Chapter 9
"Mommy hurry up!" Cassie said as Erin came out of the bedroom, carrying a large tote bag with their beach stuff inside. "Daddy's gonna be here any minute now!"
"Relax...the beach isn't going anywhere!" Erin said.
"But I wanna be there early so that I can play on the sand and swim with auntie Sarah on the water!" said the little girl when they heard the doorbell. "That must be daddy and auntie Halley!" she said as she ran to get the door.
"Hey munchkin! " William said, scooping his daughter onto his arms.
"Daddy come on! Let's get to the car now!" said Cassie.
"Okay okay...jeez...you remind me of my sister..." said William, laughing at his daughter's excitement.
"Let me take that." Halley told Erin, taking the smaller tote bag from her.
"Thanks...ugh she's so excited..." Erin said to Halley as they leave the apartment.
"Is Marty gonna join us?" Cassie asked as they make their way downstairs.
"Yes munchkin...your auntie Sarah and Kyle are gonna pick him up with your grandma and grandpa." William said to his daughter.
"Do you always go to the beach with grandma and grandpa when you were a little boy?" asked the young child.
"Uh yeah...mom and dad even took me to the Bahamas...that was before your aunt was born..." William said.
"Where is that daddy?" asked Cassie.
"The Bahamas is outside the country...just outside Florida...and near Cuba." William said as he put his daughter down so he could open the car.
"Is it nice there?" asked the little girl.
"Yeah it is...lots of beaches...palm trees...blue waters..." William said as Halley and Erin made themselves comfortable in the car. "Okay...who wants to go to the beach?" William said as they got into the car.
"Woohoo!" the girls exclaimed, giving high-fives to each other while he put the car in gear and started to drive off, joining the traffic on the road.
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"Grandma do you like my swimsuit?" Cassie asked Penny as the guys made sure their beach stuff was in order, especially the umbrellas.
"You look so cute sweetheart!" Penny told her granddaughter.
"Auntie Sarah got me the same bathing suit like hers." Cassie said, making them all laugh.
"Well now everyone will think that you're her daughter!" William said, making them laugh even more.
Sarah lightly hit Kyle's arm for laughing with them. "Why are you laughing with them?"
"Because it's funny!" Kyle said. "Oh come on babe...you look very nice!"
Sarah pouted her lips before laying down on the towel. "Fine...now can you grab the sunscreen from that bag and put some on me...I don't want to get sunburn..." she said as she made herself comfortable on the towel.
"Uh...okay...how do I do this..." Kyle said, slightly hesitating since he's about to massage his girlfriend in front of her parents.
"Well?" Sarah asked, slightly turning her head to look at her boyfriend. "What are you waiting for?" she asked.
"Oh come on...you're asking me to put this stuff all over you while your folks are right here..." said Kyle.
"Really? You're worried about them?" She asked. "I think we're already past that Kyle." Sarah added.
"Don't worry Kyle...you're not the first guy to boldly go where no man has gone before." Leonard said, making Penny and William laugh.
"I can't believe you'd use your Star Trek mumbo jumbo on me." Sarah told her father.
"Yeah...and you're welcome!" Leonard said, earning a high five from his wife.
"Are you just gonna stand there?" Sarah asked her boyfriend. "Come down here and put that sunscreen on me."
Kyle got down on his knees and sat beside his girlfriend, popping open the sunscreen bottle and putting it on Sarah's back and arms. "Okay...no need to bite my head off." he said, gently massaging her back and shoulders.
"That's good...keep doing that." Sarah said as she felt Kyle's hands massaging her shoulders. "Hmm...that's nice..." she added, feeling relieved.
"Come here sweetie...let's put some sunscreen on you too..." Erin told her daughter, grabbing the sunscreen bottle while Cassie sat in front of her mother.
"Why do we need sunscreen mommy?" asked Cassie.
"So you won't get sunburn and skin cancer." William said.
"Your dad is right..." Erin said. "...and it would be bad if you looked like a burnt burrito on the wedding." she added, making her daughter laugh.
"Auntie Sarah when are we gonna come in to get our dresses made?" Cassie asked.
"Don't worry about it baby girl...I got it all figured out..." said Sarah as Kyle continued giving her a light massage. "Just trust me on this one."
"Okay...what about you auntie Halley? Are you gonna get a new wedding dress too?" Cassie asked.
"Yeah I guess...but only a simple one..." Halley said as William stated putting sunscreen on her back.
"She's right...we don't want to ruin you and your aunt's very special day now wouldn't we?" William said, winking at his daughter.
"You're right daddy...or aunt Sarah would lose her shit again!" said Cassie, surprising them all.
"What did you say!? " Erin asked her daughter.
Cassie bowed her head, realizing she did something wrong. "I'm sorry mommy...I didn't mean to say it."
"Okay...I know your auntie Sarah didn't teach you that word." William told his daughter. "So tell me where did you learn that?"
"Nowhere daddy...I promise..." said Cassie.
Erin looked at William and took a deep breath, not wanting to give their daughter a hard time. "Fine...but I don't want to hear you saying that word again...do you understand?" she told her daughter.
"Yes mommy..." said Cassie. "... I'm sorry."
"Don't worry honey...I'm not mad or anything..." Erin said, kissing her daughter to reassure her.
Leonard leaned onto Penny. "Is it me or is she acting like our daughter when she was little?" he whispered onto Penny's ear.
"Yeah...do you think William can handle it?" she asked her husband.
"I don't know...but it'll be fun to watch though..." he said, making his wife laugh.
"You really are the best husband." said Penny before leaning over and kissing his lips.
"Ewww! That's so gross!" Cassie exclaimed after seeing her grandparents being affectionate to each other.
"No it's not..." said Leonard. "...because that's how we show we love each other..." he proudly said to his granddaughter.
"By doing disgusting stuff?" asked Cassie, making them all laugh.
Penny decided to chime in. "Honey...listen to me...when you grow up, I'm sure you'd be doing the same thing...like your auntie Sarah and Kyle right here..."
"Well then I don't want to grow up." said Cassie, folding her arms and pouting her lips, making them all laugh.
"So are you gonna be upset when your mommy starts going out with another guy and you see them kiss or hug each other?" Penny asked. Cassie then looked at Erin and began crying, surprising her parents. "Oh my god! Why are you crying?" asked Penny, somewhat worried that she might've upset her granddaughter .
"What's wrong baby girl?" Erin asked her daughter.
"Are you really gonna be with another guy?" Cassie asked her mother.
"Why? What's wrong with that?" asked Erin as she wiped her daughter's tears.
"But then you won't love me anymore!" Cassie said as she continued crying on her mother's shoulder.
"Awww...That's not gonna happen sweetheart...I'll always love you no matter what happens..." said Erin. "...you're my daughter and no one comes first but you...do you hear me?" she told her daughter.
"Your mother is right munchkin." William told his daughter.
"So it's okay for you if mommy goes out with another guy?" Cassie asked her father.
"Why wouldn't I be?" William said. "I mean, your mom is a grown woman...and she can take care of herself..." he said.
"But won't you get jealous and stuff?" asked Cassie, making Sarah and Kyle laugh along with Leonard and Penny.
"Why would I be jealous?" William asked, hoping his wife won't make a big deal out of it.
Cassie shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know..."
William held his daughter and sat him on his lap. "Listen to me munchkin...what your mom does in her personal life is none of my business...what's important is we're both gonna be here for you..." he said.
Cassie nodded her head. "Okay daddy..." she said.
"Don't worry sweetie...and if it makes you feel any better, I already have my hands full taking care of you, what makes you think that I have time to date and all that stuff huh?" Erin asked her daughter.
"Okay I get it..." Cassie said as Erin wiped her tears with a small towel.
"Good...now come on, let's get you on the water..." Erin said as she helped her daughter on her feet.
"Daddy come on...I wanna swim on the water..." said Cassie as she got off the beach towel.
William sighed and stood up. "Okay..." he said before turning to Halley. "Aren't you gonna come with me?" he asked his wife.
"Of course." Halley said before turning to Sarah and Kyle. "Aren't you gonna join us?"
"Nah I'm good..." Sarah said as she rubbed Marty's fur who was lying beside her on the towel. "Have fun you guys!" she added.
"Fine." Halley said before standing up and following William who was already helping his daughter on the water, making sure she's safe.
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After getting her much needed early morning nap on her towel, Sarah decided to join her niece on the water, bringing Kyle along with her.
"So...do you like my bikini?" Sarah asked as she put her arms around Kyle's neck as they wade toward the deeper part of the beach, leaving Cassie with William and the others near the coast.
Kyle laughed a bit and held her close. "I do...although I got a little nervous when you asked me to put sunscreen on you in front of your parents..." he said.
"Awww, poor baby..." Sarah said. "...let me make it up to you..." she added before leaning forward to kiss his lips.
"This is nice..." Kyle told his girlfriend. "...the prettiest girl in the world...in my arms..." he added when Sarah was startled to see Marty swimming towards them .
"Marty! Oh my god what are you doing here!?" she said as she broke off and tried to hold her dog to keep him from drowning. Marty barked while trying to keep himself afloat as Sarah held him close. "You should not be swimming this deep...you could drown or get taken away by a strong wave or something!" she said .
"She's right buddy." Kyle said to the dog while they make their way to the beach.
"Come on, let's get you something to eat..." Sarah said, letting the dog run back to where their beach towels and umbrellas are.
"That dog really has perfect timing huh?" Kyle told Sarah, making her laugh.
"Don't worry babe...I'll make it up to you later..." she said, lightly touching his cheek before going back to her beach towel.
"Really?" Kyle asked, obviously excited at being intimate with his girl.
"Yeah...so stay here and behave yourself." she said, making Kyle laugh as he sat beside Cassie. "So...did you have fun today?" she asked.
"Uh huh!" Cassie said, nodding her head. "I just wish we could come here everyday."
"Don't worry munchkin, we'll come here again sooner than you think." said William.
"Really?" asked the little girl, obviously excited at spending time at the beach again.
"Of course munchkin!" said William.
"When are we getting our wedding dresses made daddy?" asked Cassie, making them all laugh.
"Don't worry sweetie...your auntie Sarah's gonna take care of that." Penny said.
"And she's gonna throw in some new shoes for you honey..." Leonard chimed in, earning him a look from his daughter.
Sarah sighed after being put on the spot. "Fine..." she said before looking at her niece. "Don't worry pumpkin...I'm gonna make sure we get the prettiest dresses and shoes for your dad's wedding...okay?"
"Okay." said Cassie. "What about your boyfriend? Is he gonna come with us?"
"Of course he will. Otherwise, no one would drive us there...and carry our purses..." Sarah said, giving Kyle a smile.
"I am? " asked Kyle.
"Why? You have some place to be?" asked Sarah, giving him a straight look.
"Well no..." Kyle said, earning a smile from his girlfriend.
"She's really gonna make this all about her huh?" Halley whispered onto her husband's ear.
"I just want some peace and quiet babe...anything just to get her off our backs, I'm all for it..." William said, making Halley laugh.
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"Are you sure this is okay?" asked Cassie as she looked at herself in front of a huge mirror at the seamstress' dress shop.
"You look amazing sweetie!" Erin said, making sure her dress her daughter's dress fits her fine.
"Are you sure?" Cassie asked her mother.
"Your mom is right pumpkin..." Sarah said, as she knelt down to turn her niece to face the mirror. "See that? You look so pretty even without any makeup on!" she added. "Let me teach you how to be a real princess...the first thing is to believe in yourself...know that you are the prettiest and loveliest in the room...keep your head up high and don't forget to smile!" she said as Erin looked on while Kyle sat back, scrolling on his phone.
"So you're saying that all I have to do is believe that I'm a real princess?" asked Cassie.
"That's right baby girl." Kyle said, chiming in on the conversation while keeping his eyes glued on his phone. "...just look at your aunt...she's been doing that stuff since she was your age..." he said, taking a swipe at his girlfriend.
"Is that true auntie Sarah?" Cassie asked.
"Yes pumpkin." said Sarah. "Just don't mind him...he's just bored because he'd rather stay at home and watch TV and play video games." she said, giving Kyle a slightly angry look.
"And yet here I am...being supportive and awesome..." Kyle said, making Erin and Cassie laugh.
"You are awesome!" Cassie said, giving Kyle a high five.
"See that? Even Cassie knows how great I am!" Kyle told Sarah, proud of himself.
"Fine...you're great." Sarah said, not wanting to argue in front of the little girl. "Now can we get back to business?" she told her niece.
"Okay auntie Sarah...I think it's your turn now..." said Cassie as she sat beside her mother.
"Sure...I think I'm gonna try this one first...what do you think?" Sarah asked her niece after pulling out a bridesmaid dress from the clothes rack.
"I think it would look good on you..." Cassie said.
"Okay...I'm gonna be right back..." Sarah said before going into the fitting room, bringing the dress with her.
After about ten minutes, Sarah emerged from the fitting room, wearing the bridesmaid dress to show off to them.
"Wow! You look so pretty auntie Sarah! " Cassie exclaimed.
"She's right..." Erin said as she stood up to look at her up close. "She looks pretty...right Kyle?" she added as the girls looked at him, waiting for his response.
"Well?" Sarah asked her boyfriend.
Kyle stood up and went near Sarah. "I don't know anything about fashion and stuff...but what I do know is I'm the luckiest guy in the world for having you." he said, before lightly kissing her cheek.
"Aww...that is so sweet!" Erin exclaimed, teasing the young couple.
Sarah pouted her lips, pretending not to like what Kyle just told her. "Good." she said as she looked at Cassie. "I gonna try some more, okay?"
"Okay!" Cassie said, giving her aunt a high five.
Sarah spent the good part of the hour trying on different bridesmaid dresses, each as unique and elegant as the next with Kyle giving his nod of approval every time his girlfriend came out of the fitting room. After spending most of the afternoon in the dress shop, Sarah and Cassie settled for a pair of matching dresses for them to wear at William and Halley's wedding, choosing to keep the embellishments to a minimum. After double checking their measurements, Sarah and Cassie left the dress shop along with Erin and Kyle who can't help but smile at how excited the two girls were, laughing and giggling at the thought of dressing up for the wedding.