For Ryan (Part 5) Read Count : 190

Category : Stories

Sub Category : Drama
Five-Dinner Party
Jay got off work about fifteen minutes early to get the ice for the dinner party at Evan and Izzy's house. While driving to the store, Jay's suit felt very tight. His belly was stretching out his clothes. Jay gave in and headed to a clothing store before getting the ice bags. He didn't have a lot of time, so he grabbed a blue jersey and denim jeans from the paternity department. Jay makes his purchases and then goes to change in the store's restroom.
"Ah, relief." Jay contently sighs as he puts on his new jeans.
He had also bought a pair of comfortable tennis shoes for his sore feet. Jay took off his work shoes and put on the tennis shoes. It did take some effort because his belly was becoming a hinderance. Lastly, he put on the jersey. Jay finishes getting dressed and then eventually buys the two bags of ice.

Ava covered the black forest cake with plastic tupperware. Jay called her and told her he'd be home in ten minutes, so she briefly checked her make-up, set her purse on the couch, put on her sandals-and then made two shirt changes. She finally settled for a pink shirt with a stitched rose on the back. Ava came back out to the living room, sits on the couch, and waited for Jay to come home. She crossed one leg over the other, setting her hands onto her lap. As she patiently waited, her mind returned to the night before. The thought of Jay losing interestin her was weighing on her mind. Ava mentally told herself that the thought was very far-fetched and Jay would never consider seeing someone else. But still, the idea lingered.
"No, this is crazy." Ava shook her head. 
She sees Jay coming up the driveway. Ava stands up, grabbing her purse and the dessert. 
Ava goes to the car after locking the front door. Jay kisses her as she sits herself in the passenger seat next to him.
"Hi. How was work?" Ava asks.
"Busy as always." He shrugs. Jay discreetly adjusts his jersey. "You?"
"Well, a customer came in today and bought three paintings. Two-three by fours, and one-four by seven."
Jay puts the car in reverse. "Wow! Rich guy?"
"Woman, actually. She said she was redecorating her bedroom." Ava chuckles.

They arrived at Evan and Izzy's home moments later. Evan excitedly opens the front door. 
"Hey, you made it!" Evan invites them in. "Come in. Everyone is in the living room."
"You look good, Evan. How's the baby?"
"Oh, fine. Growing. She's been moving a lot lately." Evan pats his belly.
"She?" Jay asks with surprise.
"Well, actually, Izzy and I don't know the sex of the baby yet. We're going to find out next week. We're hoping for a girl. Izzy will show you where you can put your cake, Ava."
"Thank you." Ava goes to the kitchen.
"Evan rests his elbow on Jay's shoulder. "So, what's new?"
"Not much." Jay chuckles.
"There's something new. You have this...this, fresh look on your face."
"Really? I do?" Jay responds by widening his eyes. He remembered that pregnancy does wonders to the skin. "Well, um..."
"Wait! Is Ava...?" Evan excitedly whispers.
"Hmm? Oh, no. No, Ava isn't pregnant. But she does want a baby."
"Well, get a move on so that our kids can attend school together." Evan nudged his friend.
Jay laughs nervously.

Jay and Evan met everybody else in the living room. Ava's family was there and Izzy was holding Caelan in her lap. Caelan was the cutest little five year old. Wavy dark-blonde hair, blue eyes, and dimples in her cheeks. She likes Jay a lot. Caelan sees Jay and wiggles off her mother's lap. She squeals with excitement as she runs to hug him.
"Jay!" Caelan exclaims.
"Hi cutie!" Jay kneels down to hug her. He almost loses his balance due to the extra weight aquired over the last few months.
"Caelan, be careful with Jay. You'll knock him over." Izzy tells her daughter.
Ava's mother, Diana, came up and gave Jay a friendly hug. She was very fashionable, as usual. Now Henry, Ava's father, was more brief with his greeting. He wasn't much of a hugger but the man did prefer a solid handshake. Henry firmly shook Jay's hand.
"Jayden."
"Henry."
Henry was intimidating to Jay. He is protective of his daughters, especially with Ava. Ever since Jay started dating Ava, her father kept a close watch. Deep inside, Jay couldn't wait until Grace started dating someone. That way Henry's attention would be focused away from him. Ava walks into the room with Grace, giggling about something.
"Hi, Jay." Grace says to him. "Ava was telling me about your honeymoon. Were you really sea sick the whole trip? Oh, you poor thing!"
In general, Jay never gets sea sick. He was three months pregnant at the time and experiencing morning sickness the whole cruise. Ava had mistaken it for motion sickness.
"Um, yeah." Jay blushes.
"Glad your better." Grace says.
"Thanks."
The evening included barbeque, dessert, and board games. Then around eight-thirty, everyone sat together and chit-chatted. Mostly about babies, baby clothes, baby names, etc. The talked fueled Ava's desire to have kids. Jay caught a glimpse of a twinkle in her eyes. 

Sometime later, Izzy, Ava, Grace and Diana went into the kitchen to clean up. Evan sat on the couch with Caelan and Jay. Henry went to use the restroom. Jay played "got-your-nose" with Caelan. It eventually led to tickling her on her tummy. She laughs hysterically. Jay lets up for a second, giving Caelan the uppherhand. She tickled Jay's belly with her small hands. The baby didn't like it very much. It twitched every time Caelan pressed her hands against Jay's belly. He placed Caelan on his lap to give the baby a break.
"Do you think you and Ava will have a baby?" Evan asks Jay. "You're very good with kids. Caelan likes you a lot."
"Well, Ava really wants a baby. I do too, I just..."
Evan folds his hands together onto his belly and studied his friend's attitude. He didn't sound completely enthusiastic.
"What's up?" Evan asks quietly.

In the kitchen, there was a similar conversation. Grace was helping Izzy wash the dishes while her mother and Ava cleaned up the dining room.
"Thank you so much for the evening Isabelle. It was enjoyable." Diana compliments Izzy.
"You're welcome, Diana."
"Izzy, are you and Evan going to wait to find out the sex of the baby?" Grace asks.
"Actually, we're going to find out next week. I would like to know what color to paint the baby's room." Izzy laughs. "Evan and I want a girl. Girls are so much more fun to shop for."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Yes, that is true." Diana says, being that she raised Ava and Grace."
"So, Ava are you and Jay planning on having kids?" Izzy asks. 
Ava was sitting at the table quietly with her thoughts. 
"Ava, are you okay?" Grace asks with concern.
"Sweetheart, what is wrong?" Diana sits with her daughter.
Ava then says: "I think Jay is losing interest in me."
"What? Why do you think that?" Izzy asks with perplexity.
"Well, we haven't been "intimate" since our honeymoon. It seems he's been pulling away lately. I'm beginning to think he doesn't want kids. And I'd hate to think he might be seeing someone else."
"Ava, that is ridiculous. Jay loves you very much. He hasn't taken his eyes off of you since you two met." Diana says. "You can tell when a man is happy with his marriage. He gets a little chunky."
"Jay's chunky?"
"And he loves kids. He gets along great with Caelan. He's going to be a great father someday." Izzy adds.
"Yeah, that's right. But I still don't know why he is acting strange." Ava shrugs her shoulders.
"I think you should be asking Jay about that." Grace says.

Back in the living room, Jay was carefully coming up with an answer. Time seemed to slow down.
"Well, um..." Jay stutters.
"Are you and Ava having marital problems?" Evan worried.
"No, no! Not at all. We're solid. It's just that... there's something I haven't told Ava about.." 
Jay was interrupted by Caelan, who was gently pressing her hands and face against his belly.
"Caelan, what are you doing?" Evan asks her.
Caelan's voice was muffled against Jay's belly.
"Caelan, speak up."
She points to Jay's belly. "I feel something in there, Daddy. It's moving!"
Evan laughed. "Caelan, Jay is not like Daddy. He can't have babies."
"But I felt it move, Daddy!" His daughter insisted.
"Baby, he can't have..." Evan saw Jay's shocked expression. It was like he got caught with his hand stuck in a cookie jar. Evan examines Jay's belly and realizes that it's not regular fat. He pulls up Jay's shirt and his eyes widen.
"Jay, what is that? Oh, my, God! You're pregnant!" He whispers.
Jay quickly puts down his shirt. "Yeah. Quiet, not so loud."
"Told you." Caelan says to her dad.
"But...but, you can't. You know you can't."
"You're right. I can't get pregnant."
"And yet, there it is." Evan points out.
"I know. Look, I can explain this. But after I do, promise you will not tell Ava. Please. It would break her heart." Jay begs his friend.
Evan narrowed his stare. "Okay. I promise. Start explaining."
Jay takes a deep breath. "Okay. This all started after Ryan died. In his will, he informed me he was pregnant. He wanted me to keep the baby, which I agreed to. Believe me, it was not an easy decision to make. Ultimately, I went through a particular surgery that allowed the baby to be transferred to me. Now, here is where things get very, very complicated. I can't tell Ava about this because she has always wanted to have a baby herself. Evan if this get's out..." He sighs.
"Like you said, "it will break her heart." How far long are you?"
"Five months, but I've only been pregnant for two and a half. Ryan was nearly three months before he died."
"I had no idea that he was pregnant." Evan rubbed the back of his neck. "So, you haven't told Ava, huh?"
Jay shakes his head. "I can't."

Henry comes back from the restroom and shakes Evan's hand. "Thanks, Evan. Great evening, but its about time my wife and I headed home."
"Okay, Henry. Thanks for coming. I think Diana is in the kitchen."
"I'll go get her." Henry marches towards there.
"We'll talk about this tomorrow. Come by around noon." Evan says to Jay. He picks up 
Caelan and holds her on his hip, taking her to her room. "Okay, Caelan. Time for bed."
"But, Daddy!"
"Nope. Come on, let's go put on your princess pajamas."

Jay and Ava drove home around nine-forty. Ava was quiet, thinking about how and when to ask Jay about his strange behavior. And Jay felt some relief that Evan knew his secret. It felt good to get it off his chest. But he knew that telling Evan was not enough.  

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