Chapter 29 – The Story

It was August. We were fast approaching the wedding date, Liam was now 6 months old, and it had been half a year since I gave birth to my son.

I sighed as I gripped onto my car's new steering wheel. Money was coming tight but Troy had started doing endorsements and then with selling one of our engagement photos, we were back into the okay zone.

I had just finished another meeting with Allison. The DJ was hired, flowers were ordered, and tuxedos were being fitted next week. We were using the same girl who took our engagement photos to also take our wedding photos.

Plane tickets for his family have been bought and my mom was a go to come up with Sam. The one thing we were working on was the final wedding invites. We were ready to send the Save the Dates but we had to cut twenty people from the list.

I ran my fingers through my hair as the heat steamed up the car. It was humid and stiff; Liam had been cranky all day from the horrible weather.

Sweat popped onto my forehead as my phone vibrated. Troy was away at his last camp, the normal camp. Troy was having a blast as he was playing basketball and hanging with kids.

"Hey," I said as I answered the phone, "How was your meeting with Allison,"

"We have to cut fifteen to twenty more people. The park will only let us have hundred, she said we could invite as many to the reception."

"Well, we could invite the non close Lakers to the reception. They love coming to the parties,"

"You have to talk to them," I adjusted our AC in the car as I pulled into the grocery store parking lot. "That's fine."

"You need to text me those that you don't want, so I can tell Allison. We need to get the save the dates out in the next week." I pushed on my blinker to turn on so I could steal this next parking spot.

"I will do that tonight once all the kids head to bed tonight. I promise,"

"You better Troy, I need those like now. I feel like we are slowly falling behide in this wedding. I mean we got flowers, DJ, wedding cake, tuxes are next week, and you are going with Taylor to get fitted." I added as I stopped the car. Liam whined as the AC turned off.

"Well, do we have the hall yet?" Troy asked me, I heard somebody calling his name but since we could not talk face to face, this is how we were going to do this.

"No, but I think we have an idea. Since we are taking Zeke away from his settings, he is just making the cake and then the other desserts. We have to find a cater."

"What food do you want?" Troy asked me, "Well, I think you can decide food. You are the ones eating."

"Zeke was just going to make spaghetti with all kinds of other Italian food. I say we just do that,"

"Back to the hall," I got out of the car and I unhooked the car seat, "You said you had an idea," he mentioned, "I do, it's this huge place with just basically a floor. It is two stories and it is so beautiful. We would have to bring in tables but Allison and others would worry about all that. What do you say?"

"Do it, if you want it do it, my parents are helping pitch in to pay. Didn't you say your dad left you money?" my dad had been a weak, soft subject since my birthday.

Walking into the grocery store, I found a cart and placed Liam's car seat on top. His eyes stared up at me as I talked to Troy, "Yes, more than I could imagine." I whispered as I pushed the cart through the door.

"Well, then then it shouldn't be too bad. We have just been spending money like crazy lately, that's why I was wondering if we should put the house off for just a little while."

I bit on my lip, "I don't know it just seemed like a perfect time. We already have the trip paid for last year right. So that isn't standing there in the way."

"True, but still, the once we get there and spending money part is still there,"

"Really, would you like to tell me what you might be spending money on?" he laughed, "True, I may hold you captive," I giggled as I wondered down the aisles.

"Well, call me later tonight so we can talk more." I told him, "Alright, I will. I love you, tell Liam I love him."

"I love you too," I said, Liam had gotten big. He was close to eighteen pounds, eating baby food. He had moved on to carrots and mashed up bananas.

I shoved my phone into my pocket. I tickled Liam's foot as I went down to the baby aisle. I picked up some more food for him to eat. We had been stocking up on food and then little spoons and bowls.

What Troy did not know, was that the dress had been found. It was probably the prettiest dress; Taylor even admitted she might like it more than hers. I could not wait for the day we would be walking down the aisle.

Grabbing more food to eat and some milk, I headed for the check out. I picked up a couple of magazines as my phone tickled my butt.

People these days just would not leave me alone. My mom's picture showed up and I answered, "Hey," I said, "What are you up too?"

"Grocery shopping. Getting Liam food and then picking up some food for myself."

"Well that is needed, but the reason I was calling was to talk about your wedding."

"Seems to be the only thing people want to talk about these days,"

"Well, you do know that Kyle is going to be a senior. Your wedding is going to be in September."

"Mom, my wedding is on Saturday. You and Kyle can fly in on Friday night. He doesn't have to miss any school."

"Well, where is Liam going when you are on the honeymoon?" I bit my lip, as I did not even want my mom to be around when I am not around.

"With Lucille, but you don't need to worry about it mom. We are buying your tickets for Friday leaving on Sunday morning."

"Lucille is getting my grandkid for the whole two weeks?"

"Yes, Taylor and Sharpay are going to help her out but mom, I don't want to argue about this anymore. I still don't trust you enough to have my kid stay with you." My mom sighed, "Alright, I'll just talk to you later." The grocery scanned my food as I groaned. The dial tone hit and my life was officially a mess.

Liam squirmed in his car seat while an erupt cry left his mouth. He flashed his arms and I looked at him, "What is wrong with you?" I asked, since he was six months we were using very little sunscreen on his skin.

The teenager on the end put my groceries back into the cart and I thanked him as I walked out. His crying grew louder and my hair on the back of my neck stood up. The humidity changed quickly since the last time I was out. It had grown thick, grossly thick. "I know buddy, it sucks. It doesn't snow though," I said winking at him but he barely noticed.

His wail appeared again and I loaded up the car and turned it on. I put Liam into the back while I shut his door. The humidity was sucking but it was early August. I was in my jogging shorts with a plain tank top.

Liam was only in a yellow onsie to keep the heat away from him. It did not help that his car seat was black though, that was probably not making it easy.

Driving through the town back to the house I thought about everything. From the wedding and what else still needed to be done with that. I was becoming a tad stressed about the wedding but I was trying to just stay calm. Taking deep breaths, I pulled back into the driveway.

I kept the car running as I got Liam out and headed into the house. I was hoping the house was cool and not a breeze was affecting the area.

Stepping into the house Oreo was laying on the couch with her tongue panting, it was stuffy in the house. I set his car seat by the couch as Oreo simply just looked at him. I hurried back down the stairs, turned off the car, and then grabbed all the groceries in a load.

I shut the door with my hip and hit the garage door button as it leveled down to the ground. I shut the next door with my hip as I looked at Liam still trying to get his foot near his mouth.

I dropped all the groceries on the counter as I went to adjust the AC. I turned it way down as I felt the blast over my shoulders. I shuddered, as it felt amazing.

"Come on girl, you need to go outside." I said as I picked up her small wiggling body. She had been protesting the outside too, we had her shaved once since she had a thick coat of fur and was in California.

I ushered her outside as she went barking down the deck into the shade by one of the trees. She lay down and looked up at me, "Princess," I muttered as I went back into the living room. I unbuckled Liam from his car seat and set him down onto the floor.

I sat him up and he sat up all by himself. "You are getting so big. You should really stop," I whispered as I crossed my legs. I shredded off his little sandals and my flip-flops before tossing them to the side, I stretched out my arms and Liam pulled for one of his toys.

I grabbed it for him and then kissed his forehead. "Can you please be good while I go put the groceries away?" his blue eyes pended towards mine and I shook my head. "I take that as a no. Well then, you can sit in your saucer." I said standing up grabbing him.

He said things that I would never understand as I placed him down in the saucer that was sitting in the middle of the kitchen. He bounced his legs inside as he smiled at me. I kissed his temple and then went over to start putting everything away. Troy would be home in two days from the camp.

The clock flirted with the one o clock numbers as I decided that Liam should probably be eating here shortly. Then it was naptime. He was starting to slowly have a set schedule even if it did mean getting up at five.

Usually he went to be around ten at night while not stirring until five or six in the morning. He would eat his breakfast at seven and then we would play for a little while. He would crash around nine for about two hours and then wake at noon. Then he was up for another three to four hours before crashing, once waking up from that he was usually up until bedtime. Maybe another nap in there somewhere else.

Liam pounded on the table and then cried. I glanced at him as could not get one of his toys to move. He loved playing. I knew once he was mobilized he would become crazy.

I helped him out before returning to making a small bottle and then some mashed bananas. I was making the bananas, that was easy enough but some of the others I just bought. I shoved another piece of hair behide my ear as it kept falling out of place.

Setting the food on the counter next to his high chair. I went back over to pick him up and then swung him into the highchair. He protested leaving the toys but once he saw the food, he was happy.

He loved bananas. He must take that one right from his mom. Sneaking a bite from the food, I then put a small amount into his mouth. He mashed it around before giving his wide eye approval. His brown hair was slowly creeping down towards his eyes, which just made him look like Troy.

His eyes held that same intense blue which would make me weak. His nose held the same features as mine and his ears stuck out like mine did. His cheekbones set like Troy's but those could probably change.

Drool dropped down onto his chin as I fed him another bite. I grabbed the rag sitting close by as I wiped his chin up. After the first feeding most of his food ended up on his clothes, now we usually gave up saving the clothes, we just changed him for nap.

A drop of bananas dropped from his mouth and onto his yellow onsie. Goop gathered near his mouth and I shook my head. "You are my little pig while your daddy is my big pig."

Once he finished we finished off with a small bottle to get some liquid into him. We have been talking about doing water but we wanted to talk to his doctor first.

I picked him up from his high chair and I went upstairs with him. He squirmed and I kissed his head, "Would you relax?" I asked him as I went into the bathroom, but Liam just stirred more. His voice made noises and he gripped onto my shoulder. I relaxed him into the changing table as I stripped him from the onsie. I just placed him in a diaper, as his room was still sticky. I laid him in the crib and he protested with a long cry but I walked out of the room without looking back.

It was part of sleep training. We were trying to get him to stay on a schedule. Going downstairs, I began to clean the high chair and the area around it.

My arms prickled as I did turn the AC up a little since he was just in a diaper. I felt my eyes close and a yawn drift through but my stomach rumbled.

My phone rang and I picked it up as Troy's smile looked back at me. "Hey," I answered as I grabbed the turkey from the fridge with the mayo olive oil. "So everybody is in the room's, damn, I'm tired."

"Well, your son just got done crying from being put down from a nap." I replied as I grabbed the bread. I made myself a sandwich while reaching for the watermelon in the fridge.

"Awh. I miss my little guy; care to come up for a visit?"

"Nah, working on the wedding all night. As soon as I eat my lunch, I may go take a nap with my son." Troy chuckled as I heard the crease of the bed.

"Sounds like a lot of fun. I feel like I am totally missing out." Troy sighed and I smiled as I bite into the turkey sandwich. "You aren't missing anything. Just a stressed Gabi and a growing son."

"Damn, I am missing something." I chuckled as I shifted and yawn left my mouth. "The kids don't want to be outside for long since it's so hot."

"I know Liam doesn't like it. He is just napping in a diaper."

"Well, these kids are being forced to drink water. All the basketball players are enforcing water."

"They need water, a lot of it since arent these mostly boys?" the door opened and collided shut. I peered back to see Jenni sneaking in with Carson. His lips attached to her neck, my bit down hard on my lip. "Troy, I have to go." I whispered into the phone, Troy groaned and then I shushed him. "Please, I want to talk to you."

"Unless you want your sister to have sex in this house, you better let me go." There was no word on the other line, "That's what I thought; I will call you with the details later." I hung up as I dropped my fork into the watermelon.

The two were on the couch, I mean come on did they not see my car in my garage? His hands drifted up her shirt, his short blonde hair and his green eyes hid in the crook of her neck.

I stood in the doorway as her hands went into the slip of his shorts. "You do know that your nephew is sleeping upstairs," I said from the doorway. "Fuck," Carson dropped to the floor as Jenni was startled on the couch. "Gabi! I didn't know you were home,"

"Yes, I was home on the phone with your brother." Her eyes spread open wide and then looked down at Carson. He was back in town to do this last camp.

"Carson, why arent you at the camp?" I asked looking down at him; his green eyes flashed up towards mine, his blonde hair grew blonder in the summer sun. His bronzed skin was sun kissed; I was having a fantasy with a seventeen year old. I shook my head to focus.

"Troy didn't need me; he seemed all pissy at me." I snorted and then I looked at the two of them. "You wonder why?" He rolled his eyes and then stood up.

"I have no issue with making out in this house, just as long as Troy isn't around. No sex, I do have a six-month-old baby around here and an adult like me. Mason or anybody can walk through those doors. I do not want sex; I don't want any of that in this house."

"You and Troy do it all the time."

"And I am not the one paying the mortgage but I am marrying the person that is." Jenni and Carson looked at each other, "Well since I live with my parents and so does Carson, when in the hell can we have some sex."

"Go to a party, hog a room. Fuck, Troy and I did it in your parent's house all the time." Jenni gave me a horrified look. "Jenni," I snapped towards her, "I think Carson should leave so we can talk for a while." Jenni tried to protest, "Carson, I suggest going back to the place you were crashing at. Troy knows and might ring your neck,"

"I leave tomorrow anyways, Jenni, babe I will see you later." He went over to kiss her before he scratched his neck and walked out the door. Jenni sighed before plopping down on the couch. There went my lunch and my nap.

"Jenni, are you a virgin? I mean, I do not want to be blunt but usually you cannot talk about this with your mom. Its embarrassing stuff, I understand that much. I have been there."

Jenni looked down in her lap, "I'm a virgin, yes, and I just want to get rid of it." I looked at the young girl in front of me; I have known her since she was ten. I sat down next to her, "There is no rush Jenni, Troy was my first and I know that is gross to hear but we waited. Not until after high school but we waited until we knew we were in love."

"I know you weren't his first." I shrugged my shoulder, "It was my first, and I think that is all that matters. Troy made it special."

"Weren't you a senior?" I licked my lips, "Yes, it was our official first year together. We didn't rush things, how long have you been going out with Carson?"

"A little while," she motioned her hands as in longer than we have been thinking, "Jenni,"

"Four months,"

I smiled as a tingle set loose through my stomach, "Are you in love with him?" she shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know what love is, I mean I thought I knew with your brother but we didn't click." I looked at her as she battled through her thoughts.

"Then when I am around Carson all the time, my hands will get clammy and my heart races. I just want to be with him and his touch makes me tingle inside, I don't feel as if it is love yet but I feel as if that is where we are going."

I reached in to grab her in a hug, "Then wait until that moment. Wait until he has said those three words and means them truly to you."

"Thank you, I am so happy to finally have a sister to talk to." I gave her a long smile, "We have one month and three days until the wedding."

She clapped her hands, "I am so excited! I love the dresses!" I bite down on my lip as I yawned, "I was going to take a nap but Liam should be up pretty soon so I will probably wait until later." I got up to head back in to the kitchen.

"Gabi, I can watch him if you want?" I turned back to look at her, "Nah, I think we can all hangout in the living room though." I said winking at her.

"Lost some trust didn't I," she bowed her head in shame, "Not with me but when your brother gets home, he might make you sleep in our room." She laughed, "Thanks," I laughed again.

"Is Carson really leaving tomorrow?" I asked her, "Yes, I am leaving next Monday. I just cannot believe my time here is already done. Two months like flew by."

"Wait, you are staying for your birthday arent you?" I asked her with a puzzled look, "No, I fly out two days before."

"Then you will be spending the day before you leave as your birthday." She smiled and hugged me, "Mom said she is staying here with Liam,"

"Yea, he seems to do a lot better here than at other places. So we weren't going to move him from his home,"

"So I won't be able to see my mom for two weeks, just me and my dad." I laughed; Jack was a hard ass around the house. "Damn, I remember that one time when I was sneaking out of Troy's room at 2am."

"When was this? Were you two?" I laughed and shook my head, "No, we were watching a movie."

Flashback

Troy smoothed his hand over my hair as the final scenes of Spider-man came across the screen. It was our third movie for the night, I picked one and Troy picked one then we agreed upon one.

"Mm...I love movie nights with you." I whispered as the credits flashed across the screen. "I love movie nights with you too. Do you know what time it is?" I reached for my phone on my nightstand to see the two flash across the screen.

"Holy Shit! My curfew was an hour ago!" I looked at Troy and then looked at my messages. Neither of my parents had called and I turned to Troy who looked calm.

"Well, both of my parents should be sleeping so we can just sneak you out." He tossed the blankets off us, and I scoped the floor for my shoes.

Once slipping on my flip-flops I stood as Troy slipped his hand into mine. He creaked open his bedroom door and we looked down to his parent's room to see there bedroom sealed shut.

He brushed his free hand against my shoulder. Once creeping down the stairs, past the one-step that creaked so loud it woke the entire household. Troy lifted me up from the waist as I tried not to giggle.

"God, Damnit," Troy and I both fell from the shock and stumbled down the stairs. Troy collided onto the floor and I fell on top of him, a groan leaving both of our lips. "So much for not getting caught," I whispered, Troy rubbed the back of his head.

"What the hell, Gabi your parents are calling me saying you arent home by curfew for two days now!" I glanced at Troy as I rolled over from on top of him. He stood up and then helped me stand, "What, are you two,"

"Dad!" Troy said quickly, "No, we have barely been dating nine months. Would you relax?" I thought Jack was going to explode. "Relax? My son and his girlfriend just came from his room at two in the morning,"

"From watching movies, come on dad, we lost track of time."

"What movie did you watch," Jack asked him quickly, "Spider-man, A Walk to remember, and Transformers?" Jack looked at his watch and then cursed under his breath.

"Three movies since dinner?" Troy nodded his head and Jack flattened against the wall. "Troy, get your ass back up stairs. Gabi, you better get your ass home, now." He said through clenched teeth.

"Dad, it's my fault I forgot her curfew, I don't want her getting blamed."

"Troy, you both forgot, now go!" Troy looked at me and then gave me a quick hug. "I'll talk to you tomorrow," he kissed my temple and then he handed me my keys.

"Thanks," I whispered towards him. I opened the front door and took a step out. "Don't let it happen again Troy,"

"Dad, I'm serious. I didn't mean for it to happen, isn't it better for her to be found here than dead on the side of the road?"

"Troy," his dad said but I unlocked my door to my car to forget the rest. Jack was a hard ass sometimes, just sometimes.

End of Flashback

"I was like eleven," I nodded my head, "Yea; Troy called me once he got to his room. Grounded for two days," I giggled at the memory, "Back talking to his dad when he was just trying to defend me."

"So note to self, don't let boy forget curfew," I nodded, "Just don't get caught by your dad," she laughed, "Noted,"

Liam sat in his bouncy in the doorway as he bounced up. A giggle escaped his mouth and then he bounced up again. He had been doing this for thirty minutes now.

"He seems to be totally enjoying this."

Jenni sat across the room with a magazine flipped open, "He is one of the happiest baby's I have ever met. Well, okay, he does have his moments."

"We all have our moments," Jenni added, "True,"

I was going over final details of our wedding and the last of the guest list. I emailed it away last night to Allison with all of the addresses. She said the people at her office would have them out in a few hours.

"Jenni, you should see the invitations, I fell in love with them," Jenni stood up from her spot as she plopped down next to me. "Wow and you are sending those to a hundred people?" I nodded my head; some of them are only going to people with the reception.

"Who gets to put those together?"

"Allison's people," I said giggling, "No, they come like that. I just have to buy the boxes but Allison will put all the information inside. We are her top wedding,"

"Did you know Allison before hand?" I shook my head, "Yea, we went to college together." I flipped through the article as I looked over at her. "I have all of this wedding stuff sitting in a closet; my dress is being altered again next week. I am finally going to marry Troy and it feels like its moving so fast."

"You want this to happen fast, isn't it stressful?" I shrugged my shoulders, "Not as stressful as Taylors, I mean they are taking care of a lot and then Allison, I mean shit, and she is doing a lot."

"You always seem to have help in everything, the wedding, Liam, life."

"My life has been hard, sometimes I feel as if I deserve to have this much help."

"A hard life? I don't want to seem really rude, but how has your life been hard?" I took a deep breath, as this story did not come out very often.

"Well, only a few people know this Jenni, only a few," I said slowly as I shut my laptop. I circled my thumb over my palm as I looked up at her. She almost looked scared and I looked at Liam who was innocent and happy in his little jumper.

"My mom made us move…a lot. Her job was crazy, moving us all over the damn country. There was one year we moved three times. From the age seven to fourteen, I had lived in six different places. I never had any friends, I never had solid friends, and I never wanted to get too involved because I knew it would just backfire. I was quiet." I stopped and looked at Liam again, my eyes focused on him.

"I was bullied…a lot." Jenni did not speak as I looked down at my feet, "They would corner me all the time, and tell me I was a whore or a bitch. Some of them would physically hurt me and tell me how ugly I was; ever time I would say one thing wrong it was suddenly a huge joke around school."

I sniffled as I tried to keep myself together. "It was like that at every single school and I swear it was like written on my transcript in thick red letters to never like me. I always knew the answers to all the questions and they did not like a girl like that. I was hit in the head with a kickball, knocked me out cold. Nobody even bothered to check if I was okay. Nobody said anything and a teacher finally came over to see what happened, they freaked out, and the teachers did."

"Does Troy know this?" I looked down, "Some, not all."

"He knows you were bullied?"

"He had to know why I had such a guard; it was kind of an issue for us."

"What else happened?" I licked my lips and Liam was beginning to fall asleep. I got up to reach him and then put him down in the swing in front of me. "That was probably the worst. It tore me apart to the point I cried asking my mom to stop sending me to school. I did not want to go anymore I just did not. We then moved to Texas."

"How old were you?"

"I was 15, we stayed for two years. We thought we were going to finally have a normal life of never moving. I lived out of boxes for the first six months fearing of the next move. I hated packing and once I packed, I felt settled. I felt as if that was accepting the change and I never accepted it."

"Texas, didn't you have friends?" I nodded my head, "Yea, I made friends, I joined some clubs, I made high school fun."

"Then she got a call to move?" I shifted and I nodded, "Yea, I cried for hours. I was finally happy with where I was at and they were making me move again. They making me pick up everything once more and move after I had finally accepted it. I was in a rage. They then decided to take a family vacation."

"To Colorado, where we were." I could not help but smile, "Yea, to where you guys were. You were what ten, nine?" she nodded her head, "Yea,"

"That's where I met Troy, I was still so shaken by the move, and I didn't know what to do. I sat in the corner but when they chose me, I freaked out."

"Freaked out, Troy said he freaked out."

I giggled, "We were both nervous, I just, I was nervous. Then you throw this hot guy your age in front of you, its crazy." I clicked my jaw quietly, "I remember replaying details into my journal about how he was. When I saw him in homeroom, I thought I was going crazy but it was just fate taking over."

"Troy and I grew close. Our relationship took off and he asked me out in February, after only two months of knowing each other. He then asked me to be his girlfriend right in the beginning of the summer, after several dates. That is when we started dating in full force. I was so happy, I was finally accepted, and I remember telling my mom I was not moving again. She said not until after I graduated and then my life changed forever."

I could never this part of my life without those tears. I felt as if my body already locked up, as I was not going to make it. "My life changed so quickly and I couldn't even stop it."

Flashback

I shivered as I sat in my bedroom. My mom told me to stay, to not move from this spot as if I was ten years old. A cool line traveled down my spin as I saw the flashing lights from outside. A pit in my stomach grew as I jumped off my bed. I threw open the door as I heard the sirens blare from outside my house.

My feet stumbled over my stairs; I saw a stretcher fly into my mom and dad's room. I gripped onto the stairwell and I stumbled down as people past by. I felt my body shake as something was wrong, I took deep and heavy breaths as I looked for my mom or my dad.

I felt tears choke into my eyes as my mom exited the room. Her back was turned towards me and then they came out with my dad on a stretcher doing compressions on his chest. I screamed as I saw his pale face and my legs weakened as my body choked on the tears stabbing my throat.

"Gabi," my mom said looking at me, I fell, as my body could not support me anymore. Another scream erupted from my throat as my mom came up the stairs. "Honey, I told you to stay in your room," I sobbed and my body shook. "Go grab your jacket; we are going to the hospital."

I could not move. I felt paralyzed, "Gabi," my mom said, I looked up at my mom and I nodded. Standing was an issue, I stumbled up the stairs and reached for Troy's hoodie he had left behide. Close to a year of dating, I needed his hoodie.

Going back downstairs my mom ushered me into the car. She drove down the streets as tears fell off her cheeks. Kyle was at his dad's house this weekend. My stomach clenched tightly as I felt my body start to shut down. I had no idea what was happening but my dad was on a stretcher.

"Mom, what happened?" I asked, as I suddenly did not feel anything in my mind. I could not feel anything. "He woke up having trouble breathing," she sniffled as she turned into the hospital parking lot, "Then he had a lot of pain in his chest before passing out. I called 911 and they think he had a heart attack, they were rushing him into surgery." She said as she pulled into the ER.

"Is he going to be okay?" she looked over at me and her eyes told a lot more than her answer. "I don't know Gabi, I really don't know."

My mom checked in at the desk as they talked for a moment. "They said they will have somebody out here in a little bit to check in with us."

End of flashback

"I curled up in a ball for a long time. I sat there for a long time and all I could think about was that I forgot my phone and I havent said I love you to him in a long time."

"Gabi, that, that is the night Troy and I were together and he got a phone call from you. It was just a little after one,"

Flashback

Jenni's POV

"I love this movie," Troy glanced down at me and then laughed, "We have watched this movie a hundred and one times."

"Because Finding Nemo is a classic,"

"Mom is going to kill me for letting you stay up this late," my eyes glanced at the clock to see it was a little past one in the morning. "Well, I am ten. I will be eleven in August so I think I qualify."

"For staying up late?" he asked as he took bite from the popcorn bowl. "Yea, I mean they are the ones who went out." He laughed and then his phone began to ring. He glanced down at the clock then frowned. He fished the phone out of his shorts before a small smile came over his face.

The garage door opened when Troy's voice said hey, suddenly Troy was jumping up and my head flattened to the couch. "Gabi, slow down, are you okay?"

My parents emerged and my mom looked angry. "Mom, stop talking," Troy plugged his ears and then his face changed, "I promise you, I will be right there. I will, I promise." Troy pressed end on his Blackberry before my mom looked livid. "Why is your sister still up?" Troy brushed her off as my dad helped me up.

"Mom, you can yell at me later, Gabi's dad had a heart attack and is in the hospital, I have to go." Troy mumbled as he grabbed his Nike jacket off the chair.

"What do you mean Gabi's dad had a heart attack?" Troy turned to look at them, "I mean Gabi's dad had a heart attack and she is alone at the hospital with her mom. I have to be there with her."

"Troy, it's a family matter."

"And she called me. She asked me to come up there," Troy then walked out the door grabbing his keys then the door slammed shut.

End of Flashback

I licked my lips as I pulled my knees up to my chest. Tears rested against my cheek as I felt that same feeling I did in the hospital. "That was the worst feeling calling Troy,"

"He was happy that you called him, I don't think I saw him for a whole week after that night."

"It was the worst week of my life. It was the worst summer of my life."

"Finish the story; I want to hear the end of it."

I took a deep breath, as it was the worst of it. Troy lived these details with me; Troy never left my side with those details.

Flashback

Gabi's POV

Burying my head into my knees as I had sat here for an hour. I had called Troy and he was on his way to come sit with me. A doctor had come out to tell us the surgery would take about four more hours.

I sniffled as I kept crying on and off. My mom would hug me for a while before backing off and crying herself, I shivered as the chills traveled up and down my body.

I heard the emergency door squeak open and then Troy called my name softly. I looked up and I stood as tears formed in my eyes. His hands wrapped around my waist and he squeezed me tight to his chest. "I'm so sorry baby girl," he whispered into my ear.

"I just want my dad," I cried softly into his shoulder, he smoothed my hair down and I felt my knees go weak. They buckled and Troy recovered and supported my body. We both sat down and he cradled me in his arms. "It will be okay," he whispered into my ear repeatedly.

Troy held on to me until the doctor came out of the OR, two hours early, he sat down in front of us and looked us into the eye. His scrubs were bloody and a mask hung around his neck. I felt my breathing quicken and I stood up away from Troy.

"There was a clot in his right-," the doctor began while looking me and my mom in the eye. Troy stood behide us as I felt my heart race inside my chest.

"We did everything we absolutely could to save your husbands life." My legs buckled from underneath me and then the words were said. "I'm sorry, he died on the table." I sobbed into my hand and then I looked up at him.

"No! He cannot be dead! He was alive when I went to bed, no!" I started to go towards the doctor but Troy wrapped me into a hug. I battled against him, trying to push him away and not let him comfort me. I struggled against him before I finally collapsed against his chest.

"I got you baby girl, I'm here," he whispered into my ear, "I'm sorry," I cried as I gripped my fingers around his shirt. "He can't be dead, he can't be." I whimpered as he rubbed my back in circles. He soft lips touched my temple, "I'm so sorry,"

The doctor stood there behide us as my mom sobbed in her hands and I could not let go of Troy. "If you would like to come say goodbye, he is," my mom stopped him, "Please," I broke away from Troy but I kept my fingers around the soft Nike shirt he was wearing.

His arm supported my waist as we walked back. He took us back into an empty room with a sheet over what used to be my dad's body.

My knees buckled and I started to fall but Troy kept me up and balanced. I felt my hands shake as the doctor pulled back the sheet and my dad's peaceful face reflected. My lips quivered as I turned quickly into Troy's chest. He wrapped his arms around me once more.

The next twenty minutes were a huge blur. We left the hospital and Troy helped us home. He guided my mom and me upstairs into her room as she called her sister.

Troy held me in his arms while I sobbed in bed. He never let go and people started to arrive. Sorry and I hope you feel betters started pouring through the text messages. People tried to talk to me but I only buried my head into Troy.

End of Flashback

I wiped away the few tears that slide down my face. I then rubbed my eyes, "My life was hell for a few months, not eating, not doing anything anybody asked. Almost failed a class but then I got it together."

Jenni looked down at her hands, "I can't imagine losing my dad like that,"

"I could never imagine it happening until it happened. If it was not for Troy, I do not know where I would be today. He did so much for me back then."

I suddenly felt exhausted and I looked at Jenni, "I am going to head up to bed."

"Shouldn't Troy be home in a few hours?"

"Yea, I am drained though. I am going to feed Liam and then head up to bed." Jenni nodded as she bit down on her lip, I went over to retrieve Liam as we went upstairs. I prayed that he would just take a bottle and go to bed, as I was not in the mood to give him baby food.

He sucked down the bottle faster than I thought as he fell back asleep. I laid him down in his crib as I threw a small blanket over him. I felt a yawn take over my body, as I was exhausted.

I crawled into my bed and let my eyes fall close.

"Hey," Troy's fingers touched my skin as I looked up at him. My groggy eyes looked up at him as I pulled the blankets closer to me. "Jenni told me what went down tonight, you okay?"

I sat up and I rubbed my eyes as Troy sat down next to me. "I'm fine, it was what she asked and I thought I tell her." Troy bit on his lip as he held me. Since his sixth year death anniversary on June 23, it had almost been a constant reminder.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to hide this; it's the one thing I don't want you to hide?" I shrugged my shoulders, "its part of my life now,"

"The worst part of your life," Troy corrected, I took a deep sigh. "I don't know what to feel. I just know that it hurts to think about sometimes."

Troy rubbed my shoulder as I leaned against him. "I know how that day is when it comes around but I want you to feel safe." I felt a shiver run through my body as I yawned. "I just want to sleep right now."

"Well, on the bright side. I am done with camps until next year when I am knocking it down to three. Fewer kids will be coming and we have learned from our mistakes. Another bright side would be that we are getting married in one month."

"Not yet, it will be a month from your sister's birthday, which is on Wednesday."

"She flies out on Monday,"

"I know, so I decided that on Sunday we will spend the day celebrating her birthday."
"I got her a gift card and some clothes from Wet Seal and Forever 21,"

"Good, she will enjoy them."

I buried myself into Troy as we both rested in bed. I played with the hem of his shirt as my mind drifted I was asleep. A loud crash came and then a howl in Liam's room. Troy and I both shot out of bed and went running down the hallway.

Jenni was coming up from the stairs as we met in Liam's room. His cry sounded louder and Troy pushed through the room. I was quick to Liam's side as there was glass on his floor. Troy looked around trying to figure out where it came from.

His crying did not stop, Troy picked up the shattered glass that was lying on the floor. "What the hell broke?" Troy asked I surveyed the area as I finally found it. "The baby monitor screen shattered," I said picking up the little TV thing. Liam was not calm yet so I left the room with him as the two siblings finished cleaning the mess.

I rubbed Liam's back in soothing circles as I kissed his temple. His diaper also needed to be changed and he was probably going to sleep in the bassinet in our room for the night.

"Troy, can you grab a diaper change for Liam?" he did not respond but returned with the diaper. "Can you change him? Since his thing broke, I was just going to have him sleep in here."

"Sounds fine to me, go back to bed." He kissed my forehead and I went back to crawl into bed.

I laid on my stomach in my tank top and little shorts. "Liam," I said tapping my fingers in front of him. He was lying on his tummy and Troy was next to me with no shirt.

Our AC went out and was not going to be fixed until later tonight. Troy was leaning up against the couch as sweat tapped his forehead. It was Saturday and we were trying to figure out what we were going to do with Jenni tomorrow.

"You should just let her chose,"

"I know, but," Troy's eyes glanced over Liam as he ran his fingers through his hair. The heat was sweltering in the house but outside was just a whole lot worse. The pool was not even cold anymore, as the heat would not let up.

Liam raised his head and patted his hand against the floor. We had taken a car ride to replace the monitor and go out to eat for breakfast.

"Troy, don't stress about it." He licked his sweaty lips then he reached out a little. Liam made a noise and we both jumped, Troy adjusted as he fixed his shorts. I sat up and I felt my self-yawn, it was hot and it was exhausting.

My lips tasted like salt as sweat formed on my forehead. Liam was lying in a diaper, "He is officially big." I mumbled as I sat up, Troy let his eyes gaze of my body. My grey tank top attached to my body and my Nike shorts bunched up.

Troy's eyes leveled with mine and then he started to reach forward to grab his cell phone. "Liam," Troy said as he tried to get the weird tension away from the air.

Liam grinned as he flopped his legs and then he was on his knees. "Troy, did you see that?" I asked Troy looked at Liam who had his knees under his body. His hands were on the ground and Troy's eyes widened. He fumbled with his phone as he tried to record what was happening.

Liam then stuck his hand out to move one arm. Then the other, I backed away as I slide backwards. "Liam," his eyes looked at me and he smiled, he was crawling. Liam was officially crawling.

He crawled almost right to me before flattening out again. He made a face before he got back up to do it again. His swift motions made it look like he had done it before.

I smiled as I finally picked him up. "Now we have to baby proof the house!" I said as I kissed his cheek, he wrapped his little arms around my neck, "Awh," Troy said as he joined in on the family love. He wrapped his arms around my waist as he kissed my temple. "Big guy! Soon enough you will be walking!"

Liam sensed the air around him as he smiled; he reached out for Troy's nose as he pulled him in. Troy laughed as Liam finally reached for him. Troy picked him up and then kissed his temple. "Well, does that mean we can run to the store and buy baby proofing stuff?"

Troy was sweating as if he was playing basketball. "Yea, just get him dressed." I said as I rolled over. Troy stood up with Liam as he tickled his stomach. I knew we would probably go out to lunch or an early dinner. I packed the diaper bag while Troy and Liam got ready to go.

I slipped on my flip-flops, as I was ready to hit the road. Jenni burst through the door and then she slowly backed out. "Why is it so hot in here?"

"AC is out, where have you been?" I asked as I put my hands on my hips, "With Jillian and Haley, out shopping. I think I may flag them back down."

I laughed, "You know, we are leaving again. Liam just crawled across the living room. So we have to go get gates and baby stuff to keep him out of things."

"He is crawling? Awh!" she jumped up and then stripped off her top shirt. "Well, I am most defiantly coming. When are they coming to fix it?"

"Later tonight."

She groaned and I laughed, I slung the diaper bag over my stroller as Troy came down the stairs, "I am so ready to go. It is so much hotter upstairs. I felt like suffocating."

I raised an eyebrow at him and Liam was starting to sweat. "Come on, everybody in the car."

Troy cranked the AC up before peeling out of the driveway.

Troy placed the last gate up as I clicked the final lock on the pantry. Liam had been crawling around like a champion but he would get tired and lay before getting back up. You would think at six months old he would not be this active. The AC had turned back on; I was now in a hoodie with some shorts. Liam was crawling around in his onsie while Troy was in a tshirt and shorts.

"Damn, this became an obstacle course," Jenni said as I threw the last piece of trash away. "You know, it's only going to get worse when he can walk."

"Oh God," I mumbled as Liam crawled towards my feet. I bent over to pick him up but he was having fun being mobile.

I fell into the couch as a yawn escaped my mouth. Troy picked up Liam and collapsed next to me. "Let the fun times begin."

I laughed as I let my headrest against Troy's shoulder. Liam rested his head against Troy's chest, "I should probably feed him and get him off to bed."

"Yea, he has been a little runner all afternoon. He knew he could pick it up so fast."

"It's just scooting across the floor, nothing big." Troy and I did not move, "Allison texted me, she wants us to chose the song we will dance to as our first song."

Troy scratched his neck, "We never really had a song."

"I know that. That would be why I have been listening to a few songs. I have two that are my top favorites. We just need that song that tells our story."

"Alright, what songs would they be?" Troy asked as he shifted Liam, "Just a Kiss by Lady Antebellum or A Thousand Years by Christina Perri."

Troy scrunched his eyes together, "I don't think I have heard either of them."

"I put them on your phone; I just need your opinion soon." I said snuggling into him, "We have to find the one,"

"The one that tells our story,"

"The one that tells about our love story," I said softly, "I am not doing Taylor Swift," Troy said flopping his head over to look me in the eye. I giggled and nodded, "No Taylor Swift…even though I love her."

He chuckled, "I love you."

There. You. Go. I hope you all enjoy this update! They are getting super close to there wedding date! Ekk! I am keeping a lot underwraps until the wedding chapter. I want to make it all a surprise of what is going to happen. Now, you do get some say in the wedding song. I am putting another poll up on my profile. You can choose between the two songs and the final result will be released on the wedding date. :) Whatever you think will be best and if you havent heard these songs yet, you need to listen to them. They are amazing :)

For those that read The Truth About Love, there will be an update soon but I have decided there is only five chapters left in the story. :( I know it sucks a little but I have another story coming out on February 5th, so you have to be looking out for that! That story is going to have a set date to be updated, I will explain more though when the time comes closer.

So, I hope everybody is has a great rest of the day! : )

PLEASE REVIEW! Let's push me over 610! :D