JARED AND THE boys are all at his childhood home, while the girls and I are staying at Zoe’s, being pampered. Her mom is super nice and is doing her best to make sure I have everything I could ever need! Zoe is definitely her mum’s daughter. Her mum is stunning too and looks half her age. We have champagne and nibbles, and they’ve booked a team of beauticians to come in and pamper us for the evening, as well as get us ready in the morning for the big day. I take a small glass of champagne because I want to participate, even if I won’t drink much because of the babies. Everyone said they didn’t want to be hungover the next day so wanted to take it easy, but as they get to the end of the champagne, Mrs Kessler pops the cork on another bottle. I look at Maiya who just smirks and shrugs her shoulders, then hands her glass over to Zoe. Willow and Imogen are currently having their faces splurged with green gunk as they lay back on a massage table. There are four tables all laid out in a huge space that I assume is usually a formal dining room. It looks like the room would easily hold a huge table.
‘Miss, if you would like to get comfortable and release your robe before sitting down. I will slip it off once you are in place.’
I nod my thanks and do as she asks. ‘What is it you are doing please?’ But it’s Zoe who answers.
‘Girl, believe me when I tell you that you will sleep so goddamn well tonight. This girl has magic hands, and you are getting the works!’
‘The works?’
‘Yes, you’re having a full massage with a facial and an Indian head massage, then a mani-pedi.’
‘What’s a mani-pedi?’
‘Jesus, woman. It’s a manicure for your hands and feet. Did you live under a rock before you came here?’ she asks laughing.
‘I just never did anything like this before.’
‘Well, believe me, if I could take this woman back home with us, I would. I used to have a pamper session every week with mum before we moved to university.’ She sighs. ‘I miss it so much.’ She pouts like a spoilt kid, and we all laugh at her. As I am pregnant, I don’t lie down on the table. Instead, she adjusts it, so it looks almost like a reclining chair. Putting my face into the hole at the top I relax without the weight on my stomach, everyone goes quiet, and I hear ambient music fill the room. Then warm, oiled hands work their way from my shoulders down my spine. And oh my god, Zoe is right, this feels amazing. I almost moan but catch it as her hands knead my shoulders. I can literally hear a pin drop in the room, it’s so quiet—only the low sound of the music. I must nod off because I startle a little when she asks me to turn around. Thinking I’m done, I move to get up.
‘No, no, just turn around. I will put this under your head for support,’ she explains popping a pillow under my head and a warm towel to cover my boobs. And then she goes to work on my legs. Oh my, it’s something else. My legs are then covered with a warm sheet, and I’m ready to go right off to sleep again. But then she starts on my shoulders and arms and works all the way to my fingertips. What magic is this? This is so good! I’m left for a moment when she’s finished with both hands and arms, and then another warm sheet covers me up to my shoulders. The table is adjusted slightly, and I sit up a little further.
‘Please can you drink this for me?’ she asks. Opening my eyes, I see a whole pint of water. I suddenly realise how thirsty I am and reach for the glass, almost losing the warm sheet. We giggle. And then I drink while looking around the room. Imogen and Willow are now free of gunk and having some kind of cream rubbed into their faces, and Zoe and Maiya are on a table of their own having massages too. No wonder it’s been so quiet. I finish my water, and she pours more with ice from a jug in the corner. Bringing it back, she places it beside me and then asks me to turn and straddle the seat. I realise she has changed the top while I was watching everyone else, and now there is nothing to rest my head on. ‘Please, rest your arms here, then you can rest your chin on them if that is more comfortable for you.’ She pats what is now the top. I do as she says, and then her magic fingers are in my hair. It’s like having your hair washed at a salon, but so much better. The night is ended with a facial and my nails being painted in the perfect colour matching my colour scheme for tomorrow. I’m giddy with excitement but so damn relaxed that I think I could sleep standing.
‘I think I’m going to go up to bed, girls. I’m sorry to be a party pooper.’
‘Damn, girl, you get married tomorrow!’ Maiya squeals. Biting my lip, I smile. ‘Gimme a hug and get your ass to bed,’ he says. After I’ve said all my goodnights, I make my way to the room I’ve been given for the night. Completely relaxed, I don’t even take off my clothes. I just crawl into bed. I check my phone, and I find a message:
Jared- I might come climb through your window later.
I giggle because he really didn’t want us to be separate tonight and doesn’t deal well with being apart.
Me- Baby you can climb through my window anytime!
Jared- on my way.
Me- haha no you’re not.
Jared- I’m outside.
I leap up from my bed, suddenly feeling full of energy. Opening the window, I pop my head out. And sure enough, there he is. My man. With a huge grin on his face.
‘Can I come in?’
‘How are you going to climb up here?’ I whisper-shout back. But he grasps the downpipe and makes his way up. In a matter of seconds, he’s through and lifting me off my feet. His lips find mine and our tongues dance that familiar dance. It still surprises me that he chose me. That I am going to spend the rest of my life with this man—and have his babies in a few short months. All of this runs through my mind as his lips and tongue wander, finding my collarbone.
‘Wait, do you think we should wait so tomorrow is more special?’
He looks almost hurt, and I want to laugh, but I maintain my straight face.
‘Really? Is that what you want?’ he asks, and I can hear the disappointment. But I know if I tell him now that we have to wait, he will do it. Because that’s the kind of guy he is. And I love him so damn hard for it. I laugh and watch the relief flood his face.
‘Come here.’ He pulls me to him and onto the bed. I straddle him, and before I know it, I’m naked, and he’s inside me, leaving me feeling gloriously full.
Hours pass as I lay in his arms with that half asleep, post-sex feeling. I feel him shift beneath me, and I lift my head. He kisses my head.
‘Gotta go, baby. Its bad luck for me to see you before the wedding.’
‘Lie back down. I don’t believe in all that crap.’
‘Me either, but I’m not risking it. I’ll see you at the altar, baby. I’ll be the one with a huge ass smile on my face.’
I bite my bottom lip and giggle. ‘We’re really getting married tomorrow.’
His smile turns into a grin. ‘We sure are, baby, don’t be late,’ he tells me kissing my lips.
‘Isn’t it tradition for the bride to be late?’
‘Grrr, well don’t keep me waiting too long then.’ I smile and get up onto my knees, the comforter sliding down my body revealing my growing belly and my swollen boobs. ‘Babe you’re killing me here, how am I supposed to leave you looking all sexy and hot?’
‘Easy, just remember, I’ll be the one in the white dress, racing down the aisle to you.’
He laughs so loudly that I’m sure the others will have heard him. And then he climbs out of the window just as deftly as he climbed in. ‘Be careful!’ I hiss as I watch him go. He chuckles. As he jumps the short remaining distance, he turns and dramatically blows me a kiss, which I catch.