The sharp drop of a glass startled me from my concerned thoughts about Taylor. I'd also been very rude to Isaac and needed to apologize, but when I heard the glass drop, Taylor jumped up and went into the kitchen. "What happened?" I asked upon seeing Ellie and Isaac kneeling over broken glass. I saw the look that passed between my best friend and my boyfriend. "What's going on?"
Ellie cleared her throat. "I...uh...well...was startled."
"By what?" Taylor asked.
"Ummm...well...Isaac...sorta asked me if I would...uh...consider inviting someone to the wedding."
My heart pounded as I looked at Isaac. The look on his face was apologetic but stern. "Well, whoever it is can't be that bad." I heard Taylor groan beside me.
"He asked me to invite Jeremy."
"Jeremy?" I hoped my ears were deceiving me. "Jeremy Kramer?"
"Honey, I think it would be a good idea..." Isaac started.
The room was silent. Ellie still knelt on the floor, looking up at me and letting me know this was my choice and she understood either way. Taylor had his arms crossed over his chest and was glaring at his brother, and Isaac couldn't meet my eyes. I didn't want to disappoint him, so I decided to pretend the whole ordeal must nothing.
"Sure, that's cool, Ellie," I said brightly. Finally, Isaac met my eyes.
"Okay, if you're sure..."
"It's not my choice. It's yours."
Isaac moved closer to me. "Gabby, I..."
"Ellie! I need Karine's juice!" Celine yelled.
I turned away from the scene and went back to my breakfast, determined to keep everyone happy.
I found Gabby sitting alone in the garden. "Sweetie, what's bothering you?" I asked. I saw the wheels turning in Gabby's head as she debated what to say.
I jumped in before she could say anything. "I love you, but I want to do what's best for you too. We have to be able to talk about things and, well, let go of the past."
Gabby looked up at me tenderly. "Thanks," she said. "I know I've mostly moved on. I'm so happy now and everything that happened isn't part of my life anymore. Sometimes, though, I just need a little reminder."
I leaned over and kissed her cheek, sitting beside her quietly.
The days were passing blissfully by. I couldn't recall a time when I had been happier. Occasionally, the guys would do a mini-concert on the back patio, and then we'd all go for a walk around the golf course. Celine had been teaching me to golf, as she and I spent many an hour laughing and having fun swinging clubs at balls.
Zac and I had begun plans for the house we were thinking about building not too far outside Montreal. There was joy in my heart and for the first time I could remember, I really loved life!
One rainy afternoon, I sat staring out my bedroom window, watching the heavy rain drops trickle down the windowpane. Why were the clouds crying and forcing me indoors when I was so happy? Suddenly, a knock on the door startled me, and Avery stuck her head in.
"Celine wants you," she said. "She's in her room."
"Thanks," I responded, then noticed an incredibly irritated look on Avery's face. "What's the matter?"
"Ask me again sometime." She paused and then stormed off. I shrugged, figuring I better see what Celine wanted and then deal with Avery.
I entered Celine's room to find her aggressively brushing her hair. Immediately, I could tell something was up. "Celine, you wanted to talk?" I questioned. She lay down her brush and motioned me over to the bed where we sat down.
"Ellie, Rene found this in a magazine today," Celine said, pointing to an article. I read the caption: "Hanson Gone Immoral" Confused, I read on. "As wedding bells will soon be chiming for youngest Hanson Zac, we wonder why his wife is pregnant..."
"What?!" I exclaimed. "Celine, I'm not..."
"I know," Celine interrupted. "But somehow the press got the notion you were." She pulled out another clipping. "Baby Bro Zac Needs To Come Clean With Public"
"I can't believe this," I moaned. "Someone had to throw a monkey wrench into things."
Celine put her arm around my shoulders. "We're not going to let this get to us. Do you have any idea how many times the press said I was pregnant?"
We both gave a small laugh, but I sighed. "I should talk to Zac..." Just then, Karine bounded into the room and, seeing I was upset, came over and hugged me before skipping away.
"She really looks up to you, you know," Celine told me.
"She's charming," I agreed.
"Don't let this get to you," Celine called as I headed out.
Who's coming to bother me now? I wondered as there was a knock on my door. "Go away," I muttered.
"Avery, I'm coming in to talk whether you like it or not!" The voice was Ellie's. She emerged and plopped down on my bed.
"What's the matter?" she asked me.
"Nothing." I tried to act normal.
"You know what," Ellie said quietly. "We all have problems sometimes. I just found out the whole public is spreading a rumor that I'm pregnant. The important thing is that we're willing to talk about our problems and move on."
I realized if there was anyone I could talk to, it was Ellie. She'd always sort of been my role model...ever since we all first met. I knew it was partly her inner strength that got us through before, and it was that strength I admired in her now as a woman.
"Everything's so confusing," I said.
"How?" Ellie pushed me along.
"Being a teenager and all. I mean, you feel like you've grown up, and people tell you you have, but then suddenly everyone treats you like a kid." I sighed. "I try to act like an adult and take on responsibilities and it seems like with my parents it just depends on what mood they're in for how they treat me. It makes me so frustrated. I'm not a kid and I'm not an adult, so what am I?"
Ellie smiled and rested her hand on my arm. "You're both," she said. "Take advantage of what little you have left of youth. Although it doesn't seem like it now, there are aspects of it that you'll miss. At the same time, you're turning over new talents and making decisions that are clearing the path to adulthood."
Ellie looked deep into my eyes. "Everyone hates being treated like a kid, but don't forget that it's hard for your parents to adjust to the fact that you're growing up. That's why you feel like they're going back and forth on you."
I nodded. "Yeah, you're right. And I guess storming around upset doesn't really help."
Ellie gave me a hug and I couldn't help thinking that she would make the most perfect sister-in-law.
