The Sunny Chronicles: Chapter Nine
David sits in a rocker in his living room with Miranda cradled in his arms and sways her back and forth gently. He is cooing in baby talk, a serene smile on his face. Maggie takes a seat across from the peaceful pair on an ataman and regards them with pride. When David looks up from the giggling baby, he notices for a moment how easily a stranger could mistake Maggie for the child's mother. Not because she resembles Bianca at all, but only because they share the same look of satisfaction when someone is gushing over Miranda.
"You know," Maggie says with a laugh. "It's a little unnerving to see you making such a fuss over a little baby. Is this, like, your Mr. Hyde coming out?"
David laughs as well. "Actually, Mr. Hyde was the bad one. Dr. Jeckel was the good guy."
"I'm only teasing," she tells him. "I love seeing the way she affects you."
"Well, it's not hard," he replies. "She affects everyone like this."
Maggie exhales a wistful sigh. "Yeah … I only wish Leo and Frankie were here to see this. They would have loved to see Bianca so happy."
"Oh, they know," says David with certainty.
"You think?"
"Absolutely."
She pauses and bites down on her bottom lip.
"Speaking of Frankie," she says. "I've been thinking about her a lot lately."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Do you think … I mean, I know you'd only be guessing, but … Do you think Frankie really loved Bianca? Not, like, loved her as a friend, or in some teenage-crush-kind-of-way … I mean … Do you think she was in love with her… ever?"
David looks perplexed. "Uh … I'm not really sure. Maggie, what made you wonder about that now?"
Realizing that she is wringing her hands together, she stands abruptly and clasps them behind her back. "I'll get to that … Just, for now, amuse me. I'm not asking you to play psychic here. Just … give me your opinion."
He takes a deep breath and changes shoulders with the baby. "Okay … Well, if I had to guess, I'd say she only loved her in that 'teenage way'. They were still only kids, you know. Especially Frankie … I don't think your sister even knew who she was yet … let alone who she loved. Why do you ask?"
Maggie sits back down. "I think I'm more like my sister than I'd usually care to admit."
"I'm … not following."
Looking up, she locks eyes with him. "It took me a long time figure out who I am … and that I'm also in love ... with Bianca."
"Oh … Maggie."
"I know, I know," she grumbles. "You think it's nuts, don't you?"
"No," he insists. "It's just … I feel like I should have seen this coming. I mean, the signs were everywhere."
"What, like, apocalyptical signs?"
He laughs, despite the tension. "No, no … Maggie, don't get me wrong. I'm not judging you. But, I am kind of surprised Bianca herself hasn't noticed."
"Yeah, tell me about it," she agrees. "I've practically blurted it right out a few times already. I just keep getting interrupted."
"She's probably just preoccupied with the baby. When time is stolen from a mother and child, they tend to try and make up for it. Give her time. You'll know when it's right."
"But, it's not just Miranda," Maggie tells him. "Bianca has taken in a stray."
"A pet for Miranda? How sweet."
"If only," she muses. "No, it's not a pet … It's a girl. Someone named Sunny who just swooped into Pine Valley claiming to be Greenlee's long lost sister."
"What?"
"Yeah. And, Bianca believes her. She's totally on this chick's side, and she barely knows her!"
"Ahh … So, you suspect that Bianca has a crush on this stranger."
"Well, YEAH!" Maggie exclaims. "I mean, I know Bianca has a heart of gold but … come on! Asking someone you just met to live with you is a little more than generosity, don't you think?"
"Does Greenlee know about this girl?" he asks.
"Yes, of course," she answers impatiently. "Can you worry about Greens later? I need you to focus here."
"Sorry," he apologizes. "So, what's your plan?"
"My plan?"
"To tell Bianca how you feel," he clarifies.
"Oh, well … I don't really have a plan," she admits. "I know what I'm going to say; I've known for months. It's the actual saying it part that's been hard. The words always get locked in my throat … to the point where I can barely breathe."
He laughs kindheartedly. "That only means that the words caught in your throat are the truth. It's a lot easier to lie. Trust me, I should know."
"I'm only afraid of what her reaction will be," she says. "If she doesn't even want to try, I'll understand. But, if my stupid feelings get in the way of our friendship, I'll never forgive myself."
"You should tell her," he advises. "She would never let it ruin your friendship. That's not Bianca's style. Besides, she deserves to know."
"Of course you're right. I know that. It's just … I get so nervous."
"Tell her," he repeats more forcefully. "And, don't wait another second. Regardless of whether or not this girl is lying about being Greenlee's sister, she's still obviously competition."
Maggie huffs. "I'd hardly call her competition. More like a pain in my …"
"See," he says with a proud smile. "You're already confident."
"Confident I'm better than Sunny Nielson, sure. But …"
"NO! No buts. You know that you are the best person for Bianca. Now all you have to do is prove that to her. You can do that, can't you?"
Maggie looks at him doubtfully.
"Come on," he prods. "You and Bianca have been through so much together. You're best friends. It's not that far of a leap to the next level."
Maggie looks down at Miranda's smiling face and cannot help but return the gesture, even as her soul cowers with fear. "Yeah, but … what if Bianca doesn't want to go to the next level?"
"Then, at least you tried," David tells her. "Look, have you realized yet that you are the only other person besides Kendall that is allowed to sit for Miranda?"
"Yeah … so?"
"So?" he repeats, laughing. "Maggie, there is nothing more important in this world to Bianca than that child. And, next to her own sister, you are the only one she trusts enough to care for her! If she can trust you with her daughter, don't you think she'll trust you with her own heart?"
"Wow," Maggie says admiringly. "Did you just come up with that on the fly? Cause that almost brought a tear to my eye."
"Well, you know what they say about my bedside manor."
"Unfortunately," she jests. And then, after a considerate pause, she says, "Thanks, David. I don't care what other people say about you … they don't know you like I do. If they did, they would know that you're the best cousin a girl could ever have."
"Aww," he purrs sarcastically. "Now you're going to get me all teared up."
She smiles, looking tired but more relaxed than when she arrived. "Can you help me outside with Randa's car seat? It always takes me forever."
"Are you going back to Bianca's?" he asks.
"Yeah," she replies. Then, with a little added courage, she says, "I'm going home."