~*Chapter 48*~
Days passed into weeks,and before Nick knew it,and entire month had
passed since Blane had left him.He never stopped trying to prove to her how
sorry he was though~he sent her flowers almost every day,and called and asked
Howie or Kari how she was doing.
Kari told him she was doing good,feeling better everyday.She was still
upset at Nick,but not as upset as she had once been.She had started to admit
to Kari that she missed him,and not having him around was something she
missed alot.
During the time that she and Nick were apart,Blane came down with some
sort of stomach bug.She couldn't keep anything down,and when her period was
late,she had begun to worry.After a few days of still not feeling any
better,she had gone to the doctor,and he confirmed what she had suspected:she
was pregnant.Almost 2 months,which meant she had conceived right before the
cruise.
Now she had no choice but to tell Nick.They couldn't keep avoiding each
other;they had to work this out.
One day,after Howie and Kari left for the day,she went to the beach
house.She found Nick sitting out on the wooden deck,staring out at the
ocean.She walked up to him,and when he looked up and saw her,he smiled.The
wind blew the hair into his face.
"Hey," he greeted her,standing up and walking over to the rail.
She went over and stood next to him.Before she could say anything,he
turned to her."Blane,I'm so sorry for what I did.I was such a jerk.I never in
a million years wanted to hurt you.I love you so much," he blurted out.
She didn't say anything at first.Finally,she said,"You really hurt me
Nick.But this time apart has made me realize just how much I love you.And I'm
ready to move on."
He turned and gazed at her."Can we just put this behind us and start
over?," he asked,reaching out and stroking his finger across her cheek.
She sighed."Yeah,we can," she answered.She looked down at the
ground."Nick,I need to tell you something."
He urged her to continue.
She took a deep breath."We're getting a second chance at being
parents.I'm pregnant," she said.
He threw his arms around her."Oh baby.I love you," he replied,and pulled
away and kissed her.She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his
kisses.It felt so good to be in his arms again.She had really missed him the
past month.
He took her hand and led her toward the house."Let's go celebrate and
make up for lost time," he whispered.....
*~49~*
Erica and AJ sat in the doctor's office,waiting for him to come back in
with her test results.She had finally come in and seen him the week before
when her cramps had gotten so bad she couldn't even move.
She squeezed his hand."Oh AJ.What if something's wrong?," she asked.
He kissed her on the cheek."Don't worry.I'm sure everything is fine," he
reassured her.
The doctor came in then and sat down across from them.He opened up his
folder containing her files and looked over at them.
"Well,Erica,we've found out what the problem is.You have a cyst on your
ovary.That's what's causing the cramps and sharp pains you've been
experiencing," he told them.
Erica gulped as she squeezed AJ's hand."OK.So what's gonna happen next?,"
she asked.
The doctor smiled at her."You'll need to get an operation to get it
removed.And I'd like to schedule the operation as soon as possible,before it
gets any bigger," he told her.
Erica couldn't believe what she was hearing~she had never thought it was
that serious.She took another deep breath.
"How long will it take to recover?My husband and I are scheduled to go
back out on the road in two months," she remarked.
"About a month or so," he answered."You should be OK to go back out on
the road."
They talked to the doctor awhile longer,then left and went home.
*~50~*
The next day everyone gathered at Kevin and Kelly's for a pool
party.Music blared from speakers set up in the yard.
The girls all layed on beach towels on the pool deck,and Erica seemed
unusually quiet.Kari gazed over at her."You OK,Erica?," she asked.
Erica propped herself up on her elbows and sighed."Not really.I just
found out yesterday that I have a cyst on my ovary,and I need to have an
operation.I'm scheduled for a week from Friday," she told them.
Karen squeezed her hand."Everything will be OK," she reassured her.
Erica nodded."I know.I just hate hospitals,that's all," she replied."I'm
gonna have to stay a few days after the operation." She glanced over at
Blane,and changed the subject."I'm glad to see you and Nick were able to work
things out," she remarked.
Blane smiled."I'm happy too.I was really starting to miss him toward the
end." She grinned at all of them."I found out I'm pregnant.We're both so
excited."
The girls all congratulated her,and Kari chose that moment to tell them
she was pregnant also.Then Kelly told them she and Kevin were getting
married.Karen laughed.
"Everyone's lives have been so exciting lately,I feel kind of left out,"
she said.
Erica tossed her a sly smile."Like you and Brian aren't up to anything,"
she remarked,and Karen blushed.
Just then,the guys walked over to them,and without warning,scooped them
up and jumped in the pool.
When they surfaced,a water fight broke out,and about an hour later,they
all got out and Brian started cooking the hot dogs and hamburgers.
Everyone had a fantastic time,and the party lasted for several more hours.
Finally Blane pulled Nick aside and said she was going to head back to
the beach house,she was tired and wanted to go to bed.Nick had decided to
hang around for awhile,and catch a ride home with Howie and Kari.
They said their goodbyes,and then went their separate ways.
*~51~*
Blane closed the door of her blue convertible and snapped on her seat
belt.A moment later she was on the road,heading for home.
Nick had given her this convertible as a gift right before they got
married.She loved him with all her heart and soul,and couldn't imagine life
without him.
She was so glad they had been able to work things out.Doing so proved how
strong their love for each other was.And she knew that whatever challenges
they faced in the future,they would be able to work things out.
She was so intent on thinking about Nick that she didn't see the
headlights coming straight at her.A car on the other side of the road had
crossed over onto her side and was heading straight for her.Realization
hit,and she swerved to avoid hitting the other car,but it was too late.She
screamed as the two cars collided head~on,and the force of the crash was so
strong,she was ripped from her seat belt and thrown through the
windshield.....
52
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