Disclaimer: See Prologue
Chapter 8: Disneyland
Andrea's grandmother had taken a turn for the better. Andrea was relieved. For a while she'd thought that this may have been it.
She'd spent Thursday evening with her at the hospital, along with Hannah and her parents. Hannah went to bed after they got home and Andrea went to her room, but a while later Andrea heard a knock at her door.
"Come in," she called.
The door opened to reveal Hannah standing there in her pyjamas, clutching a teddy bear. Andrea patted the bed and Hannah jumped up beside her.
"What's up kiddo?"
"Did you like growing up in California?"
Andrea was surprised by this question, but answered.
"Yeah I did. Why?"
"Oh, I was just wondering," Hannah answered.
Hannah clutched her teddy bear closer to her, looking around the room. It was Andrea's old bedroom, and it hadn't changed much from the time she'd left. There were still old posters decorating the walls, and a few odds and ends that she hadn't taken to Yale were littered around the room.
"I wish we lived in California," Hannah said suddenly.
Andrea was taken aback at this statement.
"What? You don't like New York?"
"Yeah I do, but there are too many buildings. We have to live in an apartment instead of a house with a backyard," Hannah said.
"What about Sarah? You wouldn't want to leave her."
"She's moving anyway. Her dad got a job in Chicago," Hannah replied.
Andrea was silent for a few moments. She didn't like to think that her daughter was unhappy.
"Hey Mom? Have you ever been to Disneyland?" asked Hannah.
Andrea laughed.
"Yeah, I have. Why? You wanna go?" Andrea asked.
"Can we go Mom?" asked Hannah excitedly.
Andrea laughed again at Hannah's enthusiasm. "To be a kid again," she thought.
"Sure we can. How about tomorrow? It'll be less crowded than on the weekend."
"Yeah! Thanks Mom!" Hannah cried, jumping onto her mother and hugging her.
"Okay, okay! If you really want to go though, you'll have to get some sleep," Andrea said.
Hannah took the hint.
"I'll go to bed right now!" she said and ran towards the door. She stopped as she reached it and turned back and ran to her mother. She gave her one more hug and a quick kiss, and then hurried out of the room.
Andrea smiled. That kid was incredible.
"I'm lucky to have her," she thought.
Another thought occurred to her. She pulled out her cell phone.
……………………………………………………………………………………………...
Brenda was sitting in her room, thinking over her conversation with Andrea. It was easy to say she'd tell Dylan about the miscarriage, but she had no idea where to begin. Her cell phone began to ring, interrupting her thoughts. She picked it up and saw that it was Andrea calling.
"Hello," she answered.
"Hey! Your niece has somehow talked me into talking her to Disneyland tomorrow. You wanna join us?" Andrea said.
Brenda smiled when Andrea referred to Hannah as her "niece". She liked the sound of that.
"Sure! I'd love to see her. What time are you going at?"
They spoke for a few minutes longer, arranging the details for their outing and then hung up.
Brenda put the phone down on her bed and sat back. Tomorrow she was going to spend the day getting to know her niece, and it would be fun to hang out with Andrea again.
"Assuming of course that we don't egg each other on to reveal more secrets to other people," she thought wryly to herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted again, this time by Brandon.
"Hey sis. Dad's found another home movie I'm afraid. Mom's making popcorn."
Brenda felt a pang of guilt. She was looking forward to spending the day with Brandon's daughter tomorrow, and he had no clue she even existed.
"I'll be down in a minute Brandon," she told him, and he left the room.
"I hope Andrea tells him soon," she thought, before making her way downstairs to join the rest of her family.
……………………………………………………………………………………………...
It was only noon and already Andrea and Brenda were exhausted. Hannah wanted to do everything that involved a huge queue it seemed.
"How can such a small person have so much energy?" asked Brenda incredulously.
"I have no idea," Andrea replied. "I suspect it's a trait all kids possess in order to torture their parents though."
Hannah was eyeing up another attraction with a sign telling them there was a 45 minute queue. Brenda groaned.
"No more queues! Can't we get something to eat instead?" she begged.
"Well, I am kind of hungry," Hannah said.
Andrea laughed.
"Okay, we'll go and find some place."
Fifteen minutes later they were sitting at a table with food in front of them. Brenda was slightly alarmed at the way Hannah was shovelling her fries into her mouth, but a look from Andrea assured her it was normal.
"I don't know how you do it Andrea," Brenda said. "I'm so wiped I don't know if I'll be able to make that reunion tomorrow night," she joked.
Andrea chuckled.
"You get used it," she said.
"You know, speaking of the reunion…" Brenda began, but Andrea interrupted her.
"No way," she said.
"Oh come on Andrea! I don't want to go by myself!"
"I thought you were going with Brandon and everyone else," Andrea said.
"Exactly. Andrea, I couldn't even stand being in the Peach Pit with them all for five minutes. How am I supposed to spend a few hours with them tomorrow night?"
"Lots of alcohol?" Andrea suggested.
"Andrea!" Brenda exclaimed.
"Sorry," Andrea said, chuckling.
"It's your reunion too you know," Brenda told her.
Andrea sighed.
"I know. I just don't particularly want to reunite with anyone from high school," Andrea answered. "Present company accepted of course," she added.
"It might be a good way to break the ice with You-Know-Who," Brenda said, nodding towards an oblivious Hannah, who was at this point attacking a hamburger.
"I don't have anything to wear though," Andrea said, feeling triumphant.
"I'll lend you something. We look about the same size," Brenda said.
"Damn!" Andrea thought.
She yielded. She could understand why Brenda was reluctant to go on her own. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Sure she was absolutely terrified of seeing Brandon again, but she had to see him some time.
"Fine, but you owe me," Andrea said.
Brenda smiled.
"Thanks Andrea. We'll have a great time, you'll see."
"Oh you bet we will, "Andrea said.
"I'm bringing a bottle of tequila in my purse," she added with a deadpan look.
