CHAPTER 52
Marley and Noah wait in the lobby of Giorgio's to greet their guests. Marley's wearing a strapless ivory chiffon party dress with a bubble hem. The dress is ordorned with a flowery pattern on the skirt. Her long dark curly hair down flows along with her as she walks. She's wearing low sandals so not to appear taller than her fiancée, Noah Freedman. Noah's blonde and bares a strong resemblance to his momma,Charlotte King-Freedman. He's sporting a grey jacket and light green tie for his engagement party.
Broken Spell starts playing up on stage. Marley and Noah walk over to Andie whose sitting at the bar.
Marley starts talking. "These parties can't be much fun for you. Nicky's always up on stage."
Andie shrugs. "I'm used to it."
"Where are the kids?" Noah asks.
"Nicky hired a nanny to keep an eye on them at the party so I could mingle."
"How nice." Marley smiles.
Andie takes a sip of her drink. "Just cuz I don't have a dance partner doesn't mean you two shouldn't dance. Get out there it's your engagement party."
"We thought we would mingle with the guests first." Noah tells her as he watches Dylan walk in with Lila, holding Clove.
"So, are they a couple now?" Andie asks.
"I hope so. They make an adorable little family." Marley watches them.
Lila hands Clove to her mother then walks over to greet Marley and Noah. "Congratulations." She gives them both a big hug.
"You're next." Noah teases.
"Hey! Don't put ideas in Lila's head." Dylan protests.
"Nah." Lila laughs. "I'm good with things the way they are." She looks at Dylan. "C'mon, let's dance." Lila drags Dylan onto the dance floor.
Andie watches. "Well, they certainly seem happy."
"Those two were meant to be together." Marley watches them dance.
"Why do you say that?" Andie asks.
"Just the way they are, the way they've always been. They're both sort of free spirits that don't play by the rules."
"You can say that again. They got us into a lot of trouble as kids." Noah agrees.
"How so?" Andie asks.
"Well, it was them always talking us into smoking weed." Marley tells.
Andie shakes her head. "You could have said no."
Noah adds. "And it was Dylan's idea to drive momma's car to Marley's house when we forgot the weed there. We took down Jolie's mailbox."
Marley rolls her eyes. "My mom still talks about that designer mailbox. I'll never hear the end of that one."
"But." Noah smiles. "I wouldn't trade those times for anything. Those were good times."
Andie raises her glass. "Well, here's to more good times as a married couple and lots of babies."
Marley shakes her head. "I don't know about lots, two is enough for me."
"What about you, Noah?" Andie asks. "Do you want lots of babies or just two?"
"Two is fine." Noah takes his drink from the bartender.
Andie tells them. "I like having four kids like momma and daddy had. We had a good time growing up together. I want that for my kids too."
Noah sips his drink. "Yeah, it was great for you. You got all the attention. You're the oldest and the only girl."
Marley smirks. "Princess Alexandria Freedman."
Andie chuckles because she knows it's true. "Don't act like a baby, Noah. You got plenty of attention too."
Noah responds. "Yeah... when I got caught smoking weed and taking momma's car out. I got attention then. And when you stole money from momma's dresser. I got plenty of attention for that too."
Andie sighs. "I guess I need to give Charley and Michael Nikolas extra lovin' so they don't feel like the neglected middle children."
Noah nods. "Michael's gonna need it the most. Charley's the oldest boy. He gets plenty of attention but I can already see Michael acting out."
Andie rolls her eyes. "And he's only three. I'm in trouble when he's a teenager, aren't I?"
Noah and Marley chuckle before leaving Andie to mingle with their guests.
Cooper and Charlotte are talking with Violet and Pete. "Congratulations." Pete shakes Cooper's hand.
"Yep." Cooper nods. "Three down and one to go."
"How is Drew doing?" Violet asks.
"Drew's good." Charlotte tells them. "He's got himself a girlfriend now. Charlotte gestures to Drew and Ruby sitting at a table sampling some chicken wings.
"Good for him." Violet smiles, holding her granddaughter, Clove, who's eight months old already.
"She's getting so big." Charlotte holds the baby girl's hand.
"They all are. Makes me feel ancient." Violet watches Charley and Michael Nikolas run by. "How's Hope doing? Doesn't she still need another surgery?"
"She'll have her next operation when she's four years old to widen the main artery." Charlotte tells Violet.
Addison walks in next with her eight year old granddaughter, Rosie.
Harper runs up to grab Rosie's hand. "Come sit by me."
The two girls run off together.
"They remind me a lot of Andie and Danielle when they were that age." Charlotte tells Addison.
"I know." Addison nods. "They're growing up so fast."
"That means you're getting old." Amelia walks over to them. "Give me my granddaughter." Amelia smiles and takes Clove from Violet.
"Speak for yourself." Addison smirks at Amelia. "I'm not a day over forty."
"Okay then I must be twenty-five." Amelia laughs and takes Clove over to see Cole.
"Cole as a grandpa, now that's interesting." Addison tells Charlotte and Violet as she watches him hold Clove.
"He's really good with Clove." Violet tells them. "He built her a little pink dollhouse out of wood and now Pete is building her one to keep at our house."
"A girl can never have too many dollhouses." Charlotte smiles.
"Clove is going to be one spoiled little girl between all her grandparents doting over her." Addison smirks. "I need a drink. Anyone else?"
Charlotte and Violet follow Addison to the bar.
Addison orders a drink before telling them. "I never thought I'd see the day that we were all grandparents."
Charlotte takes her drink from the bartender. "I'd never thought I'd see the day I married Cooper and now I have four children and four grandchildren with him. Who woulda thought." Charlotte shakes her head with a smile.
Addison takes her drink from the bartender. "I remember those days. They seem so long ago."
Violet responds. "Sometimes I wish I could forget those days. Charlotte and Cooper had to elope because we were all at each other's throats during the wedding over my book and the practice falling apart."
"Oh, it wasn't all that bad." Addison sips her drink.
"Maybe not for you." Violet restorts.
"Life is what you make of it." Addison tells them. "You can let it take you down or you can roll with it."
Charlotte tells them. "I hope our kids have it easier than we did. Sometimes you wanna take their pain away, you know, you want to feel the pain so they don't have to."
"Speaking of?" Violet asks. "How are Chase and Michelle doing?"
"I suppose they're trying again." Charlotte sips her drink. She watches Chase and Michelle walk in. "Here they are now."
Chase and Michelle walk into the restaurant. Michelle's wearing a short pink dress, Chase is in a suit. They greet Noah and Marley before going over to sit with Drew and Ruby. Michelle can't help looking over at Amelia who's holding eight month old Clove. She sighs and picks up a chicken wing.
Benn Golder walks in next. "What's he doing here?" Chase asks Michelle.
Nicky's band is playing so Benn has an open invitation since he's their record producer.
"Yay." Chase says, sarcastically. He's a bit jealous of Benn and Michelle's friendship.
Nicky and his band come arrive stage now. They play one song before Nicky calls Chase up to make a toast to Noah and Marley since he's going to be the best man. Chase climbs up on stage and takes the microphone. He gives a long speech, talking about growing up with Noah and meeting Marley.
Benn Golder sits next to Michelle. "How's it going?"
"Fine, I guess." Michelle sighs out.
"You're not fine." Benn looks in her eyes.
"Let's go somewhere private to talk." Michelle rises to her feet and grabs Benn's hand. They walk off to a quiet corner of the restaurant.
"Talk to me." Benn sits down in a chair across from Michelle.
"You know I lost the baby?"
"I'm sorry." Benn holds his hand over hers. "That had to be rough. You were pretty far along this time."
"I was eighteen weeks and it was torture. They admitted me to the labor and delivery floor and induced me into labor. It was horrible, pure torture."
"Well, it's over now." Benn squeezes her hand.
"It was a girl. We were going to name her Emma Charlotte."
"That's a pretty name."
"I liked Emma and Chase wanted to name her Charlotte after his momma." Michelle explains.
"I'm so sorry for your loss. But you can try again."
"I don't want to." Michelle sips her drink. "But Chase does. I'd rather just adopt a newborn. I can't go through that again."
"Are you going to adopt then?"
"Chase wants to adopt an older child from foster care to give them a good life."
Benn sips his drink. "That sounds very philanthropist of him."
"That's how Chase is. He's like his dad. He loves kids."
"And you're opposed to adopting an older child?"
"Not really but I want to adopt a baby too. I want a baby." Michelle takes another sip of her drink.
"So, adopt an older child and a baby." Benn suggests.
"Chase wants us to try again for our own baby because we don't having a problem getting pregnant. I just having trouble staying pregnant. He thinks the third time will be a charm."
"And you don't?"
"If it is it would be the best thing in the world but I just have a bad feeling it won't work out again."
"Why?" Benn asks.
"I feel like I'm being punished for that letter I hid from Chase's. Remember I told you?"
"I remember." Benn nods. "So clear your conscience and give him the letter then your bad luck will be over." Benn puts his glass down.
"I can't give him the letter until we have a baby. If he knows he has a baby with Tess he'll leave me and move to Georgia."
"If you're that insecure about your marriage then leave Chase and come live with me. I already have Benn Junior. He'll love you."
"I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because I love Chase."
"More than you love me?" Benn grins.
Chase finishes his speech for Noah and Marley's engagement party. He hops off the stage and looks for Michelle. Drew points her out talking to Benn in the corner.
Chase walks over. "If you don't mind I'd like to dance with my wife."
"Excuse me." Michelle gets up and joins hands with Chase. They walk out to the dance floor.
"What were you talking about with Benn."
"Just stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
Michelle sighs. "I was telling him how lost the baby."
"That's not any of his business."
"He's my friend, Chase."
"He's your ex-lover and may I remind you he hurt you. He was married when he dated you and never told you until two years into the relationship and then he got his wife pregnant and dumped you. He's a snake."
"He cares about me, Chase."
Chase slow dances with Michelle. "Not nearly as much as I do."
Benn watches Michelle dance with Chase. He gives her a little wave.
Charlotte and Cooper dance beside them now but all eyes are on Noah and Marley.
Soon Amelia and Sheldon join them on the floor. Jolie and Cole dance together because it's their daughter's engagement party. Amelia watches them with a careful eye.
"I can't believe my parents are getting along so great." Marley tells Noah as they dance.
"Are you still holding out hope that they'll get back together?" Noah teases.
"A girl could dream. Maybe we could have a double wedding with my mom and dad."
Noah laughs. "Dylan's mother does not look happy that your parents are dancing."
Marley looks over at Amelia. "No, I'd say Amelia looks pissed."
"Do you think Amelia and your dad are still banging it?"
"I have no idea." Marley watches her mom and dad dance. "We've been away at John Hopkins, my dad doesn't feel the need to fill me in on his love life."
Addison dances with Sam. "I'm going to miss you." Addison whispers to him softly.
"I'm only going to be gone for two months."
"Two months too long." Addison rests her head on his shoulder.
"You'll get to see Rosie almost every day, taking two months to go to New York to visit Maya and Olivia is nothing."
"Tell Naomi I said hi."
"You can come along, Addison. You can tell her yourself."
"No, I can't. I still have patients."
"That's why I told you that you should retire like me." Sam smirks. "I'm living the good life. I can go wherever I want for however long I want. You could come with me. We could tour the world."
"It sounds nice." Addison thinks. "Let's say we'll do that in five years by then Rosie will be a teenager and she won't want to hang out with her grandma."
"I'm gonna hold you to that." Sam hugs Addison as they dance.
Cooper dances with Charlotte. He starts to feel short of breath. His head is all sweaty. "I think I want to sit down." He tells Charlotte.
She looks at him. "Cooper, what's wrong? You're all pale and sweaty."
"I'm okay." Cooper walks to a chair and holds his chest.
"You're not okay." Charlotte looks around the room. Charlotte waves at Addison who's dancing with Sam. "Sam! I need some help over here now."
What's wrong?" Sam and Addison walk briskly over.
"Cooper's all sweaty and having chest pain." Charlotte stresses with tears in her eyes. Cooper hasn't had a heart attack in a years but she's afraid he's having one now.
"Get some aspirin out of my bag in the car." Sam tells Addison.
Addison hurries outside.
Cooper looks at Charlotte. He tells her "Don't make a big deal out of this, Chief. This is Noah and Marley's day."
"Okay, just promise me you'll go to the hospital to get checked out and no one has to know what's going on."
"Okay." Cooper agrees.
Addison hands Sam the bottle of aspirin. "Here take one of these." Sam checks Cooper's pulse and respirations while handing him as aspirin.
Charlotte watches "We should call an ambulance."
"No." Cooper shakes his head. "Everyone will know then. I don't want to ruin their engagement party."
"We need to get you to the hospital." Sam tells Cooper. "I'll help you to the door." Sam looks at Addison. "Go get the car and pull it up to the front door." Sam helps Cooper up and they walk towards the door with Charlotte while Addison runs ahead for the car.
"Is everything alright?" Violet asks.
"We think Coop might be having a heart attack." Charlotte tells her "Cooper doesn't want the kids to know."
"I'll come with you. Let me just grab Pete and my purse."
Pete and Violet follow Addison's car to the hospital.
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