Chapter Eleven: Five Years, Eleven Months
Michelle was grinning. Honest to God, couldn't-help-it-if-she-tried grinning, so much that Tony couldn't letting out a small laugh as he sat down and picked up the phone.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Guess who I brought to see you." The glee was evident in her voice.
Tony looked around, puzzled; there was nobody else there whom he recognized. "The invisible man?" he asked bewilderedly.
Michelle shook her head, and suddenly two small pink-mitten-encased hands appeared beside her, followed closely by a head of curly black hair and a face that Tony only really knew from photographs…
"Boo!" said Zoe, with a grin identical to her mother's.
A third matching grin couldn't have been prevented from appearing on Tony's face if someone had punched him in it; he laughed delightedly.
"Hi Daddy," said Zoe loudly, waving shyly as Michelle put the phone to her ear.
"Hey Zoe, sweetheart…" Tony shook his head. He was at a complete loss for words.
Michelle said something to Zoe that Tony couldn't hear without the phone, which Zoe was now clutching firmly in her bemittened hand. However, whatever it was that she said helped the conversation along, because Zoe turned to him and said, in a rather serious tone, "Did you get my picture?"
"The one with the cat and all the flowers?"
"Uh-huh."
"Yeah, I did. Thank you, it's a great picture. You're a very good artist."
This made Zoe grin again. "Did you put it on your wall'?"
No, because I don't want anything to happen to it, because every piece of evidence that she actually exists is precious…
"Yeah. Right above my bed."
"Good." Zoe looked up at Michelle. "I think it's Mommy's turn to talk."
"Okay."
"So," said Michelle, taking the phone back and pulling Zoe onto her lap, "How are you, Tony?"
The same as always, feeling like a caged animal, no one to have more than a casual conversation with, trying to hide what I'm going through so you won't worry…
He shrugged. "I'm alright. You doing anything special over the holidays?"
Except of course I can't fool you, but you try to fool yourself because you know there's nothing you can do about it…
"No, not really. We're spending some time with Danny, probably be at your parents' on Christmas Day. Did you know Julie's pregnant again?"
Tony nodded. "Yeah… I got a letter."
"I'm gonna get another cousin!" Zoe piped up, reaching up to share the phone with Michelle.
"You're excited, huh?"
"Uh-huh! 'Specially 'cause mommy says I can't have a baby sister."
Tony saw a look of deep regret flash over Michelle's features before she composed herself again. He fought to keep the sting he too felt at Zoe's words from reaching his face.
Their daughter was oblivious to this, and smiled at him happily.