The Love of Jury Duty

Pre-Christmas Surprises

"You do know it is 5 days until Christmas and you're dragging me to the Galleria Mall?!"

"I know. I'm sorry. With everything going on with Lilly and the accident I haven't had a chance. I'm sorry."

It was a nightmare here. I normally avoided shopping malls this close to Christmas, but this time it couldn't be avoided. Lilly was finally released from the hospital and has been more or less stuck on the couch trying to completely heal.

"No, I'm sorry. I know you've been through a lot. I shouldn't have been a dick. How is Lilly? I thought she needed help."

"She's doing better. Her pelvis needs to heal so she's kind of stuck on the couch and using crutches when she needs to get up. Megan is with her now so I could go out."

"Did you get the kids taken care of?"

"Abby yes. Jacob no. He's pretty easy though. Just need to go to Toys R Us after this. Please don't kill me." I smiled

"It's fine. I need to get my son a couple more things."

Mike was a great friend and I was so grateful for everything he does and did for me. I could never repay him for it.

"Awesome."

I parked finally and sighed nervously looking at him.

"What's wrong?"

"So I have news."

"Oh? Let me guess...Lilly is pregnant" he joked

I chuckled nervously and scratched the back of my neck looking down

"No, you're joking?"

"Yeah. She is. 13 weeks. We haven't really told anyone yet sooo congrats you're the first to know."

"Nick, that's great. I'm happy for you. Wait...but that's crazy...the accident..."

"Yeah I know. She's very lucky in general that she wasn't hurt more. And I looked it up while she was in the hospital, if she had been just a little more pregnant then she would've lost it. She had no clue she was. The doctor blurted it out like it was just another thing. Took me by complete surprise. I thought she was hiding it at first."

We got out of the truck and started walking around. Every store was packed and a total nightmare, but there were only two stores I really needed to go to in here and I needed Mike's help in one of them.

A sudden wave of nerves hit me as I saw the store in the distance. I took a deep breath and ducked suddenly into Crate and Barrel to get away. I leaned against a dining display and closed my eyes. Why was I so nervous? Mike came over and stood in front of me and tapped my shoulder

"What's wrong with you? Sick?"

"I'm just nervous"

"About dining room decor?"

"No." I chuckled, "I'm buying a ring for Lilly. We're coming up on the store and I got nervous."

"Seriously? Already? You aren't even divorced yet."

"I didn't say we were gonna go get married tomorrow. But I do want to do this. She's having my kid. We live together. She's put up with a lot for me. She deserves this."

"Do you want this? Or are you doing it because you think you have to?"

"I do want this. It's not about feeling like I have to. I know I don't HAVE to, but I want to. It's not going to be right away. Down the road a few years, but I want to marry her."

"Then what's with the nerves?" He chuckled

"I don't know to be honest. I know she'd never say no. Weren't you nervous when you proposed? I was with Lindsey."