by Various
Allison choked on her lemonade. After she stopped coughing, asked, “Evil? For what?”
“For selling my baby.” Her cheeks flushed. It seemed so much easier to say those words now, which bothered her even more.
“No. You did what you felt you had to do.”
“I wish I would have done things differently.”
“Me too. Promise me you won’t disappear again. I understand you’ll eventually go back to your life outside of Wilson, but we can’t lose contact again. Okay?”
“I promise,” she whispered and meant it. She loved her sister and the thought of her going through anything alone weighed on her heart. She had learned so much after returning to Wilson. Some of this was her fault, but she needed to let go of the guilt she carried for the problems caused by their own choices. She didn’t cause all of it, even though she was still angry about what she’d done.
Allison glanced down at her watch. “Damn, it’s after midnight. Mom’s going to kick my ass.”
They got up from the patio chairs and she walked Allison through the house. The lights were all off and she didn’t see Jordan anywhere. They hugged before Allison stepped outside and she
locked the door behind her.
She tip-toed up the stairs in hopes to find him waiting for her or watching TV. He wasn’t in the family room but his bedroom door stood ajar. She pushed it open the rest of the way. Jordan was curled up naked on his bed. He had been waiting for her, but his soft snores told her he had given up and drifted to sleep. She shut the door again and went back to her own bed. Would she be sleeping alone for the rest of her life?
CHAPTER 16
Chelsea opened the oven to take the muffins out. She had never been a baker so she’d stood anxiously at the oven door, watching the tops of the goop form into bread and then slowly turn brown. After being up late with Allison, she’d slept in. And now planned on a late breakfast. Muffins would hit the spot.
She set the muffins one by one onto the cooling rack she had found in the back of one of the cupboards. When the last one was on the rack, the front door opened and then shut with a bang.
“Jordan, I thought you were going to work,” Chelsea called. She grew excited to see him, since he had been in bed when Allison had finally left in the wee hours of the morning.
“It’s me,” replied Allison as she appeared through the kitchen door. She hopped onto the counter next to the muffins. Her long skinny fingers plucked a muffin off the racked, blew on it, and then took a gigantic bite. “You make these?” Allison asked with her mouth full. Little bits of muffin flew out of her mouth with each word.
Chelsea gave her a dirty look and put the soiled dishes into the sink. “Yes, and you can knock before barging into people’s homes.”
“Scared I’m going to catch you and Jordan doing the humpty dance?”
“No, I’m not worried. You should knock is all.”
“Oh stop. You’re glad I’m here,” Allison said with a laugh.
“Okay, so that’s true. But this is Jordan’s house,” Chelsea said softly as she rinsed the soapy dishes and put them into the dish drainer.
“Danielle’s on her way over. We decided to meet here. Since you’re living in luxury, you can host our get-togethers.”
“Is that right?” She let out a laugh.
“It is. You’re a good cook.” Allison took another muffin from the rack. The muffins were blueberry, Chelsea’s favorite. “And I have news about Elizabeth.”
She swung around, eyes wide. “What? Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”
“You were busy yapping on and on about me knocking.”
“What’s the news?”
“Danielle will tell you when she gets here.”
Allison’s phone rang. She swallowed her bite and flipped the phone open. She greeted the caller and then after a small pause, she said, “We’re in the kitchen and Jordan’s not here.” She ended the call and slid it back into her jean pocket. “You’re lucky you don’t have to wait so long.”
The front door opened again, which brought a huge sigh from Chelsea and a giggle from Allison. Danielle’s high heels clicked against the tiled floor in the direction of the kitchen. “Hey, bitches.”
“Glad to see you brought your manners, Dani-girl,” announced Allison.
“I love this house!” she exclaimed. “Damn, look at the pool.”
“Hungry? Seems our sister here is a good cook. Want one?” Allison asked Danielle.
“Sure do. Next to the pool. We’re going to live this up while we’ve got the chance.” Danielle walked around the island counter to give Chelsea a hug.
“You look great,” she said, eyeing her sister’s soft pink sundress. It was a deep contrast with Danielle’s tanned skin and black curls.
“My bikini’s underneath. I plan to take a dip in the pool. Hope you don’t mind.”
It felt wonderful to be with her sisters again. She’d never imagined she would be here in this spot but here they were, giving each other sassy banter as if the ten years they’d been apart had
suddenly disappeared. It was weird how life changed in an instant.
“Go ahead on out. The pool is through there,” she said, pointing toward the doors. “I’ll grab some lemonade and the muffins. You’re lucky you got here when you did, because Allison’s working on eating all of these. So greedy.”
“They’re good, what can I say?” Allison asked with a laugh before walking outside.
She took a deep breath and leaned against the counter, needing to collect her thoughts before joining them outside. Tears of happiness sprang to her eyes. Wiping them away, she pulled the
crystal glasses from the counter, then filled and carried them on a matching crystal tray with the muffins. One thing was for sure, Jordan had great taste in everything.
Her sisters sprawled out on the lounge chairs. Danielle’s dress had been taken off and tossed onto the cement, revealing a skimpy bikini. She looked beautiful as she leaned back in the chair with her eyes closed. Chelsea imagined Danielle didn’t get much relaxing time with the kids running around, and her busy job.
“It’s the perfect time of year,” replied Danielle.
“Wow, sis, you look great for having three kids,” she said.
“Doesn’t she? She has a killer body,” agreed Allison, leaning back in her lounge chair. She looked troubled. The skin around her mouth creased and she busied herself with picking at the bow on the bikini top. What was going on with her?
“Oh shush about my killer body. You both are beautiful.” Danielle sat up on the chair and plopped a muffin into her mouth before climbing off the lounger. “Have my seat. I’m going for
a swim.”
“You’re not supposed to swim for a half an hour after you eat. Sit down, Dani, and enjoy the muffins.”
“Quit, you guys. I only had one muffin.” With that, she dove into the pool.
“Hey, Danielle, don’t swim over there,” said Allison once Danielle’s head popped up above the water.
“Why not?” Danielle asked.
“Allison, no.” Her cheeks flushed.
“That’s where she played swanky-wanky last night with Jordan.”
“Allison!”
Danielle stopped laughing long enough to say, “Don’t worry. She already told me all about it.”
“Great.” She sighed and leaned back into the chair.
Danielle swam over to the steps of the pool and sat down. “I have been thinking, Chelsea.”
“Just not about me and Jordan, I hope.”
Danielle laughed again. “No, not that. Elizabeth’s guardian has to be registered with the Board of Nurses, right? Well, since I work in the medical field, I might have some connections. I’ll look into it for you, if you want.”
“That would be wonderful, Danielle. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, little sis. And you are invited to Hannah’s birthday tomorrow.”
“It’s going to be at the diner. Bri
ng Jordan,” Allison suggested.
“I’ll let him know but I don’t think…”
“Don’t pull that shit on me.”
“What are you talking about, Allison?” she asked.
“That you guys aren’t together. You might be fooling yourselves, but not us.” Allison took a sip of her drink. “You sure have taken a step up in life, little sis.”
“But this isn’t mine, Alli. At some point I’ll be going home.”
“I know. I guess I don’t want to believe it,” Allison admitted.
“You will come and see me in Oregon?”
“Of course. What’s life like for you there?”
She told her sister about her apartment and her job, how every night she would go home, take a bath, read a book, and then start correcting papers while she curled up in the chair listening to her favorite movie on TV. The story continued while they watched their ever-so-graceful sister swim through the pool.
“Do you have friends?” asked Allison.
Danielle swam to the steps. “Doesn’t it get lonely?”
“I have lived that way for years. I didn’t notice the loneliness until I came back here. I’m kind of dreading the idea of leaving,” replied Chelsea. “The empty apartment, no family, or Jordan.” The last part slipped out but her sisters didn’t react.
“Then don’t go back. I want you to stay.” Allison’s voice grew soft and she looked like she might cry.
“I know.”
“Besides,” said Danielle, “how can you give all of this up?”
Chelsea laughed. “This is all Jordan’s. Not mine.”
Danielle swam away from the steps, doing a graceful backstroke. “You actually think Jordan won’t—”
The door sliding open cut her sentence off. Had he heard their conversation?
“Good afternoon, ladies.” Jordan stepped out into the warm sunshine wearing his swim trunks and sunglasses. “Mind if I join you?”
Allison motioned toward an empty lounge chair.
“Off work early?” Chelsea asked.
He grabbed a muffin from the tray and took a spot at the edge of the pool, where he stuck his legs in the water but facing the women. “Yep. Hey, these are good.”
“They might be able to get Muriel’s information for us.”
Jordan beamed. “That’s great.”
Danielle swam back to the side of the pool. “What if the woman refuses to give her up? Have you thought about any of that?”
Chelsea didn’t like where this conversation was headed. Everything had been so good until he’d joined them. She picked at her nail. It wasn’t Jordan’s fault though. It wasn’t anybody’s.
“Then I’ll fight for her. I’ll take them to court and whatever else I have to do. She’s my daughter.”
She hadn’t even thought about the possibility of Muriel keeping Elizabeth permanently. Chelsea had figured they’d find her and be able to come back to Wilson without any problems. That’s what had to happen! “Muriel will give her back.”
Danielle shook her head. “You don’t know that for sure and have to prepare yourselves for the worst outcome. Have you thought about any of this?”
“No,” Jordan said, standing up from the side of the pull and walked over to the deck.
“Jordan, I’m not trying to make you mad.”
“I’m fine,” he said between clenched teeth.
“You know a court fight will cost a lot,” Allison said.
Jordan whirled around. “Let’s get one thing straight, I will spend every last dollar I have to get my child. The cost is nothing to me. Neither is the effort. Thanks for bringing me back the reality of the situation, but if they tell me no, I’ll fight for her until I’m dead.”
Danielle got out of the pool and yanked her sundress from the cement. “I should go.”
“Danielle—”
Jordan put his hand on her forearm to stop her from walking past. “Please don’t. You were just trying to paint a realistic picture for me and you’re right. Chelsea and I have been living in a fantasy world thinking we could get her back with no problems.”
“You’ll get her in the end, but might have a heartache before
then, is all I wanted you two to realize.” She pulled Jordan in a hug. “I’m not upset with you, but I’m still heading out.”
Allison said quick goodbyes as well. Chelsea sat back without saying a word as she watched her sisters leave, wondering what the future held for Elizabeth.
CHAPTER 17
The clack-clack of her dress shoes hitting the tiles was the only sound through the house. It being a half day at school made her smile. Elizabeth pushed her knee-highs down and scratched the skin underneath. The socks made her legs itch every day and she wished they weren’t part of her uniform.
“Aunt Muriel?” she called softly. She knew her aunt sometimes took a nap while she was at school. Aunt Muriel would often still be asleep when she arrived home.
She dropped her pink backpack onto the chair next to the front door and made her way to the kitchen. Smelled like her aunt had made cookies for her. Just as she thought, a platter sat in the middle of the table with warm chocolate chip cookies. Her favorite. A glass of milk sat waiting for her. She took the gooey cookie and sunk her teeth in it. Halfway through the cookie, she sat it down on the plate and figured she’d better check on her aunt.
Muriel slept peacefully on her bed. Elizabeth smiled at the older woman. Noticing the tiny goose bumps pricking the woman’s skin, she took the afghan from the rocking chair and slid it up over her aunt. She turned to leave.
“Honey?” her aunt asked softly.
“Shh, go back to sleep, Aunt Muriel.”
“I baked you some cookies.”
“Thank you. Did she call today?” Elizabeth asked as she did every day after school.
“No, honey. They will soon.”
“How do you know?”
“I believe it in my heart.” Aunt Muriel gave a smile so Elizabeth walked over to her. “Your mother—your real mother—loved you very much.”
“How do you know?”
“I was her midwife for months. I got to know her very well and I could see the love she had for you. She had so much that she had a glow in her eyes. That glow comes from the love a mother has for her child. That kind of love can never go away.”
“But she gave me up.”
“I think she felt like she had to give you up because she was so young. She’ll come for you.”
“But how do you know?”
“Because I feel it in my heart.”
She smiled then. “I believe it in my heart too, Aunt Muriel.”
* * * *
The party was in full swing when Chelsea and Jordan arrived. They stood around talking to their friends. She was glad to see Lisa was attending the party with Taylor in tow, even though her husband had left again.
Allison was able to pull strings to reserve the whole restaurant for her daughter’s birthday and decorated with bright balloons and streamers for the party. After all, being the manager gave her privileges.
Small bands would normally play on the small stage in the corner Friday nights, but they had a karaoke machine for this event. Tonight the vocals were brought by the local children and the adults who brought them to the party. Everyone had a good laugh at whoever was singing at the time.
“Hannah,” called Allison. “It’s time to stop singing so you can have cake and open presents.”
She watched her family and Jordan celebrate Hannah’s birthday. Everyone looked happy but she knew Jordan wore a fake smile. Emotions rolled through his eyes like a brewing storm.
“Time for presents,” Allison called to the kids that were busy in the jump house they had set up in the dining room.
Boo’s arose from the kids gathered around the singing Hannah. She, by far, had the most talent in the room. She sighed and flipped the off button on the microphone, then jumped off the stage.
Chelsea took a seat next t
o Jordan at the big table.
Hannah ran over. “Can I sit by you, Aunt Chelsea?”
She let out a laugh. “You’re the birthday girl so you can sit wherever you want.”
“She looks like Elizabeth,” Jordan whispered into Chelsea’s ear.
She nodded. Hannah had the straight black hair but they could pass as sisters. She reached over to Jordan’s hand under the table. He held her hand tightly. Something was wrong, and it had to do with this party, but now wasn’t the time to bring it up. Later would have to do.
“This is great,” exclaimed the twelve-year-old Hannah as she opened her presents one by one. Each time she squealed with delight, Jordan’s hand tightened underneath the table.
Once the presents were all opened and the gifts were piled on a separate table, Allison announced everyone should stay seated for the cake and ice cream. Hannah turned toward her, her big eyes staring up at her.
“Aunt Chelsea?” Hannah asked.
“Yes?”
“I look like you…my face does, I’m skinny like you and we both wear glasses.”
“That’s true.”
“Everything but my hair. My mom even says our personalities are alike.”
“Really? That’s amazing,” she said softly and wondered if it were true. She wished she had been around to watch her sisters’ children grow up to the ages they were. She had missed out on so much, and it had been her choice to do so.
“Do you know what I wonder?”
“What?”
“I wonder if your daughter and I look alike, too.”
Jordan yanked his hand away and got up from the table. She glanced in his direction long enough to watch him walk to the door and disappear outside. He was upset and she figured it because like Hannah said, she reminded him of his little girl.
“You guys do.”
“Can I come over and meet her when she comes back?”
The question caught her off guard. How did Hannah know? “Yes,” she said. She tried to keep the hurt out of her voice.
“Just so you know, Mom and Danielle were talking about it one day. You grownups think we can’t hear or something. We can. That’s how I know about her…from listening to them talk.”