Bound By Her Bump novel Chapter 41

Annie and Eric kept themselves busy the next day by going for baby shopping. They went to the mall to cross-check all the items they booked online the previous night and they also bought some things they thought the babies would need which they forgot to add to the list. By the time they got home, Annie was tired. Eric made lunch for her and made sure she took a nap.

While Annie was taking a nap, Eric offloaded all the things they bought to the twins' room and as soon as Annie woke up, she joined Eric and they ended up deciding they were going to change the theme of the room to a more friendly colour.

They spent the rest of the evening watching TV and before they went to bed, they wrapped the gift they were going to give Eric's Mom.

~~.

SUNDAY EVENING

During their honeymoon, Annie had shopped for some beautiful maternity clothes so she didn't have a problem getting the right clothes to wear. But since they would be revealing the babies' existence tonight, she decided to wear a bodycon dress which perfectly showed her curves and baby bump and she placed a maternity designer Jacket over it with matching sandals. The Jacket really did a good job in covering her bump; it didn't look like she was pregnant at all. She bought it in one of the maternity stores in Dubai.

"You look yummy, babe." Eric approached her, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Thanks, sweet. You don't look bad also."

They made their way out of their house into the Car.

"You know, Dylan wanted to come over yesterday. I had to stop him and convinced him there was no need since we would be seeing each other tonight at my parents' place."

Annie smiled. "Same with Ella, but I told her we were still on our honeymoon cruise so we agreed we would see each other tonight."

"I'm sure she must have been suspicious about me but I know once she knows the reason, she'll understand why I've been kind of avoiding her."

Soon enough, they reached the Ivan-James mansion and from the cars parked in the driveway, they could tell most of their visitors had arrived.

Eric helped Annie out of the car and they walked into the mansion hand in hand.

Laura was the one who opened the door for them and she literally pulled them into a bone-crushing hug. Well, Annie was mindful of her bump.

"I missed you guys." She grinned.

"We missed you too." They said together and jointly kissed her cheek.

"Come on, everyone is waiting for you guys." She ushered them in and as soon as they got closer to the living room, she announced. "The honeymooners are here."

"Oh man, I was thinking you weren't going to show up," Dylan said as he gave Eric a brotherly hug.

"Of course I would." He defended.

"Hi, babe." He smiled and hugged Annie, giving her a kiss on her cheek which caused Eric to glare at him.

Eric and Annie hugged and greeted every other person in the room; Austin, Lucia, Elaina, Jayden, Angela, David, Jace, Aunty Eva, Uncle Robert, Melissa and Toby.

"Hi, babe." Annie smiled as she walked towards Ella who has been kind of avoiding her since she arrived.

"Hi," Ella replied uncomfortably with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Before Annie could say anything further she excused herself.

Unknowing to them, Dylan was watching. He approached Annie as soon as Ella walked away.

"You two okay?" He asked, concerned.

"I don't know but I guess so." She said unsure.

Dylan sighed. "She was at my place two days ago, crying her eyes out."

"What happened?" Annie's voice showed concern.

"She said that her relationship with you isn't the way it used to be. She said you've been avoiding her. You're tired of your friendship with her, you want to cut it off but you don't know how."

Annie was shocked. She never knew her distance from her best friend, trying to hide her pregnancy hurt her so much.

"I promise you, Dylan. It isn't any of that."

Dylan shrugged. "But that's what she thinks. She thinks she has offended you somehow. She said she called you to hang out with you when you came back from the honeymoon but you kept on giving excuses."

"This is so messed up. I need to talk to her."

"Please do. She has been so grumpy lately. I want my girlfriend back."

"Girlfriend?" Annie questioned as a smile crept to her lips. "I never knew you guys were official." She teased.

"Well," Dylan playfully scratched the back of his head. "We made it official a few days after your wedding."

"Make sure you take very good care of her or else you will have me to deal with."

"I will." He assured.

"Congratulations." She hugged him. "I have to get going. I have someone special to apologize too."

"Calm down young woman. Who are you apologizing to?" A sweet voice teased.

Annie turned around and saw her mother in law. Evelyn.

"Happy Birthday, Mom." She hugged her and kissed her cheek. "Long life and prosperity."

"Thank you, my child. I wasn't expecting this you know. I was thinking of spending the day all alone in the house after church but I was surprised when I came home to so many visitors, decorations, food and cake."

"You deserve it, mom, Happy Mother's Day."

"Thanks. I just feel so happy because my children planned this for me." She pointed to the Minibar in the living room where all her four children stood.

Elaina was filling up Eric's cup and beside them was Laura who was making a video of them on her camera and in front of them stood Lucia who was saying something they were all laughing at.

"I'm so happy they are getting along well."

"Me too," Annie added.

"Did you like your present?"

"Sure! Thank you very much, dear. Eric gave them to me earlier on." She smiled and hugged Annie once more.

After secretly searching for her, Annie found Ella in the kitchen. She was seated on a stool, resting her back against the counter, slowly sipping her wine.

"I'm sorry Ella." Annie apologized. "I never wanted to make you feel like I don't value our friendship anymore. You're my only friend Ella, there's no one except you and that means I can never break my friendship with you. We've come a long way you know."

"Then why have you been avoiding me?" Ella asked as she placed her glass cup on the counter behind her. There was still some wine in it.