Phoenix Falling

Chapter 17

******** Olivia ******** 

    Liam had started his new job for the Marines. He was training men down at the University. Most of them were like Chuck. Injured and trying to get into the normal flow of things. He had been gone the last three days and I was taking this time to myself to get things organized around both houses. A few nights before Liam had sat at the kitchen table with Chuck and I, 

“If you want to decorate or anything.” He had said, taking a mouthful of dinner. I smiled. Chuck looked up. 

“Me?” He asked. Liam glared at him and I laughed.

“Not dummy. Olivia. You know since she’s my Fiance and all this house is hers now too.” He said. Chuck laughed. Then went back to eating. 

“I mean it Love. If you want to change anything go ahead ok?” He said looking intently at me. 

“Ok, I wouldn’t mind doing a few things if you’re sure.” I said smiling at him. He had reached into his wallet and taken a credit card out. Giving it to me. 

“I don’t need this.” I said, trying to hand it back to him but he brushed me off. 

“Our house, our money Olivia. Everything that’s mine is ours ok?” He said. I nodded. Chuck had then held out his hand too. Liam looked at him. 

“Well, what if I want to change a few things?” He asked. I giggled. 

“Until you put out, get your own damn money.” He said. Chuck pretended to pout. I laughed harder. I had taken him up on his offer. Tim’s house was perfect. But Liam’s. Liam’s house was not very womanly. I had started with the entrance. Where everyone would walk into. I had bought a new mat. A table to go by a very bare wall. A mirror that Liam had helped me to hang and a table plant. I was happy with it. It was simple. Next I wanted to deal with the Kitchen. He owned four plates, literally four plates. I met Peyton and Norra at Bitmore mall, 

“I want to go to a housewares store. Liam owns four plates and I want to redecorate the kitchen.” I said, But Peyton had shut me down on that idea.

“Nope, no you're not. You are starting a bridal registry so that we can host a bridal shower. You’ll get everything you need and save a lot of money too.” Peyton said, leading me towards the registry desk. 

“Good afternoon!” The lady at the desk said, 

“My name is Marie. I will be your registry representative this afternoon.” She offered us chairs. We sat. 

“Ok, So I just need a little information about yourself and the groom and the date of the wedding.” She said. 

“Oh, we ummm. We haven’t picked a date yet.” I said. She smiled. 

“That’s OK. What year?” She asked. 

“Next year I think. So 2021.” I said. She wrote it down. 

“Ok, you’re name?” She asked me. 

“Olivia Dawson.” I answered. 

“You’re grooms name?” 

“Liam Wilson.” I answered. She typed it in. 

“Ok,” She said, printing a few sheets of paper and putting it into a folder. She handed it to me. 

“This is your registry information. When you do up invites you can just put that number onto them. When people shop for gifts they can come here and ask for the information. Once something has been bought from the registry we remove it.” She said, then she handed me a price gun. 

“I programmed this for your number, all you do now is walk around and scan things that you want. They’ll be added to your registry.” She said. I looked at Peyton.

“That’s it?” I asked the registry lady. She smiled, 

“That’s it. Have fun!” She said. 

“Oh and congratulations!” She called as we walked away. 

“Well?” Peyton asked. I smiled, 

“Dishes first. He has no dishes. Four plates, four forks, four spoons, four knives….” I trailed off. Norra started laughing. 

“Well let’s make it like it’s a brand new and empty house then.” I said. We started in the kitchen area. Adding plates and silverware, utensils and appliances. Pots and pans. Then we moved into bedding. Then decor. Finally into the bathroom, the girls helped me to pick out some of the fluffiest most expensive towels. 

“Really, $50.00 a towel, isn’t that excessive?” I asked them. 

“Nope, you only get married once. My parents are guaranteed to drop a few grand on your gift and, didn’t you see the suits your dad invited to the engagement party? The gifts are going to be good.” She said smiling. 

“I guess you are right,'' I said. How many of those do we need?” I asked Peyton. 

“Fifteen bath towels at least,” She said, I typed it in and scanned it. We took the scanner back to the lady who smiled at us. 

“Thanks so much.” I said, she waved as we left. 

“Lunch at my place?” I asked them. They both nodded, we picked up salads and headed back. When we got to Tims that’s where I decided to go. I wasn’t ready to move into Liam’s yet. I spent most nights there and I was slowly leaving a dent in his house. Making sure it became mine. But I still loved my dad. 

“I need to talk to you guys about something.” I said, as we started spreading lunch out on the table in the backyard. They both looked at me curiously.

“I considered aborting the baby.” I said quietly. Norra was silent. Peyton nodded. 

“Honestly, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had.” She said grabbing my hand. 

“I don’t think Liam would have let me.” I said. She nodded. 

“No I know he wouldn’t have.” She said. 

“I would have if I were you.” Norra said quietly. I looked at her. 

“It’s just, I know Liam is accepting and he’s so great. But if I were you I just don’t know if I could keep it.” She said quietly. I nodded. 

“I decided not too. I don’t want Connors baby. This isn’t Connors though. It’s mine and Liams.” I said. They agreed. After lunch I asked the girls to come over to Liams. 

“Help me pick which room is the nursery.” I said to them. Upstairs were four bedrooms. One was Chucks, One Liam’s and mine. I took them to the closest room. It was the one I figured should be for the baby. 

“It’s perfect.” Norra said. It was completely empty. 

“Oh my god! You can have a baby shower too!” Peyton said excitedly. 

“Does that mean another registry?” I asked her. She nodded happily. 

“Maybe next weekend ok?” I asked. She smiled. 

“You guys should get a photographer to take baby reveal photos.” Norra said. I smiled at her. That idea I kind of liked. I had honestly been on pinterest looking at them. 

“I was going to talk to Liam about that.” I said. 

“Oh my god! Engagement photos too!” Peyton said excitedly. I smiled at her. Crap those too. 

“Which one’s first?” I asked. 

“Definitely engagement photos.” Peyton said. I nodded. When the girls left I started cooking supper for all my guys. I texted them. 

Supper is at Dads house tonight.

I got three smiley faces in return. I put chicken in the oven and started cutting up veggies. When they were cooking happily I took a break. I ran to the bathroom to pee. I did that alot now that I was pregnant. On the white paper, was a light smear of pink. 

What….. I wondered if this was normal. Don’t google it. I told myself, that never ends well. As I went back to the kitchen and finished supper I decided to call my OB-GYN.

“Hi, Dr. Green. Ummm I just had a tiny spot of blood today when I went pee.” I said, hoping it was nothing major. 

“Ah, I see. It’s Ok Olivia. That’s very normal in most pregnancies. Don’t panic. Just keep an eye on it. If it happens again call me back ok?” She said, I was reassured. 

“Ok, thanks Dr.” I said. 

“See you at your appointment in three weeks.” She said. The line went dead. The next time I went pee there was nothing. Maybe it was in my head. After dinner Liam and I curled up in my bed. 

“The girls took me to make a wedding registry today.” I said to him. He looked up from his book and smiled. 

“Did you have fun?” He asked. 

“Actually I kind of did.” I said, 

“Except, I didn’t know when we were having our wedding.” I said. He smiled. 

“When were you thinking?” He asked. I pulled up my phone. Opening Pinterest. 

“Actually, I was wondering about a destination wedding.” I said smiling at him. 

“Like where?” He asked. 

“Jamaica.” I said. He laughed, 

“So you have been thinking about this?” He asked. I nodded. 

“Well, actually I just started today. I started a pinterest board and I was looking at small weddings because I don’t want a big one and then when I was doing that I found destinations.” I said. He smiled. 

“I’d be cool with Jamaica. All inclusive sounds fun.” He said happily. 

“What kind of budget do we have?” I asked him quietly. He smiled. 

“Well, my parent’s have asked if they could give us ten thousand as a gift. So we can use that. I have a decent amount of savings. What is your dress budget idea?” He asked me. I smiled at him. 

“Maybe like a few hundred.” I said. 

“Olivia, wedding dresses are way more than a few hundred dollars.” He said. I giggled. 

“I know, but I already have mine. I just have to do some alterations.” I said to him. He looked confused. I smiled again. 

“It was my grandmas. Mom sent it to me. I have to decide what I want done to it then take it to someone to make the changes. But it shouldn’t be too much.” I said. 

“So we have ten from my parents. I have about fifty in savings.” He said. I swallowed. 

“Huh.” I said, he smiled. 

“What?” He asked me. 

“Liam, I’m not spending that much on a wedding.” I said. He grinned. 

“Well what do you want to spend?” He asked. I shrugged. 

“I thought I was hoping we could do it for like five thousand. We don’t have to buy rings or a dress.” I said. He laughed. 

“Let’s say ten then ok?” He asked me. Ok fair, they were giving us ten for a wedding gift. It would only be fair. 

“K, let’s say ten.” I said. He kissed me on the head. 

“Well let’s start with ten. Because, things always cost more than planned.” He said smiling. 

“I had planned five for your dress and five for the wedding band so if it costs twenty I don’t care.” He said. I grinned at him. I was going to do my best to keep it under ten. When he put his book down and turned off the bedside table I curled up into my spot and drifted off to sleep.