by Sadie Grubor
He smirked at me for a moment.
"Say what again?"
"What you just said," my smile grew.
"I love you," he kissed the smile that wouldn't leave my face.
"I love you too." I whispered against his mouth.
He froze and his eyes searched mine. Brightness shone in them like I had never seen before. A large grin spread across his flawless complexion. The blanket disappeared and, eventually, so did our clothes.
Victoria's after school schedule had dramatically changed with her arm injury. She still had her piano lesson, which she could play. However, her left hand was hindered by the cast, so she wasn't able to play as she normally did. Horseback riding was out for the rest of this year. There were still a couple of lessons, but there was no way I was forcing her back onto a horse. Dance was partial observation and a little bit of footwork, but she had to be careful with her arm. So, we had a little more relaxed schedule when it came to our afternoons.
Since this was a typical horseback lesson day, we decided to make a cake. Victoria wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate fudge icing and vanilla cream in the middle. I wasn't a professional baker, so I got her to compromise on chocolate cake with chocolate icing.
"Is this how?" She asked, spreading the chocolate icing on one of the cake layers.
"Yep," I continued to work on the other layer.
"I want it to be super thick on the top." She grinned widely. I shook my head.
"So, Halloween will be coming in a week, what do you want to dress up as this year?" I spun the plate around and iced the other side.
She sighed heavily.
"What can I do with this thing?" She raised her arm and tapped the cast.
"You can be whatever you want to be. It's just a cast." I couldn't help but sympathize with her situation though. At seven, it really would suck to have that thing around your arm.
She still didn't say anything.
"Do you want to be something scary?" She shook her head and wrinkled her nose. "Do you want to be a princess again?" She shook her head. "Um, what about a fairy?"
"Nah," she shook her head.
"Well, you're gonna have to help me out, cause I'm run'n out of ideas." I put my knife back in the bowl of chocolate icing and licked my fingers off.
Deep thought spread across her forehead with deep wrinkles. Soon her face brightened and her eyes grew large.
"What about super heroes?" She smiled big.
"Sure, you can be a super hero, which one do you want to be?"
"No, I want us all to be super heroes. Like Will, the twins, you, MJ and Ryan, all of us," She giggled.
"Oh, um, I'll have to call everyone and see if that's something they'd like to do first."
"Can we call them now?"
I laughed and nodded.
"You finish with the icing, I'll make some calls." Grabbing my phone, I sat next to her as she hummed and finished putting icing on her layer of the cake.
"Hey, Sophia," Amber answered happily.
"Hey, how are you?"
"Good, busy, but good. I hear you've been super busy though." Then she giggled.
"Huh?"
"Oh, I don't know, soon to be Mrs. Bishop, I have no idea what I could be talking about."
"He's worse than a woman," I laughed out. "I'm gonna beat him up when he gets back here with the twins." She laughed.
"So, what's up?"
"Oh, yeah, Victoria has a 'group costume' idea for Halloween. She would like to do super heroes. You interested?"
"Please, please, please," Victoria leaned into my face and pleaded into the phone.
"Tell her we're in," Amber laughed.
"Thanks. Now I need to call Miranda and talk with Will."
"I'll talk to Will. We're meeting up at the park in a bit. You can call Emma."
"Will do, bye." We hung up and I made my next calls.
Miranda was excited, but worried about 'looking fat'. It was only a couple of months, so she couldn't be showing that much. A point I argued.
Once I confirmed everyone was in on the costumes, Victoria hurried out of the room and rushed back in with a costume catalogue we'd gotten in the mail.
"I want to be Super Girl," she smiled and bounced. She flipped through a bunch more pages and then stopped with a squeal.
"What?" I looked over her shoulder after stacking the cakes together.
"You should wear this," she pointed to a skin tight black cat suit, Cat Woman.
"Um, isn't there something a little less tight," I asked and flipped through the pages.
"No way, that is perfect. You would look just like her."
I shook my head.
"Maybe the costume place won't have it."
"Can we go tomorrow after school?" She gave me a pout face.
"Sure," I shrugged and set the cake on the counter for after dinner. Internally I prayed to Jesus the store did not carry that costume.
My prayers were answered. The store didn't have the Halle Berry version cat woman outfit; however, they did have the black patent leather Michelle Pfeiffer. I groaned when Victoria came running up with it.
"Honestly, can't I be wonder woman or something?"
"Cat woman is better!" She insisted.
"I really don't want to wear something that tight Victoria. It's just not my thing."
"Come on," she whined. "I even changed my costume so we would match."
My eyes widened when she picked up a kid appropriate version of the cat woman outfit. Now why couldn't they make that costume in my size? I was about protest again, but she pulled out the big guns.
"I wanted to go as mommy and daughter." Next came the pouty bottom lip. I folded like a lawn chair.
"Give them here before I change my mind."
"Yay!" She cheered and hurried to the register.
I could only imagine how embarrassing it was going to be putting the damn outfit on, but what could I do? I loved the little girl too much to disappoint her over a Halloween costume.
Chapter Twenty Seven
Halloween's on a Sunday this year and the same plan set into place. Everyone would meet here before we left to make 'treating rounds' throughout the neighborhood. Miranda was even going to bring Nessa again this year, which Victoria was super excited about.
Sitting in front of St. Johns, waiting for dismissal, I was thinking about everything we needed to do for Halloween. First, I prayed the weather tomorrow would be warmer than today's chilly fifty four degrees. When the rear door quickly opened, I was snapped from my thoughts. It slammed shut, roughly.
I turned in the driver's seat and looked back at Victoria. I knew from the look on her face she was angry.
"Hey, sorry I didn't see you coming sooner." I further examined her face and waited to gauge her reaction. She only shrugged.
"Okay, grumpy, what's wrong?" I smiled at her and placed my chin on the back of the seat.
"I hate Thomas Grison!" Her arms came up, crossing over her chest.
"And why is it you hate this Thomas Grison so much?" I raised my brow in curiosity.
"He's a stupid geek," she grumbled.
"That's not very nice." She looked up at me in disbelief.
"He's not very nice either!"
I nodded slowly.
"Oh-kay, so wanna tell me what happened?"
She groaned.
"I was talking to Laura and Becca about Halloween." She sighed. "We were talking about our costumes, so I told them about how we were all going to be super heroes." I nodded in understanding and waved my hand for her to continue.
"So, stupid Tho-mas," she drawled out his name sarcastically, "had to stick his nose in our conversation and start talking about comic books and super heroes."
I wrinkled up my face in confusion.
"Okay, so you are mad that he but in on your conversation?"
"No," she growled, "I mentioned we were dressing alike and that we were going as Cat Woman."
"Okay, then what?" I pressed further
. Her face flushed with anger as she spoke.
"He told me that Cat Woman is a villain not a hero. I told him she was still awesome and he kept telling me she was a bad guy."
I hurried to cup my mouth, both to cover the grin forming and also to stifle the laughter threatening to erupt.
"Well, I never thought about it, but I guess he's right." She turned her angry eyes on me in a hard glare. I shrugged. "What?"
"I can't believe it. You're just like him!" She shouted at me and that was all I was going to take of her attitude.
"Look, I get that you are angry but you need to calm down. Watch your tone." I eyed her carefully.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"Who cares if she's a villain? Fact remains that Cat Woman is a super villain." I winked at her. "Plus, she had batman eating out of the palm of her hand…or well, paw."
She began to giggle.
"Why are you letting this boy bother you so much?"
Her shoulders rose and fell, keeping her eyes focused out the window. I decided to leave it alone. If she wanted to talk then we could talk. I wasn't going to push, but something inside me told me that a little red head may have a crush on the 'stupid Thomas Grison'.
When we pulled into the driveway I groaned at the sight of all of the cars. Both Allison and Ilene were at the house, which was never a pleasant atmosphere.
The instant Allison discovered Ilene was staying with us; her reaction put a nuclear disaster to shame. I seriously thought her head was going to pop off her shoulders. Collin had needed to step in before Allison physically attacked Ilene. Thankfully his car was in the drive as well.
Inside the house, things were quiet, a little too quiet. Immediately I got nervous. When I entered the kitchen, I was surprised to find Collin, Allison, and Ilene were all sitting around the breakfast bars. All of them were upset and consoling one another, though Collin was on his phone speaking too quiet and too fast for me to make out his words. When his eyes landed on me, he walked with purpose toward me. Sadness filled his eyes.
"Wh-?" He dropped the cell phone from his ear and let his lips cut off my words.
After a few moments he released me, putting the phone back to his ear. Over his shoulder, Allison and Ilene watched us with puffy red eyes.
"What's happened? Are the boys okay?"
Allison sniffed and nodded as I approached. Then Allison did something I never thought would occur between the two of us. Her arms flew out and wrapped around me, pinning my arms to my sides.
"Oh Sophia, daddy had a heart attack," she sobbed.
My reactions were delayed, due to the words that had just left her mouth. I felt the tears form in my eyes and threaten to fall from my eyes.
Once I had my wits back I looked around to make sure Victoria hadn't followed me to the kitchen. Breathing in relief when I found she had gone straight to her room. I returned my attention back to Allison, who was still pinning my arms down.
"I'm so sorry. Where–?"
"He was in Whidbey with Juliette. She called once they reached the local hospital. They stabilized him and he is now on his way to Seattle."
Pulling myself, gently, from Allison's grip, I wrapped my arms around Collin. Allowing my tears to finally escape.
"I'm so sorry." My words were barely a whisper.
"I need to head to the hospital."
Collin was doing his best to hold his composure. I wasn't sure if he didn't want to show emotion in front of his mother or if this was just how he handle things of this nature. It was still unsettling how much we didn't know about each other, though we lived in the same house and slept in the same bed.
"Of course," I chastely kissed the side of his mouth and began to pull away, wiping the stray tears from my cheeks.
His arm wound tightly around my waist, pulled me closer to him, while his other hand palmed the back of my head and held it to his chest. His lips pressed to the top of my head before releasing me.
"Is there anything I can do?" I looked into his sad green eyes.
"Could you please…" he looked over my head to his mother and sister.
"Of course," Turning around with a large intake of breath, I stepped over to the two women who cried without talking or touching one another.
The moment I was close enough to them it was Ilene's turn to attach herself to me. Her hands clasped onto my left hand tightly as she cried. Then Allison leaned against my right side. I'm not sure how long we actually stayed that way, but it was long enough for Collin to say goodbye and promise updates when his father arrived to the hospital. It wasn't until Larissa rushed into the kitchen with swollen red eyes I received some personal space.
Allison launched herself at Larissa. I gently removed my hand from Ilene's to also start some coffee, as well as to regain circulation.
"Max went straight to the hospital." Larissa announced. She and Allison moved to sit next to Ilene.
"Collin just left moments ago," I spoke over my shoulder while I worked on getting coffee started.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Amber appeared next to me. I smiled at her.
"Should we order some food you think?" I wasn't sure how soon everyone would leave for the hospital.
"Maybe for the kids, at least," Her response was just another question.
I grabbed the phone and called for pizza to be delivered. They said twenty minutes, but I hoped it would be quicker.
Will arrived with the twins and once he learned what happened he ushered them upstairs with Victoria, MJ, and Ryan. He stayed up there to keep an eye on them as Amber and I tried to help the three women in the kitchen.
The pizza arrived ten minutes after Will. I paid the delivery boy and took the large pizzas into the kitchen. Surprisingly Allison, Ilene, and Larissa all grabbed a piece, even if they only nibbled on them. The coffee was there current sustenance.
Amber took a pizza up to Will and the kids. I carried up the drinks.
The kids seemed to have picked up on the fact something was wrong. They were all solemn and quieter than usual. Will suggested a carpet picnic in front of the television, which seemed to bring a little brightness to their faces. Amber stepped out to check on MJ who was napping. My phone rang in my pocket. Collin.
"Hello?"
"He just arrived." There was so much sadness and exhaustion in his voice I ached to comfort him.
"Did anyone call your mother and sisters?"
"Not yet, Max is still back there helping get him settled into the room." He sighed. "Can you come down?"
"What about –" he cut me off.
"Bring Victoria with you. She deserves to see her grandfather, just in case."
For a moment, his words took my breath away. I couldn't speak or respond. A single tear slip over my cheek.
"Please?" he was pleading.
"We'll be there soon."
"Thank you Sophia. I love you." He paused.
"I love you too," It was the only comfort I could provide at the moment.
We said our goodbyes. I went to get Victoria ready to go. Stepping back into the kitchen, with Victoria in toe, I looked around and realized not one of them had moved.
"Where are you off to?" Ilene snapped at me.
"Collin, uh, called. I assumed he was calling you next." Realization struck me he hadn't contacted anyone, nor had Max.
"Has he arrived?" I nodded at Ilene's small gasp.
"When?" Allison shouted. "Why didn't he call us?!"
"Calm down, let's get going." Larissa stepped in to diffuse the brewing situation.
The kids were collected and everyone climbed into two cars, the Lexus Collin provided me and Larissa's minivan. We arrived to the hospital quickly and weren't given a second glance as we swarmed through the hospital toward Connor's room.
When we arrived to the waiting room on the ICU floor, we were met by Max and Collin. Max's head shot up at our approach.
"I've been trying to call you," he rushed to Larissa and wrapped his arms around her and MJ. She hel
d him as tightly as she could with one arm.
Collin stood, walking toward Victoria and me, but Ilene grabbed his bicep.
"Is he?" she didn't look at him, but he looked down to the side of her face.
"He's alive and resting."
Her hand slipped from his arm to her own chest and she began to cry, but these were tears of relief.
"Can we see him?" She raised her head to her son.
"Only two at a time and right now, uh, Juliette is with him." The words looked uncomfortable on his lips.
"It doesn't matter. She's only one and two can be back there. I'm going in." Ilene stepped to the double doors and pushed the automatic button.
"Mother," Collin stepped forward, but it was too late.
She stepped quickly through the doors and the quick click of her heels echoed down the hall. I stepped to his side and placed my hand on the back of his arm.
He turned his head, swiftly pulling me into his embrace. Claiming my lips ferociously, all of his frustration poured into the kiss. Regardless of the inappropriate timing, my thighs flamed with desire.
"Daddy?" Victoria moved to the side of us and wrapped her arms around both of our legs, leaning in to our embrace.
Collin pulled back from the kiss as everyone settled into seats around the waiting room. He looked down to her and brought her up into his arms, squeezing her close to him. I tried to step back, but he reached out and pulled me against them.
"Is grandpa okay?" She whimpered.
"He's very sick honey, but we are hoping for the best."
Large tears rolled over her round, freckled cheeks. I rubbed her back soothingly, kissing the side of her head.
"I think he is going to be fine." Collin placed a finger under her chin. He kissed her forehead.
The elevator doors dinged and opened behind us. Everyone turned in their direction. Jonathan.
"What are you doing here?" Allison growled.
"Allison, Connor is family to me and you know it."
His eyes were a hard glare, but softened when he took in her disheveled appearance. Quickly he moved to kneel in front of her. She tried to pull away, but he grabbed her too him. "Are you okay?"
It surprised me when she didn't fight any harder. That he was being so attentive and loving toward her also confused me. Their relationship had always been so tense and cold. Seeing this side of them made me understand why Collin had questioned Allison's decision to divorce. Obviously they had their issues, but they really did care deeply, perhaps even love, each other.
