Tangled Up in Daydreams (34 page)

“Wow.”

“I know.”

“Big news.”

“The biggest.”

“A baby.”

“Yeah.”

“Wow.”

“It's insane.”

“Yeah, it is, Molly.” Looking at her. “I take it that you're …”

“Of course.”

“That's a major decision.”

“It's the only option. Mom, I think this baby is going to be a good, no, a great thing.”

“A baby always is. It's just …”

“Mom, I understand and am totally aware of every single thing that is running through your head. I have thought about it all myself. I don't need a rehashing of my situation.”

“Okay, then. Wait right here.”

Helen walked briskly out the back door and returned a few minutes later with the male half of the family. Henry's face was the shade of a Hawaiian sunburn. Alex immediately scooped his sister up and gave her a bear hug.

“Now our kids will be almost the same age. Cool.”

“Yeah. I'm sorry for yesterday.”

“Don't apologize—you were right. I just hope that you can forgive me.”

“Alex, of all the people in the world, who knows better than I what a shit you can be and still love you despite it all?”

“Thanks.” Hugging her again.

“Just don't ever do that again.” Glaring at him.

“Trust me, there is no way.”

“Good.”

Obviously, Helen had said a few words to get Henry to return.

“Daddy?” Molly looked toward him.

“What do you want me to say?”

“Anything, something.”

“This is not how I wanted it to be when I heard this.”

“Me neither, but here we are.” Shrugging. “You have been telling me for the last few years before Renee got pregnant that it was time for me to breed.” Trying to lighten things up. “You have finally got your wish.”

“I guess you are right.” Slightly smiling. “The clock has been ticking.”

“Exactly. Now you get two virtually at the same time.”

“Molly, do you have any idea what you are doing or getting yourself into?”

“Nope, but with all your help I think I can make a solid go at this.”

“I sure hope so.” Going to Molly and embracing her. “I do love you.”

“I know, Dad.” Hugging Henry tightly.

“I think this calls for a toast.” Alex, stating.

He went back into the wine cellar and returned with a bottle of champagne and a bottle of apple cider. Alex poured.

“I wonder which is for me,” Molly joked.

“To my sister, cheers to getting knocked up!”

“Alex.” Helen clucked. “Not funny.”

“But it kind of is, Mom,” Molly conceded. “To the unplanned pregnancy!” Molly echoed.

“To illegitimate children!” Alex went on.

“To ‘Hey, don't bother with that condom!'” Molly kept going.

“To …”

“Enough!” Henry yelled over the din.

Molly and Alex quieted down and tried to be serious, but the giggles kept surfacing.

“To my daughter. I love her even when she's crazy and I will, we will,” putting his arm around Helen, “always support her because we know she is perfect just the way she is.”

Molly swallowed her giggles, and her eyes welled up. She smiled at her dad and they all clinked glasses. She was lucky they all stepped up to the plate with her.

“I've got one more,” Alex stated.

“No more,” Henry reiterated.

“Please?” Starting to laugh again. “Come on, Dad, we can't end on that bit of mushiness. It's not our style.”

“No.” Starting to grin.

“Alex.” Helen also started to grin.

“To the bastard baby Stern! Hip, hip, hooray!”

“Ouch.” Molly winced. “That one stung a little.”

“Sorry.” Still laughing.

“That was so bad, Alex.” Henry shook his head but couldn't help but start laughing. “Really, really bad.”

“Really.” Helen couldn't help herself either.

“Well, Alex, no one ever said you had class.” Molly laughed again.

They all clinked glasses again and dissolved into full bellyaching laughter. Molly had exposed all her secrets, her family had listened, and they all were still standing. They were all still a family. Molly felt stronger, and looking at their compassionate, happy faces, she knew it was time for her to go home. This time the drive would be much easier.

A few days later, Molly sat on the floor of her room packing. Somehow she always went back with more than what she came with. It was a good thing that she drove and had a big car. She could just toss it all in and not worry about claim tickets or misplaced bags. Henry stood in her open door and knocked.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Wasn't sure if you were awake yet.”

“Wanted a full day.”

“Almost done?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure you want to leave tomorrow? Stay a while longer.”

“I can't. Jay and I have to double-time it now on the store, and if I stay any longer I may never leave.”

“So?”

“Nice try, Dad.” Smiling at him. “What do you have there?” Gesturing to a package in his hand.

“It's for you, from Elizabeth McGuire.”

“Really?” Taking the package from her father. “I wonder what Elizabeth sent me.”

“Have you told her yet about the baby?”

“No, I want to wait until I tell Liam.”

“When does he get back?”

“Soon, I think.”

“Are you nervous?”

“Yeah.”

Molly opened the plain padded envelope and inside was a tape and a letter. Molly walked to her stereo and put in the cassette. She read the letter while it rewound.

Dear Molly
—

I hope you are doing better. It's been a trying time. Liam asked me to send you this and I wish it finds you well. Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes things don't happen as we expect. It's in how we handle the messes that we discover our true strengths. You have many, many more than you even knew.

Love, Elizabeth

“What is it?”

“Just a note and something from Liam.”

Molly set down the letter and pressed
PLAY
. Soon, the room was filled with music and Liam's voice surrounded her.

Molly let the tape run until it stopped on its own. It was in that moment that Henry finally understood the magic, the pull. He saw the glazed look in Molly's eye, the delicate shadows of adoration flutter across her face. He saw her shoulders relax, her body bloom, her weight shift back and forth on her feet until she appeared to be floating. She was a sponge responding to a bowl of water, expanding and growing in her exposure to her source of nourishment. He walked to her and kissed her cheek.

“Just let me know when you want me to bring the bags down.”

“Oh.” Startled from her daydream. “Sure, thanks.”

Henry left her just as she was, and went downstairs to find his wife. He knew that he had lost her forever, but what a compassionate, loving woman she had become. Molly sat back down on the floor to finish her packing, the song set on
REPEAT
. Soon enough she had memorized the words and was singing with him. She flashed to his smile, how his clothes were always a little rumpled, how in the summer the bridge of his nose became covered with freckles. She thought about how Liam would leave love notes in random CDs for her to find at later dates, how he would make her macaroni and cheese when she had PMS, how he'd always remember to tape her TV shows. She smiled when she thought about when he was grumpy—his cheeks got mottled and he bit his nails. She exhaled when she remembered how easily she slept next to him despite his
Black Hawk Down
snores. She recalled how he would bitch about how much she shopped, but complimented every new outfit, how they never got bored even in the silences, how he didn't mind her granny underwear or buying her tampons, how he listened when she lost her mind over nothing and threw a fit. Deep down she knew there was always going to be some small drama, some small accident, but hopefully they would be just that—small. They were connected, entwined, and if it meant that Molly was going to have to be the strong one for her, Liam, and the baby, she could and would succeed. Molly kept singing until the sun went down.

After everyone else had gone to sleep, Molly went out to Helen's car to retrieve her blue sweater and a few CDs she didn't want to forget. As she was shutting the door, a hand squeezed her shoulder and Molly screamed. She whipped around ready to fight like every self-respecting, self-defense-trained woman would and found herself going for Liam's eyes with her thumbs.

“Hey, easy.” Evading her karate move. “It's me.”

“Shit! You just scared the hell out of me.” Catching her breath.

The front door flew open, the lights blared, and Henry came running outside.

“Molly! Are you all right?” Rushing to his daughter. “What happened?”

Henry finally caught sight of Liam.

“What on earth?” Looking at them both. “What the hell is going on here?!”

“Henry! Henry, what's going on?” Helen yelled, running out in her white nightgown.

“Relax, Mom. It's all fine.”

“Liam.” Helen slowed her pace. “What are you doing here? It's the middle of the night!”

“Henry, Helen. I know, I'm sorry.” Swallowing. “I'm really sorry for scaring all of you. I just …” Liam couldn't finish his sentence. He ran his hands through his hair. He shuffled back and forth on his feet hoping for rescue. There was none.

They all stood there silent, unable to truly register his presence or how they were supposed to handle it. Molly could feel herself shaking. Her body trembled as one large shiver went up and away until even the roots of her hair were alive and kicking. She looked at him and they caught eyes. Her face flushed, she could feel her hands clam up, and her heart felt like it was running the hundred-meter dash. All she could do was swallow and stare. She lost her words, her weight. Helen and Henry glanced at the two of them and then at each other. They were all trapped inside one of those high-definition
Matrix
special-effects shots where the camera does an entire three-sixty around the scene. Helen placed her hand in her daughter's and squeezed gently.