The First Time I Saw You

Chapter 23

Simple and practical, taking advantage of the paradise surrounding them and the fact that the guest list to their wedding was going to be no more than ten people, Claire and Owen had decided to get married in a couple of months, before her third trimester. She had found a very popular wedding planner online, Hollywood A-listers and billionaires around the world were constantly requiring her services. Claire only had a month to set everything up and no time to do so: that's why she was willing to pay someone to do it for her. She needed the best and someone she knew would be able to work under pressure and be able to handle her. She was thrilled when she got Heather Brooke's e-mail agreeing to plan the event for her.

Claire was giggling while sitting on her couch, Owen happy that now their baby was kicking, and he could play and interact with their jelly bean. That rounded belly was the most precious treasure Owen could have ever wished for, a double edged weapon in Claire's possession, giving her power to manipulate him to ranges that wouldn't be possible if she weren't pregnant.

"Are you gonna let mommy and daddy know if you are a girl or a boy this time, jelly bean?" Owen tickled that belly and immediately felt his baby kicking back twice. They had an appointment that afternoon for a weekly checkup, and it would be the third time they would try to read the gender during the ultrasound.

"Was two kicks yes and one kick no, or the other way around?" Claire smiled caressing her belly while Owen beamed at the fact that their baby was responding. Of course, it was never the same response, but both parents liked to pretend the baby actually knew what it was answering.

"It makes me so happy when she or he kicks me." Owen kissed that baby bump several times, "But this is the only circumstance when that would be allowed, young lady or young man!" Owen scolded the baby bump with his index finger.

Claire laughed seeing him in full dad mode, "We both now that once she or he is born, they'll walk all over you, babe." She teased him.

"Yeah well, got that from you." Owen shrugged and leaning closer, he kissed Claire a couple of times.

"Heather Brookes is on her way." Zara had to interrupt their little moment after knocking lightly at her office's door.

Owen blinked a couple of times and stood up, brushing off the thought that had immediately come to his mind.

Claire nodded to her assistant and adjusted on the couch after Owen sat next to her and kissed her cheek a couple of times helping her fix her top over her belly. "That's our wedding planner! The one from LA I told you about." Claire filled him in about the woman she was about to meet.

"Well, I'll leave you two ladies to talk about flowers and whatnot." Owen pecked her lips a couple of times before he stood up from the couch.

"Wait..." Claire frowned, "You don't want to be part of this?" She held his hand and pouted before he could walk away from the couch.

"You already know what I would like." He shrugged. They had already discussed a few details which she would be listing to the wedding planner.

Claire sighed, and pursing her lips she looked away, "Okay." She let it go, "I'll walk you out of the building." She grinned.

"Okay." Owen nodded knowing very well that she just wanted an excuse to get something to eat from the karts on Main Street but he let her get away with it and didn't say anything.

Owen helped her stand up from the couch and Claire fixed her skirt. The only thing she was wearing that wasn't maternity clothes were her high heels. They were tight, her feet were hating her, but she didn't care. She was starting to perceive that they would not fit any given day, and she wanted to wear them for as long as she could.

"Here she is, no need to go looking for her." Zara chuckled when she almost bumped into the couple who were on their way out of her office hand in hand and exchanging loving pecks. "Claire, this is—"

"Shmoopie!?" A tall blonde and blue-eyed woman called out with her arms wide open, giving Owen a hug.

Owen kept his hands where Claire could see them and didn't really react to the woman hugging him. He knew that name had sounded familiar and his instincts had been asking him to run for the hills since five minutes ago.

Once she pulled back, the wedding planner offered a big grin. "What are you doing here?" She wondered. Claire stood there next to Owen with her arms crossed against her chest, waiting for him to fill the blanks as to who this woman was and why she was calling her fiancé and father of her unborn baby some stupid pet name.

"I work here." He shrugged and jumped slightly when Claire cleared her throat. "And I am..." He turned to look at the redhead with a puzzled look, he knew he had to add something but didn't know what it was that she wanted him to say.

"I'm Claire Dearing, Scmoopie's fiancée." She introduced herself coldly, those green eyes were daggers threatening that woman to know better before she went hugging her man like that again. "Who is she?" She narrowed her eyes, looking straight at Owen.

"Um...that's Heather." Owen nodded. "Brooke." He added, "Your wedding planner. OUR wedding planner, yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh my god, you are finally getting hitched huh?" The blonde smiled, not believing this. "I'm sorry Claire, Owen and I go way back...we used to be together years ago." She waved her hand, "This is just so fitting, that I happen to be the one planning your wedding." She smiled with a nod.

Owen chuckled nervously.

"Also, congratulations on the baby. She's going to be gorgeous." Heather nodded.

"We don't know what it is yet." Claire spat.

"So far it's a jelly bean." Owen nodded.

"Ah well, I have done so many weddings for pregnant brides and even baby showers and gender reveal parties...I have developed a six sense for these things." Heather shared.

"I'm sorry, why is it fitting that you are doing this again?" Claire couldn't shake that off.

"We broke up because he wouldn't commit." Heather smiled.

"Huh..." Claire moved her eyes to Owen whom just smiled softly.

"Shall we start? I read on your e-mail you two are looking to do it outdoors which is the no brainer, of course." Heather agreed. "Should we do this in your office, or do you have a little meeting room where we can stay? I hope you can join us, Owen." She insisted, "I always encourage the groom to stick around."

Owen parted his lips, but Claire didn't let him talk. "He can't join us today. He was on his way to work, it will be just the two of us." Claire offered condescendingly.

"Yeah. Maybe next time." Owen agreed and let his eyes fall on Claire who was shaking her head. "Or let me check on that. It will probably not happen. But if I don't see you again, have a nice trip back home." Owen offered, Claire staring at him with a dead glare, "Or not... whatever... bye." He pecked his fiancée's lips, which she didn't reciprocate, and he fled out of there.