Here is another chapter. Enjoy! Please please review. Amber

Chapter 11

Callie got in the car. Once Frank pulled out of the driveway she frowned. "Frank I feel like my life is upside down right now. Why won't my dad leave me alone?"

"He's desperate sweetie."

"Frank what are you feeling?"

"I'm determined to protect you."

"I know that, but how are you feeling? How are you doing? What's in your head?"

Leave it to Callie to be more concerned about him than herself. "I feel overwhelmed at times Callie. I'm not going to lie to you. I want children with you, I want you to be my wife. I feel like your father and godmother…"

"Don't call her that. I refuse to accept that anymore." Callie said firmly. Then said more softly. "Continue please."

"I feel like they rushed us." He pulled over at a strip mall. He pulled out a small box. "This was supposed to be your Christmas gift. I had a plan all worked out."

Callie raised an eyebrow. "May I see it?"

Frank handed her the box. Inside was a half carat emerald cut engagement ring set in yellow gold. Callie's eyes were huge. "Frank it's beautiful."

"You've always made me happy Callie. Will you be my partner in life."

Callie wiped her tears. "Yes! I'll marry you." She held out the ring to him. "Do I have to put it on myself?"

Frank smiled. "No let me. It might be a little big. I swiped one of your rings at random to get your size four months ago." He slid the ring on her left finger. It was a little loose but that probably wasn't a bad thing.

Callie leaned over and kissed him. She deepened the kiss. It felt good just to have a few minutes alone with her. "So how about a December wedding?"

"December 19th?"

"If you think I'm walking down the aisle the size of a whale you are mistaken."

Frank chuckled. "I think you'll be beautiful no matter what, it's your decision."

"I want something small and intimate, no more than 100 guests plus the wedding party, minister, and DJ."

"You want Pastor Bert to officiate."

"Of course. We can call him to see what dates he has open. I'm sure he is going to want to council us. We'll save some money on flowers because of the poinsettias."

Frank smiled. "That's all true."

Callie was swift. She not only got a hold of him at home but got a date set, December 19, 2020.

Frank's phone beeped. It was Joe. "Mom says dinner will be ready in twenty minutes...did she say yes?"

Frank responded: 'We're coming back. Save the date 12/19/2020.'

Joe responded with a smiley face.

"Dinner will be ready soon." Frank said.

"Frank did your parents know about the ring?"

"I showed them right after I bought it four months ago. They were happy about it and not surprised at all."

Callie smiled. She was so happy right now. That was before they knew about the baby. And that made such a big difference to her. So what if the timeline was moved up. Callie knew that they would be happy together and their baby would be blessed.

They arrived home. Joe met them at the door. "Let's see it."

Emma Beaudry gushed. "It's beautiful, nice color and clarity."

Joe pulled Callie into a hug. "Welcome to the family."

Sincerely touched Callie kissed his cheek. "Thanks Joe."

"Look we don't always see eye to eye but, it's obvious that you love my brother."

Fenton came through the door. He heard Joe. "Yes, very obvious. You gave her her Christmas present early?"

"I did, now I have to come up with another Christmas gift."

They all started laughing.

"Dinner is ready. I made lasagna." Laura called.

Joe rubbed his hands together. "Oh boy!"

They sat, ate, and discussed the wedding. "I think December 19th will be perfect for the wedding. I'm already off that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday." Laura said.

"I'll be sure that my schedule is clear too along with Sam's. Sam and Ethel are Frank and Joe's godparents."

Callie nodded. "That's fine. I'm planning on inviting my Uncle Adam, you of course Aunt Emma, I don't have any cousins. My moms and dads parents are dead. I know both of you still have your parents, so they're invited. Aunt Gertrude is another. We'd like it to be kept small and intimate."

Fenton nodded. "My parents live in New York and Laura's lives in Boston. So they'll be here. Joe you're going to be couched for that weekend."

"No problem."

"That will be lovely." Emma said. "What colors are you thinking about?"

Callie said. "I'd like the bridesmaids to wear dark crimson dresses and carry fire and ice roses. I'll carry red roses. Guess I can't wear a white dress huh."

Laura soothed. "Honey every bride deserves a beautiful white dress."

"Callie, Emma, and Laura can stay at Vanessa's with Sam as guard the night of the rehearsal." Fenton said. "How disappointed would you be if I advise you to not put the announcement in the paper?"

Callie said. "Not at all."

Between wedding planning and school work. Callie and Frank didn't have much time on their hands. It was the last day of school before Christmas break. Callie was having a rough week. She'd never been so nauseous in all her life. She had been sick that morning, and could not eat any breakfast. Luckily, Laura was working that morning and not able to nag her. Fenton had been enough. Just being in the cafeteria made her want to throw up and she once again ran to the bathroom. When she came out. Frank had a cold ginger ale in his hands from the vending machine. She cracked the tube and sipped slowly. The soda even turned her stomach. "How am I going to sit in the middle of that?" She handed the soda to Frank.

"We can go to the table's outside the office and eat lunch since we brought our own."

"Maybe that is best." Callie said.

They found a table and sat down. Callie opened her lunch box and found her turkey sandwich, red grapes, saltines, and another ginger ale. "Your mother doesn't miss a trick."

"Not usually. Maybe we should contact Dr. Anderson and get you something for nausea."

Callie took a bite of the sandwich and that was a mistake. She ran to the nurses office which had the closest bathroom. Frank got up and followed her. He held her hair as she became violently ill. The nurse was waiting just outside the door. "Callie honey do you need to go home?"

"No...I'm fine." They left and sat back down at the table.

Frank watched her like a hawk. She was pale and didn't touch anything in her lunchbox. They cleaned up. Callie dumped the contents of hers in the trash. "I don't want your mom to worry."

"At the moment I'm worried. You hardly touched your dinner last night, didn't eat the snack mom brought up for you, now no breakfast and lunch."

Callie fell asleep in latin class. She jumped when the bell rang and hurried to government. She saw Joe watching her like a hawk. He had spanish in the same hallway. He had history coming up and was going to the history hall as was she. Frank was waiting in the classroom and saw that his poor girlfriend had circles under her eyes and was extremely pale. That did it. He stood up hefting his book bag and took hers. "You're going to the doctor. Don't even think about arguing with me."

Callie opened her mouth to do just that and suddenly felt weak and fell over in a dead faint.