*Thank-you for all the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much. = )
A couple months later we were in West Newbury for Thanksgiving. Dave's mom had come for dinner and afterward we were planning on telling my parents and his mom about our wedding and about me being pregnant. I was hoping Thanksgiving would be a lot better this year because last year it was pretty much a mess. Everything seemed to be going well so far. My parents were loving Zachary and were amazed at how big he had gotten since the last time they saw him and they were getting along with Dave's mom very well. They both liked her a lot which was a very good sign. No one had an idea that I was pregnant except I think my mom suspected because when I was helping her with dinner while Donna was out of the kitchen she said to me, "So Tessa, how is everything going?"
"Good," I said. "Zachary is really becoming a handful. I miss him so much, Mom. I feel like I hardly see him. I have missed everything."
"Your job is that demanding?" she asked.
"Yeah," I said, "I'm trying to work from home and just go in for meetings. I think it would be easier that way. I want to be with my baby."
"I see," she said, "remember before you were pregnant you swore up and down that you wouldn't let the baby interfere with your career?"
"Yeah. I remember."
"Things change don't they?"
"Yep. A lot of things have changed, Mom. I am not who I thought I was. I am a different person… I am me and not the person everyone wanted me to be."
"Honestly, Tessa, I like this person better."
"Me too," I said as I handed her the yams that I cut up.
"And you look so beautiful. You look so happy and you are glowing," she said with a smile.
"Thanks," I said. "I'm not glowing at all."
"You're glowing," she said with a smile. "Are you pregnant?"
I didn't know what to say. I figured I should tell her the truth so I said, "Yes, Mom. I am."
I waited to hear her yell or say something belittling but she didn't. She smiled at me and said, "congratulations, Tessa. It's a little soon but congratulations."
"Thank-You," I said, "but Dave and me were planning on tell you guys after dinner so can you act surprised when we tell you?"
"Absolutely," she said. "When are you due?"
"May 13th," I said.
"At least Zachary will be a year old."
"Yeah," I said, "I couldn't believe it. I was on the pill but it didn't work. I was taking the pill correctly but still I got pregnant. Dave and me still don't know what we're going to do about it."
"What do you mean?"
"We're not prepared at all for another baby. Zachary is a handful enough. I don't know what's going to happen when we have a 5 year old, 15 month old and a newborn. It's going to be pretty crazy around our house."
"Yes it is," she said, "but you are so blessed. I was never blessed to have another child. Take joy that you have been given the chance to have another child."
"I do feel blessed but I could have been blessed a little later down the road," I said. I never said I didn't feel blessed because I did I just wish it would have happened later down the road.
"And don't worry Dave is an amazing Dad. I see him with Zachary all the time and I've seen him with Max. He is great with the kids so you have nothing to worry about."
"I guess you're right," I said as Donna came back into the kitchen. We went back to cooking dinner and it wasn't bad at all. We were joking and talking about everything. Donna was telling me stories about Dave when he was younger and oddly enough Zachary seemed to be just like him. His mom also promised me baby pictures of Dave and pictures of Dave from when he was little the next time she came to visit. It would be the perfect pay back since Dave had been shown all my baby pictures and childhood pictures. My dad made sure he showed them to him that week we were there. The only thing that sucked about my childhood pictures was that there were none without John in them.
Our dinner went very well this year. It was much better compared to the previous year. There was no hostility and my grandmother had even forgiven me for my actions. She had really fallen in love with Zachary and for someone that didn't want to be in his life because of how he was made surely held him a lot. I was very happy to see that Zachary was getting the chance to know his Great Grandmother. Everything had gone so smoothly and the funny thing is as much as I talked about eating yams for dinner I didn't. I just couldn't because the baby didn't want me to. It really sucked because I wanted them so badly but the baby disagreed. It didn't matter because everything else went great.
After dinner I helped my mom clean up and so did Dave. I thought that was a really nice gesture of him but he was a smart man. It's always a good idea to butter someone up before you spring some surprising news on them. Once everything was cleaned up and put away we went into the living room so that we could tell them the news. I was beyond nervous because I didn't know how anyone was going to act. "So what's going on?" asked my dad.
"We just wanted to talk to you," I said.
My mom gave me a knowing glance. If only telling them I was pregnant was the only thing I needed to say. She had no idea what was coming her way. "About what?" she asked.
"Some stuff," I said with a smile. She smiled back at me.
"How is the wedding planning coming?" asked my mom.
Dave and me looked at each other with a shocked expression. She couldn't have known and there was no better timing than then to bring up our wedding. "I'm so glad you brought that up," I said as Dave took my hand.
"So how is it coming?" she asked.
"Well, about that," I said, "There isn't going to be a wedding."
"What?" asked my dad. "I've already paid for some things and now there isn't a wedding?"
"Sir, I can reimburse you for the money you've spent," said Dave.
"Tessa, honey, what's going on?" asked my mother.
"Well, there isn't really an easy way to say this so I'm just going to go out and say this."
"Go ahead," she said. "Are you two breaking up?"
"No. Not at all," I said.
"So you two just aren't getting married?" she asked.
"Well," I said, "we may have already gotten married."
"What!" They all said at once.
"We got married already," I repeated. The looks on their faces were priceless. They looked shocked and confused. Except for my dad he looked upset. I guess that's a normal reaction for someone whose daughter just got married and he won't be able to walk her down the aisle.
"What?" asked my mom. "When?"
"About 3 months ago. August 20th," I answered.
"Tessa, are you joking?"
"No, Mom, I'm not. We really did get married in August. It was a private ceremony with two friends and Zachary."
"Well, what about us?" asked my dad, "what about me walking you down the aisle?"
"I know, Dad but with work and everything it was all too much. I couldn't plan a wedding and neither could Dave. Our best move was to elope. It was a very beautiful wedding though. We got married in Central Park. Afterward we had diet coke and hot dogs. Then we took a carriage ride through the park and ate ice cream. It was simple but it was amazing."
"I have always wanted to walk you down the aisle," said my dad, "you're my only little girl. You're my only child period. I would have liked to have been there."
I could tell my dad was hurt and I felt really bad. "I'm sorry, Dad. I probably should have let you walk me down the aisle but I just wanted to get married and get it over with."
"So you two are married?" asked my dad.
"Yes, Sir," said Dave.
"I guess there's no reason to be angry. I am hurt but I'm happy for you, Tessa. I'm happy for you too, Dave. Welcome to the family," he said with a small smile as he shook Dave's hand.
"Thank-you, Sir," said Dave with a slight nod.
"Congratulations," said my mom.
"Thank-you," I said as she hugged me.
"I wish you would have done this differently but it's your life and you can get married however you want. So how is married life?"
"It's good," I said looking at Dave. "It's very good. Getting married was one of the best days of my life."
"I am really happy for you two," said my mom with a smile.
"And there was something else we wanted to tell you," said Dave. I was allowing him to take this one since it was his fault mainly. Okay, maybe we were both at fault but I dropped the wedding bombshell on everyone he could drop the baby bombshell.
"I don't know what else you could possibly tell us that will top the wedding announcement," said my dad.
"You'd be surprised," said Dave as he looked at me.
"Oh God," said my dad. "Am going to need to take an Asprin for this announcement?"
"Probably," I said with a smile.
"This doesn't sound good," he said as Zachary woke up from his nap. That kid had perfect timing too. I thought it was great that my mom asked about the wedding before we announced we had already gotten married and then right before Dave announces the baby Zachary wakes up. They both had excellent timing. I got up to get Zachary before Dave could tell anyone about the pregnancy.
"All right," I said when I came back with Zachary. "You can tell them now."
"Okay," said Dave. "Well, Tessa and me are having another baby."
"What?" asked Donna. "All ready?"
"Yes, Mom, all ready," said Dave. "it was a big surprise for us."
"I bet," said my dad, "I didn't see that one coming. So Zachary and this baby are going to be how far apart?"
"15 months," said Dave.
"Good luck to both of you," he said with a smile. "Maybe you two are the ones that will need the asprin."
"Or a bottle of vodka," I said.
"Tessa!" said my mom.
"I'm just kidding. I can't drink while I'm breast feeding," I said, "unless I pump before I do."
"Tessa might be on the right track with that vodka theory," said my dad. "A newborn and a 15 month old it's not going to be a peaceful house."
"I know, Dad, we're going to have our hands full but we are hoping for the best."
"I'm sure you two are going to be okay," said my mom. "I know you two can do it."
"Thanks," I said.
"So when are you due?" asked Donna.
"May 13th," said Dave.
"A spring baby," she said.
"Yeah so this time we won't have to worry about a snowstorm."
"Oh yeah. That's right Zachary was born in snowstorm on Valentine's Day," said my mom.
"Yeah after hours of labor. I was so glad when it was over. I hope this one goes fast."
"I hope it goes fast for you too," said my mother. "Any names picked out?"
"We haven't even gotten that far. We're still letting the shock sink in," said Dave, "and besides we waited till we saw Zachary before we named him. I think we are going to do the same with this one. Right, Tess?"
"Yeah because that worked so well," I said, "he was nameless for hours."
"But he still left the hospital with a name," said Dave.
"True," I said.
"And this time I hope it's a girl," said Dave. "I have two boys. I want a little girl."
"I want a girl too," I said. "But as long as it's healthy it doesn't matter."
"A granddaughter would be nice," said my mom, "but Tessa is right as long as it's healthy is all that matters."
We continued to talk about mine and Dave's marriage and the baby for a little bit longer. They were all pretty happy about the baby and they took both sets of news very well. They took it better than I expected. As we finished talking Dave and me took Zachary for a walk because it was a pretty nice day outside. It was about 55 degrees so we took advantage of it to get Zachary outside to get some fresh air. It felt so good to walk with my husband and my son. Although when we passed John's mom's house I saw that he was home. I don't know why it mattered to me so much but I just wished John would walk outside to see how happy I was and to see how much better my life was but he never came out. He was probably inside watching football with his brothers and playing with his niece. I wondered about John a lot because I still cared about him. I wanted to know if he was doing all right, I wanted to know what was going on in his life and I wanted to know if he found someone to love. I doubted I'd ever stop caring because John was a big part of my life, he was my best friend, he used to be in my life everyday but now he was a complete stranger. I wondered what he would say about me being married and having another baby. I liked to think maybe he would be happy for me but I would never know. Dave and me continued to walk but I couldn't help but to look back at John's house. I just wanted my best friend back but I think it was time I moved on and realized he was gone forever. "Are you okay?" asked Dave.
"Yeah," I said. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said with a smile as he softly kissed my lips before we continued walking.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for taking the time to read.