The first thing that woke Dirk from his sleep was the scream of pain that had drifted from the room two doors down from his.
He jumped out of bed and ran to his little sister’s room.
Denise was wailing with genuine pain as she held her knee. He assumed that she had fallen out of bed. He sighed as he shook his head and bent down to examine the knee.
“Was it a nightmare?” he asked.
She sniffled. “Yeah. Mommy was going to leave us.”
Her explanation burned him. Perhaps God had sent her a message from the nearing future. It was inevitable that Danielle was going to leave Darren. Dirk was lucky that he’d be in college so he wouldn’t have to deal with the drama that followed ‘celebrity’ divorces. A side of him hated that his sisters—as young as they were—were going to have to deal with the burden.
“She’s not going to leave,” he lied, attempting to believe his own lie. He picked up his sister and took her to the bathroom, where he put some ointment on the swelling bruise. Though he was holding a conversation with his sister, he was trying to convince himself that Danielle and Darren would stay together…together forever.
Yes, Danielle wasn’t his mother. But, Darlene—his biological mother—had died such a long time ago. And, Danielle was no stranger. She was Darlene’s cousin, thus being Dirk’s second cousin. They met many times and she was a good friend to Dirk. Now, he regretted not telling her what had been going on between Darren and Cassandra.
Dirk was in the middle of everything; he was the brain of this messed up nervous system. But, he couldn’t tell the world what was going on, even if he was held to gun point. That was how it always was. He could stop the fire, but his doing nothing would only let the fire run wild.
The door opened and Deanna was in the doorway, her night gown sweeping the carpet of the hallway. “Morning.”
“Morning.”
“Denise, what happened?”
“I-I fell.”
“Should I tell Mommy and Daddy?” she asked as she looked at Dirk.
Dirk shook his head. “We shouldn’t bother them. It’s Sunday morning.”
“…What’s wrong with them?” Deanna suddenly asked as she went to the sink to brush her teeth.
“What do you mean?”
Deanna stared at her brother; her blue eyes the exact replica of their father’s. “Mommy won’t look at Daddy. And-and, that lady keeps calling for Daddy. Does Mommy know? Isn’t Mommy going to get jealous?”
It was a wonder how smart the little girl was.
“Mom’s fine with it,” Dirk lied again. “The lady is Mom’s friend.”
Deanna nodded, looking as if she hadn’t truly believed him. She squeezed the paste onto her brush and began to brush.
Dirk helped Denise by giving her the toothbrush. He picked up his own brush and the three siblings brushed their teeth.
It happened this morning. The baby started kicking; now, Danielle was up and cooking scrambled eggs in a buttery base. The bacon in the other pan was sizzling and the heavenly aroma was spreading throughout the house.
This would be her fourth month of pregnancy and all was going smoothly. The baby was more active than Deanna or Denise, but that was to be expected and nothing of concern.
“Morning, Momma,” Denise announced as she and her siblings came trailing in.
“Morning, Baby.” She dished out the eggs and bacon in record time. The toast was already on the table and Dirk was helping himself with the jam and butter.
Darren came in from the living room.
“…Was that Miss Cassandra?” Danielle asked.
“…Y-yeah.” Darren took his seat at the head of the table. He began with his sugared coffee. “Are you doing anything today?”
The glare glazed over her eyes. “I was planning on going to the mall with the kids.”
“Can I join?”
The awkwardness that followed was broken by Deanna. “Mommy, can I buy a doll?”
“We just got you one the other time.”
“Really? I don’t remember.”
Dirk faintly smiled. His little sister was so smart. The doll was just a lame excuse for breaking the silence. It had worked. Now, Denise was asking for another doll and a promise of ice cream cones after the mall.
“Mom, when’s your next checkup?” Dirk asked.
“Tuesday at four.”
“Want me to drive you?”
Danielle smiled. “Would you?”
Dirk nodded.
Darren glanced at Danielle, trying to make out what had just happened. “I thought Jen was driving you…”
“Jen has her kids to take care of. Lucy and Amber have recitals and soccer practice.” Danielle took her seat next to Denise. “Jen is a very busy woman.”
The look in Darren’s eyes revealed to Danielle that they would have a very long talk later on. He shrugged. “Denise, Honey, don’t forget to finish all of your breakfast.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Hey, Dirk.”
Dirk looked up from his intern desk. “Oh, hey, Janie. Here to see your dad?”
Janie smiled. “Is he still in the meeting?”
“Yep.” Dirk smiled. “Want to grab some lunch?”
“Come on, Dirk, we all know you bring your lunch.” Janie laughed as she leaned on the counter. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s fine. She’s got another checkup on Tuesday.”
“That’s good.”
“…How’s Lilith?”
“…She’s fine. She could lay off the pot, but she’s fine…” She sighed. “She’d be better if you were doing pot with her…”
Dirk tried to laugh, but it returned as a failed attempt of a smile. “I see.” It would have been their fifth year dating. It would have.
“…She misses you.”
“Really?” he sarcastically remarked. “Last time I tried to call, she swore to shoot me.”
“I know she says that, but everyone knows she misses you.”
“Thanks for the support, but you’ve just moved. I know that she’s serious about these things, no matter what she says. She might not seem like it, but she’s very serious when she’s got her heart made up.”
“I know I may be a stranger, but you miss her as much as she misses you. Why don’t you two get back together? It’ll be the best—the best for everyone.”
“I don’t think she feels that way.”
“She does. Believe me.”
He sighed. “Let’s drop the subject.”
“God, you’re always like this! Why can’t you talk about it?”
“Janie, have you ever been in love? In real love?”
She couldn’t reply.
“You wouldn’t know how complicated it is. It hurts to even breathe when she’s around. And, when she’s not, it still hurts to breathe.”
Janie twirled her fingers, a sign that she was contemplating.
“I don’t know how Lilith feels about this, but I know I feel terrible and I wished that it had never happened. I regret it.”
“She regrets it.”
“If she does, why doesn’t she tell me and only me?” Dirk sighed. “That’s why we’ve got to drop the subject. I don’t want to think about it. If she still loves me, then she has to tell me. Why does she tell everyone, though the one she supposedly loves is right here?” He shook his head.
Jen fidgeted in the dressing room’s hallway. Here she was with Danielle, and she wanted to tell what had happened and why John wasn’t with them and-.
“How do I look?” Danielle asked as she stepped out of the dressing room with a new maternity sun dress.
“Gorgeous.”
“You think so?” Danielle took another look in the mirror down the hall.
“Of course. Pregnancy makes a woman glow, doesn’t it?”
“I guess…” She sighed.
“Another fight?”
“…Something like that.”
“…Miranda came over last night.”
Danielle nodded. “How is she?”
“She’s good…I thought I should tell you. I don’t think I would’ve felt right if I kept it from you. I-I saw her this morning…”
“…Well, how is she? How’s Miss Goth?”
“…She looks very sad.”
“…I would assume that.” Somehow, she felt her tears brimming, but her pride kept them from falling. “I suppose it’s hard…living as a single mother of…of five.”
“Oh, Danni.”
She bawled as she cried on her friend’s shoulder. “…How could he?” she whispered. “Why do I have to stay? Why?”
“Oh, Honey.” All Jen could offer were words of comfort. Those comforting words would only sustain a few minutes—perhaps an hour or so. But, they could never heal the raw wound that hadn’t closed in her heart.
After a few more minutes, Danielle went to change back.
As she was changing, Jen heard the commotion outside. She peered from behind the wall. She could see Deanna and Denise clinging to their father and a familiar woman talking to Darren. Jen knew the woman from her dress. It was Cassandra Goth and her children—Lucas, Sabrina, and Miranda.
Darren was laughing with genuine happiness and Cassandra looked her best.
“Oh,” Danielle whispered.
Jen looked over her shoulder and Danielle was peering over Jen’s shoulder.
“It’s Miss Goth.” Danielle took her dress and approached her family.
Jen tried to stop her. “What the hell are you doing?”
Danielle didn’t listen. She continued to walk towards her family and stopped next to Darren.
The three grownups were too stunned.
“Good morning, Miss Cassandra,” Danielle announced a bit too hastily. “How are you today? Are you out shopping? We were shopping as well. How are your kids? Is your father in good health?” Danielle continued with crazy speed. She resembled a machine that had gone into an overload mode and was about to malfunction. “I heard your brother is doing very well. He is accepted in the Crumplebottom academy? That is a nice school. Will you let your son go there? I heard he is an exceptional student. Dirk is going to the state college next year. Children grow up fast. How are you? Are you shopping for clothes? We’re shopping for maternity wear. Is this Miranda or Sabrina? Is your father’s company doing well?”
The questions never seemed to end, and her monotonous tone was very frightening. The questions were repeated. Finally, Darren tugged her.
“I was just asking a few questions!”
Darren gave her a look and shook his head. “No. Stop it.”
Danielle resembled someone who had just come out of a trance. She seemed confused. She looked at her children, at Darren, and then at Cassandra and her children. Cassandra was staring at her as if Danielle had struck her and her children were hiding behind her.
“I-I…”
“I think I should get going,” Cassandra admitted as she gathered up her children. “Good to see you…”
When they were out of sight, Danielle pulled away from Darren.
“Momma, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Danielle looked at her reflection in her child’s dark eyes. “No…Mommy’s fine.” I’m fine.
Jen came to them, after finding Lucy and Amber. “Let’s get some pretzels.” She turned to Darren. “I’ll take Danielle. Let’s meet at the pretzel stand.”
Darren nodded. “Thanks, Jen.”
Jen held onto Danielle as Darren and the kids went their separate way.
“W-what happened, Jen?”
“Oh, Darling, we shouldn’t talk about it.”
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