Lila was talking on her earpiece arguing with her boyfriend Bruce, when she was packing her suitcases, or should say her maids, packing her suitcases. Bruce kept saying that Lila shouldn't be traveling due to her "delicate condition" and should stay in Sweet Valley. Lila snapped and told him she was a big girl and could handle herself. After a few minutes, they hung up, apologizing to one another.
Lila couldn't understand why Bruce was so overprotective these days. No way he knew she was pregnant, Lila threw away the stick. Or at least she hoped so. She still didn't know what to do. Her best friends Jessica, Cara, Alex knew, same with her mom. Thankfully her friends supported her, and said they'll support Lila no matter what. Grace Fowler was understandably upset on Lila's choice. She said she'll pay for any costs on Lila's decision. But her and Lila had a good talk. Her father George didn't know, Lila was too afraid of her father's opinion.
"Miss Fowler, your bags are packed."
"Thank you Janet. My makeup, jewelry, and hair products?"
"All packed carefully in the silver bag."
"Thank you both. Janet, Vicky, take the rest of the day off."
"Thank you Miss." The maids leave. Lila heard them leave, but couldn't care less if they gossip about her. Too bad the family servant Eva retired a few years ago. She was like Lila's almost mom. She helped take care of Lila while she was growing up. She bought Lila pads, when she started her period, and helped her pick out her first bra. She often helped put together Lila's childhood club, The Unicorn Club's snacks back in the day. She was there as a maternal figure, even when Grace returned. When she retired and announced she was moving to Georgia with her adult daughter, Lila cried. The Fowlers threw her a giant farewell party and gave her a custom made gold necklace. They refused to take it back, when Eva tried to return it. Her dad gave her her last paycheck as well as a huge bonus plus some stock in his company. Eva sobbed and thanked them. Before she left, her and Lila had a tearful goodbye.
Eva wrote back often, she had a computer, but preferred letters. Her last letter said her daughter was expecting and she was excited to be a grandma. Lila wrote back her congratulations and sent her a gift card at Baby Time.
Lila looked down at her belly. If she has it, her and Bruce need to get married, ASAP. She always wanted a huge expensive wedding with her favorite designer creating it. But a shotgun wedding? On the other hand, call the clinic and she can go back to her life. She was still deciding when her phone rang, it was her pilot saying that the plane would be ready to leave at six.
Lila wished she asked her maids to take her suitcases downstairs, she had too many.
Jessica and Cara were waiting for the car. Cara teased Jessica for packing too many clothes. Jessica remarked that it was New York, what if a movie producer saw her? Besides, they were there to have fun. Brooke and Billie were already at the airport, same with Lila. Apparently, Lila needed help carrying her suitcases down and poor Steven and Winston were stuck helping her load when they came to pick up Lila.
When the car arrived, both Cara and Jessica climbed in. Two hours later they were in the air. Cara was too tired to talk about anything and fell asleep. Jessica was excited to see Elizabeth again. Its been months since they last talked face to face.
When Elizabeth and Jessica talked the night before, Jessica was nervous. She missed their conversations. But when Elizabeth mentioned Nick, Jessica lost her voice. Immediately, she was a college student again. Nick sacrificing his career just for her.
Jessica told no one, not even her sisters, that she was waiting for Nick. Deep down inside, she always knew he was alive. The night her "angel" saved her life, Jessica knew the sacrifice Nick made just for her. Todd was a mistake, Jessica regretted it everyday. But if Nick was calling her twin, maybe he couldn't find Jessica. She was embarrassed to admit, she still wrote "Jessica loves Nick" every year on their anniversary. She hoped Nick was still available.
Billie missed Austin and Steven. She was staying for three days. She was originally going to see the play and fly back early the next day, but she wanted to visit Elizabeth, her sister in law. Little Austin kept asking for "Auntie Liz." She heard of a new magazine that was being published in Los Angeles, she was going to ask Elizabeth to apply for it. That way she could come home.
Brooke made a appointment for several boutiques. She was going to have a great wedding. She had everything, except the gown.
The next day all four women were standing in front of Elizabeth and Maria's door. Jessica was shaking in excitement. When the door opened, Jessica threw her arms around her. When Maria Slater laughed, Jessica's face was a red as a tomato. Especially when her friends started laughing.
"Elizabeth's at work. One of her editor's quit, and she had to come in. Everyone come in. I have coffee and snacks. I also have have juice and Evian if no one wants caffeine."
The sounds of gossip and laughter were heard through the small apartment. Maria called Johanna and her sister Julie came over as well. Both Johanna and Julie knew Jessica mostly their whole lives, but got her autograph anyway. It was almost a reunion. Cara was smiling and laughing. The DA allowed her to come, but she needed to be back in a few days. The first trail was about to start, and the DA wanted to get Cara's statements first. Cara was terrified. Especially when she had to meet up with that cop, Nick Fox. Lila offered her suite, there was security everywhere.
Just for today, she was going to forget. She was currently drinking coffee and catching up on old times with her friends and fellow former classmates. She admitted she didn't know Julie very well, but knew Johanna. Not many people knew her and Johanna were study buddies back in junior year at SVH. Even as a cheerleader, she and Johanna were close. Not much people knew, since Johanna dropped out of school early on in junior year. When she came back, she was randomly put in a class project with Cara. At first Cara objected, she thought Johanna was a freak. But after a few weeks became close, especially during her parent's divorce. She and Johanna developed a friendly friendship, and when Cara moved away, they wrote each other letters. They eventually lost touch, only sending emails occasionally. Now, seeing Johanna years later, Cara was glad to see she was doing great. She was sure Johanna was going to be famous on Broadway.
When Jessica heard the door click, her heartbeat started beating fast. Elizabeth was home. Seeing her friends looking at her nervously, she shakily got up.
Elizabeth was unsurprised to see her friends, she was expecting them. But seeing her mirror image, Elizabeth was frozen. But when she saw Jessica with a shy smile, Elizabeth walked up to her and gave her a huge hug.
The tension in the room relaxed. Soon Elizabeth, Jessica and her friends were laughing. The pain about Todd was long forgotten. It was just like old times. Except they were adults. Elizabeth and Maria were asking details about Brooke's wedding, who she and Winston's were inviting, her dress, details, etc. Brooke said it was still early. She's been busy with her career. Lila suggested she hire a planner. Everyone else agreed, especially Billie. She said she wished she did, her mother in law, Alice tried planning everything. Thank goodness the twins stopped her. They didn't want her stressing out Billie like her last failed wedding. Billie got her yellow flowers, not those hideous purple bouquets Alice insisted on using.
Brooke asked everyone to come dress shopping with her. She had a appointment with a exclusive shop in Manhattan. It was appointment only, very expensive. Lila remarked it was the same shop her mother bought her dress from. Brooke said perfect.
Lila was happy for Brooke, but wondered if she should take a peek. That shop specializes in maternity wedding dresses as well. Bruce didn't propose, but if he found out about the baby, he would want to get married. She always wanted a family, but it was still early. Maybe she should buy a ring instead, she knew Bruce's ring size, maybe she should propose instead.
Meanwhile Bruce was ordering the party planners he hired to get the decorations ready, Lila's welcome home party. It was going to be the best engagement party he ever threw. His parents were happy for him, they gave him the use of Patman Manor. They were out of town at the moment, they were in Atlanta on a business trip with his cousin Reggie. His crazy cousin insisted on driving, refusing to take the family jet. Bruce already had the ring, plus already registered at the most expensive baby boutique in town. For his and Lila's baby, cost was no object. He was already deciding to where to have the wedding. Either the manor, or maybe somewhere exotic.