Chapter Twenty-Six
Kendall looked around her condo with a mixture of pride, consternation, and eagerness. No longer did the space resemble a stylish but rather sterile spread in a Crate and Barrel catalog. Well, okay…it still resembled a sterile spread in a Crate and Barrel catalog, but one overlaid with the contents from a Sunday paper Babies "R" Us insert.
A maple crib now occupied a corner of Kendall's bedroom. Wedged in beside her own Shaker-style bureau was a maple changing station, whose shelves and drawers were stuffed with blankets, bedding, and a virtual wardrobe of adorable outfits for a feminine little toddler. Feeling quite sure that Miranda would have had her fill of Greenlee's chic green and yellow color scheme by now, Kendall had opted for padding and bedding in a bright multi-colored baby animal print. The designer was anonymous…but it was kind of cute, she thought defensively.
Boxes of Pampers were now stacked in the linen closet and baby toiletries crowded the Fusion bottles on the bathroom vanity. Unbreakable baby dishes were washed and put away in the kitchen cupboards, next to jars of baby food. A highchair was now lined up with the tall stools beneath the kitchen counter, and in the living room a large play pen stood beside the sofa, already filled with an assortment of toys. Miranda should be more than content to remain in it, but just in case she escaped, all unused electrical outlets were covered and all floor level cabinets had locks on them.
Kendall hadn't accomplished it all on her own. She'd dragooned Myrtle Fargate as her baby consultant. She and Myrtle had spent the past two days shopping, baby-proofing, and rearranging the condo to make room for all their purchases once delivered. But considering that she was the one who would be living with and maintaining the new set up, Kendall was more than bit self-satisfied. She was also nervous. Greenlee and Ryan were on the list of her visitors for the day. They were on their way over with Miranda.
It's been three days. I hope they've calmed down since we last saw each other. At least Zach isn't here to stir things up. But I almost think I'd feel better if he was— Kendall halted the thought dead in its tracks. From the moment she'd left his casino that morning of their last encounter, she'd been trying to observe a moratorium on even acknowledging Zach Slater's existence. But that didn't mean she couldn't go over to the window and look across the way to check his condo for recent signs of habitation, an action she performed again for possibly the twentieth time in the past two days.
I just don't want him showing up the same time Greenlee and Ryan do, she thought defensively. That would really be just my luck.
Zach's condo still bore its deserted air. So what did it matter anyway—his whereabouts had not previously been any concern of hers; there was no real reason why they should permanently become so now. Grief and fear could make people do strange things. That was a known fact. God only knew how strange, if they could throw her into Zach's arms for even those few brief, surreal moments. And for possibly the thirtieth time in the past two days, Kendall found herself violating her own moratorium. Being unable to repeatedly tell Zach where to go was so frustrating, though, especially when she didn't know where he was to begin with.
But living with the unknown fate of her family—and according to Derek Frye, the search was probably going to be called off soon—had become so painfully nerve-wracking that Kendall was having trouble controlling her reactions to anything. Every time the phone rang she jumped, every time she turned on the television or radio, she said a wordless prayer. She was short and snappish with everyone, even Myrtle. Hoping that work might offer some distraction, even the illusion of one, Kendall had tried going to the Fusion office. It didn't help matters, though; she had no tolerance for the routine minor foul-ups it normally fell to her lot to straighten out, and she was impatient with everyone, including customers and potential customers, leading to Simone's tactful suggestion that Kendall take the day off and treat herself to a massage, a facial, and a pedicure. Simone was understandably puzzled when Kendall threw her day planner at her, but Kendall didn't try to explain.
An impenetrable layer of frustration had begun to divide Kendall from nearly everyone and everything…except, hopefully, her niece.
When the Laverys arrived with Miranda, Kendall tried to be on her best behavior. But relations began to sour right from the start, from the moment Greenlee reluctantly allowed Kendall to take Miranda from her arms. As Kendall closed her eyes and hugged Miranda, Miranda's hands went straight to one of her dangly silver chandelier earrings and yanked hard.
"Ouch!" Kendall couldn't help but squeal loudly, which made Miranda's own face screw up in a prelude to tears. Trying to ignore her own pain, Kendall hastily bounced the baby up and down in her arms, but Miranda would not be dissuaded and burst into loud wails.
"Oh, no," Greenlee clucked. Kendall caught her exchanging a glance over Miranda's head with Ryan before reclaiming Miranda from her. "Oh, poor Miranda! Auntie Kendall didn't mean to make you cry, did she? She just doesn't know what to wear around little babies and it just goes to show you that you have better taste than she does, but then who doesn't, and no wonder you tried to pull them off."
"They're gone! See?" Kendall quickly removed both earrings, held them up for inspection, and tossed them on the coffee table. "No more earrings. Miranda's right, they're ugly. Now give Miranda back to me, Greenlee, please. I hardly got to hold her."
"Did you really mean to put those earrings where Miranda could put her hands on them, Kendall?" Ryan asked accusingly.
Turning to him, Kendall asked in surprise, "What? Greenlee is holding her, she can't—"
"Ah, one thing you need to learn about babies, Kendall, is that you can't leave anything to chance," Ryan replied solemnly. "I think we'll just let Greenlee hang on to Miranda for the time being, while you go put the earrings in a safe place."
Kendall bit down on her tongue. "Fine. I'll take them into the bedroom and lock them up in my jewelry box and swallow the key. Why don't you guys come with me and see the furniture I got for Miranda for when she stays with me? She has her own little corner in my bedroom now."
She saw Ryan and Greenlee exchange another glance before Ryan said slowly, "I guess we can do that."
Proudly showing off her and Myrtle's handiwork, Kendall asked, "What do you think? I think Miranda will like it, don't you?"
"It's, er, very nice, Kendall, but…well…."
"But what, Greenlee? Now what's wrong?"
"I think what Greenlee is trying to say is that the furniture is adequate, Kendall, but—"
"But really, Kendall, having Miranda sleep in your room with you? You can't be serious?" Greenlee asked patronizingly.
"Where else am I supposed to put her, Greenlee—in the living room? The bathroom? I only have one bedroom. What's wrong with Miranda sleeping in there with me? I don't snore or talk in my sleep."
"Speaking of the living room, why don't we all go sit down and talk about this," Ryan suggested.
"Fine," Kendall said with even more emphasis. "Go in and make yourselves comfortable and Greenlee, let me have another crack at holding Miranda now." Miranda looked as if her thunderstorm had passed through.
Kendall reached for her niece, but Greenlee demurred. "You'd better take that pendant off before we try it again, Kendall. Frankly that necklace is almost as bad as your earrings, I mean as far as Miranda grabbing for it. She's just really in that curious, grabby stage now, which is why as you may have noticed I'm very simply dressed today."
Trying not to roll her eyes, Kendall replied, "Okay! Necklace is gone. What should I take off next, or do the rest of my clothes pass your inspection before you let me hold my own niece, Greenlee? Maybe you want to pick out a whole new outfit for me?"
"Actually, I'd love to, Kendall, but since every dress in your closet screams cocktail hour, re-outfitting you in something Miranda can't destroy with one hand would require a trip to Lacy's, and Ryan and I don't have time for that today."
"Gee, thanks, Greenlee. Look, I don't care about the dress. I just want to hold Miranda before she graduates from high school. Why is that such a big deal? I haven't even seen her for a couple of days!"
"Let's go sit down first, and then I'll hand her to you."
The Laverys' visit continued in the same way…subtle disparagement of every one of Kendall's efforts to make ready for Miranda, extending to her own choice of clothing and jewelry, even to the cheese and crackers she served for refreshment. Greenlee provided the helpful information that the cheese was too high-fat, the crackers were too salty, and it was dangerous to serve such unhealthy finger foods within reach of Miranda when it was so close to her dinner time. Greenlee wouldn't touch it and set a bad example for Miranda, producing instead a box of organic teething biscuits from the satchel Ryan carried. For his part, Ryan ate with relish the food Kendall provided and then critiqued it, until Kendall was ready to scream.
Miranda did manage to spend some time in Kendall's lap, seemingly happy enough to be there, tugging at Kendall's curls for attention and laughing at the funny faces she received in turn. The little girl, however, was the only one who was entirely at ease. With Greenlee and Ryan watching her like hawks, Kendall simply couldn't relax and enjoy the time with Bianca's daughter the way she'd anticipated. Finally Kendall had enough of feeling like the Laverys' hapless prey. That, she decided, was about to change….
When Greenlee and Ryan started to make leaving noises, Kendall spoke up. "There's no reason now you can't leave Miranda with me when you go. What I've done here might not be up to your standards, but even you can't say I'm not prepared for her to stay. And will you please stop looking at each other whenever I say something?"
"No, I don't think Miranda will be staying here without us, Kendall. She'll be leaving when we do," Ryan said, decidedly.
"But Miranda is used to us, Kendall," Greenlee put in earnestly. "You don't want to totally disrupt her world again, do you?"
"Oh, like I did the first time her world was disrupted?" Kendall asked bitterly. "Or the second?"
"Kendall! You know I didn't mean it like that. It's just…it's just…."
"Just what, Greenlee? You think I'll give Miranda one of my hoop earrings instead of a teething ring? Or do you think I'll serve her coffee ice cream instead of formula?"
"Formula?" Greenlee shuddered. "Kendall, Miranda's not even on formula anymore."
Kendall took a deep breath. "How would I know that, the way you've moved in and taken over? But you weren't born knowing how to take care of a baby, Greenlee. You had to learn, everybody does, and you're still learning. If you can do it, so can I—and I intend to, because it's my turn now."
"And as I recall, Kendall, you were happy to have me 'move in' as you put it because you didn't even have a clue which end was up on a diaper, much less how to actually apply one to a baby's bottom."
"It's not rocket science, especially not if you figured out to do it, Greenlee. And that's all I have to say. I'm not arguing with you any more about this. Miranda is staying with me."
"No, I don't think so," Ryan repeated. Taking Kendall by surprise, he lifted Miranda from her arms in one smooth motion. "What Greenlee has been trying to say, Kendall, which we may as well discuss before we leave rather than delay, is that we are no longer leaving Miranda's home to chance. Greenlee and I are filing a motion to obtain temporary custody of Miranda."
"What?" Kendall screamed, scaring Miranda again, who face contorted "Like hell you will! You can't do that, Ryan! Miranda is my niece, not—"
"We can—actually, we already have filed the motion," Greenlee interrupted more gently. "A social worker is coming to interview us later. We knew you'd be upset, but when you think about it, you've got to admit it's the best thing for Miranda. It gives her stability."
"Oh, right, Greenlee. Right. Miranda's mother is lost out there somewhere on a frozen mountain top and you think you can give her stability?" Kendall felt so sucker-punched she hardly knew what she was saying.
"We can do a better job of giving that to Miranda better than you can, Kendall," Ryan said sternly. "Calm down and you'll realize we're right, as Greenlee said."
"What I realize, Ryan, is you have a judge in your pocket! Just like J.R.—oh my god, now I know why you've been hanging around with him! J.R. sold you a judge!" Kendall was laughing almost hysterically.
"That's not true, Kendall," Greenlee insisted. "We're doing this on the up and up—"
"Bullshit," Kendall swore. "I don't believe you, Greenlee. Score one for J.R. My radar must be way off. I never even saw it coming! I don't think even Zach—"
Grimly Ryan said, "Slater's one of the reasons we're doing this, to protect Miranda from him at all costs. You and I were on the same page about that until recently, Kendall—now he seems to have you under a spell."
Kendall scoffed. "Some spell! I haven't seen Zach for days. I don't even know where he is, and guess what? I'm trucking right along. You're just using Zach as an excuse to do what you want to do anyway."
"Oh, Zach's in Las Ve—," Greenlee started to say, before snapping her lips shut on the word.
Kendall whirled on her. "Las Vegas? Zach's in Vegas? How come you know that and I don't, Greenlee?"
"I don't know. I must have heard about it from Derek."
"Slater's location is irrelevant. I just hope to god he stays out there where he belongs," Ryan said tightly. "Now look, Miranda is reacting to the tension in the room. I say we get her out of here before it gets worse. Come on, Greenlee."
Kendall could do nothing but watch, in a state of shock, as Ryan carried Miranda out, and Greenlee followed behind them.