Chapter 36

With the last-minute wedding change, Sandy and Paul decided to have one single party a few days before the wedding instead; Spanky had chipped in, renting a hotel suite for the occasion, complete with honor bar (to Paul's chagrin).

"Paul, stop; you're making a complete fool of yourself," Sandy giggled as he was kissing her neck in a corner away from the others that had been attending.

"Kind of hard not to be a fool over you, sweetheart," Paul replied before he stopped.

He then put a hand on her face and then her neck, a quizzical look on his face.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, concerned. "You're a little warm."

"I was a bit sick for a couple of days while you were in Stamford," she explained. "Probably just the last of it. Just one of those things when having a baby."

"I don't know, San; I have a strange feeling this has nothing to do with you being pregnant."

"Really, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, especially now. We should be enjoying the party, especially since we're going to be married in three days."

"All right, but we're going to the doctor tomorrow. I don't want to hear otherwise."

"Fine, if it makes you happy."

Paul took her face in both hands. "It's not about me being happy. It's making sure you and the baby are okay. Of course, it wouldn't hurt for you to be up to par in three days."

"Don't worry, I will. Now come on, let's go have a good time before people start talking."

--------------------------

"What's going on?" Spanky asked a few minutes later. "Sneaking off for some quick nooky or something?"

"Will you get your mind out of the gutter for a minute?" Paul asked back. "I'm just worried about Sandy."

"Something wrong?"

"She felt a little warm, and she told me she wasn't feeling well while I was up in Stamford with the rest of you guys for that dumbass meeting with management."

"Oh shit, that isn't good, man."

"Yeah, that's what I tried to tell her. At least she agreed to let me take her to a doctor tomorrow."

"Good call, dude," Spanky agreed, nodding. "The last thing you need at that wedding of yours is poor Sandy tossing her cookies."

"And while we're on the subject of my bride to be, where's Tyler?"

"Playing Guitar Hero with a few of the other guys, and last I saw, he was kicking all of their asses, that is, after he whipped mine. Jesus, all us dudes beaten by a kid that isn't even out of high school yet.

Paul broke out laughing. "What, he beats a bunch of those big ass dudes?"

"It gets better. He ended up owning Hunter too."

"Jesus, Spanky, stop!" Paul laughed harder. "You're killing me here!"

"You had to be there to see it go down, but I think the only person Tyler didn't beat was Ashley."

"What? He ended up being beaten by a girl?"

"You got it, man."

"Something tells me I better prep him better to deal with women," Paul said, still chuckling a little. "Still, that is some funny ass shit all you guys getting beaten by a teenager. Of course, if it's any comfort, he's whooped me at a few things too."

"Nothing like being owned by a kid that is about to be your stepson, huh?" Spanky grinned.

"Ha ha. No, seriously, I don't mind; it's all in fun. Ty's a great kid, especially one that lost his dad so young, you know? I thought he would hate the idea of me and Sandy getting married, but he was all for it, especially after we talked to him about it."

"Hey, guys," Tyler said, suddenly appearing beside them.

"Hey," Paul said. "Did you finally run out of all the rosters to cream at that game?"

"Not really; they all wanted to raid the drink station. Where's Mom?"

"With a few of the girls doing whatever women do."

"They like to gossip and stuff. You know, like bitch about us men," Spanky added.

"Among other things." Paul shot him a look.

Sandy appeared, sliding her arms around Paul. "Are you talking about me again? My ears were burning," she giggled.

"Unless you can think of something else better for me to talk about," he replied, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Come on, dude, you're making the rest of us sick," Spanky said.

"Now you know what I put up with at home when both of them are there," Tyler added.

"And you're complaining now?" Paul joked. "A little late for that, isn't it?"

"I guess so, though I got to admit it's a little weird having another guy in the house again."

"Especially a guy that's weird in the first place," Spanky laughed, draining the beer he had before letting out a loud belch.

Tyler made a face at him. "Jesus, Spanky, that's my mom you burped in front of! Were you like brought up in a barn?"

"Like I'm not used to the male species emitting gas," Sandy shook her head, glancing at both her son and Paul.

"What? Not me," Paul spoke up.

"Lord knows I've never dealt with Paul and his gas before," Spanky retorted. "I could write a whole book on the times I thought the sewer backed up in the hotel with the ones he let fly."

"Like you never fart, Spanky," Paul replied, rolling his eyes.

"Not like the ones you have, dude. You need to lay off the bean burritos."

"I think I better sit down," Sandy said, making a face. "All this gas talk is not sitting well with me."

"You okay, San?" Paul asked, suddenly worried, leading Sandy to a chair. "Ty, go get your mom a ginger ale."

"You don't have to make a fuss, Paul. I'm fine. Just a little sore in my right side."

"Still, you should sit for a few." He took the can of ginger ale that Tyler brought back. "Here, take a little of this. You didn't eat very much and haven't had anything to drink for awhile. I don't want you dehydrating yourself and the baby."

"All right, I guess this won't hurt," she smiled and took a few sips.

Tyler and Spanky had wandered off again, laughing and goofing off with the other guests; once Paul made sure Sandy would indeed be all right, he too joined the rest of the crowd.

She sat back for awhile, enjoying the scenes unfolding in front of her, before she had to use the bathroom.

The last thing Sandy would remember would be slowly rising from the chair.