CHAPTER 40

~ Forty Days and Forty Nights ~

-Two Weeks Later-

It has been raining in New Egypt for days now. Deena has been gone from Sunny Seaside for four weeks now and it is starting to get to her. She is on the phone with her cousin, looking out the living room window from her Dad's Lazy Boy.

"So when is your court date?"

Deena, "Next month. I meet with my Lawyer in two days to talk about my charges."

Deena's cousin replies, "What did you get charged for?"

Deena, "It was basically for disorderly conduct. Failing to use the sidewalk, shit like that. I just don't want it on my record."

"So do you pay a fine or what?"

Deena, "I won't know how much I need to pay until I meet with my lawyer or until I get to court to see what the judge says. My lawyer feels that if I plead guilty it will make things easier as far as not getting convicted."

Deena's cousin laughs a little, "Geez, it's like you're some sort of felon. They cannot be for real."

Deena, "Well I got arrested for real- for real so, I think they're serious."

Deena sighs and continues.

"It just sucks. First that, now I'm sentenced to home instead of jail."

Her cousin replies, "Would you prefer the cell?"

Deena laughs and jokes, "Probably. It's better than being told how bad of a Mother I am day in and day out."

"What do you mean?"

Deena, "My Mom feels she can tell me how to take care of 'Leena now. I realize I haven't been home but come on, I know what to do with my own baby."

"She just cares about both of you. You know how she is. How is the little munchkin?"

Deena smiles and looks down in her lap. Pauleena is snoozing away, hearing no part of her Momma's conversation.

Deena strokes her hair, "She's perfect, is all I can say. I didn't realize how much I missed her and how much I have missed."

Deena continues.

"She's sitting up and getting around on her own now. First she uses her little hands to support herself but after that, she is upright and balancing on her own; she'll be crawling in no time. (Deena smiles) She is so playful too. I put her favorite stuffed ani' (animal) in front of her or just me playing with her and she just finds it hilarious."

Deena's cousin replies, "Well are you surprised? She has her parents' personality."

Deena, "Oh yeah. She's always smiling, she hardly cries, and she loves attention. I'm definitely gonna get her into some type of modeling."

Deena goes into her own world for a minute until she hears her Cousin speak.

"Has Pauly come by to see her yet?"

Deena, "I brought her to Mediation at the beginning of this month. Other than that, no, he hasn't been by."

She replies, "Do you want him to see her?"

Deena sighs, "Of course I do…it's just so much we need to work out that it's clouding my judgment. With the new agreement, I don't know about letting him take her away from home though."

"You don't trust him?"

Deena, "I am just getting used to being around her again. I feel I need more time with her. I probably should have held out for another month."

Her cousin replies, "Well maybe you should talk to him and see if he won't mind giving you another month with her. He'll have to understand since you're trying to get your life together right now that you need this."

Deena, "I'm just scared that he'll try to take her away from me. I think I should just leave things as they are now."

Deena listens to her cousin's suggestions but she knows what she really wants to do, she just hopes it doesn't hurt what she needs to do for the future.

-Back in Seaside-

The Roommates' last day in the Shore House will be September second, which is the next weekend, so the plan is to have the big Bond Fire celebration on the last day of the month. So far, everyone has their expected guests coming and is looking forward to it.

Now Jenni is with Nicole at her house spending time with her since she has been put on bed rest.

Nicole, "Well, I guess I should be used to having limited mobility…you would think right?"

Jenni smiles, "It'll be over soon. Are you having Lorenzo induced or are you just gonna wait it out?"

Nicole, "I'm getting induced. If I wait it out, my little man will probably decide to come the day of the Bond Fire. I do not wanna miss that or the last day in the house."

Jenni, "So when are you having it done? You'd have to do it like this weekend in order to be good for the Bond Fire."

Nicole, "Nu-uhn. My Doctor said that I would only have to be in the Hospital for two or three days after delivery and I'll be good to go home. For me, that's back here in Seaside."

Jenni, "…and what do your parents have to say?"

Nicole, "What would they say? My plan is not to live with them anyway. I am moving in with Jionni until we find our own place."

Jenni, "…So you'd rather live with him, at his parents, instead of living with your own."

Nicole, "It's only temporary, I told you that…and why'd you say his parents like that?"

Jenni, "I mean, it's technically the same situation. I think I'd rather just be with my own family if I am still going to be living with family."

Nicole, "We do consider each others' family, family. Jionni's parents' place is much bigger and they already made up a little space for us downstairs. It'll be fine until we get the hang of things, then we can move out."

Jenni doesn't respond. If Nicole has made her mind up to go through with that, then she cannot persuade her otherwise. She feels however, that Jionni should have things more prepared for his son and fiancé than just crashing at his parent's house.

She would get another opinion before bringing the subject up again, for now, they talk about their plans for the night.

-Later On-

The Roommates decide to go to dinner since it is a weekday. They would save the partying for the weekend coming up, especially since it started to rain on the way home. Jenni says goodnight to Roger and then she calls it a night but not before approaching Sammi in the kitchen. Everyone else is in their rooms.

Jenni sitting on the kitchen stool, "I'm actually glad you're still up. Can I talk to you about something?"

Sam, "Yeah but make it fast. I don't wanna hear Ron's mouth. I was supposed to be in there like a half an hour ago but I called Deena."

Jenni switches gears momentarily, "Oh really? How's she doin?"

Sam, "Pretty good but I'll tell you everything later."

Jenni nods and continues, "Well it's about Nicole."

Sammi listens.

"When she has Lorenzo, she is planning on moving in with Jionni..."

Sam, "Well, what's wrong with that? They should be livin together, they're gonna be married."

Jenni finishes, "…at his Parents' house."

Sam, "…Oh…well, is that what Nicole wants to do? I would think she wants her own place."

Jenni, "Exactly. I feel she does too but I think Jionni is pushing her to think this is all right. If it's up to him, he may never leave home. I don't even think he wants to."

Jenni continues.

"I mean, think about it; he doesn't have a real job that is going to afford the lifestyle Nicole deserves, he doesn't know the first thing about taking care of a wife and a Kid because he's not even around now. I would hate to see Nicole living there forever because that's where she thinks she should be."

Sammi is speechless. She thinks it over and responds.

"I don't really know what to say…I don't wanna be bogus and use Deena and Pauly as an example of how Nicole wouldn't want things to turn out. However, if something happens and she gets mad at Jionni, then she would have to go live back at home with Lorenzo and all."

Jenni, "Over my dead body. She would live with me at my house before I let her have to go back home. In fact, I'd prefer her to live with me anyway than live there."

Sam, "Let's just…give Jionni the benefit of the doubt. We don't know the situation. He has to learn how to take care of his son and Nicole. If after that, he still doesn't make her happy and do what he is supposed to, then we can start to worry."

Sammi notes the look of concern still on Jenni's face and she continues.

"You're just over protective of Nicole and I completely understand it because I feel the same about 'Dee. Hopefully, Jionni and Nicole have a better relationship and will be okay in the end, I think they do. Just be there for Nicole and if the warning signs show up, then express how you feel otherwise I would really leave it be."

Jenni has to listen to Sammi at this point because if she doesn't she will be left to her own devices and she probably will end up making things more awkward than they already are.

She is not apologizing for the things she has said to Jionni but she can at least keep the peace by letting them work this out themselves, for now.

A/N: Time is flying by on Tuesday! So, Deena is really gone. Do you think she'll be back? Do you want her back? Lol. Let's keep it movin...