Age Is Only A Number!, chapter 17
The next day Katie mulled over what to say to Cole. After work she called Cole and told him to come round. It was 5.30 and Katie was pacing round the kitchen when Cole buzzed in. Katie buzzed him in and he came upstairs. Katie slowly opened the door and hugged Cole when he came in. Cole cupped her chin in his hand and saw her sad face and asked "Why a face so sad?"
"I'm not sad, I am stressed" Katie quietly told Cole. Cole took his hand away from Katie's chin and stroked her hair and said, "So what do you want to tell me?"
"Don't freak out when I tell you" Katie told Cole.
"Sure thing" Cole replied
"Okay" Katie said, she took a deep breath and said, "I'm pregnant." Cole's face froze into position, thoughts were racing through his mind but no words seemed to come out. Katie hugged him, he took a deep breath and said, "Well I am one lucky man" and kissed Katie on the forehead.
***
The day finally came.
Abi and Dave's wedding.
It was morning of May 2001 and Abi and Katie was in hysterics, Abi was in the room getting ready while Katie was rushing around trying to find things while in her dress not ready. Aaron was ready in 10 minutes... and that was 5 more minutes than usual. Aaron was waiting on the seat outside. An hour or two later Abi and Katie came out of Abi's room and they were both stunning, Abi had a traditional wedding dress with a veil that made it oh so elegant. Katie was in a peach dress that went to her knees. Aaron hugged both of them and said "So we were right in that Abi would marry first."
"But we also said I'd be the first pregnant and here's Katie with child" Abi commented.
"Ye, oh that reminds me Annie still has him" Katie said rushing off to find her little sister. She got to Annie and took her child, Joshua Simon Burke. He had his fathers face yet his mother's dazzling hazel eyes. She carried him round and saw Cole; she went up to him and said "Hey gorgeous."
"Hey yourself" Cole said kissing her on the lips.
"You know he looks more and more like you every day" Katie said rocking Josh in her arm, his head on her shoulder. When she was pregnant she just knew it was Cole's it was a gut feeling... literally in some cases.
They mingled around and got to their places in the garden; Katie gave Josh back to Cole and got to her place. She was maid of honor along with the bridesmaid Abi's sister Talia who was 16 and Dave's sister Izzy who was 20. On the other side was Aaron as one of the best men with Dave's best friends Chris and Anthony. Aaron and Katie went down the aisle with the other bridesmaid and best men. They smiled to the guests and Katie said to Aaron through teeth "Everyone is so smiley."
Aaron also said through teeth "Look this is for Abigail just grin and bear it." They got to the end of the aisle and separated to the right sides. Dave was in his place and all it needed was Abigail to come out. When she did the music started playing and she went down with her father. She was so beautiful and this was her day to shine. She got to her place and faced Dave; neither of them could stop smiling. They held hands and faced the priest and he said his words. It was now Abigail's and Dave's turn to share their vows.
Dave started.
"Abigail, we met a couple of years back and since then everything has changed. We just get each other in a way only we know. Although I have only known you're a couple of years I feel like I have known you forever. I may sound cheesy but one of the many things I know about you is that you love cringy and cheesy things. I love you so much it sometimes doesn't seem real."
Then Abigail said hers.
"David. You are the nicest sweetest guy I have met. You always seem to make me laugh; you always know what to say to me. Our conversations never go quiet when we're together. There is never a moment when I am bored with you or annoyed. Sure we may have our little petty fights but we get through them in minutes. You have taught me a lot about others and myself around me. Over the past year we have got so much closer and noticed how much we have in common. I love you."
She carried on, "I Abigail Sara Glass take thee David Michael Taylor to be my lawful wedded husband, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer until the day death do us part."
Dave then said his vows, "I David Michael Taylor take thee Abigail Sara Glass to be my lawful wedded wife, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer until the day death do us part."
Then the priest said, "You may kiss the bride." Abigail and Dave kissed each other and there wasn't a dry eye there. The reception was afterwards and Katie congratulated Abi along with Aaron. She was glowing and couldn't stop smiling. They then congratulated Dave who couldn't believe he was now a 'Married shmo.' Aaron and Katie mingled around and recognized the many cousins Abigail has and met a lot of Dave's family. Aaron met up with Hannah and they went off together and Katie walked around with her glass of champagne. She saw Cole and Josh and went up to them. She took Josh from Cole, she couldn't believe that she had a child, and he was as beautiful as the day he was born. June 27th 2000. "You look gorgeous" Cole whispered in her ear."
"You yourself look pretty spiffy" Katie replied kissing Cole on the lips. Cole saw some of Dave's friends who were beckoning him over and told Katie "Parting is such sweet sorrow... but Dave's friends won't leave me alone"
"Sure, just keep sober okay honey," Katie told him;
Cole nodded and kissed her on the cheek and ran off to Dave's hooligan friends. Katie walked around with Josh and saw Billie Joe with Adrienne. She went up to them and said "Hey Billie, long time no see."
Billie Joe turned around and saw Katie with Josh in her arms. Adrienne turned around afterwards and saw the little boy in Katie's arm. Billie Joe then said "Ye, cute baby, is it Abi's cousin or something?"
"No it's mine, his name's Josh, say hi Josh," Katie said, the little boy turned his head and smiled and said, "Ba-Boo."
Adrienne couldn't help but smile; the boy had Katie's eyes and smile.
"Who's the father then?" Adrienne asked while cooing Josh.
"The father's Cole, my boyfriend," Katie said, "He's over there getting drunk, even though I told him not to," she said pointing to Cole chugging down wine with Dave's friends.
Adrienne whispered something into Billie Joe's ears and went off; Billie Joe nodded and faced Katie.
"So, how old is Josh?" Billie Joe asked.
"He's one this June," Katie told Billie Joe.
He saw the passion in Katie's eyes when she looked into Josh's eyes. It was the same passion she has as a photographer, the same passion she had when she found out she had a scholarship to Berkeley and it was the same passion she had for her family and friends.
***
They all sat down for the meal and the speeches came up. Dave's friend Chris went up to the microphone with a glass of champagne. He tapped it to make sure it was working and started his speech.
"I've known Dave since high school, he is the greatest guy ever. He bails me out the whole time. He always has, even when it meant having his head on the line. We've known each other since we were 5 at pre-school. Dave remember when you're married not to forget about your boys back here"
Katie got up to the microphone after Chris and spoke into it.
"Well I've known Abigail since I can remember, when we were little girls we'd play with Barbie's and when we were older we destroyed them. She has helped me through thick and thin and is too nice to be true, sometimes I wonder if we're twins and I'm the evil one and she is the good. Dave all I can say is that you are one lucky guy."
***
She got applauded and sat back down. The rest of the meal commenced and then came the dancing. The first dance was between Dave and Abi; they danced to the classic 'Take my breath away'.
As more couples went on the dance floor, Katie took Coles hand and led him to the dance floor. Josh was with Katie's mum gurgling his way through the song. Halfway through the song Katie picked Josh up and danced with him in her arms. The dancing started and Cole, Katie and Josh danced together. Billie Joe looked from afar and saw what a happy family they were. Seeing Katie's eyes light up at the sight of her son was enough to make Billie Joe want to cry. Cole went to get a drink and Katie carried Josh to their seat.
Billie Joe went up to them and said to Katie, "He's adorable, he has your eyes you know."
Katie looked up and smiled at Billie Joe and said, "Thanks, I still can't believe he's nearly one, it felt like only yesterday that I was in the hospital holding him as a newborn."
"Tre and Mike send their love," Billie Joe randomly said, "They really wanted to come."
Katie smiled and asked, "How are they doing?"
"They're doing well; Tre remarried and had a son Frankito this year. Mike as you know divorced but is doing well. How are you holding up?"
"Good. Abi and Dave have moved into his apartment and me and Cole together in my place with Aaron and Hannah. I'm now a full photographer and my own boss, well in theory at least," Katie explained. As she finished a boy came running to Billie Joe, he had black hair and looked no older than 6. He hugged Billie Joe and said "Hey Daddy."
It was none other than Joey Armstrong.
Katie couldn't believe how cute he was; it was just a few years ago that he was that cute little 3 year old that never slept.
She then said, "Hey Joey, remember me Katie?"
"No, but I recognize your name. Daddy told me about you and how you live in New York," Joey told Katie.
"You know, you have met me. I looked after you when you were 2, 3 maybe and you blurted out to Uncle Tre that I had a little crush on him." Katie explained to Joey while swinging his arm around.
"Nope, still don't remember but I do kind of remember when you stayed at our house, you made me feel better when Jakob was born," Joey reminisced and then asked, "Is this baby yours?"
"Yes why do you ask"?
"He smiles like you," Joey answered smiling; he hugged his dad and went off to his mum.
Katie was amazed at how charming he was, just like his dad. Katie smiled and remarked to Billie Joe, "He's so much like you, you know."
She rocked Josh in her arms as Billie Joe said, "Josh is also a lot like his father, whom I never met and why is that?"
"Because I didn't want to rush things by telling people," Katie sighed.
Billie Joe widened his eyes and said, "Rush things? You had a baby with the guy."
"I know I should've told you but I didn't know how," Katie told him, as she said that Josh started to stink and she knew he done a big one.
She excused herself to the toilet, she went in and changed Josh. It was a stinky job but someone had to do it.
***
She heard a flush of the toilet and dreaded the thought that her mum would come out; ever since Josh was born Katie and her mother haven't been on the best of terms. The door slowly opened and Katie saw Adrienne come out, she took a deep breath and calmed down.
Adrienne saw Katie's face and asked, "Are you ok, you look like you just saw a ghost of something?"
"No, I thought you were my mum, we aren't on good terms" Katie told Adrienne, Adrienne felt sympathy for the younger woman and put an arm around her. Katie picked Josh up and rocked him in her arms; she could hear Josh lightly snoring on her shoulder. Katie kissed Josh on his head, his light brown locks tickling her nose; she couldn't believe he was hers. She couldn't imagine life without him. Adrienne got a disposable camera out of her bag and asked, "May I take a picture of you two."
"Sure." Katie answered. She smiled and faced Josh to the camera.
Adrienne clicked the camera and smiled. She put the camera away and led her and Katie back to the dance floor.
They went back and Katie danced with Cole, Josh was given to Katie's father to look after. They danced the night away enjoying the starry night that New York laid for them. At the end Katie said farewell to the happy couple and took Josh and got Cole back to their apartment.
***
Billie Joe and his family got back to the East Bay and got back to normal life. Billie Joe was hanging round his house with Mike talking about Abigail's wedding. He showed Mike some of the photos they took. "Looked like a good wedding," Mike remarked while flicking through the photographs.
"Yeah," Billie Joe replied, "It was good to go somewhere where people know me not for being Billie Joe the face of Green Day but Billie Joe the guy I grew up with."
Mike got to the photo of Katie and asked, "Who's the baby in Katie's arms?"
"Oh that's her kid Josh, she had him with Cole I'm surprised they aren't married" Billie Joe answered.
"Yeah," Mike said, he just didn't know what to say.
Why didn't Katie tell him any of this herself?
"I'm not sad, I am stressed" Katie quietly told Cole. Cole took his hand away from Katie's chin and stroked her hair and said, "So what do you want to tell me?"
"Don't freak out when I tell you" Katie told Cole.
"Sure thing" Cole replied
"Okay" Katie said, she took a deep breath and said, "I'm pregnant." Cole's face froze into position, thoughts were racing through his mind but no words seemed to come out. Katie hugged him, he took a deep breath and said, "Well I am one lucky man" and kissed Katie on the forehead.
***
The day finally came.
Abi and Dave's wedding.
It was morning of May 2001 and Abi and Katie was in hysterics, Abi was in the room getting ready while Katie was rushing around trying to find things while in her dress not ready. Aaron was ready in 10 minutes... and that was 5 more minutes than usual. Aaron was waiting on the seat outside. An hour or two later Abi and Katie came out of Abi's room and they were both stunning, Abi had a traditional wedding dress with a veil that made it oh so elegant. Katie was in a peach dress that went to her knees. Aaron hugged both of them and said "So we were right in that Abi would marry first."
"But we also said I'd be the first pregnant and here's Katie with child" Abi commented.
"Ye, oh that reminds me Annie still has him" Katie said rushing off to find her little sister. She got to Annie and took her child, Joshua Simon Burke. He had his fathers face yet his mother's dazzling hazel eyes. She carried him round and saw Cole; she went up to him and said "Hey gorgeous."
"Hey yourself" Cole said kissing her on the lips.
"You know he looks more and more like you every day" Katie said rocking Josh in her arm, his head on her shoulder. When she was pregnant she just knew it was Cole's it was a gut feeling... literally in some cases.
They mingled around and got to their places in the garden; Katie gave Josh back to Cole and got to her place. She was maid of honor along with the bridesmaid Abi's sister Talia who was 16 and Dave's sister Izzy who was 20. On the other side was Aaron as one of the best men with Dave's best friends Chris and Anthony. Aaron and Katie went down the aisle with the other bridesmaid and best men. They smiled to the guests and Katie said to Aaron through teeth "Everyone is so smiley."
Aaron also said through teeth "Look this is for Abigail just grin and bear it." They got to the end of the aisle and separated to the right sides. Dave was in his place and all it needed was Abigail to come out. When she did the music started playing and she went down with her father. She was so beautiful and this was her day to shine. She got to her place and faced Dave; neither of them could stop smiling. They held hands and faced the priest and he said his words. It was now Abigail's and Dave's turn to share their vows.
Dave started.
"Abigail, we met a couple of years back and since then everything has changed. We just get each other in a way only we know. Although I have only known you're a couple of years I feel like I have known you forever. I may sound cheesy but one of the many things I know about you is that you love cringy and cheesy things. I love you so much it sometimes doesn't seem real."
Then Abigail said hers.
"David. You are the nicest sweetest guy I have met. You always seem to make me laugh; you always know what to say to me. Our conversations never go quiet when we're together. There is never a moment when I am bored with you or annoyed. Sure we may have our little petty fights but we get through them in minutes. You have taught me a lot about others and myself around me. Over the past year we have got so much closer and noticed how much we have in common. I love you."
She carried on, "I Abigail Sara Glass take thee David Michael Taylor to be my lawful wedded husband, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer until the day death do us part."
Dave then said his vows, "I David Michael Taylor take thee Abigail Sara Glass to be my lawful wedded wife, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer until the day death do us part."
Then the priest said, "You may kiss the bride." Abigail and Dave kissed each other and there wasn't a dry eye there. The reception was afterwards and Katie congratulated Abi along with Aaron. She was glowing and couldn't stop smiling. They then congratulated Dave who couldn't believe he was now a 'Married shmo.' Aaron and Katie mingled around and recognized the many cousins Abigail has and met a lot of Dave's family. Aaron met up with Hannah and they went off together and Katie walked around with her glass of champagne. She saw Cole and Josh and went up to them. She took Josh from Cole, she couldn't believe that she had a child, and he was as beautiful as the day he was born. June 27th 2000. "You look gorgeous" Cole whispered in her ear."
"You yourself look pretty spiffy" Katie replied kissing Cole on the lips. Cole saw some of Dave's friends who were beckoning him over and told Katie "Parting is such sweet sorrow... but Dave's friends won't leave me alone"
"Sure, just keep sober okay honey," Katie told him;
Cole nodded and kissed her on the cheek and ran off to Dave's hooligan friends. Katie walked around with Josh and saw Billie Joe with Adrienne. She went up to them and said "Hey Billie, long time no see."
Billie Joe turned around and saw Katie with Josh in her arms. Adrienne turned around afterwards and saw the little boy in Katie's arm. Billie Joe then said "Ye, cute baby, is it Abi's cousin or something?"
"No it's mine, his name's Josh, say hi Josh," Katie said, the little boy turned his head and smiled and said, "Ba-Boo."
Adrienne couldn't help but smile; the boy had Katie's eyes and smile.
"Who's the father then?" Adrienne asked while cooing Josh.
"The father's Cole, my boyfriend," Katie said, "He's over there getting drunk, even though I told him not to," she said pointing to Cole chugging down wine with Dave's friends.
Adrienne whispered something into Billie Joe's ears and went off; Billie Joe nodded and faced Katie.
"So, how old is Josh?" Billie Joe asked.
"He's one this June," Katie told Billie Joe.
He saw the passion in Katie's eyes when she looked into Josh's eyes. It was the same passion she has as a photographer, the same passion she had when she found out she had a scholarship to Berkeley and it was the same passion she had for her family and friends.
***
They all sat down for the meal and the speeches came up. Dave's friend Chris went up to the microphone with a glass of champagne. He tapped it to make sure it was working and started his speech.
"I've known Dave since high school, he is the greatest guy ever. He bails me out the whole time. He always has, even when it meant having his head on the line. We've known each other since we were 5 at pre-school. Dave remember when you're married not to forget about your boys back here"
Katie got up to the microphone after Chris and spoke into it.
"Well I've known Abigail since I can remember, when we were little girls we'd play with Barbie's and when we were older we destroyed them. She has helped me through thick and thin and is too nice to be true, sometimes I wonder if we're twins and I'm the evil one and she is the good. Dave all I can say is that you are one lucky guy."
***
She got applauded and sat back down. The rest of the meal commenced and then came the dancing. The first dance was between Dave and Abi; they danced to the classic 'Take my breath away'.
As more couples went on the dance floor, Katie took Coles hand and led him to the dance floor. Josh was with Katie's mum gurgling his way through the song. Halfway through the song Katie picked Josh up and danced with him in her arms. The dancing started and Cole, Katie and Josh danced together. Billie Joe looked from afar and saw what a happy family they were. Seeing Katie's eyes light up at the sight of her son was enough to make Billie Joe want to cry. Cole went to get a drink and Katie carried Josh to their seat.
Billie Joe went up to them and said to Katie, "He's adorable, he has your eyes you know."
Katie looked up and smiled at Billie Joe and said, "Thanks, I still can't believe he's nearly one, it felt like only yesterday that I was in the hospital holding him as a newborn."
"Tre and Mike send their love," Billie Joe randomly said, "They really wanted to come."
Katie smiled and asked, "How are they doing?"
"They're doing well; Tre remarried and had a son Frankito this year. Mike as you know divorced but is doing well. How are you holding up?"
"Good. Abi and Dave have moved into his apartment and me and Cole together in my place with Aaron and Hannah. I'm now a full photographer and my own boss, well in theory at least," Katie explained. As she finished a boy came running to Billie Joe, he had black hair and looked no older than 6. He hugged Billie Joe and said "Hey Daddy."
It was none other than Joey Armstrong.
Katie couldn't believe how cute he was; it was just a few years ago that he was that cute little 3 year old that never slept.
She then said, "Hey Joey, remember me Katie?"
"No, but I recognize your name. Daddy told me about you and how you live in New York," Joey told Katie.
"You know, you have met me. I looked after you when you were 2, 3 maybe and you blurted out to Uncle Tre that I had a little crush on him." Katie explained to Joey while swinging his arm around.
"Nope, still don't remember but I do kind of remember when you stayed at our house, you made me feel better when Jakob was born," Joey reminisced and then asked, "Is this baby yours?"
"Yes why do you ask"?
"He smiles like you," Joey answered smiling; he hugged his dad and went off to his mum.
Katie was amazed at how charming he was, just like his dad. Katie smiled and remarked to Billie Joe, "He's so much like you, you know."
She rocked Josh in her arms as Billie Joe said, "Josh is also a lot like his father, whom I never met and why is that?"
"Because I didn't want to rush things by telling people," Katie sighed.
Billie Joe widened his eyes and said, "Rush things? You had a baby with the guy."
"I know I should've told you but I didn't know how," Katie told him, as she said that Josh started to stink and she knew he done a big one.
She excused herself to the toilet, she went in and changed Josh. It was a stinky job but someone had to do it.
***
She heard a flush of the toilet and dreaded the thought that her mum would come out; ever since Josh was born Katie and her mother haven't been on the best of terms. The door slowly opened and Katie saw Adrienne come out, she took a deep breath and calmed down.
Adrienne saw Katie's face and asked, "Are you ok, you look like you just saw a ghost of something?"
"No, I thought you were my mum, we aren't on good terms" Katie told Adrienne, Adrienne felt sympathy for the younger woman and put an arm around her. Katie picked Josh up and rocked him in her arms; she could hear Josh lightly snoring on her shoulder. Katie kissed Josh on his head, his light brown locks tickling her nose; she couldn't believe he was hers. She couldn't imagine life without him. Adrienne got a disposable camera out of her bag and asked, "May I take a picture of you two."
"Sure." Katie answered. She smiled and faced Josh to the camera.
Adrienne clicked the camera and smiled. She put the camera away and led her and Katie back to the dance floor.
They went back and Katie danced with Cole, Josh was given to Katie's father to look after. They danced the night away enjoying the starry night that New York laid for them. At the end Katie said farewell to the happy couple and took Josh and got Cole back to their apartment.
***
Billie Joe and his family got back to the East Bay and got back to normal life. Billie Joe was hanging round his house with Mike talking about Abigail's wedding. He showed Mike some of the photos they took. "Looked like a good wedding," Mike remarked while flicking through the photographs.
"Yeah," Billie Joe replied, "It was good to go somewhere where people know me not for being Billie Joe the face of Green Day but Billie Joe the guy I grew up with."
Mike got to the photo of Katie and asked, "Who's the baby in Katie's arms?"
"Oh that's her kid Josh, she had him with Cole I'm surprised they aren't married" Billie Joe answered.
"Yeah," Mike said, he just didn't know what to say.
Why didn't Katie tell him any of this herself?
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