“Now smile for the camera. Yes, now look like you’re having the time of your life,” the photographer told the group. The guys tried their best to look like they were really on a sunny beach instead of inside a studio. “Scott and Abs try to look happier please. Millions of teenage girls will be drooling over these pictures for weeks,” the photographer commented. “I can’t very well look happy when I’m not, now can I?” mumbled Abs. The only one within hearing distance was Scott, but he was too busy trying to smile without actually showing his teeth, to stop and ask Abs what was wrong. After another ten minutes the photographer finally stopped snapping pictures. “Alright guys that’s all for today, you can go and change now,” he said dismissing the group.
“I think I’m going to like those pictures,” Ritch commented as they made their way to the dressing rooms. The rest of the guys groaned. “When do you not like your pictures? You’re so full of yourself Ritch,” Abs yelled at him. Everyone became silent after that, knowing not to cross Abs when he was angry. As they were changing someone’s cell phone began to ring. They all dove looking for their phone throughout the room. “Ello?” they all said at the same time. “It’s mine!” Scott said leaving the room. “Scott, mate are you there?” Ryan asked. “Yeah, yeah I’m here Ry. What did you need me for?” Scott asked as he made his way to his car. “Lyd and I are finally baptizing Becca and we wanted to see if you would be her godfather,” Ryan said with a hopeful tone in his voice. Scott had been trying to find his keys when he stopped. “Hang on, you mean Becca, who is about to be 2, hasn’t been baptized yet?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yeah, it just hasn’t been the right time until now. It’s rather a long story, we’re not sure if it will even happen. It’s all depending on what the future godmother will say,” Ryan said trying to explain. “I’m sure Marie will say yes, I mean we’ve been friends for ages. She wouldn’t say no to you,” Scott said smiling. Scott finally found his keys and got into his car. “Well, actually Scott, I wasn’t talking about Marie. That’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about,” he said hoping Scott would still agree. “Oh. I just assumed you would be having me and Marie be godparents,” Scott said a bit disappointed. “Yeah I would love it to be so, but Lydia wants to ask an old friend from America to be godmother,” Ryan said a bit disappointed himself. “I thought Lyd didn’t have much relations left from America,” Scott commented.
“There’s the problem, she hasn’t talked to her in about 3 years. So Lydia doesn’t even know if she will agree or not. But she said they were as close as sisters before Lydia came to Europe,” Ryan explained. There was some silence while both were wondering why Lydia had never mentioned this close friend to them. “Will you then Scott? Be Becca’s godparent?” Ryan finally asked. “Yeah of course I will. You know I love that little girl like she was my own,” Scott answered automatically. On the other side of the line Ryan gave a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, we were thinking of having the ceremony the day of her second birthday. And I’ll call you later this week with all the details, and say whether it’s a go or not,” Ryan said sounding happy. “Alright then, talk to you then, bye,” Scott said ending the conversation.
Vivian was sleeping soundly having dreams of world domination when she was jarred awake by the ringing of her telephone. She instantly was awake wondering if perhaps something had gone wrong at one of her stores. She reached for the phone and clumsily pressed the talk button. “Silverly here,” she said out of breath. There was a giggle at the other end of the telephone. “What the fuck?” Vivian said unconsciously. “Oh my god Viv, how dare you cuss in front of my daughter?” came the reply. Vivian sat there wondering just who this person thought they were waking her up at…wait what time was it? She turned to look at the clock and saw it was only 5AM. “Who is this?” she demanded. “Same old Viv, never one to be pleasant were you? It’s me, Lydia, who else could it be?”
Vivian’s heart stopped, damn she thought she could get away with not talking to Lyd until she had worked out through her thoughts. “Oh I don’t know, it could have been any of my friends, employees, anyone that I know and actually talk to,” Vivian yelled into the phone. She waited for Lydia to say anything else and was about to hang up after a few minutes of silence. “So have you made plans to come to England yet?” Lydia asked her. “No I have no reason to, and besides you just told me yesterday. Without bothering to mention you live in England,” Vivian said tiredly. Thinking that perhaps she would be more awake if she had some coffee she made her way to her kitchen to serve herself a cup. Since she always had some either made or in the process she never had to worry about waiting for coffee. “So what are your plans, Lyd? For me to just drop everything and rush to England just so you can forget about me the second I come back to the US?”
“No Viv, I want to apologize for not calling and everything. But I’ve never forgotten you or Nan. You guys are my family, and Becca and Ryan are your family now too,” Lydia said close to tears. “Becca?” Vivian asked.
“Yeah, I named her after you, my best friend. Please Vivian you’ve got to come, I wouldn’t trust anyone to be her godmother besides you,” Lydia pleaded. Vivian could hear the tears in her voice and knew she was pretty close to crying too, something she hadn’t done ever since her parents had died when she was six. “Don’t do this to me Lydia, you know how hard it is for me to even think myself as a mother. I would make an awful mom,” Vivian whispered. “Viv, me and Ryan aren’t about to die anytime soon. We’re only 21 for god’s sake, I just need to know that if ever anything happens you would be there for Becca. You’re more than my friend Viv, you’re my sister,” she said hoping this would make Vivian change her mind. “You know I handle Silverly’s now,” she said avoiding the subject. “Yeah I’ve known ever since you made your decision. I knew you would eventually want to. You might not have known about what went on with me, but I’ve known of everything that’s happened to you. Nan has been my spy these past three years,” Lydia said.
“A bit unfair don’t you think? So when is the ceremony to be held?” Vivian said giving in. “I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me. It’s in two weeks but I want you here to make the arrangements with me. It’s going to be on Becca’s birthday,” she answered. “Wait in two weeks? My birthday is in exactly two weeks from today,” Viv said amazed. “Yeah that’s part of the reason I named her Rebecca because all the signs pointed to you. She even looks like you Viv, it’s rather eerie sometimes. The same round blue eyes and soft brown hair, it’s like she’s more you than me,” Lydia said laughing.
“I can be there by no earlier than Tuesday. And no but’s about that, I’ve got to settle some stuff at the office before leaving for so long,” Vivian said. “That’s fine just as long as you get here. And Viv?” Lydia said. “Yeah, Lyd?” she said making her way back to her bed. “I’ve missed you,” Lydia said. “I’ve missed you too, bye,” Vivian said as she hanged the phone back onto the receiver.
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