Chapter 69
Nic crawled out of bed and went into the bathroom. She took a very long shower and grimaced. It was now Monday and she was convinced that the hangover shouldn't last this long. But then again she did drink cocktails amongst other things.
She went back to her room and got dressed before heading over to the house. Ella was already there waiting for her.
"Hey." Ella said.
"Hello." Nic muttered.
"Are you still feeling rough?" Ella asked her.
Nic nodded and only removed her sunglasses inside.
"Why are we here El?" she asked.
Ella handed her a gift bag and watched as Nic slowly looked into it. She had placed a notebook and pen, decorating magazines a tape measure and an envelope.
"What?" Nic asked puzzled.
"Well you need to work out what you need in the way of furniture and things. And you will need curtains .too." she said.
Nic finally found the envelope and opened it looking inside she saw a $1000.
"Ella this is way too much money. We can't accept it." Nic told her.
"It's nothing Nic. It will get you started. I'm sure you can spend it wisely and get a lot for it." Ella told her.
Nic smiled.
"I will accept on one condition." She said.
Ella grinned.
"Of course I'm coming shopping with you." Ella laughed.
Nic grinned.
"Ok lets get started. Lounge. " She said. "Right lets measure the windows."
They went from room to room and measured the windows and room sizes.
Nic went once more into the smaller bedroom and looked around it. If I put my sowing table on this wall I could get my drawing board set up over here so that the natural light would fall on it." she said. "I wouldn't have to worry about getting carpet or curtains for this room until a while."
Ella nodded.
"You could get your Dad to help you move the things tonight." She suggested.
Nic nodded grinning.
"How did you know that I wanted to start moving in?" she asked.
"It's only natural you want to start your life together. I'll let you in on a secret. When I came back tot he Bay a part of me hoped that your father would still be available but I didn't realise how much I still felt for him. We waited until we were married too."
Nic looked at her.
"Seriously? Not that I really want to know about my dad's sex life but seriously."
Ella chuckled.
"Yes Missy. We wanted it to be romantic and special. So I understand why you are waiting." Ella said.
Nic went over to her and hugged her.
"I think you are wonderful." She said.
"Well you might take that back because I'm about to meddle. I've been in touch with Natalie." She began and saw Nic pale but she continued. "She's coming to the wedding."
"But how? She was broke." Nic said then groaned. "You're paying for her aren't you?"
Ella smiled.
"Yes. Nic I don't want you to look back on this in a few years time and regret not having your mother there. I miss my mother even thought she wasn't much of one." Ella paused and took a breath. "The only family I had at my wedding to your Dad was you and Mike."
Nic welled up with tears.
"When does she get here and does Dad know?" Nic asked shakily.
"I haven't told him I want to talk to you first." She said.
Nic nodded.
"She gets here on Thursday afternoon." Ella told her. "I've booked her into the Sands."
Nic looked at her.
"She is going to run up a huge bill."
Ella shrugged.
"I don't care as long as you are happy."
Nic smiled.
"You are right I was upset when she said she couldn't come." She said eventually.
"Thank you Ella."
Ella gave Nic another hug.
"Shall we go shopping?" She asked her. "Oh, and this is from Geoff." She handed Nic another Envelope.
Nic opened it slowly and read the message on the card.
"My beautiful Bride to be, I have been thinking of the perfect present for you and after Ella spoke to me about what she wanted to do I thought of this. With love your future husband Geoff."
She counted out the money.
"He can't afford this!" she gasped.
"He can. We went through it twice so that he made sure that there was still money left over to put towards the first bills when they came in. He wants you to decorate the house Nic." Ella grinned.
"And what do I give him?" she groaned.
"That tree." Ella said. "I've seen you with it. You're dad said something about it being special."
Nic nodded.
"So how about when we've been shopping we look at a place in the garden to plant it."
Nic grinned.
"That's easy it will go on the far corner. There is enough room to put a lovely seat there so I can sit under it when I'm pregnant." Nic said then put her hand over her mouth.
"You are planning on that straight away?" Ella asked with a chuckle. "I'm not quite sure how Roman will take the news."
Nic grinned.
"About the same way when you tell him you don't want that one to be an only child." Nic told her pointing to the bump.
Ella laughed.
"How did you know?" she asked grinning. "And this one has you and Mike."
"No offence Step-mama, Mike and I will love this baby to bits but we won't be growing up with him or her and that is what you want isn't it? The same thing you had with your brother."
Ella nodded, too emotional to speak for a moment.
Nic came over and held her for a long moment.
"I love you Step-mama." She said softly.
Ella nodded.
"I love you too Daughter." She murmured.
She paused and placed a hand on her belly.
"Bump kicking?" Nic asked.
Ella nodded and watched the look on Nic's face as she placed a hand on her belly.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
Ella shook her head.
"Its like a little flutter." She said. "I'm told it will get stronger."
Nic grinned.
"I can't wait for mine." She said softly a dreamy look on her face. "Mine and Geoff's baby."
She looked at Ella.
"Ddi you ever think about having a baby with anyone else?" Nic asked. "I know that is personal."
Ella grinned and ushered Nic out to the car.
"No I didn't. " she confided in the girl. "I was with Christopher for a long time but it didn't seem the right time or we weren't in a good place or just plain too busy with other things. And I have to say the thought of carrying his baby never crossed my mind."
They set off for Yabbie creek and she looked over at Nic.
"Why do you ask?"
"Geoff and I had a pregnancy scare a long time ago. And ever since then I have been paranoid about birth control. At the back of my mind I don't think I wanted anyone else's baby." Nic grinned.
They pulled up outside the second hand furniture store and went inside.
"Now make a note of what you want and we'll haggle." Ella said grinning.
Aden walked into the diner to meet with Geoff.
"Bible boy we need to talk." He said.
"What's the matter?" Geoff asked.
"Well I seem to have an interesting tattoo." Aden began. "Every time Belle sees it she laughs. And as you can imagine the times I'm naked around her the sound of her laughing is actually the last thing I need to hear right then."
Geoff blushed as he realised what Aden was referring to and tried to cover it up by taking a sip of coffee.
"You decided you wanted it." Geoff said eventually.
"Uh huh. Well from what I remember you…"
"Shut up." Geoff hissed. "It didn't happen." He said.
Aden laughed.
"And if you tell anyone I'll tell them were you got the tattoo and what it says." Geoff bargained.
"Deal. We never talk about it again." Aden said finally.
"I do have one piece of news." Geoff grinned. "You know that blonde." He said.
"The one Roman was …"
"Yes." Geoff interrupted looking over Aden's shoulder and seeing Colleen cleaning a nearby table very very slowly.
"That's it exactly you do know her. It was Ella in a wig."
Aden chuckled.
"She is a .." he trailed off. "I don't have words to describe her."
Geoff chuckled.
"I'm sure Nic and Belle will learn a few things from her."
"I hope so." Aden said his mind back on the scene in the club and he blushed.
Geoff laughed.
"So are you all set for the big day?" Aden asked.
Geoff nodded.
He reached into his pocked and pulled out a jewellery box and handed it to Aden.
"I believe youa re now responsible for these."
Aden opened the box and looked at the wedding rings. Nic's was a platinum band with diamond chips in.
"Wow they pay you too much." Aden said.
Geoff laughed.
"I've been saving for a good many years. I don't spend a lot really and Nic is worth it. "
Aden nodded.
"Now, I have to do my brother speech. If you hurt her I will stand back and let Roman deal with you. But as your brother I will hide behind you while Roman deals with you. Either way, I'm pretty sure you will die or be in hospital." Aden said. "But if you are in hospital I will visit you."
"Are you sure I mean Roman is getting on a bit and I can run really fast." Geoff said softly.
"I'm getting on a bit am I?" Roman said from behind him.
"Aden as best man I expected you to warn me about surprises." Geoff told him.
Roman and Aden laughed.
"There is something else." Geoff said. "Your best man gift."
Geoff grinned as he pulled out a gift box and handed it to Aden.
Aden looked at him.
"Geoff." He said emotionally, before grinning to try and cover it up.
He opened the box to see a designer watch.
"Are you sure you can afford this?" Aden gasped. "It's too much."
Geoff grinned.
"I told you we had money put aside for certain things. And Nic and I want you to have this. It's engraved."
Aden took it out and looked at the back.
"To Aden Jefferies The best brother Love Nic and Geoff."
"I am so chuffed." Aden gasped.
"There is more." Roman said grinning.
He handed Geoff and Aden small gift bags.
Aden looked at the gift label.
"To my son Aden from Roman." He grinned "Ok I'm going to cry like a girl in a minute." He added.
He opened the bag and pulled out another jewellery box and opened it. Inside was a pair of silver cufflinks.
"For the dress shirts I wasn't sure if you had any." Roman explained. "Nic chose them so blame her if you don't like them."
Aden shook his head unable to speak.
Roman put his hand on the younger mans shoulder.
Geoff looked at his and read out the gift label.
"To my future son Geoff from Roman." Geoff looked at his gift. "Ok that's it we need to go do something involving testosterone." Geoff said.
Roman chuckled.
The two men stood up.
Aden held out his ahdn to Roman who ignored it and gave him a hug. He did the same for Geoff and watched as they both left.
After a minute Aden walked back in and picked up the box with the wedding rings in.
"Oops." He said with a smirk and turned around to rejoin a laughing Geoff.