AN: Today's update brought to you by Dr. Bataglia extension 198...gosh I miss AMC.
"Why can't we go to the park Bianca?"
It was a perfectly reasonable question, but Bianca still wasn't any more willing to answer it.
"Because I said so, now just, can we drop this please?"
Reese looked on at her wife and knew that she was being lied to. She also knew that if Bianca was lying it was to protect someone. So, in spite of her curiosity, she let it go.
"Ok then, we won't go to the park." Reese conceded
"Thank you, now can I have a kiss before I fall asleep?"
Reese tried to pretend her suspicion wasn't piqued as she reached over and gave Bianca a quick soft kiss. If Bianca wasn't going to tell her what was going on, she'd just have to do some investigating on her own. She already had an idea that it might have something to do with that Red balloon Miranda was given.
The next morning at breakfast Reese made Miranda's favorite: Nutella crepes with banana slices and a glace of milk. Bianca was happily sharing a giant bowl of cereal with gabby and Reese was reading the paper and taking in spoonfuls of yogurt.
"What's with the breakfast today babe?" Bianca asked taking note of the discrepancy in quality between her and Gabby and Miranda's plates.
"What? I thought you liked Fruit-loops." Reese mocked.
"Mommy said I get to have whatever I want cause I'm special." Miranda added.
Bianca rolled her eyes in Reese's direction "Please tell me you did not say that."
"Yeah, no. That's not exactly how it happened" Reese tried to explain. "What I said was that I needed Miranda's help today and that in exchange for being my special helper she got to pick her breakfast."
Reese began to fiddle with her yogurt nervously while pretending to read the paper to avoid making eye contact with Bianca. Reese knew Bianca would be taking Gabby to her doctor's appointment and she planned on using the time to sneak Miranda back to the park to see if she might be able to recreate what happened that day she lost her doll.
"You, can put down your paper I'm not upset. But you're going to spoil her, you know that right?"
Reese had a sneaking suspicion that Bianca was right, but she couldn't help it. Any time she saw either Gabby or Miranda she lost a little bit of sensibility. The way Reese figured it, Bianca was enough of a disciplinarian for the both of them; it only made sense that she get to be the fun parent.
"You are going to be late for your doctor's appointment." Reese tried to change the subject.
Picking up her things, Bianca grabbed Gabrielle and headed for the door. "Alright but try and make sure she eats actual food while I'm gone."
It wasn't long after till Reese and Miranda were outside walking their way down to the park. It was nice to see Miranda playing outside in the fresh air. She was really beginning to look so much like her mother it was scary. She had her mother's chocolate brown hair that twisted in the wind and added to the angelic glow about her, she had the same deep set brown eyes that were always a glow with curiosity, she even had Bianca's smile. But there was one thing about Miranda that didn't seem to also be a part of Bianca. Bianca always seemed to be guarded, most likely out of necessity, but still it took a while for her to trust people with her heart. Miranda on the other hand could meet someone and make them her best friend all in one day.
"But mommy said not to go to the park." Miranda innocently reminded Reese.
"Yes she did, and it's very good that you remembered sweetie. But, technically we're just walking through the park on our way to somewhere else." Reese explained. This seemed to satisfy the younger girl's curiosity.
"Oh, ok." Miranda offered her approval. "but where else are we going?"
Reese could kick herself for doing this but she just loved watching Miranda get excited. She had to admit Bianca was right, she was a total push-over.
"Well, you have to promise not to tell mommy, but we're going to your favorite restaurant." This latest revelation led to lots of skipping and chanting on Miranda's part.
"We're going to The Rooster, We're going to The Rooster" she repeated all the way to the park.
Reese stopped just before they entered the park. She needed to make sure Miranda understood what they were doing there.
"So, this is what I need you to do for me, I need you to try and remember something for me. You think you can do that.
"I'll try really hard" Miranda replied earnestly.
It was a rather warm day for the middle of November. The leaves were just reaching peak color and it truly was beautiful to look at. If Bianca hadn't put the kibosh on going to the park the night before Reese might have even suggested they all come back and take pictures.
"That's my girl."
Reese walked Miranda around the park making sure to pass by all the places she remembered Miranda playing that day. Then carefully she started trying to jog the girl's memory.
"So, do you remember that day we came to the park and your friend gave you a balloon?" she asked. Miranda nodded her head feverishly in approval.
Walking back over to the swing set. Reese let Miranda pick out a swing and started pushing her.
"Mommy was chasing me, but then she got tired so she told me to go play on the swings."
Reese was glad Miranda remembered. This meant maybe she might be able to get more information out of her.
"Miranda, sweetheart, remember your friend, the one that gave you the balloon?" Reese asked, but Miranda was busy kicking her feet in an attempt to make the swing go higher, Reese wasn't sure if her daughter had heard the question.
"I remember, but I can't say; it'll make mommy upset. Plus, I promised to keep it secret." Miranda finally explained. Even though this frustrated Reese, she was still proud of Miranda for keeping her promises.
"You don't have to say her name, but do you think maybe you could tell mommy what your friend said to you."
Miranda dragged her feet against the ground until the swing came to a stop. She sat in serious contemplation for all of a minute. Finally, after reasoning that it wouldn't violate the rules of a pinky promise, she spilled what she knew.
"Well she didn't stay long, she just came really quick while you and mommy were talking. Then she said how she remembered that I liked red. Then she said she missed me a lot, and mommy, but I told her that mommy was happy now cause of you." Reese was happy Miranda was looking out for her.
"Oh and she asked me about Gabby. Then I lost my doll and she gave me a balloon." She finished her story in very plain fashion, as if it were no big deal at all.
Reese had one last question. "Miranda, have you seen this friend at the park before?"
"Sort of" Miranda admitted. "She's never talked to me before, but sometimes she sits outside at the market across the street. If I see her she waves to me."
Reese looked through the park fence at the market across the street trying to see if she could spot Miranda's friend. There were too many people though and it was too difficult to distinguish them. She didn't want to push it by asking Miranda if she could point her out. At least now, though, Reese was sure of the reason Bianca was avoiding the park. Reese was almost sure Bianca knew exactly who gave Miranda that balloon. Now the only question was why she wasn't telling Reese.
It wasn't even the same hospital, but any hospital in general gave Bianca a jumpy feeling lately. Walking in to the children's wing at St. Christopher's Mercy Hospital Bianca had to pan the room and make sure she wasn't being followed. She read every female employee's name tag trying to ensure that they were not, in fact, Maggie.
"Hello Gabby how are you?" Dr. Charles asked to just Gabby in particular. He was a very warm older man and very reminiscent of Joe Martin in Pine Valley. That made it rather easy for Bianca to trust him.
"My goodness Bianca she's gotten so big, what are you feeding her?" he joked.
"I don't know if she really eats anything as much as she just smears it around." Bianca replied.
They continued their small talk while Dr. Charles examined Gabby. Everything was going fine until he got to her throat. He tried to pass it off as if nothing was wrong, but Bianca could tell he was concerned, which concerned her.
"Is something the matter?" she finally managed to ask.
"Oh, it's nothing really, just a bit of inflammation" the doctor replied reassuringly.
"Has she had her flu shot yet?" he asked. Bianca felt horrible, she'd totally forgotten to get Gabby and Miranda their flu shots.
"Oh, no problem Mrs. Montgomery" The doctor assured her. "I'll just send one of the nurses in to administer it and everything will be just fine" Dr. Charles gave Bianca a warm smile and shook Gabby's leg before leaving the room. Even though she tried her best to be calm, she couldn't help but worry. She was not only worried about Gabby getting the flu, there was a small part of her that worried who the nurse might be. She knew Maggie was a doctor, she knew Maggie worked at another hospital, but something in her still worried that Maggie had eyes on her and her family.
AN: As always thanks for reading