Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Promised Trips and Introductions
As I picked up the cordless I moved to the study not wanting Erica to hear the conversation. Having meet the Doctor a number of times and having been recently put on Bren's forms as her next of kin when she officially moved in to the house, he was aware that she had granted me access to her medical information. When I explained she was nervous for the results and asked me to hear them first he understood, in our previous phone conversations and in our meeting I'd been the one diligently taking notes, asking questions and clarifying treatment. Bren had spent nine months dealing with her medical issues, she had fatigue from it, she had fatigue from the lack of change.
When he clarified that Art's results indicate that he was getting a little too high a dose, I had a million questions. He would be fine no lasting effects, his last two days of a nauseas belly were the only impacts on him. We were lucky to catch it early enough, it wasn't too high and it wasn't for too long. The treatment for him was to replace his mid morning feed with a bottle until Bren could have her medication brought down. Brenda's results though were not great, there was a slight increase in her readings since her bloods had been run six days prior.
He wanted to change one of her medications, she had been on two of the three in Minnesota but he tried a different blood thinner believing that the three together would be more mild on Art. His thoughts were the new medication was not agreeing with her and was causing her liver to work too hard. He wanted that changed out but first he wanted to give her a few day's off it before the replacement, give any excess in her system time to dissipate. Wednesday afternoon he wanted her to have the test run again and then if there was improvement then she could start the new medication soon after. In the interim she was off blood thinners and while unlikely it did increase her chances of a clot if her blood pressure rises. That was being medically regulated but he still wanted her taking it easy and absolutely no stress while she was off her medication.
When I had asked every conceivable question, I set up her Wednesday blood work and thanked him for his time. I hung up and quickly called David advising him that I couldn't make the meeting tonight, and that I would explain later. I hoped he would still go even without me- he promised he would. I moved back into the lounge room and saw Bren was not in the room and neither were the kids, I quickly explained the situation and then moved to find my girl. She was in her room feeding Art from his bottle and I could hear the shower from the bathroom I share with the kids meaning Erica was in there. I sat on her bed and she could tell from my face her hunch was right.
"I have to stop nursing him."
"No not altogether just his mid morning one, if you want you can still do his lunchtime, afternoon and evening ones. He wants to change out on your medications, he thinks that is why your liver is not bouncing back and why it's taking too long to breakdown your medications. He is hoping that once the change is made you'll have some improvements and then when everything is back in the normal range you can be gradually weaned off them." Her look of exhaustion was clear but this wasn't one of physical tiredness but rather an emotional one. "I know it's been going on a long time and you've had to be really strong but just a little more okay. Can you do a little more?"
She had tear's falling down her cheeks but she nodded. "When this is over I want croissants, butter, fries, ice cream and… oh I can't decide-"
As I reach up and wipe her tears I make her an offer, "how's about when this is over I take you to Paris and Italy and you can indulge in everything your heart desires?" She smiles, "we can celebrate your good health and begin teaching our son French, and I can begin teaching you Italian."
"How many languages can you speak?"
"Fluently only three, but I know enough of a few more to get by and speak to the locals. Jack liked to travel and well Europe was his favourite, he spent a lot of time out leaving me in hotels, if I wanted company I had to learn the language of the place fast." She squeezed my hand, she never liked thinking of me alone like that. "So yes to Europe?"
"What about Erica we couldn't leave her for that long, even when Suzanne has more agreeable hours I can't imagine her not being here in this home or us not seeing her for weeks?"
"I'll talk to Suzanne when the time comes and see if we can bring her along. Though it means if I ever want to take you out at night I'll either need one of our brothers or my mother with us."
"I vote Iris, Steve is likely to cause an international incident and Brandon will probably fall in love, happens every summer he'll be too busy with that to look after the kids even for a night." She rolls her eyes at her twins revolving love life door.
"Okay it's agreed, when this is over we celebrate with Paris and Italy, now we just need to focus on this being over. No blood thinners for the next few days and another blood test on Wednesday afternoon, so unfortunately no sorority meeting."
"You look devastated by that."
"I don't like you around her, I don't trust her with you."
"I'm tougher than I look."
"Believe me I think you're the strongest person I know but it doesn't mean I want you to have to be or that I don't want to protect you from that."
Art had finished his bottle and Bren was now burping him. "Is there anything else I need to know?"
"You'll be off blood thinners for a few day's so you'll need to take it easy and avoid stress."
As she got up to move to Arthur's room with our now dozing son, "I think you are in cahoots with my Doctor, I was asked on another date this week-"
I tried to appear sympathetic but my pleasure at hearing this news was written all over my face. "Sorry Baby it's not good for your health you'll have to cancel."
"You look devastated by that too." I couldn't even hold my less than sympathetic straight face and broke out in a giant smile, she giggled and rolled her eyes.
When I was back on the couch answering all my brother's and Mum's additional questions Erica came into the room in her pyjamas with her hair towelled dry, she had a comb in her hand and sat down in her usual spot. She passed me her comb, and as I started combing her hair she filled me in on tonight's style, "Dylan can you do two braids for me tonight?"
"Sure Sweetheart." As I began doing her hair I continued with the question I had been previously answering, but when my brother's failed to respond I looked up to see their mutual looks of amusement.
"Once you have finished with Erica's hair I'd love some curls please."
Over Erica's head I flicked Steve the bird.
On Monday morning we went to visit Nat and invited him to come stay with us. He was taken aback at first, worried he would be too much, we assured him that a few day's living with us he'll be begging to go home. We turned serious and explained the house size and that Mum was always on the property, she could help him if he needed anything when we were on campus. With tears in his eyes he agreed.
The week flew by with furniture arriving on Monday afternoon, Brandon and I collecting Nat on Wednesday morning, but the best part of the week was the good news on Wednesday night that Brenda's results were starting to go finally down. It was an indication that it was the medication keeping it elevated. She would be off blood thinners a few more day's to give her liver a break but after next Monday's tests she should be able to resume her full treatment with the new script.
When Suzanne asked to postpone dinner in favour of a girls night with Erica on Saturday night, and with Bren doing better she arranged her third date for that night. She had asked for a late dinner so she could put Art down; with her limited nursing schedule she hated even missing one feed.
She had talked to the guy a couple of times this week. Not everyday from what I could tell but enough that I was growing concerned. Our phone never rang so I assume she was still not ready for him to know our details, it was the only comfort I had; I wasn't yet fearing answering our phone and having to talk to him. When she came out after putting Art down for the night in a black mini dress, I nearly lost it.
"Nope."
"Nope, what?"
"You can't wear that."
"Why is there a thread pulled or something on it?" She was so cute that she actually looked down in concern trying to find the problem.
"No it's just too… well you can't look like that unless we are going out together. Even then I'm not sure I'd like that many eyes on you."
She gives me a look of annoyance. "Dylan I'm running late, has this convoluted conversation been your way of saying I look good?"
"It's my way of saying you look sexy as hell, so go change please." Seriously I didn't want anyone seeing her like this. It was far from inappropriate but she was my girl I was not okay with her looking like this to go out with another guy.
She shook her head and then leaned down and kissed my amused mother's cheek and then an equally amused Nat's- traitors. When she walked over behind my couch, she leaned down and kissed my cheek but before she pulled away she leaned down and whispered, "if you think the dress is hot you should see what's underneath it." I was out of my seat chasing her in seconds, when I caught her by the car door she was laughing. "Relax I was joking."
"It's not funny." As she got into the Porsche, I looked at her. "Baby, do I need to be worried yet? Are you getting too far?"
"Dylan I think you should be concerned when I start asking you to stop calling me Baby. I wouldn't be disrespectful to a guy I was seriously dating and let that nickname continue, but I've spent less than four hours with this guy, I don't even know if I like him enough for a fourth date." Thank god.
"Yeah that name is staying. You look amazing and I'm completely uncomfortable with this, but after the stress of the week you've had go have some fun. Call the house if you are too tired to drive back up the hill and I'll come down and get you."
"I could just sleep at my parents."
"I won't sleep well until you're home- please call me." She nods and starts the car. "If you go to a club be mindful of your drink, even a little alcohol on your medication can cause problems."
"You know you are now sounding like my f-"
"Concerned husband. Thank you I'm glad you are starting to picture us married."
"Yeah that's not the title I was going to give you." She is giggling but there is no way she is going on a date looking like that thinking of me even remotely in any other family role. I lean over into the car and whisper, "Baby you in that dress in this car definitely makes the top fifteen hottest moments I've seen you in the Porsche, no maybe top twenty. Don't get me wrong you look incredible, hot, but it's hard to compete with you and me in that passenger seat at the lookout after that first failed attempt at going to a concert together. That night you were practically-"
"Dylan play nice." As I lean back she is blushing. I pick up her hand and kiss the back of it.
"Maybe I should just start chasing now, I don't like the thought of anyone getting close to seeing that blush."
"Dylan."
I give her my smile the one I know she loves and kiss her hand one more time before returning it to the wheel. "Drive safe Baby and have fun, just not too much please."
When I had watched her exit our driveway and the gates were once again closed I walk back into the lounge room. This is a new depth to the circle of hell. I thought Dante had allowed me to skip over the last, that I had avoided treachery because I had finally learnt my mistake, but instead he was keeping me in fraud. Giving me a life that is almost perfect letting me have a taste of heaven, but it's a fraud because as much as I can pretend we are together that we will be married and share that room, we aren't.
"You okay Dylan?"
"Not at all Nat." I sit back in my seat and run my hands through my hair. "How did she do this for months? How could she cope with seeing me with her? I don't even have to live through seeing that, but this is torture. She was pregnant with my child fearing his life and I put her through worse than this, after having ripped all she thought she knew away in that park. She should hate me still."
"Darling Brenda doesn't hate you, I don't even believe back then that she hated you. Hated what you did absolutely, you though, I'm not sure she is capable of that."
"Dylan you know I love you kids, but that was a messed up time. It has been messed up since she left for Paris that summer and until she got back from Minnesota. You kid were in a bad way, you disrespected her terribly even when you were together at the start of the year; openly flirting with Kelly in the restaurant. You were once again the arrogant guy who used to come in during junior high and freshman year, before I had knocked it out of you. It was sad to watch your fall and it was sad to see what it did to the gang, but it was devastating to watch my Laverne go from this confident secure woman to scared, lonely and shy. She shrivelled in front of all our eyes, Willie and I were so worried, but none of you noticed or cared except for Brandon and Steve. I wouldn't be so concerned about what the physical pain of seeing you both together did that can fade, the pain you inflicted on her spirit that's where the real damage has been done. She's still not that Brenda who knows her self worth, who believes in herself."
I take on the words of the most consistent adult in my life, the one who has been a permanent fixture. "How do I convince her of it?"
"Darling you don't, she needs to find it in herself again and this time she needs to have it separate from you. You can't build your self confidence out of the security of a relationship, like you can't build your stability around one whole person."
"Mum are you saying Bren and I were doomed to fail?"
"No I'm saying you would have had to restructure, renovate your relationship eventually to make it capable strong enough to last a lifetime, instead you chose the knock down rebuild method. You just forgot to consult the other owner of the relationship and she was left inside during demolition. She has a few hundred more bruises to heal before she can rebuild with you."
I rub my hand down my face, "so don't give up hope?"
"Dylan I've lived with you both and the kids for a few days. You give up hope I'm going to throttle you. Even if it gets hard just think of Art and Erica, I've never seen Erica like she is here with you both."
I give him a questioning look. "She's quiet with her Mum, and doesn't smile much. Suzanne does all the right things but I don't know, it's not warm."
"She's gone through a lot, losing her home, left with nothing it's been a difficult year for her. Bren hasn't even met her yet. She's been back from Iowa a month and with Erica living with us most of the last six weeks, I know Bren is concerned by her lack of eagerness to meet. I think Suzanne is just really nervous, I mean to invite her up here to meet Brenda and my Mum, I think it's a lot of pressure. I'm sure she is worried about her not being liked and what impact that could have on Erica and her. Family is family though but she is a loner like me, takes a while to accept that."
"If you say so Dylan. Look she is a good worker, polite to the customers and well Brandon say's she has been really helpful taking on openings- the busiest shift of the day and at the expense of having Erica not stay with her. Moving to a new place is hard and people don't handle change well, maybe you are right and she is just struggling to find her feet. Either way kid keep focused on Art and Erica, while you eat your humble pie."
Nat requires a lot of rest still so he eventually moves into the Den for the night. Bren really did make it into a little apartment for him, and when Iris went and collected some of his personal items it has become a place he can potter around when we get too much, watch his old movies and listen to his music. Iris and him have become firm friends, which has been nice for my Mum. With Cindy not coping with Brenda's illness and all her life changes well, it has put a strain on their friendship. Iris and Nat potter around together, he has taken to showing her how to cook the Italian meals and she has him strolling the gardens each day as part of his recovery. It's not romantic in the least but it's a nice thing to watch two important people of mine get along so well.
Bren got home late for us now but before her old Saturday night curfew. She was quiet all morning while we made the usual Sunday morning family breakfast, admittedly the quietness could be due to the lack of Erica. A couple of times Brenda made comment that it doesn't feel like Sunday without the sound of Bugs Bunny. Brenda rang her parents not long after waking up and apologised stating she was too tired to come down for lunch, it gave me pause to look at her and see that in fact she did look exhausted. When I questioned her she said that after a quick meal they went dancing for a few hours, it was fun but she may have over done it. When I asked if she told him, she avoided the response till I pushed.
"Dylan I may be the oldest nineteen year old but I don't want to admit it. The nineteen year old who needs a break whilst the twenty-four year old well twenty-five this week can dance all night."
"He's nearly six years older than us?" Shit that means this guy could be looking to settle down. She nods. "Does he know about your health?"
"He knows I'm on a special diet and that I've been unwell but that's it." I don't know if that news pleases me or annoyes me. She wasn't inviting him into our personal life, she wasn't feeling comfortable enough to be open about her life but in doing so she was potentially putting herself at risk, putting herself in situations where her needs weren't prioritised.
"Okay it's a nice day outside why don't I set up the pool loungers with our school books and Art's pram, we can spend the day by the pool. I'll turn on the spa heater and we can even sit in there for a bit and loosen your muscles."
"You are really going to spend the day helping me recover from my date?"
"I'm really going to spend the day with you and our son in our home. It's a rare occasion where we can spend the whole day here."
That's what we did. Bren got into her swimsuit and beach pants, and I did the same. While Art napped in his pram we did some school readings and Bren eventually had her own cat nap. When he woke we took him into the lukewarm spa. He splashed around having a great time with the two of us. Iris and Nat decided that a BBQ was in order though with chicken as Nat was on strict orders to lay off the red meat for a while. So while we splashed, Nat grilled and Mum made a salad. It was a perfect day but I could tell something was distracting Bren, apart from her tiredness.
When the gate buzzed in the afternoon, I figured it out. Her date had gone well, from the ridiculously large flower arrangement I'd say too well. When I brought them into the house and brought out the card to her she gave me a questioning look.
"There is like three dozen red roses in the house, this is the card."
She looked confused, "Dylan I haven't given anyone our address or phone number."
"Your Father?"
"I don't think he would be that bold to do that, and I think he is very happy keeping you as far away from this as possible. I also think he likes pretending I still live there." I roll my eyes, of course he does.
As she opened the card I tried to avoid looking at her, I didn't want to know if his words were welcomed or not. For the rest of the afternoon I was quiet, reading my book in hopes of distracting my nervous brain. When I got back from picking up Erica the flowers had been moved out of sight. For the next few day's I avoided her room, scared to see if they were in there taking pride of place on her chest of draws.
On Wednesday Bren arrived home early, before I had a chance to meet her on campus for our swap over. Her last lecturer got sick so class was canceled, she came home early so Art wouldn't need to make the trip in. When Iris came in a few minutes later wanting to know if we wanted anything from the shops, Bren stopped her.
"Iris are you okay you don't look well?"
"Just a headache Darling nothing to complain about. Anyway I should go, Nat decided this morning he wanted to have a couple of hours at the restaurant today, Brandon picked him up after you left and I promised to collect him at midday."
"Iris why don't you stay here, Art is sleeping and Dylan will be leaving soon for campus I'll go down the hill and collect him."
"Are you sure Darling?"
"Of course, if you need to lie down feel free to take my bed. Hopefully I'll be back before Art wakes."
As I moved into the Peach Pit I couldn't see my brother or Nat, I assumed they were both out back or at least Nat was, Brandon had class this afternoon on campus he may have left already. I then began looking around in hopes of finally meeting Suzanne but the only waitress I spotted was wearing an embroidered Rachel shirt. This must be the other new waitress that Brandon hired two weeks ago. She was talking to a guy with grey hair across the counter. As most of the counter seats were taken I chose to sit in one of the only two available, it left a spare spot between me and the grey haired guy.
The jute box wasn't currently blasting music which made me free to hear parts of their conversation, though I tried avoiding it by picking up the abandoned newspaper on the counter beside me.
"I think it's time I meet him, and I think you need to meet the rest of them. It will look weird if you don't."
"You are right but I wasn't counting on so many people when I arrived, it just makes everything more complicated. It's going to be a lot more difficult now."
"Suzanne-"
It was the name that I had me looking up, and smiling at the waitress, from her conversation it appeared that this was Kevin and Suzanne. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop but from the context of it all they were discussing Dylan and I, it seemed Dylan was right she was very nervous about meeting us all. Trying to alleviate her worry I gave her a giant smile and interrupted, "hi-"
She turned to face me with a fake smile but it wasn't uncommon on a waitresses face especially after a long shift, though it was uncommon in The Peach Pit. "Miss I'll get to you in a moment."
I tried again keeping my smile firmly in place, "Oh sorry I just-"
"Miss if you can't see I'm with another customer." Okay that tone was a little harsh and the roll of her eyes when looking at Kevin was uncalled for.
It was at that moment the back room doors opened and out walked Nat and Brandon. "Brenda Sweetheart this is a surprise I was expecting Iris to come and collect me." Suzanne instantly began looking around the restaurant trying to determine who Nat was talking to.
"She has a headache so I left her with Art and came to bring you back to the house. It's given me a chance to finally try and introduce myself to Suzanne." With that I looked at the now pale woman.