Celeste took a quick shower and then went downstairs to go and get everything ready for this evening. She felt quite anxious but realized that stressing was not going to do her any good. She took out some steaks to defrost and made a salad. She phoned Frank and asked him to bring home some wine. She set the table and made sure that everything was ready for when Cynthia and Peter arrived.
She had an hour to spare and decided to take a power nap so that she could be fresh and ready when everyone arrived. Frank came home half an hour later and woke her. She was glad to see him. They chatted for a short while and then the doorbell rang.
"I missed you so much!" Cynthia said and then saw the ring on Celeste's hand.
"Oh my goodness Celeste! Is that what I think it is??? Why didn't you tell me anything...congratulations!" she hugged Celeste and then went to congratulate Frank.
"When did you guys decide this?"
Frank smiled.
"I've been wanting to propose for a while now, and I wanted to wait until Celeste's birthday but something came up and it seemed like the right time and place."
"We are so happy for you! Oh Celeste I can't wait to start helping you with all the arrangements! When do you plan to get married? Will it be June wedding? That is the perfect time for a wedding and I know the perfect venue!"
Cynthia babbled on as if she hasn't spoken to anyone in years and Celeste tried to figure out the date in her head.
"If they had June wedding the babies would just be born and she did not know how she would cope with the babies and the wedding arrangements all at the same time."
She started to feel anxious again and when Frank saw that, he told her to sit down.
"Come on everyone let us go and sit at the table. We have a formal announcement to make."
"This sounds serious!" Peter said and steered Cynthia towards the table.
"If this one would just keep quiet for a minute then the rest of us could also have a turn to speak." Peter said.
Cynthia gave Peter an annoyed look, but sat down. Everybody settled in and Frank poured them all a glass of wine but skipped Celeste.
"Did you stop drinking now that you're getting married Celeste?" Peter asked sarcastically. Celeste blushed but before she could answer Frank jumped the gun.
"We have something to tell you guys..." Frank said.
"We know that you are depending on us to act as a surrogate for you, but that would not be possible. Celeste and I are getting married, but there is something else.....Celeste is pregnant."
Celeste felt as if her whole world was being pulled from under her. She was losing her best friend and she wasn't ready for this. She looked up and saw that Cynthia was smiling at her. She gave a faint smile back and then said.
"I'm so sorry Cynthia. I knew how much you wanted a baby of your own...."
Cynthia and Peter looked at each other and Celeste did not know if they were angry or not, but then Peter said.
"And that that is exactly what we shall have! It was actually meant to be a surprise...that is why we were so eager to come for dinner. Cynthia went to the doctor yesterday, and found out she was pregnant."
"Oh my goodness! Why didn't you tell me Cynthia? How wonderful! This is the best night ever!"
Celeste felt so relieved that she burst out in tears.
"You have been so ill, and I tried to tell you when I phoned you....but I thought it would be better to tell you in person." Cynthia said through her own tears.
Peter and Frank looked at each other. "More wine?"
Both of them started laughing at the spectacle playing off in front of them.
"I'm not sure if we are going to survive the three babies between the four us" Frank said and kept on laughing.
"Three babies?" Peter asked.
"Oh yes, we forgot to tell you that Celeste is expecting twins!"
The whole night turned out to be so much fun. The women were best friends again, and Peter and Frank both knew that it was a lost case to try and talk about anything except babies and weddings and for once the women didn't even care to include them in the conversation.
Everyone knew that they would be friends forever and that they would have many more dinners to come.
THE END
