"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.


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“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.


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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.