Chapter 5: Cold Fall Days
I could hear the ticking of the clock as I stared at the scarf that lay in my hands. I found that over the past week back home, I had picked up my mother's old habits of knitting. But I was nothing like my mother. My mother made wonderful, colorful, pieces of art., something to treasure over the years, something to keep you warm in the cold. But me... my work was nothing special.
Kai had gone out early this morning, to help Popuri with her fall planting. I cringed at the sound of her name, and quickly threw the thoughts from my mind. I stabbed at the scarf with the needle and angrily wrapped another loop. My mother had also left, going down town to set up arrangements for the funeral this Sunday. I was alone today, in this dark gloomy house that I once called home. It was different and foreign, and yet it seemed the same. The pictures were hung in different spots, and the old couch had been replaced with a new one, but it still smelled the same. I sighed and slumped into the chair.
There was a soft knock at the door, and I placed my scarf upon the coffee table. As I looked out the window, I could see the wind blowing around the lifeless vines, and the dark clouds covering the sun. It had been a cold week, and I knew it was just going to get colder. I slowly opened the door, and a small figure quickly pushed its way inside.
"Sasha... I need your help," the voice said turning around, closing the door behind her. She quickly stopped at stared at me, letting out a small gasp as she finished shutting the door.
"My goodness! Karen... is that you!" the girl said wrapping her arms around me. "Your mother told me that you would be returning here for the funeral, but I never imagined you would come so quickly... Karen... it's me, Elli!" She said, a smile appearing on her anxious face. As I looked at her, her face became a familiar sight. Years ago she had had shoulder length brown hair that hung neatly on her shoulders. Now, she had it short cut, much of a shock to me at first, but soon I came to like it as it framed her delicate face.
"Elli!" I exclaimed, returning the warm embrace. "It's been so long... what's wrong?" I questioned, noticing the worried look on her face. She plopped down on the couch; I seated myself next to her.
"It's my grandmother, Ellen. She's gotten sick, and recently has started forgetting things. Just yesterday she even forgot my name, and started calling me by my mother's name. I'm starting to become very worried," she said, talking very quickly.
"Oh... Elli, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help out?" I asked her, still a little uncomfortable, having not seen her for two years.
"We have already consulted the midwife about her condition, and there is nothing her in FlowerBud that we can do to help her. Jeff suggested that we take her to the city, but I can't possibly take Nicholas with me. That's why I came here. I wanted to ask Sasha, your mother, if she could watch Nicholas while we were gone. Just for a few days, a week at the most," she said pleadingly. I could tell she was nervous, for I watched her as she twiddled her thumbs, occasionally biting at the tips of her fingernail.
"I'm sorry, my mother isn't here right now. But don't worry, I'm sure that she will be just fine watching over him. She took care of me for 16 years, I think she can handle another one," I replied jokingly, trying to lighten the mood a little. Elli wrapped her arms around me again, sighing in relief.
"Oh! Thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to me! We are leaving as soon as we can, so is it possible I could drop Nick off in an hour? I'm sorry it is at such late notice, but the last ferry trip leaves at five," she said, looking me in the face.
"No problem at all, my mother should be home by then," I replied. Elli hugged me yet again, stood up from the couch, and after saying goodbye, she ran out of the house back into the cold weather. I took a deep breath, and shut the door, shutting out the cold air with it.
"What have I gotten myself into?" I laughed, and sat down again on the chair. "I do hope Sasha isn't mad..." I knew my mother, and she was always happy to help someone out. She loved children, and I knew that she had often wished for another child after me, but my father would never permit it. I picked up my knitting once more and looked at the clock. It was nearly four, and I had a lot of work to do.
That one hour went by extra fast. I had cleaned up the main floor, my mother returned home, and I told her of the plan. She was ecstatic, and smiled sweetly as she impatiently cleaned the kitchen waiting for Elli to arrive with the baby. I hadn't seen my mother this happy in a while, and it was a nice change.
Soon enough there was a second knock on the door. This time, I opened the door to see a different familiar face. It was Jeff, but his face could barely be seen through the mountain of things he held in his arms. He carried everything from blanket and bottle and food, to cribs and strollers and feeding tables. Truly... what had I gotten us into? Jeff stumbled into the house, quickly trying to set up everything, handing me something to hold every so often as he worked away and baby proofing our home. Soon enough came Elli, holding Nick in her arms.
He was precious. Much like his mother he had mouse brown hair, so fine and soft to the touch. His eyes were big and bright like his mother's, but were a dark blue like his father's. He had chubby cheeks, and a big smile, and all I could do was smile in return. Elli touched her finger to his nose, and he giggled playfully in reply.
"I'm sorry Nicky," she said to the baby, the name that she so lovingly called him, "You're gonna have to stay with Aunt Sasha for the week. But don't worry, I'll be back as soon as I can," she said, handing the baby gently over to my mother. She held Nick in her arms as though he was her own.
"Don't worry dear, you go and help your grandmother. We'll take good care of Nick while you're gone," she said, smiling over at me. My mother was truly a different person. Elli and Jeff quickly packed up their things, Elli giving her baby boy a kiss goodbye, and Jeff playfully rubbing his hair before they left, and soon enough it was just me, my mother, and a tiny baby in the house.
It was silent at first, neither I nor my mother saying a word. It was quite awkward, until Nick broke the silence by letting out a loud hiccup. We both laughed.
"Do you remember when I was that small Mom," it was weird to use the word after two long years.
"I do..." she sighed. "Nick is so much better behaved though. You were an active child, always causing trouble wherever you went," she replied. I laughed, and playfully bounced Nick on my knee. My mother continued to tell me stories of when I was young, and I felt like nothing bad had ever happened between us. It was wonderful. Finally my mother got up and went to the kitchen, and started to prepare dinner.
I was left alone in the room with Nick. I had never truly held a baby before. All the girls in Flowerbud were born at the same time, and it seemed that no other child was born after that. I had never had younger brothers or sisters, so this was a big change for me. Nick looked up at me, blowing a small spit bubble, which quickly popped when it got to big. I laughed and he looked up at me with his big blue eyes, and laughed in return. Suddenly, there was yet another knock on the door, the third one that night.
"I'll get it!" I yelled to the kitchen and picked up Nick in my arms, quickly walking to the door, and opening it to reveal Jack's smiling face.
"Hey Karen... WHOA!?! You didn't tell me you had a kid!!" Jack exclaimed, obviously startled by the baby in my arms. I laughed at Jack's misunderstanding, and quickly answered to calm his nerves.
"Hah... don't worry Jack, he's not mine! It's Nick, Elli's boy," I laughed. Jack laughed in reply, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck, obviously embarrassed at his mistake.
"Oh... haha... sorry... for a second there I was a little startled. What's Nick doing here this late, and without his mother?" He asked as he stepped into the house.
"We're watching him for the week. Elli and Jeff took Ellen to the city. I'm pretty sure she's just fine, but they want to make sure," I replied.
"Oh, well that's good," He said. "I just came over wondering if you wanted to...you know... hang out?" I was startled. Since when did Jack want to hang out with me?
"Well, I have to watch over Nick... but you are welcome to stay for dinner!" I exclaimed quickly, hoping that Jack would accept the offer.
"You sure? Sounds good to me, I'm use to eating that microwavable food. Truthfully, I'm not that great of a cook," he laughed.
"Well, my mother is a WONDEFUL cook!" I replied, my mother laughing as she entered the room.
"I'm really not that wonderful, but you are welcome to stay, it will be done in ten minutes," she replied. Jack took off his shoes, and helped me set the table for dinner. I smiled over at him as I placed the silverware on the napkins. It was nice to have a big dinner again. In the city, I usually ate by myself, so it was a nice change. I pulled up the highchair for Nick, and soon enough dinner was served and ready to be eaten.
Me, my mother, and Jack all seated ourselves at the table, Nick already sitting in the highchair, just waiting to eat. After saying grace, we all dug into the various food that lay scattered over the big dining table. There was a roast Turkey with mashed potatoes, green beans, fresh eggplant, and three glasses of wine. It seemed to me like Thanksgiving. Occasionally throughout my meal, I reached over and feed a spoonful of baby food to Nick. My mother gazed at me lovingly, and I was happy to see that I was pleasing her. I told my mother and Jack about the city, and they listened inattentively about the life that I had lived. When we all finished dinner, Jack thanked Sasha for the wonderful meal, Sasha blushing at the compliment. We quickly cleaned up and Jack and I seated ourselves on the couch, Nick curled up in Jack's arms.
After dinner the phone rang, and Sasha quickly answered. With a short conversation, she hung up.
"Sorry Karen, I have to go back to town to handle a few more things for Sunday, can you watch Nick for a few hours?" she asked, grabbing her coat.
"No problem," I smiled, and Sasha quickly ran out the door. It was just Me and Jack and the baby. I flicked on the T.V. to break the silence, Jack, a little more comfortable now, slumped back into the couch. Jack gazed down lovingly at Nick, Nick's eyes slowly closing.
"He really likes you Jack..." I said to him. Jack turned to me and smiled, and then looked down again at the angelic face.
"He sure is sweet. I hope that someday I will grow up and become a dad. I think I would be a good dad..." he said, gently picking Nick up and placing him in my arms. Nick's eyes closed and he snuggled into me.
"How wonderful a thing," I thought to myself. I peered over at Jack who was looking down at the baby that lay in my arms. He adverted his gaze to the scene on the television, the soft glow that lit the dark room. I rocked the baby softly in my arms, and as Jack leaned into the corner of the couch, I found myself following and leaning gently on his chest. I could feel each breath he took and I turned my head gently to face him.
His blue eyes look straight at me, and slowly his lips came to touch mine. Softly, he laid a kiss upon my lips, just a sweet gesture, and he layed back slowly falling alsleep. I wasn't sure what was happening quite yet, or what I was going to do, but for right now I felt comfortable, and soon enough I fell asleep, the baby asleep in my arms, and me asleep in Jack's.
Sorry for the repost, I needed to make a few changes to this chapter, and I accidently deleted it instead of replacing it. Sorry for my mistakes. I also wanted to say thanks to all my reviewers! Please keep with me on this story, with school going, it might take me a while to update, but thatnks for reading my story fo far! If you want to contact me for any reasons, give me some ideas for my stories, or have a request for something.. just email me at PacificTwist65 at aol . com (It won't let me write it out!!)