New Hopes and Expectations

"It's gorgeous, Ana." Summer says holding Ana's hand, admiring her engagement ring. "Fen picked a beautiful ring, and you deserve it. I'm so happy for you guys." Summer hugs Ana.

"Thanks girl." Ana says hugging her back. She gives Summer an excited look. "And I was wondering... if you'd like to be my maid of honor?" Ana asks.

A big smile breaks across Summer's face. "Would I? Of course. Girl." They hug again. "I mean I helped get you guys together." Summer brags, laughing. She flashes back to the conversations she had in the past encouraging Ana to admit she had feelings for Fen.

"Remember when I got you to admit your feelings for Fen and told you someday you would thank me for that?" Summer asks. "It felt like that was just yesterday."

Ana puts a hand to her face and pretends to think. "No, I don't remember that..." She jokes. She then nods and laughs. "Yeah, I remember that conversation." She acknowledges.

"Well that is today!" Summer says and hugs Ana again. "But…" Summer's voice trails off. "Do you think you have a dress that could fit me?" She rubs her growing belly. "I am getting bigger and bigger. And by the time you and Fen's wedding happens, who knows how big I will be." She muses.

"You look fine." Ana tells her laughing. "You're a very pretty, pregnant woman. We can find a dress that will work for you." She assures her.

"Great." Summer smiles and touches her belly again. She was four and a half months pregnant and expecting her first child with her husband Lincoln Lattimore. The two women sit down at Society, ready to have lunch together and catch up on their lives.

"So... when are you guys planning on getting married?" Summer asks.

"Maybe within like a month or so." Ana tells her. "I know that's faster, than a lot of couples wed, but we don't want a long engagement." Ana informs her. "We want a nice ceremony with our family and friends and then we want to start our new life together as husband and wife."

Summer nods. "I hear that. And you guys have been together for a while, no need to drag out an engagement." She gives Ana a knowing look. "Especially when you've known each other for a while and love each other."

Ana nods. "Yeah, we just want to get the ball rolling and start our new life together."

Summer smiles again. "Well, if you want any advice on how to put together a quick wedding, let me know. I planned mines and Lincoln's in less than a couple of weeks." Summer states. "So, helping you plans yours will be a piece of cake."

"I could take some pointers from you." Ana says. The two women laugh and order lunch. After they finish ordering lunch, Summer looks up from the menu and smiles at Ana.

"So, I have some important events that I need to help plan." Summer tells Ana. "Not only helping you with your wedding, but also finish putting together a wedding anniversary for my in-laws." She informs Ana. "That's going to be happening in a few days."

"Oh Really?" Ana asks curiously. "How many years have they been married?" She asks curiously.

"It will be their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary." Summer informs Ana.

"Wow." Ana exclaims impressed. "Consecutively?" She asks jokingly.

Summer nods. "Girl, yes."

"I can hope to be married that long." Ana says smiling.

"Me too." Summer states and laughs.

A thoughtful look then comes across Summer's face. "I love my in laws and I'm happy to throw this party for them. They are so happy they are going to be grandparents."

"As are your parents, I'm sure." Ana states.

Summer nods. "Yeah, my parents were a little in disbelief at first, and couldn't believe that I am making them grandparents, but they are happy for me. Especially my dad." She pauses thinking about Nick for a moment. "You know he's been having a rough go the past several months, and this is a bright spot for him." Summer admits to Ana.

Ana nods understanding. "I'm glad you could bring your parents some happiness. It is a big change, but a good change."

Summer nods and makes an admission to Ana. "I have to confess, I'm a bit nervous to be a mother but I am also excited."

"I think you will be a good mother." Ana tells her supportively.

"Thanks Ana." Summer smiles at her and then her expression becomes thoughtful again. "It's important for me to be a good mother to my child, because I want us to be close. I don't want us to be like…" Her voice trails off. And she looks off into the distance frowning.

Ana notices this. "Be like what?" She asks curiously.

"Be like my husband and his biological mother." Summer tells her. "My husband doesn't really get along well with his biological mother."

Ana nods understanding. "I know you've mentioned that before." She recalls.

"Yeah, they have such a strained relationship, because she wasn't really there for him growing up. And she's floated in and out of his life." Summer sighs. "Plus, she's tried to take advantage of him in the past...Their relationship is just not good."

"Well, no doubt you will be a much better mother to your child than that." Ana remarks to Summer.

"Yeah, I definitely intend to be." Summer taps her fingers on the table and then decides to confide in Ana about something else. "You know since I have become pregnant, she has reached out to me." Summer reveals.

Ana raises her eyebrow. "Really?" She asks.

Summer nods. "Really." She confirms. "She says she wants to get to know her first and only grandchild."

"Oh." Ana remarks. "And have you mentioned that to Lincoln?" She asks.

Summer sighs. "I have and he's just…. he doesn't really want to talk about that. But…I wonder if, well... I think that maybe he should consider reconciling with his mother." Summer grows thoughtful. "I mean she is his biological mother. And is one of my child's grandparents. My child may have questions about her some day."

Ana nods. "That's understandable. But you know you want to be careful. Especially since Lincoln has such a rocky relationship with her." She advises.

Summer nods. "Yeah, but maybe I can help bridge the gap between him and her. And they can get to a healthier place with each other. Heck maybe this baby can help them do that." Summer muses.

Ana makes a face thinking. "Maybe. Hopefully, everything will work out for you guys." The ladies chat some more and then Fen and Lincoln arrive.

"There are our men." Summer says smiling at them. She stands up and kisses Lincoln. Lincoln looks down at her feet and frowns.

"Summer... heels." He says pointing at her shoes.

Summer rolls her eyes and then looks at him and then Ana. "Lincoln doesn't really want me wearing heels during this pregnancy." She touches his face. "He's so overprotective."

"She almost tripped the other day in a pair of heels, and it freaked me out." Lincoln tells Fen and Ana. "Thankfully, I was around, and I caught her..." A nervous look comes across his face. "I don't want anything happening to her or the baby. And I've read some scary stories about things that have happened to pregnant women in heels…"

"It will be okay baby…" Summer says laughing.

"Can you at least wear shorter heels?" He asks concerned.

Summer sighs. "Okay, I can do that, and I can mix up my look with other types of shoes... Maybe as I get bigger, I will eventually just give up heels altogether for the duration of the pregnancy." A thoughtful look crosses her face. "We'll see."

She then turns to Fen and smiles. "How are you doing Fen?" She asks. "I heard you got engaged. Congratulations." She hugs him. "You are a lucky man." She tells him.

"Don't I know it." Fen says and goes around to the table and kisses Ana. "I really am." Everyone sits down, and the men order them some lunch as well. The two couples talk and catch up with each other, enjoying their meal together.