1.10 The Wedding

Soon enough, it was finally here! Annelise and Gavin were going to be married at the little white chapel on the outskirts of town. They had decided to have a small wedding, with some of their friends and coworkers. Neither of them had many family members that were able to come up, and Annelise didn't even invite her "mother" if you could even call her that. Annelise walked herself down the aisle, but wasn't sad as she knew that she was walking into the arms of the man she loved and trusted with her whole heart. 

Max and Harper played nice on their wedding day, as well as they could. Harper hardly spoke to Max. Her heart ached knowing that after all that time, he really was using her and now she was pregnant with his baby and he still didn't care. Harper loved her friend Annelise so much she just put a smile on as she walked down the aisle hand in hand with the man who broke her heart.

Little Clara was so thrilled to be the flower girl. She took her job very seriously, and felt so special to get to walk down that aisle before her mom. Annelise was mom to her, and had been for the past seven years. She still had no idea that her real birth mother Maya existed, although Gavin and Annelise planned to tell her once she reached her teenage years. Clara understood that Annelise didn't physically carry her in her belly, but she didn't care. Annelise was the only mom she'd ever known.

The wedding ceremony was short and sweet, with Gavin and Annelise exchanging vows to love one another through every season of life. They promised to never give up on each other, to have grace for each other, and to always remember how in love they were on this day. Gavin kissed his bride and they were announced husband and wife. Annelise couldn't believe this day had finally come. Through the past seven years, they had been through so much together, and had already seen the crap that life could throw at you, but their love was stronger because of it. Both of them were so excited to be starting this new chapter of life together.

Soon enough, it was time for Clara's birthday party. Time had flown quickly as their family got settled in after the wedding, and one rainy night, Clara's friends came over to help her celebrate as she embarked on this new chapter in her life. Neither Gavin or Annelise felt old enough to have a teenage child, but Clara was anxious for the freedom and excitement that came with her older age.

Clara's friends arrived, umbrellas in tow. Annelise ushered them out of the rain into the house, where the music was playing and some kids were dancing, while others played video games. A few of the kids came bearing gifts and treats their mothers had baked, and all of them were excited to play at the Hyatt household for an evening. Clara had friends from school as well as neighbors and a few of her parents co-workers children who came to help celebrate. Clara didn't recognize the last guest to arrive though her mom, Annelise did.

Maya walked in without a knock. She had an icy smile on her face, knowing that she was about to cause quite the disruption at this party.

When Annelise saw her daughters birth mother walk in, her eyes narrowed. "What do you think you are doing here, Maya? This party is invite only."

Maya smiled. "I am only here to see my baby age into a teenager. A mother can't miss such a moment as that can she?"

"Why not, you've missed every other important moment in her life?" Annelise said in a hushed voice, as she tried to not make too much of a scene. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin Clara's party, and this is not how they planned to tell Clara about Maya.

"Missing out on the last twelve years of Clara's life was NOT by choice and you know that! You guys ruined my chances of ever being her mom!" Maya whispered.

"You made that choice when you walked out on her Maya. You need to leave."

Just then, Max hollered from the end of the hallway. "Maya! You made it!"

Annelise's eyes got wide as she feared the worst was about to happen, but Maya whispered "He doesn't know. Let me stay for my daughters party, and we will keep it that way. I won't make a scene unless you do."

Annelise felt trapped. She didn't want Maya in their house so close to Clara, but she also knew Maya really would make a scene and ruin Clara's party, not to mention the emotional hurt she'd cause her. "Fine. You can stay but not a word. You are here as Max's guest, and thats it."

Maya smiled, victory in her eyes as Max came up and wrapped his arms around her. "So glad you're here. I can't wait for you to meet my niece!" he said with no idea who Maya really was.

Clara's party ended up being a blast for everyone, except Annelise and Gavin who were terrified of what Maya might do. Clara and her friends danced and played games, and when it was time for Clara to blow out her candles, Maya stood close by as she watched the daughter she had walked away from so many years ago turn into a beautiful teenager. Though Clara never would've put the pieces together, she had some of Maya's features and you could see the resemblance between them if you knew what you were looking for.

In line with Harper's dramatic self, she went into labor shortly after Clara blew out her candles while the rest of the party ate cake. "Where is Max?!" she yelled in between contractions.

But no one knew where Max was. In fact, he and Maya had disappeared right after Clara was done blowing out her candles, and even though Gavin looked in his room and outside, they didn't have time to wait for him. Annelise tried calling him, sure that even though his relationship with Harper woad over, he'd still want to be there when his baby was born. His phone went straight to voicemail, and after waiting for a call back, Annelise ended up taking the hysterical Harper to the hospital while Gavin stayed at home to manage the party and all the children there.

Harper's labor progressed quickly, but the baby was breech and needed to be delivered via c-section. Annelise waited in the waiting room, still trying to get ahold of Max. She desperately did not want to have to go tell Harper after their baby was born that the father of her baby had never even shown up to the hospital.

Finally, Harper was moved to a recovery room and Annelise was able to go visit. She dreaded the look on Harper's face. 

"Hey, mama. How are you?" Annelise said softly as she walked in the room.

Harper's face dropped when she saw her visitor was not Max. "I'm fine...is Max here?"

"I'm so sorry Harper, he's not here. No one has been able to get ahold of him." 

Harper didn't say anything, she just nodded. She had a feeling this would happen, as he had wanted nothing to do with her the past nine months.

"A little girl, Harper! Congratulations!" Annelise said as she picked up the tiny infant. Annelise's heart swelled, as she couldn't wait until she could have one of her own. "What is her name?"

"Her name is Lexi. Lexi Adamson." Harper smiled sadly. "I love her so much, I just feel so alone. I never imagined that I'd bring my child into the room all alone. I had always dreamed about having a loving and supportive husband by my side every step of the pregnancy and delivery. I guess things never really work out the way we plan them out in our heads."

Annelise sat down in the chair next to Harper's bed, still holding Lexi. "Oh Harper, I am so sorry. I know this doesn't help you, but I promise that things will start to look up. My ex left me when he found out I was pregnant years ago, and then I lost the baby in a car accident a few months later. I didn't think life was worth living for awhile. But I made it. I survived, and now I am married to a wonderful man. You will survive too and you will come out stronger. And I will be here to help you every step of the way. You're not alone."

Harper wiped the tears from her eyes. "Thank you for coming to visit us. I don't know what I'd do with out you. " she said.

Some Bonus Wedding Pictures

Authors Note: A jam filled chapter that I hope you guys liked! I am working on the next chapter already and hope to have it published this weekend! The wedding was such a pain for me to get pictures of because my sims were NOT cooperating, I couldn't get the poses to work together, the guests were all standing blocking the ceremony, etc, etc etc. They Hyatt Family and friends really just were feeling extra stubborn that day! I am anxious to get the next generation of Hyatt's started, so stay tuned for the next update!