Chapter Eight
"Happy Memorial Day," Kelsi chimed as she opened her front door. Standing there was Chad and Taylor. He had his hands full with groceries and Taylor had her hands on her back. She was three months pregnant.
"You too, girl," Taylor replied. She leaned forward to give her girlfriend a hug.
"Uh, Troy and Jason are in the back. They're going to need those," Kelsi informed him.
"Thanks," Chad replied. He got a better grip on the bags and headed out back.
"So Gabriella is already here?" Taylor asked.
Kelsi nodded. "Zeke, Sharpay, and Ryan should be here any minute."
On cue, a pink convertible pulled in and honked. "We're here!" Sharpay waved from the passenger seat.
"Who's eating hamburgers?" Jason called. He was standing by the grill, talking to the boys.
"Just make them all," Kelsi called back. "We can eat the leftovers later."
Jason shrugged and put four patties on the grill next to the hot dogs.
Inside, Taylor and Sharpay were sitting by the counter, watching Kelsi and Gabriella get things together.
"I made the macaroni salad last night," Kelsi announced, opening the fridge. She pulled out a big bowl.
"You think you made enough?" Sharpay asked sarcastically.
"Believe me, we're going to need it," Taylor joked, rubbing her stomach.
"Do we have everything?" Gabriella asked. Kelsi quickly looked around as Gabriella was reading off the list. "Potato salad, macaroni salad, Watergate salad, sliced tomatoes, pickles, onions, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, relish, buns, baked beans, and cheese."
"Yes to all," Kelsi replied, pushing her glasses up on the bridge of her nose.
"Ok, all we have to do is set the picnic table," Taylor said. She handed Sharpay the table cloth.
Back outside, Jason was telling the others what he had bought Kelsi for a Memorial Day present.
"Dude, she's going to love it," Troy stated.
"Are you sure?" Jason asked. He took a sip of his Pepsi and flipped a burger.
"Troy's right," Chad agreed.
Jason smiled. Just then, Sharpay and Taylor came out. "Okay, now hush," he said. He didn't want the surprise to be ruined.
"Food's done," Jason hollered. He carried the plates of hamburgers over to the table. Troy was right behind him with the hot dogs. Just then, Kelsi and Gabriella walked out with the cold items.
"Dig in," she said. Everyone grabbed plastic plates and began making their rounds around the food. Once everyone had what they wanted, they sat down.
As Taylor sat down, all the men looked at her plate, their mouths wide opened. She had four hamburgers, three hot dogs, three scoops of macaroni and potato salad and two scoops of Watergate salad.
"Hmmm," Kelsi said under her breath. When Jason didn't get the hint, she gently elbowed him in the ribs. He got the hint this time. Unfortunately it was too late. Taylor had seen them all look at her plate.
"What?" she asked. "Did everyone forget that I'm eating for three now?" She gestured toward her stomach which was really showing.
"Each as much as you want," Jason quickly recovered. "The more you guys eat, the less we have to put away," he joked.
Soon everyone was busy eating and the boys were talking about practice. As soon as everyone's plates started to clear, Jason turned to Kelsi and cleared his throat. "In light of the holiday, I bought you something," he said.
"Oh, Jason, you didn't have to. You could have waited until our anniversary," Kelsi said.
"What I got you will be pretty hard to hide for another week," Jason stated. Down the table, Troy smirked.
Gabriella leaned in and whispered. "You know what he got her, don't you?"
Troy nodded. "Wait 'til he brings it out. You're going to want one."
Jason disappeared in the house. Kelsi sat there, her face slightly burning with embarrassment. Everyone was looking at her. Just then, Jason reemerged from the house, carrying something in a box.
"Ok, now close your eyes and reach into the box," Jason instructed.
Kelsi did and when she grasped the item in the box, she let out a small gasp. The other three young women leaned forward, eager to see what Jason got his wife. Kelsi reached her other hand in and removed a small charcoal gray kitten. "He's so cute," she said. "Thank you." She stood up and gave Jason a kiss on the cheek.
"You sure do know how to make a woman feel loved," Zeke stated.
Now it was Jason's turn to turn a light red. "It was nothing."
"What are you going to name it?" Ryan asked.
"Dagda. I read the name in a book series and I liked it," Kelsi responded. She reached down and rubbed the kitten behind his ears. "My little Dagda."
That night, Jason slid on his sleep pants and jumped on the bed. Kelsi was on the floor playing with a string with the kitten. Look at her,he thought to himself. She looks just like a kid on Christmas morning,he chuckled.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"Nothing. I just like the way you look," he replied.
Kelsi dropped the string, picked Dagda up, set him in his little bed and then crawled into bed herself. "What do you mean?"
"You look happy," Jason stated.
"Of course I'm happy. I'm married to a man that I love with all my heart and that loves me the same," Kelsi replied. She leaned over and kissed him passionately.
When they parted, he looked into her sky blue eyes. "I would do anything for you."
She stared into his chocolate brown ones and saw what she knew all along. He loved her with every fiber in his being. "I know. And I would do anything for you." She curled up next to him. He put his arm around her and together they watched Dagda lick himself, curl up and go to sleep.