"That was your mom. The hospital has been trying to call you for an hour but couldn’t get a hold of you so they called her. Your pregnancy test results were accidentally switched with someone who really is pregnant."
Patricia stopped crying. "Oh my God…"
A.J. was still in the restroom with Howie. "I know I was pissed, like, ten minutes ago, but just by looking at her now, I know she cares. I mean, did you actually see her? She’s a wreck because of me, because she loves me. She doesn’t think she deserves me she feels so bad. I now know what I have to do to let her know everything will be all right."
"A.J!" Brian burst into the room. "I gotta tell you-"
"Not now, Brian. I have to do something," he said as he walked out of the restroom and up to Patricia. He got on his knee and held her hands in his. "Patricia, I love you with all my heart. I want you, and I, and the baby to be a family. Will you marry me?"
Tears started flowing down her cheeks again. "A.J., I’m not pregnant."
He was speechless.
"My mother just called. The pregnancy results got switched with someone else’s. Besides, I can’t marry you, even if was pregnant. It’s too early and there’s just too much going on between us."
"You’re right," he said. "I guess I really was rushing it this time."
"Yeah," she said, half laughing. "We should just slow down from where we left off and see what happens."
"I like that. And hey, I promise I’ll stop with the flirting."
Patricia turned to Brian. "Thanks for keeping a secret."
"Hey, he put a gun to my head. I had no choice."
"Oh, okay. I understand now," she said sarcastically. She turned back to A.J. "And I promise to be more open, say what’s really on my mind. Well, just the important stuff."
"Deal," he said. "My God, what a day."
"Awww, man," said Nick, looking at the flight schedules on the overhead TV. "Out flight’s been canceled another hour. Now it won’t be leaving for two hours. This sucks."
"Well, not really," said A.J. "This’ll give Patricia time to pack."
A huge smile formed on her face. "You mean you still want me to go on tour with you?"
"Of course. How can I go on tour without the one I love?"
"I love you, A.J!" she said as she kissed him. "Come home with me to pack."
"Okay." He turned to the rest of the gang. "What are you guys gonna do while we’re gone?"
"We’ll hang here," said Kevin.
"Yeah," said Andrea. "We can walk around."
"We’ll be back ASAP," said Patricia as her and A.J. walked out of the airport hand-in-hand.
Andrea saw how happy they were together and started to think…
"Let’s go to the gift shop," said Brian.
"Okey dokey," said Nick as they all followed Brian.
"Oh, look, Playboy," said Kevin as they walked by the magazine section.
"What is it with you and the nude?" joked Howie.
Brian was already on the other side of the shop. "Who would buy these here?"
"What?" asked Andrea as she walked towards him.
"Engagement rings."
She felt awkward standing in front of the large showcase of rings with him. She quickly walked away to the shelf of Beanie Babies. "Hey, Nick," she said as she threw him a fuchsia bear.
He read the tag. "Cool, a millennium bear! I gotta get this," he said, walking up to the register to pay for it.
"I’m sure happy nobody knows we’re here," said Howie.
Kevin agreed. "Me too. Remember last time?"
"Yeah," said Brian. "I never did get my hat back."
"Well there’s nothing interesting here," said Howie. "I’ll be in the lobby." He along with Kevin, Nick, and Andrea started to leave.
"You coming, B-Rok?" she asked.
"I’ll be there in a sec. I’m just looking at something."
"Okay."
After they all left he went up to the cash register. "Can I help you?" asked the cashier.
"Yeah, I’d like to buy one of those rings from the showcase."
©1999 ~@mbula®~ Inc.
