Chapter 30: The Valentine's Day Party
Everyone had the cyberspace café all set up for the party tonight, however, Hayley had no idea what her boyfriend had in mind. Billyhad todrag Tommy with him to the jewelry store.
Tommy sighed and stood behind his friend. "Billy, I have known Hayley for years. She really doesn't care for anything fancy, believe me," Tommy assured.
"I'm just nervous, Tommy. I mean, the last person I proposed to was Trini and that was eighteen years ago," Billy stated.
"Well, don't sweat it. I know you can make Hayley the happiest woman alive this evening," Tommy reassured him.
Tommy placed a hand on his friend's shoulder with a grin. Billy picked out the ring and they left the store after buying it.
That evening, the tables were moved out to make the dance floor. Tommy and Kimberly waited for the babysitter to come before leaving.
As the party went on, Ann gasped when Connor and Kira came in. "Connor, Kira!" She gasped. She walked over and embraced her friends. "Welcome back to Reefside, are you staying?" She asked.
"We will be staying for a little while. Maybe around nine months then another month afterwards," Connor replied.
Ann's eyes widened and now she was beaming with joy. "Wow! A single year into the marriage and already a baby is on the way," Tommy commented.
"Hey, Dr. O, how's it going?" Connor asked.
"Everything's going great. So, you're going to be here for the nine months she's pregnant and then you're staying a month after that?" Tommy answered with another question.
"Actually, I'll be staying in Reefside until the baby is three that way I don't have to worry about taking care of a baby on tour," Kira replied.
"I wish I could stay longer, but the coach told me only ten months on leave then back with the team I go," Connor informed.
"At least his job gives us money when we don't have it."
Kimberly then stood in front of them. "You know, we have an extra bedroom in the house. You two are welcome to stay," she invited.
"Wow! Really?" Connor asked.
"You're our friends, of course you can stay," Tommy assured.
"This is great, I thought we were going to have to look for an apartment," Kira stated.
"Nah, stay with us free of charge," Ann assured them.
"This way you can learn a thing or two about taking care of babies," Kimberly stated.
They agreed to come and live with them anytime they were in town. However, the music stopped playing and they all turned to see Billy standing there, he looked a bit nervous. He then walked in front of Hayley with a sigh. "I know I haven't done this in awhile, but here it goes," he stated. Everyone watched as he went down on one knee, pulled the box from his pocket, held onto her hand, and looked up into her face. "Hayley, I love you more than words can say. You healed my heart when it was broken. You were there when I needed you. So I ask, Hayley Johnson, will you marry me?" He asked. He opened the box to reveal the ring. Hayley smiled at him and took a deep breath.
"Yes, Billy Cranston, I'll marry you," she replied.
Billy stood up and embraced her. Everyone clapped for the newly engaged couple, all except for Teresa. She looked at Hayley and started to leave. Brock reached over and grabbed her hand. "Teresa, don't this is dad's day. Don't ruin it," he insisted. She whipped her hand from his grasp and left.
"Whoa! What was all that about?" Connor asked.
"Teresa doesn't like the fact that her dad is seeing someone. She misses her mom," Ann replied.
Billy saw Teresa leave and Hayley sent him after her.
Teresa had a few rocks in hand skipping them across the water. "Teresa," Billy called. Teresa didn't answer. "Teresa, I can see that you're upset that I'm dating and now marrying Hayley, but you have to understand something. I love her," he informed.
"What and you never loved mom?" Teresa snapped.
"I never said that. Teresa, sit down," he insisted.
Teresa threw the last stone in the water and sat next to her father. "Teresa, just because I'm marrying someone else doesn't mean I still don't love your mother. You have to face something though, Teresa, unless a miracle happens and she comes back to us, she's never coming back. Trini's gone and we have to move on with our lives. I have waited nine years after your mother's death. Nine years, Teresa, don't you think that's enough waiting? Hayley has waited so long for someone to come and sweep her off her feet like what Tommy did to Kimberly, Jason with Kat, Zack with Angela, and Connor with Kira. Don't you think you're being a little too hard on Hayley about this?" He asked. Teresa didn't answer him. It was quiet until Teresa broke the silence.
"It isn't fair, you know, I had to be the one to witness it and now I am witnessing my father fall in love with another woman. Where do you think that puts me? It makes me feel like mom was never here," she murmured.
"But she is here, Teresa. Trini is everywhere you turn. She's right here right now. She has always been with you and with you she will stay," he assured.
Teresa leaned against him and Billy wrapped his arms around her. "You're more like your mom more than you know," he murmured.