Chapter Seven: Surprises
"So now what?" laughed Heather as Steven paused for breath. Who would've thought that a pillow fight could be so much fun? Until recently Steven hadn't. Yet everything was fun these days. The past couple of months had given Steven a whole new lease of life. Work was going well, with him not only rising through the ranks at the theatre as a stagehand, but also getting recognition from some of Starlight's orchestra members as a musician in his own right. But it was Heather (and Max of course) who had awakened in him a joyful, playful side that had been hidden for so long.
Recovering his breath, Steven looked at the clock. They were due to meet Kitty and Blake in an hour for dinner. A very rare occasion when none of them were working. Blake, with his new found confidence from his skills in the kitchen, offered to cook, and usually all of them jumped at the chance to enjoy his meals. However, for Steven, tonight was a special occasion and he had booked a table at one of the exclusive bistros in town.
Recovering his breath, Steven looked at the clock. They were due to meet Kitty and Blake in an hour for dinner. A very rare occasion when none of them were working. Blake, with his new found confidence from his skills in the kitchen, offered to cook, and usually all of them jumped at the chance to enjoy his meals. However, for Steven, tonight was a special occasion and he had booked a table at one of the exclusive bistros in town.
"It's time to get ready, I'm afraid, love," he sighed, regretting the need to kill the moment, but excited nonetheless about better moments to come later that evening. "Kitty and Blake are expecting us soon."
Heather pouted, her eyes twinkling. "Fine,” she said. ”But I won!"
Laughing, Steven pulled her close. "No, I'm the winner because I found you."
Heather pouted, her eyes twinkling. "Fine,” she said. ”But I won!"
Laughing, Steven pulled her close. "No, I'm the winner because I found you."
Heather rolled her eyes. ”Do you serve crackers with that cheesy line?” she mock scolded, but at the same time she pulled Steven closer. "Ok, I'll get ready – maybe wear something fabulous. But I need to shower first." She headed off towards the bathroom, turning back at the door to give her best come-hither stare. Steven didn't need to be asked twice. He followed her to the shower, reminding himself once again of just how lucky he was.
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"This way Sir,
Madam..."
Steven and Heather were shown to a corner table where Kitty and Blake were already sitting, discussing the menu. It was such a treat for all of them to be out somewhere like this. While money issues had stopped being quite such an urgent problem for the Laine twins, thanks to Steven's regular work and Kitty's great tips from the small gigs she had been starting to perform in, they were still careful with their Simoleans. Mind you it helped in Kitty's case that Blake's boss let Blake take home leftover food and ingredients at rock-bottom prices, so there was always something lovely to eat.
Steven and Heather were shown to a corner table where Kitty and Blake were already sitting, discussing the menu. It was such a treat for all of them to be out somewhere like this. While money issues had stopped being quite such an urgent problem for the Laine twins, thanks to Steven's regular work and Kitty's great tips from the small gigs she had been starting to perform in, they were still careful with their Simoleans. Mind you it helped in Kitty's case that Blake's boss let Blake take home leftover food and ingredients at rock-bottom prices, so there was always something lovely to eat.
Kitty looked up when Steven and Heather came in and smiled broadly. Both of them looked great, Kitty mused, although Steven seemed a little nervous. He was hiding it well, but Kitty knew the signs. Standing up, she gave Heather a warm hug. Kitty and Heather had become firm friends in the past couple of months and to Kitty it was obvious that her new friend and her brother were a perfect match.
Heather excused herself to go to the bathroom.
"Blake, hun, could you order us some drinks, please," asked Kitty, smiling at the man who had become just as much a part of her world as Heather had become part of Steven's.
Heather excused herself to go to the bathroom.
"Blake, hun, could you order us some drinks, please," asked Kitty, smiling at the man who had become just as much a part of her world as Heather had become part of Steven's.
As Blake wandered over to the bar, Kitty sat down next to Steven. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"So......"
"So what?" replied Steven, innocently.
"So....you're up to something. I know you bro; you're as subtle as a sledgehammer. So are you popping the question before or after dinner?"
"Shhhhhh!!!!" hushed Steven, looking around to check for Heather. ”It's meant to be a surprise!”
"Ok, ok, calm down!" Kitty put her hand on Steven's arm. "I won't spoil the moment. Just let me know if you want Blake and I to make ourselves scarce."
Steven smiled at his twin. "No need sis. In fact, I really want you here. You're my only family, and my best friend too." Steven paused. Despite life being so much better now, he still missed his parents like crazy, and wished he could share this excitement with them. "It's only right that you're a part of this, Kitty."
"A part of what?" asked Heather, plonking herself down at the table.
"So......"
"So what?" replied Steven, innocently.
"So....you're up to something. I know you bro; you're as subtle as a sledgehammer. So are you popping the question before or after dinner?"
"Shhhhhh!!!!" hushed Steven, looking around to check for Heather. ”It's meant to be a surprise!”
"Ok, ok, calm down!" Kitty put her hand on Steven's arm. "I won't spoil the moment. Just let me know if you want Blake and I to make ourselves scarce."
Steven smiled at his twin. "No need sis. In fact, I really want you here. You're my only family, and my best friend too." Steven paused. Despite life being so much better now, he still missed his parents like crazy, and wished he could share this excitement with them. "It's only right that you're a part of this, Kitty."
"A part of what?" asked Heather, plonking herself down at the table.
"Er......" Steven
started to turn red.
"A part of the upcoming pool tournament at the Beach Club," interrupted Kitty. "Steven knows how good I am, but I've been so busy with my new gigs that I've not got around to signing up. He was convincing me to get my act together and be a part of the tournament."
Just then Blake came back with drinks and Steven turned Heather's attention to the menu. But first he met his sisters eyes and gave a silent "thanks."
"A part of the upcoming pool tournament at the Beach Club," interrupted Kitty. "Steven knows how good I am, but I've been so busy with my new gigs that I've not got around to signing up. He was convincing me to get my act together and be a part of the tournament."
Just then Blake came back with drinks and Steven turned Heather's attention to the menu. But first he met his sisters eyes and gave a silent "thanks."
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"Well, that was delicious," sighed Blake as the waiter cleared away their plates. "I wonder if they'll give me the recipe?"
Kitty punched his arm playfully. "Hey, you're not at work now you know! Save it for the kitchens!" Heather laughed as Kitty and Blake bantered some more and she didn't notice Steven get out of his chair. Suddenly the music in the bistro changed, from the generic background sounds they'd been listening to all night, to a recording of Heather's favourite ballad. She was just about to exclaim to Kitty how much she loved the song when she spotted Steven standing up in the centre of the bistro, looking at her.
"What is it hun?" she asked. She stood up and went to him. Before Heather could say anything else, Steven dropped to one knee.
"Heather, my love. From the moment we met at the park I knew you were someone very special. I didn't realise quite how much. You make every day a new adventure, every moment worth savouring. I love you so much, my darling and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Steven pulled out a small box and opened it. ”Heather, will you marry me?"
Kitty punched his arm playfully. "Hey, you're not at work now you know! Save it for the kitchens!" Heather laughed as Kitty and Blake bantered some more and she didn't notice Steven get out of his chair. Suddenly the music in the bistro changed, from the generic background sounds they'd been listening to all night, to a recording of Heather's favourite ballad. She was just about to exclaim to Kitty how much she loved the song when she spotted Steven standing up in the centre of the bistro, looking at her.
"What is it hun?" she asked. She stood up and went to him. Before Heather could say anything else, Steven dropped to one knee.
"Heather, my love. From the moment we met at the park I knew you were someone very special. I didn't realise quite how much. You make every day a new adventure, every moment worth savouring. I love you so much, my darling and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Steven pulled out a small box and opened it. ”Heather, will you marry me?"
"What?" For once Heather was caught by surprise. She looked at Steven, holding out the ring. There was only one answer. "Yes! Yes Steven, of course I'll marry you!" Steven placed the ring on her finger she pulled him up for an embrace., as Kitty, Blake and the waiters cheered from the sidelines.
Kitty hugged Heather tight. "I've always wanted a sister," she told her.
"Me, too", replied Heather, "especially one who can sing at my wedding!"
Heather sat down and was congratulated by Blake, while Kitty moved on to hug her brother. ”Nice speech bro!”
The waiter brought over a bottle of finest nectar to celebrate the happy couple's engagement. After a quick toast, Kitty and Blake made their excuses and left, leaving Heather and Steven to celebrate together.
"Me, too", replied Heather, "especially one who can sing at my wedding!"
Heather sat down and was congratulated by Blake, while Kitty moved on to hug her brother. ”Nice speech bro!”
The waiter brought over a bottle of finest nectar to celebrate the happy couple's engagement. After a quick toast, Kitty and Blake made their excuses and left, leaving Heather and Steven to celebrate together.
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Blake was unusually
quiet on the way back to Kitty's. As they made their way to the
bedroom to get ready for bed Kitty took Blake's hands in hers. ”Is
there something bothering you tonight sweetie?” she asked, concerned.
Blake looked into her eyes. "Well, it's just that, erm, well...I wasn't expecting Steven to propose to Heather tonight. In fact...." Blake reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box."...he kind of stole my thunder."
"Kitty - " he began.
"Oh Blake” murmured Kitty, cutting him off. ”Listen, before you say anything more, you need to know something. I love you. I love you so much, more than I thought it was possible to love someone. But, there is still so much I want to do before I settle down to married life and kids. I want to be a famous singer. I want to travel a little, see new things."
"Kitty - " he began.
"Oh Blake” murmured Kitty, cutting him off. ”Listen, before you say anything more, you need to know something. I love you. I love you so much, more than I thought it was possible to love someone. But, there is still so much I want to do before I settle down to married life and kids. I want to be a famous singer. I want to travel a little, see new things."
Kitty looked at Blake's crestfallen face and willed him to understand. "I do want to marry you, my darling, but not yet. And I don't want to wear the ring with a promise of 'maybe, in a year or three'. I want to wear it when we can set a definite date, when we're ready.” She searched his face for a response. ”Please understand this isn't a no, or even a maybe...just a not yet. Ok?"
Blake nodded and tried to keep it together. This isn't the way he'd planned it, but if Kitty needed more time to work on her goals, then that was something he had to support. "It's ok. I'm not going anywhere. I can wait."
"Good", sighed a relieved Kitty, melting into his arms.
Blake nodded and tried to keep it together. This isn't the way he'd planned it, but if Kitty needed more time to work on her goals, then that was something he had to support. "It's ok. I'm not going anywhere. I can wait."
"Good", sighed a relieved Kitty, melting into his arms.
******************************************
Kitty woke up bright and early the next morning. She felt woozy, but she hadn't had that much nectar the night before, had she? As she sat up, she remembered that she was going to get a sister-in-law and smiled to herself. Then she looked at Blake, sleeping next to her. She had been worried that he'd take her refusal to get engaged right now hard, but although things had been a little awkward last night, she was sure that things would be ok between them.
Kitty still didn't feel
right. As she stood up, a wave of nausea hit her full on, and she
dashed to the bathroom, only just making it in time to grace the
toilet bowl with the contents of her stomach. ”Ugh!” she thought
to herself. ”It must have been the chicken from last night. I hope
the others are ok.” She sent Steven a text, just to be sure, as she
knew he'd had the chicken too.
Leaving Blake to sleep in (since he had a key to hers now, she often let him rest there before his shift started), Kitty managed to keep down a glass of water before getting changed and heading out to Park Verde. She had a gig there later that day, and wanted to get there early to rehearse and promote her show.
Leaving Blake to sleep in (since he had a key to hers now, she often let him rest there before his shift started), Kitty managed to keep down a glass of water before getting changed and heading out to Park Verde. She had a gig there later that day, and wanted to get there early to rehearse and promote her show.
The fresh air seemed to help clear Kitty's head. The park was quite busy that morning, and soon Kitty had gathered quite a crowd with her rehearsal/busking performance. She was just contemplating asking the crowd for requests, when another wave of nausea came over her. Ditching her crowd, she dashed to the park toilets and once again heaved into the toilet bowl.
As she went to wash her hands and face, her phoned beeped. With a text from her brother. ”We're both fine” Are you sure it was the chicken?” ”What else could it be?”she asked herself.
As she went to wash her hands and face, her phoned beeped. With a text from her brother. ”We're both fine” Are you sure it was the chicken?” ”What else could it be?”she asked herself.
Suddenly she thought of something. Heart beating wildly, she tried to calculate dates in her head. "How long since...and we...and...oh." Holding on to sides of the sink for support, Kitty looked at her reflection in the mirror and shook her head. 'It couldn't be, it mustn't be, not now, it's not part of my plans'. But her reflection seemed to be staring back at her, confirming what she really didn't want to be true...
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