Hi! It's been almost a year, but I saw this story got some traction from the show coming out, so I wanted to post again. I wrote most of this chapter last year but never posted it. I absolutely loved the show and am anxiously waiting for season 2. Please like and review, I'll absolutely update this story continuously if people like it!
I was laying out at the pool reading one of the books from Susannah's shelf, thought it wasn't Emma or Pride and Prejudice, it was What to Expect When You're Expecting. Conrad was in the kitchen making our lunch. It had been almost 2 months since we'd found out we were pregnant, as the whole conception thing happened rather quickly. Conrad had been insisting we only eat healthy. He was making a salad and marinating a chicken that he'd grill and preparing lobster for dinner. Our plan for the day was to eat lunch and then clean the house. We invited my parents, Steven and his new wife, Jeremiah, and Mr. Fisher for dinner and to spend the weekend. Summer was slowly turning into fall and August was nearly over, and tonight we'd tell them about the baby.
"Lunch will be ready in 15," Conrad said, taking the chicken to the grill.
"Thank you," I said, barely looking up from my book. Then I stopped reading in panic, what would my mother say?
"Are you okay Bells?" He asked, sensing my panic.
"I'm just nervous for tonight, what if my mom is mad at us?" I said, I knew my mother would be happy, but there was that slight panic that she wouldn't be. Conrad pulled me onto his lap to comfort me.
"Belly, they'll be so happy. Your mother especially, she'll want to be there for every second of our child's life. We have nothing to worry about, I promise." He said, kissing my neck and putting a hand over my stomach.
"You're right, you're right." I said, but I was still freaking out. I couldn't help but think back to the time when I was marrying Jeremiah and my mother wouldn't talk to me. When she wouldn't support her only daughter in (what I had thought was) the best decision ever. But then again, an engagement is less permanent than a child. How could she ever abandon her first grandchild? And, she was right about Jeremiah and I. We were too young and he was the wrong Fisher for me. Conrad was it for me and Conrad would always be it for me, and we were about to have a real human being as proof of our undying love for each other. So, I went back to my book and got lost in the gory, painful, but somehow beautiful thing that was slowly but surely happening to my body. And soon enough, Conrad took the chicken off the grill and plated it for each of us.
"So, whose reaction are you most excited for?" Conrad asked, as he chewed his chicken.
"Hmm, well…" I hadn't even thought of the positive, I'd been dwelling so hard on the negative, "I think my dad will be really excited, he loves babies."
"I'm excited for Carla's reaction, she is always so jealous of you. She's going to get in bed tonight and beg your brother for a baby." Conrad said, which made me laugh. Carla was always a little jealous of me, but she made Steven happy.
"Conrad, this is delicious. Is it a new recipe?" I asked, I really couldn't stop eating the chicken.
"It's my mom's old recipe, I haven't made it for a while. She used to make it all the time after school. Jere and I lived for this chicken, it's also super healthy so I wanted my baby mama to have it," he said, which made me long for his mom to be part of this celebration. She would love having a grandchild running around at the beach house.
"If you ever say baby mama again, I will leave you," I said, which was true. It was an out of character thing for Conrad to say.
"Whatever you say Bells," he said, kissing my hair and running into the pool. He splashed me and I rolled my eyes. "Why don't you come join me, and then we'll shower and get ready for the guests?" He said. I slowly walked into the pool. He grabbed me around the waist and carried me bridal style around the shallow end. Conrad was always like this, at least since we'd reconnected and gotten married. He always swept me off my feet by taking care of me and putting on huge romantic gestures. We swam for a while in silence and then we dried off and rushed to the shower. The master bedroom had a huge shower and Conrad and I often took advantage of that.
After the shower, I put on a blue dress that was loose around the stomach so as to not give away any surprises. Conrad put on khaki shorts and a button up. I did light makeup and put on all the jewelry Susannah had given me. We had just finished getting ready when Jeremiah, Steven, and Carla rang the doorbell. We let them in and offered them cocktails. Jeremiah and Steven had beer, Carla had rose. A few minutes later, my mother and father were at the door. I was happy to see that they had driven together. And just seconds after them, Mr. Fisher rang the doorbell and gave us a clearly store bought cheese plate and an old bottle of wine. We all sat around the couch for a few minutes, catching up with horderves.
"Steven, Jere, do you want to help me with the lobster?" Conrad asked in a rare moment of silence. Steven and Jeremiah jumped out of their seats and followed him to the grill. I sat and talked to my mother.
"How's the summer been?" She asked.
"Just perfect, it feels right to be here again" I said.
"I can't help but see Beck all around this house, she was really quite a presence. I'm glad we're all here together tonight, she would've loved this." And I agreed, she would have.
"I feel like she's still here, every morning you can't help but wake up and think of her," I said, and my mother smiled and nodded.
"She'd be so happy to see you and Conrad here, this is exactly what she's always wanted," my mom said, and I felt almost a chill down my spine. She had really always wanted this. Everything about this night would be perfect. Susannah was watching over us. She was always watching over Conrad and I.
Tonight, her presence was completely here. The picture was timeless. The boys were grilling, I was with my mother chatting, the night was perfect, everyone was under one roof. It was exactly as it should be. We all gathered around the dining room table, a gorgeous meal in front of us. Conrad sat at the head of the table, he was the man of the house now. He always had been, but now it was official. Our house, it was always our house, but this was the first time it was truly ours. It wasn't Susannah's house that we had to do chores in, that my mother felt guilty for staying in, it was ours. Our house and our family. We all started to eat, and Conrad stared at me with a wink.
"So, Belly and I have some exciting news," Conrad said, his little smile peaking through his lips. Everyone perked up, glancing at Conrad and I. I'm sure each of them already knew, I mean when you're married and young, the exciting news is typically a baby.
"We're having a baby," I said, "we're very very excited."
"Oh my god, Bells, Connie, congrats!" Jeremiah said, even though I'd hurt him more than any person should ever get hurt, he'd always be the most supportive best friend and brother. He is so special in that way, I cannot wait to see him as an uncle. My mother started crying, and my dad looked shocked. Carla elbowed Steven. Steven mocked me with barfing noises. It was a perfect reaction, in the perfect house, during what was going to be the most perfect summer.
Will it be the perfect summer?
