Chapter 7
As the weeks went by, Stephanie was able to be on the road with John and everyone was getting along great. Stephanie missed hanging out with Kinley and Shannon. And thankfully since it was winter time, Shannon was able to travel with Kinley. Stephanie finally got her contract.
As Christmas rolled around, Stephanie and Kinley took their days off and went shopping in the various cities that they were in. Both girls were glad that the guys had to work and that the stores were willing to gift wrap everything for them so all they had to do was ship it off.
The week of Christmas was extremely busy for everyone. Stephanie had to roll out five new storylines before vacation time which she was able to do in record time. On their last day of work, Stephanie and Kinley decided to go out for lunch without the guys.
"How are you feeling?" Kinley asked.
"Good. The baby is moving around a lot more now." Stephanie answered.
"That must be a wonderful feeling." Kinley responded kind of sad.
"Kinley, what's wrong?" Stephanie asked.
"Shannon and I have been trying to get pregnant for nearly a year now and nothing has happened. I'm starting to give up hope of ever having a baby with him." Kinley answered.
"Oh hon. I'm sorry. And I know with work it's hard to take a much needed vacation. But why don't you and Shannon take the next two weeks and go somewhere romantic and just don't think about making a baby and have fun trying." Stephanie suggested.
"I think we might just do that. Shannon has been really stressed lately with all the traveling and such. I think it's a great idea. Thanks." Kinley responded.
"Anytime. That's what friends are for." Stephanie stated.
Stephanie and John were heading up to Boston for Christmas with his family and then down North Carolina for New Years and Matt's party. Stephanie was really starting to show nicely and John loved seeing Stephanie with that pregnancy glow and he loved placing his hands on her belly to feel the baby. John even went as far as talking to the baby every night.
Once they arrived into Boston, John Sr. and Carol insisted that they stay at the house and not in a hotel. John was not one to argue with his parents and Stephanie loved staying at the house verus a hotel.
"Are you sure you're going to be comfortable like that?" John asked.
"I will be fine. You're bed is big enough for the three of us." Stephanie answered.
John just smiled at her before leaning over and kissing her. Of course one kiss wasn't enough and that lead to other things. Stephanie curled up in John's arms and rested her head on his chest after they made love.
The next day John was heading out with his brothers while Stephanie, Carol, Sara and Erica went shopping. Stephanie knew what she wanted to get John for Christmas and she was glad that his mom and sister-in-law were with her.
"What are you getting John?" Sara asked.
"I got John customized seat covers and steering wheel cover for his new truck." Stephanie answered. "I also got him some clothes and a new watch. But I want to get him something special from the baby."
"That's cool. What do you have in mind?" Erica asked.
"I don't know. And there's only two days until Christmas. So it will have to be something that I can pick up today or tomorrow." Stephanie answered.
"Why don't you get him an engraved picture frame for your ultrasound picture with the due date on it." Carol suggested.
"I love the idea." Stephanie responded with a smile.
Soon they came upon a store that did engraving and Stephanie picked out a silver frame that was simply perfect for John's desk. Once the frame was engraved, Stephanie had the frame boxed and wrapped.
Once everyone was back at the house, Sara and Erica headed home to get dinner started for their husbands. Stephanie put the frame in a drawer in John's room before heading back downstairs to help Carol get dinner started.
Meanwhile John was still out with Matt and Steve. They had been at the same shopping center as the women were, but managed not to bump into them. John was on the serach for the perfect gift. He already had pleanty of gifts for Stephanie, but there was something missing.
"I don't know what else to get her." John stated as they stopped at a bench in the middle of the mall.
"A necklace?" Steve suggested.
"Got one already. As well as a bracelet and earrings." John answered.
"What about a ring?" Matt asked.
"A ring?" John answered.
"Yeah you know something that you slip on her finger." Matt responded.
"I know that." John stated as he started to think.
John had thought about asking Stephanie to marry him many times, but there was always something stopping him from doing it. John thought long and hard about it and finally realized that now there wasn't anything stopping him from asking her.
"Earth to John!" Matt stated.
"What? I was thinking." John responded.
"So what are you going to do?" Steve asked.
"I'm going to ask her to marry me." John answered as he got up and walked into a nearby jewlery store.
"What?" Matt and Steve asked at the same time as they followed him.
"I said, I am going to ask her to marry me." John answered.
John looked at a slew of engagement rings before he found the perfect one. It was silver with a 5 karot dimond in the center and 3 smaller diamonds on each side. John paid for the ring and it was boxed up and given to John.
"So when are you going to do it?" Matt asked.
"At the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve." John answered.
"Nice. Congrats bro." Steve responded.
"Thanks." John stated.
Once they were done at the mall, Matt and Steve headed their houses while John headed back to his parents house for dinner. John was able to sneak into the house and hide the ring before heading downstairs to find Stephanie.
After dinner was done, everyone sat down to eat. John Sr. noticed that John was acting a little differently. While the ladies cleaned up, John Sr. pulled his son aside to talk to him.
"Is everything ok, John?" John Sr. asked.
"Yeah. Why?" John answered.
"You were very quiet during dinner." John Sr. responded.
"Oh that. I had a busy day of shopping for Steph." John stated.
"Did you find something for her?" John Sr. asked.
"Yes I did." John answered with a smile.
"Why do I have a feeling that we will be planning another wedding?" John Sr. asked.
"Because I plan to ask Steph to marry me on New Years Eve at midnight." John answered.
