Chapter Twenty~Nine
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After a couple of months Nick was judged to be well enough to go home. He
seemed to be back to his normal self. He accepted visitors while in the
hospital and everyone had been to see him at his house in the week since
his return home. Aileen visited a couple of times, but tried to keep in
Kevin's good graces too. Kevin had off and on days, sometimes he would be
loving and understanding, others he would be miserable and taunt her about
the baby. She still hadn't told anyone else about her pregnancy and was
quite surprised that Kevin hadn't spilled the beans either. It really
depended on his mood how he treated her any given day.
"What do you think of this one, Kev?" Aileen had just spied the most beautiful crib for the baby. Kevin had been in a pretty good mood today, so she risked asking his opinion. "Why don't you ask Nick? His kid will be sleeping in it." he replied. "Kevin, when are you going to lay off this attitude? Something's been bugging you since you left the hospital." "Oh c'mon!" he laughed "I was joking, if you want it, get it." He looked at his watch. "But let's go, we have to be at the party in an hour and a half." Aileen stood studying her profile in the mirror. She was about four months along in the pregnancy now and it was definitely starting to show. "That's it!" she said, throwing her shirt on the bed. "There's no way I can go looking like this!" Kevin laughed. "Ah, just wear the shirt loose, no one will ever know. You're not THAT big yet!" "Are you sure?" Aileen looked at him hard. It was getting tough to tell if he was joking anymore. "I swear." He crossed his heart. "No one could tell." They finished getting ready and headed out to the car. The party was in full swing when they got there. Nick's parents had decided to throw a "getting out of the hospital-finally!" party for Kevin and Nick. All the guys were there, and girlfriends, and assorted family members. Aileen greeted everyone with hugs and kisses, Kevin drifted over to Brian and Kathy and stuck with them for much of the afternoon. When it was time to settle down for dinner, Kevin rejoined her. "That was real classy Mr. Richardson!" she hissed under her breath when he sat down. "What? I was just visiting with my cuz and his LOVING girlfriend." he shot back. Aileen just stared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" Aileen had finished filling her plate from the barbeque and sat down beside Lex and AJ. "What's Kev been feeding you girl? You've definitely filled out since I last saw you!" Aileen threw a scared smile at AJ and was thinking up a reply when she heard Kevin. "Didn't you hear, she's pregnant!" The silence was deafening. All eyes were on her. "Pregnant?" Howie asked with his eyebrows raised. "No we hadn't heard Kevin. Congratulations!" Everyone chorused in, murmuring Congrats, when are you due, what is it, when Kevin raised his voice. "Oh, and don't congratulate me, it isn't mine." The silence fell again, this time everyone was studying Kevin. "Nick's the proud poppa, give him your glad tidings!" Nick stared at Aileen, stricken. "What is he talking about?" Aileen looked at him through her tears. "It's true Nick, I'm so sorry. I was waiting for the..." Nick let out a strangled cry and ran into the house. |