Chapter Text
Nic’s Point of View
I woke up with the biggest craving for tacos this morning, so before going to meet Mina at some dry cleaners, which is an odd place to meet her at might I add, I decided to go get some. And of course I dropped some salsa on my shirt while eating in the car. I know, it isn’t safe to be distracted while driving, but a pregnant woman has to eat.
After I parallel parked, I met with Mina at 1121 Park Street.
“Hey…”I said as I approached a very impatient Mina who was staring at her Apple Watch, “sorry I’m late. Baby’s hungry.”
“Hey,” and then Mina looked down at the belly-her facial features went from expressing annoyance to that of understanding. “Normally, I’d be upset at the lack of punctuality. However, my niece is an exception. Aren’t you, little one?” Mina said as she lowered her head a bit and talked to my belly. Mina has never touched it though, which is very like her to do, however, I wouldn’t mind her doing so if she wanted. I know for a fact that Mina would spoil my child rotten if I let her so it wasn’t for a lack of love that she didn’t touch my stomach.
“So…why are we meeting at a dry cleaners?” I asked.
“We’re not. We’re going into the jewelers next door,” She said with determination.
“Umm...why do we need to go to the jewelers?” I asked, but Mina was already on the move and holding the door for me.
Inside, Mina went immediately to the front counter and demanded assistance.
“How may I help you?” a round, stubby-chinned guy said as he leaned over the glass.
“Hi. I was looking through reviews online and noticed that you are the best jeweler in town. Hence why I’m here,” then Mina moved her purse to the counter and pulled out a little brown box. “I need you to size this ring...by tomorrow. I’ll pay extra if need be, but it is a time-sensitive matter.”
“By tomorrow? Let me see it,” the man said.
Then Mina opened the little box. Within it was a simple, solid gold ring, with three little red rubies in the center.
“Oh, Mina...that’s beautiful. Who’s that for?” I asked.
“It’s...for AJ…”she briefly answered, and then passed the ring to the man.
Of course, I was very confused at what was going on, so I asked, “Is it his birthday?”
“No,” she responded, but her answer was missing the depth I needed. But then Mina added, “I’ll tell you over lunch…? My niece has to be starving…” and she cocked a brow and smirked.
“I can’t say ‘no’ to that,” and I smiled back.
After Mina paid the extra for getting the ring done in so little time, she argued that she’d only pay half today, and the other half the next day, as she needed to make sure that the ring was exactly how she wanted it. After threatening the man a few times about how she’d take him to court if the ring was damaged, we said our goodbyes and went to a bakery nearby.
“So...what was that all about?” I asked as I sipped on my freshly squeezed lemonade.
“Well...I want to give AJ a ring...and ask him a very important question…” Mina responded.
“What type of question?” and I turned my head in confusion.
“The type that one asks when they are ready…”she said as she looked to her sides.
There are many questions that one asks when they’re ready for many things. Though with Mina, you had to always read in between the lines when it came to emotional happenings. Mina could be very direct in every other aspect of her life but the matters of the heart, by which you had to pry information out of her, was a different story. But then I got thinking...ring...questions…
“Ohhhh my G-Minaaaa. No wayyyy. Are you sure?” I asked as my eyes felt as if they were going to pop out of their sockets.
Mina took in a deep breath and then exhaled. “The only other thing I’ve been equally sure about is being a surgeon. I know it’s time,” she confessed.
“Wow...this is a big deal…how are you going to…?”
“Well, I might need some help from Conrad for something tomorrow. But...I’ve honestly been researching proposals for a few days now. I’ve seen hundreds of videos, and read articles...most were disgusting. People were doing some flash mobs, gifting, and some crazy things. Perhaps they’d be something AJ would like...but it’s definitely not something I’d do. Normally, I’m not as spontaneous either, however, we need to make a few decisions and that one happens to be a part of it all-the biggest question and decision actually.”
“Yeah. That is a big question. When are you going to ask? I assume tomorrow then?”
“Yes...tomorrow night. He has to go to some charity event for Atlanta General as that’s where he was accepted at once Chastain closes. However, I’m going to ask him to come home at a certain time as the decisions we need to make are very time sensitive…”
“What other decisions?”
“That...is between me and him…” and she gave me a devious smirk.
“Ok..." and then I decided to change the subject to another ares, "are you ready to also join your finances?”
To which she snorted, “We already share our home, bed. At first he refused to let me pay for anything, but then we decided that I would pay a few bills as the house was already paid off. I suppose we’ll join financials perhaps. I’ve heard of couples who don’t. But now he’ll be legally allowed to make my decisions if I can’t, be able to walk around and not hide our relationship from anyone, make everything and do everything together...and who knows...perhaps we’ll even have babies whose last name will have ‘Austin’ somewhere in its name...”
And that made me become more taken aback. “Who was this woman sitting before me and what has she done to my best friend, Mina?” I asked and looked around as if I were looking for someone.
“Haha. Well...she just...fell in love I guess,” and then took a sip of her lemonade, “but don’t think, that for one second, that I’m getting soft...because that ain’t happening…”
“‘Ain’t happening’ instead of ‘isn’t happening?’...oh dear...even your vocabulary is changing…”
Mina shook her head a bit and then said, “I swear things have been changing since AJ and I met, honestly. I never loved food as much as I do now, and I’m nicer to patients, and I actually sit down to talk to them…and now my vocabulary…”
“Love changes us...and for some it may be for the worst...but for others, like us, they’re for the better…”
“You think?”
“I know, Mina. I have never seen you so happy. When both of you cross paths at work...your eyes immediately light up, even when you’re having a terrible day. They always have when you were with him. You just...didn’t realize….or want to accept that you had deeper feelings for him...any regrets?”
“Actually, yes,” to which she paused and then lowered her head a bit. “I regret not doing this sooner-him and I being together. Once I got past the ethical, and past all the Covid deaths, I realized that he’s the last person I’d ever want to lose, next to you...I don’t know what I’d do without him…”
“Well, if you are getting married, regardless of how small your ceremony will be, I’ll be your MOH if you let me…”
“Oh...well, we have discussed wedding plans in detail, actually. And...if and when he says, ‘yes’, then I will be sure to let you know if I need your services. Though, I don’t know how you’ll be... physically for the date I am planning…” and then she cocked a brow and looked a bit disappointed.
“What do you mean…?” I asked, curiously.
“Oh, nothing. In time all will reveal itself,” she added, “Now...about the baby’s room. I was thinking of making your curtains...but I need to know what color scheme you’ll be using in the nursery…”
“Oh...changing the subject, huh? I’ll accept the change...this time. Especially since my designer sister is helping us with the nursery.”
“You know I’d help you regardless, right? Especially with the closet area…she needs to have her accessories perfectly organized and her matching socks and shoes accessible at all times.”
“Haha. Of course she does,” and we both started to laugh. This moment in time was absolutely perfect. There we were, the both of us, enjoying each other’s company, time, experiences- doing things that sisters should be doing for one another. I longed for my sister to be here too, Jessie would've loved to talk about the nursery with us. But I’m glad I had one sister left-that I wasn’t alone in my grief nor in my moments of happiness.
“Now do you understand why I didn’t tell you were were going to the jewelers? You got a bit mushy…”
”Yeah… I see your point. Too much for you, huh?” and I grinned.
”Definitely so,” and she grinned back.
The next day, as I got ready for work, I received a phone call from a desperate Mina.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey...I really need a favor…” she said, out of breath and yet whispering.
“Ummm sure. What is it?”
“I, uhhh, I need you to pick up the ring...I was about to leave but then am being hauled off to an emergency surgery-mass casualties. Anyway, they close at four. Is there any way that you-?”
“Consider it done. I’m leaving in five, I’ll pay the rest and you give me the cash later, okay? I’ll leave the ring in your purse?”
“Perfect. I owe you.”
“No you don’t. You do enough for me as it is. Besides...we’re family. That’s what families do, they’re there for one another no matter what. I love you...uggh i’m so excited for you.”
“Well...i’m secretly excited too. Love you too. I’ve gotta go. Drive safe.”
A few minutes later, I found myself at the counter of the jewelers picking up the ring. When all of a sudden, AJ walked in.
“Uhhhh...hey…” he said, rather confused.
“Um...hey,” I said, a bit shocked.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, me? I’m just... picking up a ring…” I said as I shook my head while grinning.
“Oh...well...ummm...so am I,” he said, matteroffactly.
“Here you go, Dr. Austin. It’s sized and ready,” the jeweler said.
“Why, thank you Ben,” and the jeweler passed him the red box, to which AJ opened, and then took in a deep breath then let it out. He stared at it for a few moments and then turned to look at me.
“Would you like to see it?” he asked me.
“Oh, for sure,” and he passed the little box to me. My eyes immediately got wide and I gasped. It was a very simple, 4 Karat, oval diamond, no halo, engagement ring. “AJ...this is absolutely beautiful.”
“Yeah...it’s been in our family for four generations. How they obtained it is beyond me, and especially that style of diamond. But regardless, you think she’ll like it?” he said as he leaned on the counter.
“I don’t think she’ll like it-” and he raised his brow, “I think she’ll absolutely love it.”
He gave me a very big smile and then sighed, “now I have to figure out when and how to do it. We have to make a few decisions before Chastain closes and, well, I have to ask her before then.”
And knowing Mina’s plans, well some anyway, I said, “Well...I think things have a way of figuring themselves out, you know?”
He thought for a second and then said, “Yeah, they certainly do.”
Just then the baby started to kick, catching AJ’s attention. “Uggh the pressure,” I said.
“Yeah, I see you have your hands full. Well stomach, really,” he stated, “hey Nic?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I-” and so, knowing that he wanted to touch my belly, like he’s done many times before, I grabbed his hand and placed it on my stomach.
“Hey there pretty lady,” he said as he got on his knees and talked to my belly. “It’s Uncle AJ. I’m here with your mommy. I need you to keep a secret for me. I’m going to ask your Auntie Mina to marry me next week and I’m a bit nervous and excited. What do you think she’ll say? One kick says ‘yes’ and two says ‘no.’”
I shook my head, “AJ, seriously?” And he got back up, still staring, awaiting a kick.
“Ohhh...ohhh. There it is...she kicked once. For sure Mina will say ‘yes.’”
“I’m sure you can’t predict the decision based on a kick, AJ.”
“Well...I sure can,” he said as he started to chuckle.
“Well anyway...from the way Mina looks at you, if she says ‘no’ then she’d be crazy, and she’ll know that too.”
“Here you go,” the jeweler said as he literally came out of nowhere and handed me a box.
“Thank you. I’ll ummm, look at it in the car. Anyway, AJ, I have to get to work. I’ll see you tomorrow,” and knowing what lay ahead...I walked to the door, turned around, and smiled. My friend and sister was going to be so thrilled when she saw her ring.
Later at home, after shift, and as Conrad and I got ready for bed, we were talking about our day.
“So I had to go to Mina’s this afternoon to put those tealights in the trees and all over the porch. That woman was a bit...nuttier than normal,” he said.
“Nuttier? Mina is not nutty. She just knows what she wants…” I argued.
“Well...she knows it too well I guess. She made me put the lights exactly in a straight line, ruler and all.”
“Hahaha. Well at least now you can advertise that you're a tealight hanging expert..."
"Right...sure," he said with grin. “And then I apparently got there too early and also dropped the ladder on her table out in the the yard, making some giant booming noise. She was so pissed I thought you were going to be a widow for a second.”
”Well, I’m guessing AJ was still home if she got that upset with you then, huh?”
”Yes. I should’ve waited, but I’ve gotta admit, I was a bit excited for her.”
"Yeah, me too…Anyway, if you see their rings. Uggh. Mina wasn’t kidding when she said that they’re on the same page...most of the time. They even went to the same jeweler.”
“Wow. Talk about sharing the same brain.”
"Yup...Oh...did the governor speak to Mina?"
"Yeah, she did. It's official. In two months we're reopening Chastain as a public hospital, and all staff and Residents can come back...including myself as a Fellow."
"And what new name will they give Chastain?"
"That, I don't know yet, but they will be paying for some of the administration staff to keep working at Chastain during these two months so that the paperwork is all done and taken care of...plus they need to do training..."
Then I suddenly heard my phone ring. Upon retrieving it I noticed that it was a picture...from Mina...and I screamed.