Our Miracle Baby – Chapter Six - Soon To Be Mrs
The next two weeks fly by and soon it’s the weekend of Casey and Raf’s joint bachelorette and bachelor party.
Casey chooses a white jumpsuit and soon she slips into it. “I can’t believe it’s only three weeks until the wedding. How has ten weeks flown by so quickly?”
Sienna sips a glass of non-alcoholic champagne. “I’m just stunned that you managed to pull off your dream wedding in ten weeks.”
Casey nods, “I know. But it’s important to Raf that we marry before the baby arrives, so I am happy to agree. And I can’t complain about not having to wait months on end to call him mine forever.”
Aurora and Gabby come into the living room. “Are your parents mad that you don’t want your sister there tonight?”
Casey sips her own glass of champagne, “They don’t have the choice. And luckily, she is on a shoot so she wouldn’t be able to come even if I wanted her here.”
Suddenly there’s a knock on the door and Sienna stands up, “You stay there. I’ll get it.”
Gabby sits beside Casey and begins to do her hair. “What time are we meeting the guys?”
Casey smiles, “Six thirty.”
Sienna comes back in with Casey’s cousin Brooklyn and her friends Lily and Ella and Cleo who Casey knew from medical school and college.
Casey squeals when she sees Cleo, who she hadn’t seen in five years. “What are you doing here?”
She wraps her dear friend in a hug. “I couldn’t not make you big day now, could I?”
Cleo smiles, “You look amazing.”
Ella nods, “You’re glowing.”
Casey laughs, “That’s due to the make-up.”
Lily hugs Casey next, “I didn’t think you’d be taking a trip down the aisle any time soon.”
Casey sits down as she feels her back ache slightly. “I never thought I would. Not after how it had gone last time. But I’m so lucky that I didn’t give up and took the chance to come here. Because coming here didn’t just give me the fresh start I so desperately needed after losing Annabel, it brought me to Raf and the chance of true happiness.”
Cleo gazes at Casey, “You really love him, don’t you?”
Casey nods, “More than I have ever loved anyone.”
Soon it’s six o’clock and the girls are making their way to the restaurant where they were going to meet Raf and the guys.
As there are sixteen of them altogether, everyone agreed to hiring a bus to go from the restaurant to the cabin where they were staying overnight.
Sitting with Cleo and Sienna, Casey smiles as her old friends coo over her engagement ring. “It’s stunning,” Cleo gasps.
Casey wiggles her hand to make the pink diamond sparkle. “I just adore it.”
Arriving at the restaurant, Sienna helps Casey down the steps and loops her arm through her best friend’s. “I’ll admit I had other plans originally when you announced your engagement but of course my little niece or nephew put paid to those ideas of a boozy spa day and a night in one of Boston’s best clubs.”
Casey gapes at Sienna, “At our age? We’re not twenty something’s Sienna.”
Cleo shrugs, “So? We’re not ready for the scrap heap just yet Case.”
Casey spots Raf’s usual partner Sam waiting outside the restaurant, he tries to hide the fact he is smoking but Casey isn’t fooled. “That’s a filthy habit. And a terrible one for someone who works in health care.”
Sam chuckles. “You caught me I’m afraid.”
He kisses Casey’s cheek. “The guys are inside. I just sneaked out for a quick smoke. Hoping to avoid you catching me but alas it obviously didn’t work.”
Guiding Casey and the rest of the group into the restaurant, Sam soon finds Raf and the other guys.
Everyone sits down and after they have ordered, chatter begins.
Sam soon begins to chat to Cleo who is sitting next to him. “Where do you work?”
Cleo sips her mocktail. “I did my residency at Mercy General in Sacramento before moving to New York and working at Fox Memorial hospital in Oncology.”
Kyra’s ears prick up at the word oncology. “I had cancer during Casey’s intern year. She saved my life. After my cancer came back, I was determined to give up but of course Casey here isn’t one to be deterred by stubbornness. She convinced me I had too much to live for.”
Beaming at her best friend and saviour, Kyra blows Casey a kiss. “My hero and the greatest friend I could ever have known.”
Casey smiles tearfully, “You are the hero, not me.”
Everyone begins to eat soon after and in between Casey notices Sam whispering something in Cleo’s ear.
She hides a smirk behind her glass just as Ellie taps her shoulder. “I swear if I knew she’d draw attention in that dress I would have asked her to wear something else.”
Casey shakes her head, “She’s been single since med school, she deserves a bit of fun.”
Lily’s phone pings in her handbag, “Sorry Case, I need to check this. My auntie relapsed after four years remission and she’s back having treatment. It’s more to give her extra time than anything else.”
Casey’s face falls, “Oh Lil. If it’s that bad you could have cancelled. I’d have understood.”
Lily shakes her head, “No. Not after everything we’ve gone through together.”
It occurs to Casey just how similar Cleo and Lily and Sienna were, which made her realise why she had been so drawn to Sienna in the first place.
She waits until after Lily puts her phone back into her clutch bag. “Everything ok?”
Lily laughs, “She just wanted the gossip, can you imagine?”
Casey smiles, she had met Lily’s aunt Lyra on several occasions over the years and because there was only twelve years between the two they were more best friends than aunt and niece. “It’s a shame Lyra is so unwell. I’d have loved to have seen her again.”
Lily smiles, “She adores you. You should have heard when I found out you had won the award for finding the Rhodes cure. ‘I always knew Casey would change the world.’ ‘she’s such a lovely girl.’”
She sips her drink, “I know she’d love to see you in your dress though.”
Casey nods, “Of course.”
After dinner, everyone piles onto the bus and heads for the cabin for the night.
Casey and Raf go into their bedroom for a few minutes to unpack and for the others to secretly set up an outdoor movie night, on the suggestion of Sienna. “Is it me, or is there something going on with Lucas and Sienna?” Casey whispers.
Raf smiles, “He did ask for her number a few weeks back. Maybe something’s happened since then?”
Casey squeals, “You’re joking! Why didn’t you tell me anything?”
She laughs, “Well that would certainly explain Sam’s quick turn around and the fact he’s been sticking to Cleo like glue.”
Dressing in something more comfortable, as per Sienna’s instructions. Casey uses the bathroom before she and Raf go outside to meet the others.
Sienna smiles, “We need to walk a little bit but it’s not far.”
Casey’s interest is piqued and so she and Raf follow the others over the field and through the trees.
Gently helping Casey over the uneven pathway, Raf wraps his arm around her waist. “Have you got any idea what Sienna has planned?”
Raf shakes his head, “Nope. She wouldn’t tell me.”
Unable to make up her mind if he’s fibbing or not, Casey just smiles.
Soon everyone arrives at the outdoor movie theatre and Casey’s eyes grow wide. “Wow.”
She turns to Sienna, “You didn’t have to arrange all of this.”
Sienna hugs Casey, “Yes I did.”
Everyone sits down comfortably.
Casey leans against a beanbag so she can be comfortable. “So what’s the film we’re seeing then?”
Lucy smiles, “If it’s the one I think it is you’re in trouble because we all know how much of a crush Casey has on the lead actor.”
Cleo and Emily share a giggle. “Uh oh. It’s not The Time Traveller’s Wife is it? She’s been crazy about Eric Bana for a decade !”
Sienna smiles, “It was that or Me Before You and since the love interest dies in that one I thought it’d be best to steer well clear.”
Emily looks at Cleo and Lily, as if to say Shall I tell her?
Sienna laughs, “Yes, I know he dies in this one too, but he also comes back so it’s not as sad.”
The film soon starts and everyone dives into snacks and begin to watch.
Casey snuggles against Raf’s chest, “I love this idea.”
Raf kisses Casey’s forehead, “Me too.”
Sienna glares playfully at Bryce, “It’s a better idea than having to deal with wondering what you lot are up to.”
Bryce laughs, “For the last time even I said tying Raf to a lamp post in his boxers in New York was a bad idea.”
Between the proximity of where she is sitting as opposed to Lucas and her aim, Casey manages to hit him in the back of the head with a handful of popcorn. “I always knew you were trouble.”
When it comes to the part when Claire has a miscarriage, Casey hides her face away from the screen, burying her head in Raf’s chest. “I always hated that part,” she whispers, tearfully.
The film moves on and soon the scene where Claire and Henry’s future daughter Alba sees her parents in the street comes on and Casey smiles.
She leans in and whispers in Raf’s ear. “I quite like the name Alba, what do you think?”
Raf nods, “It’s sweet.”
The film goes on and Casey stays where she is, snuggled in Raf’s arms as they watch the film.
She looks over at Sienna and is concerned when she sees Lucas comforting her. “I think I’m going to check on Sienna, she seems upset.”
Heaving herself up on to her feet, Casey walks over to sit beside Sienna. “Are you ok?”
Sienna wipes her eyes, “I’m ok. It’s just the last time we did this was with Danny in our intern year. Do you remember? That old forties film? We all dressed up.”
Casey nods, “I do remember it. Come here.”
Hugging her best friend, she kisses the top of Sienna’s head. “He’ll always be with you. And more importantly, he wouldn’t want you to be sad forever. He would want you to find someone who will love you like he would if he’d had a chance.”
Sienna wipes her eyes, “Go. I’ll be fine.”
Lucas puts his hand on Casey’s shoulder. “I’ll take over.”
Casey nods and gets up. “If you need me, I’m right over here.”
The scene where Alba is born begins to play as Casey gets comfortable. “Sienna’s just sad because this reminds her of the night we were in Boston Common with Danny watching an old film.”
Raf wraps his arm around Casey’s shoulders. “I was gutted that I couldn’t make it that night.”
Casey smiles, “So was I.”
Two hours later the film is over but everyone is just sitting around the heaters and chatting, not ready to go back to the cabin yet.
Ellie scoots next to Casey when Raf goes to the bathroom. “So spill. I want all the goss about your amazing looking proposal. It looked so adorable.”
Casey smiles, “It was so romantic. We’d gone for dinner beforehand and then Raf suggested we go for a walk on the beach and when we were walking along I spotted a gorgeous candle display before my favourite song came on.”
Soon Ellie’s in tears, “How romantic. You are so lucky.”
Casey nods, “I know.”
Ellie hugs Casey, “I’m so glad you found the happiness you deserve Casey.”
Casey smiles and returns Ellie’s hug. “Thank you. I finally know what true love is.”
After a few hours from the start to finish, Casey is exhausted and beginning to feel nauseous, which is normal when she gets tired. “I hate to be ‘that’ pregnant woman, but I’m exhausted. I think I’m going to head to bed. Everyone else can stay up if you’d like.”
Giving her friends a hug and saying goodnight, Casey heads to her and Raf’s bedroom in the cabin and begins to undress.
As she gets into her pyjamas, Raf enters their bedroom. “Are you ok, Sweetheart?”
Casey yawns, “I’m fine, just tired. It’s been a long day. You can stay up if you’d like. Don’t let me stop you having a good time.”
Raf smiles, “It’s ok. I’d prefer to be with you.”
Climbing into bed, Casey smiles and watches as Raf goes into his holdall and takes out a book. “I managed to sneak this into our things. Why don’t we have a look? I knew we have fourteen weeks to decide but there’s no harm in having a look.”
Casey nods, “I’d like that.”
Snuggling against Raf’s chest, Casey opens the book which is called The Big Book of Girls Names.
She smiles, “Well, Sienna is no brainer. And we can add Alba too. Although I don’t think we’ll end up using it. We might want to bypass the ‘A’s altogether.”
Raf runs his fingers through Casey’s hair. “What about ‘Summer’?”
Casey smiles, “I like it.”
Looking at others, Casey smiles, “What about Mia? It’s Spanish, but it would work. It means ‘mine’.”
Raf smiles, “It’s nice. I quite like Solana. What do you think?”
Casey’s fingers quickly flick through the pages to get to the ‘S’ names.
She searches the meaning of ‘Solana’ on her phone. “I like it. After all, our girl is our sunshine.”
After an hour, Casey and Raf have added six names to the list they are considering.
Mia
Solana
Summer
Alba
Sienna
Marisol.
By eleven o’clock, Casey is falling asleep and she cuddles against Raf, content.
The next day, Sienna smiles. “I was thinking today we could go fruit picking today. What do you think?”
Casey nods, “It sounds good.”
She smiles. “You didn’t have to do all of this.”
Cleo comes up behind Casey and gives her a hug. “Yes we did. Or Sienna did. There’s still ways we can make this fun despite their being someone else we didn’t plan to join in the fun.”
Casey smiles, “Neither did we.”
Getting dressed in comfortable dungarees and a white t shirt and trainers, Casey and Raf follow the rest of their friends to the fruit orchards.
Walking into the strawberry fields, Casey breathes in the delicious scent of the wild strawberries and smiles. “It smells delicious out here.”
Raf wraps his arms around Casey from behind. “I know.”
During the next few hours, Casey and Raf and their friends pick fruit and chat, smiling in the sunshine.
Cleo winks at Casey as she nibbles on one of the strawberries in her basket.
Laughing, Casey just continues to pick her own.
Three hours later, it’s mid afternoon and Casey is beginning to tire out.
Everyone goes back to the cabin and whilst the others go swimming at the nearby swimming pool, Casey goes for a nap.
She climbs into bed, “You can go with the others babe, I’ll be fine,” she assures Raf, but as Casey could have predicted, her fiancé is having none of it. “No, I’ll stay with you.”
Casey nods, “Ok. I do feel a little queasy. I think I spent too long out in the sun.”
Lying down on her side, Casey cradles her small bump and soon she has fallen asleep.
Raf goes to explain to everyone else that he and Casey are staying behind. “Casey’s exhausted, I think the fruit picking was too much for her in the end. I’m going to stay here and keep an eye on her, but don’t let that stop the rest of you going off and exploring.”
Gabby frowns, “Do you want me to stay back too?”
Raf shakes his head, “No, we’ll be fine.”
Gabby nods, “Ok. Just text me if anything changes.”
When they are alone, Raf goes back into his and Casey’s room and climbs on to their bed and wraps his arms around her. “I love you,” he whispers.
Casey smiles, “Love you too,” she murmurs in her sleep.
The next day, it’s time to go home and Casey is feeling better, which is a relief as she was nervous about the trip home when she was feeling so nauseated.
Lily comes to Casey first thing in the morning. “I’ll see you in a few weeks for the wedding. I love you.”
Casey gives Lily a hug. “I love you too. Please give Lyra a hug from me and let her know I’m thinking of her.”
Lily gently caresses Casey’s bump, “Take care of this little one, ok? Auntie Lil loves him or her already.”
Casey nods, “I will. Don’t worry.”
By the time Casey and Raf get home, they are both really hungry and decide to go to a fast food chain before they go to their apartment.
After ordering some enchiladas and burritos, they take their food back home.
Arriving home, Casey is surprised to see a police officer on their doorstep. “Can we help you?”
The officer shows her badge and nods, “Casey Valentine?”
Casey nods, “That’s me. Has something happened?”
Her heart suddenly drops. “No one died did they?”
The officer Dolores Ruiz shakes her head, “No, nothing like that. I would just like a chat if that’s alright?”
Casey nods, “Yes. Sure.”
Opening their apartment, Casey and Raf walk in and whilst Raf goes to put their food on the counter in the kitchen, Casey sits down with the officer. “Can you please tell me what’s going on?”
Dolores Ruiz nods, “I have been told you were approached by your violent ex partner?”
Casey nods, “Yes. Two weeks ago. I work as an OB/GYN at Edenbrooke hospital and one of my patients is engaged to the man who attacked me and caused me to lose my baby.”
A sudden light fluttering in Casey’s abdomen stops her in her tracks. “Raf, you need to get over here.”
Fearful, Raf rushes to Casey’s side, “What’s the matter?”
Casey smiles, “I felt flutters.”
She gently takes his hand and places it on her stomach, smiling. “It’s magical, isn’t it?”
Casey soon turns to Dolores Ruiz, “I’m sorry. What can we do about it? I don’t want that man anywhere near me. Or my baby.”
DS Ruiz nods, “I have spoken to my counterparts in Sacramento and it has been confirmed that he was supposed to keep away from you. We will pay Mr Williams a visit and make sure he understands the contents of his restraining order. I promise you Casey, he won’t be allowed to come near you again.”
She stands up, “If you do have any contact with him again, here is my card. Let me know right away and I will sort it.”
Casey nods, “Thank you.”
After seeing the officer out, Casey goes into the kitchen where Raf is heating up their food. “Everything will be ok, Sweetheart,” Raf soothes.
Casey wraps her arms around Raf’s waist. “Forget that. We just felt our baby girl move for the first time.”
Raf smiles and pulls Casey close. “It’s amazing.”
He kisses her sweetly. “If she’s anything like her Mama, she’ll be the most beautiful baby girl in the world.”
Casey smiles, “Of course she will. Because she’s ours.”
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