Chapter 54
A few days later,
"Why are we here?" Ashley asked her father as they walked into a creepy abandoned building one late afternoon. The place was devoid of life and had police tape and signs posted telling them that it was unsafe and trespassers would be prosecuted.
She had to admit it was freaky as hell and the place reeked of something rotting and that old musty smell a house got when it was locked up for too long. It added to the atmosphere like all the life had been sucked out of the place. She could feel it draining on her which was weird given there was no reason to feel as she did.
She looked to her father's solemn expression waiting for an answer yet he remained silent. In fact, he'd been quiet for days and he looked at her like she had disappointed him deeply.
She wanted to pretend it didn't matter, that it didn't hurt but it did. Sasha was just as quiet towards her, it was like they had nothing to say to her or couldn't be bothered. Yet they were the opposite with Sammy which annoyed her. She wanted them to shout at her, to be really angry and punish her but they didn't. They just decided that she had to ride out her actions on her own.
Something she was suffering for as Sienna no longer spoke to her and Mia had punched a kid and been suspended because of what she said. She hadn't imagined her own words could be so powerful and have such a huge ripple effect in her life.
"I thought when you said we'd spend time together, that we'd go to the park or a restaurant." Ashley said filling the silence as it was too much to bear. She was completely freaking out as she followed her father deeper into building that was actually a factory as they entered a large room that was filled with heavy machinery.
"We will, I just wanted to show you something first." Tom said as they stopped to the side of one of machines.
"Where are we?" Ashley asked she jumped as the sound of metal clanging sounded from somewhere in the large room.
"This is where Beth, Sienna and Mia lived for the better part of two years." he said as he gestured to the concrete floor off to the side was a half eaten, rotten apple core and a ratty blanket. "They were separated from the others because Beth and their mother had special skills. They knew how to build and fix broken machines. They worked in shifts, lights only went out on the floor for 3 hours every night. These machines never stopped churning." he told her.
"I get it, they had a horrible time and that I was lucky." Ashley said, she tired of people rubbing it in her face.
"I don't think you do. If you did, then you never would have said what you did. You wouldn't have disappointed me or the memory of your mother. We raised you to be empathetic, kind and respectful. All the things you're lacking and even right now, you don't even get what is before you." Tom said.
"A dingy old building." Ashley told him.
"The site of a silent holocaust. They found the remains of over 300 people at this site alone. It's one of many where good women, men and children died while you and many others enjoyed the comforts of home, electricity and clean water. I'm not saying this so you can think you're lucky. I'm showing you where your best friend had to live, where her mother died and where Beth helped her and her sister survive." Tom told her, Ashley looked around the space hating the terrible churning feeling in her gut.
"I get that this is a bad place." she told him.
"People in impossible situations have to do things they don't want to in order to survive. Your mother would have done the same for you as Beth did to keep you and Sammy alive. Out of respect, we wouldn't have thrown it in her face nor expect our friends to use it against us. To shout it over a playground." Tom told her.
"Yeah." Ashley agreed, hanging her head low as he was right.
"It's why I'm deeply disappointed in you. You've lost my respect when you spoke of Beth and Mike like you did. I sometimes wonder if my respect meant anything to you at all." Tom told her in a matter of a fact tone.
"I'm sorry." Ashley told him sincerely, "I'm really sorry, I'm just really angry as Mom and Grandpa-" Ashley stopped as she couldn't get the words out.
"I know, if you want my respect again. You'll have to earn it. Apologising to those you hurt is a good first step. But I'm the last person on the list who deserves your apology." Tom told her.
Less than a month later,
"So, you're all packed and good to go?" Tom asked Sasha, he was excited about the move and if everything went to plan. Then he and Sasha would be engaged before the end of the night. He had scrapped quick wedding when everyone he told about the idea made the 'That's an awful idea' face. The fact that so many people didn't like the wedding part of the surprise told him, it was best to stick to one surprise at a time.
"Yes, I still want it noted for the record that I'm against this." Sasha said as she lazed on the bed waiting for the car service that would pick her up in an hour to take her to the hotel for spa day.
"Noted." Tom said as he reclined beside her with a grin on his face.
"Is it bad that I live in yoga pants?" Sasha asked, she found her body changes a little hard to keep up with her wardrobe. She despised the idea of buying clothes she might never wear again. So she lived in jersey fabric and some of Tom's clothing like today, she was wearing yoga pants, what had once been a loose singlet and Tom's chambray shirt over the top with the sleeves rolled up. It didn't vary that much from her every day clothes to work which spoke volumes given she had been taught better. She however just couldn't summon the care to buy maternity work clothes when she was only going to be pregnant one time.
"I hadn't noticed." Tom told her, Sasha smacked his arm as she knew better. He gave a smile. "Fine, I don't care what you wear as long as you're comfortable." he said before he moved down and pressed three kisses into her very noticeable baby bump.
She was only 20 weeks along but she looked like she was 30 weeks along. Though random people were already asking her when she was going to pop, something she found disconcerting as it was none of their business but they all shared their insights on parenting and the horrors of childbirth. Then there was the touching.
Luckily her mood swings had mellowed out some but it was now replaced with gas, baby brain and weird bouts of crying over the most inane things. But it was ok, it was better as the morning sickness wasn't as terrible and men were more scared of a crying woman than they were of an angry one.
"I am but it's not really professional to wear yoga pants around the President." Sasha said with a sigh.
"I think you look good." Tom told her, she snorted a laugh and shook her head.
"I don't want you to go." Mia told Beth, Beth had to agree as she liked the idea of staying home like she always did instead of being 'pampered' at some hotel. But then she was a homebody and pampering to her was laying with Mike on the couch with his arms around her and nothing to do except enjoy a good movie.
"Neither do I." Sienna said in agreement but Beth knew Sienna was showing solidarity with Mia than a real desire for Beth to stay. If anything, Sienna seemed happy about the Chandler's moving in next door as she and Ashley had made up.
Sienna was still a little withdrawn about it but the two were working on their friendship. It had helped a lot that Ashley had apologised not just to Sienna but the whole family. Beth had to admit, it felt good to be apologised to given the dirty looks some of the school moms gave her but those women were in their own world. They had lived and still live in blissful ignorance about the world. Women who enjoyed a high social status, spas and living well above their means.
"It's only overnight, I'll be home tomorrow night." Beth told her, Mia still didn't look impressed neither did Kaito who was now in the habit of mimicking everyone's expressions as if trying them on for size.
"But what if we need you?" Mia asked her.
"I'll be 15 minutes away and my mobile phone is on." Beth assured her as she tickled Kaito so he would smile instead of frown at her. He smiled readily and she felt better for it as she was entering the seventh circle of hell today with Sasha.
"It'll be ok." Mike assured Mia, "Now, come on, it's time to go to school." he added, Mia reluctantly got up from the table and ran to grab her stuff. "I'll swing by hotel at 2pm to pick up Kaito." Mike told Beth.
"I really don't want to go. Can I call in sick?" Beth asked with a hopeful expression as she wanted Mike to let her off the hook.
"You'll survive, it's just one night." he said before he gave her a quick yet passionate kiss goodbye.
Hours later,
"I don't think I can survive another hour of 'pampering'. I've spent time in a Chinese Prison and it was more relaxing than this place." Sasha griped as they 'relaxed' in the pool room which basically a small swimming pool that was at room temperature. It seemed like a completely useless exercise as they weren't exerting themselves and Sasha couldn't enjoy the sauna for which the pool was used to cool down in.
"She's joking." Beth assured the woman who was in the room with them; gave a worried expression. She didn't seem to believe Beth as she fled the room.
"I'm not." Sasha told her once the door was closed.
"How is this worse?" Beth asked her incredulously.
"It's boring. I hate cucumber water, that salad was nothing. It was three leaves of lettuce and a slice of tomato. I need protein and carbs, chocolate pudding." Sasha said, she didn't know why but she just couldn't get into the whole upper class world of pampering. It was never her scene to begin with and now it was torturous. Her idea of luxury was laying on a couch watching crappy tv shows and eating chocolate pudding cups. Or sharing a glass of nice wine and delicious cheeses with friends.
"The salad wasn't worth the $20, and I doubt they have chocolate pudding." Beth agreed as she was not having fun either. It wasn't Sasha's bad mood either, it was the staring and comments from the beauticians who were trying to up-sell extras on top of the package.
No woman liked to hear they had grand canyon sized pores on their face or that they should really consider having their 'beard' waxed off, let alone feeling like she was a Sasquatch because she didn't want certain places to be greeted with hot wax.
"Tom wanting me to be healthy and it's just stressing me out. I appreciate the gesture but sometimes I want a burger, ribs, fries and greasy food." Sasha told her.
"Why don't we go?" Beth asked her in a conspiratorial tone, as she was more than happy to leave.
"If we don't do the spa stuff Tom'll know and be annoyed." Sasha said with a sigh.
"Isn't this whole spa thing about relaxing?" Beth asked her.
"It's supposed to be what women do." Sasha told her with a roll of her eyes.
"Look, I don't want to have a woman rubbing me up with oil telling me that my coochie needs major deforestation and reshaping." Beth confessed, Sasha blinked at her for a moment before she laughed. "These people make me feel like I'm a Sasquatch who asked them to turn into some Heidi Klum clone. Am I that hairy?" she asked which only made Sasha laugh harder but she did shake her head.
"Not that I've noticed and I would tell you if it was an issue." Sasha assured her.
"Then please, lets reschedule the massage for tomorrow and go get some real food. Early bird special." Beth begged her, Sasha looked at her for a long moment. She was pretending to think it over while secretly glad she wasn't the only one struggling to enjoy this venture.
"Yeah, let's do that." Sasha agreed with a sigh as greasy food sounded a lot more relaxing than a massage.
"Got the keys." Tom announced with a smile as he found Mike in his office.
"Shouldn't you be telling Sasha that? Or is your mistress not allowed know?" Mike asked as he placed Kaito onto the floor. The baby boy went nuts crawling all over the new terrain of his office. He'd been in the office before but never with the mobility capabilities he had now.
"Haha." Tom replied drily as it was a bit of a running joke that Tom was talking to Mike like he was his spouse and not Sasha.
"Beth sent me a text, she hates the spa and asked if you've moved the furniture in yet." Mike said with a grin as he moved to redirect Kaito from reaching the power point. The kid was really testing Darwin's theory in his office.
"Tomorrow is move day." Tom reminded him.
"And apparently she is refusing all the wax services. What did pay for?" Mike asked him with a frown as he felt it was crossing a line for Tom to pay for his girlfriend to be waxed. Especially given Mike was quite happy with how Beth was in her naked glory- hair and all.
"I don't know, I just said the whole package to be offered. It's up to them what they want done to themselves." Tom said with a shrug.
"Ok, I'll let Beth know." Mike said as he really didn't want Beth to think she was being trapped into some Cinderella experiment. He pulled out his mobile and quickly typed out the message telling her she could give up the spa as long as she kept Sasha at the hotel and relaxing.
"Sir."
"Yes," Mike said looking to his receptionist before sending off the text to Beth.
"This came for you." he said holding out a small box. Mike pocketed his mobile and smiled.
"Ah, thank you." he said as he took the box.
"What is that?" Tom asked.
"Beth's birthday present." Mike answered as he opened the box to make sure it was what he ordered. Tom looked over his shoulder as he pulled out the item that was in a velvet box. Mike opened it up and grinned as it was just what he wanted.
"That's it?" Tom asked sceptically as he wasn't exactly wowed.
"It's perfect and you wouldn't get it as you lack imagination." Mike quipped as he snapped it close.
"Oh, this is so good." Sasha groaned with joy as she was halfway through a chicken schnitzel burger with carrots, tomato, lettuce and ketchup.
"Much better than that spa restaurant." Beth said agreeing with Sasha as she bit into her own burger which was the same as Sasha's but Beth's had mayo instead of ketchup. Her mobile phone beeped, she pulled it out of her purse and gave a closed lip smile. "Mike says we can do what we want. No waxing or spa stuff. I say we buy pudding cups, go back to our room and enjoy some room service and movies." Beth suggested.
"Count me in, I'm going to need a nap and dessert after this." Sasha told her.
"I'm pretty sure if there isn't anything on room service menu we could order in take out." Beth said before she ate another bite of her sandwich.
"I'm supposed to be eating healthy." Sasha bemoaned as she really didn't want to give up her burger and the idea of a chocolate milkshake and pudding cups while laying bed watching TV sounded perfect.
"Cheat day and a half." Beth offered.
"Don't make me eat too much of the bad stuff." Sasha told her.
"I will make sure there is fruit and vegetables in whatever we eat." Beth assured her.
Late that evening the Slattery family sat around the dinner table with the remains of a pizza that had been dinner. He missed Beth's presence at the table. He wasn't the only one as they all remarked on it. But in her absence they were able to discuss Beth's birthday more openly. So they did and Mike pulled out the present to make sure Sienna and Mia still liked the idea.
"It's really pretty." Mia said with awe as she thought the whole thing was romantic. She looked at the contents of the velvet box.
"And we're happy with the second part of the present?" Mike asked them as he wanted to make sure both of them were on board. Kaito was too young to have a say and if he did. Mike knew the kid would be happy.
"Yeah, we are." Sienna assured him.
"Ok, I'll have to hide it away until Beth's birthday." Mike said with relief as he could see there was no apprehension or sadness. Sienna who he thought would be the hard sell was on board the entire time.
"She's going to love it right?" Mia asked Mike.
"Yes, she will." Mike said with a smile as he rose from the chair and tucked the gifts back into his briefcase and closed the case before returning to the table.
"Daddy, Kaito's falling asleep." Mia announced.
"I know, he's ok. He just misses Beth." Mike said as he lifted Kaito out of his high chair into his arms. Kaito snuggled close as Mike sat down at the table. Kaito had not liked Beth disappearing for the afternoon but Mike persevered until Kaito exhausted himself. They had called Beth to make sure she was still alive and well which seemed to calm Mia and Kaito's nerves about Beth's absence. It made him realise house deeply interwoven she was in their lives.
"Me too." Mia said softly as she looked a little lonely.
"She'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Is Uncle Tom really going to propose to Aunt Sasha?" Sienna asked Mike changing the topic.
"Yes." Mike replied wryly.
"I don't think Auntie Sasha is going to like that. She likes plans so there can't be any surprises cause surprises can be scary." Mia said sagely, Mike couldn't help but laugh as she was right but Tom was caught up in the romanticism of proposing to Sasha. Something that was more of a runaway train than a well planned event.
"Well, Aunt Sasha might think it's too romantic and not worry about it being a surprise." Sienna argued with a good nature.
"Maybe." Mia conceded, she looked to Mike. "How are you going to propose to Beth?" She asked, Mike blew out a breath and looked thoughtful even though inwardly he was completely blank on the matter.
"I'll know when I'm ready to." Mike answered.
"I miss you too." Sasha told Tom, though she had to admit she was lying just a little as she had gotten to eat a lot of forbidden foods and talk through the movies with Beth. Things that were a real faux pas in the Chandler household. She missed him but it was less than a few hours so it wasn't a deep ache.
"You're eating meat without me aren't you?" Tom asked, she could practically see his pout from his tone.
"I had chicken at lunch and numerous kinds of meat at dinner." Sasha said as she wasn't going to mention the pork as she and Beth had shared a BBQ meat lover's pizza and a BBQ vegetarian pizza with pineapple for dinner. She was hitting all the meat groups and unhealthy meals but it was possibly the most relaxed she felt all day with her satiated stomach.
"Ashley's talking about the evils of Gluten to add to our Vegetarian ways."
"No." Sasha said firmly. She could handle the occasional meatless meal but she was not going to be food-shamed for eating bread.
"Oh I know, I told her that Gluten free diets are for people who have diagnosed medical reasons like allergies and Coeliac disease which she does not have. It's not some fad for her to try out and she got angry at me. I feel like we take one step forward and about two back with her." Tom said with a sigh, Sasha understood his weariness as Ashley was the picture of good health that she didn't need to worry about her diet.
"She's really pushing my buttons." Sasha said not holding back, it seemed they got over one hurdle to just hit another. At least a gluten free diet rant was better than Ashley calling Beth a whore. Sasha was still pissed about it, even though she had apologised. Sasha just wished the young girl would stop finding trouble and just settle down.
"Teenagers like to explore their options." Tom said diplomatically as he held out hope.
"We eat mixed grain bread and whole grain pasta once a week. Just let her eat salad but she's not converting me on this one. How's Sammy and Zuma?" Sasha asked changing topics.
"Good, Sammy is fine but Zuma misses you." Tom said, Sasha snorted a laugh.
"Are you kidding me?" Sasha asked.
"He's sniffing your dirty underwear right now." Tom told her.
"He's a pervert." Sasha quipped before she gave a yawn. "Well, Beth is coming out of the shower and I need to sleep. So talk to you tomorrow?" she asked.
"I'll see you tomorrow, sleep well." Tom told her.
"I will." Sasha said.
"Love you." he said in a husky voice that warmed her.
"Love you too. Bye." Sasha said, she hung up the phone and smiled softy as not everything was perfect but it was a good life she had.
The next day,
"Ashley, time to get up. The movers will be here in an hour." Tom said through the door, and a second later the door opened to reveal an annoyed Ashley. He could tell just from her expression and tone that she was going to sullen and quiet.
"I'm awake and packed." She informed him in a short manner.
"Good. You and Sienna good for babysitting Kaito and Frankie?" He asked out of curiosity. Ashley gave a sigh and nodded.
"Yeah, we're still rocky but Sienna accepted my apology. I don't get why she's not over it already." Ashley told him, looking a little downtrodden by the experience. IT was the first time Ashley had ever had to be accountable for her actions. So Tom allowed for some growing pains.
"Give it time, be present and respectful. She'll come around." Tom assured her.
"Like how Sasha is?" Ashley asked.
"Sasha is stressed about staying relaxed and healthy for the triplets. So we all have to rock and roll with her moods. So you're not alone there. She loves us, she's just hormonal and when you start your period and get PMS once a month then you'll understand her plight." Tom assured her.
"Ew, you are so gross." Ashley told him, Tom snorted a laugh as he wasn't comfortable talking about periods either but it was worth the amusement of seeing Ashley cringe. "Can I go have breakfast now?" Ashley asked.
"Sure." Tom said with a smile stepping out of the way to let her pass.
A couple hours later,
"That bed frame goes that way." Tom said, as he directed Burk and Green to where he wanted the frame before Miller and Wolf came in with the lounge. "Ah couch, right here." he directed the men.
"Is BBQ ready to go?" Mike asked as he stood next to Tom, all the men from Vulture team, Andrea and Joseph were helping with the move. With so many hands, it was going faster than he had expected. Sure they had a lot of boxes to unload but the main pieces of furniture were coming in and soon the appliances would follow.
"I have drinks, and food on parcel pick up. Once the fridge is in and chilled; then I'll make the run." Tom told Mike, a little distracted as he motioned to Miller and Wolf as to where he wanted the couch position.
"I saw the cribs going up earlier but put a kibosh on it." Mike told him.
"I wanted them up." Tom said with a frown as he wanted everything to be in place for when Sasha came home. He wanted it so she didn't have to pack away a thing. It would be home from the get go.
"Sasha has never had kids before. Let her enjoy the small stuff like putting cribs together and setting out the nursery area just the two of you." Mike told him.
"She's high risk." Tom said in a tired manner.
"But not completely incapacitated that she needs you and an army to do everything for her. Let her experience the joy of making a home for the babies where she can as it might be the only chance she gets." Mike told him, Tom gave a nod as his friend was right.
"Ok, Cribs and baby area will remain a mess." Tom conceded.
"I know it's tough but you're doing the right thing." Mike said with a slightly mocking lilt.
"Ok, I'll concede it was really nice to get my hair washed but Sophie is the only person I'll let near my hair with a pair of scissors. The nails are pretty." Sasha conceded as they relaxed in bed watching TV with snacks. They had enjoyed the hotel breakfast while availing themselves to minor spa treatments. Basically anything that didn't involve taking their clothes off or subjected then to pain.
"I'm sure Tom will appreciate us at least trying to be 'normal' women." Beth quipped as she looked down her french nail manicure. Something she had never had before, it was pretty.
"I think Mike is going to fall over himself when he sees you." Sasha said with a smile.
"I'm still the same sasquatch" Beth remarked as she only had her hair washed and blow dried, her nails done. They had hit up Sephora after lunch where she had learnt to put on some make up. But it wasn't a huge change from her normal self.
"You're not a sasquatch and you look very pretty." Sasha said.
"Yeah, I should really by a hairdryer and a proper round brush." Beth quipped.
"And use Conditioner that doesn't smell like baby powder." Sasha offered.
"I'm thrifty." Beth told her in a defensive manner.
"You're lazy, two totally different things which is why you're taking home the shampoo and conditioner from the Salon." Sasha said as she passed the bag with said hair products to Beth.
"I know. Thank you." Beth said as she stuffed them into her bag.
"I'll order you hair dryer like mine. It dries my thick hair in under 10 minutes, then 5 minutes of styling with heat and set with hair spray; you're ready for day. Dry shampoo or texturiser spray on day two... you could last three days without washing it." Sasha told her.
"I could handle that." Beth said thoughtfully.
"Thank you for coming with me on this exile." Sasha told her with a smile.
"It's been fun even if I prefer spooning with Mike." Beth half joked, Sasha snorted a laugh and shook her head.
"I get it, I'm not hairy enough for you." Sasha quipped.
"Or big enough but you are really good at cuddling." Beth said with a grin.
Late that afternoon.
"Ok, we're all good here. Thank you everyone for today. We really appreciate it and we'll have a barbecue for dinner but right now I need you all to hide next door as Sasha will be here in a few minutes." Tom said to the group as Mike had left to pick up the women over 20 minutes ago.
"Basically take cover and gird your loins." Joseph told them all, a ripple laughter sifted through while some looked a little worried. But they all started moving, some not bothering to walk around to other side of the fence, instead climbing over it.
"You all good here?" Joseph asked him as his house was empty.
"Yeah." Tom said, he didn't know why but he felt a little nervous.
"Wearing a cup?" Joseph asked, Tom gave him a dark look.
"I'll be fine." Tom assured him, Joseph grinned.
"Your balls. Good Luck." Joseph said as they shook hands and Joseph left him to wait for Sasha. He blew out a nervous breath as he looked around the backyard. It was decorated with flowers and fairy lights which were coming into their own as the sun was setting. He had the ring and a speech, the kids were next door with the others ready to come round when Sasha said 'Yes'. It was perfect, well he hoped it was perfect.
"Here we are." Mike said to Beth and Sasha as he pulled the car to the curb in front of the home for the Chandlers. She couldn't believe how lucky they were to get such a large house so close to their friends but she was glad.
"Thank you for picking us up." Sasha said to Mike.
"Anytime, Tom left the front door open for you." Mike said, they got out of the car and Mike pulled out Sasha's overnight bag and handed it to her.
"Thanks and see you at the BBQ." Sasha told them.
"We're 10 minutes behind you." Mike said, Sasha gave a nod and headed to the house as she didn't need to turn back to know that Mike and Beth was making out due their momentary freedom of kids.
She opened the front door and took in the house. She smiled but couldn't help but feel a little sad as everything appeared to be squared away and she had missed it all. But then her eyes fell onto the large entertainment area to the right of the house near where Tom and her bedroom would be the nursery of sorts and smiled as it was a mess of boxes and dissembled baby furniture.
"Tom? Ashley? Sammy?" she called out but no one responded, "Zuma?" she asked a little surprised the dog wasn't trying to climb all over her.
She decided to try the back deck which was unusually quiet given there was supposed to be at least 25 people out there enjoying the BBQ. When she stepped out she found it devoid of people and frowned as she had the dreaded sense a surprise was coming. She hated surprises.
"Sasha." Tom said as he came towards her.
"Tom, this better not be a surprise party." She warned him, he smiled.
"No, no one is jumping out of the dark. But there is one surprise." he told her, before Sasha could react he was down on one knee, a ring box came out and he opened it to reveal a beautifully ornate three stone engagement ring with a platinum band. "Sasha-"
"Yes." Sasha said answering the question as she didn't need him to as as she knew her answer and exactly what he was asking. Tom gave a light chuckle as this was surprisingly easier than he remembered.
"I have a speech and a question to ask you." He told her.
"The answer is 'Yes' to the question. I will marry you." she told him but he was stubborn as he wanted to mark this occasion as a beautiful unrushed moment.
"You're spoilind our moment here." He teased in a low voice.
"I really need to pee." she whispered to him, "I'm sorry. I'll be right back." Sasha told him apologetically before she dashed off. Tom a little stunned at being abandoned mid proposal snapped the ring box shut and rose to his feet.
"Psst." Joseph hissed out, Tom looked to see everyone bar the kids; sticking their heads over the fence as well as Mike, Joseph and other familiar faces. "WTF?" Joseph asked in a loud whisper which earned a few hushed chuckles from the others.
"Bathroom break." He whispered as he made sure Sasha couldn't overhear him. He felt a little embarrassed as he wanted a romantic moment and got his future wife dashing for the bathroom with their friends hiding behind a fence.
"I told you the speech was too long and flowery." Mike told him in a matter of fact tone and the peanut gallery was officially open. At least Beth was on Tom's side and she playfully shoved Mike's shoulder and shook her head at him.
"Be direct, short and sweet as people are getting hungry over here. Who ever is touching my ass is going to hurt." Andrea announced to no one in particular. Until she turned around and picked up Zuma propping his paws and head over the fence. "Never mind, it's your pervert dog." Andrea told Tom.
"Also your woman has got three babies sitting on that bladder and answered the question. So forget the speech and put the ring on her finger." Sophie added, Tom couldn't believe the peanut gallery he'd acquired but before he could muster a retort he heard the faint sound of toilet flush inside and waved at his audience to disappear.
"Ok, I'm good, you were asking?" Sasha said reappearing and looking more relaxed.
"I'll save most of the speech for another time as you're probably hungry." Tom told her.
"I am, a little but don't let it stop you." Sasha said with a bashful smile. He took her hands into his own and remained standing.
"Sasha, you were my first love, I hope you'll be my last as I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" he asked her, keeping it short and sweet as he didn't want to risk her needing to run off again. He looked at her waiting for a response and taking in the beauty of her smile.
"Yes." She told him with a brilliant smile, he chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately kiss. Cheering sounded from Mike's side of the fence, Tom broke the kiss and pulled out the ring and slid it onto Sasha's left ring finger as their friends threw streamers and blew party trumpets in celebration.
