Chapter 19 --- Parents and Geldings

Later that night, after Diane had left to nurse Nora Lee, Sarah lay in her dark room staring at the night reflections on her ceiling. Her jest about hurting Diane had received a strong and unusual laugh. A bit unnerving to tell the truth. Sarah is the larger of the two, works out regularly and had taken kick boxing for four years before her job in DC had taken over her life. She just had a feeling that her friend… Why is she even thinking about fighting? Especially her friend?

She shuts her eyes and starts repeating to herself, her version of the mantra her mother had taught her as an awkward teen. "I am a smart, strong, confident, sexy woman. I can do anything I decide to do. The only one who can stop me is myself." After ten repetitions she is calmer and relaxed, until her stomach rumbles. Glancing at the clock, she is shocked to see that it is only 10:07.

Headed to the kitchen, Sarah notices that Jake and Diane's door is open. Surveying the refrigerator contents, she pinches her stomach and opts for a celery stick, and one of Jake's chocolate turtles.

Walking past her room, she stops in Jake and Diane's doorway, and observes a beautiful sight. Diane is sitting against the headboard nursing Nora. Jake, sitting beside her with his arm around her shoulders, head bent, touching her's, smiling.

Sighing she backs out and goes to the den.

Twenty minutes into 'Year Of The Comet' Diane comes in. "Whew, both of them are down." Collapsing on the couch opposite Sarah, she asks "What's bothering you?"

"It's not any one thing."

"So, start with the easiest."

"Cabin fever." Staring straight ahead she adds, "I'm never going to get my…"

"Go on." Diane urges.

Sarah slowly looks over at her friend. "I want you life." Realizing the alarm on Diane's face echoed what she had said, not what she meant, she adds "My version, I'm sorry Diane. I want my version of your life. I want the adoring husband, the beautiful baby, the mortgage..." Burying her head in her hands, "I'm so pathetic."

Sliding over, Diane puts her arm around Sarah and placed her hand on Sarah's shoulder. : I understand. Before Steve, I hadn't had a date in two years and that one was set up by my mom. Interning and Med School left me little time for a social life. It didn't help that I was at least three years younger than everyone else. I was a lonely adult until I met Jake; living for work, working six days a week. Suddenly I was drawn to a shy, sincere, slightly goofy smile."

"I know loneliness too, of a different kind." Sarah began. "In college I dated pretty boys, I'm not sure if any of them ever graduated. I started working for the Senator right after graduation and I've had a lot of dates. Every last one of them wanted to use me for or access to the Senator, or sex. I was fooled a few times, at first; mostly I showed them the door with a few choice words."

"I'm sorry Sarah. Anything I can do to help?"

"Lasso any good guys."

Laughing Diane hugs her friend, "Deal. Anything else bothering you?"

Biting her lip and looking Diane in the eyes, she asks, "You're an agent, aren't you?"

Pausing a second, Diane takes Sarah's hand and gives it a squeeze. "After Steve, Jake and Kyle gave me a kind of NSA self-defense course. I guess you could say I've had training." Diane had to remember to thank Lou for the cover story; it does pay to be prepared. "In some ways I owe Steve for the life I have now." Smiling at Sarah's rounded eyes, she allows her face to morph into her true emotions for Steve. "Yes, I owe him a 'thanks'. That doesn't mean I won't geld him with my shoe if I ever see that bastard again!"

"On that happy note," Jake yawns from the doorway holding Nora Lee. "I've changed her, but until you use that pump your sister gave us, the next parts up to you."

Standing to taking Nora Lee from Jake, she turns and sits back down on the couch. "She shouldn't be hungry; it wasn't that long ago that she ate." Lowering a strap on her gown, Diane is surprised by her daughter's appetite. "You definitely take after your daddy."

With Sarah's snicker, Diane hastily adds, "Her appetite!" Which is answered by Sarah trying to smother her laughter. Looking to Jake, she sees him asleep in the low rocker he had bought for her, with a smile on his face. "Oh well," she says too little Nora Lee, "I always wanted a happy home."

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The three days that Jake's parents had been there had been stressful for Sarah. Luckily Jake's cover story of Sarah's apartment being abused by a contractor while remodeling had worked. His parents had their own contractor nightmare – Six months on one bathroom along with the theft of money and jewelry had placed Sarah in a sympathetic light. She also found out why Diane had been increasingly nervous the closer their arrival came; both of Jake's parents are over six feet tall. Poor Diane, self-conscious about her height at the best of times and here she was surrounded by people that made Sarah feel short.

By the time Jake left to drive them to the train station, Sarah had learned a few things. First, Diane was adored by her in-laws, even before the baby. She made their son happy, everything else is icing on the cake. Secondly, Jake's father set a good example for how to treat a wife. Also, while not being as demonstrative as Jake and Diane, it was obvious he came from a loving home. Jake's parent's are proud of their son and his good guy act is no act, it has deep roots. Lastly, that Jake's mother has a beautiful singing voice, judging from the lullabies she cooed to Nora.

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While Diane was putting Nora down, Sarah changed into a T-shirt and shorts, let the microwave do it's magic on some popcorn and put one of her favorite movies into the DVD player – "A Walk In The Clouds".

A few minutes later Diane comes into the den wearing Jake's Georgetown sweatshirt, carrying the baby monitor, "Jake's been called into Fort Mead."

"You sure he's not just skipping movie night?"

"He may not like you taste in movies, but he wouldn't skip out on movie night. Too many of his choices are… well… bad."

"How did movie night get started?"

"Not long after we met, he moved to the apartment over the deli. I dropped by with a desk lamp for him. 'An Affair To Remember' was on cable and we watched it. A couple of weeks later we watched 'Forbidden Planet', eventually it became a weekly thing."

"'Forbidden Planet' it sounds provocative?"

"It does have a part about lost innocence. It's really a science fiction movie shot in the 50's; it had the best special effects until 'Star Wars'."

"Sounds like you like it?"

"Yes, I do. You'd like it too. We'll watch it sometime."

"Ok." Picking up the DVD remote, and pointing it at the player, "Keanu, do your stuff." Sarah says as she hits 'play'.

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Next: Life And Death

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