"Hey Luce?" a panicked Eric yelled yelled into the phone receiver, "Have you talked to your mother lately?"
"I talked to her today. She could only talk for a couple of minutes though because she had a doctors appointment, or something like that. Why?"
"I got a phone call from her about 2 minutes ago and she was freaking out. Is there anyway that you could come down to the office so I can go talk to Annie!"
"Umm, sure. I'll have to be back to the house at 7 though. Patty has a counciling session. She isn't doing so well. She still can't explain it to the kids."
"Thanks! I'll be back to the church at 7! Please come down ASAP!"
explained a nervous Eric. A doctor appointment? He knew it was around the time for her yearly physical but she hadn't told him that it was today!
"Sure dad! I am hopping in the car right now. I'm going to stop at the Dairy Queen. You might be in the dog house and nothing makes mom surrender more than chocolate! Do you want anything?"
"I think that I will have a chocolate fudge sunday. Umm thank you."
Lucy was really getting to be like adult. To Eric she had always been his little girl but now she was his mature little girl. He was so proud of how she had handled things lately.
"Hey Dad!" called a familiar voice. "Matt?" called a happy Eric, "Is that you?"
"Yah it's me dad! I was in town and-" laughed Matt.
"You call New York in town? What is going on? There has to be something and judging by the way your smiling it must be good! Lucy is on her way here so that I can go home. You can come home with me and tell your mom and I! She has to stop at the Dairy Queen before she comes."
"Either Lucy is pregnant or mom is mad at you. Pregnant women and angry women are the only times this family goes to the Dairy Queen! I'm guesssing mom is mad at you and Lucy is doing a favor for you stopping at the Dairy Queen."
"You guessed right. I think something is wrong with your mom. Never mind that why don't you tell me what your news is! Mom can wait to hear but I can't."
MEANWHILE BACK AT DAIRY QUEEN
"Hi Darrah! Could I get 2 chocolate fudge sundays, 2 bannana splits , a chocolate dipped cone, and 2 chocolate chip cookie dough blizzards," talked Lucy into the speaker, "Oh and I am not pregnant. When you come from a family of 9 you learn that unexpected visitors come often."
"I understand what you mean! My husband comes from a family 5 and they are constantly dropping in!" Darrah and Lucy laughed for a second until they saw what was in front of them. An oddly familiar looking woman was holding a gun to her head.
"Oh my god," screamed Darrah, "Call the police! Lucy can you talk to the woman. I think she just wants to harm herself."
Lucy got out of the car and walked closer to the woman. At first she rubbed her eyes. She couldn't believe who she saw. As she looked closer she knew that her eyes were not failing her.
"Patty-Mary?"