Chapter Four
Brooke's graduation party was a small one. It was how she wanted it, only her closest friends. Amy and Jen were mesmerized by Angel. Brooke had somehow convinced Val and Tyler to bring her downstairs where the party was.
"Having fun Brooke?" asked Caitie.
"Not really. The party's great, I just wish that Nick was here, I can't help thinking it's not over between us."
"Than don't let it be." Brooke's party lasted until three in the morning. When everyone went home she changed into her pajamas and dropped into bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Brooke was woken up by the insistent ringing of the phone. "Who the hell would be calling at-" she checked her clock. "- four thirty seven in the morning?" It seemed she was the only person who heard the phone before she realized it was her own phone.
"Hello." She grumbled.
"Brooke, it's Nick's mom."
"What's wrong?" She was now fully awake.
"He was hit by a drunk driver tonight, He's in a coma."
"I'll be there in ten minutes." Brooke promised. She ran down the hall to the room Val was staying in. "Val, wake up." Brooke was trying to keep from crying because right now it would do no good/
"Brooke, it's way too early. What's wrong?" asked Val looking at Brooke.
"Nick, car accident, coma. Give me a ride to the hospital, I can't face this alone." Val gave Brooke a hug and pulled on a sweatshirt, grabbed her keys and wallet and was out the door.
"Mrs. Jeffries. How's Nick." Asked Brooke coming into the waiting room.
"No change. They don't know if he'll make it through the night." If Val hadn't had her arm around Brooke she would have fainted.
"Brooke, come sit down, the stress isn't good for you." Brooke willingly collapsed into a chair, willing herself not to cry. She wasn't sure how she made it through the night without crying. Sometime around nine Val slipped off to call Tyler so he wouldn't worry. Around noon he came and brought food, knowing full well how bad hospital food was, seeing how he ate it everyday for lunch. Tyler tried to feed Angel as well as get Brooke to eat, Angel was the easy one. Val went up to Nick's mom, Natalie and gave her a hug.
"I can't even imagine what it would feel like to have Angel in a coma. I know I'd be devastated."
"Who's with Nick Jeffries?" asked a doctor in a white lab coat.
"We are." Said his mother.
"Nick is in a stable condition, but we won't know the extent of his injuries until he wakes up."
"Can we see him?" asked His mother
"Family only, and make it short. You should try talking to him, he might just hear you."
Mr. Jeffries went in first, them Mrs. Jeffries. Brooke was still terrified of what she would see so Val and Tyler went next.
"Brooke, it's your turn. Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, this is something I have to do on my own." Brooke took one shaky step towards Nick, then another. When she got to his room she saw that he was hooked up to different machines, the only one she could recognize was a heart rate monitor.
"Nick, I promised myself I wouldn't cry because it wouldn't get you out of here faster, I'm gonna break that promise any minute now." Brooke was crying heavily and she went over and took Nick's hand in hers. "The doctor said to talk to you so you'd better listen. I love you, and if you die I'll kill you. Because if you die than you'll never see your son or daughter, and we'll never get married. That's right, I'm saying yes, if you'll still let me. Th only thing is that we get married after the baby's born. I wanna be thin in my dress. Also I want him or her in the wedding, or at least at it. The doctor's making me leave now. I really hate hospitals so please wake up soon because I'll be here until you do. I love you Nick."
As soon as Brooke left the Nick's room, she fell into Val's arms and cried even harder. While she was with Nick Hank, Jas, Jamie, and Caitie showed up. Jamie had about four decks of cards so everyone played games, even though they didn't want to.
Brooke lived at the hospital for the next three days. Jamie, Val , and Tyler's bosses understood the situation and were letting them off until Nick woke up.
It was Brooke's turn to visit Nick. "Nick I love you, please don't die on me."
"Brooke?"
"Nick, you're awake. Let me get a doctor." Brooke was crying again, but out of relief and happiness.
"Hold on a minute. Did you mean every word you said?"
"You heard me?"
"Yes did you mean it?"
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't."
"Go over to the table and open the drawer, I heard a nurse put it there." Brooke opened the drawer and, inside lay the ring Nick had tried to give her at his graduation. "Brooke Lanier, Will you marry me?"
"Yes." Brooke slipped the ring onto her finger. "I know I made the right choice this time."
"I love you, and Tyler was right. He said if it was meant to be, it will."
"I love you too, and that's the same thing Val said. Now I'm going to go and get a doctor so you can get out of here." Nick was released two days later. Val and Tyler had to go home, because of their jobs. Jamie and Caitie also left because of Jamie's job. Jas had a friend's wedding to go to so she and Hank left. But first Val made everyone promise to come visit her, Tyler, and Angel and spend Christmas with them.
Six months later
"Caitie! You're here. Where's Jamie?" asked Val when she answered the door.
"Unloading the car. Where's Tyler?"
"Driving home from work. Brooke, my parents, and Nick will be here tonight. I can't believe that Angel will be a year old in two days."
"Hey, can someone open the door for the poor luggage guy?"
"Shall, we let him in?" asked Caitie.
"Maybe. It's gonna be cold tonight so I don't want him mad at me. Get the picture."
"You can have it back. I'll go open the door." Jamie came in carrying four large suitcases. "How many bags did you bring?" asked Val
"I brought one. She, on the other hand brought three." Said Jamie pointing at Caitie.
"I did not, I only brought two, one had presents in it."
"Presents, where?" asked Tyler coming in the door.
"No." said Caitie. "You can be a big boy and wait for Christmas Day."
"Christmas Eve." Bargained Tyler.
"Maybe if you're good." Tyler made a circle out of his hands and put it over his head, imitating and halo.
"That'll be the day." Joked Val.
"Where's my daughter?" asked Tyler.
"Sleeping." They spent the next two hours talking about everything.
"I'll get it." Said Val, when the doorbell rang. Val hugged Her parents, Brooke, and Nick. "Nick, your parents did know that they were invited too didn't they?" asked Val when she didn't see them.
"Yeah, dad had to go on a business trip, or something like that. It was trip of a lifetime or seeing family. Actually they wanted to come, but decided to turn it into a second honeymoon."
"Hey, I'm cooking dinner, I expect Val and Brooke to come and keep me company." Said Caitie. "I'd make them help, but no one deserves to eat Val's cooking, and I'm not mean enough to make Brooke help."
"I'll help just as long as I can sit."
"Hey Tyler, show everyone to their rooms. My parents are in one guest room, Brooke and Nick in the other. Jamie and Caitie in the den and Hank, Jas, and Jen are in the study." Called Val. Hank and Jas had adopted a little girl about three months before. She was three years old and they adored her.
"I don't know Brooke, you should ask Val." Said Caitie.
"Ask Val what?" said Val coming into the kitchen.
"What's having a baby like?"
"It hurts like hell. At least until a very nice doctor gives you pain medication. After that you won't want to let go of him or her."
"I'm so nervous, though I'll be happy when I do go into labor, then I won't look like a blimp."
"You just feel like a blimp."
"Caitie, you really are a fabulous cook." Said Mrs. Lanier.
"Thank you. Brooke helped."
"I cut potatoes."
"And you did so very well." Joked Nick. Dinner went on like that for the rest of the night. Around nine thirty they went out to cut down a Christmas tree. The only person who didn't go was Brooke. But that didn't stop her from helping pick it out, she sent along a list of specifications for the tree.
"Brooke, are you sure you've gotten everything in a perfect tree on this list?" Joked Val.
"No, I think I forgot to put to have at least six inches of trunk under the lowest branches."
"Nope that's here. Number forty-seven." Said Nick looking over the list. "We'll be back by ten thirty."
"And Brooke, if Angel wakes up could you give her some juice or cereal. There's some in the kitchen." Asked Val.
"Sure. But you'd better get the perfect tree."
"We'll let you decide if it's perfect." Said Val right before she shut the door.
* * *
"Hey Brooke. Look up." Said Jas.
"Ugg. Mistletoe, who started that tradition?" said Brooke following orders.
"I like it." Said Nick walking in and giving her a kiss. "Especially when it's me and you under it."
"Oh shut up and hand me some decorations." Grumbled Brooke.
"James Waite, put me down right now." Screamed Caitie. "I will not go stand under the mistletoe."
"You have no choice."
"Yes I do." Said Caitie pulling his hair. Jamie yelled in surprise and dropped Caitie. Who was braced to fall. Everyone was in Val and Tyler's living room, decorating the tree. Val had some plastic ornaments and was letting Angel play with them. Tyler was attempting to put tinsel on the tree but got more on the floor then the tree.
"I'm gonna go and get something to drink. Anyone want anything?" Asked Brooke standing up.
"Nope we're all good." Said Hank. Brooke went into the kitchen. About a minute later there was the sound of a glass breaking.
"Brooke, are you okay?" asked Nick jumping up a split second after Val did. When they got to the kitchen they found Brooke holding onto the sink to avoid falling to the floor. She was also gritting her teeth in pain.
"Brooke!" Nick ran over to her and took her hand.
"Tyler, could you pull the car around?" Asked Val. "It looks like we're spending another Christmas in the hospital." Val and Nick helped Brooke to the car. It was a short drive to the hospital.
"Brooke you'll be okay." Said Nick not letting go of her hand. Everyone followed Val and Tyler to the hospital it Caitie's or Hank's car. The only people allowed in to see Brooke were Val, Tyler, and Nick. Normally only Nick would be allowed in but Val knew the nurse and pulled some strings. And the only reason she and Tyler were allowed in was because they were doctors.
"Val."
"Yeah, Brooke."
"When's the very nice doctor with pain medication gonna come." Asked Brooke an hour later.
"Soon. Don't worry."
"Val, I'm scared. I don't know if I'm ready for this."
"You are." Brooke gritted her teeth in pain, putting an end to the conservation.
"Tyler, lets give Nick and Brooke some time together."
"Yeah. You know. It's starting to be tradition to spend Christmas in the hospital."
"It's not Christmas yet."
"Does that mean I can't give you a present yet." Tyler took s box from his pocket. "Here." When Val opened it her eye showed a little twinkle of hope.
"Is this an engagement ring?" asked Val, looking at the pale blue stone in the silver band.
"No-" Val's eye's showed just the slightest bit of disappointment. But Tyler caught it. "-It's Angel's birthstone. I was going to give it to you at midnight tonight. I didn't want to wait one more hour, and now seemed perfect."
"That's sweet." Said Val slipping the ring onto her right ring finger. "Lets go find everyone and see what's going on." When they got back they found Caitie and Jamie sitting on the floor playing with Angel. Hank and Jas were sitting in chairs and Val assumed that Her parents were in with Brooke.
"Did anyone call Nick's parents?" asked Tyler.
"Yeah. Val's parents did while you were talking." Replied Hank. Val went over and sat down next to Caitie.
"You and Jamie will make great parents one day you know that." Said Val.
"Thanks Val. That means a lot. Come walk with me." Said Caitie. "I need to tell you something in complete confidence." Caitie was whispering even though they were around the corner.
"Lets walk a little farther then you can tell me in a normal voice." They walked for a few minutes, stopping in front of a vending machine. "What's the big secret?"
"I actually think I'm pregnant. Jamie doesn't know yet. We've been trying to have a baby for awhile. Last time I told him I thought I was pregnant and then found out I wasn't, well it hurt him more than he let on."
"Well, I really hope you are." Said Val giving Caitie a hug.
"We're here for Brooke, not me." Said Caitie. "Please don't tell Jamie. I don't want to hurt him. He acts like a bad boy, but he's really a teddy bear."
When they got back they saw Tyler looking for them. "Not yet, but soon." He said. They went to go sit down and saw Angel asleep on Jamie's shoulder.
"How cute." Whisper Val, not wanting to wake her. About a half hour Nick came out. The sight of Jamie made Caitie think of the first time she thought she was pregnant,
She dreaded Jamie coming home and asking her if the doctor had called. Sure enough the first words out of his mouth were "Did the doctor call?"
"Yes." she could Jamie's eye light up with hope.
"What'd he say?"
"He said th. . . that . . . the test was. . . was. . . Neg. . . Negative." Caitie managed to choke out before bursting into tears. "I really, really wanted it to happen."
"It will. I just know it. We've only been trying for two months." Jamie went over and gave her a hug.
"Jamie, what if we can't have kids?" asked Caitie voicing her greatest fear.
"If we can't we'll cope, we can find other ways to have kids. Adoption is always an option."
"I know, I just really wanted to have a baby. I want to have a family."
"We will, I just know it. Someday you'll be a great mom. We're young, we've only been married four months."
"I just know that someday you'll be the best dad. You were always good with my little sister in high school."
"It's okay to cry." Caitie was already crying so Jamie's statement had no meaning.
"Jamie, you don't have to be strong." Said Caitie kissing him on the cheek, tasting something salty. She looked up and saw a single tear run down his cheek and drop to the floor. "You should really take your own advice. You can cry too."
"I guess I really, really wanted this as much as you did."
"That's a good thing."
"I know it is. I think I refused to let myself hope for this and then get it taken away from me."
"Let yourself cry. It's sweet. As long as it's over something to cry about. This fits."
"Caitie, I love you so much."
"And I love you too."
"It a girl. Her name is Reese Kathrine Jeffries." Val slipped in unnoticed to Brooke's room.
"You did it girl."
"I know. I didn't know I could love someone as much as I love her."
"What's her name?" Asked Val having missed what Nick said.
"Reese Kathrine Jeffries. You wanna know something. She and Angel have the same birthday. Reese was born at 12:01."
"You wanna get some sleep?" Asked Val. "I remember how tired I was.
"Yeah, I'm tired. I just don't wanna take my eyes off her."
"I know the feeling. It won't ever leave. I'll go get Nick. He has her. Showing her to Mom and Dad. Good-night Brooke." Brooke didn't hear because she was already asleep.
* * *
"Merry Christmas." Said Val bringing a plate of pancakes to Tyler. "Don't worry, Caitie made them last night." Said Val catching Tyler debating to eat them or not.
"Val, you're not wearing the birthstone ring."
"I know, I took it off to cook."
"Here." Tyler took the ring and slipped it on to her left ring finger.
"That's the wrong hand, I wear. . ." she trailed off, her voice fading as she looked down. "That's not the birthstone ring." On her hand sat the most beautiful diamond ring.
"Here's your birthstone ring." Said Tyler bringing his hand out from behind his back. "That is an engagement ring. Will you?"
"Yes."
"I saw your eyes when I said the ring I gave you first wasn't an engagement ring."
"Tyler you didn't."
"Val, I bought you that ring even before we had Angel. I just needed a clue as to when to give it to you."
An hour later everyone was sitting around the tree. Brooke, who had come home the night before, was holding Reese. Everyone was trying to hold her but Brooke almost wouldn't let them. Val was holding Angel, and Jen was sitting on the floor beside Hank and Jas. For a few minutes there was just the sound of wrapping paper being ripped. Angel thought it was fun to take the paper and rip it up even smaller.
"Hold on Jamie, open that one last." Said Caitie pointing to a long box.
"It's the only one I got left."
"Fine come with me to open it, I want to be the first one to see your face when you do." Jamie and Caitie went to the hallway. Soon after they heard Jamie let out a cry of joy.
"Alright!!!."
Followed by a "James Waite put me down."
"No way."
"Positive?" questioned Val when they came back in five minutes later, looking like they had been kissing.
"Yes!" screamed Caitie.
"I'm missing something here." Said Hank. Jamie seemed to be the only guy to actually know what was going on. It dawned on Jas and Brooke at about the same time. Huge smiles lit their faces.
"Someone clue us in." said Nick. Brooke's parents just sat on the couch smiling.
"I'm gonna finally have a baby!!" screamed Caitie. Neither she or Jamie had stopped smiling.
"You know I think they're the only one of us to follow a natural pattern of get married, move in together, have a baby. Hank and Jas adopted a beautiful girl. Brooke and Nick had a girl, they're getting married in two months, and Tyler and I moved in together, started dating, had a baby, and we're getting married soon, we just don't know when."
"What?!" asked Jamie.
"We're getting married!!" screamed Val. "What I felt left out with all the screaming."
"Hey Brooke, do us all a favor and don't graduate again. I don't think we can handle anymore shock." Said Val's dad.
"What do you mean." Laughed Brooke.
"Lets see, we find out we have a granddaughter, we get another granddaughter, two son-in-laws, and just throw in Caitie and Jamie, and well, I don't think I need another heart attack.
"Well, Ive got to graduate collage." Said Brooke.
"Hey, Tyler. The game's on. Turn on the TV." Said Hank looking at his watch.
"What game?" asked Val, knowing that she would get an ear full
of football talk.
"Vikings versus Packers." Said Tyler.
"That is out cue to leave girls." Said Brooke a bored look on her face.
"Where's the earplugs?" groaned Caitie. "We'll need it if it's Vikings versus Packers." With that all the guys sat in front of the TV while the girls attempted to talk over cries of. "Bad call ref. Score!" and "Go, go, go. Damn it." And of course. "Yes!" All in all it was an almost normal Christmas.