It was Saturday, finally the Fourth of July. Another week had passed in Playa Linda. During the week, Audri and Johnny had been called down to the police station to verify some information about past history. They had also been asked to take a DNA test to confirm that Audri and Johnny were actually related. When Johnny had questioned this, Doctor Nau had said,
"I spoke to the police and they do this with every case like this. It's just standard procedure. Nothing to worry about."
Johnny had replied jokingly, "They can't just take our word for it?"
Doctor Nau chuckled, "Not with them, I'm afraid not."
When they had finished with Johnny, the nurse had told him to take a seat in the waiting room. Not five minutes after he sat down, Doctor Nau came back out to see him.
"Is everything alright?" Johnny asked.
"Yes, Mr. Durant, everything's just fine. We should have the results in early next week, and when we obtain them, I'll give you a call. No, the reason I came out here was to tell you that we're doing a sonogram on your niece right now, just to make sure that things are going good and steady with her and the baby. So, she should be out in about ten minutes."
"Okay, no problem. She'd doing okay? I mean, everything looks ok?"
"So far, everything's fine. You have nothing to worry about. I just need you to fill these out and hand them to the nurse at the desk when you're done."
The doctor handed him an information sheet, excused himself, and went back through the corridor and into a room.
"How does everything look?" Audri said, a million things racing through her head. She was extremely nervous and anxious at what the nurse was about to say.
"We'll find out in a minute, sweetie," she said smiling. "Are you nervous?"
"A little," she said, hearing her voice quiver.
The nurse giggled softly.
"Is it possible to tell the gender yet?"
"Well, Doctor Nau said that you're nearly five months, so I bet we can definitely tell. Do you want to know what it is?"
"Yes, please," Audri said, smiling and feeling her heart pound with great force in her chest.
"Okay. Do you have any preferences, whether it would be a girl or boy?"
"No, it doesn't matter."
"Good," she replied, lifting Audri's shirt up to reveal her small, rounded tummy. "Now this is a sort of jelly. I'm going to apply just a little bit; it'll be cold."
"Okay," Audri replied, taking a deep breath.
The nurse pulled up the sonogram machine, turned it on and took out a remote like device that was hooked to it. She squeezed the jelly beside Audri's bellybutton, and spread it around with the device. As she moved it around, an image came onto the screen. The nurse could make out the outline of a baby. It's head appeared, then its feet and fingers.
"Can you see it?" Audri asked.
"I sure can."
Tears began to form in her eyes, blurring her vision. She wiped them away as they poured down her face.
"What is it, can you tell?"
The nurse looked on the screen again. After several moments of studying the different parts of the image, she smiled.
"Congratulations Audri, you're going to have a baby girl."
Audri smiled as the nurse turned the screen around. There, Audri could see her, moving around. Off the screen, she could feel her move too.
"I'll print you a picture."
"Okay," Audri said, all choked up.
Just as Johnny handed the sheet the lady at the desk, Audri came out with the nurse right behind her. In her hand, was the printed picture from her sonogram.
Nikki, Cameron and Derrick had decided to spend the day at the beach with Bradin. He was suppose to meet up with Erika for another surfing lesson, and had invited the trio along. Nikki had been surprised, but smartly decided not to question it, and instead called Cameron. He had agreed to go and arrived at the door within fifteen minutes. So together, they gathered up their things, and trudged down to the beach. Bradin was amazed to see Erika already there and waiting patiently for him.
"Hey, Erika. Have you been here long?"
"Not long at all, actually. You ready?"
"Sure, just give me a second to get them situated."
"No problem."
Bradin set down his board and turned to Nikki and Cameron.
"Okay, all you have to do is keep an eye on Derrick and have fun. Sound easy enough?"
Nikki wrinkled her brow, "You know, I might actually have to make a list to remember everything."
Bradin smiled, "Very funny."
"Wait a minute!" Cameron said, acting like he was trying to figure out something hard. "What comes after the first one?"
Nikki hid her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle.
"No really, your too funny," Bradin said.
Cameron smiled and looked at Nikki who did the same.
"C'mon Kansas!" Erika called from the edge of the water.
Bradin didn't reply, but instead picked up his board, and headed off. Nikki set out the chairs, while Cameron handled the umbrella. Derrick had already befriended a boy named Will, and they were working together to build a palace out of sand.
Nikki grabbed a soda for her and Cameron, and couldn't help but watch in slight embarrassment as Cameron removed his shirt and sat down beside her.
"You don't mind do you? It's hot out here."
Nikki shook her head.
"So while we're here, I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay," Nikki said, feeling her cheeks blush. She already knew what he was about to ask.
"Since their having the Fourth of July party tonight, I was wondering if it was okay with your aunt, if you could go with me."
"Oh, I'm sure she won't mind."
"Good, I really didn't want to spend tonight by myself."
"Me neither."
"Does Bradin have a date?"
"I'm pretty sure he asked Audri."
"So he really likes her, huh?"
"I think so. And, I'm glad, I like her."
Ava and Susannah were taking a break from their designs. They had decided to eat lunch at the promenade instead of sitting at home. Ava had gotten a call from Johnny minutes before, asking if they wouldn't mind some company for lunch. So now, Ava and Susannah sat quietly waiting for Johnny and Audri. They were still disappointed over the result of their meeting.
"Hey ladies," Johnny said, excited.
"Hey there," Susannah said, "How did everything go?"
"Couldn't have gone better."
Audri caught up with him at last. "Okay, next time, I get a head start."
Ava laughed, "You gave him a head start?"
"I had to, by the time he shut the car door, I had lost sight of him."
Ava and Susannah looked up at Johnny, eyebrows raised.
"What?" he said defensively, "I was excited."
"Excited about what?" Susannah asked.
"Not only did we get a DNA test, but Audri got her first sonogram."
Audri beamed, pulling out the printed picture from her purse.
Susannah looked at it and passed it to Ava, who rose from her seat and gave Audri a big hug.
"Congratulations, sweetie."
"Thank you."
The waiter appeared then, and they all sat down and ordered their drinks. Over lunch, they discussed everything, even plans of later on that night.
Throughout the entire lunch, with the exception of Audri, Ava was the only thing on Johnny's mind. He was trying to find the courage to ask her to the pier party.