Chapter 70: My Best Days Are Ahead of Me

*ZOEY'S POV*

"Hey bff!" I answer quickly when I see that Amy is calling me.  It's rare that I get a call from her and it's even more rare when I get a call from her and I actually have the time to answer it.

"Hey!" she replies, "I'm so glad I caught you!"

"Yeah, me too," I reply, "What's going on with you?"

"Well...you know how Mac is going to be moving here soon?" she asks.

"Yeah," I answer, nodding as well - as if she can see me.  

Terry has really been instrumental in getting Amy and Mac back together - even though Amy doesn't know this. 

Several months ago Mac and T were talking and it was obvious Mac was miserable in Bridgeport - he hadn't been able to find any friends, much less any women, his job was stressful, etc, etc.  Long story short, T suggested (at my suggestion) that he consider going back to Harmony.  I am secretly hoping he takes that one step further and moves here, along with Amy, but one step at a time I suppose. 

"What's up?" I continue the conversation.

"Well..." she starts, "I really wish I could tell you this in person..."

"You could always jump in the car..." I offer.

She laughs, "Oh right..."

"Just sayin'...just a few hours drive..." I half joke.

"Well, as much as I would like to..." she stutters.

I laugh, "I'm just joking...sort of...but seriously, what's up?"

"I'm engaged!" she exclaims.

There was a time that I would have been shocked and dropped the phone, but honestly it's about time.  Even though I know this isn't her fault, Amy has been in this suspended state where nothing has been happening to her for so long.  It's time she finally has something good coming her way.

"You do realize you have maid of honor duties, right?" she asks.

"I would certainly hope so," I say.

So we chat for another hour or two (who's counting) about potential wedding ideas before she has to go.

When we get off the phone, I rejoin my husband in my new favorite place to be - right beside him, with his arm around me.  I know, wanna puke yet?  Normally I would, but I seem to have had my inner-cynical bitch extracted lately.

"That was a long convo," T says as I get comfortable, "I'm assuming that was Amy?"

"Yup," I say with a smile.

Terry misses nothing, "What's with that Chesire cat grin?"

"Have you talked to Mac yet?" I ask.

"No," he sits up and takes notice, "What's going on?"

"He proposed," I tell him.

"Ahh, about time, I was wondering how long I would have to sit on that," he says.

I sit back and look at him, "What are you talking about?  Did you know he was planning this?"

He grins.

"And you didn't tell me?" I ask, slightly offended.

He raises his eyebrows, "...and tell Mac he has 20 seconds to propose because it's going to take you 30 to find your phone?"

I elbow him lightly but just laugh.  I have to admit he's right.

I sit back and start thinking and can't help but smile.

"What's that smile for?" he asks, laughing at me.

"I'm just happy," I tell him.

This really is everything I have ever wanted.  Amy and I have been best friends forever and we always said our ideal situation would be finding two best friends to marry because they are the only ones that would understand our friendship.  I never actually thought we would find them.

Terry interrupts my thoughts with a kiss.

Yup, who would have thought that this cynical bitch could be tamed?

*AMY'S POV*

Over the next week, I busy myself with wedding plans.  Mac and I are thinking about a spring wedding.  That gives me enough time to plan everything - and I have always loved spring.

Of course everyone is ecstatic.  Rebecca, Kelsey, and Zoey are going to be bridesmaids and Robbie and Jake are going to stand on my side as well because along with Mac and AJ sharing best friend duties, Mac's older sisters are going to stand on his side as well.  Then Mac has a younger sister who's going to be a junior bridesmaid, Brody is going to be the ring bearer, and Ivy and Melody are going to be flower girls.  

That about covers it, right?

"What do you think about sea foam?" I ask Mac as we are cutting into our Jack-o-lanterns the next time Mac is in town.

"As general foam in the sea?" he asks.

I flick a pumpkin seed at him, "No goofball.  As colors for the bridesmaids dresses."

"That's a color?" he asks.

I roll my eyes, "Never mind."

Mac and I are carving two different Jack-o-lanterns because we couldn't agree on a design.

Call me crazy, but I'm a traditionalist - triangle eyes and nose with a jagged tooth smile.

His is definitely more intricate, but that's fine with me.  He can be the artist in our family.

That night we just sit down and watch some TV.  I never would have thought I would be in one of those couples that spends most of their time sitting at home, but I guess that's what I get for waiting so long to be in a good one.

Mac only has this weekend of coming and going and next week he's going to start his move here, thank goodness.  I'm just about tired of all the traveling and it's taking its toll on him as well.

Even so, I don't take it well when his phone rings.

"Hello?" he answers.

...

"Oh really?" he continues.

...

"uh-huh...uh-huh...of course.  Yeah, no, I'm not in town, but I can be there in a couple hours." he says.

I look up and glare.

"No, no, don't worry, I'll be there..." he continues, "Yeah, no problem.  I'm hitting the road now."

He gets off the phone and I glare even more, "Please don't tell me that's what I think it is."

"Baby, I have to go back," he says.

"Are you kidding?  You just got here." I complain.

"I'm sorry, but there was a break in my case...I have to go."  he says.

Honestly I'm not in the mood to hear it.

"Well, I certainly hope there's not a break in a case on our wedding day," I start to bitch.

"Baby..." he interrupts.

"No, no, that's fine.  I guess it goes along with the territory of marrying a cop."  I pout some more.

"Come on, baby, please don't give me a hard time.  You know I don't want to leave you tonight," He says.

"You're sure no one else can handle it?" I am not convinced he actually has to go.

"Can you get other people to write your books for you?" he asks, stupidly using logic when I just want to pout.

"That's beside the point." I continue on my bratty course.

"I've got to go baby," he stands up and I give him a look.

In response he pulls me up into his arms.

As much as I fight, he kisses me long and hard.

"I'll be back to you before you know it," he says, "I can't go with you mad at me."

"Well then you better not go," I pout once more.

"Baby..." he says again.

I roll my eyes like the brat I am and hug him tightly, "Okay...I guess I can forgive you."

"Go to bed and I'll be back by the time you wake up in the morning," he suggests.

"Yeah, yeah," is the last thing I say.

As he is walking out the door he shouts an "I love you."

I shout a lackluster "Love you too" at him as the door closes and he is gone.

If I had only known...

I am apparently more tired than I thought because when I sit back down on the couch I end up dozing off.

I wake up disoriented and look at my watch.  It's 4:30 am.  

"Geez," I say out loud.

My neck is hurting and I curse myself for passing out here.  Getting old is sucking already.

I grumble and get up to go upstairs but am interrupted by my phone ringing.

"Who the hell would be calling now?" I ask myself.

I don't recognize the number, "Hello?"

"Is this Amy Keagan?" the voice responds.

"Yes," I answer, "what can I do for you this early in the morning?"

I am annoyed and I certainly hope whoever is on the other end knows it.

Obviously the voice knows this, but still continues, "I'm sorry to bother you Ms. Keagan, I am the chief of police for Bridgeport PD.  There's been an accident."