Post Fractalization

Chapter 7

“Do you want to know what it is?” Molly’s obstetrician asked.

“No!” Molly said.

“Yes!” Owen said simultaneously.

“Which is it?” Dr. Solomon asked the couple.

“No,” Owen acquiesced. “If Mol doesn’t want to know then I don’t either,” Owen said, clearly making the sacrifice for his wife.

“Owen, I really don’t care what sex the baby is as long as it’s healthy,” Molly stated.

Owen smiled softly. Yes, he wanted to know but he wanted Molly’s happiness more. “I can wait.”

“Thank you,” Molly said. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears of joy.

“Would you like to hear the heartbeat?” the doctor asked as she rolled the ultrasound instrument over Molly’s swollen belly.

“Yes!” Molly and Owen said.

The doctor adjusted the volume, added a little more gel to Molly’s abdomen then zeroed in on the right spot. The speakers vibrated with the sound of their unborn child’s strong heartbeat.

“Oh!” Molly gasped as she squeezed her husband’s hand then burst into tears.

The doctor let them listen for a few more seconds then turned off the machine. She gently cleaned off Molly’s belly, handed Owen a box of tissues then left the overjoyed parents-to-be alone to celebrate the sounds of life privately.

 

*****
 

“Brian,” Jennifer said the minute Brian answered his cell phone.

“Mother Taylor, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Do I need an excuse to speak with my first son-in-law?”

“Am I still your favorite son-in-law?” Brian snarked.

“You’re my pain in the ass, son-in-law.”

“I can live up to that. What’s up?”

“It appears that Emmett and I have come to a meeting of the minds regarding my wedding. At least regarding my dress, the flowers and the menu.”

“Sounds like you have it all under control.”

“I guess so.”

“I’m sensing doubt. You’re not having second thoughts are you? Seth is a wonderful man, for a het. And he loves you.”

“Yes, he does and I love him. I didn’t think I could ever be this happy again, not since...”

“Don’t,” Brian barked then immediately regretted his anger. He took a deep breath. “Jennifer, we’ve both lived through a lifetime of pain, disappointment and stupidity. But that was a long time ago. We’re both different people now. You have a good man in Seth and I...”

“You have a good man too, and so does my son. You deserve your happiness.”

“Jenn, what is it?”

“The wedding, I’ve decided to make it as intimate as possible. Seth has little family, just his brother. I want this wedding to just be our family.”

“We’ll do whatever you want, however you want it.”

“Really?”

“Really, whatever you want. You want it small and intimate, then we’ll do it small and intimate. You want me to have John build a pavilion, then I’ll do it!”

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Jenn chuckled.

“I’m serious. You gave me the most precious thing of my entire life, it’s the least I can do,” Brian said, his voice cracking, unable to keep up the great Kinney wall.

“I love you, Brian Kinney,” Jennifer whispered, tears of pride and joy slipping down her face. Jennifer was glad she was having this conversation on the phone with Brian and not in person. She hated the notion of runny mascara and a red puffy nose.

“I love you too, Mother Taylor.” Brian paused to get himself under control before he continued. “Let me check with the brat, but why don’t you, Seth and the party fairy come over this weekend? We can go over your plans.”

Jennifer blew her nose before answering. “Sounds good to me. I’ll call Seth and Emmett.”

“Emmy Lou will probably be up here anyway. He and his jock take long weekends during the off season.”

“I’ll confirm then call you later.”

“Very good. By the way, when is Molly due?”

“Not until some time in May. Why?”

“I don’t want to be birthing no babies in the middle of the wedding!”

Jennifer laughed. “There’s little chance of that. We’ll have almost a month before she’s due.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Okay. Later, Mother Taylor!”

“Later, Brian. And Brian...”

“Yes, Jennifer?”

“You are my favorite son-in-law,” Jenn whispered into her phone.

“I knew it, you so love me!”

Brian and Jennifer laughed heartily as they cut the connection.

 

*****
 

“Mom, I need to go the library,” Gus said as he arrived home from school.

“So go,” Lindsay replied.

“I … um … I was wondering if you could go with me and I could drive.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t get to practice much since I got my license. I know I’m not supposed to drive alone. So, could you go with me?”

“I think that might be arranged, lambskin,” Lindsay said with a smile.

“Great! Can we go now?”

“Isn’t there something you’ve forgotten?”

Gus frowned. “What?”

“Your sister.”

“Oh, her! Do we have to wait till she gets home?”

“I think that would be advisable. She can come with us.”

“But I get to drive, right?” Gus asked. That was the whole point of this exercise.

“Yes, Gus.”

“When will she be here?”

“Any minute. You know how long it takes to walk from her school.”

“But what if she stops off at one of her friends’ places?”

“Then we wait.”

“Mom!”

“I’m not leaving here until JR comes home and that’s all there is to it.”

“Maybe I can walk down the street to meet her and hurry her along.”

“That would be nice,” Lindsay smiled.

“Okay, I’m gone, but I’ll be right back and then I get to drive.”

“Yes, Gus.”

Gus raced out the front door and down the street. When he turned the corner he saw JR standing on the sidewalk about halfway down the block. She was talking to some girl.

“JR,” Gus yelled. “Come on home.”

“Why?” JR called turning to look down the street at her brother. She didn’t budge.

“Because I need to go to the library and Mom won’t go without you.”

“You just want to drive. I’m busy.”

“Don’t be such a fucking brat!” Gus yelled. He was just about at the end of his rope with all the women in his life.

“I’m not a brat, and stop yelling at me in the street.”

“Then come on home.”

“Oh, for fuck sake,” JR griped as she said goodbye to her friend. She ambled towards Gus.

“Hurry up,” Gus urged her as she drew near.

“I’m not your slave. I don’t have to do what you tell me,” JR retorted.

“Why are you being so mean?”

“Because I don’t like being bossed around,” JR said softly. “I was just talking to Janie.”

“I … I didn’t mean to boss you,” Gus apologized. The two siblings started walking towards their house.

JR kicked a stone that was on the sidewalk and stared down at the ground. She didn’t say anything.

“Are you going to accept my apology? I don’t like fighting with you.” JR remained silent. “I didn’t do anything that bad, did I?”

JR let out a big sigh. “No, I guess not. It’s just that…”

“What?” Gus prompted.

“Since you got your license, it’s like you’re a different person … a grownup.”

“You think I’m a grownup?”

“Seems that way.”

“But that’s a good thing,” Gus replied.

“Not when I’m still a kid and you boss me around.”

They were approaching the house. Gus stopped and so did JR. He felt like they needed to finish this discussion before they went into the house.

“JR, I can’t help that I’m older than you, but I like having you as a sister. You were great when I had all that trouble with … Cole.”

“Thanks,” JR said looking up into Gus’ eyes. “I liked when you’d talk to me about what you were feeling. You don’t do that anymore.”

“Don’t I?” JR shook her head. “Then I’ll try to make sure I do from now on.”

“Okay,” JR said happily. “Can I count on that?”

“Sure, but…”

“But what?”

“You realize I’m going to be talking about cars and college and then more cars and more college and after that more cars and…”

“Stop,” JR laughed. “I get the point.”

“Good.”

“But you will talk to me seriously sometimes?”

“I promise, when the occasion arises.”

“Then let’s get going before the library closes and you miss your chance to drive,” JR giggled before she ran into the house.

Gus shook his head and followed her.

 

*****
 

Debbie pushed open the door of the Liberty Diner. She was there to clean out her locker finally and make sure all the work schedules were up to date. There would be no more heavy trays for her to carry or long hours on her feet. God, she was old!

The thought hit her like a ton of bricks. She didn’t want to be old, didn’t even want to think about it. If it hadn’t been for that fucking French fry that she slipped on, none of this would be happening. She could be working as a waitress like she’d always done. Why the fuck did she have to injure herself?

“Hi, Deb,” Lacy said as she came out of the back carrying a tray of food. “Grab a booth. I have something I’d like to talk to you about.”

“Sure,” Debbie said uncertainly. She wasn’t sure what was up, but it couldn’t be anything good.

Debbie poured herself a coffee and carried it over to an empty booth at the back of the diner. Lacy finished delivering her orders and joined her in the booth with a glass of soda in hand.

“How’s it going, kid?” Debbie asked.

“Pretty good. How are you doing? Your back, is it okay?”

“Getting better every day. What did you want to talk about?”

“I’m going to be graduating from PIFA in a couple of months.”

“Fuck, already? It seems like just yesterday that you were applying.”

“I know,” Lacy said with a smile. “And I owe you big time for so many of the good things that have happened in my life.”

“And you deserved every one of them,” Debbie said patting Lacy’s hand affectionately.

“Thanks,” the girl smiled. “I really appreciate that you let me stay with you and that you encouraged me and helped me hook up with Justin. My life is so different from what it might have been.”

“Don’t go there,” Debbie cautioned. “Be grateful for what you have, and forget about the bad things from the past.”

“And I guess that’s what I need to talk to you about.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“I have a tentative offer to draw and color a major comic,” Lacy said shyly.

“Fuck! Which one?”

“Green Lantern,” Lacy said.

“Is that thing still around?”

“Yeah, but I’m not sure I want to do it.”

“Why the fuck not? It sounds like a great job opportunity.”

“I guess it is … in a way. They want me to come to L.A. to work,” Lacy added, finally getting to the crux of the matter.

“And you don’t want to leave Katerina.”

“That’s a big part of it, but it would also be someone else’s work that I’m taking over. I love Rage and my own character of Sateeena.”

“And…?” Debbie asked sensing there was more.

“And it’s old fashioned. I like doing cutting edge stuff, like what we’re doing with Rage.”

“But it’s a big opportunity, isn’t it?” Debbie asked.

“Yes, and if it was Wonder Woman I might consider it. I just don’t think I want to do the Green Lantern.”

“Okay, so if you turn it down, what does that mean?” Debbie asked, prodding Lacy to examine her options.

“That’s why I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, what are you cooking up?”

Lacy giggled. “You know me too well. I have been putting out some feelers about freelancing, and I think I can get a partial income from that, but it’s not very reliable.” Debbie nodded and waited. “I want to continue Rage. Michael and I make a nice penny from that.”

“And…?”

“I want to make my own comic someday. Maybe Sateeena could have her own comic, or something else. I’m not sure.”

“And you want to stay here with Katerina?”

“Right.”

“So, where do I come into all this?”

“If you’re going to be traveling…”

“Who the fuck told you that?”

“A little bird…”

“Named Michael Novotny.”

“Yes,” Lacy grinned. “I was wondering if I might manage this place while you’re away. It would give me a steady income, and I could still waitress if I’m needed.”

“Say no more!” Debbie ordered. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. You would make a great manager. In fact, that’s what you’ve fucking been doing since my accident.”

“You mean you like the idea?”

“Hell yes!”

“Oh, Deb, that’s great. Thank you so much.” Lacy gave Debbie a big hug. “I better see to my customers.”

Debbie watched Lacy hustle around the diner filling coffee cups and clearing tables. That girl reminded Debbie of herself. She never shirked and nobody worked harder. Debbie sighed. She better go get her things from the locker. It looked like she was definitely going to be traveling.

 

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