Okay, so I wasn't completely shocked but it was a surprise that she was actually looking down at her overgrown belly and smiling. She was actually glowing, I'd heard pregnant women do that. Madison Evans, my best friend was going to be a Mom and worst than that was that Dean Portman was going to be a Dad. The child would, without question, need the guidance of Fulton and myself to not turn out to be a chain-smoking, loud mouth, little bash brother or sister in training.
"Well, No, I had breast implants put in and one was just a little too low. What do you think, silly?" She asked, smiling away at her mid-section again. "I think the chemical blonde it seeping in again, Fulton, you've been keeping an eye on her while I was gone, right?" Madison joked; a smile still plastered on her face. Fulton blushed a little and nodded,
"I've been doing my best. She's a hand full." He said softly not really partaking in a joke directed at me. I glanced back at Madison. I had never seen her this happy before. Come to think of it, I had never seen Madison smile this much at all. Well, except maybe the day she got asked out by Dean.
"Are you guys back for good? I mean no more trips, no more break-ups, no more time off?" I questioned, worried that the wedding was a week away
"Yeah, we're here for a while. In fact, we're going to start looking for a place of our own once Dean gets a job." She smiled brightly at him as he snaked his arm around her waist.
"Dean's going to work?" Connie and Julie both asked at the same time. His face turned down a little,
"Hey it's been done. I can do it." He said confidently,
"Yeah, it's been done but never by you.." Julie mocked, Dean mimicking her back.
"Whatever, I'll prove you wrong.." Dean brushed off the comment, returning his attention to Madison. "Are you tired? Do you want to go lay down?" He asked in his sweetest voice.
"No, Connie, Julie and I are taking Tammy out, remember?" She asked still being sweet to him as well. Wow, they're actually getting along.
"Yeah, but you just got off a 3 hour plane ride, you should rest before you go out.."
"Dean, we talked about this. I have a Mother, I don't need two." The rest of us just stood around silently as they bickered back and forth. I guess some things never change.
"Hey, Guys! Can you slow down, I have an extra person to carry around with me!" Madison groaned, waddling behind us as Connie and Julie pushed me toward the mall entrance.
"Opps, forgot!" Julie said a little flustered. She was really on over-drive today. I didn't really know her that well but, geez, I didn't know one person could be so spaztic...well beside the spaz himself, Charlie.
"Oh great, another blonde!" Madison finally caught up, entering the mall of America.
"What are we doing here?" I asked a mist the chatted from Julie to Connie as to if she was really "blonde."
"Well, honey it has come to our attention that you have not bought any jewelry, any make-up or any accessories for this wedding and that just simply will not do!" Connie explained, again pushing me towards the closest store. It was called "Claire's" and had all sort of stuff I could use. My mind was still racing when they finally let go of me and rushed into the store. Why would you bring your best friend to a mall on the last weekend before her wedding? This really didn't seem like a party to me but at least they thought of something. Madison immediately separated from us, fawning over the fleece blankets they were selling at half price and decided to get a yellow one with baby animals on it. Watching her walk away, I suddenly wondered if I should be worried that some male stripper or something was going to pop out of no where and attack me on their behave. I scanned the room silently and didn't see anyone suspicious, maybe this really was their great plan Fulton was talking about. I sighed, moving towards Connie and Julie, who were huddled in the corner, talking earrings.
"How would this one look?" Julie asked Connie as she held it in front of me. Connie scrunched up her face and shook her head no.
"How about this one?" Connie asked holding an, in my opinion, ugly piece of jewelry in front of me.
"No, I don't think it will work." Connie agreed as I shook my head to move away from them and look at the other items in the shop. The sparkling jewels in the case shined back at me as I contemplated what one would look go with my wedding dress and I remembered I didn't have one yet. How was I suppose to buy anything when I couldn't match it to a dress. What if I bought gloves and ended up with a long-sleeved dress? What if I got a small piece of jewelry but decided on a strapless dress? I would have nothing to fill the space. I sighed deeply, coming to stand next to Madison as she looked over the small items they had lining the counter.
"So how's the planning been, you get everything set?" She asked.
"It's been okay. I think I got everything except a couple of things. You got your dress in Cali, right?" I asked.
"Yes, Thank You. It was two sizes too small but thanks for the compliment. Then I found the same one at a local shop out there and had it altered." My face suddenly went pale. "It's the same thing." She snapped a little to but my worries to rest. "What are the things you still need?" She asked, changing the subject as I mulled over what was still needed in my head.
"Well, we're still waiting on the engraved wedding gifts for the guests. They were due in this past week but with the stuff we got this morning they could be in with that. And then there's my dress...oh, and those little beads you can throw instead of rice.."
"Wait, hold on...back up just a minute! You don't have a dress yet?" She asked rather surprised.
"The wedding planner, you know, she's really busy and she just couldn't seem to get one I'd like...We've met twice now and still nothing..." I said calmly.
"Wait this is the girl that use to date Fulton and did you're first wedding?" Madison asked.
"Yes, but she's an excellent planner."
"Wait, I know I busted on you for being blonde back at the house but you can't possibly be missing what's right in front of your face!" Madison's eyes were wide. I avoided her stare and instead looked over the discount jewel that was tossed into the bin next to my right hand.
"I'm not stupid, but you're wrong.." I picked up a pair of red ruby earrings that were half priced and studying them with most of my attention. Madison pushed the earrings out of her eye sight and stared at me.
"What...You really want to bring up Eve...I try not to think about her if I can help..."
"Well, you know, she may just be right. I mean, we know Fulton is completely and utterly in love with you and nothing in the whole world could change that but what if Melissa is still hung up on Fulton. She doesn't have a boyfriend, at least that's what she told me when she was fitting me for your first wedding." I glanced back at the glass case.
"Look, She's a professional. She wouldn't risk her reputation on getting some guy...even if he is Fulton..." Madison and I both laughed at this and she nodded a little.
"Tammy, just watch your back since I can't anymore." She patted her stomach for the second time that day and I laughed placing my hand on hers.
"I can't believe you're having a baby.." Okay, so like I said before, I kind of knew but it's just a shock to actually see her with the cute little belly on her and know that there's another life growing inside her.
"You're surprised. I was dreading over it for months. First how to tell Dean and then how to tell my family... that wasn't talking to me. Then everything happened with Dean and going to Cali and it just all sort fell into place."
"Are you scared?" I moved along the counter to look at the jewelry in the case.
"A little, I was more scared than anything that I would have to go through it alone." I stopped to turn around and she was already staring at my questioning eyes. "There were a few days there when I thought I was gonna have to leave Dean. He just wasn't ready. I still don't think he is fully but he wants to be more than before and he's sure that he loves me. Now.."
"So is there a wedding in your future?" I joked a little finally meeting back up with Julie and Connie who were still looking at dreadfully ugly jewelry that I hoped was for themselves and not me.
"Maybe, Dean wants to do the whole church thing before the baby's born so that we give it a stable home and everything but I'm not opposed to waiting until after the baby's born, you know more people are having babies before the get married now than ever before." I nodded at her as Connie and Julie finally came back into the conversation.
"My Mom would kill me if I had a baby now...She says I need to experience life before I can bring another one into the world. " Thoughts of Adam fluttered into my head as Julie finished her sentence and I suddenly knew why they were together, they had the same kind of background and had the same values on family. I smiled to myself, turning to Connie as she just shrugged.
"I think it's great. I mean it's not like you were planning it but still, it's great.." I suddenly found myself wondering if I talked like Fulton or acted like him in anyway but then again Connie and Guy had been together since I left for California and Julie and Adam since high school so maybe it would take a few years before I started wearing band t-shirts and getting that far away look in my eyes whenever he didn't know the answer to the question. I laughed quietly to myself, turning to pay for the few pieces of jewelry I had decided to purchase.
"Oh, Tam, My Mom was wondering if she was invited for the wedding?" Madison asked, grabbing unto my arm as we left the store.
"Well, I guess. I didn't think she'd want to since she was so upset about me not marrying Scott."
"Oh, she's over it, back to you being the perfect one and me the screw up." Madison just shrugged at we finally made it to the food court to sit and talk.
"Okay, so let's go over the weeks events." Julie asked pulling out her weekly planner to take notes. I laughed a little. She was almost annoyingly perfect and organized.
"Well, the guests are starting to fly in on Thursday, I guess Fulton's Mother told his side of the family that we were doing the whole traditional four day thing...I don't know, I guess it's a family tradition that I didn't know about so I called all my family that's from out of town and they're coming in on Thursday as well."
"Are we set on places for them to stay?" Connie asked taking the pen away from Julie who was writing feverously next to her. "This isn't history..." She commented.
"I just don't want to forget anything...This is the first time I've been asked to be a bridesmaid." She grinned a little.
"It's my job as a maid of honor to worry. I'll call you if you forget something.." I silently watched the conversation before continuing.
"Yeah, we're set on where people are staying. Most got hotel rooms or are staying with other family that's in the area."
"Have you heard from your parents?" Madison asked as Connie and Julie both shushed her.
"It's okay, guys. No, Madison, I haven't heard from them. Hopefully they'll call before Friday so I can get them added to the catering list without any trouble." I joked softly trying not to let on how much it was really bothering me that my parents, my own flesh and blood weren't going to be at my wedding. My Dad wasn't going to be giving me away and my Mom, though sometimes a royal pain in the backside, wouldn't be there to share my day with. All I wanted since I was 12 years old was to marry Fulton and have my family there. Well, Tommy was already missing, I guess they would be too.
"I'm sorry.." Madison looked at the floor intently, feeling a pang of guilt in her chest.
"No, don't be. It's their problem." I looked away from the table as there was in uncomfortable silence and silently searched my mind to find something to say but Connie beat me to it.
"So, Okay, everyone's flying in on Thursday then. What's on the schedule for Friday and Saturday then."
"It actually starts on Thursday. Eve is planning on some meet and greet type thing at the house Thursday night to introduce me to the family and such."
"Is it a dinner or just finger foods?" Madison asked excitedly.
"Just finger foods..." She slouched back down in her chair with a huff. "Friday, I guess the immediate family is having a luncheon. Which means I have to put up with Eve for the afternoon."
"Well, Tammy, she is going to be your Mother-in-Law.." Connie informed me. Madison was immediately back up from her slouch,
"Yeah, the Mother-in-Law from hell...I'm sorry for swearing baby..." She momentarily stopped to apologize to her stomach as Julie laughed a little, "But she is! That woman would kill Tammy if she could get away with it."
"I don't think she's that..." Connie trailed off again looking over at me.
"She is...and she would if she thought Fulton wouldn't find out." Connie and Julie both stared at us in disbelief.
"We'll make it work, at least she's staying at a hotel this time." I silently stretched my arms out in front of me and hooked them on my crossed knees.
"Okay, unto another topic..." Julie said, looking down at her paper. Connie leaned over to look at her list. " The hair appointments and manicures are scheduled for that morning, do you think we'll have enough time?"
"The wedding's at 1. How long to do you think it takes?" Connie asked, still looking over the list. "Geez, I should have a list like this...I am the maid of honor." Madison cleared her throat. "Oh, Sorry...One of the Maids of Honor..."
"Okay, so those will be okay..." Julie cut in, checking that thing off her list.
"What about the rehearsal dinner?" Connie wondered, her eyes finding their way back to me.
"We're doing the thing at the church first at 2 the afternoon before and then there's going to be a dinner and little get together after at our house.."
"Okay.." Connie sounded satisfied with that answer as she glanced back over at Julie looking at her watch. She eyes widened and she grabbed Julies wrist to bring it closer to her face.
"Oh, we got to go!" Connie said as Julie glanced at her own wrist and jumped up, dropping her planner all over the floor. I looked at them nervously.
"What's going on?" I asked being dragged from the mall with Julie on one side and Connie on the other again, Madison trailing behind again, struggling to keep up.
"Why can't I look!" I questioned pushing at the blindfold that had placed on me the minute they shoved me back into Julie's Cabrio.
"Because, it wouldn't be a surprise then, now be quiet! We're almost there!" Connie said from the front seat. I knew Madison was seated next to me and not saying anything and Julie was driving like a crazy woman to get wherever we were off to.
"Wait going to the mall wasn't my surprise trip?" I questioned. Connie sighed in frustration.
"Part of it! Just chill out!" She was freaking out, I could tell by her voice and I smiled to myself, tilted my head back to peak out the bottom of the blindfold. Now to just see something, anything.
"Hey, no peeking!" Madison snapped as I put my head back straight, turning to face Madison, even though I couldn't see her.
"Maddie, can't I just see where we're going!"
"Ummm...how bout NO!" She answered. I pouted a little before feeling the car come to a stop and I was being dragged from the back seat again. The ground was dust as my open-toed heels shuffled forward with the pulling of Connie's hand.
"I can't see! Can we slow down a little!" There was no slowing down, I guess because now Julie's hands wrapped around my other arm pulling me along. Just as fast as I had been pulled from the car, I was being halted to a stop and my eyes were uncovered. The sun was shining down through the tree and I was faced with my own back yard.
"Okay, Guys...What was the rush?" Just as I finished my sentence a yell of surprise roared behind my back and I turned back towards the lake to find almost all of the ducks there, some of my family and surprising some of Fulton's family, excluding Eve.
"The rush was, that the boys have been back here planning this party all morning and you know they can't be trusted for too long on their own..." Connie joked as people started coming up to me with congratulations. My eyes scanned the covered lawn but I couldn't find Fulton in the sea of people.
"Hey, was Fulton suppose to be here?" I asked turning to Madison, who was now being fawned over by Portman again.
"Yeah, he's inside...not much of a party person..." Portman said, my curiosity peaked. The backdoor was a few feet away from where I was standing, I started out towards it, silently nodding as people stopped me to talk. It seemed like hours before I finally got away from Averman and his wedding jokes to reach the handle of the back door.
The heat of the hall radiated as I entered through the back door. It was November outside after all but it nice day all the same. The unopened packages from before still lined the hall and, I made my way past them.
"Fulton? Where are you?" I questioned not getting a response. I moved towards the first doorway on the right that lead to the kitchen and peeked around it. He stood at the counter, rearranging the veggies on the platter and not looking at me.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked coming into the room. He looked up at me, seeming a bit startled but all the same happy to see me.
"Hey, Why aren't you out with your guests?" He smiled.
"They're your guest too...What are you doing..." I leaned my elbows on the counter and rested my head on my hands, my usual stance at the counter top. He laughed a little at me,
"You know, you stand that way every time you come into this room. It's deja vu, like everyday." I laughed a little jumping up to sit of the counter.
"Is this better, Mr. Reed?" I crossed my leg over the other at the knee and leaned over towards him, fishing for a kiss.
"I have something for you..." He trailed off as I leaned back with surprise.
"What is it? I have everything I need right here." He moved from the counter and pulled a small box from the cookbook shelf, handed it to me. It had a red ribbon tied around it and a small red bow tied into the ribbon.
"Fulton, you didn't need to get me anything.." I said opening the box to reveal a solid ruby and silver choker necklace. "Oh my gosh...Fulton...it's beautiful...but it's way to expensive.."
"Tammy, it's my wedding present to you..." I sat there in shock for a few minutes as he nervously fiddled with the vegetables again.
"I just can't believe it...it's perfect...I, I didn't know what to buy for jewelry today and...Fulton...It's perfect...thank you!" He smiled shyly, grabbing the tray to take it out.
"Hey!" I jumped down off the counter and took the tray from his hands, placing it back on the counter. "Thank you.." I whispered, reaching on my tip-toes to press my lips to his. He smiled against my lips and soon we were laughing and kissing at the same time.
"Dude! We're all waiting for you two and you're in here playing tonsil hockey..." Fulton smiled against my lips, looking over at Charlie who was standing in the doorway of our kitchen.
"Hey, we got to play some sort of hockey, you know..." He played, grabbing the tray and thrusting it towards Charlie. He looked down at it with contempt and sighed, the back door closing with a bang as he left. I smiled at Fulton as he turned around and took his hand in mine,
"You ready for all the mushy girly stuff we're going to get as wedding gifts from the people that didn't mail them." He grimaced a little and wrapped his arm over my shoulder.
"Let's just get this over with.." I smiled to myself as we exited to the back yard, the screen door closing with a bang behind us.