Topographie de ciel et d'enfer
(Topography of Heaven and
Hell)
"What the hell are you doing here?" I snapped, after regaining my balance, and scaring Chico into the other room.
"Is that any way to great your
mother?" Abby asked, her voice very flat, rather like two-year-old soda.
I had half a mind to say 'you're not
my mother,' but at the same time, I caught sight of my wrists, and decided
against it. Instead, I made no comment. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Sure. Beer. Does Ana have any
Russian vodka?"
I groaned. Abby was one of those
people who could have one beer and boom; you've got one major drinking binge.
"No, Ana doesn't drink. Her father died from binge drinking."
Gotta stress 'died.'
"I see…" She twiddled her thumbs,
trying to think of what else she could have.
"Espresso?" I suggested. I am the
espresso-making queen, even Ana, who is obsessed with espresso can't make on
like I do. Abby agreed and I whipped up a few. Hoping she would be content with
that, I called up County General.
"County General hospital, this is
Randi, how can I help you?"
"Randi, this is Monica…"
"Monica! How are things with you?"
I groaned. Why couldn't Frank be on
today? "Fine Randi. Listen, I really need to talk to dad right now, he's not in
any major trauma is he?"
"I don't think so…let me put you on
hold." With a soft "click," she set down the phone and the terrible hold music
came on. Every month, a new employee chooses the hold music, and this week it
was Dave's turn. So, I had to listen to this techno crap. They've really got to
talk to him about that…
"Monica? Is everything all right?" Dad sounded extra worried.
"Well, not exactly Dad."
"Don't tell me that dog of your got
into your marble collection again!" I collected marbles when I was little. I
didn't even know how to play them, but I thought they looked pretty, so I
collected them. Abby oddly enough supported the passion and many of my marbles
came from her. Chico liked the too. He likes to eat them, and we took him to "doggie-ER"
twice because he swallowed them. Dad always thinks every emergency is because
of Chico.
"No Dad…"
"I told you NOT to leave them where
he could get into them!"
"Dad, this is not about Chico!"
I yelped a little to loud and I peaked around the corner, hoping Abby
hadn't heard me.
"Then what is it?"
"Abby's sitting in our
kitchen!" I yelled as loudly as humanly possible with out Abby hearing.
"What?!" I could tell that dad did a
double take because the next thing I heard was Dr. C talking to him:
"What's wrong Luka?"
"Abby's back and Monica's home alone
with her!" Dr. C didn't say anything else. He's practically another father
for me. Weird. I always had enough fathers, but never enough mothers.
Dad got back on the phone. "What's she doing right now?" he asked.
"Drinking espresso."
"Please tell me that you didn't put a shot of anything it!" he exclaimed.
"Of course not!"
"Uh…okay. Well, you call Ana and I'll be home as soon as I can be."
I agreed and hung up.
"Who were you calling?" Abby yelled, her voice carrying loudly into
my room.
"Uh…Adam!" Damnit, why does he always
come to mind!
"Oh, that nice Adam Carter?"
He's a far cry from nice. The
devil's advocate maybe. "Uh, yeah. You know homework assignment…" Please oh
please oh please don't say you're going to tell Dad when he gets home!
"I'll have to tell your father when
he gets home. I don't know if he wants you to be going out this Friday."
Damnit. Didn't I just say it was
homework? "I have to make another call Abby!" Not waiting for her to reply, I
dialed Ana.
"Yes?" Thank God. It was she, not
her secretary. Ana is a lawyer and works at this huge firm on Lakeshore. Her
office is so perfect, with its incredible view of the Sears Tower.
"Ana? Monica. Uh, Abby is sitting in
our kitchen," said, really not sure what to say.
"Did you call Luka?" she asked, her
voice changing from happy to very nervous.
"Yeah."
"Okay, I'll be home ASAP." She hung
up and I waited.
----
"Why are you here Abby?" Dad asked, trying to remain calm.
"I needed somewhere to go," she said
simply.
"Why?"
"I lost my job."
Again. Always it was I lost my
job.
Dad nodded, and motioned for Ana and me to follow him into his room. Wisely, Chico decided to come with us. "We can't turn her out," he said, running a hand through his hair. "But we can't trust her at this house either." He sighed. "Monica, you can't stay here if she moves in."
"Why not?" Now, this was
surprising!
"If she tried to kill you once, what's
stopping her from trying again? I promise it won't be for long. I'll get
Legaspi or DeRadd to examine her tomorrow."
I sighed and nodded. "Fine."