Chapter 4: Knowing what to do
Kay couldn't sleep. She rolled over and stared at the bed stand in the dark. It was no good trying to sleep. Her mind kept playing tricks on her. She was either thinking finances, about Brian, imagining the kids being accosted by evil spirits, or about Danni's adoption. That was sticking in her craw the most. Why hadn't she considered it before? Danni had, after all, become part of the family, just as quickly as Natalie had when she first came.
Kay sat up. She turned on the light, blinking, and picked up the phone.
Kay hit a worn speed-dial button and listened to it ring.
A groggy voice moaned over the line.
"It's one A.M. Kayla Lemon, this better be good."
"Should I adopt Danni, Natalie?"
"You called me at one in the morning to ask me that?"
"I'm really not sure? What if they find her parents? What if she doesn't want to join the family? How can I support a third child? What if Mama decides she doesn't want Danni as a grandchild?"
"Kay, you're 36. Figure it out for yourself. Goodnight."
"Wait, Nat, please. I don't have anyone else I can talk about this with."
Natalie sighed audibly. Kay could hear the rustling of Natalie's bed-sheets as she sat up.
"Why don't you talk about it with Danni? Really, if you're considering adopting her, she should at least know what's coming."
"Brian would have known what to do." Kay sighed mournfully.
"Brian's dead. He can't make decisions for you anymore. And anyways, you've done a pretty good job up to now, I'm sure you can figure it out. I'll see you in the morning."
"But Nat-"
"Goodnight Kay." The line clicked off.
Kay sighed, hanging up the receiver.
"Brian would have known… but then, so would Batman." She muttered to herself, a slight smile growing. "When in doubt, consult Hollywood." She kidded, scanning her dvd collection.
………
Danni woke up with a start. Rubbing her eyes, she turned on her light. Danni scanned the room. There was no one there. Her bed felt slightly damp. Startled, Danni leapt out of bed. She felt it. It was cold sweat, not ooze. Danni sighed in relief.
She crawled back under her quilt and hugged her stuffed dog.
She couldn't sleep. She could barely relax. She wouldn't call herself a scaredy-cat, but the dream had shaken something deep down inside her. She buried her face in soft plush, smelling the fur.
She'd dreamed she'd been all alone in the house, which had grown larger and more maze-like as she had walked, searching for the others. The walls had been lined with portraits. Mrs. Mores, Mrs. Marks, and other townspeople were all portrayed there. Finally at the end of the hall was a full-length portrait of Vlad Masters, which smiled condescendingly at her. Then it was Vlad Plasmius, who glared at her murderously, but then he in turn melted away, leaving the featureless face of the Bishop. She finally looked down at the floor and found it covered in green ectoplasmic goo.
Danni shivered, remembering the dream. Kay would probably say that it had to do with repressed memories or Danni's fears. It didn't take Danni a book to figure that out though.
Danni sighed, rolling back out of bed. Kay had always sworn up and down that a warm drink was the best thing after a nightmare.
Danni felt her way up the stairs to the kitchen.
She shuffled through the refrigerator, finding cheese, soda, milk, mayonnaise, more soda, leftover pasta, a package of jello-cups…
"Danni, what are you doing up?"
Danni gave a small shriek of surprise. She turned to find Kay standing next to the stairs leading to the second floor.
"I couldn't sleep."
Kay eyes the can of soda in Danni's hand.
"Well, if you're looking to sleep, that Bubba Cola won't do you any good. I'll warm up a cup of tea for you. Sit down."
Danni obeyed, pulling up a chair to the kitchen table. Kay poured some tea out from a pitcher into a cup and slid it into the microwave, yawning.
Unable to bear the silence anymore, Danni spoke.
"Are you still mad?"
"No, but you're still grounded."
"I'm sorry."
"Pssh, just don't go messing around where you have no business and you won't get in trouble, Danni." The microwave dinged and Kay handed Danni the cup and a saucer.
"Who was that lady today, the one in the kitchen?" Danni asked. Kay sat down beside her.
"She's the boys' grandmother and my mother-in-law. She wanted to meet you."
"Why?"
"She wanted to get to know you."
"Why?"
"Danni, must you act like the twins?"
"Yes." Danni smirked, sipping the tea, welcoming the warmth it spread through her stomach.
Kay sighed, shaking her head slightly.
"Danni what happened to your parents?"
Danni coughed, choking on the ea.
"What?"
"Sweety, they still haven't found a shred of your past, and honestly, we're all about to give up on ever finding anything."
They were wasting their time, Danni thought. It wasn't like Vlad had gone out and filled out a birth certificate fpr her.
"So we're looking for a more permanent situation for you. But before I go any further down this line of thought; your parent's aren't going to suddenly show up on my doorstep looking for you, are they?"
"I really doubt it." Danni mumbled.
Kay rubbed her temples. It really was never any good asking the girl about her past. She would always clam up and stare at something on the ground.
"Well then, Mama and I were wondering if you'd like to stay here and become part of the Lemon family. You know, become a Lemon yourself."
"Really?" Danni brightened, then giggled.
"Oh you know what I mean. Of course you'll have to show Mama that you're a good girl. Nothing happens in this town without her knowledge or approval."
Danni nodded, not completely comprehending.
"So on Saturday we'll go and visit her, you'll be on your very best behavior, and she'll see that you're a wonderful little lady… when you're not chasing ghosts in wine cellars." Kay wagged her finger at Danni in mock chastisement. Danni gave a guilty little smile.
"So you really aren't mad about that?"
"Sweety, don't you know by now that I can't stay mad?" Kay gave Danni a hug, which the girl returned, pressing herself into Kay's warm arms. Kay smiled, resting her cheek on Danni's head.
Danni looked up at Kay.
"I don't think I can go to sleep now! I just-"
"I know, there's a lot to think about, a lot to figure out, but you know what will cure our insomnia for the moment?"
"Lemon Tea?"
"That, and massive explosions!"
"What?"
"Kid, I've got a Batman movie and I'm ready to use it!"
"I thought I was grounded?"
"Meh, we'll start your punishment in the morning… Just don't tell the twins."
…..
The secret was not well-kept, however. David and Damien found the two fat asleep on the upstairs couch the next morning, covered in a quilt with popcorn spilled across the floor and two cups of tea conjealing on the coffee table.
"Secret Ben & Jerry's stash in the basement?" David asked his twin.
"Secret Ben & Jerry's stash." Damien agreed, grinning. The two sneaked downstairs for a breakfast that wouldn't win any parental seals of approval.