by Tracy Ellen
“Bless you.” Chuckling at her newest nickname for Luke, I still could not let her barb pass. That was suicide in my family. I countered, “I’m so proud to see you standing on your own two feet, Mac, without Boy Toy’s arms around you. Thanks for coming to visit with me today. Let me know if your spine feels weak.”
Anna giggled, opening the lid on her Chai to take a cautious sniff. “She’s right, Mac. Ever since we solved the case of the suspicious el marido de mi cuñadao, you two are like a couple of horned up teenagers who can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s kinda gross.”
“And, similar to Anna showing off her Spanish when not one Spaniard is in the room, it’s kinda disgusting.” Jazy leaned over Mac, easily avoiding her smacking hand to snatch a glazed donut from the box.
Anna smiled sweetly at Jazy, even as she rattled off more Spanish.
Jazy stood back, clasping the donut to her heart and pretending to be abashed. “Oh, I’m sorry, Anna. You say English is now your second language these days, is that it?” Not to let Mac off the hook, Jazy segued back to the earlier comment and added breezily, “But at least Diego has an excuse for his horniness. Isn’t he actually still in his teens?”
We all hooted while Mac covered her face and groaned loudly. Her motions were identical to the last memory I had of my mother doing that same jokingly exasperated move when I made the Clairol comment as a kid. I didn’t have time to leisurely examine the spike of joy the discovery gave me, but maybe my mother wasn’t as lost to me as I’d always believed. What with the larger X chromosome she passed to Reg, and the exclusively female mitochondria in us all, a bit more than half of my mother’s DNA was in her offspring. I just had to figure out a way to isolate what to look for in my siblings.
Cheeks flushed becomingly pink from her sword battle, Tre J found her coffee and sat down next to Mac. She touched my oldest sister’s shoulder consolingly. “Poor Mac, I’m so sorry. No matter how much we all want to tease Bel about the whisker rash on her neck, and that tiny hickey she’s tried so hard cover up, it will never compare to the jokes we can make about the age difference between you and Diego. I mean, twelve years? Really?”
Everyone laughingly agreed, and even Stella smiled wanly when Jazy teased, “My oldest sister, the MILF.”
Mac’s blush was fiery red and she groaned again.
Her mother’s response roused the faintest smile from Stella as she came around the island to give me a hug.
“Happy happy, joy joy, Auntie Bel.”
“Thank you, my favorite niece.” I hugged her in return, rubbing her back gently when she didn’t immediately release me.
She said against my neck, “I’m your only niece.”
“That we know of, Stell,” I teased lightly, although I was alarmed at her lethargic clinginess, and her seriousness. We’re not a clingy clan, and there’s not much extra energy involved in having a snarky attitude in our family, it comes naturally.
Stella had also been unusually quiet at my party last night, but I attributed it to tiredness from the baby leeching her energy. Maybe something else was bugging her. God knows, she had plenty of reasons. Her choices may have been decided with open eyes, but the course of Stella’s life had still changed drastically in the last few weeks.
Looking over Stella’s shoulder at Mac, I raised questioning brows. Mac shrugged back at me and shook her head, signifying she was at a loss as to what was causing our girl’s woebegone mood.
“Is everything okay, Stell?” I murmured quietly into our little bubble of privacy while the others drank their hot drinks, ate donuts, and traded friendly insults as they rifled through my opened birthday cards. “All ready for the big day?”
I felt Stella’s hesitation, and then she pulled out of my arms to stand up straight. Smiling a little cheerier, she handed me two of the bigger presents from her bag. “Yes, I can’t wait. Don’t worry, I’m fine. Just super tired.”
On my other side, Anna spoke up while nodding. “It’s the baby. What are you now, five weeks along?”
A spasm of emotion crossed Stella’s face. I would have said it was pain, except it was gone instantly and then she was grinning at Anna like nothing happened. Maybe it was gas. I’d heard enough about pregnant women’s inner workings to believe that was a distinct possibility.
“I was five weeks yesterday.”
Anna kept nodding and chuckled knowingly. “Oh yeah, you can expect to be super tired for a while longer. I’m in my twelfth week and just beginning to stay awake without uncontrollably falling asleep anytime I sit down for two minutes.” She laughed a little. “It’s the damnedest feeling. One minute I’m awake and blabbing about something, the next minute I wake up and two hours have zipped by. It’s like having narcolepsy.” She rolled her eyes. “Reg calls it pregolepsy, but isn’t it the craziest feeling, Stell?”
“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Stella agreed with a sigh. She patted my shoulder a final time and then went to unload the rest of the presents from her bag under the Christmas tree.
Listening with half an ear to Anna animatedly compare pregnancy war stories with Mac, I watched my niece first rearrange all the other presents already under the tree to her satisfaction. There was no rhyme or reason to what Stella did, but rearranging the gifts was something she had obsessed over doing since she was a toddler. I was somehow reassured seeing her rearranging now.
Reg arrived with boisterous greetings, and on his heels were my sister Kenna and the newest addition to our family, the mastiff mix dog rescued from the dead farmer. I saw quick looks of surprise exchanged around the room to see Kenna. It wasn’t that she wasn’t invited, she just rarely showed up to sibling birthday celebrations.
The dog unexpectedly pulled away from Kenna to give Mac a big hello lick on the cheek.
Mac’s face twisted. “Ick, what is it!” Holding the dog off by the scruff with two hands, Mac exclaimed, “Where did this beast come from?”
Kenna’s face was anxious at Mac’s distaste, and she swiftly yanked on his leash and commanded, “Sit down and stay. Stay!”
The dog finally sat back, smiling mischievously up at his new mistress in drooling adoration. He didn’t have far to look. Kenna was standing, and the dog was sitting on his haunches, but the top of the dog’s huge head still came up past my tiny sister’s shoulders. The pair looked incongruous together, but their connection was easy to see and endearing.
Only a couple days in Kenna’s company and already the dog’s previously dull brindle coat of black to golden-brown stripes shined healthily. He’d filled out from regular feedings. I couldn’t call the dog stinky any longer with any fairness. Taking care of the abused dog had put roses in Kenna’s hollow cheeks, too.
I got up and went to them, heading off Mac’s sputtering as she wiped at her clothes. Mac had no way of knowing the huge “it” that was masquerading as a canine may be Kenna’s salvation in life. Where Mac saw only a huge beast slobbering on her nice outfit, I saw unconditional love. It may be silly, but I believed strongly this dog could be a turning point for Kenna’s future. His companionship and the responsibility for his well being could ward off the constant destructive presence in my sister’s life that I felt prompted the majority of her bad choices--soul aching loneliness.
“Hey, everybody,” I sent Jazy and Tre J a look, “come meet Kenna’s Christmas present from me.”
Jazy and Tre J had heard about the rescued dog, but had never seen him up close. They were both animal lovers and came right over. Reggie was already rubbing the dog’s ears and coaching him to not pay any attention to mean, old Mac.
“Seriously, Junior? That’s great.” Reg looked up at us with a broad smile. “Isn’t this dog something? The baby’s going to need a dog, Anna.”
As we crowded around Kenna and her dog, I glanced over and noticed that Anna blanched at Reg’s comment. Mac and Anna had hung back at the kitchen island to observe. Mac because of her pristine sweater and winter white slacks, and Anna because she was scared to death
of anything with four legs.
“Oh, you’re so lucky, Kenna. What an awesome present.” Stella pushed Reg’s hand away and took her turn scratching the moaning dog’s ears. “How come my mean aunties or uncle never gave me a puppy like you? What’s your name, cutie? Oh, don’t be shy. You can tell your cousin Stella.”
“Mustang,” Kenna announced proudly while Stella stroked his short, wiry hair.
“Cool.” Tre J smiled and held out her hand for the dog to sniff. “He’s almost as big as a horse, that’s for sure.”
“He’s gorgeous, aren’t you fat boy?” Jazy cooed, getting in her scruffing, too.
We all laughed since the dog’s rib cage was still clearly defined, despite the regular feedings he was now getting. Kenna had left Mustang for an hour with a neighbor last night when she came to my birthday party. She told me that her research said it would take a few more days to erase the physical signs of starvation. With care, the sores on his body would heal in time, as well, although the poor pooch would always carry physical scars from the abuse and neglect he had suffered at the hands of his former owner.
As if he sensed my thoughts, Mustang shook off their hands and stood up, padding over to where I stood. He sat again and stared up at me intently, tongue lolling out of his mouth, protruding brown eyes beseeching.
I crossed my arms and frowned. “And just what do you want today, Mr. Mustang? Was rescuing you from death’s door and delivering you to your new mother not enough?”
He yawned widely and then padded my left arm with a big paw.
I heard Anna’s sharp intake of terrified breath and looked up at her. “Okay, Anna, you need to get your butt over here and meet Mustang.”
“No way.” Her arms were hugging her body tightly. “I have a baby to protect.”
I smiled coaxingly. “Yes way.”
Jazy raised her brows at Reg and demanded, “Just what kind of pansy genes are you diluting ours with in this next generation of Axelrods?”
Anna sidled up to Reggie for protection, but defended her gene pool hotly, “Hey, my Aunt killed with a cane sword in cold blood!”
Reg shrugged. “She’s got a point, Jaz. I’ve only killed with a gun.”
“Co-killed,” I reminded him. It was never decided whose shot officially first killed the Hammer that terrifying afternoon up in my third floor attic. I shivered at the memory. At least those bad dreams were less frequent.
“Co-killed,” he amended graciously, if you didn’t notice the smirk, which I did.
Kenna nodded towards Mustang. He had pawed my left forearm again. “He’s trying to tell you something, Bel.”
I held out my arm and Mustang immediately licked my hand, or more specifically, my peridot Italian poison ring.
“Why, you smart boy, you remember.” I laughed. “He wants a treat.”
Opening the ring, I removed the breath mint while Mustang sat perfectly still and unswervingly watched my hand.
Kenna frowned uncertainly, but Stella reassured her. “It’s okay. They’re Vermints and have no artificial sweeteners harmful to dogs. You wouldn’t want to give them as a steady diet, but one or two won’t hurt Mustang.”
“Guess I’ll have to get a bigger gem stone to fit doggie treats, hey Mustang?” I laughed when his tail thumped. “Anna, this dog is a big sweetheart that has been severely abused. I guarantee you that he’s much more scared of you than you could ever be of him. Look at him smiling.”
Anna croaked out nervously, “That’s a smile? He looks like he wants to eat you.”
I ignored her comment and said firmly, “He’s part of the family now. You know what that means. We will all protect him, just like we’ll all protect you and your little baby, too. Now come make friends.”
“Oh man, I hate you, Junior,” she grumbled, but took small steps my way. Under her breath she mimicked the Wicked Witch, “I’ll protect you and your little baby, too.”
I didn’t laugh, but smiled encouragingly and put the mint in her hand. Mustang’s eyes closely followed the transaction. He licked his lips, but did not move.
I whispered, “Tell Mustang to be gentle.”
Anna entreated fervently, “Mustang, please be gentle and don’t eat me.” Under her spray tan, scattered freckles stood out like tiny brown polka dots on cheeks gone pale. “I’m carrying the next Axelrod little monster, you know.”
“Open your hand and let him have the treat.”
Anna closed her eyes tightly, but did as I instructed while she prayed, “Oh God, save us, oh God, save us.”
As pretty as you please, Mustang’s tongue scooped the mint from her shaking extended hand. Anna’s eyes flew open at the tickle and we all cheered.
Reg patted her butt and said warmly, “Yo, now that’s the kind of gene pool I’m hitting, everybody.”
Kenna frowned at Reg, but said encouragingly, “Okay, Anna, now tell him he’s a good boy and rub his head.”
“There, there. Good boy.” As she woodenly pet Mustang’s head, the rigidity slowly left her body and Anna tried to glare at me over her flashing grin. “We are clear on how much I hate you, right?”
“Ahhh, you’re welcome.” I put an arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “That wasn’t so bad now, was it, chicken butt?”
Anna preened a little while tentatively continuing to pet Mustang, but she still muttered, “Yeah, we’ll see how your ass likes it when I force you to volunteer at the next Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA.”
I reared back. “Geez Louise, no need to go so low with the threats. Besides, I’m only thinking of my little niece, Olivia Dare. She can’t have a mom who is petrified of dogs.”
“Or frickin’ mice,” Jazy put in before sinking sharp white teeth into a glazed cinnamon twist.
I didn’t think my little sister was ever going to let Anna live down her overreaction in Diego’s office when she thought there was a mouse in the closet and almost blew our ninja mission.
Anna included Jazy in her glare, but responded to me, “Olivia Dare? Not gonna happen, Junior.” She glanced up at my brother. “Reg, please, back me on this and inform your delusional sister she does not get to name our first child.”
Anna kept up her brisk petting and Mustang was leaning into her, getting into it.
Reg stuck his hands into his jeans’ back pockets and rocked on his feet. He looked up at the ceiling, the picture of deep thought. “I don’t know, Anna. Do we want to throw the baby out with the bathwater here? I kind of like the name Olivia Dare. It has a nice ring to it.”
Anna gaped at him, absently but furiously still rubbing the dog’s ears while his back foot started thumping lightly on the hardwood floor. “But what about the names we’ve picked out together? What the hell kind of middle name is Dare for a girl, anyway?”
My brother flicked the blonde hair out of his eyes and looked at me in question. “Do you mean she’ll be a daredevil?”
“Well, of course she will be,” I affirmed stoutly.
Tre J and the rest of the family echoed she’d definitely be a daredevil and a tomboy while Anna argued that was no reason to give her a crazy name like “Dare.”
Over the hubbub of voices, Mustang let out an unearthly deep moan at Anna’s agitated rubbing and his leg thumped so loudly it got her attention.
Panicking, she screamed and jerked back her hand. “Shit, help! What did I do? What’s wrong with the dog?”
Reggie sounded embarrassingly aggrieved. “Honey, I thought you said you stopped doing that to other males when we went exclusive.”
“Doing what?” Eyes huge in alarm, Anna’s forehead wrinkled in bewildered confusion. When he only shrugged and looked disappointed, she yelled, “Tell me! What did I do?”
Kenna took pity on her. “Umm, all your rubbing got Mustang a little revved up, Anna, but he’ll be okay. You weren’t hurting him.” She smiled kindly. “He liked it.”
“He liked it?” As Kenna’s meaning sank in, Anna’s mouth dropped open and her cheeks flared bright red.
She held her offending hand out as if she’d never seen it before. “Oh my God!” She ran in place, fluttering her hand in the air. “I didn’t mean to! Oh, my God! Hurry, hurry, I need to wash my hand!”
At her little freak out dance, we all burst into laughter--my brother’s the loudest.
Anna pushed him away when he tried to hug her. “It’s not funny, you big perv!”
“There’s nothing on your hands,” Kenna reassured her, but she obligingly led the hyper-ventilating Anna to the kitchen sink. “You did really well, Anna. If you like, we can take Mustang out for walks together because Bel is right; it would be a great idea for you to get over your irrational fears before the baby is born.”
As Kenna ran Anna’s hands under hot water and added a squirt of dish soap, Anna flung an incredulous glance over her shoulder at me while mouthing, “Who is this woman?”
Having no clue, I merely shrugged in reply.
Over the rest of the group’s laughter, Jazy’s voice dripped sarcasm. “Yeah, and when Anna is done walking your dog, she can skip over to my farm and chase mice with the barn cats.”
Kenna said with sincerity, “See, Anna? Soon you’ll be over all your fears of dogs and mice.”
Despite my best intentions, Anna’s wild-eyed look of bemusement at Kenna and then over at me, did me in. Combined with the image of my friend scrambling in the barn after mice with a pack of snarling, half-feral cats, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
I noticed Mac was smiling, but she was also taking in Kenna’s odd, maternal behavior with a disbelieving air. However, she didn’t fire off any pithy comments at Kenna that could start one of their terrible arguments. I appreciated Mac’s restraint. Even if, no when, nice Kenna reverted back to bad Kenna and did what she always does, at least we would have today to remember. Any time we could all gather as a family and it was fun, not stressful, was a hash mark in the win column.
Reg lifted the remaining coffee from the beverage carrier. With an ingratiating smile at Anna, he held up his cup. “Okay, you crazy women, it’s time to stop teasing the beautiful love of my life before she kills us all, or more importantly, me.”
