April Showers
?005 The Angst Guy (theangstguy@yahoo.com)
Daria and associated characters are ?005 MTV Networks
Feedback (good, bad, indifferent, just want to bother me, whatever) is appreciated. Please write to: theangstguy@yahoo.com
Synopsis: A surprise visitor opens the door to chaos in the little world of two Boston college freshmen, two months away from the birth of their child.
Author's Notes: This is the eighth story in the Pause in the Air series, which tells about the lives of Daria Morgendorffer and Jane Lane as two college freshman in Boston梞arried to each other with a child on the way. The details of how this alternate universe came about are given in other Pause in the Air tales, which so far include (in story order): 揚ause in the Air,?揟hanks Giving,?揗oving Day,?揝ilent Night,?揝hock and Aww,?揊amily Affairs,?and 揥rites of Spring.?Readers are assumed to be familiar with the characters of the Daria TV show, so no introductions are used.
牋牋牋牋牋?This being an alternate universe to the mainline Daria series, reasonable chains of consequences are employed, so that past situations referred to herein will not exactly match what happened on the show. For example, the 搇ove triangle?with Tom Sloane here is not like the one everyone recalls, as here Tom and Daria both competed for the affections of Jane, and Daria (who in this world is and always has been gay) won out. 揊amily Affairs?gives the background on the affairs (ahem) of Daria抯 Aunt Rita, but it is not necessary to read that story before reading this one.
Acknowledgements: The beta readers for this story were, in no particular order: Thea Zara, PolemArch, Richard Lobinske (good catch on Quinn and coffee, in 揚ierce Me?, Deref (dang, it was a loupe), Kendra Steiner (don抰 know how I missed all those!), Between the Lines, James 揅INCGREEN?Bowman, Mike Nassour, Crusading Saint, and PolemArch. My thanks to everyone who bugged me over the last six months for another story. Again, it worked. And thanks to Natalie and Isabelle, who wanted their names used in a Daria fanfic. It is done. Now, pay up.
*
牋牋牋牋牋?揓ane??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ack here,?Jane Lane murmured, checking another negative.
牋牋牋牋牋?Footsteps padded slowly down the carpeted hallway from the kitchen of the two-bedroom apartment. In moments, a short, enormously pregnant brunette with large round glasses appeared in the doorway of what had once been the spare bedroom, now a creative room outfitted for one artist and one writer. The brunette抯 abdomen pushed her green Janis Ian nightshirt into a tent shape, almost hiding the badly worn slippers on her feet. 揟hat was weird,?she said. 揘ot long-scream weird, just frowny-face weird.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?The lanky young woman she addressed continued to examine a roll of negatives on a light table, using a loupe magnifier. Her silky black bangs hung down and covered her face. 揥hat was weird??Jane asked without looking up.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hat was Quinn on the phone.?The brunette, her thick hair styled in a shoulder-length bob, pressed both her hands against the small of her back and winced. 揝he asked me some really strange questions.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揊igures. It抯 still April Fool抯 Day today, right??Jane glanced at a nearby clock. 揟hree more hours till midnight. Maybe she wanted to get in a last funny one on you.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t wasn抰 that. She doesn抰 do practical jokes, or never has to me. Not since grade school, anyway. Maybe she only tricks her boyfriends, and I didn抰 mean that the way it sounded. Anyway, she just asked me some weird questions.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane glanced up and fought to hide a smirk. 揟hat抯 what younger sisters are for, I suppose. Did she ask about your sex life??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o. She抎 be too grossed out to ever ask about that.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揗y sex life??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>No.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌er sex life??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抦 going to put on my boots and kick you where you deserve it most.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揟alk, talk, talk. You can抰 even see your feet, much less reach them, so梠kay, whoa. Daria? Come back. Daria, I抣l listen. What was the weird thing??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?The brunette reappeared, glaring and massaging her lower back. The taller girl put down the magnifier and walked over, giving her partner a wrap-around hug from the side, one gentle hand on the other girl抯 bulging abdomen. She planted a kiss on her partner抯 forehead, above her owl-eye frames. 揟alk to me. I抣l be good, I promise.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou hate me,?mumbled the brunette.
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o, I don抰. I couldn抰 even make an April Fool抯 joke about that. I love you.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揕iar. I抦 fat and pregnant and we抳e been in Boston eight months and we don抰 have any friends and we never have fun anymore.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, you抮e not fat. What did Quinn ask about??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria Morgendorffer exhaled, her forehead pressed to the taller girl抯 chest. 揝he asked if we keep in touch with anyone from high school, if we have any friends here we see on a regular basis, if we get out at all, things like that. I got ticked off and told her I have better things to do than be popular, but she keeps at it. It抯 like she抯 rubbing it in.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hat we don抰 have any friends??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧eah, and that she has millions. She always did. Why is she making such a big deal about it now??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou know, truth be told, it抯 not like we make a huge effort to get out and meet people. We抮e both kind of introverted, mostly from all of our schoolwork and . . . well, being introverted, I guess.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou抮e not that introverted. You go running, you talk to people . . .?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抦 not a flaming extravert, either, but I抦 happy where I am in the middle. And we do go places, when we抮e not buried in school projects and studying and going to doctor visits for you and our kid-to-be.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揕ike where? Where抎 we go last??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e went to that park down the street last Sunday, right??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙nly for an hour, and we didn抰 meet anyone there. It was just us.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧our back and feet hurt too much, Sunshine, and it got cold and rainy out. We had to come home early. Spring in Boston gets like that.?Jane pulled back and regarded the top of Daria抯 head, in front of her nose. 揟his is really eating at you.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria shrugged, her face still buried in Jane抯 T-shirt. 揑 must be getting shallow in my old age,?she muttered.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hy, because what she said bugged you??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝ort of.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou抮e bugged that we don抰 have a lot of friends??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揓ane, we don抰 have any friends, here or anywhere. Not real friends. There are people who like us, sure, at school and stores and restaurants and all that, but they抮e not friends. I thought college would be different, that we抎 meet more people we wanted to be around. Or maybe I thought I抎 be different and get out more and meet people, but I抦 not. I抦 not asking for my own fan club. I just wasn抰 planning on being an outcast forever. Present company excluded.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e have Trent.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌e doesn抰 count. He抯 family. And he抯 in Lawndale, half a day away by car.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌e抯 our friend, too.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝till doesn抰 count.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, come on, we have friends here. You抳e got your study groups, and I抳e棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hey抮e not real friends, just acquaintances. When was the last time any of them called us to chat about life or ask us to go see a movie??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane tried to think of an example to the contrary. There was none.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e wanted to have that videogame party, remember??Daria prodded. 揑n the middle of January? We invited twelve people, but no one took us up on it.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e had a few friends in high school,?Jane countered, but her voice held doubt.
牋牋牋牋牋?揙nly Jodie and Mack, really, but I haven抰 heard from them in ages. Have you? They don抰 even e-mail us anymore. Mack抯 got a new girlfriend, and Jodie抯 up to her eyeballs in work and school stuff.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane elected not to probe Daria抯 line of reasoning further. 揇id Quinn ask about anything else when she called??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e talked about some other things, but she抯 asked me about having other friends once before, about a month or so ago. I wish she抎 quit.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揗aybe she抯 just checking up on us to make sure we抮e, you know, getting out, seeing the world, whatever. I抦 sure she doesn抰 mean it in a bad way.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria抯 frown deepened. 揥hy are you sticking up for her??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ecause she抯 a good person, Daria. Quinn抯 stuck up for us when almost no one else would. I bet she talked your mom into being more reasonable about the two of us being together, like last summer when we told your parents we were engaged and getting married in Vermont, and your mother started to lose it and yell until Quinn dragged her off. Your mother was a lot calmer when she came back, remember? Quinn抯 our friend, Daria, probably our best friend. She certainly calls more often than Trent does. Maybe she抯 just worried about you, Sunshine.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria let out a long sigh. 揑 know. I guess it抯 not like we抮e sufficient company for each other, it抯 just that . . . one or two more friends would be okay, someplace else to go once in a while.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane sighed, too, holding Daria close. 揑 know.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抦 not a sunshine.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou抮e the only sunlight in the world that there is.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane felt the warmth of her lover抯 breath through her T-shirt.
牋牋牋牋牋?揙kay,?said Daria, pulling away at last. 揘ow my glasses are all steamed up, and I have to go back to studying.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ait.?Jane held Daria by the arm until the latter turned around, then bent her head. Their eyes closed and their lips met. Jane kept one hand on their baby, the other around the smaller girl抯 back, embracing them both.
牋牋牋牋牋?揕ove you,?whispered Jane when they pulled apart.
牋牋牋牋牋?揕ove you, too.?Daria sniffed and shuffled off, pressing on her lower spine.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane watched her go梐nd wondered why Quinn had asked her the very same questions only three weeks earlier. Why does Quinn care all of a sudden about who our friends are? What was going on with that? She shrugged and turned back to the light table. A lot of work remained in choosing the final photos to go into her 揌andscapes?collection for her still-photography class, due at month抯 end. If the project was good enough, Jane thought she might ask to exhibit it in a local gallery. It was worth a try.
牋牋牋牋牋?What Daria had said was true, though. They weren抰 having much fun lately. There had been a few high points, but a lot of low ones. Nothing disastrous, just a lot of day-to-day drudgery that couldn抰 be avoided, and some tense squabbling over money issues. Once flush with cash thanks to a gift from one of Daria抯 aunts, they again had to watch their finances after paying off their outstanding bills and putting most of the remaining money in savings, promising not to touch it.
牋牋牋牋牋?There was the rent, though, and groceries, medical bills for Daria and the baby, school books and supplies, utility bills, repair bills, gasoline, car tune-ups, and, once in a while, dinner out for the two of them. Part-time jobs helped, but for how long? And Daria, unlike Jane, had never been in good physical shape. The baby was due right at the end of May or early June, and Daria was in constant discomfort or pain.
牋牋牋牋牋?Fun was precious and rare梐nd there was no one else to share it with.
牋牋牋牋牋?Why does it matter that we don抰 have any friends here? Or that we never did? We抮e fine company for each other. We were always outcasts梟ot actually of our own choosing at first, though we did get to like it. Or so we told ourselves. Jane frowned, trying to recall any moment at any time when she felt she had a true friend other than Daria or Jane抯 brother, Trent. Well, maybe Tom Sloane, but she had dated him only briefly. They hadn抰 become terribly close, and most of her conversations with him revolved around what Daria had said and done lately. Tom always got that glazed look when Jane started in about Daria. He had said once that Daria had no sex appeal, and he wouldn抰 be surprised if she was gay.
牋牋牋牋牋?Of course, he抎 been dead right, but about the latter part only. Unknown to Tom, Jane thought Daria had enormous sex appeal, and it had scared Jane out of her wits until she surrendered to it at last. I guess I think nerdy cynical girls are hotter than rich cynical guys. Guess I got the nerdiest one of all, but also the coolest and the best梬hen she isn抰 in such a bad mood. Can抰 blame her, though, going through all that pain. Wonder what I抣l be like when I get pregnant. If, I meant if I get pregnant. Why did I think when?
牋牋牋牋牋?Forget it. I抦 way off topic. Must be really
tired. Maybe we don抰 really want friends screwing up our private life.
牋牋牋牋牋?But one or two wouldn抰 have been
bad. That would have been okay.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane sighed, studying the light table, then bent down with the loupe magnifier in her fingers and began checking the next series of negatives. She wished she could have given Daria a little prank today, for April Fool抯 sake. As stressful as things were for her partner, though, it was better to play it straight.
牋牋牋牋牋?An hour later, getting ready for bed, she discovered Daria had soaped her toothbrush. Retaliation followed, and they went to bed laughing. The rest of the week, though, was quite dull and dragged by without incident梟o good incidents, anyway.
牋牋牋牋牋?Then came the weekend.
*
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane jerked awake. The doorbell was going off. And it was a Saturday.?She groaned and rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock, in the dim light filtering through the closed blinds. Ten a.m.? Ten a.m.?!?! Who in the flaming hell was waking them up at ten in the morning on a bleeding?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝hit,?mumbled Daria, rolling on her back. 揥hat the f棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抣l get it,?Jane interrupted, fumbling for the edge of the bed. 揝tay in bed.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋et a knife, the big knife in the kitchen, and get rid of them.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 will, mia capo di tutti capi.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria pulled the quilt over her head.
牋牋牋牋牋?Wearing only shorts because their new quilt tended to get them overheated even in the coldest weather, Jane pulled on a bathrobe, then stumbled down the hall to the front door, trying to scratch her butt through the robe and wondering how she would ever get back to sleep. She reached the door and got up on tiptoe to peek through the spy hole.
牋牋牋牋牋?In the fisheye view through the spy hole, a giant plush bear with blue fur rocked from side to side.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat the??Jane said aloud, wide eyed.
牋牋牋牋牋?A hand-lettered sign appeared in front of the bear: SURRENDER, EARTHLING! IT扴 PARTY TIME!
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ho is it??Jane called, completely confused.
牋牋牋牋牋?The bear and sign moved aside. Someone stepped in front of the spy hole, only inches away, grinning broadly. This particular someone had long orange-red hair and the cutest nose to grace the halls of Lawndale High School.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane pulled back in astonishment. ?i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Quinn??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o Quinn here!?said Quinn Morgendorffer. She ducked, and the giant blue bear reappeared and stuck a lifelike eye to the spy hole to peer back at Jane.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane pulled her robe belt tighter, then unlocked the door and opened it enough to peek around with the security chain on. 換uinn, what the hell . . . what is that??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂 bear,?said Quinn, holding the giant bear. She wore a long beige coat, boots, and a colorful scarf. 揇id I wake you up??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揢h, doesn抰 matter now. I抦 up.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揓ane??came Daria抯 voice from back in the apartment. 揥ho is it??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝hhh!?Quinn whispered. 揙pen the door, quick! Hurry!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Too sleepy and confused to think of anything wiser to do, Jane undid the security chain and let Daria抯 younger sister in. Holding the bear, Quinn rushed past her into the apartment, while Jane closed and locked the door.
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria抯 startled shriek sounded from the bedroom, followed by laughter. 揙ops!?said Quinn. 揇idn抰 mean for the bear to catch you bare, sis! I brought this for Junior Morgendorffer-Lane. Here you go. He can sit on the blankets and protect your virtue, ha ha. Oh, I love your hair. When did you have it cut??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?換uinn, what are you doing here??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌appy to see me? Wait, don抰 answer that. Your hair looks like Mom抯, now. Nice. I drove in last night and got a room at that Super Sixty motel down the road.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ait梒an we talk after I get some clothes on??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, my God, look at you! You抮e what, eight weeks away? Let me see!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?換uinn, please, let me get showered and dressed!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揅ome on, I抳e seen your belly before!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Quinn!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, be that way. See you in a few minutes!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn came back out of the bedroom with a toss of her orange mane. 揓ane, could you get the door for me when I get back? I have to get some stuff out of the car.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝ure.?Jane brushed her tangled bangs from her face, trying to get her thoughts in order. 揢m . . . do you want coffee??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, um, noncaffeinated herbal tea if you抳e got it, any flavor. Coffee gives you those dark eye circles, you know. Oh棓 Quinn enveloped Jane in a brief but heartfelt hug. 揋ood to see you, sis-in-law. When I get back, I抣l pick up around here.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揚ick up??Jane scanned the kitchen and living room, across which were scattered used glasses and mugs, crumb-filled plates, school papers, books, newspapers, breakfast-bar wrappers, sofa pillows, pages torn out of magazines, photographs and sketches, afghans, CDs and DVDs out of their boxes, piles of socks and shoes, and an empty pizza box. 揚ick up what??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揤ery funny. Be right back!?Quinn unlocked the apartment door and left.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane closed the door again and started making tea. She heard Daria stamp into the bathroom and slam the door, locking it.
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn kicked on the front door long before the tea was done. Jane let her in, staring at the assortment of large shopping bags Daria抯 sister brought in with her. 揇id you rob a mall, or what??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揓ust about. Where抯 Daria??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑n the shower.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋ood. Let me pick up in here before she gets out. You two need a maid service.?Quinn set the bags aside near the door. 揥here can I put my coat??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抣l take it. Why exactly are you here? I mean, we抮e glad to see you, but棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揟ell you in a minute.?Quinn started throwing trash into the pizza box, moving through the living room like a snowplow. 揧our apartment looks just like Daria抯 room back home, you know? Except it抯 more like a landfill now and there抮e no pictures of skeletons on the wall.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揗aybe you have something there,?said Jane, hanging Quinn抯 coat in a closet. 揃ones might brighten the place up.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌a, ha. Do you have a trashcan??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?換uinn, you don抰 have to do棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揧es, I do,?said Quinn, all business. 揟rashcan, please.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane got the trashcan from under the kitchen sink. 揘ow, shoo,?said the redhead, taking the can and waving her off. 揋o put some clothes on. It抯 cold in here. You should wear socks on your feet, at least. Why aren抰 you two wearing something more substantial at night, like flannel??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e bought a quilt, and it gets pretty hot under there,?said Jane.
牋牋牋牋牋?The corners of Quinn抯 mouth twitched upward in a smile. 揑抣l bet,?she said. 揝pare me the details. Now, away with you. Give me, oh, twenty, thirty minutes, then come back. Got it??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ell . . .?Still not fully awake, Jane retreated to the bedroom and shut the door behind her. She stopped, then. 揥hat the hell am I doing??she asked herself. 揟his is our apartment! She抯 just a visitor! How can she . . . she can抰 just . . . oh, forget it.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Grabbing some clothes, she made her way to the bathroom and knocked until Daria let her in.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat is she doing here??Daria hissed, a long green towel pressed to her bulging front as her shower-soaked hair dripped everywhere. 揂nd why are you in here??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he told me to leave,?said Jane. 揑 didn抰 have anywhere else to go.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>What? Damn it, she can抰 do that! And you can抰 do that! She has to梱ou?i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>oh!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane started to explain, but Daria turned and got back into the shower, shutting the curtains so hard they almost came down.
牋牋牋牋牋?They finished dressing some time later in a calmer state. 揟he Spanish Inquisition can stay until lunch,?Daria said, keeping her voice low as she dried her hair with a towel, 揵ut she has to go back to the motel right after that. I have to go to the library for a few hours before next week抯 tests. Maybe we can do dinner out tonight, if she doesn抰 mind going Dutch and eating somewhere cheap. Really cheap.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揗aybe she could stay this afternoon, since I抣l be in the creative room working on棓 Jane intercepted Daria抯 glare 摋okay, fine, whatever. We抣l work it out.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 can抰 believe she would barge right into our apartment like it she was walking into my room back home,?Daria grumbled, and she snapped on the blow dryer and ended all further conversation.
牋牋牋牋牋?Thirty minutes later, both girls emerged in their casual weekend clothes: jeans, blue sweater, and boots for Jane, rust-red maternity dress and comfortable sneakers for Daria. 揑抣l take care of this,?whispered Daria, who took the lead as they walked up the hallway to the living room. 揥e抣l棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揝URPRISE!?yelled Quinn, flinging a double handful of brilliant confetti. The glittering rainbow cloud covered the startled Daria and Jane in an instant and stuck to their clothes and hair. Quinn stood in a spotless living room, all cushions in place on the sofa and all CDs and DVDs back in their cases. Hanging on the wall over the sofa was an enormous paper banner: HAPPY BABY SHOWER DAY! On the wall across from it was another banner: EIGHT WEEKS AND COUNTING! YOU GO, GIRLS!
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat??said Daria, mouth open. 揥hat??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t抯 your baby shower!?Quinn enveloped her sister in a hug. 揋awd, did you think I抎 forget or something? I mean, really!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揃aby shower??said Daria, bewildered. 揊or what??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揇uh! For the baby, genius, and for both of you!?Quinn reached over and pulled Jane into the hug as well, almost squashing Daria in a sandwich between the two taller girls. 揅ongratulations! He抯 a very lucky kid to have parents like you.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane and Daria both stiffened. 揧ou said 慼e,挃 said Daria in shock.
牋牋牋牋牋?揧eah! You抮e having a boy, right? Mom thought you were because of all the questions you were asking about what it was like when she was pregnant. She didn抰 think you were having a girl. Am I right? Do you know, yet??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e棓 said Jane, pulling back.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e don抰 really棓 said Daria.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e haven抰棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e桰 thought that she棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, boy,?said Jane.
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 am going to kick Mom right in the butt!?said Daria, her voice full of promise. 揑 never said that I was棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat, are you having a girl??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o!?said Daria. 揑t抯梬ait! We抮e keeping it a secret!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揊orget about secrets when I抦 around,?said Quinn, directing the two to the sofa. 揌ere, sit down. The party抯 started, and we have to play a few games before you get棓
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Games??Daria抯 voice suddenly had a dangerous edge to it.
牋牋牋牋牋?摋before you get your presents,?finished Quinn. 揝it. Sit down. There you go. Okay, now, I抦 no good at Scrabble or any of that other dull dork-brain stuff, so we抮e going to do something fun: charades!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?換uinn棓 Daria began, struggling to get up again.
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou still like peanut brittle, sis??asked Quinn.
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria immediately subsided. 揥hat does that have to do with anything??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane put a hand on Daria抯 arm. 揗aybe Quinn has some peanut brittle,?she said.
牋牋牋牋牋?揗aybe Quinn does,?said Quinn. 揧ou could stand to play a little game for that, right? Hmmm??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria groaned in defeat. 揧ou抎 better not be lying,?she warned.
牋牋牋牋牋?揘ow, we抮e not going to do regular old charades,?said Quinn. 揃oooring. I抦 going to act like the person . . . ah, the person in whose name each gift is given, okay? And you have to guess who it is!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria looked confused. 揟he person in whose name??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揓ust play along, Daria. It won抰 kill you. Not this time, anyway.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂re you the only one here for this??asked Jane. 揑s anyone else outside in the hall or the parking lot waiting to get in??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?For the first time, Quinn抯 self-assurance seemed to slip. 揢h, no. They, uh . . . everyone else was busy, and it was a long drive.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria wrinkled her nose. 揘ot even Mom and Dad? I can抰 believe that Mom at least wouldn抰 come. On the other hand, if she had a big legal case to manage棓
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn shrugged and looked at the floor for a moment. 揕ots of things are going on, you know. Tax time, that sort of棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, no,?breathed Daria. She clapped a hand to her forehead, eyes squeezed shut. 揙h, crap! I forgot that we have to file棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou still have a week left!?Quinn said quickly. 揑抣l even help you get your stuff together! Mom showed me how to do it years ago!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 can do it,?said Daria, struggling to get up, 揵ut I have to棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o, sit,?said Quinn, her command self returning. 揝tay here. Seriously.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 can抰 believe I forgot to file our taxes!?Daria turned to glare at Jane. 揂nd I can抰 believe you didn抰 remember, either!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 forgot, okay??Jane snapped, feeling a prickling on the back of her neck. 揥e both forgot! We抳e had so much棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ut if you had remembered, we could have棓
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Stop it!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria and Jane broke off to stare at Quinn, who towered over them. Daria抯 sister raised a fist from which bits of glitter fell. 揙ne more word, and I抣l throw this at both of you! Okay, good. That抯 better. I抣l do your taxes later! Tonight! Don抰 argue! Right now, we抮e having a party.?Quinn dumped the handful of glitter back into a sack behind her, then dusted off her hands and walked over to the apartment door to pick up one of the oversized shopping bags. Jane noticed that a huge black plastic bag sat by the door, filled with trash that had once graced the living room and kitchen.
牋牋牋牋牋?揙kay,?said Quinn, her voice almost back to normal, 搇et抯 see what we have here.?She began looking through the bag, then pulled out a large gaily wrapped package the size of a large boom box. She put this on the floor in front of her and straightened. 揌ere we go. See if you can guess who this is.?She began to pretend that she had something in the palm of one hand, which she picked up between the thumb and index finger of the other hand. Her fingers made back and forth motions, as if rolling something between them.
牋牋牋牋牋?揂 marble??said Daria, looking as if she couldn抰 believe she was doing this. 揂 cigar? A dried-up booger??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn looked disgusted and shook her head no.
牋牋牋牋牋?揂 coin??said Jane. Quinn nodded rapidly. 揂 . . .?Jane began, then leaned forward, a look of shock on her face. 揧ou抮e kidding me, right? Penny? My sister??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋ot it!?Quinn picked up the bulky package and handed it over. 揋o ahead, open it. You got it!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Penny sent this??said Jane, incredulous. 揝he was in Paraguay, I thought!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 didn抰 say getting in touch with her was easy,?said Quinn in a guarded tone.
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ut how did you get in touch with her? How抎 you get the money??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂s for the first棓 Quinn shrugged 摋that抯 for me to know. And there are wire transfers, of course.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria was already tearing the wrapping off. 揋od bless America,?she said in a deadpan. 揇iapers. Ultra-Absorber Disposables, package of thirty, medium size, with tape-on strips.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e haven抰 bought any diapers yet,?said Jane after a moment. 揥e were waiting another month until . . . well, that worked out pretty well. Thanks.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 didn抰 know what size to get,?said Quinn, 揵ut those should cover a good range. You weren抰 going to go the cloth diaper route, were you??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>No!?said Daria and Jane, repulsed.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hen, there you go!?said Quinn in a cheery tone. 揌aven抰 you two gotten any diapers at all by now? You抮e going to be crying for them in two months. My favorite nephew will be, anyway.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e抳e . . . we抳e not . . . we抳e been a little behind on things like this,?admitted Jane. 揥e抳e been focusing so much on her diet and schoolwork and all that, and we sort of, um . . . whatever.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hew!?Quinn shook her head. 揋ood thing I抦 here. Okay, next棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揌ow much stuff do you have there??asked Jane. 揌ow many people were in on this little surprise party of one??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?That look of unease again crossed Quinn抯 face. She licked her lips and cleared her throat.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ait a minute,?said Daria. 揥as this why you were asking me about my friends, who we knew, all that stuff? When you called a few days ago??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揢h, yeah, that was it. You wouldn抰 believe how many people I had to call.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌ow many people did you call??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揇aria,?said Quinn, wagging a finger, 揹on抰 pry.?She pulled out a smaller box from the shopping bag and put it on the floor by her shoes. 揙kay, next one.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ait a minute棓 Jane began.
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn ignored her and began to pantomime wearing a big floppy hat, adjusting the invisible brim with her fingers.
牋牋牋牋牋?揌at??said Daria. 揅ousin Hat? Do we even have a Cousin Hat??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝omeone who wears a hat??asked Jane. 揃ig brimmed hat??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hat would be Aunt Rita,?said Daria slowly, 揵ut she棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ingo!?yelled Quinn. 揥e have a winner! Hey, don抰 look so surprised!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揜ita??Daria turned to Jane. They had discovered only weeks earlier that Daria抯 Aunt Rita was having a secret affair with another woman梬ho had turned out to be Jane抯 oldest sister, Summer. Rita had paid the girls off to keep the affair a secret, and the remains of her bribe were now in the Morgendorffer-Lane joint savings account.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane shrugged. 揝ome gifts just keep on giving, I guess.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat do you mean??asked Quinn.
牋牋牋牋牋?揘othing,?said Jane and Daria together. Jane opened the present. 揙h!?she said, showing the bottle to Daria. 揗assage lotion!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揊or me or you??said Daria. 揙r is this massage lotion for the baby? And how are you planning to put it on him right now??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t抯 for both of you!?said Quinn. 揧ou can give each other foot rubs! Don抰 tell me about anything else you do with it. Read the label first.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揊oot rub.?Daria looked meditative. 揊oot rub. Foot . . . rub.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou first,?said Jane, 揵ut I want one, too.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou抮e not the one carrying your baby,?said Daria, giving Jane the eye.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane sighed.
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ut I might give you one if you抮e good,?Daria added. 揜eally good.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂s in good for nothing??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揚lay to your strengths, I say.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揜eady for another??asked Quinn, who didn抰 wait for an answer. She pulled out another gift and began to pantomime again.
牋牋牋牋牋?An hour later, Quinn sat on a chair pulled in from the kitchen while Jane sat on the sofa and rubbed Daria抯 bare feet. Daria lay on her back on the sofa, with an arm over her face, confetti in her hair, and peanut brittle crumbs on her dress. Her eyeglasses had been tossed onto a side table. The three were surrounded by nineteen opened presents, mounds of torn-up wrapping paper, extra confetti, and several empty soft-drink cans.
牋牋牋牋牋?揌ow抯 Lawndale??Jane asked, working on Daria抯 tiny right foot. It was easier to massage than her left, given Daria抯 position on the couch.
牋牋牋牋牋?揈h. Same old, same old. I can抰 wait to get to Pepperhill in the fall. California抯 going to rock. Sandi抯 going to Lawndale State and major in business, Stacy decided to go to a technical school and help out her dad at his car shop, and Tiffany抯 undecided, as always. She抯 trying to get some modeling gigs in Baltimore, but not much has come up.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane shrugged, deep in thought. 揥as Penny doing okay when you talked to her??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, yeah, she was fine.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hat抯 so weird. I never hear from her梠r anyone else. She still in Paraguay??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揢h . . . yeah.?Quinn coughed and looked away. 揝till there. Loves it. She goes down to the beach every chance she gets. Sure loves the ocean!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane looked at Quinn oddly and was on the verge of saying something when she changed her mind. 揟eachers at high school still the same??she asked instead.
牋牋牋牋牋?揝ame as always. DeMartino had another heart attack a month ago and he hasn抰 come back. Ms. Li said he had a bypass. I think they抮e going to replace him.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揇amn. He was just about the only smart one, except for Ms. Defoe.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧eah. You抣l be seeing a lot more of her soon, won抰 you??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane cocked her head. 揥hat? Why??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Because, silly.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane抯 look of confusion deepened.
牋牋牋牋牋?Now Quinn looked puzzled. 揧ou didn抰 hear? No one called you??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揅alled about what??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn sat upright. 揝teel yourself. Ms. Defoe抯 getting married.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane radiated amazement. Her hands stopped massaging Daria抯 feet. 揘o shit. I can抰 believe it. Well, good for her, I guess. Who抯 the lucky guy??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn coughed again. 揧our big brother. Wind.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?There was exactly one second of silence, during which Jane抯 eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. 揥HAT?!?she shouted, waking Daria. 揌E WHAT?!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揅alm down!?said Quinn, half rising from her chair.
牋牋牋牋牋?揅ALM DOWN?!?Jane continued, her shouts audible on the street outside. 揅ALM DOWN? THAT BASTARD!!! HE扴 GOING TO MARRY CLAIRE DEFOE? OVER MY COLD, DEAD, STARVING ARTIST BODY HE WILL!!!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揓eez Louise!?yelled Daria, grabbing for her glasses and putting them on. 揥hat are you screaming about??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌E扴 NOT EVEN DIVORCED FROM KATIE YET!!!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧eah, Jane, he is!?said Quinn. 揅alm down, okay??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂UGH!!!?Jane grabbed the bangs above her eyes with both hands and pulled, her head back and teeth clenched in a horrid grimace.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat抯 going on, damn it??Daria yelled. 揟alk to me!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌er brother Wind is marrying Claire Defoe,?said Quinn. 揇on抰 freak on me.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria looked as though Quinn had grown two new heads, right in front of her. 揘o way. Tell me this is an April Fool抯 joke, please. I抣l kill you for it, but at least it will be a joke. Please tell me棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揇aria, I抦 sorry, but this is the truth. They抮e getting married in June.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, my God.?Daria fell back on the sofa pillows. 揙h, my God. When did they decide this??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn gave a half laugh. 揟hey announced it right before I left home last night. It was in the Lawndale paper, Dad told me. I thought you two already knew.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?換uinn . . . Quinn, no one ever calls us except you and Mom and Dad and Trent! That抯 it! We don抰 hear from anyone else!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h.?Quinn looked quite sad. 揘o one called you at all??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揊orget it.?Daria put her arm back over her face. 揇oesn抰 matter.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane dropped her hands in her lap, on top of Daria抯 feet. 揥hat the hell,?she said in defeat. 揑t抣l probably be good for her.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋etting married??asked Quinn.
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o, getting her first divorce. Wind can抰 keep a marriage going to save his life.?Jane rubbed her mouth. 揑 can抰 believe Trent didn抰 call me. Maybe he didn抰 know, either.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 don抰 think he knew,?said Quinn. 揌e didn抰 say anything to me棓 She flinched and shut her eyes.
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou talked to Trent??said Jane, pouncing. 揟rent was in on this party, too, wasn抰 he??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn opened her eyes again, making a face. 揧eah. He wanted it to be a secret. He helped me pick . . . I mean, he helped collect棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t was just you and Trent doing this, right? Just the two of you, and no one else??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>No. There were other棓
牋牋牋牋牋?換uinn,?said Jane in a gentle but firm voice, 揑 don抰 know a lot of geography, but I do know that Paraguay is nowhere near the ocean. It抯 landlocked in the middle of South America. And Penny never talks to anyone when she抯 away, unless she needs money. She never gives it.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria moved her arm and eyed her sister, puzzled.
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h,?said Quinn. Her shoulders slumped, and she buried her face in her hands, elbows on her knees.
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou said these gifts were in honor of people in our families,?said Daria, 揳nd a few people we knew, but you never actually said . . .?She suddenly regarded her sister in astonishment. 揧ou bought all these things with your own money, not theirs.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn sighed but did not look up. 揟rent helped. He couldn抰 come because he caught the flu two days ago. He has another present for you, but it was too big for me to bring this time.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria turned her head to scan the abundance of riches around her: new fleece-lined slippers, a baby photo album with camera, flavored lipsticks and art supplies for Jane, a framed picture of Daria and Jane together in high school, baby clothes and shoes, and gift certificates for free gasoline, dinners out to local restaurants, books, groceries?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, my God,?Daria whispered. 揧ou must have spent棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揕et it go,?said Quinn tiredly.
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ut why??Daria took her feet from Jane抯 lap and managed to sit upright on the sofa. 揥hy all this now??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ecause you needed a baby shower,?said Quinn, raising her head. Her eyes were wet and red. 揧ou抮e supposed to get a baby shower. All mothers do.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揇idn抰 anyone else help out??said Jane. 揙r am I asking a really stupid question??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn exhaled heavily and dropped her head.
牋牋牋牋牋?揌ow many people did you call??asked Daria. 揜eally??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn shook her head.
牋牋牋牋牋?揅ome on, Quinn. Tell me.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?After wiping her eyes, Quinn took a breath but did not look up. 揂bout sixty-five. Except for family, it was almost impossible to get any of them. They don抰 answer their phones, they don抰 write back even with e-mail, nothing. A couple said they might send something, but they never did. Jodie, I think, put something in the mail to you, or she will after she gets back from her student conference in San Diego. Everyone抯 got their own lives, school or work or whatever. Some are still doing their taxes.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane and Daria stared at her. 揥hat about our families??asked Jane. 揧ou said Trent did, but . . . didn抰 anyone else contribute??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn wiped her eyes again and glanced at her watch. 揂nyone hungry for lunch??she said, getting up from her seat. 揧ou both still like pizza, right??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ell, yeah,?said Daria, 揵ut we don抰 have anything in the frig, and I was . . . I was going to go to . . . oh, screw it, I can study later. Want to go out? Um, our treat??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hat won抰 be necessary,?said Quinn. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a miniature cell phone, which she flipped open. Keying in a speed-dial number, she put the phone to her ear and turned away. 揌i,?she said after a pause. 揟his is Quinn Morgendorffer. Bring it on, we抮e ready. Right, same address I gave earlier. Great, see you then.?She snapped the phone shut and turned back to Daria and Jane. 揕unch is on its way.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat??said Jane and Daria in unison.
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t抯 being catered,?said Quinn. 揟hey抣l be here in fifteen minutes. Would you excuse me? I have to go to the bathroom and fix my makeup.?Without waiting for an answer, she left the room. The bathroom door shut behind her moments later.
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria and Jane looked at each other, then looked around at their gifts.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟here must be over a thousand dollars worth of stuff here,?said Jane in an awestruck voice. 揇id she loot her college fund??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t抯 more like twelve hundred dollars,?said Daria. 揑 was keeping count. I can抰 believe she did this. It doesn抰 make sense.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat, that she抎 spend all that money on us??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧eah, but it抯 more than that.?Daria turned and looked in the direction Quinn had gone. 揝omething抯 wrong.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑s Quinn okay??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 meant in a bigger sense. Something抯 big-time wrong. The last time Quinn was this nice to me, really being nice, was when . . .?Daria struggled again to get off the sofa. 揌elp me up! Quick!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?With Jane抯 assistance, Daria got to her feet and waddled at a quick pace down the hallway to the bathroom door. She raised a fist to knock?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?梐nd stopped. Behind the door, Quinn was crying.
牋牋牋牋牋?換uinn??Daria called. 換uinn, can I come in??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?There was no response. Twelve minutes later, the doorbell rang.
*
牋牋牋牋牋?Conversation was subdued while Natalie the caterer was present. Lunch was magnificent: Daria抯 current favorite pizza, Jane抯 all-time favorite type of breadsticks, and every sort of appetizer the two had ever liked. The wealth of leftovers barely fit into the refrigerator afterward.
牋牋牋牋牋?As the caterer cleaned up, Jane looked at the business card she was handed: Natalie and Isabelle抯 Anytime Anywhere Catering. She made a mental note to use them for Daria抯 birthday that fall and put the card away.
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抎 better go back to the motel and change,?said Quinn in a subdued tone, looking at the front door after the caterer was gone. 揥e have dinner reservations at seven, if that抯 okay with you. I抣l drive. I抣l do your taxes when we get home, if you have the forms. Maybe we can download them from the Internet.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?換uinn,?said Daria. She took her sister by the arm. 揑t抯 time to talk.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?A headshake from Quinn. 揘o. No, it isn抰.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou have to talk to us. Something抯 going on, I know it.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 don抰 want to talk.?Quinn pulled free and started for the door. 揑抣l take the trash to the dumpster on my way out.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria caught Quinn by the hand and gently pulled her back. She then planted the palm of Quinn抯 hand flat against her pregnant belly.
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou wanted to see it,?Daria said in a quiet voice. 揌ere it is.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Mesmerized, Quinn looked down at Daria抯 abdomen. Her hand pressed against it, and her face changed. 揑 can feel him moving,?she said. Her face worked. Tears ran in streams down her cheeks.
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria took one arm, Jane got the other, and they pulled Quinn to the overstuffed sofa and sat her down between them. They waited until Quinn抯 sobs had ceased and she wasn抰 using up all the tissues.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟he last time you were really nice to me, the overboard sort of nice,?said Daria, 搘as last year when Mom and Rita were fighting, and you called Aunt Amy and she came over and they all started fighting like buttheads. You told me you were afraid you and I would turn out that way, but we didn抰. And we won抰. And Mom and Rita and Amy made up and everything came out okay, right??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn stared at Daria with a drawn, empty face.
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria frowned. 揜ight? They made up, right??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn shook her head slowly from side to side.
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h,?said Daria, her face falling. 揙h, no. What happened??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 don抰 want to say it,?Quinn whispered. 揑t抯 really bad.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Something in her sister抯 voice made Daria shiver.
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t can抰 be that bad,?said Jane. 揕ook at my family. Everyone抯 run off to the corners of the earth, except my idiot oldest brother whom I am going to kill the next棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揇on抰 say that,?said Quinn, turning to her. 揌e抯 still your brother.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌e抯 . . . okay, I was kidding. I was. Sort of. What抯 wrong, Quinn??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn leaned back on the sofa and ran her hands through her long hair. She took a deep breath. 揋randma Barksdale is dying,?she said.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane looked up at Daria in horror. To her surprise, Daria merely looked puzzled.
牋牋牋牋牋?揋randma Barksdale is always dying,?Daria said. 揟hat抯 all I ever hear about her, but she still has the time to call everyone on the phone and moan about棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he went into a vegetative coma Tuesday,?said Quinn woodenly. 揗om and Rita and Amy are with her. Mom didn抰 want to call you because she was afraid of how you抎 take it, with the baby and all. She called me on my cell phone last night from the nursing home and said this is it. Grandma Bee抯 vital signs are falling.?She inhaled again. 揋randma had a DNR order written for herself. They didn抰 put in a feeding tube.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揇NR??asked Jane.
牋牋牋牋牋?搼Do Not Resuscitate,挃 said Daria. 揑抦 sorry to hear this, Quinn, but you and I have hardly ever seen Grandma Bee, and it抯 not like she抯 been the best influence on the family. Mom and Rita and Amy still fight over all that crap they went through in childhood, claiming Rita was the loved and favored one. Why is this such a . . .?Daria stopped, her face clearing in shock. 揙h, no. Don抰 tell me. The will.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn nodded. 揋randma Bee goofed up and left a copy of her final will on the bedside table, after meeting with her lawyer two weeks ago.?Her voice dropped toward a whisper. 揂my found it and called Mom. Grandma Bee changed her will.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, shit.?Daria put both her hands over her face. 揙h, shit.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane looked on, aghast. 揑 get it now,?she said.
牋牋牋牋牋?揕et me guess who she left most or all of her money to,?said Daria. She fell back against the sofa. 揕et me try to guess. Name begins with an 慠??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧es, but there抯 more,?said Quinn. 揑抦 sorry, I really am.?She reached over and put a hand on Daria抯 belly, staring across the room at a bookcase.
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria抯 hand came up and covered Quinn抯. 揟here抯 going to be a will contest,?Daria said. 揗om and her sisters are going to tear each other into bloody pieces in court like hyenas fighting over a dead antelope.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧es,?said Quinn. 揑t抯 already started.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋od, no.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抦 sorry to ask this,?murmured Jane, looking embarrassed, 揳nd this is probably going to make me look like a totally heartless ass, but how much money are we talking about here??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria looked at Quinn, who shrugged. 揂bout three and a half million,?said Quinn, matter-of-factly. 揃efore the lawyer抯 fees, taxes, and other bills get paid.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane jammed a fist into her mouth, biting down before she could say a word.
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 thought it was two and a half,?said Daria.
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he picked some good stocks in the nineties,?Quinn said.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hree and a half. They抣l kill each other for that, especially if Rita gets the lion抯 share.?Daria lay with her eyes shut. 揟his is really bad. This can抰 possibly get worse.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧es, it can,?Quinn whispered.
牋牋牋牋牋?揇on抰 say that. How could it possibly get worse than this, Quinn??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋randma Bee . . . she cut you out of the will.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Dead silence.
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria pulled her hand away from Quinn抯 and opened her eyes.
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn immediately grabbed for Daria抯 hand again.
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he what??said Daria.
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he cut you out,?Quinn said in a high, tense voice. 揝pouses aren抰 accounted for in the will anyway, because Rita got divorced so often, but Grandma抯 leaving forty percent to Rita, twenty to our cousin Erin, fifteen each to Mom and Amy, and ten to me.?She drew an immediate breath. 揂nd I抦 splitting my share with you. I抳e already told Mom that. I抦 giving you half of my share, but she said棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he cut me out??Daria repeated. 揂nd the baby??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧es.?Quinn抯 face was white. 揃oth of you.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria tried again to pull away from Quinn抯 grip, her voice rising to a shout. 揥hy, because I抦 a pregnant dyke? Is that it? Because I抦 a goddamn pregnant dyke who married her best friend and got inseminated and is just trying to be happy? My baby and I are abominations to her, and this is her revenge, to throw us out? Is Grandma Bee also the one who gave Mom her big attitude problem about Jane and me??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抦 giving you half of my share!?Quinn yelled, not letting go. 揧ou抮e getting the goddamn money! I抦 not letting her tear us apart, do you hear me??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria was off the couch in seconds, without help from anyone. Quinn stood up as well, but Daria jerked her hand away from her sister and left the room. The bedroom door then slammed down the hall.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane saw the life run out of Quinn抯 slim frame. She got up as well. 換uinn棓 she began.
牋牋牋牋牋?Without warning, Quinn picked up a soda can and threw it across the room. ?i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Shit!?she screamed. The empty can banged harmlessly into the wall over the dining table and rolled into the kitchen. Quinn then ran to the closet, grabbed her coat, and was out the door and gone.
*
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane was alone for an hour. After doing nothing for the first ten minutes, she carefully cleaned up in the living room, took out all the trash, saw no sign of Quinn in the parking lot, and arranged all of the baby-shower gifts on the dining table when she got in again. Calling Quinn抯 cell phone proved useless, as it was turned off. She left three messages for Quinn to call back, tried without success to get Daria to come out, then sat down in a chair. She could think of nothing else to do.
牋牋牋牋牋?揇amn all of this,?she muttered. 揇amn it to hell.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Restless, she got up and got into the refrigerator, picking at the leftovers of the giant-sized pineapple-and-barbecued-chicken pizza, one of Daria抯 more pronounced cravings. It wasn抰 bad. It didn抰 help, but it wasn抰 bad.
牋牋牋牋牋?The bedroom door opened.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane shut the refrigerator and waited.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥here抯 Quinn??Daria said, coming around the corner. She looked as if she抎 aged years in the last hour.
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he left. I tried calling her, but she won抰 answer her phone.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria eased herself into a chair at the table. Taking off her glasses, she tossed them onto the tabletop by the gifts and rubbed her eyes. 揟his can抰 be happening,?she said. 揑t can抰.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂re you okay??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抦 okay now.?She put on her glasses, reached for the phone, dialed, listened, then hung up. 揇id she think I was mad at her??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 don抰 know. She was pretty upset when she left.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria rubbed her eyes again. 揑 was angry, but I shouldn抰 have been angry with her. I wish I hadn抰 done that, but I couldn抰 help it. I was so . . . so . . . oh, forget it.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Someone knocked at the front door.
牋牋牋牋牋?As Daria tried to get up again, Jane shot past her and opened the door. 換ui棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揌ey,?said the tall, twenty-something man there, who raised a hand and waved. He wore a jean jacket over a dirty black T-shirt, old jeans, and heavy shoes. A thin mustache and a goatee, uncombed black hair, and pierced ears completed his look.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟rent,?said Jane. She ran into the hall and hugged him, burying her face in his shirt as he hugged her back. He smelled like sweat and a little bit of pot.
牋牋牋牋牋?Moments later, Daria joined her and put a hand on Trent抯 shoulder. 揋ood to see you. Bad time for a visit, though.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 thought you were sick,?said Jane, suddenly pulling away. 揇aria can抰 be棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揊ood poisoning,?he said. 揝omething in the refrigerator at home, I think. Might have been the chicken salad. Didn抰 know if it was supposed to be greenish looking.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝o, you don抰 have the flu??said Daria. 揧ou抮e sure about this??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧eah. I抦 okay, sort of.?He looked into the apartment. 揕ong as you have a bathroom. What抯 up??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?They took him inside and explained everything.
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h,?he said, sitting at the kitchen table. He picked up the flavored lipsticks. 揥hat抯 this taste like??he asked. 揝ort of hungry.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane took the lipsticks away from him. 揥e have to find Quinn,?she said. 揝he went through a lot of trouble to throw this party for us, and棓
牋牋牋牋牋?摋and I blew up and drove her away,?Daria finished, looking miserable.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hat抯 what she said, too,?said Trent, picking up a gift card for fifty dollars to a Books by the Ton outlet store. 揃ookstores,?he said. 揑抣l never go into a棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat she said??Daria repeated. 揥here did you see her??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂t the motel, in the room next to mine,?said Trent. 揝he was packing.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria and Jane reached for the telephone at the same time. 揋et the number!?Jane yelled. 揥e have to stop her!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he抯 not there now,?said Trent, putting down the gift card.
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he left??cried Daria, stricken. 揇amn it, I have to talk to her!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he didn抰 leave,?said Trent mildly. 揝he抯 downstairs in my car.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ha棓 Daria lurched out of her seat. ?i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Then why the hell didn抰 you bring her up here??she shouted.
牋牋牋牋牋?Trent winced at the noise. 揝he didn抰 know if you wanted to see her.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Daria and Jane ran out of the apartment and down the hall, Jane far in the lead. Trent sighed and got up to follow them. 揧ou抣l need me to get the crib out of the trunk,?he called, but they were already on the way to the parking lot. He shrugged and shook his head. Women were like that, all emotional all of the time. He didn抰 get it.
*
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he needs to sleep for a while,?said Jane, closing the bedroom door. 揟he thirty-meter dash to the parking lot wore her out.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 can reschedule the dinner for eight,?murmured Quinn, sitting at the dining table. 揑 have to call anyway to add Trent into it.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揗mm,?said Trent through a mouthful of cold leftover pizza. 揟hanks.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝ave some of that for Daria, dope,?said Jane, slapping her brother lightly on the back of the head. 揂nd thanks for the crib. It looks great.?She took a seat across from Quinn and ran a hand through her bangs. 揕et us pay for dinner, okay? You抮e about to go broke from this nonsense.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揟hat抯 okay. I抣l just call in a favor from you later on.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, great. Daria will be tickled pink to hear that we抮e in debt to you, too. Speaking of trouble, I抦 glad that we got that bullshit sorted out about the will.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t抯 not sorted out, really,?said Quinn, resting her head on one hand and staring at the floor. 揗om and Amy are going to fight for equal shares among the three sisters, the way the will was at first, with smaller equal shares for us kids. I don抰 know about your kid, though, not being born yet. Mom抯 got the edge in legal stuff and she thinks she can get the last will voided, but Rita抯 got a ton of money to throw around. And Mom and Amy started fighting before I left home. I don抰 know what it was over.?Her expression, already downcast, fell further. 揋randma Bee抯 not even dead yet, and already we抮e wading through the mother of all family fights. Dad抯 about to lock himself in the garage forever. And I was thinking that I used to get along so well with my cousin Erin. Daria couldn抰 stand her, but I liked her. Guess that抯 over with, too.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou never know,?said Jane.
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抦 not betting on it. I was going to tell Daria about Mom and Amy, but now I think I抣l just skip it. She and Amy got along okay. Now everything sucks.?Quinn raised her head and looked at Jane. 揙h, I wanted to tell sis congratulations on selling that science-fiction story of hers. She抯 finally made the big time.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane nodded. 揥e抳e got our hopes up. She抯 started a new story, a weird one.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t would have to be, wouldn抰 it??said Quinn.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane smiled, and Quinn looked up and returned it. 揧eah,?said Jane. 揑t would.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋ot any names picked out for Junior yet??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e thought Thessalonians was interesting for a while, but棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, Jane! Eww!?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揓oking, joking.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou know,?said Quinn, sitting up and becoming more animated, 換uinn is a boy抯 name, too.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝o is Trent,?said Trent, swallowing more pizza.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane coughed delicately. 揑抣l bring it up to her, but we抎 decided a while back to avoid family names. We thought it would cause too much friction.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揅an抰 get any worse than it is now,?said Quinn, looking glum again.
牋牋牋牋牋?揗aybe it won抰 turn out that badly,?said Jane, but she saw Quinn shake her head and silently mouth the word no. 揌okay, fine, whatever,?she said. 揂s long as we have the two of you around, I think we抣l make it.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn cleared her throat. 揑f you don抰 mind, I抎 like to do your taxes tomorrow before I leave, instead of tonight. Too much going on right now.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou don抰 have to do that. Daria said she抎 do our taxes . . . although I think you would probably swear and yell a lot less than she would.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Quinn抯 smile broadened. 揧ou two still file separately, right??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揜ight. Until the day they make gay marriage legal in this state, separate filings. That抣l be the day.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂h, ah, ah, it might happen. You never know.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌mmm. Trent, stop it. I told you to save some of that for Daria. Listen, did you know before you came up about Wind and Claire Defoe getting married??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Trent shook his head. 揥ind,?he said. 揑 dunno, man.?He kept shaking his head, thinking about their oldest brother, then reached for another pizza slice in the container in front of him. Jane slapped his hand and took the container away.
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, let him eat,?said Quinn. 揑 can get more pizza anytime. No problem.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane rolled her eyes and put the container back on the table. 揕eave a little for your sister-in-law, okay, big brother??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌e earned it,?said Quinn. 揌e really helped me get the shower together.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘ah,?said Trent, waving the praise away. 揑t was your idea.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 don抰 know what we抎 do without the two of you,?said Jane suddenly. The intensity of her tone made both Quinn and Trent look at her. 揌onest to God, I don抰 know. I can抰 tell you how棓 Her face tensed, but she rubbed her eyes and relaxed again. 揟hank you, both, from the bottom of my heart.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou抮e stuck with us,?said Quinn. 揥eirdness and all.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋ood. Speaking of weird, how抯 your sex life??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋??i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Eww! I am so not talking to you about any of that!?Quinn got up. 揗ind if I use your bathroom? Thanks.?And she was off down the hall.
牋牋牋牋牋?Trent regarded his little sister with anxious foreboding. Swallowing a stolen bite of pizza, he said, 揧ou抮e, uh, not going to, uh, ask me about my棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o, no, no. I have my limits. Trent??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揇o you love me??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?He looked embarrassed. 揢h, yeah. Sure.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揋ood.?Jane picked up the bottle of massage lotion and placed it in front of him, then slipped off her shoes and socks and stuck a bare foot in his lap. 揚rove it.?/p>
Original: 01/10/05, modified 01/30/05
FINIS