Hey folks,
Kinda nervous about this chapter. Let me know what you think good or bad. As always, thanks so much for the Reviews, Follows & Favorites. It makes me think you're still reading. All mistakes are mine. Rookie Blue is not.
Isabelle
It's day 26 of the flower deliveries. Gail was shot one week ago today. Bed rest has done nothing to improve her mood or her worries about Holly. Luckily, we've convinced Holly that she should stay at home and take care of Gail. I've been heading to the morgue every day in Holly's place so that we can keep them safer. At least that's the plan. Both of them are unaware of this fact, and we've decided not to tell them.
When we hit two dozen flowers a day, I could feel everyone's morale take a big hit, including mine. So much so, that at this moment I'm in a corner booth in a bowling alley restaurant, in a not so nice area of Toronto, with Steve Peck and Traci Nash waiting on, I'm not sure what. I just agreed to come along hoping that this, whatever it was, would help somehow.
"Steve, why are we here and what is that smell?" I ask.
"Desperation?" He doesn't look up from his phone as he replies.
"Which question did you answer?" Traci asks him.
"Both" came his monotone reply while still looking at this phone.
"Steve," Traci just says and gets him to look up.
"Fine." He looks up from his phone. "I think it's grease from the fryer and we've asked for a meet. Wait, reverse that."
"So we're here because we've asked for a meet with whom?" Traci asks the question that I want answered.
At that moment, an attractive, older, red-headed woman dressed in black slacks and a royal blue shirt, which brings out the blue in her eyes, walks in and I catch Traci sit up straight, subconsciously I think. The newcomer looks at me for a long moment and then addresses Steve, "Steven, sitrep."
"According to my source, he should be here at any moment." Steve answers finally looking away from his phone.
"Good. She replies, slipping into the booth next to me. Then she says, "I'll take the lead from here. I want the three of you to remain silent unless you're spoken to. It's the customary way to do business. I am the unquestioned leader. Understand?"
"Yes mother." Steve replies.
Holy Shit! This is Elaine Peck. No wonder Traci sat up straight, she was subconsciously at attention. I don't have any time to ponder anything else because a group of older men enter the restaurant. One of them is wearing a Fedora, an honest to God, Fedora. There are 4 of them just like there are four of us. I can tell by body language and positioning that Fedora is the leader. He has almost jet-black hair from what I can see of it. He's broad shouldered and still fit. The other three look like movie villains, closely cropped hair, pock-marked faces, with steely eyes scanning the entire restaurant, looking for threats to their boss.
"Elaine!" Fedora walks over with his hand reaching out for her. His voice is deep and even with only hearing two syllables I can tell he has a very heavy eastern European accent.
"Dimitri!" She stands up and reaches for his hands and they do that weird air kissing thing. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?! That cannot be Dimitri Ovechkin, head of the most ruthless arm of the Toronto Bratva. Mama Peck is making air kisses with him. Okay. Maybe Gail wasn't exaggerating about her mother when we spoke earlier this week talking about "Peckspectations" she really is this scary.
"It has been too long. It is unfortunate that our business separates us so. It is necessary, yes, but unfortunate." He says as they sit down at a table next to us. His guard dogs stay in background. I notice Traci has shifted in the booth so that she's facing Elaine and Dimitri's table rather than having her back to the bodyguards. This is that kind of meeting. Of course it is. No one trusts anyone. You'd think Steve could have mentioned that bringing a weapon tonight would be a good idea. Dimitri begins again, "So, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"I've come to make your day Dimitri. I've come to collect on the debt you owe me." Elaine smirks at him.
"The little lioness has come to collect! Excellent! We need vodka! Sergei! Get some vodka from the office! We will celebrate this!
"You have waited a long time for this 'kotyonok'." (I found out later this was Russian for 'kitten'. Someone called Elaine Peck 'kitten'! This makes Dimitri infinitely scarier now.)
"There was never anything worth the marker before." She responds.
"Good. You know the weight of the debt. This…" Dimitri pauses as Sergei returns with the vodka and glasses all around. He begins to pour it into low ball glasses. There's no ice, no mixer, just straight, room temperature vodka. Dimitri then says, "Everyone will drink to celebrate this."
I should have paid more attention when I was rushing that sorority in college. I know there's a trick to this. I pick up the glass that Sergei has placed in front of me and hold it up to my face like the others. "To your health!" Dimitri says and then drains his glass. I understand that it would be impolite, at best, not to do the same so I imitate him and drain mine. "Good. Good." He says as he looks around the room.
Elaine slowly reaches into her purse with her left hand only. "I have a gift for you Dimitri." She pulls out a small picture frame. I look over and it seems to be a newspaper article. He takes it and when he looks at it begins laughing.
"So, I think I know what will repay my debt but I want to hear it from you." Dimitri says and looks at Elaine.
"Dr. Holly Stewart has been targeted by Illya Petrovich through Damir Bolotnikov. I want the flowers to stop. I want the person or persons responsible for sending the flowers, and/or the plan to harm her, to be remanded to police custody, and I want your word that no harm will come to my family or Dr. Stewart's family by any member of your organization in this matter, including Illya Petrovich or his delegates."
"See. This is good. You understand the debt. You do not overstep but you do not underestimate. You are very good at the…the…politics? Is right word, yes?"
"Most people would say that I'm good at politics yes." She smiles at him.
Dimitri Ovechkin looks at me then and says, "You are not Holly Stewart." I look at Elaine and she nods.
"I am not." I say.
"Dr. Thompson, you are very brave to be your sister's decoy but I wonder if your wife would appreciate it if she knew. You are about to be parents for the first time. It changes you. You need not be so reckless. Life is precious." I feel a surge of anger toward him. He shouldn't know this. He shouldn't know about Tori about our babies. The anger must have shown on my face because then he says, "Such fire! This is good. Very good. You must never lose this fire to protect your family!"
Elaine turns his attention toward her, "I consider Dr. Thompson and her wife part of my family now, Dimitri, as I do all of Dr. Stewart's family."
"Of course Kotyonok. Of course." He looks at me again. "Do you want to know what I owe her? Why you are here?" I look over at Elaine again. Again she nods. In turn, I nod at him.
"Kotoyonok here was a…a…what is the word?"
"'Beat cop' is what you're looking for, I believe." Elaine says.
"'Beat cop' yes. She was a beat cop on patrol. I had some business. Some, maybe not so nice, business in an alley on her 'beat'. Before we could finish, a cat knocks off the trash can lids and she comes to investigate. The men on the other side of the alley had no honor. They see this as a chance to conclude our business without payment. As she walks into the alley, they begin shooting at me. My lioness stands in front of me taking the bullet meant for me. When was this Kotoyonk? How long? Do you know?"
"Steve was three. I remember because he didn't understand why I couldn't pick him up." Elaine says sadly. I look over at Steve who has the most incredulous look on his face. Evidently, the fact that his mother saved the life of the Bratva's enforcer is news to him also.
"Yes. You understand. My son is your son's age. I remember coming home to him that night. I told him that a 'lioness' saved my life. Family is important. Illya has corrupted this. What he has done for Anton is not to save his family but to damn another. It has no honor. Anton was killing 'little girls' and Dr. Stewart was not targeting him. She was only doing her job. Her death does not stop him from going to jail. It is revenge. It is not honor.
"I will do this for you Kotoyonk. I will send word by my son Roman. His son plays with Detective Nash's son…Leo…I believe it is? On his hockey team. Roman says that Leo is quite a gifted player." I see the same look on Traci's face that must have been on mine earlier.
"Dimitri, you know that Traci and Leo are family to me." Elaine smiles at him, again, returning his focus from us to her.
"Of course. Of course. My grandson Mikhail…Roman's wife spells it and says it 'Michael' but I prefer Russian name. My grandson plays hockey quite well also. When this is done, I will send word through Roman. He will ask Steve if Leo is his son. When this happens, everything will be done. Will this be satisfactory?"
"Yes." Elaine answers simply.
"Good. Now we drink more vodka!" Dimitri says and Sergei pours another shot so big it would scare a Moscow native. I have no idea how I'm going to get this down but I don't want to do anything to insult him. Once more, I drink matching Dimitri. Funny how after the second glass, Vodka doesn't taste as much like rubbing alcohol.
We end up doing one last shot/drink thingy and I'm definitely not sober by the time we finish with Dimitri and his crew. They exit first and leave us there to wait for an appropriate time to leave. Obviously, the Superintendent of the Toronto police force cannot be seen with the strong arm of the Bratva. It would be dangerous for them both.
"That was intense." Traci says after they leave.
"Dimitri is intense. He always has been. I think he only does it on purpose part of the time. I don't want either of you to worry about your families. It does not make sense for him to go after them in any way. I know that doesn't help that pit in your stomach, but it's true. He is, in his world, a man of honor, and he values family above all else." Elaine responds and then orders coffee and donuts for us all.
Once the waitress delivers the donuts, Elaine begins again, "Oddly, I've found that sugar and caffeine are some of the best combatants to vodka. But, honestly, that just may work for you Steve. I can have two patrol officers dropped off to drive us home if need be."
"Mom, why is tonight the first time I've ever heard this story?"
"About vodka, Steven? I didn't want to give you the key to your DNA." She grins at him. He just looks at her. She sighs and then says, "I didn't do anything but my job. You were so little. I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily. I was wearing my vest anyway. I'm sure that Gail's injuries now are more extensive than mine were. Petrovich was much closer to her than the Santorini brothers were to me."
"I knew about Uncle Barry." Steve replies.
"That, I had no control over. You were a few years older. You were only three when I was shot. When Barry died, you were ten and Gail was six. I couldn't insulate you like I wanted to then. But when I was shot, I could control the message or non-message to you."
"We started playing 'ambush' after Uncle Barry died." Steve says quietly.
"That's right." She responds and looks him in the eye. Something passes between the two of them, an understanding, he nods at her and the room changes somewhat. I have an idea that he's forgiven her. I wonder if he will pass this knowledge along to Gail. Elaine was not a monster. Elaine was afraid for her children. She was trying to prepare them. It was done clumsily, but if they were going to follow in their parents footsteps, she wanted them as prepared as they could be.
We finish our impromptu meal in relative silence until Elaine turns to me as we're all about to leave. "Dr. Thompson, you and your sister are identical. Is that right?"
"Yes."
"I've seen her pictures of course, but it's something else entirely to have a life-size representation. You really are quite stunning. At least Gail is finally showing some good taste. Once this is all over we should have a Peck family dinner to celebrate. You and your wife are invited of course."
"Mom." Steve says warningly.
"Steven, I've just made a deal with the Bratva to ensure her lover's safety. Gail can come to dinner and bring Dr. Stewart. It's actually, the least she can do, the very least." Elaine says to him as he nods his head in defeat.
She then turns to me, "Dr. Thompson, what do you think?" A lesser person would have withered and crumbled under her appraisal. I was about to be that person, and then another thought occurred to me.
"Ma'am, your daughter, a week ago tonight, put herself in harm's way for me much like you did for Dimitri. I cannot speak for her. I can tell you that I'd be happy to accept your invitation." I finish with what I hope is a polite smile.
"Good Lord, this isn't a duel with seconds! It's dinner. Steven! What do you and Gail say about our family dinners that Dr. Thompson feels compelled to 'fall on her sword' for Gail?!" Elaine says emphatically but doesn't really raise her voice. I look at Traci's face and it's impassively blank. I make a mental note never to play poker with Traci.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Gail
I'm downstairs in Holly's living room waiting on her to get ready. This is a first. Typically, she waits on me. Izzy is upstairs helping. I hope. It's Sunday, and we're all headed to the Death Star, aka my parents' house, for dinner. I told Holly not to worry, my mother can't dislike her more than she dislikes me. Besides, Izzy and Traci will be there to distract the Emperor. I've made Steve throw Traci to the wolves to save Holly. Hey, it's every Peck for herself.
The flowers stopped Thursday. That is to say, the last flowers were delivered on Wednesday, meaning we had reached 31 flowers a day. Holly can quote exactly how many flowers were delivered in total. I just know it was a boatload. Illya Petrovich, who acted like he did not speak English, except to ask for his lawyer, suddenly confessed Monday to shooting me in an attempt to kill who he thought was Holly. His son Anton has also confessed to the crime for which he's been indicted. Two men showed up at the station on Thursday and confessed to sending the flowers on behalf of Bolotnikov but denied any knowledge of what the flowers meant. Traci and Sam were able to verify their story. Finally, Steve said that they've received word that "it's finished" from Mom's source.
The knowledge that my mother is the architect of all of this is almost too much to handle. Steve told me about the meeting where my mother bargained for Holly's life. He told me about Elaine getting shot and about her admission that she started "grooming" us after Uncle Barry was shot. "Uncle" Barry was my dad's former partner who was shot when I was six. He was working undercover, not that I knew that at the time. He was just Uncle Barry, a huge man who would call me "peanut" and pick me up and put my feet on the ceiling so I could "walk on it" which made me giggle. I only knew he was gone and that made me sad.
Since Izzy was there at the meeting with Ovechkin, I've spoken to her about it as well. I'm still not convinced that my mother is a good person but maybe she's not as bad as I thought she was. Which is good news and bad news for my psyche. I mean, does that mean the Emperor's a great person who's right and I'm really as big a fuckup as she's told me I am? She went toe to toe with the Russian mob for Holly. For me. What does that say about her? About me? Izzy says she's reserving her opinion until she can see us both in action but that she does agree with me…my mom is super scary.
It's easy talking to Izzy. Not as easy as it is talking to Holly, but still pretty easy. Like when I told her I knew that she was going to the morgue in Holly's place she didn't try to deny it, didn't try to convince me not to tell Holly, she just replied, "So where's this conversation going Peck?"
My reply was, "Nowhere. I just want you to know I'm not stupid."
"Never said you were" she replied as she sashayed out of the room.
She's so easy to talk to, I've even told her some of the Perik stuff. I told her the nightmares hardly ever happen when I'm with Holly and she said that was nice, but asked what I did if I had to be alone. Then she suggested some exercises that I can use before I go to sleep at night to help with the nightmares. I gave her permission to speak to my therapist about what she saw and what she knows. I figure, shrink to shrink they can pow wow and maybe I won't have to dig into my soul for the words. I trust Izzy, which is weird, and it's not just because she's Holly's twin. I genuinely like her. She's smart, she's funny, and she doesn't ask stupid questions or make assumptions about me. She feels like family. She feels like Steve, but a girl. It's nice. Shut up.
I call upstairs. "Holly, this scenario was what I was thinking about when I asked you about getting ready with another girl! I have never, not once, not ever, been the one who was ready first! You're ruining my reputation!"
Izzy comes walking down the staircase a minute later. "You're wasting your time Gail. She's in full blown panic mode. I've tried everything. Expect rambling."
"Shit. I've seen her eviscerate a defense attorney from the stand, with a smile. Juries love her. Everyone loves her. Why is she so nervous?" I say as I begin walking up the stairs. Izzy doesn't respond because she knows I know why. Elaine Peck.
I walk into Holly's bedroom. She's wearing only her glasses, stark white lace boy shorts, and matching bra. White looks amazing with her olive skin. My mouth actually starts to water. She doesn't notice me at first and then she turns around. She holds up two different pairs of jeans, "The light pair or the dark pair?"
"I vote you go the way you are right now." I walk up to her with every intention of throwing her down on the bed and making her scream my name.
"Oh no you don't!" She backs away and holds up the jeans as barriers. "Gail, we're supposed to be there in forty-five minutes! I want to make a good impression. I want your parents to like me. We're not going to be late."
"Baby, they're going to love you. Even if they don't, because they're aliens, it wouldn't matter because I love you. No one is going to change that. I can prove it. Look, I'm even wearing the combat boots my mother despises to distract her. See?" I finish.
"I told you, I can take care of myself, Gail." She sighs at me.
"You're doing a banner job of it right now, Baby." I make a face at her.
"Be useful and help me pick out something to wear. You said 'casual' right? 'Cause I'm not sure that I have something that is appropriate. I mean, I want to look nice, but not like I'm trying too hard. I don't want to wear jeans, but you and Izzy are wearing jeans, and it might look strange if I was wearing slacks. What about your dad? What's he like? Is he like your mom? Or is he more like Steve? Or is he like you?"
"Jesus," I say, as I roll my eyes and grab her by the shoulders pulling her into a kiss that quickly becomes heated. I run my tongue across her bottom lip once more before I release her. "Calm down." I say softly.
"You ever think I do that just to get you to shut me up?" She smiles her Holly smile.
"Well, I wanted to do more than that but you shot me down. Bang. Bang." I say then kiss her on the forehead. "Wear the white dress shirt over your white camisole with the dark jeans. It's dressy but says, 'I don't care'. White looks amazing on your skin, and my Dad will totally love your boobs in it." I snicker.
"Eww, Gail. Wait. Does that mean you love my boobs in it?" She arches her eyebrow at me and purses her lips. I wonder, not for the first time, if there ever was anyone who was this perfect.
"Ewww? You have a PhD, an MD, and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and your go-to word is 'eww'?" I kiss her nose and begin to walk away.
She calls after me as I walk out of the bedroom, "Don't think I didn't notice you didn't answer that question, Gail!"
Good she was distracted enough to finish getting ready. Now, if we can just get through dinner without me committing matricide.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Holly
Gail, Izzy, and I walk up to the front door of the Death Star, as Gail calls her parents' house, at exactly 6:55. Steve opens the door and greets Gail with, "About time you got here. You're late."
"Dinner's at 7. We're not late." Izzy replies.
"If you're not ten minutes early, you're late according to the Emperor." Gail tells her. Then she says to Steve, "I couldn't find my boots" and winks at him.
"I saw that" I say to them both. I don't think that I've ever been this nervous. Well, maybe the first time Gail and I made love, but that was a totally different kind of nervous. Come to think of it, Pecks are the only people that make me nervous. I wonder if it has to do with pheromones. No, earlier I was nervous before I was in the presence of Pecks. Shit! I'm rambling in my own head now. This is not good. I nervously bite my bottom lip.
"Steady there Little Sister. I'm right here." Izzy says to me and takes my hand.
"How did you know?" I ask Izzy.
"I remember how nervous I was when I met Tori's parents for the first time, and Janice isn't nearly as scary as Elaine." Izzy says and tries valiantly not to smirk at me. I feel my face blanch.
Gail gives Izzy her death glare. "Not helping there, Izzy." Gail turns to me, and takes my hand from Izzy into hers, "Baby, baby, look at me. Tonight does not matter. Nothing that they say, or do, or think, will change how I feel about you. Okay? Consider them non-factors. I love you." Then she kisses me sweetly.
"Yeah, Holly. Don't be nervous. They don't like us anyway so you'll be in good company." Steve says to me with that Peck smile.
"Steve?" I hear a man calling from the other room.
"Yeah, Dad!"
"Is that your sister and her guests?" Bill Peck asks.
"Yep!"
"Well bring them in here!"
We walk into the kitchen where the Peck parents are working together on dinner. Elaine is cutting up tomatoes and Bill is slicing cucumbers. Elaine is dressed in black slacks and loose red linen blouse with an apron over it and Bill is wearing khakis and a navy polo shirt. Traci is standing in the corner with what may be the largest glass of red wine I've ever seen, sipping slowly.
Elaine looks up as we enter. "Dr. Stewart, Dr. Thompson I'm so glad you could make it. You both look lovely. Gail, why do you insist on wearing those awful boots? They make your feet look huge." Gail shoots me a look that says 'you're welcome'.
"Please, Superintendent, call me Holly." I respond to Elaine.
"Then you must call me Elaine. Both of you." She looks at Izzy too. "I hope you're hungry. I've made lasagna. It's vegetarian. I used some sort of meat substitute that Gail suggested. I hope you like it. Gail mentioned that you were vegetarian, Holly. I hope you're not vegan. Are you?"
"No I'm not. Thank you, Elaine" I say, but my mind races with what exactly Gail will eat. She can't have lasagna. Tomato sauce. Is it possible that Elaine doesn't know that?
Just as I'm about to ask, Elaine says to Gail, "Gail I made you some with cheese sauce and your salad is already made. It's in the fridge. Segregated from the tomatoes here."
"Thanks, Mom." Gail replies.
Wine is offered all around. We fix our salads buffet style, except Gail, and make our way to the dining room table. Traci sits across from me next to Steve. The Peck parents are at the ends and Izzy and Gail sit on either side of me bracketing me in with their presence. Gail is on my left between me and her mother, a human shield. I'm as far as I can get from either of the elder Pecks. It's like there was a strategy about it. We make it through the salads without incident. I begin to relax which was most likely my first mistake. Bill and Elaine excuse themselves to bring in the lasagna and bread.
Gail leans over to me and asks, "How you holdin' up?"
"I'm fine."
"I told you. See? We just have to make it through coffee."
"Coffee? We're having coffee after dinner?" I say and am displeased that my voice cracks a little bit.
"Calm down, Nerd. One cup." She says and squeezes my hand under the table.
We're halfway through the main course when Elaine launches the first volley. "So, Gail, there's an undercover assignment that will require someone who speaks multiple languages coming up. Have you put your name in?"
"I have not." Gail replies as she continues to eat.
"You really should Gail. I can't think of anyone who would be more qualified than you. It would do a lot to help people forget the other."
White hot rage burns through me. She's speaking to Gail like Gail did something wrong. Like it's her fault. I'm about to speak when Gail squeezes my hand. Evidently, this is not new.
"Mother, if I do decide to put my name in, I'll let you know. Otherwise, let's drop it please."
"Gail, I…" Elaine starts, but is interrupted by Steve.
"Mom, did you know that Leo has been selected to the All-Star team in hockey?"
"I didn't know that Steven. Traci, you must be so proud."
"I am. He's very excited. They get new uniforms and everything. He likes the All-Star colors better." Traci responds.
"Steven was also very good at hockey. He was good at all sports really. Gail was terrible. She was just so uncoordinated you know?"
I can't stop myself. I say, "You know, I took her to the batting cages once. She started out pretty bad but by the end of the night she was hitting respectably."
Gail looks at me lovingly, "That's because you're a great teacher."
I smile back at her. We're lost in our bubble until Elaine speaks again. "Well, you must certainly have done something to make Gail adequate at anything sporty."
I'm about to snap at her when Traci speaks, "I don't know Elaine, for all of Gail's protests, I've never seen her let a runner get away from us on a chase. She's incredibly fit. I, for one, don't know how she does it."
Then Steve jumps in, "Yeah, but remember that time that Izzy, not you," he looks at Izzy, "Oliver's little girl is named Izzy too, Izzy kicked her and ran away from her at a party."
"Aww Steve, that doesn't count. You know Gail has a soft spot for kids. Besides, Izzy did kick the shit out of her." Traci smiles widely. I know this is a well-worn routine. They are talking about things that normal people would give Gail grief about. Things her friends would give her grief about. They are trying to move the conversation around to another less threatening topic.
"I did catch her." Gail smiles.
"You had help." Traci retorts.
"Not important. I rely on my brothers and sisters in blue." Gail raises her wine glass.
"Well said, Gaily. Well said." Bill speaks for the first time since Elaine started in on Gail. "So Holly, how did you and Gail meet?"
"Over skeletal remains." I reply. Then, "She tried to throw me out of my crime scene."
"That was my crime scene, and you didn't identify yourself." Gail replies.
"What happened?" Bill asks.
"She called me 'Lunchbox' and told me I couldn't go down there and then she called me a 'nerd'." I say to Bill then turn to Gail.
Gail smiles at me and then says, "I did not call you a nerd. I said that it was only obvious to nerds that you were a forensic pathologist."
Elaine clears her throat and then says, "Holly, will you help me with the coffee?" I look around the table and see the panicked looks on Gail, Steve and Traci's faces.
"Mom, I can…" Gail begins.
"Please, Holly, it will only take a moment. I'd like for Gail to be able to visit with her father a bit longer. We so rarely see her and Steve."
"Of course." I say as I stand. I feel like I'm going off to face a firing squad.
When we get in the kitchen, Elaine begins making coffee. As she works, she begins speaking, "I'm sure you've noticed that Gail and I have an adversarial relationship. That does not mean that I don't love her with all my heart." She pauses briefly then begins again, "Gail, does not trust easily, but she trusts you. I have to ask you, what it is that you want from my little girl."
I'm dumbfounded.
"Holly, you are a very accomplished woman. By all accounts, you are at the top of your field. You've published often, and are in demand to consult on cases throughout Canada and the States. I'm worried that your career will take you away from her, and she's in love with you. I know she is. It's written all over her. I don't want her to be left with nothing. I think if she takes this undercover job, she has a real chance for advancement. She's never been interested in advancement, and I think a woman like you would eventually get tired of being with a beat cop."
I open my mouth to speak but it won't cooperate.
"I know that I'm pushy. I'm a bitch. I really don't care what other people think of me. I know I meddle in my children's lives, but I do it because I want what's best for them. I've wanted to meet you for a long time. My baby girl is not impressed by much, but she's impressed by you. She thinks you're very special. I think she got her general attitude toward people from me. You know, I've pushed Gail, and pushed her, trying to get her to stand up for herself, and the first thing she ever really confronted me about was you. She wanted to protect you from me." She laughs. "But you don't need protecting from me do you, Holly?"
"No Ma'am, I don't." I finally say.
"So what do you want from my little girl?"
"Whatever she's willing to give me." I say, and she cocks her head as if to say that she expects more. "If all your daughter is, is a beat cop, and she's happy with that, then I'll be happy with her. I don't especially like how dangerous it can be, but it's part of who she is, and I love everything about her. I know you were a beat cop once, and you know how important it is that there are people, good experienced people, to do that job. So I wonder if you think so little of me, that you think I don't realize what an important job it is. Your daughter is amazing. She is the most amazing person I've ever met. She's…she's like the first time I ever looked through a microscope, she's a world of wonder and mystery. If I live a thousand years, I don't know that I'll ever discover everything about your daughter. She constantly steals my breath away, she's so beautiful inside and out. She's the bravest person I've ever known. She doesn't hesitate to put herself in danger. I wonder what I've ever done to deserve her."
I hear a noise and I turn to see Gail in the doorway. Tears streaming down her face. Elaine turns and sees her as well. "Well, I'll just take the coffee into the dining room." She picks up the coffee tray and as she walks by Gail she says, "Congratulations Darling, she's a keeper" and kisses Gail on the cheek as she walks by.
Gail walks up to me and hugs me fiercely, crying. "Hey, hey," I say. "What's wrong Baby?"
"Nothing's wrong. You stood up to my mom for me. You're amazing." She says into my neck, keeping me in the bear hug.
"No Baby, that's all you." I say as I kiss her cheek.
A/N – My apologies if the Russian was wrong. I Googled it.
Elaine is an awfully persnickety character she completely took over this chapter. So pushy. I promise next chapter will be Rainbows, Unicorns and Sex.