Chapter 15

No Change

Lynn had been trying to fall asleep for about an hour when Denny finally decided to get her some Tylenol. She swallowed the medicine and let her head fall back against the pillow.
“Feeling better?” he asked. She shook her head.
“Why are you here?” she asked quietly eyes closed.
“Where else would I be? Apparently this is the bedroom we were assigned” he shrugged.
“No. Why are you here with me? At my sister’s wedding. We don’t do the family thing. We’re friends with benefits, which doesn’t include family gatherings. So, why are you here?”
Denny sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t know what to answer. He had no idea why he was there. He sat on the bed and placed his hand on her abdomen causing her to flinch at his touch “They’ve changed everything …” he said.
“No …” she said calmly “they haven’t.” She took a deep breath and continued “They haven’t changed the fact that you don’t love me” she said and gently removed his hand.
He sat on the bed next to her “”You want to talk about this now?” he asked.
“My head feels like it’s about to explode” she answered.
“Then try to sleep. We have time” he said smiling.

Chapter 14

Changes

“Nervous again?” Richard asked Billie as they lay next to each other half an hour later.
“Huh?” Billie snapped out of her thoughts.
“Are you nervous?” he asked again “about the wedding?”
“The wedding … yeah, a little. I’ll be fine” she answered. Then she sighed. “Would you … um …”
“Would I what?” he asked slightly amused.
“H-hold me?” she answered biting her lip.
“Of course, come here” he said pulling her in his arms, her head resting on his chest.
“It’s strange …” she spoke. “Mom and dad are here. I always imagined they’d be at my wedding but I had gotten used to the idea that they weren’t able to come. And now they are here. And I want to be happy about it. Actually I am, but Lynn … she seems really sick …” she sighed.
“She’s pregnant” Richard stated causing her to look at him surprised.
“What??? How do you know that?”
“I don’t. But it fits. She fainted, she’s overly emotional, her boyfriend treats her like she’s some kind of porcelain doll that can break any minute, plus when you were talking about birth and babies she placed her hand on her stomach …”
“Wow, you should definitely consider a career in OB” she told him amused.
“Really, I …” a knock at the door interrupted him.
“Come in” he said.
“Sorry to bother you, I hope I’m not interrupting … anything” Denny said apologetically “I need some Tylenol. Lynn’s got a little fever.”
“Is she okay?” Billie asked concerned.
“Yeah. It’s just … um … it’s probably the flight … Thanks” he said taking the medicine from Richard and then walking out.
“He thought … he was interrupting … something” Billie said.
“Yes. He probably did” Richard answered.
“But he didn’t. Interrupt, I mean.”
“No” he agreed.
Neither of them said anything for a few minutes.
“Rae …”
“Mmm …”
“You’re not sleeping”
“No”
“You want to talk?”
“About what?”
“You tell me. The thing that’s keeping you awake.”
She sighed.
“When I moved in with you and Andy, I told you that you can … um … you know … date … if you wanted. I was okay with that at the time.”
“Yeah, you might have mentioned that” he said smiling.
“You’ve never tried to … um … get in bed with me … You did kiss me and stuff but …”
“Okay, Rae, I have to disagree. I did get in bed with you, in fact, I’m in bed with you right now” he said with a grin.
“I’m talking about sex!” she hissed. “You haven’t tried to have sex with me. And I want to know if that’s going to change once we’re married. There, I’ve said it.” Now all she had to do was to wait for his answer. He slowly turned her on her side so they could face each other.
“Do you want it to change?” he asked in a serious voice.
“Do you?” she asked back barely a whisper.
“Well…” he started cupping her face with his hands “I would like to be able to make love to my beautiful wife, but” he continued closing the gap between them and placing a soft kiss on her lips “if you’re not ready…” he kissed her forehead “I can wait” he finished and pulled her closer.
She seemed to be thinking about it for a while, then she spoke “I think I am … ready, I mean, I think I’m ready, but … what if … I’m not … good … enough … for you?” she asked biting her lip.
“Rae, listen to me, I could show you right now that you are good enough for me …” he said in a serious tone.
“But?” she interrupted him.
“I want to wait till tomorrow night” he explained.
“Our wedding night” she whispered.
“Our wedding night” he agreed. “I want it to be special and I want you to feel special because that is exactly how you are. So…” he kissed her forehead “very…” he kissed her nose “special.” he concluded kissing her lips passionately.
When they pulled away she was smiling.
“Okay, try to get some sleep, you sure aren’t going to get any tomorrow night” he chuckled. “Sweet dreams”
“Thanks, you too” she said placing her head on his chest and closing her eyes. She was about to fall asleep when Richard let out another chuckle and whispered “And you don’t cure anemia with Tylenol.”
“Mmm …” was all he got back and he, too closed his eyes.

Chapter 13

Catching Up

Half an hour later they were all comfortably seated in Billie and Richard’s living room. The house was a wedding present from Richard’s parents. It had four bedrooms, a large living room, a study, a not so frequently used kitchen, two bathrooms and to Billie’s delight a porch with a view to the park nearby.
“Okay” Billie said “Lynn and Denny will have the larger bedroom, Kathy and Abby the smaller one. Alex gets the couch in the study. Sorry about that” she apologized to him “And … um …”
“Your mom and dad should have the master bedroom and we’ll sleep in Andy’s room” Richard suggested.
“You think you can fit in the baby’s crib?” Kathy grinned.
“Very funny” Richard said “We’ll sleep on a mattress on the floor. Quite romantic, huh?”
“Especially if the baby wakes up in the middle of the night and starts to cry” Ellen said. “I tell you what, why don’t you keep your bedroom and James and I will sleep in the baby’s room. By the way, you two” she pointed to Billie and Richard “Should sleep in separate rooms. It’s the night before your wedding”.
Billie and Richard looked at her in disbelief while the others tried to suppress laughter.
“Isn’t it good to have mom home” Kathy chuckled. The others smiled.
They talked and joked and exchanged information on each other for a while.
“So, where’s my grandson?” Ellen asked smiling warmly at Billie and Richard “Tell me about him”.
“Well” Billie started “his name is Andrew – Damien and he’s four months old, no teeth yet, likes the car seat, hates the pacifier, loves spending time with daddy when he’s back from the hospital… And right now he’s with Richard’s parents, they’ll bring him home tonight.”
“So, Richard” James cut in “surgical intern, huh?
“Yes, Dr. Winston. I’m a first year surgical intern and doing my best to convince your daughter to join me next year”.
“That’s a good thing. You shouldn’t postpone your residency anymore, Billie-bear” James told her.
“And you … Denny right?” he turned to the other couple in the room.
“Actually Denny’s just a nickname. It’s Daniel Hampton” he said.
“Oh …” Ellen gasped.
“Related to Dr. Remington Hampton?” James asked raising an eyebrow.
“He’s my father. You know him?” Denny asked surprised. Lynn was as surprised as him.
“Let’s say he used to make my wife’s life a living hell” James said smiling and squeezing his Ellen’s hand at the same time.
“He was my attending …” Ellen began to tell them but was cut off by her eldest daughter.
“Mom, about this separate rooms thing …” she said blushing as seven pairs of eyes turned to her “I mean, it would be easier for everyone if we share the room … We won’t … um …”
“Honey, it was a joke” Ellen saved her “You’ve been living together for quite a while now, believe it or not I know how things work” she said giving the young couple a wink. “Been there, done that.”
“Whoa, what?” both Billie and Kathy asked.
“Your daddy and I have been living together before we got married. Never asked yourself when you were conceived?” she explained smiling.
“I … I thought I was a … preemie …” Billie said.
“Sweetheart you were born at exactly nine months and two days after you were conceived, which makes seven months and two weeks after our wedding.” Ellen’s answer came.
“I heard you once telling aunt Corine that one of us was a preemie … I assumed it was me …” Billie said.
“That would be Lynnie – Doe” James cleared for her. “Your mother went into premature labor during a valve replacement surgery performed by Dr. Hampton. After she had you” he said looking at Lynn “she gave up cardio and went to OB.”
“So you were a preemie, huh?” Denny said rubbing Lynn’s arm gently. “No wonder you’re so small” he continued smiling.
“Excuse me?! I’m not small.” Lynn said.
“Actually you kind of are, sis” Kathy interfered “You’re smaller than me and I’m a skater. And you’re anemic, too.” Denny nodded only to be noticed by his girlfriend.
“My … anemia” she said emphasizing on the word “Has nothing to do with me being born preterm. Don’t you agree?” she asked turning to Denny.
Denny opened his mouth to answer but closed it back. Ellen saved him. “About the anemia … how did that happen?”
“She fainted in the cafeteria” Denny blurted.
“Denny!” Lynn scolded.
“What?!” both Lynn’s parents asked with concern.
“See what you did?” Lynn said tears already gathering in her eyes “Now they’re worried …”
“Baby angel, it’s okay. We’re your parents. It’s our job to worry.” Ellen said seeing how upset she was.
“Except you do it from another continent” Kathy said “Sorry, couldn’t help it.”
Ellen was speechless, but James seemed to be able to respond to that. “Believe it or not, Kathy – Lee, worrying from a distance is far worse.”
“Um, I think we all need a little break” Richard interrupted. “Some of you had a long flight so why don’t we all try to rest for a while”.
“Good idea” Denny agreed looking at Lynn who’d manage to hold back the tears but was still upset.
“I’m not tired” Kathy muttered.
“But your ankle is” Alexander spoke and was greeted with an angry glare “And little Abby is tired” he said hoping to redeem himself. Abby had indeed fallen asleep on the couch between her parents earlier.
“Okay” Ellen said “You two” she pointed to Billie and Richard “Can have your bedroom. We’ll take the mattress” she said smiling “And Abby too, in case you can’t sleep and want to watch TV or something” she told Kathy. “Sweet dreams everyone.”

Chapter 12

Airport Surprise

“You’re nervous” Richard said taking Billie’s hand.
“No, I’m not” she said not looking at him.
“Yes you are. Stop being nervous. Your sisters like me. They’ve seen me before, remember? At our graduation party. They love me” Richard said with a grin.
“So sure of yourself” she said “I hate you”, but she was smiling.
“You love me” he said back and pulled her in a tight embrace oblivious at the sudden change in her features. She allowed herself to enjoy being in his arms. Of course she loved him. But he didn’t love her. He was marrying her the next day. Although she knew he was doing it for his son, their son, she thought proudly, she also believed he cared about her, too. At least she wanted to believe that … So she leaned closer in his embrace for a little longer.
“As much as I enjoy holding you” Richard’s voice pulled her out of her reverie “we’re in the freaking airport and the flight from L.A. just landed”.
Billie flinched as nervousness seemed to be coming back as she whispered “Kath and Abby”.
And soon she heard Abby squealing with delight as she saw her sister and ran to her.
“Billie! I’ve missed you! And I have a great dress. The nice Russian lady said so, too, but Alex thinks Kathy’s prettier because is red. And I told mommy about it an she said she can’t wait to see it. And me. And you. And they’re …” but she was interrupted by Kathy who pushed her aside gently to hug her sister.
“You pulled out quite a stun, didn’t you?” she whispered in Billie’s ear.
“You twisted your ankle and you have that hottie tagging along as a result, we’re way above me” Billie whispered back.
“Twisting an ankle is way easier than getting anemia” Kathy said out loud this time letting go and pointing to the two people walking towards them and both she and Billie started laughing.
“Hi, there, shrinkie” she said to Lynn and pulled her in a quick hug, no whispers this time.
“Hey, Kath” Lynn said. “Abby!” she shrieked and wanted to lift her in her arms, but stopped when she felt Denny’s hand on her shoulder, resuming to only hug her tight. “And … you” she said turning to Billie with a wide smile “Congratulations!”.
“Thanks Lynn” Billie said hugging her. “You remember Richard” she said taking his hand.
“Oooh, yeah” Kathy smiled knowingly.
“Hello girls” Richard greeted them. “Hello little lady” he said to Abby.
“This is Denny, my boyfriend” Lynn said.
“And this is Alex, my partner” Kathy continued.
They kept making small talk for a few minutes until Abby squealed again “Mommy!” and she let go of Billie’s hand running towards someone.
“What the …” Kathy started but when she turned to see where Abby ran she gasped “Mom?!”
“And … dad?!” Lynn continued.
Both Richard and Denny felt their respective girlfriends tense.
“Mom and dad as in Mr. and Mrs. Winston mom and dad?” Richard asked Billie. She nodded leaning into him.
Ellen and James Winston made their way through the crowd Abby tucked safely in James arms.
“Hello everyone” James said putting Abby down and hugging each of his daughters “good thing we managed to switch flights other wise we would have missed the big wedding”. Then he turned to Richard “James Winston. And you must be the guy that will marry my eldest princess.” He said.
“Yes sir. Richard Zeller, Dr. Winston. Very nice to meet you, sir” Richard said shaking his hand.
“Maybe we should be going home …” Billie said still finding it hard to believe that her parents were there. There, for her wedding.
“Yes. That is a good idea. Lynn is kind of tired” Denny said looking worriedly at Lynn who was indeed a little pale. He was afraid that the flight and seeing her sisters and her parents might have been too much for one day.
“Kathy should rest her ankle” Alexander added. Although his partner shot him an angry look, he knew he was right because it wasn’t like her to lean against his chest like that shifting her weight from the injured foot.
“Ok” Ellen said “but I want to hear more about the ankle, the anemia and, of course, the wedding”, she smiled looking at each of her girls while she spoke.
“And my new pink dress” Abby said.
“And your pink dress, baby angel”.

Chapter 11

Parents
1990


The plane had landed with a small delay which caused doctors James Winston and Ellen Reid – Winston, his wife, to miss their connection for L.A.
“I’ll try calling home one more time” Ellen said “I know they’re not expecting us, but still …”
“Ok, sweetheart” James said squeezing her hand.
She went to the closest phone boot and dialed their home number. Her face lit up when she heard her youngest daughter’s voice.
“Abby – Sue! Hi! It’s mommy. How are you?”
James watched as his wife’s expression changed from calm to surprise and then complete shock. “Ok, honey, we’ll be there. Tell your sisters we called. Bye, sweetie. We love you.” She hang up and turned to her husband.
“Change of planes. We have to go see if we can change the tickets …”
“What? Why?” James asked surprised.
“Because” she spoke calmly “Abby – Sue got a new dress, Kathy – Lee twisted her ankle, Lynnie – Doe is anemic and Billie – Rae is getting married. In New York”
“Ok” her husband said “is it that long since we haven’t called?”
“Two weeks” he got his answer.
“Yeah, I thought so. So, we’re going to New York …”
“Yes, we are” she confirmed.