It's finally Saturday, Juli's first day off in what feels like forever. Today is even more exciting for her because she has planned a Skype date with her mother. She hasn't been able to see her mother since she's moved to back to the east coast.
Juli has taken her time getting out of bed. Once she has, she grabs a bowl of cereal and sends a quick "ready to Skype" text to her mother, before setting back into bed with her laptop.
[Computer starts ringing]
"Mom! I finally get to see you! Oh! Your hair looks amazing! When'd ya get it done?"
"Annie! Thanks babe, I just got it done yesterday." Juli's mom pauses to run her fingers through her newly styled hair. "Paul! Come say hi before you leave!"
"I didn't think Dad would still be home!"
"Yeah, you know your father; he can't be on time to save his life."
Juli's dad appears on the screen, "Hey ya honey. I sure miss you."
"I miss you, too, Dad!"
"I'm running a tad late pumpkin. I'll call you later, 'kay?"
"Sure thing, Dad. I love you! Tell the guys I said hi and that I love them!"
"Sure will. Love you." With a wave, her dad is gone.
"Funniest thing happened a few days ago, Annie. Well, may not be too funny but anyway. I ran into Amber at the bridal store when I was with Carrie." Carrie is Juli's soon to be sister-in-law.
"How is Amber?" Juli tries to ask without sounding completely disinterested.
"Um…" Juli's mom goes silent.
"Mom, first off, at the end of the day, she's my cousin, and you're allowed to talk about her. Second, you brought her up; you can't just go all silent now! How is she?"
Juli's mom just blurts it out, "PREGNANT!"
"Oh, well, good for them." Never mind the fact that Greg said he never wanted to have kids while we were together…
"See, it's funny because now she can't fit into her wedding dress. She's gotten so big that a simple alteration to the dress she has now, just won't do it."
Juli laughs. That image makes me feel a bit better.
"How is all the wedding stuff going with Carrie?"
"Good! Hailee's helped, a lot! Bless her heart. They're both coming over in an hour or so to pick floral arrangements. We're all just happy that Kristy isn't here to stick her two cents in."
Juli rolls her eyes and nods in agreement. Kristy is her brother, Ryan's, girlfriend and a self-proclaimed, "amazing planner of parties and weddings." Even though everyone knows they always turn out disastrous.
"Tell the girls hi for me, will you? I miss them! I don't have any girl friends here. So, they are definitely missed."
"I will, they miss you too. Carrie definitely misses having you around during all this wedding planning. It's fun though, planning. I can't wait to plan my only daughter's wedding. When are you going to start dating again, Annie?"
"Funny you should mention it, Mom."
"No! You're dating again? How many dates have you been on? How come you haven't told me sooner?"
"I've been dating one guy mom, sorry to disappoint you."
"Disappoint? One guy, that's even better! Is it serious?" Juli can see that her mother is smiling from ear to ear.
"I think it's serious, he's a commitment phobe, so we aren't really classifying this as anything more than 'we are together.' We're happy Mom, I'm happy."
"If you're happy, then I'm happy. What's this guy's name?"
"Harvey, Harvey Specter."
"Why does that name sound familiar? You've talked about him before, haven't you?"
"I'm sure I have, he's senior partner at the firm." The second that leaves Juli's mouth, her mother immediately grins.
"Oh, senior partner, ey?"
Juli's extremely embarrassed now, "Yes, senior partner. He's my boss… it's as awkward as you'd imagine it'd be."
"Oh honey, I bet! How long have you been together?"
"It has been a while now. We started dating about… two months after I started at the firm."
"FOR THAT LONG? You're just now telling me about it?"
"Sorry, it's just… we started off rough, to be honest, it's been rough a lot. But I didn't want to jinx it. We're good now, that's why I'm telling you."
"What do you mean, 'it's been rough?'"
"The usual stuff, just trying to juggle our crazy work schedules, Greg, and life. It hasn't been easy for me, to let him in, into my life.
"You two were together then, when Greg came and invited you to the wedding?"
"Yes, he was here when Greg brought the letter. Plus, he went and seen Greg at his hotel. He may have even punched Greg in the face." Juli tries not to laugh, but it is funny.
"Oh my! I don't know Annie, punching Greg?"
"I was mad at first, too, Mom, but really, it was nice of him. He was protecting me. Because, trust me, I wanted to punch him too." Juli can tell that her mother isn't fully focused on talking with her; she's doing something else on the computer.
"But anyway Mom, I wanted to start off by telling you about him, before I told the others."
"Everyone will. Be happy. If you are. Happy."
"Mom, what are…"
"JULIANNE MARIE! How come you didn't mention Harvey was VERY attractive?"
"What? How?"
"Google. I do know how to use the internet, dear."
Juli just laughs, "Yes, he is very attractive. I didn't mention that because, that's not what's important."
"Good for you honey." The doorbell at Juli's mom's house rings. "Hold on dear, that might be Hailee or Carrie."
"Okay."
Juli can hear chattering and it's becoming louder.
"Julianne, is that you?" Juli sees her sister-in-law Hailee and her soon to be sister-in-law Carrie.
"Hey girls!"
"Juli, wish you were here to help out with the wedding, I feel like I am driving your mom and Hailee insane" Carrie says with a huge smile.
"I'm sure you're not Carrie. Oh Carrie, while I have you for a second, I've been thinking about something…"
"This can't be good," Hailee and Juli's mom say simultaneously.
"You two be quiet! I was thinking Carrie, maybe, if you can, sneak away to New York for a few days. I can ask for vacation days, and we can shop for wedding dresses here. I mean, I know it's something you've been doing with Hails and my Mom, but you're not having much luck there. What do you say? I'll pay for your flight and everything! It'll be my bridal shower present to you, since I know I'm going to miss that."
"Julianne! Are you sure? Oh my gosh, that'd be amazing! That's if you two don't mind?" Carrie turns and faces Hailee and Juli's mom. They both say it's no problem and would love for her to go.
"Juls, you're the absolute best! At work on Monday I'll see when it's best for me go visit and I'll let you know, that way you can ask for time off. Do you think you'll have a hard time asking for time off?"
Juli's mother interjects, "I would think not, since she's dating her boss!"
"MOTHER!" The two girls look at the monitor at Juli.
"Mom! I can't believe you just said that, yes I'm dating my boss, well, he's A boss of mine. The one I ask for time off from isn't him, so wish me luck!"
"Sorry Annie, I just had to out you to them! I'll fill them in on Harvey during our planning session right now. I'm going to hang up now, okay?"
"No worries Mom. I love you, I love all of you! Have fun!"
Juli hears I love you, too's and she closes her laptop.