Nine POV
"You ready?" Ricky asks me as we stand in the airport Saturday morning, preparing to board our flight to Salt Lake. I give him a weak smile and take his hand. "My moms might flip" I say unconfidently. "They won't babe. You're 26 and we're ready for this." I nod and squeeze his hand. I was probably overthinking it completely, but preparing to tell my parents anything big is frightening. "We've got this." he says with a bright smile and swinging our hands. I nervously laugh and lean into him. "Of course we do. But didn't you hear them on the phone? They were already concerned." He laughs and brings his arm around my shoulder. "Nins, their only daughter is coming home for a spontaneous weekend with her husband and asking to 'get together' with her husband's family. Of course they'll be a little shocked." I sigh and laugh to myself. He makes a good point. "You just have to chill babe. Dissecting the conversation is not what you need right now." I stand up on my tippy toes and kiss his cheek. "Yeah, I know you're right." He smirks and pulls on his jacket. "Of course I am." I playfully glare at him. "Don't let it go to your head." He laughs and picks up my bag for me, as we start to board. "No, I can carry that Ricky!" I say to him with a smile on my face. "Nah, just carry our baby on board." I push him lightly and roll my eyed as we board the plane together.
When we land in Salt Lake, an overwhelming amount of emotion overtakes me. Everything already feels so familiar and my pregnancy hormones are triggered by the memories of this place. We drive in the direction of our home, each mile bringing more emotion into my body. As we get closer to our old neighborhood I am completely crying and Ricky looks over. His right hand rests on my thigh and I see a soft smile on his face. He doesn't say anything but his hand just rubs my thigh soothingly as I look around at my former home. "It's okay" I hear him whisper and I bring my hand over his. "You know if we're lucky and you keep crying, we won't actually have to tell our family, everyone will already know." I laugh through my tears and wipe my them away. "Uh huh don't worry they are stopping" I say with more laughter present in my voice and he gives me a charming smile and turns his focus back to the road. We turn into my neighborhood and my heart starts to beat quickly. "Game plan?" I ask Ricky in hopes that he knows how to tell everyone. "We wing it" he says laughing and I groan. "Oh good that's what I was going for." I say and he squeezes my thigh. "Remember what I said at the airport? We got this. My parents won't be surprised, and your moms will be so excited baby I promise." I breathe out and nod. "Okay let's do this then. We'll call the theater group tonight?" He nods. "Definitely." We pull into my driveway and I see two cars, showing me that Ricky's mom and dad have already arrived. We get out of the car and Ricky takes my hand. "Breathe" he says quietly and he kisses my lips sweetly. This was the first time that I came home with Ricky as his wife and I take a look around the front, remembering the times we grew up playing in this lawn and kissing on that front porch. "Oh god" I say as I start myself up again, tears trying to escape from my eyes. "No no you were doing so good." Ricky says cracking up and he leans in and kisses my tears softly. "Give me a second" I say as I take deep breaths, allowing my tears to stop. "Take your time" he says but we're cut off by yelling. "Ricky! Nini! You guys are here!!" We hear and we whip around to see my moms and Ricky's parents coming outside. "Or not" Ricky says laughing and he walks over to hug his parents, moving to give my moms big hugs as well. My moms come over and squeeze the life out of me. "Moms it's only been a month or so!" I say laughing and Momma C rolls her eyes. "Too long. Baby have you been crying?" She says looking closely at my face. I see Ricky watching for my answer and I nod. "It's just a lot being back here" I smile. "All grown up" Momma D nods knowingly and I move to give Mr. Bowen and Lynne a hug. "It's so good to see you guys" I say and they beam at me. "Yeah mom, I'm so glad you could make it" Ricky says and she smiles at her son. "I know! I just happened to be here for work when you called!" Ricky walks over to me and brings his arm around my waist. "Well good because we have some news." Ricky says. I look at him completely shocked. "Now?" I whisper to him and he smiles down at me and nods. I swallow hard and his hand moves on my back calmingly. "Ooh what is it? Something to do with the music center?" Momma C asks and I smile at her and lean into Ricky. "Uh no. Actually it's a little bigger than that." The parents exchange nervous looks and Rick squeezes my waist in an encouraging way. "Okay, so here goes nothing. Ricky and I... well, I'm pregnant." I say nervously. The group collectively gasps and I see both of my moms ready to start crying. "Are you serious?" Mr. Bowen asks. "No." I say really quickly, suddenly intimidated by the four adults in front of me. "No I mean-" Ricky rubs my back. "We're serious, she's pregnant" he says softly and he leans down to kiss my cheek. I look up at him gratefully and I watch everything happen in slow motion. Momma C drops her phone and throws her arms around Momma D and Lynne breaks down, hugging Mr. Bowen and running over almost knocking Ricky down in a hug. My moms engulf me in a huge hug and Mr. Bowen is completely crying, hugging Ricky and Lynne in a sort of group hug. We must look ridiculous, six grown people flipping out in the middle of the driveway but none of us cared. "We're going to have a grandchild" my moms squeal and Mr. Bowen comes over and brings his arms around me in a hug. "Congratulations kiddo" he says and I smile through my tears. "How far along are you?" Momma D suddenly asks as if she's forgotten the most important question. "Oh 7 weeks." I say and I move back to Ricky, his arm comes around me. "I had an appointment Wednesday." I say smiling and the adults flip out again, finding someone to hug and I look up at Ricky. He smiles down at me and I lean up to kiss him. "Thank you" I whisper against his mouth.
