Make Believe: A Novella (5 page)

             
The night was going great so far, and we were all having a fun time. While it was pretty cramped in the living room right now, I was thrilled to have all of the people I loved the most in one room. Everyone had arrived by now, and it was noisy. Kyle’s parents arrived about twenty minutes ago, which sparked the first argument of the night. They thought Mimi hadn’t invited Tommy because she was embarrassed by them being at the party, and since she isn’t exactly the most patient person, you can imagine how that argument ended. Luckily, Kyle diffused the situation so the rest of the night they tried to be civil to each other, but I’m guessing there will be a part two when they get home.

             
Unfortunately, Aiden’s dad couldn’t make it since he, Kate, and Caitlyn were on vacation for two weeks but they did call this morning, which was nice. Aiden’s dad has been alcohol-free for four years now, and their relationship is better than ever. We don’t get to see them as much as we’d like since we live a good forty-minute drive away, but we do try to get together as often as we can.

             
“Want me to get that?” Mimi asked me, interrupting my thoughts.

             
“Huh?”

             
“The door, didn’t you hear it?” she asked impatiently.

             
“No, I didn’t, but I’ll get it.”

             
As I opened the door the biggest smile took over my face.

             
“Hey, Lisa,” I whispered as I watched Dylan sleeping in her arms.

             
“Hey, sweetie,” she said, kissing me on the cheek.

             
“Do you want to put him down in my room?” I asked, smiling at my dad’s wife. They had been married for four years now, and she was lovely.

             
“Yeah, that’ll be great,” she said as she gently handed my two-year-old brother to me.

             
“He looks so peaceful,” I said, smiling down at him.

             
“And as long as he doesn’t wake up, it will stay that way,” she said and we both laughed quietly.

             
“Where’s Dad?” I asked.

             
“He went back to the car to grab something,” she said, closing the door behind us.

             
“OK, here’s the key, let him in when he knocks,” I said.

             
“OK.”

             
I just couldn’t stop smiling at Dylan’s cute little face, but that changed as I passed Aiden and Anthony talking loudly in the hallway.

             
“Shhh!” I said as softly as I could.

             
“Sorry,” Anthony whispered as he smiled at me.

             
I gently placed Dylan down on the bed while I pulled out the folding crib we used to use when Tammy was younger. I quietly set it up and tucked him safely in.

             
As I walked back into the living room, I noticed everyone looked a little shocked, so I must have missed something. I looked around and realized that Aiden, Anthony, Murphy, Crystal, and Jess were all missing. I quickly headed for the kitchen.

             
“So, when were you planning on telling me?” Aiden questioned a very nervous looking Murphy.

             
“Look, Aiden, you really need to chill out. We’re not kids you know,” Crystal said, clearly irritated.

             
“What’s going on?” I asked wondering what was happening.

             
“You don’t want to know,” Anthony said.

             
“When?” Aiden repeated as he locked eyes with Murphy.

             
“Look, it wasn’t as if it was planned or anything.”

             
“Oh my gosh, why are you making such a big deal out of it?” Crystal glared at Aiden.

             
“Because you lied to me,” Aiden said, simply.

             
“Isn’t this the same thing you did with April?” she asked, folding her arms in defiance across her chest.

             
“Yes, and you said we should have told you, but you didn’t tell us.”

             
“No, I said April should have told me not you.” She was getting angrier.

             
“Aiden, why don’t we just discuss this in the morning when everybody has gone?” I said, calmly as I touched his shoulder.

             
“No, I want to discuss it now! I want to know how long this has been going on for?” he demanded.

             
“Aiden, it is none of your business. We are not kids!” Crystal shouted in frustration.

             
“When things happen under my roof, it becomes my business.”

             
“Oh, come on dude. You just saw us making out, that’s it,” Murphy said in disbelief.

             
“Just making out! Just making out!” Aiden was furious as he took a step closer to Murphy.

             
“And cut,” Anthony suddenly said. Everybody burst out laughing except me and Murphy, who stood there in shock.

             
“You should have seen your faces!” Anthony said.

             
“You mean, you knew?” Murphy said to a very amused-looking Aiden.

             
“Yeah, but I had to do it man. It was so funny!” Aiden continued to laugh.

             
“You set me up?” Murphy couldn’t believe it. He turned to Crystal.

             
“Aww, sorry cutey, but I had to. It was so funny. I only wished we had videotaped that moment, the fear on your face,” she said, struggling not to laugh.

             
“I was not scared!” Poor Murphy tried to hide his embarrassment.

             
“Dude, you were scared,” Anthony said as he continued to laugh.

             
“So, you’re OK with me and Crystal?” Murphy asked in all seriousness.

             
“Of course I am, but if you break her heart then I have to break something of yours,” Aiden said reminding Murphy who was the over-protective big brother.

             
“Deal,” Murphy said and shook Aiden’s hand.

             
“Ahhhhh!” Jess screamed.

             
“OK, baby it wasn’t that funny,” Anthony said to Jess.

             
“She’s not laughing you moron,” Crystal cried out as we both ran over to Jess.

             
“I think the baby is coming!” Jess was bent over the counter clutching her stomach.

             
“Oh my gosh, how long have you been getting pain?” I asked.

             
“I don’t know, maybe about an hour. I just thought it would pass, but they’ve been getting even more painful,” she said as she let out another cry of pain.

             
“OK, I need someone to time how far apart the contractions are,” I said. Crystal nodded her head.

             
“Time the what’s? Wait, doesn’t that mean….”

             
“Yes, you idiot. I’m having this big-headed kid right now, so come here and hold my hand and shut your mouth,” Jess yelled at Anthony who quickly obeyed her orders.

             
“We need to get her to the hospital,” Aiden said..

             
So we all stepped aside and helped Jess get outside as comfortably as possible. When we stepped outside we bumped into my dad.

             
“Is she?” he said glancing at Jess with a knowing look on his face.

             
“Yes,” I said as we continued walking.

             
“OK, come on. We’ll take my car and get her in.” He raced out to open up the car door for her.

             
“OK, it’s not far now Jess. We just need you to hold on, OK? You need to breathe,” I said as I gently squeezed her hand.

             
“OK.” She shook her head vigorously when the pain hit her again.

             
“This is all your fault, you moron!” She screamed at Anthony as she tried to catch her breath.

             
“Mine?” He sounded surprised.

             
“Yes! I told you I wanted to go out that night and now look, here I am having my insides ripped apart because your family has the big head gene!” She grit her teeth and howled.

             
“Hey baby, now your Uncle Bill has a rather large head too. This could come from him so don’t just blame my family!“

             
“Shut up!” She screamed as another wave of pain came over her.

             
“Just drive,” I said as we finally got settled into the car.

             
“I’ll follow you,” Aiden said as he ran off toward his own car.

             
“OK.”

             
I guess there really is never a dull moment in my life.

* * *

             
We had been at the hospital for seven hours before Anthony finally came running out of the room with a smile on his face.

             
“It’s a girl!” He screamed and jumped into Aiden’s arms.

             
“Well done man! I’m so proud of you.” Aiden pulled away from him and smiled.

             
“I didn’t really do much to be honest. Jess was great,” he said, smiling at us all.

             
“Aww, congratulations Ant,” I said, hugging him too.

             
“Thanks, Aunty April.” A huge smile filled his face.

             
We all took turns going in and seeing the new addition to the family. We didn’t want to stay very long since Jess was so worn out, but her baby was absolutely beautiful. They named her Ella-May, which was a combination of their mother’s names. Jess’ mom was Ella and Anthony’s mom was May, and together they really made a beautiful name.

             
When I finally got back home, I was relieved to find that the house had been completely cleaned up. It had to have been my mom or Susan since neither of them could stand a mess. Whoever it was, I was eternally grateful.

             
I took my phone out and sent a picture of Ella-May to Erica just as Jess had asked me to. I knew that she wouldn’t want to miss out on such a beautiful moment, and none of us wanted her to either.

             
Six years ago Erica met a really nice guy named Miguel, and they seemed to be the missing pieces in each other’s lives. After a couple of years Erica gave birth to adorable twin girls, and a year later they decided to start a new life in France. I missed her like crazy. We all did, but it was such a great opportunity, and she was so happy. It was not very often when we got to see her, but she did try and visit at least once a year, which was nice.

             
“Home at last,” Aiden said, gently wrapping his arms around my waist.

             
“Yep,” I said, looking into his eyes.

             
“Well, I can’t say I expected the night to turn out like that, but it was quite a nice outcome, wasn’t it?” He smiled at me.

             
“Yeah, I’m so happy for Anthony and Jess. They’re going to be great parents.”

             
“Yeah, probably a little crazy too, though,” he chuckled quietly.

             
“Definitely.”

             
“So, with everything that happened tonight, do you have room for one more surprise?” he asked me.

             
“It depends,” I replied.

             
“On what?”

             
“If I like it,” I said, trying to stifle a yawn.

             
“Oh, I think you just might like this one,” he bragged.

             
“Come on.” He gently dragged me to the living room.

             
Once there, he let go of my hand and took a few steps back so he could gaze into my eyes.

             
“April, when first I met you all of those years ago — which I can’t even remember since we were babies then — I never knew what an important part of my life you would become. I also didn’t know you would be the first girl to make me feel so many crazy emotions at the same time. I never thought I would ever fall in love, but again you changed that. Your friends are my friends. Your family is my family, and we share everything. What’s yours is mine and vice versa. Losing you would be like losing a part of me. You are me, and I want you to be mine forever because I can’t imagine my life without you. So, before any more games, noise, babies, or anything else interrupts us again I want to ask you an important question,” he said as he got down on his knee and pulled something out of his pocket.