Aftermath (The Deceptions Trilogy Book 2)

by Dana Mansfield

  Millie and Little Sofie were in the kitchen when he walked back into the house. His sister didn’t look like she slept much. Something was bothering her and he decided he must get to the bottom of it. He didn’t want to do it in front of Little Sofie, however. As soon as Matty was downstairs, Danny would ask him to watch Little Sofie so he could talk to Millie privately.

  “Morning,” he said and Millie grunted a reply. He gave Little Sofie a kiss on the top of her head. She and Millie were both still in their pajamas and both had severe cases of bed head. Millie was trying to get the coffee maker going but was encountering difficulties doing so while holding Little Sofie on her hip. “Let me,” he offered and she sighed her consent and sat down at the table. Danny decided to go the easy route for breakfast and pulled eight boxes of sugared cereal out of the pantry and set them on the cooking island with a gallon of milk. The kids were on their own; it was actually a treat for them.

  Little Sofie started crying and when Danny turned around, he saw his niece was standing all by herself next to the chair Millie had been sitting in.

  “What the hell?” he said to himself and picked up Little Sofie. She continued to cry which normally wasn’t the case. Once she was picked up, her cries usually stopped. “What’s going on, peanut?” he asked her but all she did was continue to cry. Danny looked out the sliding screen door to see if Millie was in the backyard. It was stupid of him to look since he hadn’t heard her slide the door open. “Where did Big Me go?” She wasn’t in the family room, dining room, or fancy living room. On his way back, he heard retching from the powder room. Danny knocked lightly on the door. “You okay, Millie?”

  “Just give me a minute, okay?”

  “Okay,” he replied and went back to the kitchen where Matty and Annie had now made an appearance and were debating between Fruity Pebbles and Corn Pops. Little Sofie’s crying was now just some pitiful hiccups.

  “Good morning, Uncle Danny!” Annie shouted and crutched over to the table. Matty followed her with a bowl that contained a combination of the two cereals.

  “Morning, Annie,” he replied. “Morning, Matty.” Matty wasn’t looking too hot either which was odd for him. He was normally a relaxed kind of guy.

  “Morning,” he replied back and seemed unsure of what to do next after setting Annie’s bowl down on the table. What in the world is going on? Danny asked himself. Millie came out of the bathroom and Matty bee lined over to her. As Danny poured himself a cup of coffee, he tried to overhear what they were saying but their voices where low.

  “Uncle Danny, is it hot enough to go swimming after breakfast?” Annie asked.

  “You know the rule, Annie,” he replied and sat down next to her with a bowl of Frosted Cheerios for Little Sofie.

  “I know. No swimming until after lunch,” she said impatiently. “I just love playing in the pool, though, Uncle Danny. My legs work so much better in water.” Danny smiled down at Annie.

  “Well, maybe we can make an exception,” he said.

  “Really? You never make exceptions! You and Aunt Millie are usually so stuffy.” Danny couldn’t help but laugh. His niece was right; he and Millie held firm when it came to the house rules and it was a rarity when they let things slide. “When can I go swimming?” Danny looked at his cell phone. It was not even seven in the morning yet.

  “Ten o’clock,” he said. “How does that sound?”

  “Perfect! And thank you!” she leaned over and hugged him, then gave Little Sofie a kiss on her cheek. “Do you want to go swimming with me, Little Sofie?” Before Little Sofie retreated into her own world, Little Sofie and Annie were tight and Annie was the sibling affected the most by her sister’s silence. She tried every day to interact with her. As normal, Little Sofie did not react to her sister’s question. “It’s okay if you don’t want to actually get in the pool. I know you hate getting water on your face but you can still sit on the edge like you usually do with Aunt Millie, Uncle Danny or Uncle Matty. Sometimes you do that with Natalya…” Annie kept up a running commentary with her silent sister and Danny’s focus went over to Matty and Millie. Matty was hugging her and then must have asked her a question because she nodded and wiped a few tears away. Danny was surprised to see a smile on her face, however. He could not imagine what was going on and lost himself in various possibilities. It wasn’t until Annie poked him in the arm that he focused back on breakfast. “Uncle Danny, when it’s time for Little Sofie’s shake, can I push the plunger? I promise to do it slowly.”

  “We’ll see,” he replied.

  “Ugh. I hate that answer,” she said as Matty and Millie approached, hand in hand. They sat opposite Annie, Danny and Little Sofie. “Good morning, Emmies!” Annie piped up. She called the two Emmies because both of their names started with an M and ended with the long E sound.

  “Good morning, Annie,” Millie said.

  “What kind of cereal are you going to have for breakfast?” Annie asked and stuffed a spoonful of her hybrid cereal in her mouth.

  “You’re quite the chatterbox this morning,” replied Millie.

  “I’m just happy everyone’s back home,” she answered after swallowing but then her face fell and tears sprang out of her eyes. “I mean not everyone. Just the kids.” Millie quickly went to Annie’s side and hugged her as she cried. “Everyone won’t be home until Papa and Penny are here,” she cried. “I didn’t mean that they weren’t coming home.”

  “I know, Annie,” Millie said in a soothing voice. “You didn’t mean anything. You’re just happy to have your brothers and sisters back. I know how you hated it being so quiet around here for a month.”

  “I’m sorry,” Annie hiccupped.

  “You have done absolutely nothing to be sorry about, sweetie.” Millie’s voice was firm but caring. “Understand?”

  “Da,” the little girl replied.

  “Good. Now, if you’re done with breakfast, why don’t you run upstairs and get dressed. I’ve been saving some old bread for the ducks. Why don’t just you and I take a walk to the pond and feed them?”

  “I would like that,” Annie said, her voice brightening. “We haven’t fed the duckies in a long time.” She slid off of her chair, picked up her crutches, and took off.

  “You really are good with the kids,” Danny said, feeling nothing but admiration for her.

  “That’s good because the brood is going to expand by one,” she replied and sat back next to Matty. Danny was shocked.

  “How’d you know? Melanie only told me this morning and she’s not sure. She’s just a couple days late,” he said.

  “Melanie’s pregnant?” Millie asked. “I wasn’t talking about her. I was talking about me.”

  “What?” Danny questioned.

  “I’m pregnant,” she said with a hint of shyness and took Matty’s hand in hers. “Matty and I are going to have a baby.”

  Chapter 26

  Danny and Millie went out to lunch, just brother and sister. In light of the news of the morning, Millie though it would be a good idea to spend time with Danny. Her goal was to apologize for the last couple of days. After taking three pregnancy tests in that span and all of them coming back positive, her mind and emotions had been on a rollercoaster.

  “Shall we go to Carlos’s place?” Danny asked as he pulled out of Hidden Hollow and towards Evesham Road.

  “Sure. I’m hungry,” she said.

  “I’m sure you are,” Danny replied. “Eating for two now.” When her brother said these words, she automatically smiled. The pregnancy was still sinking in for her and although it was unplanned, the fact she was going to become a mother felt just right to her. Maybe it was all the mothering she’d been doing since the kidnapping but once she w
orked out the kinks of taking care of the house and her nieces and nephews, she enjoyed every minute of it even though some days were very trying.

  “You’ll be eating for two soon also,” she said.

  “We’re not sure, Millie,” he replied.

  “I have an extra pregnancy test if Melanie wants to use it,” she offered.

  “I’ll let her know and thanks.” He made a left hand turn onto Evesham and headed towards the shopping center at the intersection of Evesham and Springdale Road where Carlos opened up Carlos’s Subs and Soups. Originally, he wanted to name the eatery A’s Subs and Soups referring to his last name of Avila but it had been Sasha who noted the initials weren’t exactly family friendly. Because he caught the mistake before Carlos spent a nice chunk of change on signage, he named a sandwich after Sasha. It was actually Sasha’s favorite sandwich, a modified Reuben without the Swiss cheese but with corned beef, lettuce, tomato, onions, banana peppers, green peppers, and green and black olives on rye bread with plenty of Thousand Island dressing. It was a standing request by Sasha that all the ingredients be on hand in the house for his bedtime snack. Sometimes, if he had a cross country meet or a swim competition, he’d make two sandwiches for a snack. The boy could eat, just like his father.

  Carlos had decorated the interior of the cozy eatery in a surprisingly comfortable mash up of industrial décor mixed with classic diner. It was just past eleven so there were only a couple customers.

  “Welcome!” Carlos boomed from behind the register. After they put their orders in at the counter – Danny decided to go for the Sasha while Millie chose a tuna sub – they sat at a booth near the back of the place.

  “I’m sorry about last night,” she said and took a drink of her iced tea. “I just… I don’t know. I guess after finding out I was pregnant, my thoughts focused on Jack and Penny.” She stopped talking and frowned. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to have this conversation in a public place as her eyes threatened to mist up. “I’m a little scared, Danny, and I really want Jack and Penny to be here for my pregnancy. No offense to you or Melanie or even Matty but Jack has been through a few pregnancies and Penny… Well, I consider Penny to be my mother and I want my mother to be here for my first baby. I’m a little worried I’m going to screw something up. I just want them to be here to help me.”

  “I understand, Millie. To be honest, when Melanie told me this morning she was late, I felt a little scared too and I’m not the one carrying the baby.”

  “Penny raised me and all the nieces and nephews. Who am I going to ask for help? And Jack. I want the baby to know both you and Jack. When Crystal came over last night, I was mad at her for coming and then I was angry at her being the way she is. If she wasn’t such a bitch and was the loving wife Jack deserves, I could ask her the dozens and dozens of questions since she’s popped out so many kids.”

  “I wondered what got your goat last night,” he replied. “I thought you were just mad she was there. If I may be honest, I wondered if she was up to something.”

  “I’m thinking that too,” Millie agreed as Carlos brought their sandwiches. They chitchatted over their food, deciding to wait to tell the kids about both pregnancies. Millie had her first OB/GYN appointment in a couple days and Melanie and Danny needed to find out for sure if Melanie was expecting. Millie liked the idea of waiting until the end of the first trimester but with two women pregnant in the house, neither she nor Danny were sure if they could keep it a secret for three months so they planned to tell the kids when they went to the cabin for a vacation before school started. Melanie would know by then.

  “You said you wished you had Penny here but you and Melanie will be going through this together,” Danny noted after chomping on the dill pickle that came with his sandwich. “That should put you at ease a little.” Millie thought about what he said and at first felt stupid for not thinking that herself but then felt a great deal of tension release within her body.

  “Thank you for pointing that out to me, brat, that does make me feel a lot better.”

  After finishing off their lunch and congratulating Carlos on his new endeavor, they walked next door to the ice cream parlor. Millie, since her lunch was dairy from the cheese on her sub, went for a bowl of rocky road. Danny was a good Jewish boy and since he had meat on his sandwich, he chose cherry water ice. They sat down to indulge in their dessert. Millie wasn’t done talking with her brother.

  “This wasn’t a planned pregnancy,” she said.

  “I didn’t think it was but that doesn’t mean it’s not something to be happy about,” replied Danny.

  “And despite everything going on with the kidnapping, Matty and I are happy. It just took us by surprise.”

  Danny looked uncomfortable.

  “I can’t believe I’m asking my baby sister this,” he said, looking like he wished to be somewhere else. “But do you normally use birth control?”

  “Yes, but with the hubbub of your wedding, I forgot a couple days. When they say take the pill like clockwork, they really do mean it. I remember right before we started… you know, doing it, something was nagging me. I guess it was the fact I hadn’t taken my pill. But, we started…”

  “Stop,” Danny said quickly, looking a little squeamish. “Please stop. I don’t need details or any pictures in my head.” They both laughed and Millie realized she would have said the same thing if he had started to go into details about his love life. “I’m glad you are both happy about the baby. You looked a little rough this morning when you came down with Little Sofie.”

  “I couldn’t sleep,” she admitted. “To be honest, I was worried about telling you.”

  “Worried? Why?”

  “Well, because I still worry about what you think about me being involved with Matty.”

  “Milena, I’ve given my consent. I couldn’t ask for anyone better for you. He’s respectful, caring and the whole family loves him. I trust him and as far as I can tell, you both love each other.”

  “I do love Matty and he loves me and we’re happy about the pregnancy.” Millie couldn’t help but smile. Since the third positive pregnancy test a couple days earlier, Matty had texted her on the hour during their waking hours sweet texts, even if they were in the same room together.

  “But,” Danny said with a sigh. “I also have to protect you; you’re my baby sister. It doesn’t bother me you two aren’t married. After all, Jack had three kids by the time he and Crystal tied the knot. Jack is more about loyalty than a piece of paper. Just out of curiosity, have you two talked at all about marriage?”

  “Yes, that’s one of the things we talked about last night when I couldn’t sleep,” she said and felt herself get misty again. “Matty asked me to marry him and I said yes.” Danny’s face lit up and he gave her a big old goofy grin before standing and motioning her to her feet. When she stood, he gave her a bear hug.

  “I am so happy for you, sestra, I really am,” he said into her hair.

  “I had a stipulation first before I accepted his proposal,” she explained after they both sat down again. “I told him I would not marry him until Jack could walk me down the aisle and Penny could be my maid of honor. I hope you’re okay with that.” Danny seemed stunned for a moment but then he smiled.

  “Of course I am and I understand. I think that’s a great thing. I honestly think Jack would disown you if you proceeded without him.”

  “We need to talk, all of us. You, me, Melanie and Matty,” Millie said.

  “Talk about what?”

  “Reorganizing the house. We’re full up now. With both Melanie and I expecting, that’s two more heads under the roof, although tiny heads.” Danny rubbed his scruffy chin. He needed a shave and a haircut. Millie smiled to herself at the memory of
Penny reminding Jack often when it was time for him to visit George the Barber.

  “It is getting crowded,” he admitted.

  “I’m not sure how we’re going to fix it with Little Sofie. She’ll only sleep with me. That was another thing I was up all night worrying about. She pretty much stays in one spot when she sleeps so I don’t have to worry about her kicking me as I get bigger but what about when I give birth? I’ll be in the hospital at least one or two nights.” Thinking about Little Sofie and Millie’s relationship with Matty is what Millie focused on the most during the sleepless night. She loved her niece dearly and wanted to make sure she was there for her. “I feel so selfish, Danny. I don’t mind how clingy she is because of how the kidnapping has left her but…” She paused and wilted back against her chair. “I would like to wake up next to Matty in the morning.” Finally, the mistiness turned to full tears and she grabbed a napkin to wipe them away. “I feel so bad for saying that. Little Sofie is in such a bad place and I’m worried about waking up next to my fiancé.”

  “Don’t feel bad, Millie. I understand where you are coming from and I wish I had an easy solution to the situation.” It was a conundrum and after picking up a couple pints of Karie’s favorite – chocolate ice cream with swirls of real peanut butter – they headed back to the house.

  Chapter 27

  The week after the kids returned from camp was a busy one. Millie and Danny decided to use that time to get the kids all ready for school so everyone could enjoy the time at the cabin. They would be going up for ten days, returning the day before Labor Day. That would give everyone the holiday to settle down and get rested for the beginning of the new school year.

  The coming school year would be a big one as Sasha was starting his senior year and Karie (7th grade) would have her bat mitzvah in March. Millie was very worried about this with Karie’s stutter but she was trying hard already to learn her Torah portion. Natalya would be a sophomore and Leo (5th grade) and Annie (2nd grade) were still in elementary school. Little Sofie should be starting her second year of preschool at the synagogue but her education was sadly on hold. She could have gone to kindergarten but Millie actually found a note in Penny’s household notebook that noted Little Sofie should wait until she was six to begin her formal education as her birthday was at the end of August. Talk to Jack about LS & kindergarten. Might be better to wait until she’s 6? Penny thought of everything even a year in advance.