Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Jody sat on the couch next to Cooper, hiding her hand. Cooper had his arm around her and Mrs. Neilson seemed to watching his hand carefully. She and Mr. Neilson were sitting on the kitchen table chairs that Cooper had put out on the rug.

Jody looked at Mrs. Neilson. She looked like an old-fashioned schoolteacher. She had a long, thin face with high cheekbones and tight, thin lips. She didn't look very friendly, but her voice was cheerful.

Mr. Neilson had the same bright eyes as Cooper and had gray, short, fluffy hair. He looked a lot like Cooper, only Cooper was thinner and taller. He had a smile on his face, but said nothing.

"So, Jody, how are you?"

"Ok. And you, Mrs. Neilson?"

"Oh, call me Nancy, please. And I'm fine, thank you."

"How old are you, Jody?"

"23."

"Ah, wonderful. And how long have you two been together?"

Jody realized that Cooper hadn't told his parents about her at all. Not about their baby, the wedding, Charlie, or anything.

"A year ago, Wednesday." Cooper said, "The day I called."

Nancy nodded. "So, Jody, what do you do?"

"I'm a principle at Cooper's company."

"Oh. And where do you live?"

Jody shifted and looked at Cooper. He nodded and she turned back to Nancy. "Here."

Mr. Neilson yawned. "Oh, excuse me!"

Nancy nodded and turned her head stiffly back to Jody and Cooper. "Here? Here with Cooper?" She asked, looking around the apartment.

"Yes." Jody said, uneasily.

"Oh, ok, I see. Then I guess we'd better get a hotel room if all your rooms are taken." Nancy said, smiling for the first time. She had perfectly straight teeth that were whiter than snow.

Jody was about to explain the rooming situation but before she could, Cooper said, "Yeah, that sounds good."

Cooper kissed Jody on the cheek and then turned back to his parents. Nancy raised her eyebrows at this, but said nothing. They talked for another hour or so. Mr. Neilson was silent except for a few occasional yawns and an explanation that he had stayed up all night working on his train set.

Nancy said that they should leave soon to get a room before they were all gone. But before they left, she asked to speak to Cooper alone in his room. Cooper kissed Jody softly and went into his room. He made sure the closet was shut so his mom wouldn't see Jody's clothes,

Jody sat on the couch and smiled at Mr. Neilson. He smiled back, yawned, and got up. He moved their bags over to the door and waited.

"How long are you staying?" Jody asked.

"Oh, probably only until Monday or Tuesday."

Jody nodded and looked at the closed door to her room.

Inside of it, Nancy was sitting on the bed, looking up at Cooper.

"She seems nice." Nancy noted.

Cooper smiled. "She is Mom, she's wonderful!"

"She's a little young though, don't you think?"

"No, not really, It's not that much of a difference."

"4 years is a big difference. She's only 23. You're 27!"

"So? What should that matter? If I love her."

"Do you?"

"What?"

"Do you love her?"

"Of course."

Nancy smiled. "So, are you going to marry her?"

Cooper tried not to smile. "I guess."

"Oh! That's nice. Well, we have to go."

"Of course." Cooper said as he opened the door and walked out.

Nancy followed and went over to the door. She hugged Cooper good-bye and waved at Jody before leaving, making Mr. Neilson carry all 3 bags. Jody couldn't believe how much stuff they had packed for just 4 days.

Cooper sat down on the couch and kissed Jody.

"What did she say?" Jody asked.

"She says you're nice."

Jody smiled. "And?"

"She thinks I'm too old and you're too young."

"What?"

"She thinks 4 years is like the biggest difference in the world. I mean, I was in high school and you were in jr. high, but what should that do to us?"

"So what do you say?"

"I said that shouldn't matter since I loved you."

Jody giggled. "And?"

"And she wanted to know if I was going to marry you."

Jody laughed, "What did you say?"

"Maybe." Cooper said, smiling.

Jody laughed again and kissed her fiancée.

*** 3 Months Later ***

"I do." Cooper said, smiling at Jody.

Jody smiled back as the minister turned to her. He repeated the question. " Do you, Jody, take Cooper………………… Husband?"

Charlie sat in the 3 row, looking at Jody. She looked more beautiful in her dress than he had ever seen her before. Jamie Andrews was sitting next to him, his current girlfriend. He didn't really like her though. She had been his friend for a while, so Charlie just up and asked her out one day.

He knew he'd have to break up with her soon, before she thought it was serious. Charlie hadn't really liked anyone he'd gone out with the past year except for Lara. But Lara had fallen in love with someone else, so that was the end of that. He still loved Jody, and when he had one chance to take her back, when she came to his door, he blew it away. He did want her back, but he also knew she'd hurt him again.

She always told him not to worry about Cooper, that she loved him- Charlie. But it was always a lie. Jody may have loved him at one point, but not anymore. He looked over at Jamie and she smiled warmly at him. Charlie made himself smile, but it didn't work and Jamie gave him a strange look. He looked up at Jody and smiled.

Jody took a deep breath and looked into Cooper's bright eyes. They reminded her of a cute little puppy's eyes. She thought his eyes were his best features, She loved them. She realized how tacky her thoughts sounded and shook out of it. She looked down at her hands, holding Cooper's. She looked up at Cooper's happy face and smiled. She took a deep breath.