A few days later Dawn and D
were out shopping. Arianna was spending some quality time with her Daddy and Nick was out
playing basketball with Brian.
"So what do you guys have planned?" Dawn asked D while they browsed the jewelry
counter at Lord and Taylor.
"Nothing actually. I’m not even sure he knows it’s our anniversary,"
she frowned.
"What makes you say
that?"
"He hasn’t mentioned anything to me about plans…or even that he knows. I
guess it’s no big deal. It’s only been six months."
"Six months is a long time to be with someone," Dawn pointed out, looking at a
Rolex watch.
"Yeah, especially for me," D laughed, taking the watch from her and looking at
it. "This is nice."
"I think Nicky would like it. You should get it for him," Dawn suggested.
"He’s already got a nice watch," D said, giving it back to the saleswoman.
"But he doesn’t have one from you."
D shrugged and walked away. Dawn looked after her and sighed. She hated keeping secrets
from her, especially seeing how upset she was about Nick not remembering their
anniversary. The fact is he did remember. He had come to her asking for advice on
what kind of a gift to give her. He wanted to give her something special.
She smiled at the thought of him
stressing over her present. She could see how much he loved her and she knew how much D
loved him. It made her so happy to know her closest friends were just as happy and just as
in love as she was. He had asked her not to mention anything to D about it. He wanted the
whole thing to be a surprise.
"What do you think of this?" D asked, holding up a burgundy sweater.
"It’s nice. I like the color."
"I like it too but I’m not sure if clothes are the way I want to go."
She put the sweater back and looked around the store.
"Maybe we should try the lingerie section," Dawn suggested with an evil grin.
D raised an eyebrow and returned her evil smile.
"Well, until the baby’s born, I have to live vicariously through you," Dawn
joked.
"Please, the two of you are like a couple of animals."
They laughed and headed in that direction.
A few hours later……
"I hate buying for a guy!" D
yelled as she opened her front door.
"What about a tattoo? You could take him to a parlor or have someone come here and
give him one," Dawn suggested as they set their bags down.
"He’s already got enough of those. I don’t want him looking like J," D
laughed.
"You’re right. He’s gone a little overboard," she laughed back.
"I’ll think of something," she sighed. "Too bad you can’t drink
cause I could use a fuzzy navel."
Dawn looked at her watch. It was only three’oclock in the afternoon. She shook her
head and laughed.
D was pouring them drinks when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Well hello, D."
"Noah," D said dryly. Dawn looked at her wide-eyed.
"What a pleasure to hear your voice. What the hell do you want?"
"Do you greet everyone like that when they call?" he laughed.
"No, just the ones I can’t stand."
"Ouch," he chuckled. "So how’s Nickyboy?"
"Like you care," she scoffed.
"Now now D. I’m just making conversation."
"I don’t really care to make conversation with you so just tell me what the hell
you want before I hang up this phone," she said through clenched teeth.
"Alright, alright. Don’t get all worked up. I wanted to talk to Dawn, if that
was okay with you."
"Actually it’s not okay with me. Why do you want to talk to Dawn?"
She looked over at her. Dawn was
shaking her head no and mouthing ‘I’m not here’.
"I need to talk to her about business," he snapped.
"She’s out with AJ. They’ve been so busy planning their wedding, you know.
Oh, have I had the pleasure of telling you that I’m Dawn’s Maid of Honor?
And, Nick’s is J’s Best Man! Isn’t that great?! It’s
gonna be so much fun…" D shoved in Noah’s face.
She knew it was immature, but it felt good, she knew how much it bothered him.
"Would you like to leave a
message for her?" she asked sweetly as Dawn tried to stop
laughing.
Noah clenched his teeth at the sound of AJ’s name, and he certainly didn’t want
to hear about any wedding. If he had his way, that wedding would never take place. Still,
he figured D was lying about Dawn being out with AJ just to piss him off, Dawn was
probably sitting right there. He decided to play along.
"You can just tell her that her album is going to be released on Tuesday and I have
arranged a signing for her at Universal City Walk on Saturday. She needs to be there at
one o’clock. I’ve arranged for plenty of security so we don’t have another
incident. She’ll be safe. I’ve seen to it," he stressed.
"Noah, she’s supposed to stay off her feet, you know that. The baby’s
more important to her than anything right now. Her family comes first…"
"I know," he said, trying to control his anger. "She won’t be on
her feet, it’s all been taken care of."
"You know, you probably should talk this over with AJ…"
"I don’t need to talk anything over with AJ," he cut her off.
"Just tell her to be there. Everything will
be fine."
"Fine. I’ll let her know."
"Tell her I…"
D hung up before he could finish.
"Well? What did he say?" Dawn asked anxiously.
"Your album is coming out on Tuesday and you have a signing on Saturday."
"Omigod! My album is finally coming out!!" She yelled happily.
"I know! That’s so awesome!" D said, hugging her.
"AJ is gonna freak when he hears I have another signing. After what happened last
time
I’m not so sure I like the idea much either."
Just then the front door open and she heard a loud squeal.
"Momma!!!!!"
"In here sweetie!" Dawn called to her daughter.
Arianna came charging into the kitchen, followed by AJ, and into her mother’s arms.
"How’s my girl?"
"Daddy take me to pawk. He push me on da swings," she said happily.
"Isn’t he just the best Daddy?" She smiled, looking at him lovingly.
He smiled back at her. Arianna nodded in agreement.
"Why don’t you go wash your hands so we can eat lunch."
"Okay," she agreed.
Dawn set her down and she hurried off.
"Hi Angel," AJ greeted, wrapping his arms around Dawn.
"Hi yourself," she smiled kissing him.
The kiss grew more and more passionate and D rolled her eyes.
"Ahem…there’s still someone in the room," she called.
They pulled apart and looked over at her.
"Oh…hi," AJ said, smiling. "I didn’t even see you there."
She shook her head and laughed.
"I have some wonderful news!"
Dawn jumped up and down excited.
"Tell me, tell me!!" He jumped up and down with her.
"My CD is being released on Tuesday!!"
"That’s great, baby!!"
He picked her up and swung her around.
"There’s something else…you probably won’t like it."
"What’s that?" He asked, backing away.
"I have to go to a signing on Saturday," she said gently.
"Oh, hell no! No way! Not after what happened last time!!
No way, no how, uh-uh!" he yelled.
Dawn and D looked at each other.
"This is nuts!!" AJ
continued. "You could have been seriously hurt last time and they
want you to do it again???"
"Noah told me there would be plenty of security," D cut in. "He said that
she would be
protected."
AJ’s eyes flared angrily at the mention of Noah’s name.
"This is his idea?? When did you talk to him??"
"A little while ago. He wanted to talk to Dawn but I told him she was out with you
and
took a message. He told me about the album release and the signing."
"Damn it!! You need to get a new manager. I’m sick of this shit," he
ranted.
"I’m under contract with him, Alex. I can’t break it. It will be fine.
People don’t know me
as well here. There probably won’t be that many people there anyway."
"If you have to do this I’m going with you and
you’re staying off your feet and I’m
calling Steve and telling him to come along. I’m also gonna bring a baseball
bat…" he
threatened as he left the room.
"Damn…protective much," D commented.
"That’s my Alex," Dawn chuckled. "This should be fun".