Tarnished Armor
Part 118

Tad and Dixie’s house. The living room.

The living room is empty. The door opens. Tad limps in. Dixie is supporting him.

Dixie: Hello? Anybody home?

Tad: Have a little sympathy. Get me to the couch.

Dixie: I’m sorry, honey. Here. Let me help you.

Dixie helps Tad limp to the couch.

Tad: This is the last time. The last time.

Dixie: Let me see if I can find a heating pad.

Dixie goes up the stairs. She passes Jake on his way down the stairs.

Tad: Why? Why is it my job to suffer?

Jake: Don’t talk to me about suffering.

Tad lies down on the couch.

Jake: Move over. Leave some room for me.

Tad moves over a little.

Jake: Gee, thanks.

Jake sits down.

Tad: What’s the matter with you?

Jake: I have been in the bathroom all day. I must have caught some sort of virus.

Tad: Please stop. I’m getting a visual.

Dixie comes back down the stairs with the heating pad. She takes a long look at Tad and Jake.

Dixie: I thought you were the doctor, Jake. I’m tending to two of you now? What happened to you?

Tad: Don’t ask.

Dixie: Where’s Junior? And where’s Colby?

Jake: Junior took Colby to the park. Some of the other kids’ mothers were there. Let me tell you, he was a real life saver this morning.

Dixie: I’m glad you’re getting along better. Tad? Honey? Do you think you can make it up the stairs? I think a bath might be better for you.

Tad: The stairs?

Dixie: Jake can help you.

Tad looks at Jake.

Tad: I don’t want what he has.

Dixie: Quit being a baby.

Junior enters the house, carrying Colby and the baby bag.

Dixie goes over to Junior and takes Colby.

Dixie: That’s some load you’re carrying. Did you do this all by yourself?

Junior: Amanda helped me. I’m tired. Can I go upstairs?

Dixie: Are you not feeling well? I hope you don't have what Uncle Jake has.

Junior: I’m okay. I’m just tired.

Dixie: Are you awake enough to help the two big boys on the couch upstairs?

Junior: I guess so.

Jake: Sorry. Can’t help. Gotta run.

Jake dashes up the stairs. Junior watches him, and then turns to Tad.

Junior: Come on. I’ll help you.

Junior takes Tad’s hand and pulls him off the couch.

Tad: Yow. Gently. Gently.

Junior: Sorry.

Tad turns to Dixie.

Tad: That was the last time. The last time.

Dixie: Okay.

Tad and Junior make their way up the stairs.

Dixie looks at Colby.

Dixie: Hello there, sweetie. Time for a nap? Let’s take those shoes off.

Dixie places Colby down on the couch and takes her shoes off. She notices that Colby’s hand is in a fist.

Dixie: Whatcha got there, Colby? Can I see?

Dixie opens Colby’s hand. She removes a single strand of very blond hair.

Dixie studies the hair.

Dixie: Oh, no. Oh, Junior...

Dixie picks Colby up and puts her down in the crib.

Then Dixie moves to the couch.

Dixie: This is bad. Really bad. What am I going to do?

Dixie leans back on the couch and a memory comes to her. In the memory, she and Tad are standing on a dock.

Tad (in the memory): You wanna cry, you go ahead. You're entitled. You'll see. We're going to get that baby back. And when we do, he's going to be so happy, he'll have a smile plastered all over his face.

Dixie (in the memory): But he doesn't know, Tad. He doesn't know why I'm gone. He calls out for me and he cries and he doesn't understand why I'm not there to comfort him.

Tad (in the memory): He knows you love him. He can feel it.

Dixie (in the memory): It's not the same. I want to hold him. I want to hold him all the time. I want to tell him that I love him.

Tad (in the memory): I know. I know. Believe me, I know. It's tough right now. But you've just got to hang on. You hear me, there's no room for doubt. You've got to know it's going to happen.

Dixie (in the memory): I don't know, Tad. I don't.

Tad (in the memory): Yes, you do.

Dixie (in the memory): No, I don't.

Tad (in the memory): I know you do.

Dixie (in the memory): No, I don't.

Tad (in the memory): Dixie Cooney, you've always been a fighter. You came into this town a fighter, and you've never given up yet. You're not going to start now. I swear to you, on my life and on that baby's life, that I'm going to get him back.

Dixie sits up on the couch as the memory fades.

Junior comes down the stairs.

Junior: Mom?

Dixie looks up at Junior.

Junior: Have you seen my new Captain America comic book?

Dixie: No. I haven’t.

Junior: Okay.

Junior heads back towards the stairs.

Dixie: Hey, you.

Junior turns back to face her.

Dixie: Come sit with me for a minute.

Junior goes over to the couch and sits next to Dixie.

Dixie brushes his hair from his face.

Dixie: You know, it’s funny. I look at you sometimes, and I see me. And sometimes, I see your father. But right now, I see a lot of Tad.

Junior: Really?

Dixie: Yes. Junior, I know what you did today.

Junior: What do you mean?

Dixie: I mean I found this in Colby’s hand.

Dixie hands Junior the strand of hair.

Junior is quiet.

Dixie: You can never do this again, Junior. There’s too much at stake. And it was illegal to boot.

Junior is still quiet.

Dixie: I know you did it for all the right reasons. And I’m ... I’m proud of you, in a way. For doing it. But you can’t do it again. And you can’t tell anyone you’ve done it. Now, does anyone else know?

Junior: It was just me. I was the only one.

Dixie: Let me get this straight. You went somewhere -- all alone -- carrying Colby and the baby bag?

Junior: Yes.

Dixie: I don’t like you lying to me, Junior.

Junior: I know.

Dixie: Okay. I can see that I’m not going to get anymore information out of you. But I need for you to promise me that it will never happen again.

Junior is silent.

Dixie: I’m so sorry to do this to you, baby. I know how much you want to do the right thing. And your heart..

Dixie touches Junior’s chest.

Dixie: Your heart is stronger and kinder than almost any heart of any person I’ve ever known. But for the kind of trouble this could get you in, it isn’t worth it.

Junior: They miss each other.

Dixie: I can see that.

Junior: It wasn’t fair.

Dixie: If she had shown up on time, none of this would be an issue.

Junior: Two hours? Two hours together?

Dixie: That’s what Jake got. During the whole trial.

Junior: But Jake --

Dixie: Is her father. And if you step outside all of your feelings for everyone in this situation, you’ll see that it’s bad for everyone. But I think the judge can fix it. We have to trust her.

Junior: What if she messes up?

Dixie: If she messes up, I’m sure Jake and Liza will go back and try and fix things all over again.

Junior: You’re sure?

Dixie: As sure as I can be.

Dixie leans over and kisses Junior on the forehead.

Dixie: Promise me.

Junior looks at Dixie.

Junior: I promise.

Dixie: Good. Because I know that you’re a man of your word. Now scoot. And not a word to anyone.

Junior: Okay.

Junior goes to the stairs. Then he suddenly turns back and goes to the crib. He leans over the crib. Dixie watches him.

Junior: A blessing on your pillow and your head and good night.

Junior goes to the stairs, and goes upstairs.

Dixie smiles and her eyes well up with tears.

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Seventeen
Part One Hundred and Nineteen