After a lot of procrastinating, I'm finally reading the book Trollhunters. I actually really like the different story with Barbara leaving and James being this paranoid nerd(The book gave me the idea to involve Jack who is Jim's uncle and James's brother who disappeared as a child).
It had been easier to find her than he'd thought. Almost too easy.
With only a name, he started by googling a Lindsay Grocer but nothing came up. Thinking how his dad was 17 when she'd been born and his mom and dad were 25 when he'd been born, she should be around 26 at that time. Not adding on why he was asking, he threw the name at Strickler who'd been teaching for a while but said the name was familiar but couldn't place a face to it. Claire, who'd been integrated with the town since a young age, lead nowhere either, and neither did Toby. Surprisingly, it was his own mother who gave him a new lead to where Lindsay Grocer was. It was nothing but a dinner chat and Barbara being a doctor asking if Claire was changing doctors since Dr. Kelley was on maternity leave with her own son. The answer was yes but Jim was too preoccupied with Cassidy to notice the name Grocer tossed around till Barbara said she knew Lindsay when she was an intern and was trustworthy. That's when things clicked and got weird.
His sister was a doctor. And his fiance's doctor.
"You know you don't have to come with me," Claire reminded Jim as they pulled into the parking lot of the Arcadia Hospital.
Jim smiled awkwardly, trying to act normal, unsure if he'd even run into Lindsay."I wanted to see our little baby,"
Claire raised an eyebrow with an unamused expression." Sure," unbuckling her seatbelt, she hit the lock button on the car so he couldn't exit the vehicle." I'm still wondering where those five hundred dollars came from Mr," she said staring him dead in the eyes.
Jim laughed, attempting to force the door open but failing." Does that really matter?"
"James Lake," Jim cringed, wanting to forget that name.
"If I had to I'd tell you, I would." he said, not letting on anything on how he obtained that money, "I promise, it is ours, I didn't steal it or anything and you can use it on our wedding with a clear mindset," he said, trying to sound extra to diverge her brain from the five hundred dollars that so happened to appear on their doorstep.
Claire side-eyed him but unlocked the door."Fine and speaking of the wedding, my mom was asking for a date."
Jim moaned, already tired by Ophelia's nagging for not only the wedding but also about their "outrageous" plan to move to New Jersey." Who's she inviting?"
"Don't worry, she just wants to make sure she can make it with her schedule and all," Claire said, tone dropping by a bar. He wasn't the biggest fan of his other rin law but he would rather her invite everyone than have her miss the wedding. It personally wouldn't affect him ut knew even after all the shit she'd put her through; it would severely affect Claire if she weren't present for such a special day.
"She still mad about the baby?" recalling his fiance's horrid retelling of when she told her mother and father they were pregnant again. Luckily, he didn't receive anymore blows to the face, but he could only imagine what they'd said.
Claire shrugged, staring down towards her stomach that already showed the outline of a forming bump."Not sure, I mean of course she is but she's not constantly reminding me of this huge mistake as she had with Cass. Really she's just trying to convince me it's best if Cass and I stay here which is most definitely not going to happen," she stated firmly, noticing the solemn expression Jim wore."What is it?"
Jim sighed, leaning back in his seat."The last time I went down, it was horrible, like really horrible. The Heartstone's base is already entirely infected and Binky says as it spreads it'll only speed up."
Claire's eyes wilted in concern."How long does he think we have?"
"At most? A month,"
Biting her lip as she thought, Claire placed her bag on her lap, almost to try and forget along with all that they had a baby on the way."It'll be okay, somehow."
"How?" he asked, closing his eyes to only be overwhelmed by everything."We can barely afford a month's rent, we have a baby and one on the way. We have shitty parents that are constantly reminding us we messed up and a literal dragon beneath us. Not to mention the Arcane Order that we still have no idea how to stop. I mean Douxie and Nari can't run forever, they'll eventually be caught, and then what? There's no hope." he said, finally saying what both knew and both were ignoring.
Claire released her bottom lip and felt her hand trail down to her stomach."Look I get things are awful right now, and really I don't know what we're supposed to do but we've got through a lot of stuff in these past two years. Jim, we've defeated a troll warlord, a midcentury sorceress, and multiple other creatures we used to think were make-believe. We've had a baby, managed to raise her while continuing to deal with all of this. And not once, we cried that it was too much and forced others to take care of her. I'll admit, there were and still are times I'm mad and wonder what it would be like if things were different but I never regret it because we've been through this much and we'll get through this,"
Sitting back up, Jim stared straight ahead at the road for a minute with a blank expression. He allowed Claire's statement to soak in because she was right, they hadn't given up. Yes, he'd cried about the stress but he never stopped caring for his daughter, never stopped fighting for his cause, and never stopped giving up on the hope one day he'd be able to watch his daughter's running around in a yard that was their own as he and Claire watched in the house that they owned.
Reaching over, he placed his hand on top of hers, able to feel the border of her stomach that was still bloated from Cassidy."What did I do to deserve you?"
"Oh don't get all must on me Mr," she said, pushing his hand away, sliding her legs out of the car before stopping." Let's save the five hundred dollars." she said."I found a dress for cheap on eBay; t's nothing nice but it's pretty."
"Claire, I don't want you to sacrifice your wedding day," Jim said, saddened by the thought of her wearing some else's wedding dress on what was supposed to be her special day.
"Our wedding day," she corrected, giving off a sweet assuring smile." And I don't care if I'm in my bathrobe as long as I get to marry you." Not convinced Jim began an argument but was quickly overpowered."No buts. It can be here in a week so the Sunday after Christmas should work. We can reuse decorations from Cass's baby shower and your mom's wedding and make the food ourselves since only 20 people or so will be there."
"Are you sure?" Jim said, able to admit it excited him that they finally had a date.
"Yes, I was never much of that dream princess wedding so a simple barbeque wedding sounds perfect," she assured him.
Jim smiled widely, forgetting for a moment how much was wrong with the world at the moment." Two weeks then."
"Two weeks till I get to marry you, Mr. Lake," she said, leaning her head forward and kissing him gently on the lips.
"I can't wait, Mrs. Lake," he responded, never tiring of saying that.
. . .
It was definitely different the second time around. Unlike most parents to be who were many years older than them, they had experience with these appointments and knew the protocol and order of doing things. But Jim was still nervous, unsure what Lindsay looked like, and even more nervous since she was none other than Claire's new doctor. Claire seemed nervous too, probably since they were still so young and were being stared at by almost everyone. It was easier with the second baby but still hard to ignore, entirely aware they thought they were dumb teens who'd messed up.
"Claire Nunez," a voice said.
Looking up quickly, Jim was disappointed to see a nurse who's name tag read June Avanza, not Lindsay Grocer."Here," Claire mumbled, standing up slowly as not to trigger her constant vomit." Jim," she said quietly, catching her fiance's attention.
"Oh sorry," he apologized, rising from the waiting room chair and following after Claire. They were shown to a different but almost identical room, the only difference the light grey colored walls and window showing the parking lot.
"You can sit up there, Dr. Grocer will be along in a moment," June said, leaving the room as quickly as she'd entered.
"Are you okay?" Claire asked as soon as the nurse had left. She'd hopped up onto the cushioned table beside multiple ultrasound machines.
Jim turned up, trying to stop thinking about Lindsay."Ya, I'm great,'
"You sure?" she asked pulling her hair back into a low bun."You seem off,"
"Claire I'm great," he assured her, half-true since he was excited to see Estelle but nervous to see his sister since he wasn't actually sure what to do. He really just wanted to meet her not necessarily tell her who he was since she most likely wouldn't believe him. Really, he wanted to make sure she was okay. Yes, James left both of them, but he still had his mom, she didn't.
And just like that, she was there. Lindsay Grocer. His half-sister. She had bright blue eyes with round brown glasses before them. The same dimple from the photo was on her face and her hair was jet black and cut in a pixie style. She wore yellow scrubs under her white coat with a name tag reading: Lindsay Grocer, in bold lettering. She looked like a nice lady on the outside, wearing a cheery smile."Hi, I'm Dr. Grocer, it's a pleasure to meet you both."
"It's nice to meet you too," Claire said, noticing Jim was silent before managing a hello.
Lindsay didn't seem to notice as she walked beside Claire, pulling on two gloves." This is your second right," she said, pushing down on her stomach.
"Yes, she's nine months old," Claire answered.
Lindsay nodded, moving her hands around her stomach, feeling at it."Okay, as a warning, it's normal with seconds to start showing early and since it hasn't been long since your first you can't expect to start showing very soon." she warned, quickly logging onto her computer and clicking onto Claire's file." It says you had a cesarian section. Depending on your body a planned one will most likely be needed for the future when it's born but that's not a definite." Turning on the ultrasound machine, she rolled her chair back to Claire's side. "Let's see here," she said, moving the wand around her stomach, stopping and pointing towards the screen." It looks like it's the normal size and I'd say your in your eight weeks, just entering your ninth. There are no signs of problems and you don't drink or smoke so just keep doing what you're doing and you should be good."
Claire nodded, slightly worried about having another c-section." We're actually moving," she said, wondering if she'd need a new doctor.
Wiping the gel off her stomach, Lindsay smiled."That's fine, where exactly?"
"Brown Mills, New Jersey," Jim said, not wanting to seem like he was possessed.
Lindsay typed that into her notes, nodding her head causing her to have to push the longer part of her hair out of her face."Okay, I'll contact the town's doctor and get you hooked up with a new doctor," she said."I'm just going to need some blood tests before you go, Dr. Avanza can take you to that."
Claire obeyed, getting off the table and following Jun down the hall. Jim started to follow but Lindsay's voice stopped him."It's nice to finally meet you, Jim," she said, shocking the teenager to the core.
Slowly, he turned towards his sister."Y-You know who I am?"
Lindsay nodded, smile gone, and replaced with a frown."Of course. Our dad is stupid that's a fact. My adoption wasn't closed therefore I was able to find out his name. Low and behold that was the same name as one of the doctor's I interned under and her son's name was the exact same as my father's."
"How long have you known?" he asked, still stunned that he actually had a sister. He'd always wanted siblings but since his mother never dated until Strickler, he gave up all hope in ever having one.
"I've known his name since I was 9 but when I was 19 and started interning here, I met your mother and the name Lake struck me by surprise. She briefly mentioned having a son and when I asked his name and she said Jim I assumed her husband had been my father. Of course, I know she's not my biological mother. Some lady named Alana, not much was written about her on the form just that she left, but it seems like everyone leaves huh?"
"Uh ya," Jim nodded, for some reason nervous.
Pushing up her glasses, she stared at him with serious ice blue eyes."How'd you figure it all out? I expect Dr. L doesn't know since she never asked me about it and hasn't he been gone since you were little?"
"Ya... but he dropped by the other day," Jim said, turning towards the ground and thought how mad and sad he made him." He mainly just yelled at me until leaving dropping a note. The note had a picture of you when you were younger and said your name. I wasn't planning on looking for you but when Claire said she knew the doctor's name was Grocer, I assumed it was you."
"Well you were right," Lindsay laughed, leaning against the walls, frowning, she read the time on her watch."I have a patient but Jim, it was nice to meet you."
Jim smiled."It was nice to meet you too Lindsay." his eyes followed her as she walked out. He still knew nothing about her, about her life, anything, but something told him he never would. They might be blood-related but they weren't sibling siblings. He'd probably run into her while out sometimes but he could tell they would never be close and she would never be his daughter's aunt. The only thing they had in common was they'd been abandoned by the same man. It was just nice to know one another was well.
. . .
"Bee bee," Cassidy smiled up at Jim as she tapped Claire's stomach.
Claire laughed, placing her hand's on the sides of her stomach, shirt riding up so her stomach was exposed."That's right sweetie, the babies in there." They were gathered in Toby's living room, all spending some much-needed friend time, even if Cassidy had to join.
"I can't believe you both are having another one of these cuties," Darcy said, sitting criss-cross on the floor beside Cassidy who she was helping to stand. Darcy, out of Claire's friends, was the most baby obsessed, always talking cutesy when Cassidy was around and always willing to hold her or play with her. That's why they'd made her Cassidy's godmother and she'd most likely be Estelle's as well.
"Me neither," Jim laughed, still phased by it all even though he'd known in advance, Estelle would be made sooner rather than later as they planned.
"Why don't you two have one?" Claire suggested as a joke, causing both Darcy and Toby to turn tomato red.
"No way, we're not as crazy as you two," Toby said, making Claire roll her eyes, pulling Cassidy up onto her lap and kissing her cheeks.
"You're saying you don't want one of these?" she asked, handing Cassidy to Darcy who immediately cooed the baby, tapping her small nose.
"Don't do that Nunez," Toby humphed as his baby crazed girlfriend began to talk babble to Cassidy.
"Don't worry Tobes," Jim said, resting his hand on Toby's shoulder." When you both eventually have one, you'll turn crazy as well," he said, emphasizing the eventually to put the teen at ease. The vibrations he felt from his back pocket, caught his attention and he pulled his phone out, nerves setting in as he saw the caller."Hello?" he answered, stepping out of the room, Toby and Darcy watching in confusion.
"What's the call about?" Toby asked.
Claire, who appeared concerned and worried, sat up, trying to crack her back that had been sorer than ever."We found a studio apartment in the town. It's crap but cheap so we called the landlord to put in an offer. I'm pretty sure that's who's calling."
"Nice, how much?" Toby asked, throwing a piece of buttered popcorn in his mouth.
"700 a month. Stille expensive for us but our parents lent us some money that we'll eventually repay, but it should get us through the first few months," she answered, watching with a concerned gaze as Cassidy, who only just started scooting that week, found her way to the popcorn bowl. Curious, she picked a piece and attempted to eat it but luckily, Darcy swooped in, stopping her.
"Nah hu uh, Cassie. Popcorn isn't for you," she said, setting the baby on her lap. Cassidy pouted, near tears until Jim reentered, making the little girl smile.
"What he say?" Claire asked frantically, unable to tell by his pretty normal face.
"He said we can take another one that's slightly smaller but the rooms itself is safer," Jim said, thinking about Cassidy and soon Estelle and how the apartment had to be safe enough for them.
"That's still good," Claire said, smiling in excitement since they were finally moving out. It would be nice to feel like they were actually raising their daughter, even if they would be entirely alone in New Jersey.
"Congrats guys," Toby exclaimed, throwing his arm around Jim's shoulder."When's the move actually happening?"
"The trolls are going to start moving in three weeks. Blinky said they were able to repair the old gyre and it should take them close to New Jersey, not exactly but close. Transport will take a while though with how many trolls there are to transport and then there's moving the rest of the way. But my mom, Strickler, and I are all driving up in a few weeks to start moving stuff in and Claire and Cass are coming up a week later." Jim explained.
"Need some extra muscle?" Toby asked, lexing his non-existent muscles.
Jim laughed."If you don't mind spending a few days trapped in a car with my mom and her husband then you're welcome to come."
"You can talk about moving later," Darcy said, bouncing Cassidy up and down." We've got a wedding to prepare for, huh little flower girl?" she asked, holding Cassidy up in the air.
"We'll be lucky if she doesn't eat the flower petals," Claire said, taking a slow sip of her water.
"Don't worry, I've been the flower girl in all of my aunt's weddings," Darcy said."She'll be the best little flower girl."
"And how many times has your aunt been married?" Toby asked with a sly smile.
Darcy sighed, throwing a piece of popcorn at him."Shut up. No, she'll be the best flower girl."
