"American Family"

Chapter six

Lydia sat in her car in the passenger’s seat. Jolene drove the car and silence settled in. Lydia sighed and cleared her throat. “Thanks,” she began “It’s nice of you to pick up my car and help me out of that damn hospital. I would have had Kiral take me but I haven’t talked to him in a bit. I’m worried about him which is why I decided to get myself discharged so early. I think he took loosing the baby worse then I did…” Lydia rambled. Jolene held onto the wheel and said nothing. Lydia noticed her knuckles turn white at her grip on the wheel and sighed once more. Lydia hated the sorrow that every one had taken on. It was as if she was the only one on drive while everyone else was on neutral. Lydia just wanted everything to keep going. She didn’t want to stop and mourn.

“I’m sorry Lyd…” Jolene said a tear flowing down her cheek. “I wish I could undo all of this.”

“The crash wasn’t your fault Jo…” Lydia said trying to comfort her friend.

“No, I mean my marriage, meeting Danny, just undo all of it.” Jolene said a bitterness in her voice. Lydia was shocked. Never in her life had she thought those words would come out of Jolene’s mouth. Never once had her friend ever expressed herself that way and neither would Lydia have ever guessed she would.

“Jolene you don’t mean that. If anything I know you are a firm believer in ‘everything happens for a reason’ and ‘being thankful for things that you have in life’. I know you don’t mean it. Jo, don’t feel bad about any of this.” Lydia said reaching to wipe away some of her friends tears.

“Lydia you lost your baby because of my stupidity. How can I not feel bad?” Jolene said still driving.

“Because we both know God has a reason for this happening and I know that in your head you’re grateful that no one else was hurt. And that’s the mind to think with. We can make it through this if we keep that mind set.” Lydia told Jolene.

Jolene pulled over and put the car in park. She rested her head against the steering wheel and let out sobs. She shook her head and finally said “What about my marriage?”

Lydia knew this conversation would have to happen and her heart dreaded it. She didn’t want to discuss the other woman with Jolene and nor did she want to have to tell Jolene that everything was going to be alright when she didn’t know. Lydia grew up in bad marriage so the last thing she wanted was to have to be caught in her friend’s bad marriage. More memories came back to her and she remembered the pain. “Have you spoken to Danny?”

Jolene shook her head and said “No” with a voice of sadness.

“Jolene you need to speak to him! You can’t just not speak about it. Ignoring it will not make it go away and you know that Jolene Franklin.” Lydia said. Saying the name reminded Lydia of her experience in the ambulance. She remembered hearing a man report that he was carrying “Lydia Rosario” and while Lydia lie there barely conscious all she wanted was to correct him. She was Lydia Maximus. She proudly carried her husband’s name. Until she married Kiral she had never understood the importance of a wife taking her husbands name.

“I know Lydia…. I’ll speak to him.” Jolene said lifting her head and wiping away tears.

“Promise me you will Jo. I can’t stand to see you like this.” Lydia said grabbing a hold of her friend’s hand. Jolene nodded and fixed her posture. She pulled the car out of its parking spot and continued to Lydia’s home.

Before soon they were at Lydia’s house and Lydia found herself ordering Jolene, once more, to speak to her husband. She told Jolene she could continue to use her car knowing she’d need it and hugged her goodbye. Lydia walked away from the car and before she hit the porch her friend was gone. Her ribs were still sore and she was dying to lie down. The doctors told her with some time off her ribs would heal just fine and her body would get over loosing a child. Lydia noted maybe time did heal everything. OR at least everything physical.

Lydia opened her front door and entered the home she missed so much. She didn’t understand why hospital walls were painted green for reasons of them finding it was a calming color because while at the hospital she was anything but calm. She looked around the sad home. It was dark and looked lonely. Seeing her husband was not in the living room she headed for the steps. She had an idea where he might be. She winced at the movement of going up the steps but continued.

When she reached the top of the steps she sighed. She headed straight to the one door that lead to that room. She held the knob in her hands and bit down in her lip. This was going to hurt. She opened the door to a room newly painted. She was greeted by a crib and a changing table. The room had new carpeting and even with out a child was cluttered with toys. Finally Lydia cried over the lost. For a while her body remained numb and she ignored it but as she had told Jolene, ignoring it was not helping. Sitting on the floor with his back against the light green colored wall Kiral looked up at her.

Kiral’s eyes were a sad dark blue tone. The bags under his eyes said that he hadn’t slept much or maybe that he’d cried a lot. Lydia’s heart sank. An image of a man so strong at his lowest of moments. Ignoring the pain she knelt and sat down with him. She reached for his hand and held it tight. “What are you doing here?” Kiral finally asked.

“I was worried about you so I had myself discharged and I came running.” Lydia said moving closer to him. Her ribs begged she’d stop all the movement but she needed to be closer to him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t answer your calls…” he said to her.

“It’s alright, I’m just glad to see you’re ok.” She said to him. Kiral remained quite and didn’t respond. Lydia used a hand to make him look at her and said “I’m so sorry Kiral.”

Kiral looked away but didn’t turn his head. His eyes refocused on her filled with water. “Why are you saying sorry like it only happened to me? It happened to us.”

“I know Kiral…” Lydia said softly.

“You’re not sorry are you? You never wanted kids anyway…” he said turning his head away and staring at the ground.

“Kiral that’s not fair. It’s true I never wanted kids but it’s just not fair for you to say that I didn’t want this child. Of course I wanted it! I wouldn’t have watched you build this room if I didn’t.” Lydia said more tears coming to her eyes. She hated crying.

“I want to have kids with you. I want you to want to have kids with me.” Kiral said to her.

“I do…” Lydia said simply.

“Then why wont we try again?!” Kiral said to her stiffening his posture his tone now sounding angrier.

“It’s hard Kiral. I’ve already been through it twice and it hurt. Why try again?” Lydia said.

“Because you don’t loose hope on this kind of thing! Please…” he said.

“Fine, we’ll try again.” Lydia said.

“Really?” He said excitement spread throughout his face. “You want to right?” he asked.

Lydia nodded and smiled up at him. “Yes, we can try again. But Kiral, please know this.” Lydia paused and then continued “Three strikes, and I’m out.”

Kiral smiled and nodded. He moved Lydia closer to him and she winced at the pain but kept the smile on her face. She was going to try, yet again, to have a child. “Now,” she said “Carry me to the bed and cater to my every need I hurt!” Kiral laughed but did as she requested.

**************************************

While the kids took some sort of surprise nap Danny decided to lie in his bed. He stared up at the ceiling and zoomed out of life around him. The house was silent and it was just the right atmosphere to think. He didn’t know what came next but he did know that time was running out. He knew it wasn’t long till Jolene and he spoke and he knew that Danielle was running on a clock also. He just didn’t know how to fix it all.

“We need to speak.” Came Jolene’s voice from the open bedroom doorway. He startled her but none the less he was happy to see her.

“We do…” he agreed with her. He sat up and made room for her on the large bed. Jolene came over and sat on the bed. They were quiet for a bit until Jolene finally said something.

“Who is she?” she asked.

“Who?” Danny asked. He thought maybe she was talking about Brianna but he wasn’t sure. He hoped this entire time her seeing him leave Shack’s house with her hadn’t been bothering her.

“That woman…… the one at shack’s” she said.

Danny sighed. “She’s an old friend. I can promise you nothing is going on between us. I’ve been faithful.” He said to her.

“Are you sure about that?” she asked. Danny looked at her and he knew she would see the truth in his words. He maybe had a daughter his wife didn’t know about but never would he cheat on her.

“Yes” he said.

“Then why so many secrets?” Jolene asked.

“I guess you can say I’ve done it all wrong Jo. I’m sorry this all went the way it went it wasn’t supposed to. You have to understand how confused I am and see that this is all hard on me too.” He rambled.

“When are you going to get to telling me the real story?” Jolene said.

“I just need you to know that no matter what sunshine I love you. I hope you feel the same about me now and after I tell you my story. I love you so much.” He said. He reached for her but she pulled her hand away. He saw fear in her eyes and understood just how worried she was for her marriage.

**********************************

Chrissy’s lips pouted as she thought about her sisters. She sat at her couch with the remote on her lap. Jia-li was in her walker moving around here and there. Zhi walked in and smiled at her. He sat next to her and she leaned into him.

“What’s up with the lip pouting?” he asked.

“I’m angry at Jo and Lyd. I feel like something is up and they’re keeping me in the dark about it.” Chrissy said.

“I’m sure they don’t mean to. Something’s are just not easy to repeat…” Zhi said.

“You’re not supposed to be siding with them.” Chrissy said.

“You know they’re going to tell you eventually.” Zhi said.

Chrissy did some more lip pouting and said “I want to know now though.”

“The lip pouting isn’t so bad you know. Make me think of all the things I’d do with those lips.” Zhi smiled and his dimple teased Chrissy.

Chrissy giggled and shook her head. She leaned on Zhi some more enjoying the comfort but she couldn’t help but think about Jolene and Lydia. She noted that Danny also acted weird so maybe he was in on something too. She couldn’t take this secrets crap and she wondered when every one would stop leaving Chrissy out and actually pretend she’s apart of the family. Finally Chrissy understood how the twins felt when they were left out.

"American Family"

Chapter Five

Jolene’s hands trembled as they cradled the phone in it. It was early in the morning and she was tired. Her eyes burned from tiredness and tears and she just didn’t know what to do. Jolene could only feel worry and pain. She didn’t know what came next. Her husband never came home last night and she was just lost. Wiping tears away Jolene dialed Lydia’s number through blurry eyes. She needed a friend around her if she was to keep her sanity.

Lydia answered after two rings with a perky hello. “Lyd, I need you to come with me.” Jolene said. “Danny hasn’t came home and I want to look for him.”

“Really?” Lydia said her voice truly stunned. “I’ll be there soon, be ready.”

Jolene told her yes and hung up the phone. She wiped away her tears and gathered her children. With one glance at them staring up at her she found herself engulfing them in a hug. She held unto them tight and closed her eyes.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Adyli said frantically and breathlessly due to Jolene’s tight hug. Jolene pulled away and looked at her children.

“Well, Mommy is just worried about Daddy. So we’re going to look for him.” Jolene said and the kids nodded. Jolene hugged them again and said “I love you guys so much.” She gave little Darrien a kiss on the cheek and let them go. She opened the front door in time to see Kiral pull up. Lydia leaned over, kissed Kiral, and jumped out of the car. He gave Jolene a wave and pulled off. Lydia trotted up Jolene’s walkway and went directly to Jolene. She hugged her and gave her a questioning look. Jolene shrugged and signaled for them to get out of the house. They were all in the car in record time.

As Jolene drove Lydia held her phone to her ear calling Danny’s cell for one last time. Lydia snapped her phone closed and shook her head. “He didn’t answer. Where are we going to check first?” Lydia asked.

“Friends’ homes first, hospital last. I don’t even want to consider anything like that until we’ve checked every where.” Jolene said. “We’re going to Shack’s house.”

“Shack?” Lydia said cringing at the name.

“One of Danny’s ‘good’ friends. I’ve met him maybe three times but I still know the way to his house. I’m hoping Danny would have told him something and if I am very lucky, that he is there.” Jolene said driving with determination.

“Okay….” Lydia said. Lydia moved around in her seat and Jolene gave her a glance. Lydia was sort of pale and her eyes were wide. It was then Jolene realized she hadn’t even paid any attention to her friend’s current occupation. She never even bothered to ask how the pregnancy was treating her.

“Are you alright? Feeling sick?” Jolene asked slowing the car down a bit.

“Sort of…” Lydia said. “I think I should tell you something Jo…” Jolene looked at her and silence filled the car.

“Well?” Jolene said.

“Last night I went to talk to Danny, my friend Danny not your husband Danny, and he’s a bartender. While I was at the bar trying to talk to him this horrible laughter just caught my attention and before I knew it I was looking at-“ Lydia was cut off by Jolene.

“Oh my...” Jolene stood in shook her body frozen in time as she saw the image of her husband coming out of shack’s home with a woman following him. Danny walked fixing his shirt and the woman yawned. Seeing the image of the two walking together put Jolene’s awareness on hold and she no longer heard what Lydia was saying or anything that was happening around.

Jolene never realized that the light had turned red or that her foot had failed to hit the brake. All she could understand was that image of her husband walking with another woman and the wrong message it sent. Jolene felt her world shake and then she realized it wasn’t just her world shaking but the entire car as another car hit the right hand side head on. The car spun and Jolene’s body shook. She heard glass shatter and heard her babies scream in terror.

Jolene’s chest burned as she realized she wasn’t exhaling. The car finally came to a halt and Jolene finally let out that breath that burned away in her chest in a sob. Jolene ripped away at her seat belt and moved for the door. The door flew open and she rushed to the doors to the back seats. She opened it and pulled her children out of their car seats. She moved away from the scene entirely and held onto her kids. She held them tight and made sure they were ok. “Thank God… Thank God” She muttered as tears flowed down her cheeks.

The kids seemed to calm in her arms but she knew they were still afraid. After a second Jolene finally realized Danny was at her side asking her if she was ok. Jolene grabbed onto him but never let her children go. Maybe she had seen him walking with another woman and maybe he never came home last night but she still loved him and needed him most of all at a time like this.

“Are you ok?” he asked once again directly into her ear.

“Yes…” she came to say in a raspy voice with vision still clouded by tears. She blinked away the tears and they came rushing down her cheeks. Danny wiped them away and held her tight. She wanted his strength and comfort. She was haunted by last night’s memory of waking up without him there and rolling over to an empty side. It was all too much. Jolene practiced her breathing until finally everything came back to her.

She finally saw what was happening around her and she realized that all cars had stopped. She heard the distant sirens and all the men screaming. Their words cleared up and she understood what they were saying. They couldn’t get Lydia out.

*******************************


Danny stood in front of the hospital keeping a look out for Kiral. He inhaled some air and tried to calm himself down. Panic was running through his blood and his heart pumped fast as he remembered the view of his wife jumping out of the car that had just been hit. He remembered her shocked and fearful facial expression and his heart took on a new beat pace. Now he stood in front of this hospital waiting for Kiral. This hospital held his family in one room and his almost sister in another while on a different floor his newly discovered daughter pulled at his heart. He was overwhelmed with sorrow and pain.

Finally Kiral came into his sight and he casts all emotions to the side. Kiral approached him and you saw worry in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Is it Lydia? Is the baby alright?” he asked frantically.

“Calm down, it’s not as bad as it seems.” Yes, it was. Danny had no idea why these words came out of his mouth only wondered if it was just out of reflex to allow his friend to relax a bit. Danny wasn’t relaxed about it and he doubted Kiral would be either.

“What’s going on?!” Kiral demanded.

“Jolene and Lydia have been in an accident. Jolene made it out alright the doctors are just checking up on a couple of things but I don’t think Lydia made it alright.” Danny said.

“Well, is there something wrong? What the hell is going on in there?!” Kiral asked.

“I don’t know… They don’t release information to people who aren’t family…” Danny said in a defeated tone.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Kiral said pushing past Danny and straight into the hospital. Danny moved ahead of him and led him to the elevator. He led him all the way to the waiting room where Chrissy and Zhi sat along with Jia-li. They all looked up at Kiral and sadness over came there expressions.

Kiral talked to the girl at the reception desk and demanded to speak to a doctor. It wasn’t long till he was pulled away from the group and was speaking to the doctor. Danny sat in a chair next to Chrissy. They all watched he doctor speak to Kiral and his reaction to the doctors unknown words. Kiral balled up his fist and his posture stiffened. Danny watched the doctor laid a hand on Kiral’s shoulder and a tear finding its way down his cheek. Danny sighed. He’d just witnessed a man of strength face a fear he probably never imagined would happen.

Danny suddenly wanted to be with his wife. He wanted to be with his children but he knew it wasn’t possible because for some reason the doctors demanded separation as they focused on clearing her. He needed to be with her. Kiral nodded his head and finally walked back over to the group awaiting the news.

He sat down and let his head face down as if it had become too heavy for his neck to support. After minutes he finally looked up. “She’s ok…” he said. “But the baby is gone. She’s not pregnant anymore.” A vein showed up on his head and Danny knew he was fighting back tears yet again. The news was painful. Chrissy leaned into Zhi and Kiral hid his face in his hands while Danny sat there and stared.

The list of things that went wrong just grew longer and the pain grew stronger. Danny wanted to be able to handle it all but it was just so hard. Now his body seemed confused as to how to react. His entire world was numb and silent. Then Brianna came into view. She stared at him her arms crossed and her head tilted. Danny shook his head and said “I’ll be right back guys.” Nobody said anything yet he knew they heard him.

Danny got up and walked past the crowd of doctors, patients and visitors and finally found Brianna. “What?” he said to her.

“I just wanted to see if you were alright.” She said placing her hand on his arm and rubbing it. Danny pulled his arm away from her and nodded. “I’m fine.” He said.

“Are you going to visit Danielle?” she asked placing her rejected hand back into its crossed position.

“My wife and children were just in a car accident Brianna.” He said bitterly.

“Yeah well you’re daughter is fighting cancer on another floor. She needs attention too.” She answered him.

“If she needs so much attention then why didn’t I find out about her until she was fifteen?!” he yelled at her. Doctors and nurses looked at them and Danny noted to lower his voice.

“Don’t you dare use that against me…” she said in a warning tone.

“You know I don’t even know if she’s mine.” He said finally. Brianna just looked at him with a look of disbelief. Already Danny regretted the words that came out of his mouth but he couldn’t undo them. All he could do was watch as Brianna walked away. Danny frowned and didn’t understand how all this could happen. Everything was just terribly wrong.

******************************


Kiral pushed the hospital door open and his feet brought him into the room. He looked at Lydia and she stared at him. Seeing her brought some relief to him but knowing the message he was about to deliver made his palms sweaty and his through swell up. He didn’t want to have to tell her but he didn’t want some whack job doctor telling her. He wanted to be there.

Kiral walked up to her bed and knelt down. He kissed her lips and rested his head against hers. She lifted her hands to hold his head between them. Kiral sighed and pulled away. He grabbed a chair and sat it close to the bed. Lydia licked her lips and pushed herself up on the bed a bit.

“I’m not pregnant anymore, am I?” Lydia finally asked. Kiral shook his head and saw the gloss that appeared in her eyes. He grabbed her hand and held it tight.

“But you’re alive and that’s what we should think about.” He said to her.

“I would trade my life for that baby.” She said to him tears falling down her cheeks.

“We could always try again Lydia.” Kiral said bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it. He passed his cheek against her hand and brought it down again.

“I’m not sure I even want to try again Kiral.” Lydia said biting down on her lip. Kiral gave her a flabbergasted look and she continued. “The first time I was pregnant was with Ahmet. He convinced me to go through with an abortion. I regretted that day my whole life. Now here I am again with out child. I thought so much that I could make up for the abortion with this one… and now it’s gone. I don’t know if I have the strength to try again.”

Kiral hated that man with a passion. He not only hurt Lydia but he took her child away from her. If he could he’d kill him. “Lydia, for all that I have known you, you are the strongest woman I‘ve ever met. I believe you have the strength to do anything. I want a family with you… we can’t let this stop us.” He said giving her hand a squeeze.

Lydia shook her head and looked away from him. “I don’t know Kiral, I just don’t know.” She said to him with a sigh.

Note from the Author:

Hey guys! About the horrible typos and spelling errors and missing letters… Sorry! I’ve been pushing for more writing... and longer chapters. But, with longer chapters comes even more editing. I can’t write six pages of a story then reread what I just wrote to edit it… So just move on when you find a mess up and understand my problem. I hope it doesn’t take away from your reading experience. Keep on reading!!!

Mizz Lyd

"American Family"

Chapter Four

Jolene put a smile on and knocked on Chrissy’s door. It was early morning and Jolene had dressed the kids and packed them into her car. She’d driven around to get rid of her foul mood and finally stopped at Chrissy’s home. Jolene knocked again and finally Chrissy opened the door sticking her head out. She looked at the family and shook her head. She fully opened the door and let them all come in. The kids walked into Chrissy’s living room and grabbed the remote and began watching cartoons. The children let out a sigh as if they were tired of the routine.

Chrissy looked at Jolene with a tired face. Chrissy still wore her pajamas and her hair was still a wreck. On her hip she held Jia-li who giggled at the sight of Jolene. “OH, give me my baby God daughter!” she exclaimed before extending her hands and grabbing the baby. She bounced her around a bit and covered her in kisses.

Jolene moved to the living room and sat on the couch with Jia-li while Chrissy disappeared up stairs. The little girl looked up at her with big blue eyes. Many times Jolene was reminded of Chrissy when she looked at the girl. Not so much for her Asian features but because of her eyes. Like her mother the girl had big blue eyes. When Jolene looked at her eyes she was reminded of moments she had the opportunity to look into those big blue eyes during Jolene and Chrissy’s adolescence.

Jolene and Chrissy grew up together and were probably as close as sisters could get with out it getting scary. They told each other almost everything and had a loving relationship. Jolene and Chrissy had stuck it through together and that’s what counted. It wasn’t until Jolene was about 17 till Lydia was added onto the club. Even now with all the years they had spent with Lydia, Jolene would always know that Chrissy was her blood sister. Something no one else had.

After an hour of playing with Jia-li and cooing with her, Chrissy finally came down. She came down showered and dressed wearing shoes that matched her outfit, a habit that no doubt Lydia had enforced. Her hair was tied back and her face was glowing. She looked awake and refreshed. Something every mother hoped to look like once in a while.

“So,” Chrissy said taking a seat next to Jolene. “Mind telling me what exactly it is that’s been bugging you?”

Jolene gave her a face that said she didn’t understand the question and added “What?”

“You have been coming over here way more then usual and you know I don’t mind having you over but I know there has to be something more.” Chrissy said.

“I think I’m aloud to want to see my God daughter and niece as much as I want don’t you?” Jolene said bitterly.

“Don’t blame it on Jia-li she is just a baby. There is something going on and I want to know what it is.” Chrissy said. Chrissy looked at Jolene and waited for a response. When Jolene didn’t say anything Chrissy nudged her and said “Come on Jo! We’re sisters, we talk about anything. Tell me what’s up.”

Jolene sighed and stood up. “I don’t want to talk about it in front of the children.” She said. She then placed Jia-li in her play pin and told the kids to stay put. They both walked to the kitchen and sat at the table. Chrissy sat and stared at Jolene waiting for her to start. “It’s Danny…” Jolene simply said.

“I knew it!” Chrissy told her with a finger in the air. Jolene rolled her eyes and Chrissy mumbled “Sorry…” she put her finger down and waited for Jolene to begin once again.

“Well, I feel like there is something going on and he’s not sharing it with me. He comes home late and then when he’s home he’s this walking zombie. He doesn’t talk much anymore and barely shows the kids any attention. He been doing a lot of going out and I’m starting to fear he may be slipping away from me.” Jolene poured out.

“Like he’s with some other girl?” Chrissy asked.

“He’s definitely not acting like he’s with me anymore…” Jolene said her eyes stinging. She didn’t want to cry. She didn’t want Chrissy to know just how bad it was eating away at her heart.

“Wow…” Chrissy said. “Well, why haven’t you spoken to him about it?”

“I just can’t.” Jolene said a tear finally running down her cheek. “I look at him and some how I can’t bring myself to talk to him about it. I’m worried he might take it wrong or if I bring it up he might reveal something I just don’t want to hear. Besides, when I look at him and consider talking to him about it… I can’t even explain it. It’s like something holds me back.”

More tears came rushing down Jolene’s already hot cheeks. Chrissy shook her head and said “That’s not right. If you can’t speak to your husband about something then it’s not a marriage. Marriage is a two way street and with out communication how do you guys know which way you’re going. Keep on moving like this and you’re bound to crash.”

“I know, I just can’t help some of the things I do anymore. I just want my old husband back. I want the one before he ever got that phone call. Ever since that stupid phone call everything went down hill!” Jolene said burying her face in her hands and letting out some sobs.

Chrissy got up and walked to Jolene. She hugged her tight and offered support but Jolene knew that the only one that could undo all her pain was the same man who caused it. She just couldn’t figure why he was acting this way or even why it hurt her so much. In her mind logically nothing was wrong.

Her mind said that he was out a couple nights and that he was allowed to do so. Her mind told her that technically nothing was wrong. They hadn’t fought or argued. Nothing was wrong. But her almighty heart told her that there was so much wrong it just couldn’t bare the pain anymore. Jolene held onto her sister tight and hoped that everything would just go away. She hoped that she could just move on and be a happy family. She wanted the privilege of being a good old fashion happy American Family.


*********************************************

“Well I want to tell you my big news!” Lydia said into the phone. Lydia sat on her couch talking on the phone with her childhood friend Danny. Before Jolene ever introduce Lydia to Danny Lydia knew a different Danny. Lydia’s mother was best friends with a woman named Marie. Marie had three kids and her eldest was a boy who was just one year older then Lydia. Since they were young Lydia and Danny had always been good friends. Conversations were easy flowing and memories were always fun to reminisce on.

“Well, I can’t talk long I have to bartend to people.” He said to her with laughter in his voice.

“I’m sure the bar is empty come on! You’re just being mean. You always like to torture me... like when we’d walk around and you’d pretend to here rats. YOU KNOW THAT WAS SCARY! It was scary and very unfair.” Lydia said pointing her finger to know one in the room wishing he was in front of her.

“Life is tuff.” He said.

“Fine! I’m coming down there then. I’m going down there and I will be able to tell you my news with out any excuses.” Lydia said hanging up the phone as he laughed. Lydia thought that he should be among of the few who she had told about the oncoming baby. Lydia had yet to tell her parents but told her cousins. She knew her mother should have known by now but she wanted to tell her at the right moment. Lydia also needed time to think of things that she would say when her mother said “I told you so!” and laughed.

Lydia jumped up from the couch knowing very well in a couple months she wouldn’t be able to do that. She walked to her door and grabbed her keys and a purse. She jogged to her car across the street from her home and seated herself in quickly. Lydia was out of her parking lot in no time and driving the streets dangerously.

Like her mother Lydia was a careless driver. She did follow laws but when it came time to getting some where quickly she knew what she had to do. She was greedy for some green lights and she was eager to walk into the bar and rub it in Danny’s face. Just as she’d wanted ten minutes later she was putting her car in park and running into the bar. She headed straight for the bar not even paying attention to the people around her.

Danny greeted her with a cocky smile as he poured a glass of liquor. Lydia sat at the bar in front of him and he set the drink on the counter in front of her. Lydia pushed the cup away and smiled up at him. He shrugged and waited for her to talk.

Danny was a slightly tall, light skinned, dark hair with blonde parts, hazel eyed actor. He’d discovered he wanted to act when he was younger and had a couple shoots at Broadway. His career slowed down and Danny took up bartending. Lydia thought it would be hard to look into his hazel eyes, eyes she’d envied all their lives, and see his passion for acting die but now she saw a man who was tired of trying and enjoying life where he was.

“Why no drink? You drive here?” he said.

“Yea, among other things.” She said.

He pushed the cup back toward her and said “You look like you need it. If anything I’ll call Kiral.”

Lydia laughed and told him “Thanks for the compliment on my looks and I’m glad to hear you have no problem volunteering my husband to do things.” Danny smiled and shrugged with amusement in his eyes. “I actually have a way bigger reason for not drinking…” Lydia said but before she could open her mouth loud obnoxious laughter came from the back of the room and Lydia felt rage engulf her and she suddenly couldn’t control what she did.

Lydia got up and walked around the bar that covered her from seeing where the laughter came from. When she finally came into view of the monster who laughed her way into interrupting Lydia she was shocked. The monster was a woman whose hand lay on Danny’s knee. Danny smiled at her and she blinked those evil eye lashes. Lydia shook her head at the sight and turned around. She quickly walked away from the image and out of the bar.

She breathed in and out trying to grasp the concept of seeing Danny, Jolene’s husband and father of her children, at a bar with another woman. A woman who he made laugh so loud she alerted the whole bar that she was funny. All that played in her head was the look of her hand on Danny’s knee.

Lydia felt horrible for leaving Danny without telling him what happened or even the news she had wanted to tell him but at the moment she needed to get away from all Dannys. She needed to go home and curl into bed hoping her pregnancy doesn’t kick in as this memory haunted her and had her fighting the instinct to throw up at the site.

Lydia hurried to her car and jumped in. She pulled out her phone and dialed Kiral’s number. When his answer machine came through and the beep played Lydia said “I hope you’re home because I’m freaking out and Kiral I need you to calm me down.” She hung up and put her car in drive. She was happy to be driving away from this scene. It was repulsive.


*******************************

Danny walked out of the bar with Brianna fairly sober. She giggled and laughed and he held onto her to keep her standing straight. She leaned into him and smelled him. Danny wanted to pull away and get some space but he feared if he let go she’d fall. He was uncomfortable being this close to her and he knew it didn’t look exactly right.

“I’m so glad you’re here for us…” she whispered the smell of her breath nearly burning the hairs in Danny’s nose. Jolene never drank and he never had to deal with her drunk. Now he wished he was home with his sober wife. He’d left work early to see Danielle but by the end of it Brianna had convinced him if she didn’t get something to drink she would simply loose it. She told him she wanted to drink till she couldn’t feel anymore.

Danny grabbed at her waist and wondered what he was going to do. “Where do you live?” Danny asked her talking slowly so she could understand him.

“in the hospital… I live in the hospital.” She said swallowing hard more then likely holding back some puke.

“You mean to tell me that you don’t have anywhere to live?” he said to her.

“Nope… I don’t!” she said with a smile. “I can’t afford it… isn’t that funny?”

Danny sighed and wondered when it got easier. What was he going to do with her now? No hospital in their right mind would let this drunken woman in so late at night. Danny considered dumping her in the waiting room but he couldn’t do that to her. Not only was it unsafe and unsanitary it was also mean.

Danny juggled her as she leaned against him resting her head on his shoulder and retrieved his cell. He flipped his phone open and looked for Shack’s number. It was late but if there was some one he could call on was Shack. Shack came in handy many times including the Ahmet incident many years ago. Shack answered his phone in a ruffled tone.

“Shack I need your help…” Danny said. Shack laughed probably knowing that helping was going to be quite interesting. Danny explained his situation and Shack agreed to help him. He assured him that his doors would always be open and told him he’d have a bed ready for Brianna. Danny thanked him and shut his phone. Before Danny could pocket his cell phone it began to ring. Danny flipped it open and said “yeah?”

“I saw you….” Came Lydia voice. It was faint and full of pain and fear hit him.

“Saw me what?” he said.

“I saw you with… HER. At the bar tonight. You didn’t see me but I saw you and Danny…. I’m ashamed.” She said her voice trembling. Danny was speechless but Lydia continued. “I can’t believe you did what you did. I want you to go to Jolene and tell her everything. If you don’t I will. I’ll tell her tomorrow if you don’t and then it will be over. No more lying.” She said.

Danny shut his phone at her words. He couldn’t speak to her anymore and couldn’t listen to her tone. She sounded like she’d been crying but you could tell she was angry. Her voice was of an evil wrath. Danny’s lungs burned and he realized the entire time he had been holding his breath. This was all getting complicated and all because he couldn’t speak to his wife.

Danny walked with, almost dragged, Brianna to his car and loaded her in. He dragged his own body into the car and turned in on. He hadn’t drank all night but watched her dink till she literally had no feeling left. Danny moved his car and headed to Shack’s house. This night was going to be long.

It wasn’t till a half hour later till Danny pulled into Shack’s home. As Shack had promised everything was set. All Danny had to do was carry the now unconscious Brianna into the house. For Danny this wasn’t hard.

Although Brianna had put on some weight since he last saw her she was still a natural light weight woman. She probably weighed on about 140 but felt like 120. Danny unbuckled her and pulled her out of the car. He carried her into the house and headed straight to the bed Shack had supplied her with. After he let her settled into the bed he moved to the living room where Shack awaited.

Danny looked at him and shook his head along with let out a sigh of frustration. “Not good… not good at all...” he said to Shack. Shack joined him in the head shaking and offered him some time to talk. This wasn’t really Shack’s style but Danny took advantage of it now and began confessing everything.