Corinne came back out a few minutes later, wearing the coral dress, and shrugged. �It�s actually really pretty.� Monica�s eyes lit up, as Rae joined Corinne on the platform. � I love them! Yes! I�ve got the bridesmaid�s dresses all figured out. That�s one thing done on my list of about eleventy billion.� Corinne smiled. �What are you thinking of putting Isabella and Kaela in?� Monica grinned. �I�m thinking matching aqua. It�ll be cute. I promise.� Rae sighed. �Mon, we done?� Monica nodded, absentmindedly. �Sure, go change. Don�t rip anything!�
�So, Corinne� we need some details.� Rae said, sipping her coffee. The 3 were seated outside the Coffee Beanery, bags sorted around them. Corinne looked at her confused. �Details� on what?� Monica and Rae looked at each other and rolled their eyes. �Details on what happened last week. We all know about what almost happened between you and JC.� Monica said.
Corinne sighed, swirling her straw blankly. �To be completely honest, I don�t know what�s going on right now. I don�t know what I think, how I feel, or what I should even do. I�m trying not to worry about it.� Rae nodded. �And where�s Kaela right now?� Corinne sighed. �I know what you�re thinking, and no. She�s not with JC. She�s with Charlotte.� Monica nodded. �I see.� Corinne groaned. �But, he�s coming over tonight with Isabella so the girls can play.� Rae burst out laughing. �Oh, I knew it! I knew it!� Monica smiled. �Corinne� I think you guys need to make something happen!� Corinne shook her head. �No. No way. It�s too complicated. I like where we are now. I like just being friends.� Rae smiled sadly. �But you want more. I know you do. You�re tired, Corinne. You have a 4 year old daughter who isn�t getting any younger, and you want someone to settle down with and be a family with. Am I right?�
Corinne looked down at the table, silent. �I guess you got me all figured out, huh?� Rae sighed. �Actually, no. I�ve got him figured out. And you two are so alike, it�s almost scary. Corinne, let him in� what are you afraid of? He�s been through the same crap as you. What�s the problem?�
Corinne sighed. �I have never had a strong male figure in my life. In fact, I�m scared to death of them. All of the ones I ever cared about, ended up leaving. What makes him any different? I know, I know. He just is. Well, I�ve got a serious trust issue, and I�m sorry. It sucks I know. Let�s not talk about this anymore, ok? I don�t like getting all depressed starting at only 1:30 in the afternoon. Let�s just head on, ok?� Monica and Rae exchanged glances, but agreed and went on.
�Kaela? Kaela, can you get the door?� Corinne sighed, as she heard no answer from her daughter. She walked through the foyer and opened the door. Isabella flung herself at Corinne, laughing. �Cori! Cori!� Corinne knelt down and hugged the little girl. �Hey Bella.� Isabella grinned. �Where�s Kaela?� Corinne frowned. �I�m not sure. I think she�s in her closet.� Isabella nodded, skipping to Kaela�s room. Corinne stood up and smiled at JC. �Hey.� He grinned, pulling her into a hug. �Hey yourself.� She pulled back, and pulled him to the kitchen. �You can keep me company while I make dinner.� He grinned, hopping up onto the bar stool. �Sounds good.�
She laughed. �Well, I was thinking of chicken quesedillas. It�s Kaela�s favorite. Is that ok?� He nodded, patting his stomach. "Sounds good to us." She laughed and pulled them out of the freezer. "Hey, do you want a drink?" He nodded. "Sure. Water'd be good." She nodded, pouring him a glass. "How'd the dress shopping go?" She sighed, handing him the glass. "Tiresome. Rae complained the whole time, and it took Monica forever to find dresses she liked. She finally settled on coral." JC choked on his water, before setting his glass down. "Coral?" She laughed. "I know, it sounds gross. But they're really very pretty."
He smiled. "I'll bet." She blushed, as she turned around to put the quesedillas in the oven. "They're going to take a while. I'm going to see what the girls are up to. If you want to go make yourself comfortable on the couch, be my guest, and I'll be in in a few." He nodded, and watched her walk out.
Corinne crept toward Kaela's room and opened the door slighty, to peer in on the girls. Kaela giggled, pushing the Barbie car around the room. "I think my mommy's gonna marry your daddy." Isabella looked at her friend. "Really?" Kaela nodded. "Yep. She likes him lots." Isabella smiled, brushing her Barbie's hair. "My daddy loves your mommy. He told me so. We're gonna be sisters." Corinne quietly shut the door and walked back into the living room, where JC was stretched out on the couch. "They ok?" She nodded, silently, sitting down beside him. "Yeah..." He nodded, curiously, looking back at the tv. "Fast and the Furious, ok?" She nodded, wordlessly. He frowned. "Corinne... what's wrong?" She sighed. "Nothing." He frowned, sitting up to face her. "Corinne." She sighed. "We need to talk." He nodded. "Ok."
"When I walked into Kaela's room, what do I hear? I hear Kaela telling Isabella how she thinks we're going to get married, and how I like you. And then I hear Isabella telling her how you love me and how they're going to be sisters. We need to talk to them. We can't let them fill each other's heads with delusions such as these." He sighed. "Corinne... what about last week at Chris's? Something happened." She sighed. "I know that. What, exactly? I don't really know. All I know is that those girls can't go on believing that we actually have a chance of being together and becoming a family."
He frowned, standing up. "Why not? I know I never ruled out that possibility." She sighed, covering her face. "JC... it's not..." She trailed off, as she heard the doorbell ring. She sighed. "I'll get it." She walked to the door, massaging her temples, unsure of what to say to him next. She opened the door, slowly and gasped in shock as she who awaited.
"Mom... Dad?"
Seven