Five

Save your breath and walk away

 

February 12, 2011

New Jersey

 

 

The setting sun cast a warm, golden light through the kitchen windows, as day slowly gave way to night. Lily was in her highchair, hands and cheeks covered in sauce as she enthusiastically played with her mashed meatballs and pasta, courtesy of her Pop-Pop.

 

“Look at you!” Ariana laughed at her daughter.  “You’re making quite the mess.”

 

The mess she was creating mostly went unnoticed by her as tiny hands waved, sending the crushed food between her fingers falling to the floor. Meatball, on the other hand, was fully aware and happily lapped up anything that hit the floor.  The irony of Meatball eating meatballs made Ari burst into laughter.

 

As she rinsed off the dish, she heard the synthetic voice of the security system informing her that someone had entered through the gate. She finished loading it into the dishwasher and dried her hands with a towel. 

 

“Guess who’s here?”  

 

Lily tilted her head towards the hallway as the familiar voices filled with laughter and chatter echoed throughout the house. Even Meatball perked up with a playful bark as he bolted toward the little boy eagerly waited to greet him.

 

“Stinker-bell!” Jake exclaimed as he walked over to the highchair. “Look at you, you silly girl.” 

 

With a squeal of joy, Lily reached for her brother. He tried to clean her with the nearby washcloth but she refused to cooperate so he stopped. Lifting the tray, he unhooked her and lifted her out of the highchair.

 

Dorothea, Jesse and Stephanie were the last to join the bustling chaos.  As they stepped in, Dorothea was quick to notice the bright orange bottle of Pedialyte sitting on the kitchen counter.

 

“What’s with the Pedialyte?” she asked, pointing to the bottle, “Is Lily sick?”

 

“No. It’s for me.”

 

“Hmm. Hungover, are you?”

 

“No!” Ari snapped, reaching for the bottle.

 

“Hey, why is Lily’s sonogram picture on the fridge?” Jesse asked before pulling the door open.

 

“That’s not Lily,” Stephanie chimed as she looked closer. “Oh shit! Are you pregnant?” she turned and asked her stepmother.

 

Dot’s sharp eyes quickly landed back to Ari; this time she noticed the IV port peering out from under sleeve.  “Can I have a word in the living room?”

 

“Steph, can you keep an eye on Lily?”

 

“Sure. But you didn’t answer my question.”

 

“Stephanie Rose. Just do what was asked!” her mother spat.                  

 

A wave of frustration washed over Ari as she glanced at the refrigerator where the sonogram photo lay in plain sight. How could she be so careless?   She placed it there this morning when she came home from her appointment with Dr. Barnes after showing Carol and John, who were here watching Lily. 

 

This was not how she and Jon planned to tell the kids. The plan was to wait until tomorrow, when Jon would be home from Philly, and they would reveal the news together. Now she’s got to deal with whatever shit storm Dot was about to cause. Lord knew she had a knack for turning even the most mundane situations into chaos.

 

Pinching the bridge of her nose Ari motioned to Dorothea to start walking. Once they were safely out of ear reach of the children, she wasted no time.

 

“For someone who never wanted children, you sure didn’t waste any time getting knocked up again.”

“Really, Dorothea? I thought we were past all the childish nonsense.”

 

“Whatever gave you that idea?”

 

“Oh, I don’t know. The fact that we are actually the adults here.”

 

“Now, that’s funny.”

 

“Maybe to you.” She let out a deep breath. “What Jon and I do is no longer any of your concern, unless it pertains to those four kids inside. If we want to add ten more to the brood, that’s our business.”

 

“Oh, for fucks sake! Two kids under a year, you really didn’t waste any time making a family of your own.”

 

“Once again, what’s it to you?”

 

“You do remember I was married to the man for twenty-six years.”

 

“And your point?”

 

“In less than a year, he’s married with a baby and another on the way.”

 

“And there it is! You are worried about your image. News flash, no one gives a fuck.”

 

“My concern is for my children! Is it safe leaving my kids here with…” Dorothea nudged a chin towards the IV port in her arm. “…with your port and electrolytes?”

 

Ariana let out an exasperated breath. “Jon’s kids are perfectly safe here with me. If you must know, I’ve had unbearable nausea and dehydration.  The port is for precautionary measures.”

 

Before Dorothea could respond, Jake came rushing into the living room with his face a mix of disgust and urgency.  He had Lily dangling from his stretched-out arms, and her giggles filled the air. 

 

“I don’t do stinky diapers!!!” he declared dramatically to his stepmother.

 

Laughing, Ari scooped Lily into her arms.

 

“I believe you know the way out.” She directed to the woman who was the bane of her existence before walking out of the room. 

 

 The frustration in Dorothea’s voice as she asked Jake to go get his siblings so she could say her goodbyes put a smile on Ari’s face. 

 

Ten minutes later, she was back in the kitchen where she was met with four eager children all wanting to know.

 

“Are you having another baby?” Their eyes were wide with anticipation as they asked in unison.

 

With her and Jon’s plan to wait until tomorrow out the window, she took the sonogram photo off the refrigerator and placed it on the island in front of them.

 

“Well,” she began, “Your father and I wanted to wait until breakfast tomorrow to tell you, but yes, I am pregnant.”

 

“Annnnnnother baby!” Romeo piped up first.

 

“Congratulations!” Stephanie and Jesse chimed in unison.

 

Taking a small breath, she looked over at Jake, knowing this moment might require a more careful approach but he caught her off guard with his straightforward question.

 

“So, are we getting another sister or brother this time?”

 

“It’s still a little early to say. We’ll know in a couple of weeks.”

 

Stephanie, ever the astute one, leaned closer. “Can we ask what you have in your arm?” 

 

“Sure.” Ariana pulled her sleeve up so they could see it better. “I’ve had some morning sickness that won’t go away.”

 

“Ewww, barf!” Romeo scrunched his nose, causing laughter from the group.

 

“That’s exactly how I feel,” she replied, playfully tousling his hair. 

 

Jesse, still pondering, asked, “So, what is it for?” 

 

“It pushes fluids from a bag and helps me stay hydrated.”

 

“Like an IV bag?”

 

“Yes. That’s exactly what it is.”

 

“How long does it have to say in?” It was Jakes turn to ask.

 

“Fingers crossed it comes out when we get to Toronto. Any more questions?” she asked.

 

The silence that followed was a moment of contemplation before Romeo’s face lit up with excitement. “Can we have ice cream?” 

 

“Sure. Go get it.”

 

As she watched them rummage through the freezer, each pulling out their favorite flavor and topping to set them on the island, her phone buzzed with a message from Jon.

 

Getting on stage. Can’t wait to be home with all of you.

 

Her heart softened; she loved him so much. And even though this was supposed to be a shared moment, she knew she should let him know.

 

Me too! Oh, and the kids know. They found the sonogram picture.