Holden House…
"Claudia Joy, you didn't have to have my shower at your house. My house would've been fine," said Charlie looking at the many pink decorations that adorned the living room.
"Oh Charlie it isn't a problem, I've hosted a ton of parties here," said Claudia Joy, "Denise's baby shower for Molly was here."
Denise nodded in confirmation and then looked down sadly, "And my son's fiancée's bridal shower was here as well."
"How's Tonya doing?" asked Claudia Joy attempting to change the subject, "I mean you two still talk right?"
"Yeah, we do," said Denise, a small smile forming on her lips, "In fact, I invited her to the shower. I talked it over with Charlie of course first."
"I said it would be fine," said Charlie.
Roxy clapped her hands excitedly, "Yeah, I miss Tonya."
The doorbell rang, "I got it!" Emmalin shouted. Several moments later, Emmalin and Tonya entered the living room. Tonya carried two pink bears in her arms.
"It is so good to see you," said Denise hugging Tonya.
"Good to see you too," said Tonya, "And you must be Charlie," she said nodding towards her.
"Yes, I am," said Charlie shaking her hand.
"And Tonya, this is Sophie Clarke, Jackie's daughter," said Claudia Joy.
"Nice to meet you," said Sophie. Tonya nodded.
"So before we start all of the cute games and gift giving," said Roxy, "How are things with you and, um…"
"Blake," supplied Tonya helpfully.
Roxy chuckled, "Yeah Blake."
"Not much to tell," said Tonya shrugging her shoulders, "I mean I didn't come down from Virginia to talk about my personal life. I came to celebrate the impending arrival of her two little ones with you guys."
"Well we have plenty of stuff planned," said Gloria happily, "There's food, there's games, there's cake…"
"Okay she gets it Gloria," chuckled Jackie.
"Sorry, I love parties and I love babies," said Gloria.
The ladies sat around the Holden living room, including Emmalin and Sophie, and played many games and exchanged many gifts. Somehow the afternoon conversation led to exchanges of how they met each other's spouses, mainly when Tonya brought up the subjects.
"So Charlie how did you and Captain Galassini meet?" she asked.
"Well I was getting my masters in childcare at Syracuse and Niki was stationed at Fort Drum at the time. I went out to a karaoke bar with my roommate and Niki was there singing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun horribly off key," laughed Charlie.
"Then why was she at a karaoke bar?" asked Emmalin raising her eyebrows.
"Evidently, she lost a bet with some girls in her platoon," said Charlie, "So I cheered to drown out those who were booing her and she bought me a drink. And the rest is history. How about you?"
"Well it started with an illegal affair," said Denise.
"Denise!" shouted Tonya, "Okay yes, he's a Major and I was a Specialist. And to be honest with you he was a complete you know what hole when we first met right before we deployed to Narubu."
"Yet, they couldn't stay away from each other," chuckled Roxy.
"So he transferred to Fort Lee so it wouldn't jeopardize the relationship and I joined him after my contract was up," said Tonya, "And Denise, mine might have been illegal but at least I didn't meet my boyfriend treating him for jumping out of a plane without a parachute!"
"She's got you," chuckled Claudia Joy.
"Now this I've got to hear," said Gloria.
"Yes, I was still a nursing student doing my clinicals when I was to treat a soldier who had injuries from jumping out of a plane. Turns out it was bet to see who could jump out of a plane without a parachute and live," said Denise smiling at the memory, "But I'm not the only one who married someone I met while I was supposed to be doing college work. Claudia Joy."
"I can't believe you're bringing that up," said Claudia Joy.
Emmalin started laughing but covered her mouth when her mother's eyes landed on her, "Sorry Mom, but it is an amusing story. She was supposed to be in a political science lecture but the only part of the lecture she focused on was Dad."
"Oh hush," said Claudia Joy smiling at her daughter, "You wouldn't be here if I had paid attention that day."
"At least your Dad wasn't kissing up to the Post Commander and then nailing his daughter behind his back," said Sophie, "And still is to this day."
"Sophie Rene Clarke," said Jackie raising her eyebrows at Sophie.
"You?" asked Gloria, barely holding her laughter, "Running off with the solider who's your father's best new recruit?"
"Yes," said Jackie, covering her face embarrassedly, "I was still living with my parents and Kevin just randomly broke formation to get my name and phone number."
"And had to do fifty pushups because of breaking formation," said Sophie, "Grandpa was not happy when he found out Lieutenant Clarke was sleeping with his daughter."
"But like Mrs. Holden said, you wouldn't be here if I hadn't been a rebel in my twenties now would you?" asked Jackie playfully.
"No rebellious is meeting your husband on , communicating for a month, and then marrying him after your second in person meeting," smirked Gloria.
"No rebellious is having two kids, from two different Dads," said Roxy, "I was married to TJ's Dad until he punched me, and I was 'just friends' with Finn's Dad. And then I married Trevor after knowing him for four days," said Roxy.
"Okay, the prize for the best 'How I Met My Husband' story goes to Roxy Leblanc," laughed Charlie, "But Gloria's and Jackie's are close seconds and thirds."
"Well now that we've had lunch, how about some gifts!" said Gloria. The gang spent the rest of the afternoon watching Charlie open the many stuffed animals, outfits, bottles, diapers, wipes, and various trinkets. The group had also pitched in to buy a double stroller and Gloria invested in two spa gift cards and two 'Proud Mommy' shirts for the mommas.
"Wow Gloria, do you know how hard it'll be to try to get Niki to a spa?" questioned Charlie jokingly. She knew very well her wife wasn't a girly girl.
The girls laughed, "Trust me after about a month with two screaming infants, she'll want some alone time to be pampered," said Claudia Joy. Roxy, Denise, and Jackie nodded in agreement.