still full plate and took it over to the sink.
She ran water and began to scrape the plate very loudly. "An alcoholic Nick?! Seriously?"
"I'm nervous! Your father hates me!" Nick said, trying to steal a piece of turkey off the plate.
Jess stabbed his hand with a fork, causing him to yelp. "Everything's just fine guys!" She called to the table. She lowered her voice. "You don't think a 'raging alcoholic' getting his daughter pregnant would make him hate you more?"
"Jess, honey let those set. Come back in here, I want to say something." Bob called out.
She arched her eyebrow and turned off the sink. "We HAVE to tell him."
"Coming! "she called. She lightly grabbed Nick's hand. He gave her a confused look.
"You're not panic moonwalking away from this one Miller."
She and Nick walked back to the table. Bob had opened the champagne and had poured five glasses. "I hope you don't mind Nick, but I want to celebrate."
Nick nodded, blushing slightly.
"Celebrate what?' Jess said, cautiously accepting a glass.
"You Jessica. I am so proud of you." Bob said as the others took a glass. "I'd like to toast my darling daughter. Jessica. I gotta admit when you first headed out here and met that kook Spencer, I thought 'aw here goes her dreams of being a teacher. She's going to be just like Abby. But look at you, sure, you've had your fair share of losers," he said glancing at Nick, "But you didn't rush into anything. You take your time, your smart, you're level headed, you're. . . '
"Pregnant!" Nick screeched.
Bob lowered his glass. "Excuse me?"
"She's pregnant! I am so sorry, it was an accident, I gargled my beer, and she wore those pajamas with the bikes on them and."
"You did WHAT TO MY LITTLE GIRL!?'" Bob yelled, slamming his glass down onto the table.
Cece threw her head back, and chugged the glass. "It's about to get good." She whispered.
Bob turned to Jess. "Jessica is this true? This. . . bafoon, he. . . are you. . . "
"Yes dad, I'm 13 weeks pregnant."
He stabbed a finger into Nick's chest. "When I get my hands on your grimy little neck I'm gonna. . ." Nick ran and dove behind the couch, Bob hot on his tail.
"STOP!" Jess screamed.
Bob stopped, his face flushed, shades of scarlet and ruby. " Someone asked you to be his sober buddy, and you go hmmm. . . he'd be a good father to my child?"
"Nick's not an alcoholic dad. He made that up, instead of telling you that I was pregnant." Jess said, tears springing into her eyes.
"Is this why you broke up?" Bob asked.
"We had already broke up when she. . ." Nick interjected.
"Quiet you!" Bob snapped.
"I'm sorry dad. . . " Jess replied, tears flowing down her face.
He put his hand on her shoulder. "Why him? You could have found a good man. . .Why this loser?"
"because I love him!" Jess said, running into the bathroom.
XXX
"Jess. . . .Jess babe you've been in there for a long time are you ok?' Cece said pressed up against the bathroom door. The air had cleared a little from the World War 3 that had just broke out. "Jess, it's ok. Nick's in his bedroom, and your dad is with Schmidt on the roof getting some air. Come out and talk to me."
Jess opened the bathroom door. "I need to go to the hospital." Cece looked at her bewildered.
Nick poked his head out of his room. "What?!"
Jess clutched her stomach tightly. "I'm bleeding."