Chapter 15: A Wedding Present

�OK, what�s this all about?� Nick said as he was sitting in Alex and Lauralee�s living room.

�Wait, we gotta wait for Howie,� Bianca said.

�Here I am!� Howie walked in the house.  �What�s up all?�

�Boy are you chipper,� Brian said.  �Wake up on the good side of the bed D?�

�Geez can�t I be in a good mood for once?�

�Yeah Bri, leave him alone,� Elizabeth poked him in the ribs.

�Sorry babe,� Brian kissed her forehead.

�OK, this is why I called this meeting,� Lauralee sat down.  �We got a week to zero hour, and we just wanna make sure that the girls and guys plans work out.  Laura and Kevin are going to be real busy this week, and I got my aunt and cousin coming out.�

Brian started.  �OK, my family will be here the weekend before the wedding.�

�So are of all of ours,� Nick said.

�OK, I don�t want to know details,� Lauralee smiled, �but when�s the bachelor party taking place?�

�Right after the rehearsal dinner,� Alex answered.

�Same for us,� Elizabeth responded.  �And the bridal shower is gonna be two days before that.�

�OK, is there anything we need since our families will be in town?  Towels?  Supplies?�

�Nope I think we�re all set,� said Bianca.

�Except for one thing,� spoke up Howie.  �A wedding present.�

�I still say we get them a toaster,� smiled Nick.

�NO TOASTER!� they all screamed.

Nick threw up his hands.  �OK, OK!�

�Alright, we need something to give them,� Brian said.

�Well, I just don�t want to give them anything.  Do you know Tommy Mottola gave them a week in Aruba whenever they want to go?�  Elizabeth shook her head.

�Leave it to him to upstage us,� Bianca laughed. 

�Alright, everyone�s homework is get ideas and fast,� Alex said. �We only got a week left.�

�Meeting adjourned,� Lauralee smiled. 

~*~

Lauralee sat out on the pool that night.  Alex was at his mother�s house, so she had the night to herself.

�Lau?�

She turned around to see Laura standing there.  �Hey.�  She gave Laura a hug.  �What�s up?�

Laura shrugged her shoulders.  �I was just driving around, and somehow I ended up here.�  She took a seat at the patio table.  �I got my wedding dress today.�

�Yeah?�

�Yeah, it�s perfect.  My family is coming out tomorrow, along with Kevin�s.�

Lauralee looked at her.  �Something wrong Laura?�

�I don�t know.  I mean, here we are.  Seven days left until my life completely changes.�

�You are taking a big step.�

�I�ve just been thinking about my life� oh what�s the word?�

�Retrospective?�

�Thank you human dictionary,� Laura laughed.  �Yeah.  I mean look at all of this.  I was just a kid from New York.  Class clown, always making the jokes, never could keep a boyfriend for longer than two weeks and unsure about what I was going to do for the rest of my life.  Then one day, I go to visit you in Florida and boom; my life took on a whole new direction.  Now I got a career, financial stability for the rest of my life, and a fianc�.  And even that will change in a few days.  Now I�m going to have a husband. 
A husband.  I�ve always prided myself on being independent, now my life will be intertwined with someone else�s.  It�s scary.�

�You think Kevin isn�t scared?� Lauralee leaned forward.  �I bet he�s just as petrified as you.  If there�s one thing we learned over the past 4 years, is that you never know what life will give you.  You just have to take it as it comes.�

�I just never thought that someone like Kevin would come into my life.  He�s made me one of the happiest women on the earth.  I just hope that it works out.�

�Let me ask you one question.  Do you love him?�

�Yes.�

�Do you see your life with anyone else?�

�No way.�

�Then that should be your answer,� Lauralee smiled.

�You�re right,� Laura stood up and gave her a hug.  �Thanks.�

�For what?

�For being the best friend anyone could have.�

�Me aim to please,� Lauralee took a bow.  �Go on and enjoy your single life� while it lasts.�

Laura laughed.  �I�ll see you later.�

�Bye,� Lauralee watched Laura walk to her car and thought about her words.  �That�s it!�  She ran inside, got a piece of paper and pen, and sat down on the patio table. 

~*~

Lauralee heard Alex�s car door slam, as she was finishing.  He walked to the backyard and sat down next to Lauralee.

�Hello.�

Lauralee was still writing. 

�Hello?� Alex waved his hand on front of her. 

�Oh, hi baby,� Lauralee gave him a kiss.

�What was that all about?�

�This,� Lauralee handed him the piece of paper. 

Alex read it.  �Wow.�

�Like it?�

�I love it!  I think we just found our solution.�

�I think so too,� Lauralee crossed her arms.  �Think we could have it ready for the wedding?�

�If we get started now,� Alex stood up.  �Let�s go call everyone.�

~*~

The whole group stood around as Lauralee and Alex explained what was happening.

�So what do you guys think?� Lauralee asked.

�Well, this,� Brian pointed to the paper, �is a masterpiece.�

�I think it�ll be perfect for them,� Howie nodded.

�They�ll always remember it,� Bianca smiled.

Nick and Elizabeth nodded in agreement.  �So what�s the deal?�

�We need to finish it,� Alex said.  �That�s why we called y�all here.  We figured we could finish it tonight, and get it ready during the week in time for the wedding.�

�Well, I�m game,� Nick stood up.  �Let�s get this baby rollin�!�

A few hours later�

�Perfect!� Lauralee exclaimed. 

�We�ve outdone ourselves this time,� Brian laughed.

Alex came out with some sodas and passed them around.  �A toast� to the wedding present!�

�The wedding present!�  They all drank their sodas.

Chapter 16

Contents

Chapter 14
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