Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

The Woodrow-Thurgood Times: One

'I can't believe Lauren had to fly home this weekend,' Esme sighed as Ecie drove to Calabasas. 'It's weird that I feel so empty without her here.'

Verde laughed. 'Did she say why she had to go back?'

'I think it was just to visit her family,' Esme replied. 'She hasn't seen them since the summer.'

'That's ages,' Esme said. 'But it's funny how she's spent more time with us than her own family.'

'I know,' Ecie said. 'This lunch will be very different to the others.'

'Tell me about it,' Verde said. 'I usually come to these things as a friend, but today I'm coming as family.'

'How does that make you feel?' Esme grinned.

'Awkward,' Verde laughed. 'It makes me feel very awkward indeed.'

Ecie drove up a gravelly path and stopped in front of a dark brown gate. Leaning out of her window, she pressed the buzzer.

'Hello?'

'It's Ecie,' she said. 'Are we in the right place?'

'Of course,' Sofie said. 'Drive in.'

The gate clicked then started opening slowly. Ecie started the engine again and drove through.

'What do you think?' Sofie grinned.

'It's big,' Esme said climbing down from Ecie's jet black metallic Porsche Cayenne S hybrid. 'Did Eric buy a new house or something?'

'Yeah,' Ecie said locking her car. 'It's different.'

'What are you guys talking about?' Sofie asked as they walked up to the front door. 'How are you Verd?'

'I'm great,' he replied. 'How are you?'

'I'm good,' she nodded opening the front door and leading them through to the garden. 'We're going to be eating out here.'

'Something is going on,' Esme whispered to Ecie and Verd when Sofie had gone back inside. 'This is so weird.'

'I'm sure it's nothing,' Ecie said as they sat down around a table. 'This place looks nice.'

'I agree with Es,' Verde said. 'Something is up.'

'Hey guys,' Eric grinned walking out with a tray filled with food. 'How are you guys?'

They looked at Eric as he put the tray down then stood with his hands on his hips.

'We're just waiting on Ross to get here,' he said. 'Please, help yourself to anything.'

He smiled at them before going back inside.

'Okay, so I agree with you guys now,' Ecie said looking at Esme and Verde. 'Something is up.'

Ross walked out with Emily and they sat down, followed shortly by Eric and Sofie.

'What's going on?' Ross asked.

'We don't know,' Esme replied. 'But they're acting really weird.'

'Okay guys,' Eric said standing before them with Sofie next to him. He held her hand and smiled at her. 'We've got some news to tell you.'

'Oh god...' they muttered.

'We decided not to buy the house in Spain,' Sofie smiled back at Eric. 'Instead we decided to buy this ranch.'

'You're kidding,' their mouths dropped.

'Not at all,' Eric grinned.

'This place is massive,' Esme said. 'You guys bought it?'

'We did,' Sofie nodded.

'I don't understand,' Ecie said shaking her head. 'Does this mean that you're selling the Malibu house?'

'Eric and I talked about this a lot,' Sofie said smiling back at Eric. 'We also talked with your father and we all came to the decision that it's time for all of us to move on. Especially with all the changes that we'll be facing.'

'Are you getting married?' Ross said.

'No,' Eric replied. 'We're not getting married.'

'You're selling the Malibu house?' Ecie said again.

'I know it'll take some getting used to, but it's for the best,' Sofie said looking at Ecie. 'Eric and I want to have a home together and it would cost too much to maintain the Malibu house as well.'

'But what about dad?' Esme asked. 'He lives in Malibu. We'll be ages away from him.'

'You're getting that you're in college now,' Sofie said. 'You won't be living with us full-time and you can still stay with your dad anytime you like.'

'So why did you guys decide that you wanted to have a home together?' Ross asked. 'He could have moved in with you or you could have easily moved in with him. What happened?'

'Well,' Eric grinned, trying to contain himself. 'We've got something to tell you...Sofie?'

'I'm pregnant,' Sofie said biting her bottom lip nervously. 'We're going to be having a baby.'