by Diane Marie
Gabriella and Joey then decided to play a game of ‘hide and seek’ after the movie. Gabriella screamed every time she was found. Joey didn’t understand who else she thought would be finding her. Gabriella claimed, the house was so big, they had no clue if someone was in there hiding somewhere.
Gabriella couldn’t find Joey anywhere on her last turn of seeker, deciding to go lie in bed instead, because she had to be up early for class in the morning. Joey came out from under the bed and, said 'boo', causing Gabriella to feel like she had a mild heart attack. Joey calmed her down and held her tight, reminding her, he would be protecting her for life.
Gabriella listened to Joey’s heartbeat, while he tickled the sides of her arm until she was asleep. Joey stayed awake thinking how grateful he was Gabriella that would soon be his wife. On top of all his feelings he already had, he realized Gabriella was his best friend, and a ton of fun. Joey thought they would make great parents being they were so childlike in spirit.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Gabriella was going to be extra busy the next week with school. Since she was going away on her honeymoon next week, she had an extra week’s worth of material to cover. Gabriella thought it best to get the work done before hand rather then play catch up later. All her professors were happy to forward her a week’s worth of work, seeing a honeymoon as being a valid excuse to miss a week’s worth of school.
Joey was going to be in and out of the house for the next week, having a few things on his plate to do. He had to conduct interviews for new employees, order the beginning materials for the houses to start being built, go over with his general contractor all the rules, instructions and details of what needed to be done while he was away on his honeymoon. Joey wished he could push off the start of the first house to be built until he got back, but he had been eager to sign his first contract, and had a deadline date already written down, in contract.
Gabriella had class at eleven Monday mornings, and when she got home from school, Joey and she went to the bank in Candlewood. Joey bought the house from his company and paid off a small part of the loan, he initially took out. He deposited his profit into his company’s account, and then wrote out a check to deposit a very small profit into his own account. Gabriella was marveled by the situation and figures, being this wasn’t the type of stuff she was learning about in school yet.
When Joey and Gabriella got back to the house, Gabriella had Joey bring all her presents from the foyer into the kitchen. Joey placed everything on the table, when the table was full he placed the presents on the counters. Joey helped Gabriella go through everything, sorting out what needed to stay in the kitchen, and what went in other rooms of the house. Joey left Gabriella all the kitchen stuff on the counter, then placing the living room stuff in the living room. Joey kept the Lennox characters on the kitchen table, thinking it would be cute from him and Gabriella to place them in the nursery together.
“Don’t step on any chairs or lift anything too heavy.” Joey ordered Gabriella, leaving her in the kitchen when the doorbell rang for his first interview that afternoon.
Gabriella was humming along in the kitchen while unpacking everything she had received. Gabriella only received one setting of the large plates, and one setting of the little plates in her set for her bridal shower. Gabriella laughed putting the dishes away, initially only want one set of dishes, but putting the dishes away in the large cabinets, made her realize, Joey was right to add on a second set.
When Gabriella was done, she went into the living room, noticing the glare of the sun, while looking out onto Lake Romantica. Gabriella couldn’t see across to the spot where her baby had been conceived, but she guessed the general direction, and then spoke to the baby the first time.
“Where going to have to get some window treatments in here before you arrive. The sun is way too strong. Then again you won’t be allowed in here.” Gabriella said, placing her Lennox vases and bowls where she had dreamed they would go when Joey first showed her the room. “Nothing personal. This is more of a sitting room. No place for a baby.”
When Joey was done with his interviews, he found Gabriella still in the living room looking out the window. He noticed, she wasn’t cooking, and thought that perhaps she hadn’t received something she needed to cook.
“Why aren’t you cooking?” Joey asked, sitting down on one of the couches next to her. Gabriella's grocery list was for enough food up until their honeymoon.
“I have a lot of school work to do.”
“So, we’re not eating cause you have school work?”
“No, I was just thinking out loud. We need towels for the bathrooms and kitchen. I was hoping we could go tonight and grab something to eat at the mall.”
“That’s fine with me, but when we get home, you're doing your school work. I don’t want you falling behind when we’re going to be away next week.”
When Joey and Gabriella got back from the mall, Gabriella went straight to her school work at the kitchen table. Joey went to watch TV on the couch in the family room.
Joey couldn’t believe how nice it was to have off from work. Joey didn’t remember the last time he was able to simply relax on the couch, with nothing to do. When Gabriella grew tired, she put her school work down for tomorrow. She had early morning classes on Tuesdays, and wanted to be well rested to wake up. Gabriella found Joey on the couch. She laid down on the couch and placed her feet on top of Joey’s lap.
“I called the doctor while you were doing your interviews.” Gabriella announced.
“Oh?”
“And I have an appointment Wednesday to confirm my pregnancy.”
“What time? You not missing any classes are you?”
“No. I don’t have classes on Wednesdays.”
“Oh right. What time?”
“Two.”
“Okay. I have some things to do in the morning, but I can definitely make it at two.” Joey said, and then started rubbing Gabriella’s feet.
“Stop that tickles.” Gabriella said, taking her feet off of Joey and sitting upright. “Why are you coming?”
“It’s my baby too.”
“You’re too cute Joe.”
“You wanna make love to me then?” Joey asked.
Gabriella kissed Joey, showing him just how cutely she thought he was. Joey and Gabriella made love on the couch both falling asleep there soon after.
Chapter Thirty-Five
On Tuesday evening, Joey brought Gabriella down to the lake. It was Gabriella’s first time down at the shore of the lake in back of their new house. Gabriella hadn’t expected Joey to have laid down a small beach for them. Gabriella’s eyes light up. “You put a beach in for us?” Gabriella asked, while holding Joey’s hand.
“I sure did. I’m sorry we can’t use it till next summer.” Joey said, apologizing that tomorrow started fall.
“That’s quite all right. Something to look forward to next summer with the baby.” Gabriella said, squeezing Joey’s hand tight. “You’re going to put a new born down on the sand?”
“Nope. I’m going to put the baby in a nice seat with a covering while its napping and I tan in the sun. But for the summer after, me and the baby sure will enjoy playing in the sand.” Gabriella said, letting go of Joey’s hand, to hold him from behind, as they both watched the water.
“Oh ok good.” Joey said, showing he were overprotective of the baby already.
“You don’t think I’ll make a good mommy?” Gabriella asked, causing Joey to turn his head backward toward the right, so Gabriella could see the side of his face when he spoke. “I think you’d make an amazing mother. You’re warm, loving and caring. What else would a child ever think to ask in a mother?” Joey asked, as Gabriella turned Joey around to face her, putting her arms around Joey’s neck.
“You mean it?”
“I sure do.” Joey said, pulling Gabriella close to him with his arms around her, and then rested his hands on her lower back. “Forever?” Gabriella asked.
Joey kissed Gabriella on the forehead.
“Forever. Do you want to go out on the row boat?”
“Sure. I had a blast last time.”
Joey pulled the rowboat over into the edge of the water, marking their property line. Joey helped Gabriella in, and then hopped on so she wouldn’t accidentally float away without him. Joey took Gabriella for a full row around the lake, wanting to make sure, Gabriella was able to have a good view of her surroundings.
Gabriella found lake Romantica fantasizing. Earlier in daytime, while not being able to see the beach, she was able to see, in the middle of the lake, a small island with a few trees. Gabriella pictured her children begging to go the island one day, when they were to get older, and be able to go out on the row boat alone, or even durning wintertime, when the lake froze. Gabriella figured they would find the island to be one of their hideaways.
After Joey brought Gabriella around the lake, he wanted to get her inside before the temperature dropped. Gabriella insisted they stay to watch the sunset while sitting on the beach, Joey had laid down for them. Joey ran inside and got one of Gabriella’s sweatshirts for her, wanting to make sure her body temperature stayed warm enough for the baby, growing inside of her.
After the sun had set, Gabriella went into the kitchen. She washed off strawberries, and spooned out cool whip. She then met Joey on the couch, and they ate a night snack together. Gabriella was determined to get more servings of fruits and vegetables into her diet since she found out she was pregnant. Joey smeared cool whip on her nose.
“Lick it off.” Gabriella demanded, the same Joey had when they barbecued with her parents.
Joey had no implications in licking the whipped cream off Gabriella’s nose.
“Yum.”
“Oh yeah you think so?” Gabriella said, dipping her finger into the bowl of cool whip, offering it for Joey to eat.
“Yum.” Joey said, being seductive in eating the whipped cream off of Gabriella’s finger. “Have you used those stairs yet?” Joey asked, pointing to the spiral staircase.
“Nope.”
“Why don’t you meet me upstairs and I’ll put all of this in the kitchen?”
“You’re going to let me walk up unknown steps without you?” “Better yet, wait right here.”
Gabriella waited for Joey, he was back quick. Joey then led Gabriella to the staircase, following behind her so he would break her fall, if she were actually to fall.
“Careful.” Joey said, when Gabriella reached the top of the steps. “Of course.”
Gabriella turned on Joey’s stereo he had set up in the room with surround sound, putting on a sexy song for her to dance too. Gabriella sat Joey on the edge of the bed and gave him a lap dance. Gabriella stripped down into her bra and underwear, while Joey enjoyed Gabriella dancing for him an incredibly much. He placed his hands on her butt, moving them along the side of her outer thighs as she danced. Joey kept his hands up and down her thighs, and she sexily dropped down in front of him. When the song was over, Joey couldn’t wait to see what Gabriella was going to do with him next.
“I have to dance sexily for you while I have the chance, before I get fat with your baby.” Gabriella said, making her lips pout to the idea of the changes her body was going to go through, in the next nine months.
The idea of a baby making Gabriella fat, turned Joey on. “The idea of you pregnant really turns me on.”
“Really?” Gabriella asked. She had been worrying herself over Joey losing his attraction for her.
“Oh yeah.” Joey said, “our baby growing inside of you, and how our child was conceived through pure, natural love, how could I not?”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“Uh-un. I meant that.”
Gabriella then decided to take control of their love making for the night. She wanted to remind Joey how sexy and able she was on top, before she grew too big, and was unable to do so. Gabriella turned on her passion for Joey, showing him, the act they were doing was one she would never share with another man, for the rest of her life.
Joey was bedazzled with Gabriella’s love making when she were through. He held her to make sure she was real, unsure if she was a human or a goddess at this point. Gabriella let Joey hold her tightly till she pushed off.
“Am I sexier then all the girls you’ve watched dance?” Gabriella asked. She wasn’t asking for the opinion of the general public, but rather the opinion of her almost husband.
“You sure are. More sensual too.” Joey said, unsure why Gabriella had pushed off of him.
“And my body?”
“Your body is beautiful Gabriella.” Joey said, remembering Gabriella’s jealousy, and although he didn’t want Gabriella to know just how attractive she was, for fear she would cheat if she knew, he decided he better give more of his feelings. “And it’s sexy and hot and I’m very attracted to it.” Joey concluded, quickly getting his words out, hoping she wouldn't catch them.
Gabriella to start smiling. Gabriella then gave Joey a face suggesting he say more. “And I truly meant it when I told you that your breasts are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”
“Okay.” Gabriella said, with a worried look on her face. “And I will love them after the baby, and when your growing old.” Joey added.
“You promise? You won’t leave me or have an affair?” Gabriella asked, giving Joey her puss face.
“I promise.” Joey said, inclined to kiss her lips. “Eternity?”
“Infinity.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Joey and Gabriella went to Gabriella's appointment at her OBGYN, Wednesday afternoon, as scheduled . They arrived early to fill out paperwork. Gabriella found it pointless to write down her maiden name, considering she was getting married in only a few short days. Gabriella realized she couldn’t jump the gun by using Joey’s last name, because she was still on her father’s health insurance.
Joey went into the room with Gabriella, and she was asked to be placed in a gown. Joey’s eyes avenged with anger over the thought of the doctor seeing her naked. When a male nurse walked in, Joey thought him to be the doctor. Joey wanted to say, 'forget it we’ll decline healthcare and have the baby the extreme old fashion way they did before doctors,' until he realized, it was only a nurse, and was then calmed down. The nurse took blood from Gabriella to confirm she was pregnant.
The doctor walked in with the results of the blood test, confirming, Gabriella was indeed pregnant. Joey was now tremendously relaxed, both noting Gabriella’s doctor was a woman, and she was undeniably pregnant. The doctor hooked Gabriella up to the ultrasound, and both Joey and Gabriella were joyous to hear the baby’s heart beat. The doctor pointed to a blurb on the screen, showing where the baby was but neither of them could make out the baby.
The nurse came back in and drew more blood from Gabriella, while Joey hounded why they need more blood. The nurse explained to Joey, everything they needed to test for to make sure everything was all right with his wife. Joey smiled as the nurse called Gabriella his wife, and made no point in correcting him.
All of Gabriella’s blood test had come back normal, and Gabriella was given the clear ahead to fly for her honeymoon.
After the doctor, Joey and Gabriella went to confession, like they had been planning to do. Joey went in first, and after he came out, knelled his penance while Gabriella was in confession. Gabriella had a hard time confessing to her abortion, but forced herself to because she felt God was watching, and expected her to. The priest offered her dead child up to God in heaven, and gave Gabriella a penance as well. She was shocked, the priest didn’t make her do a thousand Hail Mary’s for her sin. Gabriella figured it was usual for a woman to confess to a priest after having an abortion. Gabriella thought more about it, realizing, perhaps not many women her age were interested in confessing and back to church.
When in the car, Joey and Gabriella spoke about what they confessed.
“I brought up the number of women
I’ve slept without of wedlock and the guilt I feel for it.” Joey started with. Gabriella had asked him to go first since it was his idea to share.
“That’s all?” Gabriella asked.
“I confessed to not talking to my mother, for assaulting people when I was younger, and for lying.”
“Lying?”
“Not to you. I’m always honest with you.” Joey said, taking Gabriella’s hand and kissing it.
Gabriella remembered back to those things Sadie and Anna had told her in regards to Joey. Gabriella remembered feeling, Joey was different with her then he was with other people. Gabriella believed his words.
“Ok. Well I confessed to my abortion.”
“You had the guts to do that?”
“I had to. I felt God was watching me.”
“Oh, What else?”
“I really couldn’t come up with anything. I didn’t want to confess that I was pregnant now out of wedlock, considering I do have this ring tattoo.” Gabriella said, holding up her hand up to remind Joey how strong they felt about each other.
“So that’s all you confessed?”
“Well, I confessed to not being the best daughter, for having sex before marriage and I confessed to hurting men in my past.” . “I don’t see how you’re not a good daughter.”
“Well, I used to yell at my parents all the time. Telling them to butt out when they asked about my life.” “I see.”
When they arrived home, Gabriella worked on the school work she would be missing while on her honeymoon. When she was all done, she found Joey in the family room playing video games. Joey seemed so into his game, she didn’t want to disturb him. Gabriella knew that video games were a vital part of Joey’s life before her, as he had mentioned it was what he usually did after work before she walked into his life. Gabriella though, couldn’t help but announce her presence behind him at the family room couch, letting out laughter because Joey yelling at the game. “Oh hey.” Joey said, putting down the remote control. “Hello there handsome.”