Page 102 of Unexpecting

″I’m sure Casey told you all about our upcoming nuptials,” Terri said loudly, this time her left hand pressed to her chest so the engagement ring was visible. “We’re eloping to Vegas,” she giggled. “I doubt you’ll be coming now,” she told me mournfully.

″Vegas?” Libby asked skeptically. “When did you decide that?”

″Just on the weekend. I told Casey today, and she was going to convince you to come too.”

″You’re going to Vegas?” Libby turned blazing eyes on me.

″Not anymore she isn’t,” J.B. cut in. I’ve been in many relationships with men where they felt they could tell me what to do, but no one has done it with such affection and concern in his voice. “I think she should stick close to home until these little guys are born.”

I must have been still woozy, because I’m embarrassed to admit I was close to swooning at the look J.B. gave me. I could only shrug apologetically at my mother.

″Well, drat,” Terri said. She actually stamped her foot, not that a size five makes much of a stamp. “I wanted both my girls at this wedding. Since it will be my last,” she simpered, batting her lashes at Eric.

″That’s all right,” Eric agreed. His agreeableness and tolerance with my mother was beginning to grow on me. “We can either plan some sort of ceremony for the spring, or go down to city hall when Casey’s feeling better.”

″I want to get married now,” Terri pouted. “And not at city hall.”

″How about having it at our place?” I was gobsmacked to hear Cooper suggest that. Just gobsmacked. (Isn’t that a terrific word? I should use it more often.)

″What? Coop, you don’t—” I started to say.

″How lovely!” Terri clapped her hands together. “Oh, Cooper, what an absolute sweetheart you are! We accept!”

″No, you don’t. Coop, you don’t—” I tried again, but this time it was Cooper who cut me off.

″It’s fine, Casey,” he said gently. “We can have it the day after our Christmas party, on the 14, if you like. That way the place will be all decorated for the holidays.”

″That’s too generous of you, Coop,” Libby told him mutinously.

″It’s in the spirit of the holidays,” Cooper told her. Then, while my mother was congratulating herself with Eric, I heard Coop whisper to Libby, “Will you help me? Casey’s awful at organizing anything.”

Chapter Forty-Five

“A common ailment in expectant mothers is dehydration, especially with morning sickness. It can be dealt with easily with constant and continual hydration, but when left unchecked, can prove serious and may result in hospitalization.”

A Young Woman’s Guide to the Joy of Impending Motherhood

Dr. Francine Pascal Reid (1941)

Coop, Emma, and Libbyfinally left, with Mom and Eric, and Brit right behind them, not that I was at all sorry to see them go. For the last forty-five minutes, all I’d heard about was wedding this and wedding that; and after Brit’s rigmarole not too long ago, I was sick of the subject. Morgan called three times, twice on Brit’s phone and once on J.B.’s, and told me she’d come to see me tomorrow. Finally, the room was quiet, with only J.B. left.

″Why don’t you go home and get some sleep?” I told him. My face cracked open with a huge yawn.

″Maybe later,” he said. “You should get some sleep, though.”

I nodded and flexed the fingers of my left hand, the hand that had the IV. I hated the things. I’d much rather get countless needles than have one stuck in and not be taken out. “I had my little catnap earlier.” J.B. shifted in the chair, the plastic leather creaking underneath him. “You’re going to be so stiff. Go home.”

″I’m not leaving you here.” I was sure he meant well, but it came out more stubborn than sweet.

I yawned again. “Just remember, I gave you the option. So I’ve been reading my baby name book, and I’m up to the letter V—Victor, Vivian, Viridian—”

″I don’t think we’ll be having a Viridian. Is that a boy or girl? You should just skip the rest of the alphabet if that’s what you’re coming up with. I don’t think it’ll be much help.”

I smiled tiredly after him. Maybe if we kept talking, I might stay awake. “You don’t think we should consider Xavier or Yvette? What else do you like? We need three, you know. And middle names.”

″I know. I kind of like Cameron. And Jacob.”

″Jacob’s too popular. But Cam—I like that. Ben and Cameron if we have two boys. Have you thought of girls’ names?”

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