High School Years Chapter 60 (The End)

Author: Jessie

Author’s Note: It’s finally at the end…I’m sad to see it go but thank you all for your support and feedback I’ve received for this story. I enjoyed so much writing this and I’m glad y’all enjoyed reading it. Thank you again!

2 years Later

Jessica’s POV

I put the last bag of chips in the pantry and then put the soda in the fridge. Nick would be home any minute; he dropped the twins off at Michael’s house…one of their best friends. They’d just had their last day of 1st grade 2 days ago…May 28th…so they were sleeping over Michaels’ for an “end of the year” kind of thing; well that and the fact Sarame was having 5 girls over OUR house for the “end of 2nd grade” sleep over. After 2nd grade the kids go onto a new school but for Sarame it was going to be different…not all her friends would be with her next year because Nick and I both agreed we wanted to put the kids in private Christian schooling after 2nd grade instead of enrolling them onto the public schools. Majenta would be going into preschool after this summer…Lola was home with me and the new baby…Nicholas Jr. Nick had gotten his 3rd son and we were even now. We joke about it all the time...he’s 3 weeks now. Nick had finally opened his own label last year and I worked part time there until the last month or so, now I’m at home again. He’s doing great with it and Tommy landed a job working for Nick. He’s definitely changed his ways as well and it made me happy to see that. Nick and I are about to celebrate our 4 year anniversary; I’ve been thinking about it non-stop the last 3 weeks and I just can’t believe it. I look at how far we’ve come and it just makes me feel more and more love for that man everyday. We’ve definitely come a long, long way and we’re only getting better each step.

“Sarame…!” I hollered into the family room where she was cleaning up. That’s where all her friends were going to be sleeping tonight. She ran into the room…she’s such a good kid; I know every parent says that about their own but she is.

“Yeah mama…” I handed her the movies I’d rented for the kids.

“I rented you and the girls Elf and Shrek 2. We already have the first Shrek and there’s always Finding Nemo and all those other DVD’s in the family room okay…?” She took them and hugged me.

“Thanks mama…” I kissed her head.

“You’re welcome but go finish cleaning up they’re going to be here in a ½ hour.” She ran off and I finished putting away the groceries. By the time I’d finished putting everything away Nick walked in the door with Majenta, Lola and Nicholas with him. I smiled and kissed him.

“Hey…” He handed me the baby.

“Hey butterfly…” Majenta and Lola ran off into the family room and I put Nicholas upstairs in his crib. When I came back downstairs Nick was rummaging through the junk food I’d bought for the girls tonight. I smacked his butt and he turned around with a twizzler in his mouth.

“Nicholas…”

“Hey that was uncalled for…” I laughed and hit him again. “Abuse woman…!”

“I’ll show you abuse Nick…now stop it those are for the girls…”

“Why do they get all the good food…?”

“Oh stop it you big baby…” I teased him and he gave me a kiss. “Can you order the pizzas baby because the girls are going to be here soon?”

“Yeah, yeah…what kind…?”

“Get 2 cheeses and 1 pepperoni.”

“Alrighty…” As he placed the order 3 of the girls showed up. I walked over to the door and Sarame was already there. Amanda, Alyssa, Nikki and Sarame walked off and I stayed there and spoke to their mother’s for a few moments. It was always weird talking to my kid’s friends’ parents because they’re all A LOT older than I am. Most of them are 10-15 years older than me and occasionally I’ll get the rude stare or hear from others at a PTO meeting the gossip going on around about me but I don’t let it bother me. Looking back I wouldn’t have changed the age I was when I had Sarame at all…I was young and shouldn’t have gotten pregnant but she’s my baby and I’d never give the experience I had up with her. After speaking to the girls mother’s they all came back and said goodbye to their mom’s and then ran off again. Less than 10 minutes later Lindsay and Erica showed up. I got along really well with Erica’s mom, she’s younger too. Not as young as me but younger and she and I have gotten along since the day we met each other. I spoke to her for a while and then she had to leave to pick Erica’s brother up. When I walked back into the living room all of the girls had Nick on the floor underneath them somewhere. I laughed…he’s such a good sport with the kids and all their friends. We all call him the “jellyfish” in the family because he’ll let all the kids get away with murder…I’m not kidding. So it’s good to have the stingray in the family…I have to keep SOMEONE in line. I took Majenta, Lola and Nicholas with me when I picked the pizzas up and I came back to find Nick, again in the middle of playing little kids’ games with the girls. They all came into the dining room for dinner and I went into the living room to feed Nicholas. After dinner Nick told them to calm down and he set up Elf for all of them. I put Nicholas to sleep and went upstairs to play with Lola and Majenta. Nick stayed downstairs and went over some work and kept eye on the girls. I bathed the girls and put them to bed before heading to my own room and watching TV. Nick came up around 2 and hopped in bed. I’d been up trying to calm Nicholas. He was asleep again but would be up for his feeding soon.

“They asleep…?” He kissed me.

“Yeah…finally…” I laughed and wrapped my arms around him. He held me and I closed my eyes. “Nicholas giving you trouble tonight…?” I nodded.

“Yeah…probably just the commotion with all the people in the house.”

“Could be…” I drifted off to sleep and didn’t wake again until Nicholas woke me for his feeding. He woke up again one more time that night. Somehow Lola ended up in the middle of Nick and me and was sleeping there when I woke up the next morning. I had to pick the twins up at noon and take them shopping to get a nice dress shirt for our mother’s day pictures. We were having them taken and sent to Cate, Iris and my mom. My mom and dad and Ashlee had been here for April vacation and spent the week with us. We were getting along absolutely wonderfully. After I showered and dressed I got Nicholas and fed him. When I walked downstairs the girls were still fast asleep. They didn’t get up until 10:30 and by then Lola, Majenta and Nick were eating breakfast and Nicholas was having his morning nap. I left around quarter to 12 to pick the boys up; I took Nick, Lola and Majenta with me…it was bad enough for Nick he had all the girls there so I gave him a teeny break. As soon as I picked the boys up we heading to the mall and got them matching dress shirts. They were baby blue…Nicholas had a baby dress shirt matching the boys. Sarame, Majenta and Lola were going to wear pastel pink dresses matching each other. By the time I got home everyone had left and Nick was helping Sarame clean up the living room…told you he’s a jellyfish. She’s got her daddy wrapped around her fingers and the worst part for him is…she knows she does.

“Okay guys…we’ve got to head out soon to get our pictures done. Zach, hit the shower and Ryan you’re after him. Sarame you showered already…?”

“Yeah, I showered when everyone left.”

“Okay…I’m going to go get Majenta, Lola and Nicholas dressed.”

“Okay, Sarame finish up…I’m gonna help mommy.”

“Okay daddy…” Nick followed me upstairs carrying the bags for me. He got Majenta and Lola in their dresses and I got Nicholas in his outfit.

“Please don’t spit up all over this pumpkin…” I talked softly to him. “At least not till AFTER the pictures…” He just grinned and squirmed. I tickled him and laughed at him. Once I had him dressed I heard Ryan going into the shower and yelled at Zach to get dressed. I handed Nick the baby and took over, doing the girls hair. I wanted it simple…they had beautiful hair…so fine and rich in blonde/brown locks so I wanted them to have it all down. Sarame’s was getting so long and Majenta’s was too. Ryan got ready and all the girls were ready. I walked downstairs and Nick was putting the baby in his carrier and everyone else was getting their shoes on. We worked in a system it seemed…having so many in the family, it just worked out when we worked in our system…it worked out perfect.

“Everyone’s here…?” They all said yeah and I opened the door. “Let’s go…no fighting over who sits where!” They all piled into the car and Lola stayed behind with daddy like always…it was cute. I got Nicholas in his seat and then got in the front. Zach and Sarame were fighting over something…who knows what. “Enough of the fighting…” The car ride still wasn’t silent though…when we got there the photographer placed the kids in the order he wanted and had the two eldest in the center, (Sarame and Ryan…as Ryan informed the photographer it was only by a couple minutes) the two of them were posing with Nicholas in their arms. It was a beautiful pose…all of the kids looked beautiful. I stood next to Nick and he wrapped his arms around me and I leaned against him as the kids took picture after picture. In the last take Nicholas opened his eyes for the camera and gave a huge smile to the camera. I turned to Nick and saw him smiling. He leaned down and kissed me.

“What a picture…” He whispered in my ear and I nodded.

“Best one I’ve ever seen…”

“Yeah…” I closed my eyes and picture my perfect family in my head. There are a lot of us but that’s what Nick and I wanted…and ya know what? Who’s to say we’re stopping there. I must’ve spoken my last few thoughts out loud because Nick kissed my neck and said something. “Well what are we saying Mrs. Lachey…” He nuzzled his head in my neck again and I giggled.

“I’m saying…pictures say a thousand words…and bring up new thoughts…”

“They sure do…especially ours…” We were quiet looking at our kids as they interacted with each other…we were so blessed…so blessed…Nick kissed my head again. “I love you butterfly…” I turned around and kissed him; he rested his hands on my hips and kissed me back.

“I love you too…” And we turned back to our picture perfect family.

The End.