Chapter 332: Cecile XXX—Of Course

As Cecile watched Alex Tanguay walk into his building, she thought to herself, what a likeable fellow. Talking with him in the car as she drove him, well he did most of the talking, reminded her of what an easy going guy Danny was. She wondered if Alex figured into Danny’s circle of friends, she didn’t remember him ever talking about Alex a whole lot. What a shame if they weren’t close! She smiled. Tanguay’s friendliness had almost made her forget about that delicate subject Mr. Sakic had brought up earlier.

Cecile felt her cheeks burn and she closed her eyes. You stupid girl! Of course they’re a married couple, they’ve been separated for the past few days, this is the things they do. It’s natural. Why shouldn’t she expect that, and in fact, she should have offered to take Mitchell out before Mr. Sakic had even brought it up! Calm down, what’s the big problem? What are you afraid of?

She didn’t really want to think about that.

“Can I sit in the front?” Mitchell asked.

Cecile craned her neck to look at him. Mitchell had his Squiggling Buddy toy in his arms, squeezing giggles out of it. “No Teddy Bear, it’s not safe for you to be sitting in the front.”

Mitchell frowned. “Even if I have my seat belt?”

“Even if you do,” Cecile replied and she pulled the car out of the complex. “We wouldn’t want you to get hurt; the front seat is for big people. If I got into an accident, you wouldn’t want to get hurt.” Her eyes focused on the black, sparkling road. It hadn’t snowed in a week or so, the roads were pretty clear, but there were still patches of ice here and there that hadn’t been tended to.

“Then don’t get into an accident,” Mitchell said decisively. Ah yes, there was an air of Jana in that tone. Cecile grinned. Things rung so simple in a child’s reasoning, if a grown up didn’t want something to happen, then there should be no reason why it would.

“Sometimes that can’t be helped, and if we did get into an accident you wouldn’t want the air bag to explode in your face, that could hurt your nose.”

“Then why do we have air bags?” Mitchell asked.

Cecile laughed. “Come on, Kiddo, do you want to go play with Jana?”

“Yeah!” Mitchell exclaimed.

Cecile fumbled with her cellphone at the traffic light as she dialed the Roy’s. “Hi Mrs. Roy! How are ya doing?”

“Oo just fine, darling,” Michele answered brightly. “Is that you Cecile?”

“Yup, Mitchell was wondering if he could come over to play with Jana, would that be alright, if it’s no problem to you?” Cecile gasped and hit the brake as a jaywalking teenager darted through the intersection. A stream of honks blared behind her, and she could see a car stopping just short of rear ending her. She looked back at Mitchell who had wide eyes but didn’t seem out of sorts.

“Is everything alright dear?”

“Yes, fine, irresponsible kid crossing the street…. We’re okay…”

“Oh good, yes that would be fine, bring him on over, but I don’t think I have the energy to take care of too many yes, do the twins have to come?”

“Oh it’s no problem!” Cecile said quickly. “I didn’t plan on leaving you alone with him, I’ll be there, and Mitchell just needed some fresh air so I’ll be with him.”

“I’ll see you in a bit then, goodbye.”

Cecile exhaled loudly at the next traffic light and pressed her hand into her breast, tossing the cellphone onto the next seat. “Mitchell, you okay honey? Does your neck hurt any, does your head hurt?” Stupid useless cellphones! Nothing but trouble I should just forget about using one, they only cause more trouble then they’re worth.

Mitchell nodded. “I’m okay, what happened?”

“Some kid didn’t obey the traffic laws and he almost got us into an accident, we almost hit him, but it’s fine now.”

Mitchell frowned. “How come kids get killed when they get hit by cars?”

“Cause cars are so big sweetie. Kids are real small; it would be like stomping on an ant or something like that.”

“Would I get killed?”

“Well it depends on how bad you were hit.” Cecile grimaced. She didn’t want Mitchell to be wondering about such morbid things. “So that’s why you need to hold onto someone’s hands and obey all the rules. That way you don’t get hurt.”

“Oh,” Mitchell said quietly. Then his voice brightened as if struck by a brilliant idea. “Someone should invent like a medicine, so kids can’t die if they get hit, so no one would be sad! Like a needle like from the doctors… and… and they get better so the car doesn’t hurt them.”

Cecile smiled sadly. She didn’t want to think about the possibility of that happening to any child much less the impossibility of a magic potion to resurrect one. All of that lay in God’s hands, not hers. “Well maybe when you grow up, you can invent one, hm?”

Mitchell sat silent for the rest of the drive to the Roy house, presumably pondering the future glories he would entertain as a magic doctor.

The door swung open even though Cecile barely knocked.

“CECILE!” Jana squealed Gigi danced at her feet, barking and wagging her tail.

“Hi Jana!” Mitchell exclaimed and he wriggled past Cecile and into the house.

“Jana I told you don’t open the door like that, I swear I will punish you next time!” Michele cried. She had crinkled eyes and a frown, her hands on her hips as she came into the entry way.

“But it’s Cecile,” Jana said. “I saw before I opened it, I swear Mama!” With a true veteran’s instincts, Jana snatched Mitchell’s hand and dragged him out of the hall to avoid any real confrontation with her mother. “Come see my new presents!”

Michele closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I am so glad you’re here, Cecile, really I am.”

“Is Jana being a handful?” Cecile asked, feeling that old spur of worry when it concerned the girl and Mitchell’s rather delicate constitution. She knew when she took him home, he would have that pale, dark eyed, exhausted look to him as if Jana had sucked the life out.

“Oh amongst other things,” Michele said lightly. “Tammy dropped Jackson off, so he and Jana have been up to mischief, thank God for Frederick and Jonathan, or I wouldn’t know what else to do. Jonathan’s little friend Elena is here as well. Perhaps Mitchell will be a calming influence yes?”

Cecile grimaced.

Michele laughed. “I’ve been saying that for years, perhaps someday it will be more than a dream.”

“Well, she just has a lot of life in her.”

Michele rolled her eyes. “I am past being poetic about her, now take off your coat, come on, I just made hot chocolate, unless you would like some coffee.”

“Oh I could go watch the kids…”

“Pssht!” Michele snipped with a wave of her hand. “Non the older ones have them, they should be fine as long as they don’t decide to embark on anymore…. “adventures”. I need company I am dying for some! I’ve been tired all day, just exhausted. Please tell me you will stay with us this weekend, please! I know you have no real need to but oh Jana seems to calm down so when you’re around…”

The Jana I see is CALM? Cecile thought. “Well of course, Mrs. Roy, I don’t mind at all, I assumed I would be staying over the weekend.” She hung up her coat and her brain fired with the sickening memory of drowning, of being kicked, of knowing that she would die. “Is… is Jana sleeping in her bedroom yet? How is she doing?”

“Well I have been able to clean the bedroom, Cecile how terrible! So much blood, Jana doesn’t seem to be sleeping that well yet and…” Michele paused and Cecile swallowed. “…and these things take time when it comes to children, they heal fast yes? Perhaps she will do better tonight, a good party here should liven things up.”

Cecile wanted to hug her tightly. The woman looked so vulnerable at that point. Had there really been tension between them? Cecile thought about it, the distrust, the tears, the certainty that she could possibly lose Danny to this woman. How silly and embarrassing that seemed now, when so many things, much more important had happened. And most importantly, Mrs. Roy was not the one to fear. “Is Mr. Roy here?”

“You know, I am not sure,” Michele replied as she led the way into the kitchen. “I picked him up from the airport and then he and Jana went to Children’s, he came home with her and then I have not seen him. I could care less at this point yes? I have other things to be doing.”

“Childrens?” Cecile exclaimed, “Hospital? Is Jana okay?”

“Oh she is fine,” Michele said, “Oh no, I forgot about the mess in here!” She groaned and put her face into her hands.

Cecile’s eyes widened. She knew this kitchen to be the epitome of spotlessness, and that without a maid or housekeeper. The kitchen that lay before her was pocked with dirty dishes, a galore of finger food trays, fruit trays, and a disaster of a table with spilled food everywhere. “Oh I can help you with this!”

“The children just had snacks and of course they all wanted something different from the other, I shall strangle them!”

“Oh don’t lets go that far,” Cecile said easily and she began to gather dishes off the table. “So Jana is okay then?”

Michele nodded and put some water on the stove to boil. “Yes, they were just there to visit Alicia, that little girl that Patty is helping finack…finanss… with the money, for her surgery…”

“Financially?”

Michele smiled. “Yes that’s it.”

Cecile felt a strange knot in her gut, a tightening in her chest. “How is the little girl doing?”

“Patrick says she looks wonderful, the surgery went quite well, he said she and Jana got along fine, they seem like nice friends, it’s a good story. They drew pictures together,” Michele gestured to the refrigerator and Cecile could see the crayon drawings decorating it. “I think that’s why we have not seen him, Patrick gets a little depressed after visiting those children, and he hates to see such pain and misery, its real hard yes? I wouldn’t be surprised if he were drowning his sorrows with Adam right now in a beer or something.”

“It affects him that bad huh?” Cecile said softly, her head felt somewhat weightless now, her heart fragile like thin glass. A half a million dollars for that surgery, half a million! Money had been no obstruction for the means to that end. That little girl was worth that much to him, that stranger, or if he were to be believed, it wasn’t so much the girl but Cecile who was worth that much. I am not worth a thousand dollars much less a million, Cecile thought. What a strange man.

“Are you feeling alright Cecile?” Michele asked.

“Oh just fine… just fine…”

Cecile jumped and Michele cursed and the rapid frantic barking of Gigi. The puppy could be heard sliding across the floor as she ran to the front door.

“That dog barks far too much!” Michele muttered and she went to the door. “Hello Patrick.”

Cecile straightened and her fingers tightened on the bowl in her hands. She backed into the sink and swallowed. He couldn’t hurt her, he wouldn’t do anything, but Cecile felt herself overrun with nervousness.

“Where were you?” Michele asked. She smiled and Cecile smiled back at her when she came back into the kitchen, Patrick right behind her. “We were just talking about you?”

“Oh… really?”

Cecile made eye contact with Patrick, just briefly. His eyes looked different, dull in a way, blue but lifeless. The way his eyebrows sloped, his shoulders, she would guess he was depressed. “What’s with the mess?” Cecile swallowed again and she felt her palms prickle with sweat. His cheeks were splotched red from the cold, his nose red, the rest of his pace paler by comparison. It reminded her of the pale skin of his bare torso, the muscle, the pink, the heat...

“Oh if you’re going to complain, get out of here,” Michele snipped.

Patrick sighed and shrugged. He left the kitchen calling loudly in French, “Jonathan get over here and help me get something from the car!” His footsteps rang heavily. “Jonathan did you hear me boy?!”

Cecile gnawed on her bottom lip. She really felt as if she would bolt at any second like some stupid rabbit.

“Oh don’t mind him yes?” Michele said easily. “I told you that he’d be in a mood. He’s not grumpy just; well he gets like that sometimes.”

“Sure,” Cecile replied, “I can understand.”

She could hear Patrick and Jonathan as they talked in low voices to each other, the front door opened and they went outside. Gigi pranced into the kitchen, wagging her tail and panting. “Hello, Gigi,” Michele said calling the puppy to her feet. “How odd, Cecile, Gigi didn’t even try attacking him. Perhaps she likes Patty now hm?” She looked at the dog as she spoke. “Yes do you love Daddy now precious?”

Gigi barked in reply.

Cecile grinned, slightly.

Jonathan and Patrick came back in coughing and stamping there feet. “Damn Dad it’s real cold out there!” Jonathan exclaimed.

“I said stop cussing!” Patrick snapped. “Jana! Jana get over here angel!”

“Daddy!” Jana squealed and Cecile could hear the mix of so many children’s voices as the entire herd ran to meet Patrick. Cecile and Michele left the kitchen to peek.

“What did you get me Daddy?”

“Come on,” Patrick said somberly, he had a box in his arms and Jonathan had a larger one. They both proceeded up the stairs with the kids following. Cecile noticed Mitchell holding onto the hand of Jonathan’s girl, Elena, his Squiggling Buddy toy clutched under his arm.

“Hey Mitchell are you having fun?”

Mitchell yawned. “Yeah. Jackson tried to hurt my Squiggling Buddy but Elena saved him.”

“Jackson!” Michele exclaimed. “What did I tell you about picking on other children?”

Cecile held out her arms to Mitchell, feeling outraged in his honor looking at the unrepentant freckled face of Jackson Keane. She had heard enough stories about that boy to last a lifetime. Mitchell scurried into her hug. Jackson crossed his arms and stuck out his tongue.

“It’s okay, Mrs. Roy,” Elena said pressing her hands into her skinny hips, accentuating the bend of her twig like arms, “Jana gave him a wedgie and made him apologize. She’s pretty tough, heh heh. Interesting what kind of figure skater she’ll make tomorrow.”

“You’re stupid!” Jackson exclaimed smiling and pointing at Elena. “Stupid!”

“And you can go home anytime I make a call!” Michele barked. “Behave.”

Jackson froze in spot and ran his tongue over his lips. “Sorry.”

Michele gave Jackson and Mitchell a sugar pie to split as she started rolling appetizers for the party she would be throwing that night. Cecile and Elena split washing the dishes. “So how has Jana been doing with piano?” Cecile asked.

“Great,” Elena replied. “Well, she doesn’t practice enough but she’s got the idea. She’ll be starting figure skating tomorrow so I bet she’ll throw piano over for the skating.”

Cecile smiled. “You really like skating huh?”

Elena shrugged. “I prefer ballet, I’m better at that.”

“Oh really?” Cecile thought of the ballet, one of the most beautiful things to watch. The thing she missed most about New York was the ballet. Opera, and plays, and musicals, none of that to her compared to the surreal, exquisite beauty of the ballet. Elena’s small frame and dainty features should have flagged to Cecile earlier that she was a talented ballerina; the girl had a mature set to her eyes, a determined one. “Do you think you’ll go far with it?”

“I better,” Elena replied. “Or else my life has been a waste.”

“Then you’ll probably go far.”

“Cecile! Elena!” Jana screamed tumbling down the stairs. “Come see what Daddy got me! I mean Gumper! It’s awesome!!”

Cecile exchanged glances with Elena and they led the crowd up the stairs. Once in the hallway, Cecile hesitated a moment, staring at the doorway to Jana’s bedroom. Her knees trembled but she forced herself to walk forward. She peeked in and Jana pounced to the side of a huge clear plastic contraption of tunnels and towers. “Seeeeeee! Daddy got a new home for Gumper so he won’t be bored with nothing to do!”

“Wow!” Mitchell breathed and he squatted next to the housing and tapped on it. “It’s like a whole hamster world!”

“Alright, let’s put in the Gump,” Jonathan said and he scooped up the hamster.

Cecile glanced at Patrick as he sat on the bed, his eyes were only half open and he had a small smile on his face, a contented smile. For some reason she thought of a father lion watching his cubs.

“I get to put him in!” Jana declared snatching the fat hamster from Jonathan and unceremoniously plopping him into the doorway of the plastic hamster castle.

Everyone leaned forward and peered at the hamster, waiting for what, Cecile didn’t know. Gumper the hamster sat on his haunches, his nose twitching and sniffing. He raised his front paws in the air, blinking. The hamster took one look around his new surroundings and then shoved himself into a corner of it, stood up on his hind legs and began to frantically claw at the plastic walls, obviously wanting to be let out.

“Well, technically, that was a good idea, Dad.” Jonathan said.

“Ungrateful rat,” Patrick muttered.

“Eh, he’ll get used to it, won’t he Cecile?” Jana asked.

“Oh, of course he will,” Cecile replied. “I mean… well of course.”