STAY

Ninety Four

I rushed around doing last minute things before everyone started arriving. Marcus was helping me, he was absolutely in love with Isabella, so his help was purely out of affection and excitement. He was arranging cupcakes and chatting away excitedly. He had outdone himself with the rose gold unicorn theme. Isabella was currently holding onto to my leg squealing for attention, I took some icing and gave it to her. She loved that and started calling out for more, I decided I needed help. Thankfully help arrived before I had a chance to call out. "Can you please take her, I need to finish?" I asked Jared. "Sure, c'mere birthday girl" he said scooping her up into his arms. She was reaching out for a cupcake, so he took one and they both started eating it. I turned to look at them, "don't give her too much ..." I started laughing at the sight, they both had chocolate icing all over their lips. He had crumbs in his beard and she was getting it in her hair. He looked at me innocently, "what?" he said. "Jared, you need to get her and you ready, people are coming in an hour, by ready, I mean get the chocolate out of that bush on your face and get chocolate out of her hair" I said exasperatedly. "Don't worry, I'll have the both of us ready in no time" he said waving his hand at me airily. I sighed shaking my head, we heard chatter and I turned to see Jamie walk in. "Hello, you're a little early but great I could use the extra help" I said smiling. "Hello you gorgeous thing" she said walking towards Jared and leaning in to kiss Isabella on the forehead. "Hey Jared" she said grinning. "And here I thought you were talking to me" he said pretending to be disappointed. "She's a bit smelly" said Jamie screwing up her nose. "Yeah I know, I'm taking her away to make her beautiful" he said striding off talking to her as he went. "I need to talk to you" she said as soon as he left, Marcus glanced at her curiously. There was an air of urgency to her tone. "Oh? Go ahead, what's up?" I said taking my attention away from the cupcakes, she looked uneasy. She glanced at Marcus and shook her head subtly. I frowned. "Marcus, do you mind finishing these please?" I asked him. "Not at all, you go" he said sweetly, but I could see him dying to know what the gossip was. "Come into the living area, I'll finish the balloons" I said walking off. She followed me in, I started releasing the remainder of the helium balloons from their big net bags, letting them float to the ceiling. Their curled streamers hanging beautifully. "What's up?" I said as I let another one float away. "Is Shannon coming?" she asked. I nodded, "yes, he's coming, we haven't seen him for quite a while" I said. "I saw him in New York, about two months ago" she said. "So did we! With a girl" I said surprised. "Karina? Yeah we all hooked up" she said casually. I looked up at her shocked. "Wow, he really loves those threesomes" I said wryly. "He loves being the center of attention even more" she snickered. I smirked, "so, what's up?" I urged. I heard her take a deep breath, "I'm pregnant" she said quietly. I was so stunned, I let go of the bag all the balloons floating off in a flurry. "Are you kidding me?" I said in shock. She shook her head, "I'm not, believe me I'm not" she replied. If there was anyone who was adamant about not wanting kids, it was Jamie. Even more than I ever had been. "Oh my God, are you ..... well, are you going to ..?" she cut me off, "keep it? Yes, I'm keeping it. Genevieve, I'm 37, when am going to meet a guy, stay with him long enough to get serious and get knocked up? It's probably my only chance" she said matter of factly. I nodded, "sure, yeah you're right I guess. So .... who's the father?" I asked carefully. "I'll give you one guess" she said with a sigh. My eyes widened in disbelief, "oh geeze, does he know?" I whispered. She shook her head, "no, I haven't seen him since, well since it happened" she sighed. "Was it in New York?" I asked surprised. She nodded, "he's not being very safe" I said disapprovingly. "No he is, we hung out for a few days after, just the two of us" she said. "Was it ... well did you mean for it to happen?" I asked. She shook her head, "no! I've been on the pill for eons, it was just one of those things. It was a total accident" she said. I nodded, "are you going to tell him?" I asked, praying she would, otherwise I was going to be in a difficult position. She nodded, "of course, I don't give a fuck if he wants to be involved or not. I don't need him, so he can do what he likes, but of course I'll tell him" she said. I nodded relieved. "Don't worry, I won't make a scene" she said reassuringly. "Thanks, I appreciate it" I said. "Is he bringing anyone?" she asked. "No, it's family, no fuck buddies allowed. Well, except you" I giggled. She smirked, "are you feeling okay? You look good" I said. "I'm fine, just tired. And pissed off, no alcohol" she sighed. I smiled knowingly. "I'm really happy for you Jamie" I said hugging her warmly. "Thanks Gigi, I'm kinda happy too" she sighed hugging me back. "What's going on? What's with all the love?" we heard Jared say. "Don't tell him yet" she hissed in my ear before letting go of me. "Oooh look at you two!" I cooed. They were matching! Jared had a floral shirt on and Isabella's dress was the exact same fabric. He'd put his hair up in a bun and had done the same to hers, with a ribbon of course. He loved dressing her up, now that her hair was longer, he was constantly putting fancy clips, bows, headbands and ribbons in it. I walked over kissing her on the cheek, she smiled happily and pointed to her ribbon. "Da da" she said. "I know, he's very clever" I said. I kissed him softly, "you're so sweet, she looks gorgeous" I said with a sigh. He grinned, "she's got good genes" he said. I nodded, "she sure has". "She's adorable" said Jamie smiling, she was busying herself spreading the balloons around. "I'm going to go get ready, I'll be back soon" I said dashing off. As I changed I wondered how Shannon would take the news. He'd never expressed a desire to have children of his own, though he was besotted with Isabella and was so good with her. Maybe this was just what he needed. I touched up my make up, put my hair in a loose braid and I was ready. Jared was talking to my dad who'd arrived while I'd been upstairs. Caroline was walking Isabella around, she had taken a few steps on her own and would walk around tables and chairs without a problem, but just needed a bit more confidence to really take off. "You look lovely darling" she said when she saw me. "Thanks Caroline" I said. I walked over to my dad and he kissed me on the cheek in greeting. "Genevieve you get more beautiful every time I see you. Motherhood really suits you" he said smiling. I raised an eyebrow in surprise, "thanks dad, I kind of like it" I said grinning. I turned to see Jared beaming, he had said the very same thing to me recently. People started to arrive, we didn't have many friends with kids. But that was okay, Isabella didn't know any better and she loved all the attention from the adults. Not long after I spotted Shannon arriving, he went to Jared first. I was happy to see them hug in greeting, Constance was standing nearby and I could see she was just as pleased. Smiling excitedly as he hugged her next. He turned and came over to me, smiling widely. "Hey Gigi, happy birthday to our gorgeous girl" he said hugging me and giving me a brief kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, she's a doll isn't she? I'm so glad you came" I said as he let me go. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world" he said nodding, it seemed like we were back to our old normality, I hoped so anyway. He spotted Jamie, "I'm gonna grab a drink" he said. "Sure, enjoy" I said and watched as he walked over to her, I had to stop myself from staring at the exchange. "Why are you watching them so intently?" Jared whispered in my ear. I jumped in surprise, I hadn't seen him approach me. "Ah, no reason, nothing. I wasn't" I stammered, he raised an eyebrow. "Liar, what are you hiding?" he said. I shook my head, "nothing really" I said adamantly. "I'll get it out of you one way or another. I might have to spank the truth out of you" he said in a soft, sexy whisper. His fingers brushing the stray strands of hair off my forehead. I shivered, he always knew how to get my heart racing. "Yes please" I said breathlessly. "Tonight baby, tonight" he promised. "It's a date" I sighed. "Can you two please stop eye fucking each other. It's your kids birthday party, keep it in your pants" said an amused Jamie quietly. I gasped and stifled a giggle, she raised an eyebrow and sauntered off to talk to some friends. Jared gave me a grin, it was an, I guess she's right, kind of grin. "I'm going to go check the caterers" I said laughing as I walked away from him.