-The Phone

(Caroline's POV)

Man, planning is harder than I thought. And not having friends is hard than I thought as well. Don't get me started on the having a child part too. Stephan and I, well mostly me, have been planning this wedding for weeks now. The reason I say mostly me is because Stephan keeps having these 'meetings' a lot lately. I want us to have a collective decision on this wedding, but it's hard when the collective part is missing!

I've resorted to asking Lily's opinion. Granted she only picks things that are bright and glittery but she's been helpful... by not crying all the time. But we are currently seating with a woman Stephan's parents recommended to us to help plan our wedding.

Stephan was here too. Shocker, I know right. Stephan's phone kept going off as well and he kept having to step away from the meeting to take calls. So when his phone rang for the hundredth time I was fed up. Before he got the chance to pick it up, I grabbed it and turned it completely off.

"What was that for?" He asked.

"They can leave a voicemail if they need you so bad. But this is important." I said and put the phone in my purse.

"What about this one? It's beautiful for holding a big wedding like yours." Cheryl Lynn, the person recommended to us, asked.

"That's pretty, I like it." I said.

"It's nice. We'll take it." Stephan said.

"This is your final decision, right?" She asked.

"Yes, I'm happy with the venues." I said.

"Ok, and what date do you want it for?" She asked, notepad and pen in hand.

"We were thinking June 2nd." Stephan said.

"June 2nd works." She said writing it down. "Do you want it in the morning?" She asked.

"We want the wedding to start at 10 a.m." I answered.

"Ok, and the reception?" She asked.

"At 5 p.m." Stephan said.

"How long do you want the wedding to be?" She asked.

"Until 12. And for the reception until 12 as well." I said.

"You can read my mind." She said joking around a little. "Well, that's it. Everything is good, the cake will be delivered to the venue and everything will be set up for you. All you need to do is invite who you want and get your dress and suit." She said.

"Thank you again for this." I said getting up and fixing my purse on my shoulder.

"It's my pleasure. Have a good day." She said, waving as we left her office.

"Can I have my phone now?" Stephan asked as we walked down the hallway.

"Like I said, they can leave a voicemail." I said putting on my sunglasses as we walked outside into the sun. "It's a family day out. It kinda takes the family part out if your always gone. At that point it's a mother, daughter day out." I say walking over to an ice cream parlor.

"I'm sorry. But it is really important." He continued to beg.

"Not as important as your family. They can wait." I say standing on line.

"Please." He said.

"No, get through this family day out, and you can go back into hiding when I give you your phone back." I said.

"Fine." He huffed.

"Hold Lil, I need to use the bathroom." I said handing Lily over to Stephan.

"What do I order?" He asked.

"Just get Lily a little cup of vanilla ice cream with a tad of whip cream and a cookie dough for me." I said and made my way to the bathroom.

I found the bathroom, used it, and set my bag on the counter next to the sink while I washed my hands. I opened my purse after I dried my hands and put some lotion on my hands since they were feeling dry. After I put that back I noticed Stephan's phone. Is it still considered snooping if it's your almost-husbands phone? Oh well.

I turned it on and wanted a moment for it to boot up. Once it did the first thing I say was ten, count them, ten missed calls from someone named Heather. And to top it all off there were one hundred messages as well. Luckily he doesn't password on his phone. I opened his phone and went to the contact 'Heather' and into messages.

08/12/16

H: Hey its me. Save me under Heather.
S: Got it.
H: So when can we met up?
S: Next week.
H: Just make sure Caroline doesn't know.
S: Of course.

10/21/16

H: U have to tell her.
S: I can't don't that.
H: Its been two months now.
S: I know. But I can't...
H: U have to tell her.
S: But I'm perfectly fine not telling her.
H: She's going to notice changes.
S: I just can't...

11/01/16

H: I hope u know u have a child.
S: I know.
H: At the rate your going at ur not going to be there for it.
S: I know what I'm doing.
H: No u don't.
S: Yes I do.
H: I know for a fact your going to be long gone and I'm going to have to take care of it. TELL HER!
S: I'll be there.
H: U need to tell her first.

11/05/16

H: Did u talk to her?
S: No.
H: Don't talk to me until u do.
S: But.....
H: No, this isn't right.

05/26/17

S: Hello?
H: Ahh! He speaks!
S: Sorry I haven't said much in awhile.
H: U get a child and can't talk to the person who helped you through your personal 'crisis'.
S: I know. I'm a bad person.
H: U got that right.
H: U can't just think I can clean up your mess and then leave me with it.
S: I know.
H: Then y did u leave me with it?
S: I don't know.

05/25/17

H: Ok we can meet up on the 28th to talk.
S: that's three days from now right?
H: Right.
S: I'm so glad I'm getting this sorted out.
H: Just make sure Caroline doesn't know where your going.
S: Got it. See you then.

Today

H: Don't forget our meeting is today.
S: I know.
H: WHERE R U?
H: HELLO!
H: So u just stopped taking calls now!
H: STEPHAN!!!
H: ANSWER ME YOU IDIOT!
H: U BETTER HAVE A GOOD EXCUSE FOR THIS!
H: THATS IT!
H: IM DONE!
H: THIS IS DONE!
H: YOU CAN FIX IT YOUR SELF.
H: I'll leave everything you need to take care of it on your doorstep.

After awhile I just stop reading and put his phone back. It better not be what I think it is. I walk back out to see Stephan siting at a table with Lily in a booster seat. I walk over and put on a smile as I arrive at the table.

"She returns." Stephan said a bit to loud.

"Don't worry I'm back." I said and looked straight at Lily to see she had ice cream everywhere. "Oh you poor thing. Your a mess. Let's get you cleaned up." I said and took some wet wipes out of my bag and began to clean her face.

"I got your ice cream as well. I'm almost done with mine and then we can go." He said.

"Sure." I said and finished cleaning Lily up. "We can leave now." I said picking Lily up.

"Your not going to eat your ice cream?" He asked.

"No. We can head home now. I can eat it later." I said and began to leave.

"Is everything ok?" He asked, trying to keep up with my fast pace.

"Everything's perfectly fine." I said, still continuing to walk.

"No it's not, your lying." He said grabbing my shoulder and spinning me to face him. "What's wrong?" He asked holding both of my shoulders.

"Nothing is wrong. We can go home now." I said and went to turn around but was stopped.

"That's what I mean. Just minutes ago you were taking my phone away because you wanted a family day out and now you want to go home. So I'm going to ask this on more time. What's wrong?" He said.

"Nothing." Is all I said, and turned around and continued walking.

Once we made it back to the limo everything was completely silent between us. Only thing that was heard in the car was Lily's blabber and me having my little conversations with her, which made us both smile. This was all I needed if it came down to it. All I needed was my little Lil by my side. She was happiness in itself. She was my world right now.

Once we arrived home I went straight to Lily's room to put her down to sleep since she was very tired. After I managed to get her to sleep I went back to my room to change into some comfy clothes. I walked in and went to my drawers to get a night gown. Even though it was only six in the afternoon I was feeling tired. Right when I was about to change Stephan walked out of the bathroom in our room in a suit.

"Don't worry, I was just leaving." I said and turned around to walk out but was stopped.

"I'm not going to play this game Caroline. We have a child next door and a wedding in a few days." He said seriously.

"I'm not playing games Stephan. I actually care about Lily." I said, folding my arms.

"Who said I didn't care about her? I always did!" He said raising his voice.

"THEN WHO IS HEATHER?!" I yell.

"What?" He asked.

"Who is Heather?" I ask trying to be calm. "And don't lie about it. I read the text messages." I said.

"Caroline it's not what you think." He said calmly inching towards me, but with every step forward I matched one stepping away.

"It's never what I think it is! What is it that you have to tell me this time again?! Last time it was that you wanted to marry me and that I was going to have Lily! What is it? Tell me so I don't call this wedding off!" I said, tears now streaming down my face.

"I can't." He said.

"It's always the same excuse. Last time I thought I was eating as way to cope with my parang being gone, but turns out I was actually eating for two. You wanted to marry me, if you had said that earlier maybe I won't be revivals with Gabriel right now. So just spit it out already because I'm beginning to become fed up with it!" I say, raising my voice and I end up bursting into tears.

"Caroline, shh, it's ok." Stephan says, hugging me as I just cry on his perfectly ironed suit. "Caroline you can't worry yourself like this." He says gently.

"I just can't lose anyone else in my life." I sob.

"Your not going to. You have my parents, who love you to pieces by the way, my little brother, me, Lily, and any future children added to the family." He says, resting his chin on my head.

"Then can you tell me what is going on?" I ask.

"Caroline, I can't tell you, yet. It's nothing bad I promise." He said calmly.

"Than who's Heather?" I ask.

"A trusted friend. You have to trust me on this one, ok?" He said.

"I trust you." I mumbled into his chest.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too." I continue to mumble.

"I have to go, bye sweetheart."