Family Blessings (Cisco Family)

by Fern Michaels

  Hannah and Sonia gave their orders to a perky young woman with freckles and red ribbons in her hair. A coffeepot was placed in front of them. Hannah was pouring coffee into their cups when she sensed a presence behind her. She turned and looked up, a questioning expression on her face.

  “Excuse me, but aren’t you one of the Cisco triplets? I’m taking a wild guess here, but I’d say you’re Hannah.” The man’s hand shot out. “I’m Bill Rutherford. Sam and I used to be best buddies. This lovely, very pregnant creature next to me is my wife, Julie. We came back for Thanksgiving dinner at the church. Father Drupieski and your father invited us.”

  “Billy! My gosh. You grew up,” Hannah said inanely. “This is my sister-in-law, Sonia,” Hannah said brightly. Let him draw his own conclusions, she thought.

  Bill laughed. “So did you.”

  An awkward silence followed. “Would you like to join us?” The instant the words were out of Hannah’s mouth she regretted them. Sonia looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

  “Sure, if you don’t mind.”

  Chairs shuffled, more silverware and napkins and coffee cups were added to the table. The Rutherfords ordered ham-and-mushroom omelets, the same thing Sonia and Hannah had ordered.

  Hannah crossed her fingers under the table that Bill wouldn’t ask what they were doing at the Inn. She grappled in her mind for a safe topic of conversation. Childhood should be a safe topic she thought. She plunged ahead. “Gee, when was the last time we saw one another?”

  “A hundred years ago.” Bill laughed.

  Hannah sensed he didn’t want to go down Memory Lane any more than she did.

  “Imagine my surprise when Sam called me a few days ago. It was like old times all over again. He was going to travel up to Johnstown this weekend to see me, but I think we both forgot it was Thanksgiving weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing him tomorrow and spending time with him.”

  “How nice for both of you,” Hannah said.

  “We’re moving back to the valley next summer. Julie and I want to raise our kids here. Your dad is going to build our house for us as soon as we find a lot. What do you think of that?”

  Hannah didn’t know what to think of that. She stared across the table at the man who had once been Sam’s best friend. She felt a stab of nostalgia as a long-buried memory attacked her like a wild animal. It was a week or so after their mother’s funeral, and Sam hadn’t come into the house when Cisco called. It was dark when their father finally marched a belligerent Sam up the steps to his room, where he’d forced him to take off his tattered jeans and stretched-out T-shirt. Then he’d whipped Sam’s butt. Not so much because he’d gone out to the main road that would take him to Billy Rutherford’s house, but because he’d taken off his plaid shorts and red T-shirt and donned his old clothes. What Sam called his happy clothes. Sam hadn’t cried or whimpered either. Nobody, least of all Sam, ever mentioned Billy Rutherford’s name again.

  Hannah knew she was supposed to say something because everyone was looking at her. “I didn’t know Dad was going into the construction business.” She wondered if she looked as stupid as she felt. Obviously Bill did because he just stared at her.

  “Jeez, don’t tell me I gave away some sort of secret here?”

  Bill looked so agitated, Hannah took pity on him. She smiled. “That’s just like Dad. He told me a day or so ago that he was thinking about it. I guess he made his decision. Lucky you.”

  “I’d say so. The valley is really growing. New businesses moving in every day, and the population has tripled in the last fifteen years. It might be rough going for a little while, but we’ll manage, won’t we, honey?” Julie nodded, beaming with happiness.

  Hannah listened as Bill droned on and on about the advantages of growing up in the valley and raising kids here. When he finally said, “I hate to eat and run, but Julie and I promised Father Drupieski we’d help him set up the tables at the church. I hope we get to see you there tomorrow.” He reached for the check. Hannah was too tired to protest. She smiled as she shook hands.

  When she was sure the Rutherfords were out of earshot she turned to Sonia. “I’m sorry, Sonia. He blindsided me. There was nothing else I could do.”

  “It’s all right, Hannah. Sam used to talk about Billy Rutherford. He loved him like a brother. Did you know he always wanted a brother?”

  “No, but that doesn’t surprise me. He was surrounded by females all the time. Would you like to take a walk, Sonia? We need to talk. I find for some reason that I can think best when I’m out in the fresh air. Suddenly I don’t think it’s such a good idea for you to continue to stay here. After the walk, I’d like to drive you back to your house. You need to talk to Sam and settle your lives. If you can’t come to terms, then I want you to come to me, and I’ll get you a plane ticket home. On the other hand,” she dithered, “we could both spend one more night here, go to the Thanksgiving dinner at the church, meet up with our husbands, then go back to our respective houses. See, how confused I get? That’s why we need to walk and talk.”

  Sonia slipped into a bright red coat with a faux fur collar. She pulled on a pair of matching mittens made by Hannah. One of the thumbs was lopsided. “Yes, let’s walk and talk. I don’t know what I was trying to prove and to whom I was trying to prove it. I’m so glad you showed up when you did. I was literally at my wit’s end. We should talk about you, Hannah. What can I do to help you?”

  Hannah stared down at the petite young woman. The word friend came to mind.

  Outside, the two women linked arms as they strode through the parking lot of the Inn.

  New friends.

  Chapter Ten

  HANNAH’S CELL PHONE RANG SHORTLY BEFORE seven-thirty that evening. Her greeting was cautious.

  “Hanny, it’s Sara. I’m just getting ready to leave work. I was wondering if you’d like to go out for a bite to eat. Plus, I don’t really feel like going home. My treat, what do you say?”

  Relieved to hear the sound of her sister’s voice, Hannah said, “Sure. Listen, do you mind if Sonia comes along. I found her. She’s staying here at the Inn. I literally bumped into her in the elevator. We pretty much spent the day together. She’s as miserable as we are.”

  “That’s great, Hanny. Of course you can bring her along. Where would you like me to meet you two?”

  “I’m not in the mood for Chinese. That leaves us with Rafferty’s, the Pickle Barrel, or the Barb Wire.”

  “Rafferty’s is usually too crowded, and you can’t hear yourself think. I’m not into deli food, so that leaves us the Barb Wire. I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.”

  “See you there then, sis. Hey, you okay?”

  “I’m about as good as you are, Hanny. Is Sonia okay?”

  “She’s in the same emotional state we’re in. Health-wise, she’s fine. See you in half an hour.”

  Hannah turned to Sonia, and said. “Let’s freshen up, we’re going out to dinner with Sara. And guess what, Sassy Sara, a.k.a. Frugal Sara, is springing for the tab. We can’t refuse.”

  Sonia smiled wanly as she followed Hannah to the elevator.

  “I’ll meet you down here in fifteen minutes. Put some lipstick on, Sonia, and some perfume. It will make you feel better. I’m going to do the same thing.”

  Thirty-five minutes later, Hannah rolled into the parking lot of the Barb Wire right behind her sister Sara. They parked side by side at the far end of the lot so they could exit the side street when it was time to leave, thereby avoiding the eighteen-wheelers that careened down the highway at high rates of speed day and night. Sara climbed out of the car at the same time Hannah and Sonia did. There were hugs and kisses, and good wishes for the expectant mother. “Isn’t it amazing how we always manage to get the exact same parking spot?” Sara said.

  “Yeah, it’s downright amazing,” Hannah mumbled. “I think it’s starting to snow. Just what we need. Snow for Thanksgiving,” she mumbled again.

  Suddenly both Sara and Hannah f
elt a viselike grip on their arms. “Look,” Sonia cried.

  “Oh, no,” Sara said brokenly.

  “I’ll kill him! I’ll kill both of them,” Hannah said, as Sonia pulled her and Sara farther away from the light between two parked cars where they were standing.

  The three women watched as Zack and Joel escorted two striking-looking women toward the front door. The women were carrying what looked like gift-wrapped boxes. The foursome appeared to be in high spirits, as both doctors wrapped their arms around the women’s shoulders.

  “The blonde has legs that go up to her throat,” Sara said in a choked voice.

  “That suit has to be Escada. How can that redhead walk in those spike-heeled shoes?” Hannah asked brokenly.

  “They look like models,” Sonia said. She instantly regretted the words. “Come,” she said, “we need to get in the car and talk about this.” Sara and Hannah followed her blindly.

  “I hate men,” Sara said, the minute the car door closed behind her. “Just last night Joel said he loved me. See, see, you can never trust a man! You can trust Sam, Sonia,” she added hastily. “What are we going to do, Hannah?”

  “Killing them is too good. I say we go in there and confront them! I want to see the look on their faces when they see us. We’ll wing the rest of it. How dare they humiliate us in public this way! Everyone inside that restaurant will be at the Thanksgiving dinner at the church tomorrow. They’ll look at us with pity. Think how we’re going to feel. I can’t believe this! I knew it! I knew those two were up to something. Oh, God, Sara, did you see how beautiful those women are?”

  “We look like Girl Scout leaders compared to them,” Sara said, sniffling into a tissue. “Did you see those chic hairdos?” She ran her hand through her own short curly mop of hair to make her point. “Joel used to say my hair reminded him of Little Orphan Annie. Okay, what are we going to do?”

  Hannah squared her shoulders. “For starters, we have to forget that those two weasels broke our hearts. Second, we need to get mad. Really mad. Then we’re going to go in there and confront the aforesaid weasels. And, I don’t think it’s carved in stone that we have to act like ladies. Now, let’s talk this through. Angie Loyd is the hostess. We both know her, so she won’t try to stop us if we accost our husbands. Oh, that word sticks in my throat.

  “Because men really know nothing about women, and for the most part they’re dumber than women, I think it’s safe to say when they made the dinner reservation, they asked for our favorite table. What that means is we know exactly where we’re going when we get in there. We just beeline for the table. What do you think, Sara?”

  “I think it sounds good. I’m…I’m up for it.” Sara turned to Sonia. “What do you think? Or do you want to wait for us in the car?”

  “Exactly what do you mean by accosting your husbands?” Sonia squeaked. “No, I do not want to sit in the car and wait unless you think I should have the car running for a quick getaway.”

  Hannah was fuming. “Honey, we will be leaving under our own power, and we won’t need a getaway car. Accosting those gentlemen who are our husbands means we will react to the moment, and if certain measures are called for, then we’ll…we’ll do whatever we feel is necessary. Are you okay with that?”

  “You bet!”

  “Attagirl,” Sara said, slapping her sister-in-law on the back. “Okay, let’s go!”

  They were almost to the door of the Barb Wire and under one of the parking lot lights when Sara looked at Hannah, who in turn was looking at her. Both were wearing bulky ski jackets and wool slacks. Hannah had on one of her homemade knitted caps, whose tassel hung askew. A strand of loose yarn hung down over her left ear. “So we don’t look like fashion plates. So what! Ask me if I care.”

  “It looks pretty crowded,” Sonia said uneasily as she looked around the crowded parking lot.”

  “Good!” Sara and Hannah said in unison.

  The Barb Wire was a casual restaurant, with red-checkered tablecloths, peanut shells on the floor, and strings of red chili lights running across and underneath the beams. A barrel of peanuts stood by the hostess table where Angie Loyd was checking off reservations. She looked up as the threesome approached, her face filled with alarm. She knew instantly what was going to go down. Hannah placed her index finger over her lips. Angie nodded before a wide grin split her features. “Give me your things,” she whispered. A second later she was holding two jackets and a coat. “Go!” she whispered again.

  And go they did.

  The table for four was a happy one. Glasses were being raised in a toast. All four diners wore smiles until Joel saw a flurry of movement out of the corner of his eye. He kicked Zack under the table. “I think we have company! This would be a really good time to cut and run, but the exit is blocked. I’m going to kill you, Zack.”

  Zack turned just in time to see his wife wave airily, an evil smile on her face. His heart started to flutter when he saw the other diners stop eating so they could pay attention to what was going on. “Well, hi!” he said nervously.

  “Hi yourself, Dr. Kelly,” Hannah said, the evil smile still on her face.

  Sara moved closer to her husband’s chair. “Having a nice time, sweetie? Champagne! Cristal! Oh my goodness. Hannah, they’re drinking Cristal at two hundred bucks a pop.” Her smile was more evil than her sister’s.

  “What…why don’t you girls…ah…join us? Listen, Hannah, I can see your brain whirling and twirling. This is not…it’s not what you think. Is it, Joel?”

  “Hell no. This is…”

  “Spare me, you lowlife weasel,” Sara said, backing up a step and shoving Joel so hard he fell.

  “I don’t want to hear anything out of your mouth either, you…you…cur,” Hannah said.

  “I think this might be a good time for us to leave,” the blonde said to the redhead.

  “Not so fast!” Sonia said, moving to a spot between the two women. She raised her hands and made a fist with each of them. “I might be little, but I’m powerful! I know kung fu!” She did a fast little jiggle, then kicked her right foot out into nowhere. The two women cringed back in their chairs.

  “I can explain this…Now just a damn minute, Hannah,” Zack protested. Hannah’s balled-up fist shot forward to land in the middle of her husband’s nose. Her evil grin stretched across her face at the sound of crunching cartilage. In a single beat of her heart, her other fist shot out to land directly over Zack’s left eye. Not satisfied with the damage she’d done, she hooked her foot under the rung of the chair Zack was sitting on and pushed. He flew forward to land next to Joel, who struggled to get to his feet but couldn’t make it. He had two rapidly swelling eyes, and blood dribbled down his chin.

  The restaurant was in an uproar as the women cheered and clapped, and the men rushed to the aid of the fallen.

  A voice boomed so loud everyone came to a dead stop. “BACK OFF!” Sonia, all ninety-seven pounds of her, jiggled and pranced, her legs going in all directions. “Are you finished?” she asked sweetly.

  “I am,” Hannah said, dusting her hands together. “How about you, Sara?”

  “Me too.”

  At the exit, Sonia turned and said, “There will be no charge for the entertainment this evening, ladies and gentlemen.”

  “You’re a regular spitfire, Sonia,” Hannah said as she grabbed her jacket from Angie.

  “You’re my kind of girl, honey,” Sara said, slipping into her jacket. “Does Sam know this side of you?”

  “No, but he’s going to experience it very shortly.”

  Hannah burst into tears. “I broke his nose. I heard it crunch.”

  “So?” Sara said coldly.

  “It felt good. I hate myself.”

  “Shut up, Hannah. We said we were going to dinner, so let’s go. Biffy’s Breakfast Bar is open twenty-four/seven. Let’s go there. I’ll meet you. Oh, look, here come the girls! Is that an ambulance I hear? If so, the sheriff will be right behind him. Move, Hannah! Park in the bac
k of Biffy’s, where Biff and his wife park.”

  Both cars were barreling down the side road just as the ambulance and the sheriff’s car careened into the parking lot of the Barb Wire.

  Fifteen minutes later the three women were settled at a round, scarred table in Biffy’s Breakfast Bar, a name that didn’t go with the establishment. It was a burger joint with a liquor license, but it did serve egg sandwiches and the best coffee in town in the morning. Just about everyone in town stopped at Biffy’s on the way to work in the morning for their first caffeine fix. Biff himself scrutinized the three women with a jaundiced eye. As old and as wise as Cisco, he knew trouble when he saw it.

  “Had yourself some excitement over there at the Barb Wire, eh?”

  “How…how do you know about that so soon?” Sonia gasped.

  Biff snorted. “Police scanner. Keep it on day and night. You want some brandy in that coffee?”

  “Yeah, but skip the coffee,” Hannah said. “No brandy for Sonia, just coffee.”

  Biff poured liberally. “What are the three of you going to do if those two fine doctors you’re married to press charges? Do you want me to call Cisco for you?” Seeing the women’s looks of outrage, he discreetly withdrew just as Sara began to have a coughing fit when the brandy seared her throat.

  “Oh, God, how did this happen?” Sara moaned as she settled back to normal.

  “It just happened. Men get tired of their wives. I guess we’re just too ordinary for them. In a million years I could never look like that redhead. The blonde looked like a Las Vegas showgirl. Showgirls are interesting. Men love redheads and blondes, and that blonde didn’t look dumb either,” Hannah said morosely.