Two cars pulled up in front of the house with the off-white picket fence. The door of the white Honda CRV opened and a woman stepped out. She was of average height with a slender yet muscular figure. She pushed strands of her long, dark brown hair behind one ear as she turned to look at the little red Corvette that pulled up behind her. From that vehicle emerged another woman strikingly similar to the first, but her hair was slightly darker and her eyes were a deep blue instead of the dark brown that her companion possessed.
"Well, what do you think sis?" asked the first woman.
"It's definitely not like mom & dad's place in Connecticut, but I guess it'll do." she responded with a weak smile.
"You're right, it isn't what we are used to, but give it a chance. Come on, give me a smile and let me take a picture of our first house and us. I want to record it for posterity."
"Nicole! You and your posterity!"
"Come on Shan, just one picture? Please!" Nicole pleaded.
"Oh alright, but make it quick. I want to start unpacking before it gets too late." Shannon replied.
Nicole reached back into her car and pulled out the camera and tripod she always kept handy. It took her a few moments to set up the timer and then she raced to a spot on the lawn next to her sister.
"Smile!" Nicole said with a big grin on her face. Shannon put her arm around Nicole and smiled too.
Scene 2:"I got you now big guy!" yelled the man with the short blond hair.
"In your dreams!" shouted his brown-haired companion as he zoomed past him on his way down the ball court.
"Hey Ryan, you got lead in your shoes? You were supposed to get the ball away from him!" hollered a third man with shoulder length, blond curly hair as he ran towards the basket.
"I don't see you stopping him either Dean!" Ryan retorted.
"He shoots! He scores! Ha, ha!" the brown-haired man exclaimed.
"Don't rub it in Chris. It's embarrassing. The women might hear you." Dean complained.
"What women? There aren't any women watching." Chris replied.
"Well, there could have been." Dean said.
"Okay, that's enough guys. Good game. Should we play another?" Ryan asked.
"Na. I gotta get going." Dean said as he walked toward the bench where his things lay.
"Aw, come on, you baby. I tell you what, I'll even spot you a few points." Chris egged Dean on as he followed him to the bench.
"Nope. I have a date tonight and I'm not going to spend it smelling like you two apes." Dean said as he grabbed his shirt off the bench and put it on.
"Okay, fair enough. But who's the unlucky lady?" Chris asked as he grabbed his water bottle that was sitting on the ground next to the bench. He picked it up and sprayed some water all over his face. Some of the water dripped down his neck and over his muscular body.
"Her name is Lucy, and no, you can't meet her." Dean replied.
"Where did you meet this one?" Ryan asked as he approached them.
"None of your business. I'll catch you two goons later." Dean grabbed the rest of his stuff and headed off the court towards the parking lot.
"So, what are you doing tonight?" Chris asked Ryan while putting his shirt on.
"I don't know yet. I was thinking of going to grab a bite to eat. Want to come with me?" Ryan sat down on the bench and started dabbing his face with a towel.
"Sounds great to me. But this time if we meet any women, let me do the talking." Chris replied.
"Ha, ha. Very funny. Don't blame me if women can't stand to be around you." Ryan stood up and threw his gym bag over his shoulder. "Let's hit the showers. Dean was right, you do smell like an ape."
Ryan flicked his towel on Chris' leg and ran for the parking lot.
Scene 3:"Ted! Ted!" a very pretty young woman with reddish blonde hair ran into her house, screaming ecstatically.
A dark-haired man hurried down the stairs and embraced her. "Renee!" he said. "Where were you? I've been so worried!"
She embraced him back. "Oh Ted", she replied, "I have the best news!"
He looked at her, and saw that she was glowing. "Sweetheart, you're absolutely beaming!" He stopped in his tracks and thought a moment, "Wait, you've been away from me a couple of hours and you're beaming. Maybe this isn't such a-"
Renee laughed and said "Ted, you know how happy I've been since we've been married. And now we'll have someone else to--No, let me start from the beginning."
"Alright sweetheart, let's go in the living room, sit down, and you tell me this wonderful news", Ted replied as he led Renee into their spacious living room. They sat on their brown couch, and Ted immediately put a pillow over the spot where he spilled coffee earlier, hoping Renee wouldn't notice. Then he took Renee's hand.
Renee began her story. "Well you know how I wasn't feeling very well when I woke up this morning?"
"Yes I do, so I was worried even more when you were gone today", Ted answered.
"Well I went to the doctor", Renee added.
Ted got a concerned look on his face. "Why didn't you call me? You know I'm always here for you, and if there is something wrong, I want to be there."
Renee took her hand and stroked his cheek. "You worry too much about me Ted, but don't torture yourself, I want you right by my side at my next appointment."
Ted looked concerned once more. "You have to go back to the doctor? But you don't seem upset at all--"
Renee interrupted. "I'm not. The doctor gave me such wonderful news, and I hope you're as happy as I am."
Ted looked into her eyes, and took her other hand. "If it makes you happy, you know I will be too. I love you more than anything and all I desire is your happiness."
Renee couldn't hold it in any longer. "I'm pregnant!"
Ted's eyes widened, and the serious look on his face quickly turned to a big grin. "We're--we're gonna have a--I'm gonna be a--a daddy??"
Renee nodded, and they embraced once more. "You are going to be the best father!" Renee said in a cracky voice, as she started crying.
Ted stroked her hair. "And you're going to be the best mother. Just like you're the best wife in the entire world." They kissed, then Ted pulled away.
"What's wrong?" Renee asked.
"Nothing sweetheart! This calls for a celebration!" Ted exclaimed.
Renee gave him a seductive look. "Well what did you have in mind?"
"We're going to go to the best restaurant in town! And you can have anything you want. You're going to start having weird cravings you know, pickles and ice cream, peanut butter and ketchup, sardines and chocolate..."
Renee laughed, then grabbed his hand as they got up. "Well alright, I guess what I had in mind can wait until after." She kissed him. "Shall we go?"
"Alright, but um there's something I need to tell you too." Ted said in a quivery voice.
"Oh, alright. What is it?" Renee asked.
"I spilled coffee on the couch by accident!" Ted confessed quickly, closing his eyes for fear of what'll come next. She loved that furniture!
Renee just laughed and pulled him outside. They got in their car and drove away...
