Chapter 49 Melanie #2
Abigail nudges me with her foot. “He’s mine, though.
No take-backs.” We laugh, watching Faye and Bodie jump on the couch, their voices loud and happy.
This isn’t how I usually spend New Year’s Eve.
By this time last year, I was blackout drunk, surrounded by people I didn’t care about, already regretting everything.
But now? Now, I’m here. And I don’t hate it.
“Thanks for having us,” I murmur, squeezing Abigail’s foot.
She sighs dramatically. “Oh, that feels so good.” Then she groans. “I don’t know how I’m gonna survive two more months of this.”
“You do look huge,” Nick says mindlessly.
Silence.
Abigail’s head snaps up. “Excuse me?”
Nick panics. “I don’t mean huge like fat. I mean—you’re tiny, and your belly is just—really big—”
“Nick.” My voice is low. A warning.
“But like, in a good way.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Please stop talking.”
Nick clears his throat. “I think I need some water.” He bolts out of the room.
“Grab me one too!” Abigail calls after him. Then she rubs her belly. “God help you when you guys have kids.”
A nervous chuckle escapes me. If she only knew the truth. Later, as the movie plays, Abigail shifts beside me. “So. How’s everything? I feel like I never see you anymore, and I hate that.”
I shake my head. “Don’t be. You have a lot going on.”
She tilts her head. “Yeah, but so do you. How’s the drinking?”
I hesitate. “Good. Nick’s been—he’s been really supportive. I don’t think I could do this without him.”
“That’s sweet.” She pauses. “And hey, you know I’m only joking around with Nick, he’s like a brother to me, so I hope you don’t take it personally. I love your husband. He’s one of my favorite people these days.”
Her words hit me like a brick. Husband. God, I wish that were real. Lately, it’s felt real. And I don’t know what will happen next. I don’t know what’s real and what’s just pretend anymore.
“Pizza is here,” Nick shouts from downstairs. “Pizza, pizza,” Bodie says, just like the scene from Kevin on Home Alone, waving his hands in the air, and Faye following behind him.
“Thank God, I need a pizza break,” Colt says, setting the microphone down. “You want me to grab you some?”
“I’m growing a Killian in my belly, of course I want some, even though I think I'm going to pop.”
Colt leans down to kiss Abigail on the forehead. “You look absolutely beautiful, growing our baby girl inside that belly.”
“I know you’re just wanting some later.” She says. He waggles his eyebrows, “is it working?”
She shoves at his shoulders laughing, “Just go help the kids and your retard friend.”
When Nick and the kids are gone, Abigail reaches over and places a hand over mine.
“You doing okay?”
I hesitate. Tell her. Tell her everything. She’ll understand.
“I—”
“Mom,” Bodie’s voice echoes from downstairs. “Dad said yes to a sleepover with Faye! And you better hurry before I eat all the cheese pizza!”
Abigail groans. “Knew that was coming.” She braces herself and stands with effort. “What were you gonna say?”
I swallow hard. The words won’t come.
“Nothing,” I say finally. “Let’s get some pizza before it’s gone.”
She grins and links her arm through mine as we head downstairs to our husbands.
The next morning, I stir awake when I felt Nick move beside me.
After our food coma set in, Colt made a comfy blowup bed for the kids to sleep on, while Nick and I dozed off on the couch.
The flat screen was paused on the Disney app still.
When I looked over, the kids were still sound asleep, and Nick was cuddled up behind me, as I tried to slowly slip out of his grip so I could use the restroom.
Abigail passed out after the first five minutes of Moana, so Colt and she went to bed way before us.
When I finally broke free, I slid to the floor.
“Where are you going?” Nick says with his eyes still closed.
“To use the restroom”
“Okay, come right back. I want to snuggle my wife as long as possible on this New Year’s Day.”
Warmth spread in my chest as a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
“Yes soldier,” I said with a smirk. When I returned back to the theatre room, I could hear Abigail and Colt downstairs. And just as I was about to slip back into Nick’s arms I heard someone coming up the stairs.
Abigail peeked her head into the room to see what was happening and who was awake.
“We got some breakfast. Thought the kids would be up by now.” She whispered.
“It’s only nine, let them sleep.” Nick’s voice comes out muffled as he speaks into the pillow.
“And don’t you guys ever chill?” Nick asked her.
“Ya when we sleep. Besides, Colt has a signing to go to in Orlando, so Nora will be over soon.”
“You’re flying on a plane this far along?”
“The doctor said it’s fine, we are only going to be gone for a day, and the closer I get to the babies’ due date, Colt won’t let me out of his sight, he said he will pay my doctor to travel with us if he has to.”
My heart flutters at Colt’s sweet and protective nature for Abigail. She deserved every bit of it, too.
“What did ya’ll get?” Nick says as he stretches his arms.
“Food.” She says matter-of-factly. “Just come downstairs before you wake the kids.” She says softly before turning on her heels to head back into the kitchen.
Nick pats my butt, “She sure is one sassy pregnant lady.”
“She learned from the best.” I teased. I help Nick up to his feet as he crosses an arm over my shoulder, and I look at him, raising an eyebrow.
“What? I can’t put my arm around my wife?”
I shake my head side to side, trying not to laugh. “You just never have before.”
“First time for everything, princess.”
“Geeze,” I said as I saw all the food sprawled out on the island. “You feeding an army?” I asked.
“You have no idea how much this man eats. It’s almost annoying, and he doesn’t gain a pound,” Abigail says.
“I got some fruit and an egg biscuit for us girls. I’m still pretty full from last night.” She says, sitting down on one of the chairs behind the kitchen island, handing me a box.
“Oh my gosh, we ran into the sweetest couple while waiting for our food. This lady congratulated me and then asked how far along I was, what we were having, have we picked a name and oh my goodness, I nearly broke down crying.”
“You cry over everything these days,” Colt says, taking a huge bite of his egg sausage sandwich.
“It’s called pregnancy hormones. Which I don’t see you complaining about when I’m riding your d–”
“Okay,” Nick holds up his hand. “I’m eating and I really don't want to picture your wife bouncing on your c–”
“Don't you dare finish that sentence.” Colt narrows his eyes on Nick.
“You two started it.” Colt says popping a grape into his mouth.
“Anyway,” Abigail says, taking back control of the conversation. “She was telling me how she and her husband have been trying for years now, and still haven’t conceived.”
“Never?” Nick asked.
“There were a few times, but she had three miscarriages. It just made my heart break for her. We didn’t even have to try, and boom, here we are.” She motions between Colt and her belly.
“Wow,” I say, tossing a piece of cantaloupe in my mouth. “That’s got to be hard.”
“Right?” She says, tilting her head to the side as she faces me.
“Why is it so hard for her to conceive?” I asked, a little more curious now.
“I’m not exactly sure, but she mentioned how she’s had irregular periods her whole life, and it’s contributed to her infertility.” She says as a question, more than a statement. “Or something like that.”
I paused as I reached for my sandwich. It dawned on me that I'm late. I’ve been so wrapped up in the drama with my mom and my dad’s surprise visit that I totally forgot what day it was, and I forgot to take my birth control a few days in a row.
Panic fluttered through my veins as I felt the bile rise to my throat. “I’m going to use the restroom.”
“You okay, Mel?” Abigail asked in her sugary-sweet tone.
“Yup,” I say in my most convincing voice. But everything was not fine, I needed to get a pregnancy test ASAP.