Tarnished Armor
Part 114

Tad and Dixie’s living room.

Jake is sitting on the couch. Dixie, Junior and Tad are seated at the table. Colby is in her crib.

Jake checks his watch.

Jake: Ten more minutes and she’ll have totally missed the visit.

Junior: Maybe something happened to her.

Tad: Maybe.

Jake: The thing is, I can’t stay. Even if she comes now, I can’t stay.

Junior: I can stay.

Jake doesn’t say anything.

Tad: See, there’s a problem with that, sport. The judge said that Jake has to be here when Liza visits.

Junior: Why?

Dixie: Maybe the judge wants the whole family to work together.

Junior: But if I can be alone with Colby, why can’t Liza be alone with Colby?

Jake: Where did you go, anyway?

Dixie: Go?

Jake: He disappeared. Had me worried.

Junior: I told you. She was fussing, so Amanda and me took her for a walk.

Dixie: Amanda and I.

Tad: You were there, too?

Dixie elbows Tad in the ribs.

The doorbell rings.

Junior: I’ll get it!

Junior runs to the door and opens it. Liza is standing there.

Liza: Hi, Junior. I’m sorry I’m late.

Junior: Come on in!

Liza enters, looking shaky.

Liza: Hi, everyone. Tad. Dixie. Jake.

Dixie: She’s right in her crib.

Liza slowly turns her head and looks at the crib.

Dixie: Do you want us to leave?

Liza: What?

Dixie: We could leave, if you’d like.

Liza: No. No, thank you.

Liza tentatively goes over to the crib.

Jake: She ate a while ago. She’s had a busy day, so she might fuss.

Liza: Okay.

Liza looks down into the crib.

Colby squeals.

Colby reaches up to Liza. Liza looks at Colby for a long moment. Her eyes well up a little with tears.

Then Liza slowly reaches down into the crib and lifts Colby out.

Jake: Careful. She wriggles sometimes and --

Junior: She’s her mother. She knows. Right, Liza?

Liza brings Colby closer to her. She stares at Colby.

Colby grabs Liza’s hair.

Jake: Don’t do that, Colby.

Colby looks wounded.

Liza: It’s okay. It’s a... it’s a game. Right, Colby?

Colby looks quizzically at Liza.

Liza takes her free hand and gently tugs at the strand of hair. Colby lets go.

Liza slowly touches Colby’s nose. Then she gives a tentative smile and nods at Colby.

Liza: It’s okay. You can.

Colby touches Liza’s nose.

Liza: Oh, princess.

Liza hugs Colby.

Liza brings Colby over to the couch. She puts Colby down on the couch and sits next to her. Jake moves closer to them and leans his head around so that he can watch.

Colby grabs Liza’s finger and draws it into her mouth.

Liza: What...?

Jake: She’s teething. She may need a waffle.

Liza’s eyes well up a little again, and then she turns and looks at Junior.

Liza: Thank you.

Liza looks back at Colby.

Liza: If I’m not mistaken, that tooth is almost completely in.

Colby smiles.

Liza gently touches Colby’s lips and then bends her head down towards Colby.

Colby grabs at Liza’s hair again and coos.

Liza: Junior? Would you ...would you bring me the stuffed duck? She’s making a stuffed duck sound.

Jake: Stuffed duck?

Liza: Yeah. She sleeps with it. It’s always in the crib.

Jake: She has brand new toys now.

Liza: Oh.

Junior: We don't have the duck, but we’ve got something else.

Junior goes over to the crib and grabs a stuffed animal.

Junior: Or I could get you my Bart Simpson doll. Would that be good?

Jake: Junior, this is Liza’s time with Colby. Maybe it would be good for you to go upstairs, sport.

Liza turns and looks at Jake.

Liza: No, no. He should stay. He and Colby are old friends.

Liza turns back to Colby.

Liza: Right, Colby?

Colby: Bah!

Liza: That’s right. Bah!

Junior hands Liza the stuffed animal. Liza gives it to Colby. Then Liza gently grabs Colby’s foot. Colby pulls it away from Liza.

Liza: I’m bigger.

Liza gently grabs at Colby’s foot again.

Colby squeals and pulls her foot away.

Jake: What are you --

Liza bends down and kisses Colby’s belly.

Colby pulls Liza’s head towards her.

Liza: Mine.

Liza pulls her head away.

Colby laughs.

Liza smiles.

Liza: Are you flirting with me, young lady? What have I told you about flirting?

Colby: Bah!

Liza: That’s right.

Colby coos quizzically.

Liza: A 2.8. But it should be doing better.

Colby makes a face.

Liza: I’ll tell the sponsors you said so. After all, you know about these things. You have a tooth. You’re getting to be pretty grown up.

Tad: She is. She’s growing up fast.

Liza kisses Colby on the top of her head.

Liza: Did you hear that, Colbs? Tad says it’s almost time for you to be filling out income tax returns. What do you think?

Colby coos.

Liza: That’s okay. Personally, I use an accountant.

Liza leans down and whispers in Colby’s ear.

Liza: Don’t tell anyone.

Jake looks at his watch.

Jake: I’m sorry, Liza, but I have to be going.

Colby grabs Liza’s finger.

Liza pulls it back a little.

Colby drops the stuffed animal and reaches her other hand over to pull at Liza’s hand with both of hers.

Jake: Liza?

Liza looks up.

Jake: I’m sorry, but it’s time to go.

Liza looks back down at Colby. Her eyes well up with tears.

She picks up Colby and stands. She brings Colby close to her and takes a deep breath. Then she carries Colby over to the crib.

Liza: I’m sorry, princess. This is my fault. I miss you already.

Liza kisses Colby and puts her down in the crib.

Colby begins to cry.

Liza: I’m so sorry, Colby. I have to leave.

Colby continues to cry.

Liza: I’ll come back and see you as soon as I can.

Liza begins to cry. She turns towards Jake.

Liza: Could I just have a few more minutes? Just a few more.

Jake: I have to go to work. I have to leave now.

Liza nods.

Liza: Junior? Could you come here?

Junior goes over to the crib.

Liza leans down into the crib.

Liza: Look, Colby! Look who’s here. It’s your big brother.

Junior: Hi, Colby. Hi.

Liza turns to Junior.

Liza: Could you... could you give her your hand?

Junior leans down and gives Colby his hand.

Colby’s crying subsides.

Liza: What a good girl. Junior’s going to stay with you for a while. But Mommy has to leave. Okay?

Colby looks at Liza.

Liza kisses the tips of her fingers and places them on Colby’s cheek.

Liza: A blessing on your...

Liza wipes the tears from her face with her free hand.

Liza: ...on your pillow and your head.

Liza quickly goes to the door and leaves.

Colby begins to cry.

Junior: Hey, Colby! Hey!

Colby looks up at Junior, distracted from her crying.

Jake goes over to the crib.

Dixie: Jake, no.

Jake takes Colby out. He jiggles her.

Colby looks around the room. She begins to cry.

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Thirteen
Part One Hundred and Fifteen