"Pop
Life"
Chapter 94
I watch as mama puts the stack of paper plates on the table.
"The room looks great mama," I say.
She smiles and looks at me. "I'm so glad you're in the area for your sister's birthday."
"I know. I mean, I would have come anyway...but it's good to be able to be close by."
She walks over to me, take my face in her hands and rubs the dark circles under my eyes.
"This tour is more tiring, isn't it?"
I nod. "Yeah. But I'm still having fun."
"That's good. Just don't overdo it."
"I know, mama."
Ashleigh comes running into the kitchen. "Are they here yet?"
I laugh. "Not yet. It's still early."
I glance over at the refrigerator. "Is that a new ultrasound picture?" I ask as I stand up and walk over to the fridge.
"Yeah, they brought it home yesterday," Ashleigh says.
I stand up and walk over to it so I can get a closer look. I smile. "Is that..." I start to say as I look at mama.
She puts her finger up to her mouth and smiles. "We're going to tell you all together."
"Tell us what?" Ashleigh asks. She's standing next to me trying to look at the picture.
Cody walks into the room and looks around at the decorations. "Cool."
"Where's your father?" mama asks.
"I just saw him...I'll go get him," Cody says.
"Come on, let's go into the family room," mama says as she takes the picture with her.
We all sit down and wait for daddy to join us. Mama sits down in between Ashleigh and I and when daddy comes in he sits on the arm of the couch on the other side of Ashleigh. He starts playing with her pony tail.
"Is that the new ultrasound?" Cody asks, trying to look over mama's shoulder.
"Yes."
He looks more closely. "It's a boy?!?"
Mama and I laugh as she nods. "Yes, it's a boy."
Ashleigh is desperately trying to figure out what we're looking at.
"Yes!" Cody says as he starts pumping his fists.
"Good Lord Cody, calm down," daddy laughs.
"It's a boy baby?" Ashleigh asks.
Mama nods. "Yep. Now we can concentrate on boy names."
"And everything's going well?" I ask.
She looks over at me. "Yes, the doctor is very pleased. She doesn't think it's wise for me to travel anymore, though."
"Oh," I say, trying not to sound too disappointed. "Well, my tour is almost over."
"I can drive, just no more flying."
I nod.
"How do you know it's a boy?" Ashleigh asks, still looking at the picture.
Cody leans over and points. "It's circled."
We all laugh.
"What's circled?" she asks.
"Ewww, don't explain it to her with me in the room," Cody says as he runs out the front door.
"Wimp," daddy says.
"She already knows the difference between boys and girls," mama says.
"Ohhh, that's the boy part." She finally gets it.
"Exactly," mama says.
She looks even closer. "I still don't see how they can tell."
"Well the doctor's are smart," mama says.
We finish getting the house decorated as we all throw out different boy names.
Finally the guests arrive and the party begins.
At some point during the party, Ashleigh and Pete walk over to where mama and I are standing.
"Mama, can I tell everyone that it's a boy?" she asks.
"If you want to," mama says.
"Where's she going?" Grandma Lynn asks mama as she walks over to us and Ashleigh and Pete run past her.
"I'm not sure," she laughs.
"Probably to get the ultrasound picture," I say.
Grandma smiles. "The one on the refrigerator?"
"You've seen it haven't you?" I ask.
She smiles at us and nods. "Yes. I wasn't going to say anything until you told us. You know I'm just thrilled to have another grandbaby...boy or girl."
Mama smiles and squeezes Grandma's shoulder. "So are we."
Ashleigh comes in the room and starts showing people the picture. I laugh as she points the the circle on the photo. Everyone nods and smiles. Some of them tell mama and daddy congratulations again.
A little later I walk over to Pete and Ashleigh who are sitting on the floor and look like they're in deep conversation.
"Hey you two...what are you guys talking about?" I ask as I squat down next to them on the floor.
"Pete doesn't believe that they can tell it's a boy," Ashleigh says.
"Just because there's a circle doesn't mean anything," he says, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Well the doctor's know. They had a better view of it, this is just the picture."
"He's just mad because his baby's ultrasound doesn't have a circle."
I giggle into my hand. "I didn't know you were going to have a baby sister. Man, I miss everything by being away," I say.
"Yeah...a yucky sister. She's going to be bratty like Ashleigh."
I carefully watch Ashleigh's face to make sure he didn't hurt her feelings but I gather this is something they must do because she just glares at him until he looks over at her.
"Take that back," she yells.
"No," he says as he stands up and runs away.
"Wow...what got into him?" I ask.
Ashleigh shrugs. "Who cares...he's a boy."
I nod. "You're right."
"So, did you have a good birthday?" daddy asks as we're cleaning up the mess once everyone's gone.
"Yes. I love the doll Grandma got me," she says looking at the box.
"That is pretty. I didn't see this," I say as I pick up another box. "A jewelry box?"
"Yeah...Brad sent that to me," she says taking it from my hand and opening it up.
"Brad did?" I ask.
She shows me the bracelet inside.
"Oh my God. I can't believe him," I say, placing my hand over my heart.
"You didn't know about this?" mama asks.
I shake my head.
"It was very sweet of him," mama says.
"I love it," Ashleigh says.
"That was very sweet of him. Don't forget to send him a nice thank you note since he wasn't here to thank."
She nods as she looks at the bracelet.
"Oh, by the way mama..." I say.
"Yes?" she asks, looking up from a trash bag she's filling up.
"I wonder if it's possible to have Brad's mom over sometime during the holidays?"
Mama looks over at daddy.
"I don't see why not. Will Brad be here too?"
"I don't know yet. I hope he can be. I mean they can stay with us?"
"There's plenty of room," daddy says.
"Good," I say, a bit relieved. "I mean, you haven't met her yet...I'd like it if you would."
Mama smiles. "I'd like that too."
"You rat."
Brad laughs. "Well hello to you too."
"I didn't know you were sending Ash something," I say.
"Yeah well..."
"It's lovely. She adores it."
"Good. So the day went well, I take it?"
"Yeah...it went really well. Pete and Ashleigh though..." I laugh as I start to tell him.
"They're a riot huh?"
"Yeah." I laugh more. I have to adjust the phone on my ear as I sink down onto my bed more. "They're at that age where they're just bratty to each other. But you can tell they like each other, you know?"
I can hear his smile through the phone. "Yeah."
"Ohhh speaking of bratty...guess what?"
"What?"
"Mama's gonna have a boy."
"Ohhh they found out finally?"
"Yeah," I sigh. "We were trying to pick out names. Now the fun begins," I laugh.
"I bet Cody's happy, huh?"
"Oh God...you would have thought he got the lead on Broadway."
Brad laughs.
"What about Ash?"
"You know Ashleigh...she's just excited about the baby."
"Yeah. What about you?" he asks.
"I just want a healthy baby brother or sister. I want to see mama and daddy happy."
"You're a good daughter."
I giggle. "Stoooppp, you're making me blush."
"Oh, I wish I was there to see that," he teases.
"Brad," I warn as I laugh. "Oh hey, next time you talk to your mom ask her when it's good for her to come down during the holidays. You're coming with her, right?"
There was silence.
"Brad?"
"Our schedule's pretty tight. I think I have like three days off."
"Around Christmas?"
"Well actually we had to choose between Christmas and New Years and since your birthday is New Years, I voted for that."
"Oh. Well...why don't you both come here for New Years then? We usually have a big party here. Well sometimes we have it in LA but since mama can't travel we'll have it here."
"Okay, I'll ask her tomorrow."
"Good."
I get quiet. "I miss you," I say softly.
"I miss you too."
"You're too busy to miss me," I pout.
He laughs softly. "No, I'm never too busy to think about you...which makes me miss you. Hey, I've got to go but next time I talk to you, I might have good news."
"Good, I like good news."
"Me too. Good night."
"Good night."
I hang up the phone and sigh.