The twelfth came quicker than I expected, and so did Aunt Christie and Sabrina. They would be staying with me for a few days, and they were both eager to come down here, not just so that they could see my new house, but so they could meet Alex. Nova had announced that she was having a girl a few days ago and we were all thrilled. But for some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling that something unexpected was going to happen.
I was stirring a pan of scrambled eggs when Alex hugged me from behind, placing a kiss on my cheek before looking down to see what I was making. "What are you making?"
"Food." I replied plainly, flipping over the scrambled eggs.
"What kind of food? He persisted.
Laughing, I turn to him, "Good food."
"Are you serious!" He laughed, shaking his head.
"Yes, yes, I am. Now quit distracting me before I burn your breakfast."
"I'm distracting, huh?" He grinned, and before I could stop him, he reached over and tickled my rib cage, making me jump and laugh in surprise.
"No, stop!" I screeched, trying to get away from his tickling grasp. "You're going to make me burn the eggs!" Finally stopping long enough for me to plate the eggs and turn off the stove, he managed to chase me around the house until I tripped and fell hard on the floor.
"Are you okay?" He asked in-between laughs, "What did you trip over?"
Looking up through frizzy hair, I managed to pull myself up, "I have no idea. And I hope you like your eggs cold because that's what you're having for breakfast." Patting Alex's shoulder, I make it to the kitchen just as the doorbell rang.
Within a minute, Sabrina had poked her head through the front door, "Are you decent?"
"Um, yes?" I asked, walking over to open the front door fully.
"Dang it!" Sabrina exclaimed, running her fingers through her brunette locks, "And here I thought I was going to catch you two doing something."
"Well, Alex did make sure you had a cold breakfast, so..." I trailed off as Sabrina raised an eyebrow.
"I hope you two used protection." She grinned, and my cheeks burned.
"No, we didn't do that!" She laughed, walking through the entryway with her suitcase and her mother close behind her.
"What are you two doing talking in the middle of the doorway?" Aunt Christie scolded, her familiar brown hair was tugged into a ponytail, and her face was lined with wrinkles from years of laughter and stress. And then she caught sight of me and immediately pulled me in for a hug.
"Oh, Elsie, I've missed you so much! And oh, this must be Alex. It's so good to finally meet you." She beamed, pulling Alex in for a hug as well.
"It's good to meet you too, Ma'am." Alex said grinning.
"Oh hush," Aunt Christie remarked, "Call me Aunt Christie. Now, are we having breakfast?"
"Well, we were, but we can always head over to the Breakfast Club." I offered, "And I can call Nova and Josh over to see if they would like to join us. After, we could take you on a tour of the island."
"That sounds perfect." She said, setting her suitcase down.
After calling Nova and Josh to invite them for breakfast, we each headed out towards the restaurant. By the time we got there, a line had begun to form, and I began to wonder whether this was a good idea in the first place.
After twenty minutes of waiting, we were finally seated. I sat next to Sabrina, who strategically sat in between Alex and me.
Nova, of course, sat next to Josh, and Aunt Christie was next to Alex. He didn't seem to mind, and I was internally grateful. As our drinks were served, Aunt Christie began to drill Alex with questions. I expected this, of course, but what I didn't plan for her to plainly state that if we were sleeping together and I got pregnant, she expected Alex to be a man and marry me.
Quickly changing the subject, I pleaded for Nova to talk about anything but the intimacy between Alex and me. She grinned, and the conversation soon turned towards the baby shower. I smiled with relief, locking eyes with Alex, who smiled reassuringly at me. This was normal, and I knew I had nothing to worry about.
After breakfast, we decided to go by the strip near South Beach, where Nova's shop sat. We showed them the aquarium where we worked and the lighthouse on North Beach.
"It's a cute little island." Aunt Christie said as we walked home.
As if out of habit, my hand reached out for Alex's. He squeezed my hand with his as if to say he was glad we were together and that my family was with us. We have had a few fights over the past few weeks, but that was normal. The good news was that little disagreements didn't break our relationship. In fact, I think it may have helped it grow.
I kissed Alex on the cheek, wishing him goodnight before following Aunt Christie and Sabrina inside. Alex would be working at the Scuba Center at five, and I had to make dinner for all of us. Sabrina insisted on spending the few hours she had left at the beach, so I was left alone with Aunt Christie. Not that I minded, I hope she approved of my relationship.
Running down the list of ingredients, I counted each item off with my hand, making sure I had everything that I needed for chili dogs.
"He seems genuine." She said as she came into the kitchen. "He seems like a real gentleman."
"He is," I gushed as I turned on the oven, "I think he is the one for me. I feel at home around him, and we get along well."
She smiled and nodded as if she knew exactly what I was talking about, "I'm happy you have found each other, but I want you to remember that a relationship isn't all sunshine and rainbows. It takes work and commitment," She said in a tone I hadn't heard in years, "And once you both know and act on it, trivial disagreements won't pull you away. You will know that the person is worth more than the relationship between you. And you will do what's best for your partner just as they would do for you."
I nodded in agreement, speechless as I began to make dinner.
"Has Nova and Josh decided on a name for her?" She asked suddenly.
"I don't think so." I commented, stirring the pot as Aunt Christie re-heated the hotdogs in the microwave. A few minutes later, Sabrina came bursting through the door, bringing a shovelful of sand with her.
"Can you go take a shower before we eat?" I asked, not looking up from the pot, "And make sure you shake your towel and suit before sticking it in the wash!"
"Okay!" Sabrina exclaimed as she disappeared into the bathroom.
"So, how is college treating her?" I inquired, turning to my aunt.
"Well, I think you should ask her that when she gets out of the shower." She commented, pulling the hotdogs out and setting them on the counter.
After dinner and finding out from Sabrina that she dropped out to pursue a career in modeling, we called it a night. I respected my cousin, but I wasn't sure this was the best decision she's made.
*
The morning of the baby shower was surprisingly uneventful. Sabrina and I were tasked with decorating while Aunt Christie went to grab the cake. Tabitha had texted me earlier saying her, Alex, and Emma would be by in a few to help set up. Once we were finished tiring the purple and pink balloons, Sabrina helped me put up the gift table where I set Alex and I's gift.
Tabitha, Alex, and Emma soon arrived with Aunt Christie close behind them. I found myself looking up just in time to catch Alex looking at me from across the room. I noticed that he wore a light purple button-up and jeans, and I smiled over at him. Relishing the fact that he smiled too, his smile was absolutely breath-taking. Tabitha glided towards us first, wearing an elegant flannel while Emma pulled off a cute lightweight hoodie and leggings.
"Elsie! Oh, this must be Sabrina!" I had a sense of Deja vu as Tabitha pulled Sabrina in for a tight hug.
"Hi." Sabrina gasped making Alex and I giggle.
"I hope y'all didn't start without us." Nova commented as she came inside.
Her baby bump grew overnight, and I wondered what the baby would be like. Would she be like Nova or Josh? Or would she be a mix of both?
"Of course not!" Tabitha grinned, "Now, are you going to tell us her name or what?"
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Nova asked, "How about we have cake, and then we'll tell you her name." She suggested already walking towards the cake table.
We all followed suit, either taking a seat on the couch or the floor. Easing down onto the floor next to Alex, I scraped the icing off my cake and ate in peace. That is until Alex noticed I hadn't touched my icing.
"Why aren't you eating your icing?" He asked, pointing towards my plate with the end of his fork.
"It is too rich." I explained, taking another bite.
"But, you're wasting it!" He exclaimed teasingly. Shaking my head, I scraped the contents onto his plate. "Yes!"
"Alright," Nova said, clasping her hands together, "Are you ready to open Emmy Lyanne White's presents?"
Immediately I looked up at the sound of my mother's first name, and my eyes began to water. "We thought it would be fitting to name her after two strong women."
"So our mothers were fitting choices. Emmy after my mom and Lyanne after Josh's." Nova added, walking over to grasp my hand in hers. It was the perfect name. After their announcement, they each opened presents while I wrote down what they received.
A few hours passed, and we began to clear away the food and decorations. I knew that today was probably the happiest moment of Nova's life, apart from her wedding, of course.
*
Rain poured down my windshield for the second time today, and I knew that it was going to be slow. Not only at the aquarium but the various shops and restaurants that lined the streets. Thunder cracked in the distance, and I wondered if we were due for a hurricane soon. Parking in the parking lot, I grabbed my umbrella and ran. Once inside, I inwardly thanked the shelter from the building.
Clocking in, I noticed that Samantha and Jeanne weren't in yet. They're probably running a little late because of the rain. I told myself and made my way towards Aimme's office.
"Hey Aimme, do you have a minute?" I asked after entering her well-lit room.
"Sure, what's up?"
"I was wondering if you could approve my vacation in November? I'll be staying the weekend at my boyfriend's mom's for Thanksgiving."
"Of course, I'll approve it right now." She said, smiling.
"Thank you!" I exclaimed, leaving Aimme in her office and walking towards my conservation room.
Alex passed me in the hall, and I wondered what would have happened if I hadn't moved to Tybee Island when I did. Would we have met in different circumstances? Would we have hit it off as well as we did? One thing I was certain, I was glad Buddy ran me over.