Chapter 325: Cecile XXIX—Off Balance

Mrs. Sakic wasn’t happy with her.

It would be easy to just as soon assume that the source of Debbie’s irritation lay in that ridiculous fight the men had the night before in Florida. Fortunately, Mitchell being in the bath before getting ready for preschool spared him the video clips on the morning news, but Cecile and Debbie had seen them. For some reason or other, the team had picked a fight with, above all things, figure skaters in their Tampa Bay hotel, and worse, a documentary crew filmed the entire thing. Juicy news clips abounded.

“….and what’s this? Hockey players picking on figure skaters? Joe Sakic attacking gold medal pair skater Jamie Sale, his country woman? Say it ain’t so Joe!” the news anchor had blurbed accompanied by a clip of Mr. Sakic, yes, Mr. Sakic, jumping over a table to pin the tiny woman to the ground. The next clip, as the anchor explained that some sort of altercation between Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy and a figure skater had escalated into a full blown, old fashioned bar brawl, showed a shot of Danny battering in the face of another skater. Oh yes, the anchor added, Patrick Roy has a history of off ice misbehaving including being ticketed for a fight at a Colorado hotel party with a DJ, and an arrest for an alleged domestic violence incident at his home for which charges were later dropped. Various parties were ticketed and reportedly each of the brawlers paid for damages on the spot. The hotel has decided not to pursue charges.

Debbie said nothing initially, and neither could Cecile. What could they say? She could only feel her cold hands pressing over her lips, and through closed eyes she could only see the glee in Danny’s face as he rained punches onto his opponents face. Not even anger for Danny, of course not, fighting never made him angry, she had seen him at his rough stuff on the ice often enough to know that. Of course he would be feeling no remorse either, and sure enough, when he had called her later that day, he had spoken in a perky, upbeat, amused tone.

Cecile had groaned and asked him what sort of satisfaction he could get from picking on a figure skater to which Danny pointedly answered, “Hey he hit the captain.”

“Danny,” Cecile had sighed, “You know I’m not supposed to be on the phone during the day when I’m working, okay hon?”

“Well I just thought that you’d be worried and…”

“Of course I am I just…. Gotta go, I love ya, bye.”

Cecile grinned sheepishly at Debbie who had just entered the room.

“Was that Danny?” Mrs. Sakic asked.

“Yes,” Cecile answered meekly. She really wanted to melt into the floor.

Debbie frowned. “Does he make a habit of calling like that?”

“No,” Cecile answered, “He… he just called to tell me he was okay, you know, after… after that fight.”

“Well Patty started it…” Mrs. Sakic said. “God how embarrassing, dammit Joe…”

So, the simple thing would be to assume that Mrs. Sakic was simply needled from the news of this incident. Cecile knew for certain that her cheeks and neck would burn damp at the very mention of it for a long time to come. She didn’t like the idea of Danny picking on figure skaters, it sounded too much like tales of a school yard bully. And Mr. Sakic too! Well, she was certain that Mr. Sakic at least had some sort of good reason in his mind for doing it…

But Mrs. Sakic had been in a mood before either of them had heard news of this incident. Cecile hadn’t been able to get two words from her that weren’t either a request to do something, or a curt command. Really, she wanted to go to Mrs. Sakic and ask her what was wrong but she had a feeling that she wouldn’t appreciate it too much.

Cecile tried to think about it. Had Mrs. Sakic been this way before they had had the practice on the ice yesterday? She couldn’t really tell. Mrs. Sakic didn’t seem too off put around anyone else, however, so Cecile had to assume that the problem lay in her. Of course it laid in me, she thought, I have one thousand little reasons why I would be a problem.

Cecile had not slept well the past two nights at all thinking about the gift card Mr. Sakic had given her. No he hadn’t given her cash or a diamond necklace, but really, he might as well have. What could have possessed him to give her such an extravagant gift? It pricked at her guts and on the skin of her cheeks whenever she looked at Mrs. Sakic and she wondered if she knew about the gift or not.

Stupid idiot why did you take it? Why couldn’t you have told him no, you’ve refused other things to other men, but you froze up and took it from him.

The practice yesterday had helped erase most of the worry from her mind; the thrill of actually skating backwards, her tired muscles, whacking that stupid circle of vulcanized rubber into Mrs. Blake’s pads was so therapeutic. At least now she began to understand what Danny meant talking about the freedom and pure joy on the ice.

When they had come home, however, Debbie and told her curtly to please make sure that Mitchell didn’t have any dairy products at any time because she knows Mitchell must have had some the day before. Remember, Cecile, Mitchell can smile real cute but it didn’t mean he had a free pass to the refrigerator especially if some of that food could put him in the hospital.

Confused but not in any position to dispute, Cecile had apologized and agreed. She couldn’t recall the last time Mitchell had asked her for milk. To her knowledge she had never given him any either.

Cecile did her best to be as handy and available as she could and she kept an eye on Mrs. Sakic. She didn’t seem ill or agitated about anything really. It’s just me; something I did is annoying her.

Seeing the men fighting this morning hadn’t helped her mood any and by lunchtime Debbie asked Cecile as she put it, for the millionth time to please convince Mitchell that it’s a good idea to make his own bed in the morning, he has to be instilled with proper values now and not later. When Mimi popped by with Coco for some company at lunchtime, Cecile almost breathed an audible sigh of relief. Now that would have been a disaster for Debbie to hear!

“Oh God Mimi!” Debbie exclaimed as she hugged her and then let Coco kiss her on the cheek, “What were they thinking?”

“What were who thinking?” Michele asked with an innocent blink of her eyes, but by now Cecile knew that Michele knew exactly what Debbie meant. Just by the way the corner of her mouth twitched up, just so slightly.

“Those boneheads beating on figure skaters!” Debbie exclaimed.

Coco shook her head. “I swear they get like dogs these men, Pierre is at his wits end as it is after that incident with Parker.”

Debbie frowned. “What incident?”

Michele burst into a flurry of giggles. “I’ll make some coffee.” She flounced into the kitchen after tossing her coat and gloves to Cecile.

“Oof,” Cecile gasped as she caught the garment and then she dutifully went to Coco for her coat and gloves.

“Well Mike and Dan...”

Cecile froze as she hung up the coats and looked at Mrs. Lacroix. Coco looked at her and smiled kindly. “Yes your Daniel, dear.”

Cecile swallowed. “What else did Danny do?”

“Well Mike… Keane, he and Danny played a childish prank on Scott Parker, and he did not take this well, this was in Nashville and he came at them with an axe.”

Cecile cried out in horror at roughly the same time as Debbie. Coco nodded solemnly. Michele’s laughter could be heard from the kitchen. Was there no end to that woman’s insatiable childishness?

“Joe didn’t tell me!” Debbie breathed.

“Well no one was hurt, and they paid the hotel, it was fixed up yes?” Coco answered, “But it was embarrassing for Pierre to be required to answer for his players like that. And then this happens…”

“Ooo I think all of you are taking this too seriously yes?” Michele said with a grin as she entered the room, a cube of sugar in her fingers which she seemed to be nibbling on. “No one was badly hurt, I think it’s funny.”

“Oh God Mimi!” Debbie snapped, “Grow up!” She snatched the sugar cube from Michele and stalked into the kitchen. “If we see the men wielding axes and beating up ice dancers as cute then that means they can get away with anything and everything, and you know what, they will…no…no strike that, they DO!”

A line creased between Michele’s eyebrows and at the corners of her eyes. Cecile shared a brief gaze with her and Michele pursed her lips. “Debbie are you feeling alright? You seem… a little off balance.”

“That’s only because I am sick of just sitting back and letting these bozo’s do everything they want and we’re supposed to think it’s cute!” Debbie exclaimed as she came out of the kitchen. Cecile swallowed hard when Debbie looked at her, the gaze seemed all knowing, penetrating and honestly, Cecile wanted to fall to her knees and petition for her forgiveness. “Cecile what are you doing just standing there?”

“I… I was going to get my jacket.”

“Why?”

Cecile swallowed. “I… Mitchell needs to be picked up from pre…”

Debbie closed her eyes. “I’m picking him up because I’m taking him to the art museum today remember? You just stay here with the ladies, and watch the twins.”

“Oh and where are the darlings?” Coco asked lightly.

“Napping,” Cecile murmured.

Moving briskly, Debbie collected her jacket and gloves and left, closing the door heavily behind her.

“I didn’t think this would bother Debbie that much,” Michele breathed. “Poor thing, this really was a shock to her yes?”

Cecile shrugged. “I… I don’t think I should talk about it. I mean, yes, I mean you know?”

Michele grinned. “I know about the thousand dollars Cecile.”

“You what!?” Cecile exclaimed, feeling exposed.

“A thousand dollars?” Coco asked with an interested lift of her eyebrows.

“Mmm let’s have some coffee,” Michele cooed and Cecile felt dizzy feeling her arm against her back, nudging her into the kitchen. “Cecile I think I can help you out, with something yes?”

“Oh I don’t know…”

“Of I course I do, we’re friends!”

“Oh… right…”

Debbie didn’t come home until most of the afternoon had passed. Worried, Cecile had called her. Debbie sounded odd, but assured Cecile that everything was alright, it’s just that Mitchell was really into the exhibits here, don’t worry.

“You shouldn’t have taken the money, Cecilia. I didn’t think you were that silly.”

Cecile groaned and put Chase loose onto the floor. She looked at Rosalita as the housekeeper cleaned the stove. “How do you know about it?”

“The French ones talk to loud. I hear everything. Mister Sakic, he tried to give me a gift similar to yours, I refuse him but no you greedy little girls have to ruin the good things you have.”

“I’m not greedy!” Cecile exclaimed.

“Then why did you take it?”

“I… I just didn’t… couldn’t say no to him.”

“Against your better judgment?”

Cecile shifted in her seat. The one thing she hated the most was being put on the spot. “Well of course, against my better judgment. I should have said no to him but I just didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but I was raised correctly I know that I shouldn’t have taken a gift like that. I don’t like having it.”

“Ah not greedy for money then, for her husband?”

Cecile felt her cheeks boil over, “What?” She had to fight to keep her voice to a strangled squeak. She couldn’t yell like she wanted to in front of the twins. Rosalita, a slim, middle aged Mexican woman leaned against the kitchen counter and pressed her hand into her hip.

“You could not say no to him because you want him to like you, you’re greedy for him just like all the other ones. And I thought you were different, Cecilita, what a shame.”

“I am engaged!” Cecile exclaimed and she held up her hand to show off her ring.

Rosalita nodded with a smirk. “An engaged woman feels comfortable enough to look anywhere she wants, it is nothing new in this world, an old story.”

Cecile sighed. “I’m going to fix this as soon as Mrs. Sakic comes home. It’s ridiculous that anything’s even starting, I’m such an idiot.”

Rosalita smiled. “Well you still have a brain, good for you.”

“Gee thanks,” Cecile muttered.

Cecile didn’t feel nervous at all when Debbie finally came home with a bright eyed, red cheeked Mitchell. In fact she felt strengthened with resolve. “Hi Mrs. Sakic how was the museum?”

“It was great!” Mitchell exclaimed. “Mommy I’m hungry can I get food?”

“Yes Mitchie it’s dinner time.”

Cecile had meant to bring up the subject at that moment but seeing the haunted look on Debbie’s face, she decided not to. After dinner, they watched the hockey game. Debbie didn’t say anything really, only Mitchell cheered loudly as Joe scored the game winning goal. The team certainly didn’t look at all off balance considering what had happened the day before. Men!

After the children were put to bed, that’s when Debbie pulled Cecile aside. And Cecile tightened but decided to accept whatever Mrs. Sakic had to say. She squeezed the gift card in her pocket, ready to just hand the thing back. “Cecile tell me honestly, this is important, and don’t be afraid to tell me the truth because I won’t be mad….” Here it comes, Cecile thought. “Now, I promise I won’t be mad, I just need to know….”

“Yes?” Cecile swallowed and she half smiled.

“Did you know Mitchell could read Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics?”

“No, Mrs. Sakic I swear I didn’t know he would give it to me, in fact take it I haven’t spent a dime off it I can’t stand the thought of it I shouldn’t have accepted it it makes me feel so……” Cecile held the card out and then it sunk into her. “Uh… what…what did you say?”

“Just what you think I did,” Debbie whispered.

Cecile ran her tongue over her teeth and she looked at the card. “Um… no..no I didn’t know Mitchell could… I know he’s smart but I didn’t know he was that smart… um… why…why do you ask?”

Debbie grabbed the card and looked at it. “Eh don’t worry about the card, it’s a gift from both of us… just get a good night’s sleep….” Debbie slipped the card back into Cecile’s hands and patted her on the shoulder.

“Um good night Mrs. Sakic!”

“Yeah yeah,” Mrs. Sakic replied as she walked away, holding her hand up gingerly in a wave.

Cecile felt so relieved and she tucked the card safely in her dresser drawer before she went to bed. A gift from both of them, both! There couldn’t be anything wrong with a gift from both of them. She closed her eyes and felt comfortable as she drifted back to sleep and then her eyes popped open with a nervous thought. Why did Mr. Sakic say it was just from him?

She sat up abruptly. Ancient hieroglyphics??? WHAT?!