chapter nineteenLauren walked past a few stores, peeking in to see if there was anything Casey would like. She was starting to think it was harder to shop for a toddler than herself. Desperately, Lauren ducked into a children's clothing store.
Lauren was surrounded by light, cheery colors. On the racks were adorable little outfits, perfectly pressed and presentable. Lauren couldn't help smiling like a goof at the imagery of her niece in one of those dresses. The question was: which one?
As if she had read Lauren's thoughts, a plump, middle-aged clerk approached her. She had her auburn hair tied back in a ponytail and her smile was so inviting and warm. "Do you need any help, dear?" The woman had an Irish accent.
"Could you tell that easily?" Lauren joked good-naturedly. "Actually, I'm looking for an outfit for my little niece. She's turning five on Monday."
"Oh, wonderful! Did you have anything in mind for her?" the woman asked.
Lauren only shrugged as she searched her purse for a picture of Casey. She finally found it and showed it to the clerk.
"She's an angel. I think I might know what to get her." She walked further into the store and Lauren followed her, smiling awkwardly at the other customers in the store. The woman stopped at a rack, pushed a few hangers aside and pulled out a sweet blue sundress.
"That's perfect. God, I'd never would've found that this quickly," Lauren claimed.
"When you have five kids, you discover hidden talents you never knew you had before," the woman said with a light chuckle and a wink. "Do you plan on any wee ones yourself?"
Lauren smiled and thought of a scene of two kids, a boy and a girl, playing outside with their father -- Nick. "Hopefully."
"He's a special one, I can tell," the woman commented, walking up the cash register.
"What?"
"Your boyfriend. I know that dreamy smile all too well. If he is special, don't let him go. You're hearing that from a woman who learned that the hard way."
"Yes, ma'am," Lauren murmured, handing her credit card to the woman. She rung it up and passed it back. Lauren signed the receipt as the clerk put the dress in a box, and then the box into a plastic bag.
She handed the bag to Lauren, "God bless and good luck. Wish your little one a happy birthday."
"Thank you." Lauren waved and left the store, a smile still on her lips.
----------------- Lauren unlocked the door and pushed it open, allowing it to smack against the wall. Her hands were full of bags, some from the mall, some from the party store nearby. In the distance, Lauren heard Brian sing her name and rush in to greet her. He pecked her cheek and took a few bags from her, peeking into them.
"Yes!" he exclaimed, then yelled over his shoulder to the others, "Lauren brought munchies, y'all!" A round of cheers was soon heard afterwards.
Lauren rolled her eyes and put the bags down on the kitchen table. She took some of the bags' contents out and placed them on the table.
"I sort of grabbed everything. I didn't know what you all liked," Lauren admitted, looking over the assortments of chips, pop and whatnot.
Brian picked up the present for Casey and asked, "What's this?"
"Open it up and look for yourself."
He did and picked up the tiny dress. He put it against him and solemnly said, "Lauren, I think you might need to take it back...It's kind of small. And this color blue's not exactly flattering on me, either."
Lauren laughed and opened a bag of pretzels. She poured it into a large bowl and set it aside. She did the same for another thing of chips. She handed both bowls to Brian and sent him out into the other room with a little smack on his behind. She picked up a six-pack of Cokes and walked into the living room.
Kevin and Howie were sitting on the couch, now munching on pretzels. AJ and Nick were on the floor, their eyes attached to the TV screen as they played on Nick's Dreamcast. Brian was standing near AJ, coaching him a little.
Lauren sat between Kevin and Howie and said, "Some boys just never completely grow up out of their little video games, ya know?"
"Tell me about it," Howie replied.
"I heard that," AJ said, his eyes still stuck on the TV, "and I would like to disagree and say that I have grown out of these childish games ---" In an instant, he stood up and gave the most unearthly cackle Lauren ever heard. "I beat him! I beat him! I beat Nickolas Fucking Carter!" He started to do a strange victory dance across the room, chanting, "Who's your Daddy? I'm your daddy! Whoooo's your Daddy? I'm your daddy!"
Lauren giggled with the group. Nick only looked up at AJ with a very sore look on his face. Lauren knew he was a poor loser. Nick finally rolled his eyes and laughed a little at AJ's attempt at the Cabbage Patch. Brian joined him and they started dancing with wild little maneuvers.
Lauren walked over to Nick and sat in his lap. While the other four kept busy, she whispered in Nick's ear, "Let him have his glory. I'll whip his tail next time."
Nick gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "Did you get Casey a gift?"
"Yeah, it's in the kitchen, I'll show you later."
------------------ Later that day, when it was just starting to get dark and when they all had calmed down, all six sat in the living room, talking about their upcoming tour, cracking little jokes here and there. Kevin and Howie still were positioned in their original spots on the couch. Brian sat in one armchair and Nick sat in the other with Lauren in his lap. AJ sat on the floor near the fire, cross-legged. He was now telling a story, dictating it with his hands. He waved them about, exaggerating each movement.
The phone rang and Lauren got up and grabbed it. It was Jessica, looking for Brian. Lauren passed the portable phone to Brian, whose face had gone sober when he found out it was his wife. He excused himself and walked into the bathroom with the phone.
"Why does that scare me?" Lauren asked the rest of them. All shrugged and waited silently until Brian came out of the bathroom and sat down in the armchair, his face still strict. He looked around the room, reading each of his friends faces seriously.
His lips cracked into a wide grin. "Jessica's pregnant."