"I know you didn't want me to move, but I feel better with you downstairs at least for now," Peggy said as she pulled into the garage.
"Mom, I can climb stairs. Remember, I worked on that for days. The therapist knew my room was upstairs."
"I know, I know, but for now you're downstairs and I won't take no for an answer."
"Let mom feel like she is taking care of you, silly girl," Today suggested and followed them into the house. "She has been fussing around for days making sure everything is clean and good for your return home."
"Right, my return home, it only took three months to make that seven-mile trip," Tomorrow complained as she looked around the house. It was clean, cleaner than normal. "Mother you shouldn't have, you did too much."
"Ah, don't give her too much credit, she knows that handsome Doctor Kennard will be coming over. He asked her the other day if he could come visit you."
"Today that is not why it is so clean. I have been so busy I didn't have a chance until the other day, and it felt good to be domestic for a change. Besides, Margaret across the street loaned me her maid and we knocked it out in no time."
"Ah ha I knew it, you had help," Today teased she knew her mother was not known as a domestic goddess.
"Still, you shouldn't have. But I am happy to be home," Tomorrow said and plopped down on the first piece of furniture that looked comfortable. She was exhausted between meetings about her going home, lunch, and her mothers incessant talking. She was done for the day, and it was only 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Slapping the arms of the chair, Tomorrow leaned forward. "Well, if Doctor Kennard comes by, send him to my room, I'm going to bed. That is where he wants me to be anyways." Leaning further forward, her combover fell in front of her face. Frustrated, she pushed it out of her eyes and stood.
"Tomorrow that was a rude thing to say," her mother chastised.
"It is the truth; he wants my body. He plans to do all kinds of interesting things to me, and frankly, I'm kinda looking forward to it."
She turned and walked towards her mother's room trying to remember the last time she slept in this room.
Today burst out laughing. "Well, I hope he is as good as he claims."
"God, I hope so too, I could use a good orgasm right now."
"Not in my room you're not," her mother yelled. They could hear the disgust in her voice.
"Now see, this is why I don't want your room. I used to have them all the time in mine," Tomorrow said and closed the door.
"Oh, my Lord, she had better not have," Peggy told Today. She shrugged her shoulders; she had no idea what her sister had been up to before she went off to college.
Doctor Kennard stood at the door when Today answered. He was freshly showered in casual clothes. She had never seen him in anything but scrubs and his white coat. "Well, come on in Doc. Tomorrow has been waiting for you to come. I believe she said you promised her an orgasm and she needs one," Today told him watching his expression. As the bright red settled down below his collar, he spoke, "Oh, she told you."
"Yeah, me and my mom. Now me, I don't mind, I think we could all use one, but mom is not really keen on it being in her room. I don't know, she may be jealous."
"Today," they heard her mother yell.
"Mother, that nice Doctor Kennard is here, you want me to take him to Tomorrow."
"No, she can come out here and visit with him. Hello Doctor Kennard," Peggy said a little flirty as she walked out of the kitchen. "Those girls will be the death of me," she complained.
"Let me go tell her you're here, I know she is awake, I heard the water running."
"How is she doing," he asked quietly.
"She was tired, but fine. Mom fussing over her has her a little testy, but she was good. She was looking forward to you coming to her room until mom put a stop to that," Today teased.
"She really didn't say that in front of your mother, did she?" David asked, sounding concerned.
"Oh yes, she did and more. I think she is a little randy."
"Nice to know, but too bad," he told her and smiled.
"Tomorrow, lover man is here, he wants to see your horny self," she called out as she knocked on her door. Tomorrow stood in the middle of the room looking beautiful, almost back to her old self if not for the stupid comb over. "My you look good," Today whispered.
"Doctor Kennard is here; he seems anxious to see you."
"You sure I look good?" she asked, touching her hair to make sure her hair was still in place.
"Wonderful now go out and wow your man."
Tomorrow turned as she walked by, "he is not my man."
"Well, I think he hopes he is," Today teased.
Tomorrow walked into the room all smiles, "Hi David, I was hoping to see you tonight."
She looked beautiful and a little frail to him. "Hi sweetie," he said and walked towards her. "How are you feeling," he asked, a little concerned showing from the lines in his forehead.
"I'm good, a little hungry. I can't just walk in a room and have someone serve me. It has been a long day already," she told him.
Hint, hint Mom.
"I'm sure with all the excitement of the day. I won't keep you long, I just wanted to come see you."
She looped her arm around his, led him to the couch, her mother, and Today watched from the kitchen, "my mother won't let me take you to her room, so I'm afraid the couch is as good as it gets."
Tomorrow announced loud enough for them to hear in the kitchen.
David chuckled and sat; Tomorrow sat right against his hip.
"So how was your day?"
"Not bad, nothing major, a broken arm. Poor kid slid into home plate a little too hard. A sprained ankle and a migraine are all, not a bad day in Angleton ER."
"No, not bad at all."
"You look beautiful. Looks like coming home is good for you."
"Yeah, I can dig around in my mother's makeup drawer. It does wonders for my look."
"Well, you look good to me, makeup or not. Besides, it is not your look that attracted me to you."
"Right a dog ugly girl covered in shit, mud, and blood lands on your table, and she has all your interest."
"Ok, first of all you looked like a dead person when you came in and my heart still went out to you. And yes, you smelled really ripe, but I knew you were more than your smell," David teased, pushing her knee with his knee.
"Well, I'm glad you could smell past me," Tomorrow teased.
David turned in his seat, bringing his knees towards her.
"I feel like I'm sixteen again," he said quietly, looking into the kitchen and Today and Peggy were watching them. He smiled at them and turned his attention back to Tomorrow. "I want to see if there is something here, as you know. I apologize for being so bold when I didn't think you could hear me," Reaching out he took her hand. "But I could not keep everything inside. Something draws me to you unlike any other person in my life. Please give me a chance."
"I am giving you a chance, otherwise Today would have slammed the door in your face."
David burst out laughing, "Thanks, I think."
"Doctor Kennard, would you like to have dinner with us?" Peggy asked.
"No, I have taken up enough of your time for your first night with Tomorrow so I'm going to go."
Tomorrow grabbed the front of his shirt, pulled him to her, and kissed him. Again, no spark. She saw him to the door as it closed and walked towards the kitchen.
"How do you get rid of someone you're not interested in?"
Tomorrow asked.
"Well, it might help if you didn't kiss them," Today suggested.
"I was trying to see if he set my loins on fire."
"Row! That is not appropriate."
"Why can't I express how I feel or don't feel," Tomorrow asked.
"Because that is not discussed with your mother or in mixed company."
Today passed her hand over her mother's face, dismissing her mother's comment, "I take it you felt nothing," she asked.
Her mother passed her an angry look while finishing up on the salad.
"No, that is why I kissed him again. I know he cares, but he just doesn't do it for me. Now Gentry he sends a tingle to my middle region," Tomorrow said, pressing her hand to her lower stomach.
"The Cop?" Her mother asked, sounding disgusted. "Oh, why does it have to be the bad boy? A doctor would make a good living, and you could have a good life."
"First, how is a police officer considered a bad boy? Second, I already went after the boy who had money and what did that do for me? I'm going to go for the one who sets me on fire. I want to feel like I'm loved. I had a year of begging for attention and feeling rejected. I will never do that again. Sure, David wants me, but if I don't want him, the whole thing will fall apart. I think it would be better to not start anything to begin with."
"I think that sounds intelligent, why put out the energy. If you ask me, I do not think you should look for anyone right now. You need to heal, and you sill have a trial to go too. That will be emotionally exhausting," Today pointed out.
She did want to get on with her life but Today does have a point. Her life was going to get messy, and a man and the emotions may not be a good idea.
"Amanda Sue, get out of his lap," Melissa admonished her daughter.
"Aah she is alright. Aren't you my sweetie," Dante greeted them as he hugged his daughter who climbed into his lap the second, she saw him. "Thanks for bringing her."
"I thought you would be out of that thing by now, how long have you been here?"
"About three months. My brain and my feet don't seem to be connected right. We're working on it," he said, turning his attention back to his daughter. "So how have you been," he asked his ex, nuzzling his daughter's neck and tickling her to get a giggle.
"How much longer are you going to be out of work?" Melissa snapped.
"Why is my child support not enough for you?"
"Actually No," Melissa complained.
"Your mom lives too high on the hog girl," he told his daughter and then turned his attention back to Melissa.
"Well, truth be told I may never go back to work. If my brain doesn't kick back in and work right, I can't."
"Well, what the hell are we supposed to do for money?"
"Concept! Get a job," Dante pointed out rudely.
"Concept! I have no skills."
"Well beyond the obvious. Lose some weight, go to school, they have grants for women like you. With me disabled, I may never be able to work again. It will be easy, with me disabled they will help you and you can get on with your life. Melissa this gravy train is gone. I assumed my lawyer made that clear."
"I thought he was lying."
"Oh yes and I love staying in an old folk's home rolling in a wheelchair. You're right I'm here just to keep you from having so much money. I have a wonderful time here with all my exciting friends. No Melissa I'm messed up," Dante shot back.
"Are you suing?" Melissa whined.
"Yes! However, that will take years, meanwhile I'm on workman's comp. As you know it is not that much." Plus, who is he going to sue? It was an accident, period. The man who screwed up is broke too.
"I know this place is expensive, so when you get out of here, will your pay go up?"
"No, this is being paid for by my insurance. The thing you got mad I was paying for. OH, you'll never get hurt. Well, I did, in a freak accident, but it was me," he said, sounding very frustrated. She was always after money from him. He was sure that was the only reason she brought his daughter to see him was in hopes he had money.
"Time to grow up," Dante told her and went back to playing with his daughter. She was a pretty thing; she had his eyes and her mother's pretty face, blond hair in soft curls around her angel face, and she loved her daddy. Melissa was a decent mother, yelled a lot, but she does that with everyone. She taught him a lesson: don't pick up girls when you have been drinking.
Dante met Melissa about three years ago at a bar. He was up on stage singing. She came stumbling in at the end of the night, she thought it was his band and went for him. After a quick fling and the cold slap of reality she found she was pregnant. She has been demanding money ever since. They tried to live together, but he could do nothing right, the apartment was crap, his job was crap. He couldn't even put the top of the toothpaste right. He left three weeks after the baby was born. He paid all their expenses until the accident. He lived like a pauper, and she lived high on the hog. He wanted the best for his baby girl that came from the biggest mistake of his life.
Taking the most dangerous jobs in the oil industry, he was working offshore because they paid better. He loved his daughter. She was the light of his life. Melissa was stingy about letting him see her. He needs to go to court and set up child support and visitation and stop letting her rule the roost. That had been weighing heavy on his mind, and he was missing Tomorrow terribly. She promised to come back and see him but hadn't. The three weeks she was there made being there tolerable, now he was a grouch again.
He was shocked when Melissa agreed to bring Mandy to see him. He now knows it was to see if he was ready to go back to work. Melissa was looking around as if old would rub off on her. Dante rolled them to a library and found a children's book section and read to Mandy with a perturbed Melissa looking on. He was sure she was counting the seconds when she could leave. He couldn't give her more money; this was a waste of time she realized.
*
The social worker stopped walking and stood outside the library. She was shocked to see Dante holding a small child. As she understood only a few people had stopped by to see him. He apparently didn't have a family support system or a big friendship base.
"Hey Dante, who is this," she asked, walking towards them.
"This is my daughter Amanda Sue and that is her mother,"
He told her pointing at Melissa dismissively.
"Well, it is nice to meet you. I'm Angelina Stacker. I'm the social worker here."
"Hi, I'm Melissa Hollis, I'm nothing to Dante."
"Well, that sounds ominous."
"She just means she is neither my wife nor my girlfriend,"
Dante explained, trying to keep the bitching down to a dull roar.
"Hey Angie, you know anything about college grants or help for young unmarried mothers. Melissa needs to find a life."
Melissa balled up her fists as her face reddened. "You ass, you need to get well," Melissa demanded.
"I'm trying, but it may not happen too fast so, you have to put out an effort," Dante spit back at her.
This looked to Angie like it could get out of control really quick she needs to step in. "Sure, I know a lot about those kinds of things, I was a school counselor for years. Melissa, if you come with me to my office, we can talk," Angie said looking sadly back at Mandy. She knew her life was going to be difficult with a mother like Melissa. Angie took Melissa and left Dante to entertain Mandy.
They talked for about an hour when they came back Melissa was smiling and had a stack of papers in her hand.
"Are you tired of her," Melissa asked, sounding friendly.
"Never, but she is tired and needs a nap," Dante told her as Mandy played with a small truck someone left there. She has turned his chest and shoulders into a highway.
"Has she been crabby?"
"No, but you can see it in her eyes," Dante said, stroking her cheek.
"Ok, let's go home. Say bye to Daddy and let's go," Melissa said, rounding Mandy up. "Thank you, Angie, you have given me a lot to think about."
"Good and I hope you follow up on some of those choices,"
Mandy kissed her daddy goodbye and ran to her mother. She waved bye and they were gone.
"Are you Ok?" Angie asked, seeing the lost look In his eyes.
"Yeah, I was just wondering when I would see her again. This is the first time she has brought her up here."
"She does seem bitter," Angie said as she approached him. She hoped he would continue to talk. He needed to talk out some of that pain he carried around with him. She has thought that since he got here.
"That is a good word for it. I see you gave her a lot of information. Thanks."
"I did, and a pep talk. She wants to be taken care of, but she has chosen the wrong path. She thought you were going to be a country music star, and she would hang on to your coat tails."
"Yeah, I found that out after the deed was done. I was not who she thought I was. She was pissed and then to find out she was pregnant by me she was livid. I could do nothing to make her happy and gave up."
"You could have become a music legend," Angie teased.
"Oh, right let me get right on that," he said and shook his head. "No, I sang one song that is perfect for my voice during the last set of my friend's gig, and she went gaga. Wrongly, I took advantage of her, and I have paid dearly for about three years with sixteen more to go."
"Sounds like it. Well, your daughter is a beauty."
"Thanks, we did good on that count, she is a beauty," Dante agreed with a satisfied smile.
A concerned look spread across her face. "So, what are you going to do if you have trouble walking from now on?"
"Good question. Even singing legends need to walk. I've never seen a singer on stage in a wheelchair, a few blind ones but they can walk. I guess I'll do like I told Melissa and take some courses and find a desk job. I can talk myself into all kinds of trouble, maybe I can be a salesman," he offered, trying to be amusing but falling flat.
"Maybe," Angie agreed, "if you need anything come by my office. I can print you off some of the training schools in the area. Disability shouldn't be your answer; you will die young and unhappy if you go that route."
"Think so?"
"Yes, I have seen it too many times. They start feeling worthless and you have a lot to give this world yet," Angie said, trying to inspire him on.
"Thanks, I'll come see you before they release me," Dante said and started rolling his wheelchair back to his area. Whenever that will be. No one has even spoken to him about leaving this place. He guessed as long as the insurance was paying, they would keep him… He wasn't too sure he wanted to be kept. He needs to get on with his life. He needs to call his lawyer to see if he would handle a child support case for him. That part of his life he has put off too long, something has to give. He wants to see his daughter and not be at Melissa's whim nor with her watching them.
Gentry sat on the couch as Today waddled to the staircase to call Tomorrow down. Her hand was on her lower back and her stomach sticking out much further than it was the last time he saw her. She was in labor, he was informed, and her mother had driven over to Today's house to retrieve her suitcase for the hospital trip. Again, his timing was off, he wonders if she knew her sister was in labor when he called to come over. Feeling he was getting the brush off as Tomorrow came charging down the stairs. All his concerns dissolve as the excitement in her eyes met his.
"Oh, Gentry I'm so sorry, I had no idea Today was in labor. Actually, she didn't either. My mom saw her stomach knot up and then it knotted up again a few minutes later. Mom says she is in the first stages; it could be hours before she is ready to go to the hospital," she told him, but he only heard about two seconds of what she said. She looked amazing. Being home had done wonders for her.
"Gentry, why are you grinning?"
"You look beautiful, and your mother is not in the house,"
Gentry said as Tomorrow walked towards him with a sway to her hips. "You're right, but she will be back before we could even get started. Plus, they aren't going out after all," she explained with regret after all the hours of phone conversations discussing what all they could do to each other's bodies. Her mother and Today were supposed to be out shopping for the last items for the baby's room. Tomorrow had this all planned out. She was looking forward to some attention. Some good old-fashioned sex sounded amazing.
"True, but we could kiss for a while. That would make me happy," he suggested enjoying her reaction to him.
He reached out his hand and pulled her to him. Circling his arms around her. He crushed her to his chest, soaring five inches above her. He brought his lips down to her upturned face and pressed a light but welcome kiss on her lips. It felt strange being held by someone so tall and strong.
Billy was 5'-10" she barely had to look up to kiss him. Right now, she can't even remember him hugging her like this. She realized he hadn't shown her any affection for so long. She started to cry as they kissed, a tear hits Gentry's lip, and he pulled back to look at her. "What is wrong? Did I hurt you?" He asked with such concern his arms circled around her tighter.
"No," she said, leaning her head against his chest. Enjoying his strength, his smell, his manliness. "I was just enjoying the feeling and realized how screwed up my life was."
"Ok the suitcase is in my trunk," Peggy announced as she charged through the back door stopping short when she saw Officer Strickland. "You drive a motorcycle," she screeched out the question more like an accusation.
Tomorrow backed out of his embrace; she knew that tone. She was at her wits end; she was twenty-four not twelve as her mother was treating her.
"I do, ma'am for quick trips. I would never take Tomorrow out on a motorcycle," Gentry assured her. His plan was not to leave this house with her. The plan was to just go upstairs and have sex at least three times before her mother got home. He felt he could accomplish that easily with the way he feels about her.
"I hope the hell not. Good Lord, she has been through enough."
"Mother, he just came by for a minute to visit. I was hugging him good-bye and walking him to the door," she said, pushing him towards the door. "And it is Gentry, he has asked you three times to call him Gentry!" She shouted in frustration. She screwed up her day and she is being a bitch about it.
"I'm sorry I just didn't expect to see him in my house at this time of the day," Peggy shouted back, knowing damn well the plan was for her to be gone right now.
Gentry took her arm and turned, "I'm going to go and let you deal with Today. Call me," he said and kissed her cheek.
As the door closed, Tomorrow stormed toward the kitchen. "I can't believe how rude you were. How can you behave like that towards him," Tomorrow demanded.
"Because you can do better than him. That is why," Peggy shot back.
"You're no better than the old man LeMoine. Oh, you can do better than that girl. So, run her off the road and kill her," she screamed at her mother.
"You know I didn't mean it that way. I still don't see what is wrong with Dr Kennard."
"I told you he doesn't turn me on at all. It is like kissing a cold, dead fish. He does nothing for me, I will not take up with another man that does not float my boat," Tomorrow yelled trying to be at least not crude.
Gentry smiled as he sat on his motorcycle. So, what her mother doesn't like him, she sure does. He turned the key and popped the starter. "I float her boat," he yelled out to the neighborhood and roared away. Normally he wouldn't have listened at the door, but Tomorrow started yelling as she closed the door. He was glad he had listened because a kiss here and there and then a brush off was all he had been getting from her as of late. Now that he knows she is interested he will continue to pursue her. Their timing just sucks. But she is getting better all the time. Soon she will be able to come and go as she pleases.
"Would you two stop this bickering? My pains are getting closer, and Brice is in a meeting. He said he will call me back as soon as he is done. Then I'll get out of your hair and you two can duke it out." Today smarts off.
"He knows it will be a while right," Peggy asked, taking Today's hand, and leading her to a kitchen chair.
No way was her water going to break on her couch. She was excited to have a grandchild but not enough to replace a new couch. Those days are gone. Brice holds the purse strings now. Sure, she gets plenty, but gone are the days of honey I want something. No new car every few years and new furniture she was sure that's out for now. Brice is retooling and expanding and according to him, money will be tight for now.
Tomorrow stood back watching them interact. She was still mad at her mothers' rude behavior to Gentry. She ruined her day that made her even madder at her. But the baby was coming so she can forgive her this time.
The fuss over Today's condition began in earnest. It seems like it has taken forever for this baby to come. Her job was to keep track of the contractions. She made sure she walked around and breathed through the pain. Lots of water and bathroom breaks.
Brice stormed into the house with a very concerned look on his face. This was to be the first grandchild on both sides and his mother was dying to become involved. She was calling him constantly for updates. She was waiting by her phone for the invite to come over. She was not a big fan of Peggy. She felt she was domineering and pushy most of the time and had no plans to invite herself over to be put in a corner.
He had hoped she would go into labor at 2am and he would be able to spend these few hours pampering Today. No such luck she went into labor at her mother's house. He had to contend with his controlling mother-in-law.
"Ok, what do we have going on here," he asked with a handclap. He is here and taking charge, he hoped.
"We have contractions at five minutes apart and going steady," Tomorrow told him like the good little private she is.
That was the report about two hours before nothing had changed. Looking at her stomach it seemed a little lower to him. So, things were moving along according to the pregnancy books he had read. He assessed as he took her into his arms. "How are you doing," he asked and kissed her ear.
"I'm holding up, a little tired but good."
"Mom let's put a trash bag over the sheets and a few towels and let Today lay down for a while. She has a long night before this baby comes." Brice mentioned moving towards the kitchen where he knew trash bags were kept. He has taken it out often enough. He felt like he was the man of two families, none of these women had a clue.
"Sure," Peggy said, heading to her room to collect towels.
Today waddled in and stood with her hands on her back as everyone rushed around to make her comfortable.
Tomorrow took this as her chance and started discreetly collecting up all her things and taking them upstairs to her old room. Each time she stepped into the room memories would flood her mind making her smile. It was just as she left it the day, she moved out to be with Billy. Her father was so angry with her. Not a religious man, but he felt she was living in sin. 'He won't marry you, you know,' he would tell her every time they were alone. Sure enough, he was right. But the room also held good memories, fun times with her sisters, and friends along with the sad. And the hope someday Gentry would be in it soon using some of those condoms she felt in his pocket when they hugged.