Cristina didn't say anything at first. That was a very compelling argument put up there by Owen, she thought. But still, she had some nagging doubts that she was the woman for the job. She sighed because she didn't want to hurt Owen. He just told that he loved her. She knew that she loved him, too.
"I love you, too," she said. That brought a smile to his face. "But I still need some time." That wiped the smile off his face. It was like she gave with one hand and took it away with the other.
"But you love me," he protested. She nodded. That certainly was true.
"Yes, I do," she replied. "But it doesn't change how I am feeling, right now. I still need some time to think hard about it. This will be an incredible change for someone like me."
His disappointment was palpable. She felt she should say some more.
"I love the kids. They are the greatest bunch of kids," she continued. He interjected.
"So you love me and you love the kids but you don't know if you could be part of our lives?" he said, confused.
"I just need some time to adjust, Owen," she pleaded. "This is huge for me."
"So what is our current status?" he asked. "I want this relationship to move forward. I don't want it stuck in some state of inertia."
She paused for a moment. "Okay, Owen, if you don't think you can give me the time, then maybe we can just be friends," she said. "You can date other people, if you wish."
He scoffed. "I don't want to date other people. I guess this means that you want to date other people," he said.
"No, I never said that," she said. "I don't want to date other people. All I need is some time."
"So what happens after I give you some time?" he asked. "What if you decide that you don't want to continue with this relationship?" His voice softened. "What happens to the kids and me? They adore you very much."
She couldn't promise him anything, she knew. She stayed quiet.
"Okay, Cristina, I am going to give you the time," he said. "I want you to be with me, so I am going to give here. I just have to hope that your final decision falls in my favor."
"Thank you. That is all I am asking," she said. "You have been very understanding."
"I am less understanding than you think I am but I know what I want. I just hope you are going to want the same thing that I do," he said. His voice sounded resigned. The ball was certainly in her court. "So in the meantime, what do we do? Are we on hiatus? I am not going to date anybody and I am hoping that you are going to do the same."
"Okay," she agreed. "I am really not interested in dating anybody, too. I just want some space and some time. That's all. I promise that we will talk again, later about this."
"In front of the children, we will continue like nothing has happened. I don't really want them asking too many questions," Owen said. "Especially Hayley. She is extremely astute about what is going on around here."
"Yes," Cristina said. "I recognize that about her. She is a very smart girl. So we will just plan this party as normal, right?"
"Yes," Owen agreed. They both fell quiet, as they considered what they had just agreed upon. It was going to be hard, especially for Owen. All he could hope for was that she would make a decision in favor of being with him and the kids.
Over the next few weeks, Cristina and Owen acted normally in front of the children. They both did their part in the planning process for Hayley's party. The theme of the party was "Fairytales" and it was decided that all of the invited children to the party would dress in their favorite fairytale character. Christopher said that no way was he going to be Prince Charming. He decided he was going to be Shrek. Griffin decided he was going to be Puss 'n Boots, while the birthday girl thought really intensely on what she wanted to be. She finally decided that she was going to be the Evil Queen from the Snow White story. Owen asked why she didn't want to be Snow White. Hayley said Snow White was a little too good and boring. She wanted someone with a little more edge to her.
Owen and Cristina decided that this time, they, too were going to dress up. They decided to be Belle and Beast from the Beauty and the Beast story. She just had to get the lovely yellow gown. She told Owen that his Beast mask couldn't be too scary or he would scare the kids. He assured her that he would be a friendly Beast.
During her spare time at work, she would do a lot of her preparation work for the party. She had to call and make bookings for the entertainers, the deejay and the caterers. All of the invitations had already been sent out and the RSVPs were already starting to come in. It was going to be close to full acceptance of the invitations, since the word had spread how fantastic Christopher's party was. Those Hunts, it was said, sure knew how to throw a great birthday party. There were parents coming, too, as usual.
It was at one of her prep sessions during the lunch break that Delia came up and sat next to Cristina in the teachers' lounge. "More party prep?" she asked.
"Yup," Cristina said. "So you and Thomas are coming, right? I will have to count you among the grown-ups."
"Well, his daughter is Hayley's friend, so of course, we are coming," Delia said. "We will be Aurora and Prince Philip. I already got our costumes."
"I am so glad that you and Thomas are working out so well," Cristina said. "Who knew you could find love at a children's party?"
"Well, it is not love as yet," Delia said. "We are 'in like' right now. So how are things between you and Owen?"
"Okay, I guess. He isn't pushing me, which is great and he is giving me the time that I need," Cristina said. "So far, it has been good. We have been working together, planning Hayley's party and he hasn't brought it up, again."
"The man is a gem, Cristina. You really shouldn't let him go," Delia replied. She wanted to shake some sense into her friend.
"Don't you think that I know that?" Cristina said. "There are times all I want to do is for him to take me in his arms and have his way with me. But I still have doubts about whether I am up to the task of being a step-mom." She groaned.
Delia was going to say something else, when the door of the teachers' lounge was flung open and in stepped the principal of St Michael's, Jonah Roberts.
"Good day, ladies and gentlemen. Sorry to interrupt on your lunch break but I need to inform you that we are changing health insurance providers. It is one of the regulations of the health insurance program that every employee covered under the program, must undergo a health examination. Just your basic physical, people. Nothing to be worried about," he said. He went to their bulletin board and stuck a sheet of paper. "Here is a schedule of when you are supposed to go for your physicals. They will take place at the insurance company's recommended physicians. Please note the date and time of your appointment and the address of the doctors' practice. Good day and please have a good lunch session."
Delia got up and went to the bulletin board and checked for their names. "Great," she said, as she came back. "Our appointments are for next week Wednesday, an hour after school."
Cristina laughed. "Of course, none of the appointments are during school time," she said. "He doesn't want anyone taking time off during school hours."
"Naturally," Delia said. They both continued to laugh, as Cristina continued her party prep.
It was the day of the party. Owen had her checklist ready to make sure that the entertainment area had been transformed into an enchanted forest. There was even a castle built as a centerpiece in the middle of the open patio. To be honest, they had gone over the party budget to do that castle but Hayley had been so in love with it that he could not deny her. When it was erected, her eyes were so sparkling with glee that Owen knew that it had been all worth it.
Cristina's Belle costume was already in Owen's bedroom as was his Beast costume. He had originally planned to wear a mask but he changed his mind and decided to do face paint instead. An artist was working on him in the kitchen, while Cristina went to the bedroom for a quick bath and to change her clothes. Watching a picture of Belle, she also put her hair in the best Belle hairstyle. Satisfied with that, she finally slipped into the yellow gown. She felt like a princess and danced around the room in her dress. Owen came in and watched her dance.
"You look beautiful," he said. She shrieked when she saw him because he was wearing his Beast make-up.
"Oh, my God, you scared me," she said. She came and inspected the make-up. "It is so good. I hope the children won't be scared by you."
"As I told you before, I am a friendly Beast. Will Belle save me a dance tonight?" he asked.
"Of course," she said. She did a twirl in her dress. "I just love this dress. I feel like so much of a princess."
"You look like a princess," he said. "You should see the kids. Hayley, as the Evil Queen, is pretty darn awesome. The boys aren't bad, either."
"Okay, let me go out and see what is going on," she said. "You better get changed." She quickly left the room to give Owen some privacy. As she left, all he could do was shake his head and sigh.
As Cristina made a final inspection of the castle, Delia came up behind her and said, "Boo." Cristina jumped.
"Don't do that, Delia," Cristina said. She gave her friend the once-over. "You look absolutely marvelous as Aurora. Where is your Prince Philip?"
"As do you as Belle. Your hair looks particularly awesome. Prince Philip is with his daughter, admiring the view. He always admires the view from this house," Delia said. "Oh, I have something for you, Cristina. It's from the doctor's office. The results of your physical. They sent a copy to the insurance company and a copy to you." She dug into her purse and pulled out a sealed envelope. "You left early yesterday before they came, so I took yours and put it in my purse, since I knew I was going to see you, today. It didn't make sense leaving it there for the weekend."
"Thanks," Cristina said. "I don't think I have time to look at that, now. Just stuff it in my handbag. It's under that table." Delia found the handbag and did what she was told. "I am pretty sure everything is okay."
"Yeah, mine was okay," Delia said. "Though he told me that I need to exercise more. How dare he?" Cristina laughed.
"Do you want to help me put together some goodie bags?" Cristina asked. Delia nodded and they started working together.
It was a fantastic party, even better than Christopher's. Cristina had learned from her mistakes that she had made and had not repeated any of them. By the time, Griffin's birthday came around, she was going to be a total pro, she thought. Then, she remembered she mightn't be around for Griffin's party, in the event that she and Owen parted ways. She looked around the party. Everyone seemed to be having great fun. She was going to miss all of this, she knew. She still felt she wasn't ready to be a step-mom or anyone else's mom.
"Hey, you did it, again," Owen said, coming up behind her. "The party is fantastic."
"Thanks," she said. "I just want Hayley to have a great memory. That is the most important thing." She smiled at him and all he could feel was the deep yearning for her. She cared so much for his kids and did so much for them, just like a parent would. Why couldn't she just acknowledge that?
"You've done an absolutely great job," he said.
"Well, you helped, too," she said. "You did your part."
"Yeah, but you did most of it," he told her. "I will be forever grateful how happy you make my kids."
"I think it is time to cut the cake," she said, as she left him to gather up all of the children. With the children around the cake, Cristina lit the nine candles for Evil Queen Hayley. Owen was filming with his camera all of the cake-cutting action, as Hayley cut the cake with one of the boys in her class. The boy was dressed as Aladdin. Cristina thought it was so funny that Aladdin was cutting the cake with the Evil Queen. As Owen cut away from the cake cutting, he started turning the camera around to film everyone but found himself stopping on Cristina's face. She gave him a very warm, sweet smile which lit up her entire face and he was reminded of how much he loved her.
After the cake-cutting and the distribution of cake to everyone, Cristina noticed she had frosting in her hair. "Damn," she said, as she left the party to clean out her hair. It would not do that Belle had frosting in her hair. She signaled to Delia that she was going to the bathroom. As she stood in front of the mirror, cleaning out her hair, she realized she probably needed some more lipstick, which had worn out as the party progressed.
She dug into her handbag to pull out the lipstick and saw the envelope that Delia had given her earlier. She tore off a side of the envelope and pulled out the results. When she read it, she screamed, "No, no, no, no!"
"Cristina," she heard Delia's voice say. "Are you in there?"
"Yes," Cristina said, opening the door. Delia could see the anxiety in Cristina's face.
"What happened? What's the matter?" Delia asked. Cristina handed her the piece of paper.
"Read the additional note at the bottom," Cristina said. Delia scanned the paper to the very bottom of the page and read it.
"Oh my God," Delia said, as she read the words, "Patient is pregnant. Pre-natal care advised."
A/N Please leave your thoughts and comments. I do appreciate your thoughts.