Chapter 2

 

Capeside, Mass. Potter’s B&B

 

Bessie enters Joey’s room; she’s lying there, staring the ceiling, looking tired.

 

“Hey, sleepyhead, how are you feeling?”

 

“Much better, Bess, I really needed to sleep. How are you?”

 

“Things are really fine over here, I really miss you, dear, everybody does. I think I should be the one asking you how are right now.”

 

“Me? Well, besides I look like a cow and feel like I have a watermelon inside me...I’m doing pretty fine,” Joey sits on bed and sighs.

 

“Joey, it’s your baby you’re talking about, do you realize that?” Bessie chastises.

 

“Babies, Bess...I’m having twins, did you forget that? And they already know that mommy is just bored and tired and want to see them soon,” she caresses her tummy, smiling.

 

“I still can’t believe you’re having twins. You’re my baby sister.”

 

“Bess, I still don’t believe I’m having twins. Sometimes I wonder if they are 1% like their father, I’ll never sleep again.”

 

“And wouldn’t you be happy if they were exactly like their father?”

 

“Yes, more than ever,” Joey smiles.” But today I’m worried, Bess, there are people I haven’t seen in a while and I’m a little bit scared how these people will take this,” she points her belly.

 

“By people you mean Dawson...”

 

“Yes, I know I haven’t spoken to him for more than a year, but I know he’s going to freak out about this whole pregnancy thing.”

 

“Well, he’s gonna have to deal with this really soon, ready or not.”

 

“Yes, and I’m sort of worried about his reaction, and I shouldn’t be like that, for more reasons I could say now.”

 

“Yes, Joey, you shouldn’t. Aren’t you going to the Icehouse? Jack called earlier, Andie is in town too, but you were sleeping and we thought you’d be better resting.”

 

“Of course I’m going,” she leaves the bed as fast as she can. “Can you drive me?”

 

 “Sure, little sister.”

 

“Let’s hit the road, Bess, and let them all shocked with a very pregnant Joey Potter.”

 

Back at the Icehouse

 

Dawson never felt so confused in his whole life. Those were supposed to be his best friends ever, but he was feeling like he didn’t knew them anymore. Andie engaged, Pacey married, and Jen a mother. Joey, he didn’t even know where she was. How did he let this happen?

 

Pacey is starting to relax, things were running easier than he thought they would. Now they’re all on a table, having beer.

 

“So, Pacey, you still haven’t answered my question.”

 

“Always the most curious, Andie. When did you come back?”

 

“Last week. And I still want an answer.”

 

“Last year, and that’s your answer,” he chuckles.

 

“And where is this mysterious wife of yours?”

 

“She’s resting; the trip from New York was a little too much for her.”

 

 “Does anyone know where Joey is? I haven’t heard from her since I left to Italy,” Andie says.

 

Dawson is feeling really uncomfortable now. He’s also wondering where Joey is; last time he talked to her, she was in London, and about to come back to US, but then they  lost touch. Jen smiles, looks at Pacey and Jack, and answers Andie’s question.

 

“She’s in living in New York, she’s a book editor over there, and we always meet to have our caffeine fix.”

 

“So, is she coming this weekend too?” Dawson asks, feeling hurt that she was so near and wouldn’t even bother to phone him.

 

 “I’m already here, Dawson,” they hear a well-known voice say.

 

Everybody turns to look to a very pregnant Joey, with one of her lopsided smiles. Dawson and Andie drop their mouths.

 

“God, Joey, you are...pregnant...but how, when?”

 

“Well, Andie, I think you learnt that in your Biology classes didn’t you?”

 

Dawson is still not talking. How could that be? His Joey, little Joey Potter,  pregnant? But who was the father? His thoughts were interrupted by Pacey’s words.

 

“Hey, weren’t you supposed to be resting?” He was already making her sit down.

 

“And miss all the fun? Nah...And don’t worry; Bess drove me over here, Ok? And besides that, you really don’t think they would let me rest for more than an hour, do you? They are really your children.”

 

They are lost in their own world now, not really worrying if there’s anyone shocked around them.

 

“Wait, wait...I’m trying to figure this out...Joey, you married Pacey? And how nobody knows about it?” Andie can’t be more confused about that... Pacey and Joey burst in laughter.

 

“It’s a long, long story, and yes, I married Pacey about a year ago, and Jack and Jen here know we’re married.”

 

“And now we’re having twins,” Pacey adds proudly.

 

“Right...his contribution to modern civilization. Can I have something to eat?”

 

“Joey, darling, are you hungry again?” he mocks.

 

“Ha, ha, ha, Pacey, you can’t make fun of  the mother of your children...unless you want to sleep on the couch tonight.”

 

“And who would bring your water at 3 am?”

 

“Good point. I guess I will let you joke about me just a little bit.”

 

“That’s my girl,” he leans in and kisses her.

 

Dawson is watching them, it felt like looking at a train wreck, but he still can’t believe. Was that some kind of nightmare?

 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks his voice tight.

 

“Dawson, we lost touch, and things happened so quickly...when we realized, we were married, when we got back form our honeymoon I found out that I was pregnant, and then ..I don’t know. Can we just talk about that later?” Joey asks, and the look Pacey gives Dawson is enough for him to agree.

 

“So how about we tell what happened in our lives the last years?” Andie tries to break all the tension that came along Joey’s arrival. “Dawson you start.”

 

Dawson is still hurt by the idea that he didn’t even know that Joey was happily married and pregnant. And the simple sight of her hands being hold by Pacey’s was making him sick.