Unexpected Happenings, Chapter 55
by SIPort
“ Hey, need any help?”, TC said, coming through the kitchen door.
Chad and Grace both shook their heads.
“ Well, I brought dessert. Those new small tarts that you like so much.”
Grace’s eyes lit up? “ All the flavors?”
TC laughed. “ Yes, Grace. THIS box is for Chad and me. And THIS box is all
for you.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “ I am NOT that bad.”
“ Um, Mom, yes you are.”, Chad teased.
Grace had tears in your eyes, and Chad shook his head. “ Not again.”
“ Yes. You can’t blame a hormonal woman who gets touched everytime her son
calls her ‘Mom.’ It’s music to my ears.”
“ Mine too.”, Chad said sincerely. “ Well, let me plate up the steaks. Pops,
can you get the rest of the fixings?” TC nodded and did as told.
The three of them sat down to dinner as they’d done every night for awhile
now. Chad couldn’t believe it sometimes. At first, it had been tentative between
them. He had felt like a guest the first morning he had breakfast with his
mother. But then, every morning, it had gotten better. He answered all her
questions, and always there were more questions. He loved telling her about
himself. Then, one day, he asked her if TC could come to dinner. And, one
dinner turned into two and so on. Every night, Chad looked forward to dinner.
The meal was incidental. It was the chance to see his parents, together,
everyday that made him happy. He had made peace with the little guilt he
had about being happy that all his siblings were gone. It wasn’t that he
didn’t want to get to know them, it was just that them being gone meant that
his parents’ attention was undivided. He could get to know them in peace,
without them being afraid of hurting another kid’s feelings. Plus, them being
away meant that his mother’s pregnancy could progress in peace, and Chad
realized just how important this baby was to him – a sibling he could love
without any hesitation or complication.
“ So, how did your test go, Chad?”
Chad looked up at his father. “ I got a B, Pops. “
“ A ‘ B’ – great. I know you were worried about that class.”
“ I was, but you helping me study. The professor really liked my last paper.
Said I was really improving.”
“ And you are. I know writing’s tough for you, but it just takes work and
rewrites. Anytime you need me.”
“ I know. I have a paper I want you to see at the end of the week.”
“ Sure.”
“ I got my first letter from Jessica today.”
“ You did?”, Chad swallowed hard.
“ Nothing serious in it. Just the basics of how she and Kay arrived, and
are moved in, and are going through counselor training. A couple of pictures
of the camp.”
“ Well, that’s great.”, TC replied.
Grace knew that this was a sticky subject for TC, considering he had heard
nothing from Whitney or Simone, but she was determined to live in honesty
now.
“ TC..”
“ I know. The girls will contact me when they’re ready. It’s just that,
when Whitney came to see me before she left, I thought we had turned a corner.”
“ You did. The girls need time. Jessica’s letter was a by-the-books kind
of letter. The basics. She’s still mad at me. I’m sure of it.”
“ I’m sorry…”
“ Chad, no need for you to be sorry. In case you don’t know it, you’ve been
a consistent ray of sunshine in both your father’s life and mine too this
summer. We needed you.”
“ Amen to that.”
“ It’s just that I complicate..”
“ Nothing. Chad, whatever problems our children have with us, YOU aren’t
a part of it. You have no blame because you were created before they were
born. They can’t hold that against you, and none of them do. Not even Kay,
even though she’ll be the last one to admit it. Our kids have to work out
the disappointments we’ve given them in the PRESENT. Not about the past. I’m
not worried about you and them. I’m worried about them and this baby.”, Grace
said, rubbing her stomach. “ While they can’t blame you, I’m afraid they’ll
blame this baby.”
“ Naw, they won’t. Whitney, Simone, Jessica, even Kay. They won’t blame
the baby. They know that the baby is innocent. “
“ I hope you’re right.”
TC didn’t say anything, but he hoped Chad was right too.
Simone looked out her window at the moonlit seas. She wrote her weekly letter
to Kay.
Dear Kay,
I hope you are settled in at
camp. I think it’ll be a great experience for you. You get to be in a new
part of the country with different kids in a new state. Seen any gorgeous
guys? Did you learn how to surf yet?
This trip has been wonderful.
I can’t gush enough about our stateroom. I can’t believe it. It’s just fabulous.
You’ve seen all the pictures I put online of just our room. Isn’t it awesome?
We did another day trip with
that family from Australia again. They found this out of the way tour for
us to do. It was so remote that we nearly missed the cruise ship – AGAIN!
I love these people. They just live life to the fullest, no matter what.
They are so loud, but full of love. Watching them reminds me of how my family
used to be, and though it makes me sad, it also makes me cherish all the
memories that I have. My family WAS real, and though it’s not that way anymore,
I got a lot of those times.
Whitney and I are great. We giggle,
joke, and have fun just like sisters should. And, our Mom….she’s so beautiful.
I think I had forgotten how beautiful she is. I’m looking at her now as a
woman, and I have to admit that I’m proud she’s my Mom. I love her so much.
The Jacks brothers, Jerry and
Jax are good medicine for Mom and Whitney. I don’t think that any serious
romances are going to come out of it, but I do think that we’ll be friends
with the Jacks family for forever. And, I like that.
The Jacks’ are going on another
cruise right after this one – down the coast of West Africa. And guess what?
We’re going too! Mom contacted that lady that Julian Crane put in charge of
our travels and poof! We’re going to Africa! I can’t wait!
I miss you, Kay. I hope you’re
having a great time.
Love, Simone
Eve had her head on Jerry’s shoulder as they danced on the moonlit deck.
Jerry had paid some musicians to do an extra set for them, and they had obliged.
“ Penny for your thoughts, Doctor.”
“ I was thinking that it had been ages since I’d been in the arms of another
man who wasn’t my husband.”
“ Oh.”
“ And, that it feels good.”
“ I’m glad.” Jerry lifted Eve’s face and came in for a kiss. Eve was surprised
that she responded, but then pulled away.
“ I’m sorry.”, Eve said.
“ About what? I assure you that you haven’t forgotten how.”
Eve smiled. “ Why do you do that, Jerry? How can you be THIS charming? Why
hasn’t some woman gotten ahold of you?”
“ Maybe I was just waiting for the right one.”