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Not mine, but you already knew that.


I was still shocked that dinner went so well last night and I was optimistic for tonight when I met the rest of Carlos's family. Carlos already went down to work and I jumped in the shower to get ready for my appointment. After I showered, shaved, exfoliated, waxed, plucked, and put minimal effort on my face and hair, I deemed myself ready. I went down to five to let Carlos know I was leaving the building.

"Hey Babe." He said, putting his pen down when I knocked on the door.

"Hi, what are you up to?"

"Paperwork." He grabbed my hands and sat me on his lap. "What's up?" He asked, nuzzling my neck.

"I have a doctor's appointment and I'm on my way out."

He stiffened. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," I reassured him. "Just routine."

He nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I'll be okay."

"Okay, you'll let me know how it goes?"

"Sure," I said. I would tell him what I could.

He kissed me gently and let me go. I gave him a wave and left the office. Waving to all the guys, I had high hopes for the doctor appointment.

"Hi Stephanie. Why don't you take a seat? The doctor will be with you in a moment." Karen, my doctor's assistant said to me. I nodded and anxiously waited.

"The doctor will see you now," she said a few minutes later with a smile.

"Thanks," I said. I walked back and waited for Dr. Craigs. I changed into the skimpy paper dress and sat down to wait.

"It's so nice to see you." She said, shaking my hand when she entered the exam room. "I wish it was on more of a regular schedule, though."

"I know, I've been a little lax."

"But you're here now, and that's what matters. What can I do for you?"

I looked down at my hands, and then at the doctor, who was smiling encouragingly at me. "My fiancée and I are trying to get pregnant and I wanted to make sure everything was okay since the miscarriage."

She nodded. "A man named Carlos Manoso called to update your history. I'm guessing that's your fiancée."

I nodded, smiling. Of course he informed my OB/GYN. "He keeps impeccable records."

She nodded again. "Okay, let's get you into the stirrups and check everything out."

"Okay," I said nervously.

She finished the exam before I had a chance to blink my eyes. I draped the blanket over my legs, in order to keep some modesty. I know it's weird to be modest after you just had a doctor checking up your doo-dah, but whatever.

"And you haven't had any infections?" I shook my head. "Took all of the pills?" I shook my head again. "Are you on birth control?"

"No, we were told to use condoms after the miscarriage and I haven't started another month of pills yet."

She nodded. "It's to lessen the chance of infection." She closed my file and smiled at me. "Stephanie, you're healthy, still pretty young, and have fully recovered from the D&C. I don't see any problem with you and your fiancée conceiving soon. Just watch the calendar and watch out for the signs of pregnancy."

I blew out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, doctor."

"You're welcome. Congratulations on the engagement and good luck with the marriage."

I shook her hand and left to pay my co-pay. Thankfully I was still under RangeMan Insurance so I didn't have to pay anything, but Carlos would know exactly where I went. Oh well, he would know soon enough. He was going through the mail when I got back.

"Hey," I said.

"Hi." He pulled me close and gave me a toe curling kiss. "Everything okay at the doctor?"

"Fine. Great. In fact, we need to talk."

"Good. Later. I'm just on my way out to an inspection. By the time I get back, we'll need to leave for my mothers. Can it wait?"

"Sure," I said, nodding my head. It couldn't hurt to wait one more day.

"Okay," he said, kissing my lips. "I love you."

"I love you." I said back. And he was gone.

I decided to let my mother know about the party. Figuring it would go a lot better if I told her in person, I picked up my car keys and went to her house.

"Stephanie, it's so nice to see you." She said. "There's chicken salad in the refrigerator."

I went for the bread. The morning had made me hungry.

"Hey Stephanie," Grandma said when she entered the kitchen. "Word on the street is that you were at an OB office today." My mother crossed herself.

"I'm not pregnant!" I told her. Sheesh, I'd at least tell her that she was going to have another grandchild before it got around. "My GYN is in there and I had an appointment. Routine checkup."

"Good. I know that you and Carlos are getting married, but I don't think you want to be a pregnant bride."

I ignored her and got down to business. "Carmen, Carlos's mother, is throwing us an engagement party. She wants you and dad to be there."

"How nice of her! We were going to throw you two something, but this is okay too. When is it?"

"Tonight."

My mother glared at me and I raised my hands in defense. "She didn't give us much notice either."

"I guess I could whip up a quick pie…"

"Mom, don't worry, Carmen will have all the food taken care of."

But it was too late, and she was off to work. I sighed. "We'll pick you, dad and Grandma up at five, okay?"

"Sure," she said. I hugged Grandma and gave my mother a quick kiss before heading back to Haywood to catch a nap. I was exhausted.

I woke up to someone kissing my shoulders and neck. "Babe," Carlos whispered.

"Mmm, come to bed." I said, reaching out for him.

He chuckled. "Not enough time for that. You have to get ready."

"What time is it?"

"Four."

I bolted up. "Four? You couldn't get me more time?"

"Babe, I just got back."

I huffed and headed for the shower. I showered, plucked, shaved, waxed, exfoliated, curled, and put on my make-up in the span of forty five minutes. I was shimmying into my dress by four fifty.

"All right, let's go." I said, grabbing Carlos's hand and dragging him to the door. He chuckled at the scene of me, heels in hand, dragging him to the elevator and down to the Cayenne. We made it to my parents precisely at five and my parents climbed in.

"Where's Grandma?" I asked.

"She had a date. She told me to tell you that she was sorry."

My father mumbled something like, "poor bastard." My mother glared at him for a second and turned to Carlos. "Thank you for driving us, Carlos."

"My pleasure." He replied.

As we neared his mother's house, I began to feel jittery. Carlos grabbed my hand and rubbed soothing circles on the skin. I smiled at him in thanks. We pulled up and I must have looked pale.

"Stephanie, are you all right?" My mother asked.

"So…many…cars…" I replied.

Carlos helped me out and asked my parents to go on ahead. He sat me against the back of the car with his arms next to my head.

"Don't be nervous."

"Nervous?! There's at least fifty cars here!"

"It's about twenty. Breathe, Babe. Remember, those people back there are happy for us. They want to celebrate that we are getting married. No one is going to make you feel uncomfortable. So relax, breathe, and trust me."

I took a deep breath and took Carlos's hand. He smiled softly at me as we walked up the path to the backyard.

When we got there, all noise ceased.

So much for being uncomfortable.

"CARLOS! STEPHANIE" Everyone yelled at once. We were brought into so many hugs by so many people that I lost his hand, but not sight of him. Between hugs, he managed to wink at me.

Once again, I felt loved, but instead of just Carlos, it was a whole family of people.


Hope you enjoyed it! Maybe in the next chapter, we'll see a smackdown with our favorite bitch!