I follow Mason home while driving my new car. It’s my first time driving since my accident. I lag behind Mason, and he slows to my pace. I am still afraid even though Jim is gone. I drive more cautiously than I did before my accident. I turn on the radio, hoping it calms my nerves. Lady Antebellum is playing and singing their hit song “Need You Now” and I smile, remembering Mason singing on stage with them.
After we pull up at Mason’s beach house, he gets out of his car and smiles while walking towards me.
“You look sexy in your new SUV,” he says, holding my hand and helping me out of it.
“You’re just saying that, so I don’t go back and get that Camaro.”
“That is not true — you are sexy in it,” he says, getting the duffle bags of clothes from his car.
“Being able to walk again feels great.”
“I bet it does. I’m going to miss carrying you around the house. Now I’ll have to start lifting weights again,” he jokes while walking into the house.
“Mason…? I was going to call you by your middle name, but I don’t know what it is.”
“It’s Alexander.”
“Mason Alexander Myles, I like it. May I call you Alex or Al?”
“Not if you want me to answer. What’s your middle name?” he asks while closing the front door.
“Hope.”
“Angel Hope Perez.”
“Nope, it’s Angelica Hope Ramos Perez. Ramos is my mother’s last name. Hispanics like to keep their surnames and Hope is because I gave my mother hope — that’s what Aunt Rosie told me.”
“Angelica Hope Ramos Perez? How did I not know that?” he asks while walking into the bedroom with my clothes.
“There’s a lot we don’t know about each other,” I say, walking into the closet to hang up my clothes.
“When is your birthday?”
“July 29th. I’ll be twenty-three.”
“Twenty-three, huh?”
“Yep, I’m getting old. Will you help me pack for Ohio? We leave in a couple days.”
Later in the week, Sara, Brea, and I meet Donovan, Vincent, and Mason after work for dinner. We leave for Ohio in just a few hours. I am looking forward to spending some time with Sara and Brea, and they are excited for me to meet their families and to show me around their home town. Brea is getting so big, and I am a little worried about her making the trip. Mason assured me she is fine to travel in her 2nd trimester.
After an early dinner, we say our goodbyes.
While on the plane, I close my eyes and lower my head to my knees.
“Are you all right?” Sara asks.
“I’m fine, I just felt dizzy. I think it’s the alcohol or the altitude or both.”
“The plane ride is a lot better up here in first class, thanks to Vincent for upgrading our tickets,” Sara smiles holding up her empty glass of champagne.
“You’re right, it doesn’t seem that bad up here and that was very nice of him,” I agree.
“Hope you guys are enjoying the champagne, because this orange juice rocks,” Brea says, holding up her full glass of juice.
“I’m sorry about that, maybe we shouldn’t have had champagne without you,” Sara says.
“No, I was only half kidding. It does look good, though,” Brea laughs.
“Well, it looks like we are here,” Sara says, looking out the window while we taxi to the gate.
“I’m excited and I’m sure you will love it here. Zanesville has quaint shops and great people,” Sara adds.
We exit the plane and are greeted by Sara’s and Brea’s parents. Sara and Brea decided before we left Florida that we would be staying in a hotel during our visit. They each said a few hours with their families is more than enough. Brea said with the stress of the wedding and the baby, her mother and sisters will drive her crazy. Sara introduces me to her parents: Larry and Sylvia Roberts. Brea introduces me to her parents: John and Doris Kinsley. Both sets of parents are so nice. They all know each other and are friends.
After the drive from the Columbus airport to Zanesville, we have dinner at Maria Adornetto’s Restaurant on Market Street. Both families are well known at the restaurant and the owners, John, Carmen, and Rose, come over and sit with us briefly. It’s a very nice restaurant with a casual atmosphere.
It’s getting late, so Brea decides we’ll meet up with her family tomorrow to go over some of the wedding plans. Her mother, Doris, has set up an appointment at 10 a.m. for her to try on wedding dresses at David Bridal’s. This has been a touchy subject for Brea since she is pregnant. She fears what she will look like in a wedding dress and what the dress will look like. It should be interesting. Doris gives us her car to use while we are in town.
We each take turns showering, and we call our boyfriends before heading to bed. I have a restless sleep and wake up several times throughout the night. I know it’s because I am sleeping alone for the first time in weeks.
My phone chimes with a text alert, and I already know it’s from Mason.
M: Is it Monday, yet?
A: I wish. I can’t sleep.
M: Me, either. I miss you like crazy.
A: Me, too.
M: Try to get some sleep and I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Sweet Dreams, Beauty, and I love you.
A: Good Night, Mason, and I love you, too.
We have breakfast at Donald’s Donuts and the owner, Tom, is there. He greets Sara and Brea with a smile and a hug. I love the old-town atmosphere. In Los Angeles you wouldn’t get hugs from the owners, or from anyone else.
Afterwards we meet Brea’s sisters and mother, Mikaela, Cheyanne, Sierra, Doris, and Sara’s mother, Sylvia, at David’s Bridal Shop on Maple Avenue. Brea tries on several of the dresses her mother and sisters picked out for her, but she doesn’t like any of them.
“All the dresses are made for skinny girls, and I’m the size of a whale. I’ll never find anything in here,” Brea states tearfully.
“Yes, you will. They have the biggest selection anywhere,” Sylvia says.
“Do you have anything fitted with a sweetheart neckline but flares at the mid-section on down?” I ask.
“Here, we have a picture for you.” Sara says, handing the assistant the picture we got from the bridal dress catalogue. “Brea will either be pregnant or have recently delivered.”
“I’m sure we have something she’ll love.”
“Thank you,” I say, looking over at a teary-eyed Brea.
“Brea, we are going to find the most flattering dress for you,” Sara says, hugging Brea. “You are going to be the most beautiful bride there is.”
The assistant comes out with an armful of dresses. Brea and her mother go into the dressing room together. Brea comes out, and she looks beautiful. She tried on all the dresses. She walks out wearing the last dress, and we all are speechless. We stand up as she turns around and poses. It is perfect, and she looks stunning in it. Mikaela, Cheyanne, Sierra start to clap, and Sara and I nod.
“That is the one,” Sara says. “It’s just like the one in the catalogue.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yeah,” I say, walking over to her. “You look absolutely stunning.”
“You know I’m going to fill this dress out,” Brea says, playing with the front of the dress.
“And the tulle and lace will help cover it,” Brea’s mother says, smiling. “Vincent is going to love it.”
“May she see some veils?” Sara asks.
Brea decides on the veil to go with the dress and it is beautiful. She smiles, and I can see hope in her eyes again.
After Brea purchases the dress, David’s Bridal, a chain store, makes arrangements at the Sarasota David’s Bridal for future fittings, we head out and have lunch at Old Fall’s Inn with Sara’s Mom and Dad. Sylvia and Larry are so sweet and funny; they are a nice-looking couple. Brea’s Mom and Dad, John and Doris, also come with us. Brea’s sisters leave; they have to be at work. John and Doris are equally as sweet as Brea’s parents and very attracti
ve and charming. Everyone gets along so well, and I feel like I fit right in, although I just met the parents. We eat and talk about the wedding and the types of food everyone wants.
After lunch, John and Larry leave. They are heading to The Barn on Linden Avenue for a beer or two.
Everyone else heads down to Franklin’s Print Shop to pick out the save-the-date cards, wedding invitations, and thank-you cards. Brea brought an engagement photo of Vincent and her for the save-the-date cards. Once again, the owner greets them with a hug and a smile.
Brea sends Vincent some pictures of the styles of invitations that she likes, so they can pick out their wedding invitations together.
Brea and Vincent decide on a silhouette couple standing under an arch with script writing. Once Brea and Vincent decide on the style and type of print, she settles up and we have some time to sight see. We drive across the Y-Bridge, which is in the shape of a Y and crosses over the Licking River and the Muskingum River at the same time. Visitors who get directions are sometimes surprised to hear, “Go to the middle of the bridge and turn left (or right).” We drive up to see the Longaberger Corporate Offices, in Newark, Ohio. Longaberger Baskets are very popular around the U.S. The building is in the shape of their most popular basket: the Market Basket.
Sara and Brea says it’s a must, so we stop by the Bloomer Candy Factory for a basket of Nut Clusters. Then we go to Conn’s Potato Chips and buy a box of BBQ chips. After that, we go to Lumi-Lite Candle Factory and stock up on their famous scented cake candles. Before we call it a day, we skip dinner and eat dessert at Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl.
For a small town, this place offers a large variety of unique shops, restaurants, and history.
Doris and Sylvia leave to meet Larry and John at the Barn, and we head back to the hotel.
I call Mason every morning and he calls me every night and he sometimes texts me in the middle of the night, when he can’t sleep. Sara and Brea also seem to spend a lot of time on the phone.
The next day is filled with ideas of wedding plans and baby names from Brea’s families. Brea and her family are very close, and they want to be a part of the wedding as much as they can. Sara and I write down as many ideas as we can that they have come up with, along with baby names for a boy and a girl. They would like to have an Italian-Tuscan theme wedding with traditional Italian foods from Vincent’s heritage. The sisters make suggestions for baby names such as…Bruno, Belino, Giovanni, Gisella, Minorvino, Trasea, Arturo, and Vennera.
We have a late lunch at Adornetto’s Pizza. It’s the same place from which Sara and Brea order the Italian dressing that is shipped to Florida. We all gather around a large table and have salads, pasta, and pizza.
As a special surprise today, Brea’s Mom and sisters scheduled an appointment with Watch Me Grow Studio on Maple Avenue for a 3-D image ultra-sound and a pregnancy belly casting for Brea. Brea is so excited and calls Vincent.
When we get to the Watch Me Grow Studio, we are greeted warmly by the staff and to my surprise are all welcomed into the small building. They do not usually accommodate large parties such as this, but they welcome us all in warmly. They call Brea back into a private room where they get a mold of her pregnant belly using plaster tape. Once they are ready to do the 3-D ultrasound, we all go in and Brea calls Vincent and she puts him on Video Chat so he can see the baby in 3-D. We all are so excited. Brea holds the phone to face the monitor so Vincent can see it. Sara and I are in the back of the room so Doris and Brea’s sisters can get a better view in the front. They dim the lights and the monitor comes to life. Sara holds my hand tightly and whispers, “This is so exciting.” I squeeze her hand in response. Soon there is a baby’s profile on the screen. Everyone lets out an “aw” and then we see a hand, feet, and toes. The technician takes pictures and Brea cries. They focus back in on the baby’s face and the baby’s profile. Perfect tiny ears, nose, and a small mouth. Sara and I lean in closer, and Sara wipes the tears from her eyes. I can’t look away. The technician snaps more pictures and asks if Brea and Vincent want to know the sex of the baby. Brea turns the phone so she can see Vincent. He also has tears in his eyes along with hers.
“I didn’t want to know, but now, I think I do,” Vincent says. “I want to know who we are looking at. Our son or our daughter.”
“I do, too,” Brea sniffles and tells the technician they want to know. Brea keeps the phone facing her so she can see Vincent’s face. Brea and Vincent just stare at each other waiting to hear the news.
“It a boy, and from the looks of it, he looks very healthy,” the technician announces. Everyone screams and hugs each other, and Brea and Vincent are crying. Sara and I hug each other and jump up and down. Then we text Mason and Donovan and let them know the news. Pretty soon the room is being filled with text message alerts from everyone’s phone. Brea aims her phone at the monitor so Vincent can see his son. A precious baby boy. My heart swells for the joy I have for Vincent and Brea. A baby, a son.
Mason
I see my last patient and head into my office, where I check my phone and see I have texts from both Angel and Vincent waiting for me.
A: Mason, Brea, and Vincent are having a son. Can you believe that?
V: Man, it’s a boy. Brea and I are having a boy.
I decide to text Vincent back first.
M: Congrats, that is wonderful news.
V: Her Mom and sister got her a 3-D ultrasound and we saw what the baby looks like and it’s a boy. Drinks tonight are on me at Linksters on University at 7:00. I’m having a son.
M: Sounds great, congrats again, see you there.
I think he is pretty excited about having a son. I laugh while I text Angel.
M: Vincent is pretty excited. He just texted me.
A: Brea is, too. She hasn’t stopped crying.
M: I thought they didn’t want to know the sex.
A: Brea had a 3-D ultrasound done today, and she called Vincent and had him on Video Chat so he could see it. Once they saw the baby on the monitor, he said he wanted to know if he was looking at his son or his daughter. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.
M: I’m sure it was. Can you imagine looking at your son or daughter for the first time in utero, before he/she is even born?
A: It gives me chills just thinking about it. God is good.
M: Yes, Angel, he is. I’ll talk to you tonight. I love you.
A: I love you, too.
I finish my paperwork and go for a run before I meet Vincent tonight for drinks.
I arrive at Linksters — the outside seating area is filled up. I look again, and I notice that it is filled up with people Vincent works with and that his Dad, my Dad, Donovan, and Donovan’s Dad are here. I park further away than I would like and make my way through the throng of people to the outside bar.
I order a Corona and when I see Vincent, I make my way over to him. He is holding a beer in one hand and a cigar in the other.
“Since when do you smoke cigars?” I ask, laughing.
“Since I found out I am having a son,” he says, handing me a cigar and taking a pull of his beer.
Donovan comes over, and he is also smoking a cigar. Vincent grabs the matches and hands them to me. I light my cigar and take another drink.
“It’s been a good day, huh?” I say, sitting at the highball table.
“Man, the best. I would love that baby no matter what it is, but now that I know, it feels so good. I’m going to have a son.”
Donovan and I laugh. Donovan raises his glass to make a toast, “Here’s to living the dream.”
“Cheers,” we all say and clink our glasses together.
Vincent waves to the waitress and signals for another round of drinks for everyone. There must be at least 20 people here tonight; he is going to regret buying so many drinks in the morning — and consuming so many, too.
My Dad, Donovan’s Dad, who is named Roger, and Vincent’s Dad, who is named Vincenzo, all walk over to sit with us. They, too, are sm
oking their cigars.
I hold up my cigar and say, “Here to celebrate, I see,” and we all laugh.
I stand to shake Roger’s and Vincenzo’s hands and hug my Dad.
“It’s great news. A healthy son is certainly a reason to celebrate,” Roger says.
Vincent excuses himself and walks over to speak with some of his friends. We all talk about the exciting news of the baby and the outrageous bar bill that’s looming. The conversation flows easily, and Donovan and I talk about how lonely we have been without Sara and Angel.
He laughs and says, “Did you ever think we would be sitting at a packed bar, missing a couple of girls?”
“Never.”
“And yet, here we are.”
“My house is lonely as hell,” I say, looking out into the parking lot at the taxi that just pulled in.
“What are you looking at?” Donovan says while following my eyes to the taxi.
“Hell, yeah,” he says, hopping up and running out into the parking lot.
Sara, Brea, and Angel are climbing out of the taxi. I wonder whether I am drunk and forgot they were coming home today or they are home a day early. I am hoping for the latter. I want to run to the parking lot, too, but I force myself to walk at a slow pace. They are still unloading bags from the trunk and backseat of the taxi. I motion for Vincent to look at the parking lot, and he sees Brea lifting a small bag.
He also runs out into the parking lot. Angel sees me, and I can’t stop the smile that forms across my face. She starts to walk over to me. Vincent is already taking the bag from Brea and kissing her, and Donovan is swinging Sara around in circles as she squeals. Angel gets closer, and I swoop her up and kiss her. I walk with her still in my arms, kissing her all the way to the taxi.
“I missed you,” she says, pulling away slightly to look at me.
“I’m glad you’re home.” I kiss her again. She smells like cinnamon and peaches, and I want to lose myself in her scent forever.
Someone clears his throat, and I look around. The taxi is empty and the driver is standing beside the driver’s door. I reach in my pocket and pay the driver.
Brea and Vincent are still kissing. Donovan is already loading up his truck with Sara’s luggage. I ask Vincent for his keys and he digs in his pocket for them without losing contact with Brea’s mouth.
Starting Over Trilogy Boxset Page 34