| Subject: Chapter 41 (long) |
Author:
Kate
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Date Posted: 14:45:08 04/10/01 Tue
In reply to:
Kate
's message, "Things My Mother Taught Me" on 14:33:38 04/10/01 Tue
*****************
Rejoice when others are happy.
A weekend? With David?
Milla chewed her bottom lip as they strode down the hospital hall toward her mother's and Sara's room. She tapped lightly on the door but there was no answer. Milla cautiously turned the knob and blinked.
There were too many people in the room and all of them were talking at once. She counted at least three doctors, plus Andy, who took up a lot of room. A slight, plump, dark woman -- Elena, Milla had met her the other day -- another huge giant of a man -- Ian, Elena's husband and Sammy's father -- and Sara and Sammy and little John -- plus dozens and dozens of plants. Potted plants and cut flowers of every variety, all giving off a powerful perfume.
Milla sneezed and her mother looked up. "Milla!" She held out her hands, and Milla went to her.
"They're releasing us both," her mother said cheerfully, holding out her feet for Michael to put her shoes on. She was dressed somewhat haphazardly and Milla leaned over and rebuttoned her mother's sweater. "Thanks, darling," her mother said, kissing her quickly.
"How do you feel?" Milla asked.
"Fine. Still a little ..." her mother waved her hands in the air.
"Fuzzy?" Milla guessed.
"From the anesthetic." Her mother shrugged. "The incisions don't hurt at all, though."
"Why did they have to sedate you?"
"I could have had another one of those attacks in the middle of everything, and the work they were doing was delicate. It wasn't that bad, Milla."
Michael helped her mother up. "It's over and done with," he said flatly, looking relieved and irritated at the same time. "And you'll start improving soon."
"Of course, I will," her mother said, looking at Michael strangely.
Michael saw David in the doorway. "David."
"Yes sir?"
"The Sandersons may need some help with their things. Would you mind ...?"
"Of course. I'll start taking the plants down now."
Elena smiled at David and began directing him, and Michael turned to Nikita and Milla. "Come on."
"But --" Nikita started.
"David will take care of it," Michael said firmly.
"Maybe I should help --" Milla took a step toward David, but Michael pulled her back.
"No. You're riding with us."
"But --"
"Milla. Get your mother's suitcase and let's go," Michael said sharply, and Milla obeyed quickly.
Michael hustled them out of the hospital and into the car. "I don't see why --" Milla grumbled, but Michael cut her off.
"We have to make a stop before we go home."
"A stop. What kind of stop?" Nikita asked.
But instead of answering, Michael pressed his lips firmly together and drove to the older part of town.
Milla blinked when he pulled the car over and stopped beside the church they sometimes went to for Easter or Christmas services. But she could remember no holy day that was in June and opened her mouth to say so, when Michael said to her mother, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, of course," her mother said, sounding irritated. "I thought we settled this last night."
"I wanted to make certain you weren't drunk."
"I told you before, I was perfectly sober," Nikita sighed.
Milla looked from one to the other. "What's this about?"
"Your mother and I are getting married," Michael said positively.
"What?!" Milla hadn't meant to shriek, but her mother winced and a passer by looked curiously at the car.
"Milla, calm down," her mother said. "It's not a big deal --"
"Again?!" Milla asked, her voice rising. "Don't tell me you're getting married again?"
"We've never been married," Nikita said. "Calm down --"
"Maybe not, but everyone else thinks you were. It was embarrassing enough to find out you weren't ever married in the first place. But to get married now -- it's ridiculous," Milla said angrily. "As a matter of fact, everyone thinks you were married twice already. How can --"
"Third time's a charm," Michael said cheerfully, looking at her mother.
"I don't believe this," Milla muttered, getting out of the car and holding the door for her mother. Michael came around the car, took Milla's place, and helped her mother out of the car. He leaned over and said something to her mother in a low voice, and her mother grinned at him.
"Unbelievable," Milla said, rolling her eyes. "What's the point of getting married? Everyone already thinks you are, anyway!"
Michael opened the door of the church and Nikita went in. He cocked an eyebrow at Milla. "Coming, princess?"
"No," Milla scowled at him. But he continued to hold the door, and after a few moments, Milla reluctantly entered the dim church. "No one would ever believe this," she said.
"That's why," Michael said cheerfully, "We only invited you. A big wedding would be ... tacky. Or so your mother thought."
"Well, she was right," Milla mumbled. She looked at Michael suspiciously. "Why are you smiling so much? You never smile."
"I've been waiting a long time."
"Then by all means, don't let me keep you waiting any longer," Milla said sarcastically. "Let's get on with it."
"I knew you'd come around." Michael led her to the front of the church, where the priest was waiting. Nikita explained that they wanted to renew their vows and while the ceremony was performed -- short, to the point, and completely devoid of sentimentality -- Milla studied her mother.
This is what she'd always wanted. Her mother to be happy and well. With someone who loved her. Someone like Michael. And five minutes later, when her father kissed her mother, Milla hugged them both hard.
"If anyone ever finds out about this, I'll never come home again," she said.
"It will be," Michael said, palming her head and pulling her close, "Our secret."
And somehow, the thought of another secret -- one that she was part of this time -- didn't seem so bad to Milla.
******************
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