“Hey buddy.”
Nick looked up from the magazine he was flipping through and blinked. “AJ, what are you doing here?” He shut the magazine and tossed it haphazardly onto the side table.
AJ grinned as he held out his arms. “I could ask that same thing of you.”
“I’m here to pick Celeste up.” He rose from his chair and pulled his friend in for a hug. “Husbands do those things for their wives every now and then. Especially when they crash their cars and have no way to get back and forth from work.” He laughed and ran a hand through his hair.
AJ’s deep brown orbs grew wide. “She crashed her car?”
Nick nodded. “Nothing major.” He shrugged. “It was raining and a dog ran in front of her. She swerved and hit a telephone pole.”
“Wow.” AJ shook his head. “She was okay though, right?”
“Oh yeah.” Nick rested his hands on his side. “She was more worried about the dog than her car.” He laughed. “Imagine that.”
AJ laughed with him. “When did Celeste start working at the hospital?”
“About three months ago.” Nick replied.
“I didn’t realize she was done with school that quickly.”
“Yeah, she just finished a month before she got the job.” Nick explained.
“Doctor, right?” AJ questioned. He could never remember exactly what she did.
Nick nodded. “Pediatrician.” Then he crossed his arms. “And what, pray tell, are you doing here?”
“A friend of mine got knocked in the head with a softball…I brought her here. She’s in with the doctor right now.” As he spoke he thumbed behind him towards the large swinging doors.
A slight smile tugged on Nick’s lips. “Her?” He lifted an eyebrow. It had been awhile since AJ had had a girlfriend, and the last one had left him broken hearted.
AJ nodded. “Yes, Carter, her…” he grinned.
Nick returned the smile. “When do I get to meet her?”
“Never.” AJ replied. “You think I want you scaring her off?” He shook his head. “She’s staying very very far away from you.”
“I see how it is.”
“Good.” AJ grinned, then a serious look covered his face. “So uh…how’s Celeste doing?”
Nick’s smile couldn’t be bigger. “She’s great. She still sees her therapist once a month…but she has never been better.” He for one was relieved that Celeste had overcome the painful experience she’d been through three years back. It had taken her about two months before she’d started speaking again, and then another year before her personality began to improve from the mousy, meek Celeste. She’d attended therapy weekly, and as soon as she’d started speaking again, Nick had gotten her into group therapy, which really helped her along.
She was just about back to her normal, happy self. Of course there were the few and far between nights she’d wake up screaming from a nightmare, or the days she’d come home from therapy and just cry into Nick’s shoulder. But for the most part…she was healing.
AJ smiled genuinely. “That’s great, Carter.” He reached over and thumped his friend on the back.
“AJ, hello there.” A light airy voice spoke up from behind the men.
They turned to see Celeste standing there, wearing a pale blue doctor’s scrubs, her hair was pulled back into a clip, and she had a bag slung over her shoulder. Her bright eyes twinkled as she smiled at AJ.
AJ grinned back at her. “Hey Celeste.” He moved and pulled her in for a gentle hug. “How ya doin?”
Celeste nodded as she returned the hug, stepping back and rubbing her stomach. “I’m good. A little tired, but good.” She sighed.
AJ’s eyes moved to her midriff then over to Nick, his eyes widening. “Carter, is there something you need to tell me…” he trailed off.
Nick grinned and placed his hand over his wife’s. He gently rubbed the small swell of her stomach. “I don’t know…is there?” His eyebrows rose.
“Congratulations!” AJ exclaimed, reaching out and pulling Nick in for a quick hug, then he did the same with Celeste. “Wow, a baby.” He shook his head. “How far along are you?”
“About three months.” Celeste replied with a contented sigh. She slipped her arm around Nick’s waist and leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Three months and you haven’t told me?” AJ’s eyes about bugged out of his head. “Gee, I know I’m loved…thanks man.”
“Oh, shut-up.” Nick waved a hand. “We just found out last month and haven’t told anyone but our parents. I was gonna have ya’ll over to the house sometime and tell ya then.”
“Cool, well then…I’ll make sure not to tell anyone.”
“Whatever Bone, we know you can’t keep a secret.” Nick teased him.
AJ just shrugged. “But seriously, that’s great guys.” He hit Nick’s arm. “And if you have a son…I think Alexander is just the perfect name. Hell, Alexandria if it’s a girl.”
“Oh sure AJ, we’re just gonna name our first born after you!” Nick let out a loud laugh.
AJ shrugged. “I think it’s a good idea.”
“You would.” Nick snorted out. He took a breath. “But names is not the first thing on our list. Right now we just wanna make sure it’s healthy.” He looked down at Celeste as he spoke the last sentence. She met his eyes and smiled at him.
AJ nodded. “I totally understand.”
“AJ?” A voice called down from the end of the hallway, causing all three to turn and see a thin girl, with pale blonde hair hanging limp to her shoulders, and a white bandage on her forehead, leaning against the wall. She had her arms over her stomach and looked like she was either going to throw up or pass out.
“Oh gosh.” AJ took a step towards her, then he turned back to Nick and Celeste. “I gotta go. I would introduce you…but I don’t think it’s a great time to do that.”
Nick nodded in understanding. “Go take her home. I’ll call ya bout that dinner thing, okay?”
AJ nodded then took a hesitant step back towards Nick. “It was good seein you two again.”
“Yeah, it was.” Nick closed the gap and hugged his brother. “And bring her with ya when you come.” He nodded towards the girl.
AJ nodded and stepped back. “Her name’s Nadia.” He looked to Celeste. “Take care, hon.”
Celeste just nodded as AJ turned and jogged down the hall towards Nadia. She and Nick watched as he reached her and pulled her into his arms, gently cradling her. She leaned against him as he turned her around and steered her around the corner and out of view.
“Well Mr. Carter,” Celeste said, bring her attention back to her husband.
“Yes Mrs. Carter?” Nick responded.
“Shall we go home? I’ve had a long day and I could use a good foot rub.”
Nick pulled her against him again. “That sounds like a marvelous idea.” They began moving down the hallway. “And what do you say we grab some take-out on our way?”
“I say that sounds simply marvelous!” Celeste let out a laugh.
Nick hugged her against him as they made their way down the hall and out towards the parking garage. He couldn’t be happier with his life than at that moment. He sighed and kissed Celeste’s temple. He was so relieved she was getting on with her life. She had managed to put the past behind her and was now eagerly looking ahead to the future. He smiled to himself as thought about the baby that she would soon bring into the World. Life was wonderful.
“What are you smiling about?” Celeste’s voice broke into his thoughts.
Nick shrugged. “Just because.”
“Just because?” His wife sent him an incredulous look.
“Yes, just because. Am I not allowed to smile just because?” He looked down into her beautiful eyes. Eyes he hoped their baby inherited.
Her smiling face met his. “Yes you are allowed to smile just because.” She squeezed him close to her. “Because I’m smiling just because too.”
“Good.” Nick’s lips brushed against hers. “Now let’s go get that food and go home, I’m starved.”
Celeste just snuggled her head against Nick’s shoulder. She was happy and content. A feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time. But after what she had been through, deserved every bit of it.