Chapter 38: Shockwaves
The next day was hard for Alice. She couldn't stop thinking about what the doctors told her yesterday. The news knocked the wind out of her. Polly and Betty knew something was bothering their mother. Ever since she got home yesterday she hardly spoke, just kept her eye on the baby. Alice hummed as she picked her baby out of the crib.
"Morning, angel." She whispered as she peppered kisses on the baby's head.
Consuming all that she learned put a toll on her brain. Even though, FP, Dr. Gilman and Dr. Pinka all told her it wasn't her fault. There was nothing she did. But in the back of her mind thoughts tortured. When she was with Edgar, he gave her pills and some mystery liquid. She still didn't know to this day what it was and she'll never know. Edgar's in prison in New Jersey far upstate. She didn't have to worry about him, taunting her.
She reaches the kitchen, holding the baby in her arms, meeting the worried eyes of her children. The baby gurgles with wide eyes and Alice places her into automatic swing. She pressed a few buttons before it swung into action. She then headed off to the fridge, grabbing the orange juice carton, setting it on the island top. "How are my girls this beautiful morning?"
Both sisters shared the same look in their eyes. "Are you okay, Mom? Last night you and FP never left the nursery. Did you get the results back?" Alice fought the urge to close her eyes and shook her head.
"Uh, nope not yet." Betty's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"I thought you were supposed to hear back by now?"
"I didn't. Who wants some crepes?"
Betty shook her head, ignoring the dull look.
"No, I'm fine. I already ate."
"Polly?"
"I'm good, Mom."
Alice turned toward her sweet granddaughter and asked." Juni, do you want some?"
Juniper grinned happily," Yes, Grammy!"
—-xxxx—
He walked into the work trailer, seeing Hermione and Fred making out in back corner where Fred's work desk is. He grunted in disgust, while smirking underneath his frown. He plopped loudly into the spin office chair, his feet hitting the pavement hard causing the couple to steer away their lip lock session.
"You do know we have clients coming, they don't need to see that." He growled, slamming his hands over the binder.
Fred and Hermione's grew wide. They fixed their garments and looked over at FP. "What's going on?"
"Nothing." He said, not looking up from his calculator.
"Are you sure? You seem off today, FP." Hermione asked.
"I said nothing."
"O-okay... well I'm just going to leave you to it." She kisses Fred on last time, waving." Goodbye!" And eyed Fred," See you tonight, baby!"
She disappeared without a single trance, almost as if a whisper in the wind. Fred turned back to FP and said," What is your problem?"
"Fredrick, leave it! I said it is nothing!" He finally snapped, throwing a stapler off his desk and onto the ground three feet away from Fred's foot.
Fred doesn't ask again, instead heads to his desk and thought to himself about his dear best friend, FP Jones Jr. Something is going on with him and Fred was going to find out.
After a long day at work he wanted to blow off some steam. The news from their kid's doctors made it hard to concentrate. It's not every day you learn your kid as food disorder. He hadn't really given himself time to recover from the low-blow. He had been trying to stay strong for his girl. All day he got looks from Fred, concerned filled ones.
He looked up at the bright illuminated sign and sighed before walking towards the snake door.
He walked in those doors, haggard look on his face, sat down on stool and muttered dryly." Can I have a scotch on the rocks?"
"FP, what are you doing here?" An spiteful tone broke his eye contact. Oh...shit!