Nick blanched as he entered the ballroom. The place was decked out in a burst of colors with streamers and balloons everywhere. Dozens of people moved in a flurry from one group to the next, all decked in bright colors, floral patterns and hats. It looks like a rainbow got into a fight with a unicorn and they both exploded, Nick thought. He sighed.
Jess giggled at the room. "Yeah, this makes my parties look lame," she said, squeezing Nick's hand. "You gonna be okay, there, cowboy? Or is this shindig a little too snazzy?"
Nick blinked a few times. I'm just waiting for my eyes to focus again."
Jess punched him lightly on the arm. Before she could respond, she and Nick were engulfed in a vice-like hug from behind.
"Jess! Nick! You're here!" Jess' mom squeezed them both harder, until Nick felt his eyeballs might pop out of his head. "Hi, Mrs. Day," he managed to choke.
She dropped her arms and waggled her finger at Nick. "Call me, Joan, you sweet boy," she said, and turned to Jess and embraced her again.
"Air, mom. Air is good," Jess squeaked. Her mom laughed and let go. "I'm so glad you are here. People have been asking about meeting your young man."
"Helloooooooooo," cried out two women in unison. Nick didn't need help remembering that these were the second cousins. They were dressed alike, from the vibrant purple bows on their hats, right down to the pink blossoms on their shoes. Jess was right; there would be no way he could ever tell them apart.
"Cora and Connie, this is Jess' Nick," Joan said with a smile. Jess' Nick. Yep, he liked the sound of that, Nick thought. Jess' smile ramped up about 10 watts.
The women responded at the same time, making it hard to distinguish who was talking. "He's so adorable! What a cutie pie! What a lucky girl you are, Jessica! We love that you're here!" One of them made a move, and Nick could swear she was heading to pinch his cheeks. Nick Miller was not a cheek-pinching type. No sir. He instinctively moved back and did his best to not revert back to his turtle face. Jess took a step between the cousins and Nick.
"Yes! We are soooooo happy to be here, too! Mom, I'll bet Nick is starving. Mind if I take him to get some food?"
Joan tried not to laugh. "No problem, sweetie." She leaned in and added in a low voice, "Your dad isn't here yet, so try to avoid getting near Aunt Neely. She's in a bit of a mood." Jess nodded and pulled Nick away.
"Nice haircuts. And completely different!" Nick said as Jess led him by the arm.
They were almost to the buffet table when a large man bumped right into Jess. By the way he grabbed her waist and chuckled, Nick could tell it had been intentional. Really? he thought. You're going to hit on someone at a family reunion? She could be your cousin, you clown. The man pulled back with a small smile. Nick decided he hated his guy, as he pulled Jess out of the reach of Clown Man.
Jess leaned against Nick and straightened her glasses. "Uncle Alan?" she asked. His smile fell, and was quickly replaced by a look of delighted surprise. "Jessica Day? Is that you?" He gave a boisterous laugh, which did nothing for Nick's silent seething. "Why, look at you! I remember a roly-poly little girl in glasses and braces. Who knew you're turn out to be such a looker?"
Nick watched Jess' smile falter and his fists clenched. He'd seen old photos of Jess. Sure, she was always standing next to Cece, who had been modeling since her teen years, but Nick thought that in every photo, he could see the spark that only Jess had. She shined, for pity's sake. She was downright adorable! He could feel himself straining against Jess' arm, considering on a scale of one to million how bad it would be to pop old Alan in the face.
Before he could decide, a shrill voice broke through the crowd. "Bob? Bobby? Is that you?" The crowd parted and a tiny, shriveled woman slowly made her way over to Nick and Jess.
"Why, Aunt Neely!" Alan cried warmly, though Nick noticed Clown Man eased away from the little woman.
"Shut it, Alan," she snapped in his direction. "Go hit on some more of your relatives."
Nick choked on a laugh. Oh yeah, he liked Aunt Neely already. He glanced around nervously, looking for Mr. Day, when he realized the small woman had her piercing blue eyes set directly on him. "Bob," she said with a smile. "About time you got here."
Jess shook her head, and opened her mouth to correct Neely, when her mother pulled her aside and whispered to her. Nick felt his stomach sink as Jess nodded. What are you getting me into, Jess?
"Yeeeees, here's Bob," Jess told Neely with a wink at Nick. Joan smiled next to him. Neely snapped her head to Jess, and Nick took to the opportunity to wave his arms, shake his head and do every possible gesture to indicate there was NO WAY he was doing this.
"Oh, hello Joan," she said to Jess.
Nick stopped jumping up and down and smiled slowly. "That's right, Aunt Neely. Theeeeeere's Joanie."
Jess' eyes widened. "You know…."
"Hey, Neely, come and tell us aaaaaall about how you are," Nick cut off Jess and held an arm out for the old woman. She smiled and edged toward Nick.
"Well, I told you how the pharmaceutical companies wanted my blood to make a new weapon?" she said. "I flatly refused, REFUSED to give it to them."
"Good for you. Don't put anything past those guys," Nick said, leading her to chair.
"You see?" she said, patting Nick's arm. "You understand me, Bobby. All these other people act like they have sunshine coming out their bums."
Nick laughed. Aunt Neely was his kind of woman. Jess took a seat next to Nick, and nervously took a sip from a glass of water.
"So," Neely said, leaning on her bony elbows. Nick winced, afraid she might break them. "When are the two of you going to have children? I think it would help matters."
A stream of water flew from Jess as she choked on her water. Nick tried not to laugh and patted her lightly on the back.
"How do you like children, Bobby?" Neely looked at him sternly.
"Boiled or fried, Neely," he laughed.
Jess shot Nick a look that he could swear held a touch of hurt in it. He responded with a questioning glance. Wait, this is only a game, right? It was then an image popped into Nick's head. It was a fleeting picture of a little girl, barely two or three, with huge, blue eyes and dark hair. She was twirling in a circle and laughing. He looked at Jess. The thought of kids should scare the heck out of him – DID scare the heck out of him. So why wasn't he moonwalking away right now? The thought of him as a father was pretty darn frightening. But the thought of a kid with Jess? Huh, not so much scary as…well...intriguing.
Neely cackled a laugh. "That's what I like about you, Bobby." She then hardened her gaze. "But it's no secret that you two are in trouble."
Jess gasped audibly. Nick opened his mouth to head off the conversation. The last thing an emotional Jess needed right now was to hear about how lousy her parents had been together. But Neely forged ahead.
"You two have nothing in common. You see the world completely differently. Bob, you see the reality and Joan sees things how they could be. That might be fun to try out your different personalities, but in the end you two will veer apart unless you have something to keep you together. You'll drive each other crazy."
The old woman's words sliced through Nick. Nothing in common. One of his first arguments with Jess flashed in his head. You drive me crazy, Miller! she had shouted at him. Looking over at Jess, he saw her features scrunched up. Uh oh. He could tell Neely's words were sinking in for her as well. No, no, no.
"Weeeeell, great talking with you Neely," Nick jumped up and grabbed Jess' hand. "I think we're going to dance."
"But there's no music," she snapped.
"Who needs music?" Nick tossed the words over his shoulder as he pulled Jess outside. He leaned her against the wall of the brick building. "You okay?" he asked.
"Um, I guess," she said, looking at him before dropping her head to her chin. "Nick," she asked quietly, "do you think we are going to end up like my parents?"
There it was. He stared at her for a moment, unsure what to say. He sighed. "Honestly, I don't know, Jess."
He eyes shot to his, and he could see the tears starting to form in the endless blue. He slid his hands over her arms. "I can tell you this. I'm not your dad – though I wish I could scare the heck out of people like he does. And you are not your mom – though I do like your knees. We are not Bob and Joan. We are Nick and Jess. And honestly, kid, I like our chances."
She gave him a slightly watery smile. "You do?"
Nick smiled back. "Yeah, Jess. I was serious when I said I love you. That doesn't come easy for me to say. You know that. You know I would never say it unless I mean it. I'm yours, Jess, for as long as you want me."
Jess threw her arms around Nick. "I'll always want you, Nick. I love that you drive me crazy, and make me laugh and make me see the world differently. You make me stronger than I ever thought I could be."
A dizzy wave raced through Nick, and he pulled Jess close with one arm, while he braced himself against the rough brick of the wall behind her with the other. "Good," he managed to say.
She smiled and pulled his lips to hers. Just before they touched, she whispered. "I love you, Nick."
"I love you, too."