party starts, hon." She sighed. "When's the party gonna start?" He groaned, looking inside the oven at the cake. "As soon as Aunt Monica and Uncle Justin get here." Isabella frowned, jumping down. "Traaaaammpp! C'mere boy!" JC watched, as she skipped out of the room, in search of her dog. He shook his
head, and concentrated back on the work laid out in front of him.
"Heeey! Aunt Lotte! Are you here to see my mommy?" Charlotte grinned. "Sure am, Kae. Where is she?" Kaela scrunched up her nose. "Trying to find something to wear... It's just Bella's house." Charlotte grinned, knowingly. "Mm-hm.
Well, I'll go see what she's up to, ok?" Kaela nodded, focusing her attention back onto her game. Charlotte poked her head into Corinne's room, and knocked. "Knock-knock." Corinne peered out of the closet. "Oh, hey, Char." Charlotte grinned, plopping down on her bed. "Kaela tells me you're freaking out over
what to wear today.. now why would that be Cor?" Corinne looked out at her and snickered. "I'm not freaking out." Charlotte scanned the messy room, and smiled. "Yeah, right. Is there any particular reason, why you're freaking? Or,
rather, any particular person, perhaps?" Corinne shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about." Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Ok... liar. Admit it. You wanna look good for JC." Corinne's mouth dropped open. "What the..?" Charlotte laughed, gleefully. "I KNEW it! Don't even try to deny it with me, girl. We've been best friends since freshman year in high school. I know you like a book!" Corinne shrugged. "So what if I do? It's not a crime." Charlotte smiled. "You like him!" Corinne shook her head. "I don't." Charlotte nodded. "You do! And it's ok! Cuz he's FINE! And not to mention, rich.." Corinne sighed, sitting down next to
her. "Being rich has nothing to do with it." Charlotte grinned. "So, you like him then?" Corinne groaned, burying her face into her pillow. "Maybe..." Charlotte squealed. "Whooooeee! Go Cor!" She laughed, jumping up and down on the bed. Kaela grinned from the doorway, peeling in, flying onto the bed. "What's so
citing, Aunt Char?" Charlotte grinned, taking Kaela's hands, dancing around with her. "Mommy likes Bella's daddy!" Corinne screamed, throwing the pillow at Charlotte. "Are you MAD? Now, she's gonna go and tell him!!!" Charlotte
laughed. "No, she's not. Are you, Kaela?" Kaela shook her head. "It's our secret!"
Corinne sighed. "Get out of here, both of you, so I can get ready."
"Dooooorrrrbeell! I'll get it!" Isabella took off down the foyer, skidding to a stop, in front of the door, throwing it open. She squealed happily. "Kaela!!!" Kaela beamed. "I brought you a present!!" Isabella grinned. "Ooh!" JC smiled,
appearing next to the little girl. "Bella, you gonna ask them to come inside?" Isabella laughed. "Oopsies. Sure. C'mon in! C'mon, Kaela, I'll show you my room!" The two took off running, and JC shook his head. "Hey, Charlotte.
Where's Corinne?" Charlotte looked back towards the car. "She's coming. Last minute work." He nodded. "Monica's in the back with everyone else... and extremely giddy... only she won't tell us why..." Charlotte laughed. "I'll find
out what it is."
JC glanced back at where Corinne was leaning on the hood of her car. He smiled, and made his way down the stairs to meet up with her. "Uh-huh. Yeah, no, I know which one you're talking about... I don't like lime, it's gross. I want a faint red. Yes. Ok. Bye then." She sighed, clicking her phone shut. "Corinne?" She turned to see JC standing next to her, hands shoved in his pockets. She smiled. "Oh, JC, hi. I'm sorry, I had to finish up a few things right fast." He smiled. "It's ok. Shall we?" She nodded. "Is Monica and all them here?" He nodded. "All out back... but I was wondering if you'd help me set up some last minute things
in the kitchen?" She nodded, as he opened the door. "Sure." She followed him to the kitchen, where they found Monica and Justin. She covered her mouth to hide her smile, and JC rolled his eyes, clearing his throat. "Ahem. Not in my kitchen, eh?" They broke apart, blushing. "Sorry. We just came to get the barbeque
sauce is all. We're um, leaving." Monica stammered, pulling Justin out after her. JC laughed. "I can't even be mad at them." She smiled, taking a seat at the bar. "They're very lucky." He nodded, icing the cake. "Yeah, and sometimes I wish I could trade places with him. Just for a day, ya know? To see what it's like to have someone be so completely mystified by me... to have someone's face light up when I come home... someone who my daughter could call 'Mommy'..." He trailed off, turning around. Corinne sighed, standing up to walk behind him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, turning him to face her. She pulled his taller frame into a hug, and he sighed, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Does it ever get easier, Corinne? Does it ever stop hurting?" She shrugged. "I don't know, JC... I honestly don't know."
Two sets of eyes, looked at each other and grinned. Kaela grinned. "My mommy likes your daddy." Isabella giggled. "My daddy likes your mommy." They covered their mouths and took off outside to rejoin the others.
"Happy birthday to Bella and Monica... happy birthday to you...." Monica looked at Isabella and grinned. "Ready to blow out the candles?" The little girl nodded, and together, they blew them out. Kaela clapped, along with everyone else. "Yaayyy! Didja make a wish?" Isabella's face grew serious and nodded. "I did."
Justin grinned. "What'd ya wish for?" Monica glared at him, and smacked him. "Justin!" She turned to Isabella and smiled. "Don't tell him, sweetie, otherwise it won't come true." Isabella smiled. "I won't tell him, Aunt Monica." Charlotte laughed. "So, Mon, why so chipper today? Don't even tell me it's because
you turned 24, either. Cuz it's not that big of a deal." Monica laughed and looked at Justin. "They're gonna find out sooner or later anyway. Should we just get it over with?" Justin nodded, beaming. "I'm surprised they haven't already figured it out." Kaela looked up at Corinne and frowned. "Mommy, they're confusing me." Corinne laughed. "Me too, baby." JC sighed. "Tell us, already!" Monica giggled. "Ok, ok. Don't you guys recognize anything different about me?!" Everyone stared at her up and down, trying to fit the lost piece in the puzzle. Corinne, silently, stood, and walked over to her and smiled. "Congratulations, Monica." Monica laughed and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you." Corinne smiled at Justin and shook her head. "You too, Justin. It's good to know that there's still a few of you charmers out there." He grinned, sheepishly. "Thanks, Cor." Joey
stamped his foot on the ground. "I STILL don't see it!" Isabella jumped down from her seat, and tugged on Corinne's sleeve. "Cori... tell me what it is!" Corinne nodded, and whispered something in the little girl's ear. Isabella's face lit up and clapped excitedly. "Yay! Aunt Monica, can I be a ring bear?" Monica threw her head back and laughed. "No, sweetie, but you and Kaela can be flower
girls, what do you think?" Kaela nodded, excitedly. "Yeah!"
"Aaagh!" Charlotte screamed happily, running over to hug her friend. Lance clapped his friend on the back and shook his head. "I never would've guessed, you of all of us, would be the first. Congrats man!!" Corinne pulled Kaela into
her lap, and smiled, watching the others crowd around the two, congratulating them. Kaela sighed. "Mommy, I get to dress up in a real pretty dress?" Corinne nodded. "Yep. You and Isabella both. What do you think of that?" Kaela grinned. "Sounds good!"
"Whew! What do you think Kaela, girl?" Kaela shrugged. "I tired too, Jayce." He grinned. "It's been a long day, huh?" Kaela nodded. "Vewy." Corinne smiled. "I agree. What do you say we head on home?" Kaela groaned. "Can't we just stay
here?" Corinne raised an eyebrow. "No, we most certainly can not." Isabella looked up from her place on the floor. "You could. Kaela could stay in my room, and my daddy's got a big bed." Corinne's mouth dropped open, and JC choked on his drink. Isabella looked at them wide-eyed. "What? It's true." Corinne
cleared her throat. "I'm sure it is, sweetie, but I don't think so. C'mon, Kae, we've gotta get home. I've gotta get up early and go see Chris." Kaela scrunched up her nose. "I don't like him. And I don't wanna go." Corinne rolled her eyes. "You don't even know him. And besides you're not, so hah! Now let's go, kiddo. Say bye to Jayce and Bella." Kaela looked up at JC from his lap, and held her arms up to him. "Bye Jayce." He grinned, and hugged her. "Bye angel. You be good for mommy, ok?" She nodded. "Ok." Corinne smiled, and bent down to Isabella. "Same thing goes, for you miss. Behave." Isabella nodded, and hugged her. "Or else the booms'll get me, right?" Corinne nodded. "They sure will." She grinned. "Bye bye bye Kaela!" Kaela waved. "Bye bye bye!" Corinne picked Kaela up and headed to the door. JC opened it for her and smiled. "I'll see you Wednesday then?" She nodded. "Yeah, just bring her over whenever, ok?" He nodded. "Ok, thanks. I guess I'll see you later then?" She nodded. "Yeah. Later."
He watched her walk out the door, and pull away before shutting it, to face his daughter. She brushed her doll's hair and sighed. "I wish they could've stayed." JC sighed, and picked up the little girl and stroked her hair. "Me too, honey. Me too."
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