Chapter 17 - After a disaster,you have to pick up the pieces and deal with what follows...

The Fallout

Sorry it took so long to knock this chapter out. I had school projects to do. Though I thought this story would end soon, it's becoming an Odysey, or maybe an Iliad, who knows. There are some light moments to warm your heart this time, but that theme doesn't run all the way through this part.

 

How Life Can Change

by Little Katie

Part XVII: School Shopping / The Fallout

 

Emily woke up the next morning still contemplating the dream she had the night before. The dream both intrigued and disturbed her at the same time. She thought that maybe she should tell her father; but felt embarrassed and feared that maybe something was wrong with her or that she would get in trouble. She stirred slightly in her bed, the morning sun dancing through her eyelashes. She heard a small knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Emily called out.

"It's me, Mrs. Montgomery," Barbara called back.

Emily checked to make sure that she was covered by the sheet, not wanting to make Barbara feel awkward. "Come in," Emily finally replied.

Barbara walked in, a huge smile on her face. "How are you doing today?"

"Okay, I guess." Emily replied, trying to be upbeat.

"You guess? Why, what is wrong?"

Emily at first meant to say nothing, but she felt she could trust Barbara a little bit. "I had a dream last night."

"Oh, nightmares are no fun are they?" Barbara replied, putting a small pout on her face to show that she sympathised.

"It wasn't a nightmare," Emily informed her.

"Oh, what kind of dream was it then?" Barbara was confused, thinking that for a child, only a nightmare could cause angst.

"It was dirty." Emily pouted.

"Oh, honey," Barbara giggled, startling Emmy a bit. "It doesn't make you a bad person if you have those types of dreams, it's a part of growing up."

"But," Emily paused, "it was about daddy." Emily turned her head, waiting to be yelled at.

"Oh, honey," Barbara took Emily by her hand. "That's part of growing up, too."

"It is?" Emily's eyes got wide as saucers.

"Sure, do you know who Sigmund Freud is?"

"Who?"

Barbara laughed, "You're a little young to know about him, but, he was a famous head doctor who dealt with dreams. He said that while we are growing up we dream of that kind of stuff once in a while."

"Does Sean?"

"Probably not yet," Barbara was trying to keep the conversation down to a 9 year old level. She knew a lot about Freud and his stages of development.

"But he will," Emily laughed.

"It wouldn't make him a bad boy if he did; just like it doesn't make you a bad girl because you did. It means that when you grow up, you are going to try to find a man that is similar to your dad. Lots of people do."

"Mom didn't; Dad is nothing like Grandpapa."

"Your mom is an exception to a lot of rules." Barbara gave a knowing wink.

Emily laughed, "Did dad go to the hospital?" she asked, wondering why Barbara was sitting in her room.

"No, he is downstairs still. We wanted to give you a choice though; would you like to go to the hospital and wait around all day to bring your mom home, or would you like to go shopping for school clothes."

"Shopping," Emily answered after putting a few moments of thought into it.

"Good, then I suggest you get dressed. Can't go to the store naked, you know."

"Oh! You knew?"

"Honey, that sheet doesn't cover much, I can see right through it."

"Oh," Emily blushed.

"Don't worry, lots of girls sleep like that during the summer, just don't let Sean see you."

"Is he here too?"

"No, he went to his aunt's house for the day. He would probably be too bored to watch us shop."

"You going to help me get ready again?"

"Would you like that?"

"Yes, it was very nice."

"Okay, princess, your will is my command." Barbara gave a wink.

Emily laughed as she watched Barbara go to her dresser. Barbara opened the top drawer and pulled out a pair of panties and some socks.

"Here you go, Your Highness."

Emily pulled the sheets to the side and got out of bed. Barbara got down on one knee and held the panties open.

"Okay, put one foot in," Barbara commanded and Emily put her right foot through the leg hole of the panties, she then put her left leg in. Barbara slid the panties up and put them snug around Emily's waist. Next she put on the ankle socks.

"Okay, let's pick out shopping clothes."

"Shopping clothes?" Emily inquired.

"Yes, we need them to be comfortable, yet nice looking. Something that can come off easy, so you can change in the dressing room. Plus, heaven knows how many boys you might have to fight off."

Emily blushed as she stood next to Barbara in front of the open closet door. Barbara looked at all the clothes, noting that many of the clothes were more suitable for someone a little younger than Emily.

"Aha, found what I was looking for." Barbara pulled out a blue cotton dress from the closet.

"That?" Emily smiled.

"Yes, it's cotton, so it will keep you cool. It's simple, no zippers or buttons, so you can get it off quick, and it's sleeveless, so in a few months you won't be able to wear it, so we might as well get wear out of it now." Barbara smiled. "Now, up with those arms."

Emily put her arms in the air and Barabara lowered the dress on top of her.

"There you go, all dressed for shopping. Now, sit on the edge of your bed."

Emily obeyed, automatically smoothing the skirt of the dress underneath her as she sat. Barbara grabed a brush from the vanity and did Emily's hair, putting a bright, pink hair-tie in the back, making a nice ponytail.

"This way your neck doesn't get all sweaty." Barbara tweaked Emily's nose.

"Thank you." Emily said earnestly.

"You're welcome, Your Highness." Barbara gave a short curtsey, but wasn't able to go down more then about an inch.

The two walked downstairs to the kitchen. Dad was just putting some waffles on the table.

"There you go, I thought you girls would be up there forever." Dad joked.

"It was only half an hour," Barbara informed, "Be glad I didn't take half the day. But, she is such a natural beauty, it doesn't leave me much to do."

Emily blushed.

"So," Dad looked at Emily, "what do you want to do today?"

"Shop!" Emily beamed.

"Spoken like a true girl." Dad laughed.

"Daddy!" Emily protested.

"Well, have some breakfast and then go and have your fun. Mom and I should be back by the time you return."

The three sat around the table and ate their breakfast. Pleasant small talk filled the room. Emily felt so at ease, that it almost seemed strange to her.

After breakfast, Emily cleared the table and put the dishes in the sink to soak. She could hear her dad and Barbara laughing and carrying on but couldn't quite make out the conversation. She did hear her name come up a few times and she heard her mom's name as well. She also heard her new brother's name thrown in there for good measure. He had taken so long to get there but now that he was born, it was as if Emily had known him forever.

"All done," Emily anounced as she walked into the den.

"Good job, you are very helpful. Thank you, very much." Dad complimented her.

"You're welcome very much," Emily scrunched up her nose and threw her arms around her father's neck.

"See what I mean?" Barbara said. "You got your self a little prissy girl."

"Huh?" Emily didn't know if the comment was cruel or another compliment.

"She means you are perfect." Dad squeezed Emily and pulled her onto his lap.

"Oh, okay." Emily smiled.

"Well, little girl," Barbara addressed the child, "let's say you and me do some shopping before the store is a mob scene."

"Yes, ma'am." Emily said then gave her dad a peck on the cheek.

They walked out to Barbara's minivan, and Emily let herself in on the passenger's side. She buckled up as was her new custom and told Barbara to do so also, as she started the car.

"You're right, safety first." Barbara smiled at Emily.

"Yes, it's important." Emily always felt secretly afraid another crash was in her immediate future.

"Are you set?"

"Yes," Emily paused. "You didn't tell my dad about my dream, did you?" she blurted out.

"Heavens no, that's between us and whoever else you choose to tell?"

"So you'll always keep my secrets?"

"I will always keep your secrets as long as it's not about someone hurting you or you hurting yourself."

"I guess that's fair."

"It's the only way I operate."

Emily smiled, feeling safe in Barbara's presence. The ride to Wal-Mart was quick and pleasant conversation filled the drive over. They found a parking spot not too far from the entrance.

The two walked in and headed straight towards the girl's clothing section. They didn't want to waste any time with the other nonsense that the store offered. First stop, they grapped a few packages of panties and socks.

 

"You aren't going to make sure they fit?" Emily asked.

"Why, do the ones you are wearing now feel tight?"

"No, but I thought you had to try them on."

"No, child," Barbara laughed. "I think the store would be upset if we started to open up packages. What happens if they don't fit, you think someone else wants to wear something that touched your honey?"

"My honey?"

"Yes," Barbara motioned down and Emily got the gist that she was talking about her private area.

"Oh, I guess you're right."

"Besides, I took down all your sizes mentally when you were dressing before."

"Okay," Emily looked at them and noticed all the dark colors, reds and blues and yellows.

"We may need one of these, since you will be starting the fourth grade, you should start changing." Barbara said as she held up a training bra.

"But I don't got nothing," Emily blushed.

"Haven't you noticed that your getting puffy there?"

"I thought that was fat."

"Well, in a way it is, but it's fat that we girls get."

"But how, I mean, I know I'm a girl, but my inside is still a boy and my plumbing." Emily spoke softly and used her mother's wording.

"Well, from the shots you get from the doctor and the pills you've been taking in the morning."

"My vitamins?" Emily asked, surprised.

"Not exactly vitamins, sweety, but they will help make you a healthy girl."

Emily smiled, even though she felt as if she once again had been duped by her mother.

"You like being a healthy girl, don't you?" Barbara asked, sensing that Emily was a little perturbed.

"Yes."

"Then don't worry about them being called vitamins."

"Okay," Emily smiled.

"We will get some of these, too." Barbara threw two camisoles into the cart.

"Why do we wear these anyway?" Emily asked, picking one up to look at it more closely.

"Well, boys can be pesky and we don't want to give them a free show, do we? Boys just have to worry about down there, but us girls have to worry about our tops, too."

"Oh, okay," Emily replied. She put the camisole back in the cart. It looked a lot like a lace-edged t-shirt, though the short sleeves were cut totally differently. Its obvious femininity pleased her.

"Let's get you some outfits," said Barbara.

Emily smiled as they walked to the main clothing section, mostly geared towards girls Emily's age. Barbara picked out a khaki skirt, two flowered dresses, a denim dress, a pair of overalls, four shirts of various pale colors; light green, a soft pink, a powder blue and a tan. They went over to the pants and Barbara picked out 3 pairs, 2 khaki and one denim.

"I'm not allowed to wear pants."

"Why?" Barbara asked.

"Because of my wound."

"Oh, that's been healed well enough for some time."

"Oh," Emily felt tricked again.

"But you wouldn't have wanted to wear pants anyway, it's the summer and you look so cute in your dresses."

"Yeah," Emily said, turning the event around in her head to where she had it figured that she had got one over on her mom.

"These pants are for the winter, when it gets cold you would hate for the frigid air to fly up your dress. That reminds me, tights."

Emily helped push the now full cart around the corner and they picked out several pair of different colored tights. They then went to the dressing room so Emily could make sure everything fit right. She was glad she wore such a simple dress like Barbara recommended. Emily tried everything on and came out and did some mock modeling, walking and spinning as if she were on a catwalk. Barbara would clap and laugh as she made sure the clothes had the proper fit. Emily laughed as well, forgetting for a while the weight of the world that she had been feeling since the accident. She didn't feel like she had to be on guard, and she truly felt as if her real self were beginning to show.

Emily appeared out of the dressing room for the last time, holding in her hand the final pair of jeans and wearing her original outfit. Her cheeks were as rosy as could be as she handed the jeans to Barbara.

"See, shopping is fun, isnt it?"

"Yes, thank you." Emily gave a huge hug to Barbara, trying to show her how much she appreciated all she had done the last few days. "Thanks for everything."

Barbara gave a knowing wink, "Well, for such a reward as that hug, I think I came out ahead on the deal. Let's go pay for this and get you back home." Barbara looked at her watch, "Your little brother may be home right now."

That made Emily smile as she walked with Barbara toward the registers. The lines were not that long, but they still had to wait a little while.

Finally, they got up to the cash register. "Oh, I see someone got some school clothes," the young cashier smiled down at Emily.

"Yes, and I can't wait to show them off at school this year." Emily beamed even though she wasn't sure if she said the comment merely as lip service to the idea or if she really meant it.

"Well, I bet Mom here is glad to have such a pretty girl to shop for."

"Oh," Barbara blushed slightly, "I wish she were my daughter, but she is a friend's child. I'm just helping out because her new brother was born just a few nights ago."

"A brand new big sister," the cashier talked while ringing up the items and removing the hangers, "what a lucky little boy he is."

Emily smiled and nodded, but she wasn't really paying attention. "She wishes I was her daughter, hmm, I wish she was my mom, or my mom was like her." Emily felt a little guilty for betraying her mom with such feelings.

The cashier put the bags into the cart after Barbara's Visa card went through. Emily wondered if Dad would pay Barbara back or if the purchases were a gift. She realy wanted to know, but felt it wouldn't be proper to ask such a question. She finally figured if she needed to know then she would be told.

The two walked to the car and Barbara put the bags into the back of the minivan. Emily sat in the front seat, still wondering if Barbara meant it when she said she wished Emily was her daughter.

Barbara got in and buckled up right away, not wanting to be corrected by Emily. "Have fun, sweety?"

"Yes. Lots." Emily smiled.

"Good, me too."

"Um," Emily stumbled to get her words out, "did you mean it when you said you wished I was your daughter."

"Yes," Barbara smiled at her, "I never say anything I don't mean."

"Oh," Emily still felt torn by her loyalty to her mother and the feelings of love towards this woman who had been treating her so well.

"That's not a problem, is it?"

"No," Emily jumped in quick.

"I know you've got a mommy," Barbara said sensing that Emily was grappling with the comment. "Maybe I can be more like an aunt, if you like?"

"Yeah," Emily smiled. "Aunt Barbara."

Barbara smiled, "I like the sound of that, niece Emily."

The two talked and laughed a lot as they drove back towards Emily's house.

When they came up to the house, Dad's car was in the driveway but backed in this time. Emily grabed a few bags from the trunk and lead the way inside.

"We're back," Emily called as she walked into the foyer.

"Shhh," Vivian called back, "the baby is sleeping."

"Oh," Emily whispered as Barbara walked in behind her.

The two made their way to the den; John sat on the chair, and Vivian reclined on the couch.

"Thanks for taking her shopping," John said.

"It was my pleasure." Barbara replied. Vivian rolled her eyes at the comment, unbeknownst to her.

"Yes, thank you, I think we are going to spend some family time together today," Vivian said, hinting that Barbara should go.

"How wonderful, I have to go get Sean, he can be a handful for my folks." Barbara had quickly got the idea. "Take care, sweety, don't be a stranger."

"Bye, Aunt Barbara," Emily smiled.

"Bye." Barbara tugged on Emily's ponytail and then left.

"She isn't your aunt," Vivian scolded.

"I know, it's just for fun."

"Well, I don't want you calling people your aunt who aren't. You know how I deplore lying."

"Relax hun," John stepped in. "It's just a title of affection, just like Uncle Mark."

"Well, I still don't like it."

"Okay, I won't call her that," Emily conceded.

"So what you get?" Dad asked, changing subjects as soon as possible.

"Oh, me and Mrs. Montgomery had lots of fun. She bought me dresses and pants and even a training bra and tights. I modeled for her, just about every outfit I did. Mrs. Montgomery is so nice, I'm glad she took me."

"Mrs Montgomery, Mrs. Montgomery" Vivian mocked, "here's an idea, let's not hear that name for a little while. Between your father, and now you, I'm about Barbara'd out."

"Okay," Emily pouted. "Where is the baby?"

"Upstairs sleeping." Dad answered.

"Can I see him?"

"No," Mom said firmly. "He is sleeping."

"Speaking of sleep, I think I need a weekend nap," John said, thinking maybe that if the two could talk that this war would end soon.

Dad left the room and Emily and Vivian just stared at each other for a little while.

"I don't want you to have anything to do with him," Vivian said coldly.

Emily knew Vivian meant the baby and her heart sank. "Huh, what I do?" she protested.

"You know what you did, you little snitch."

Emily just sat quiet, not knowing what to say, but now feeling like she shouldn't have mentioned it to her dad.

"All I tried to do was be close to you, and that's what I get. You ruin everything, I wish you never came."

"You wish I was never born?" Emily began to tear up.

"Don't shed those crocidile tears for me. I wish you never were here. You're no child of mine, I gave birth to two boys. What are you? A prissy little bitch. Think you're going to ruin my marriage, I got another think for you!" Vivian's voice carried her venom straight to Emily's heart. "I never asked for you, and I certainly don't need you in my life. I get sick just looking at you. Why don't you run to 'Aunt' Barbara? I'm tired of trying to get close to you, and tired of all the trouble you've caused."

Emily couldn't stand to hear anymore and bolted out of the house, slamming the door behind her. John heard the door and ran down the stairs and looked out the door. Emily must have cut through someone's yard because there was no sign of her.

"What was that about?" John asked his wife as he walked into the den.

"I told her I didn't appreciate her lying, saying that I touched her, I guess she figured you wouldn't have told me."

"But, you admitted it to me." John felt bewildered.

"I was in labor, I didn't even know what I was saying."

"But, at the hospital, too."

"I just didn't want to cause a scene. I told her if she lied again I would tan her hide, she called me a bitch and ran out the door." Vivian lied without hesitation.

"Maybe I should have a talk with her when she comes back." John looked toward the door.

"No, let it go, she has gone through a big change, and now there is another family member in the house. I think she told you because she wanted extra attention, that's all." Vivian poured a little oil on the troubled water. "I told the psychiatrist that at the hospital and he said that it's common for kids under stress to make up stories. In fact, she might believe it actually happened, so it might be worse to confront her about it."

"Well, isn't that what you did?" John questioned.

"Well, it upsets me, you threatened to take my family away from me; how do you expect me to react?"

"I suppose," John felt really confused about who to believe, his wife of 15 years or his daughter. Both told believable stories.

"She'll get better once school starts and she is with her friends and starts ballet. Maybe she has just been home way too much. We should start encouraging her to spend more time out with friends, that's healthier." Vivian sighed and stretched out on the couch.

"I agree." John sat down, and watched his wife fall asleep while he pondered all that had happened.

 

Emily reached Barbara's house in record time. The minivan wasn't parked in the driveway and no one was home. Emily didn't know where else to go so she sat down on the front step as the tears rolled down her cheek. After five minutes of pain and anger, Barbara pulled into the driveway and noticed Emily's state.

"What's wrong with Emily, Mom?" Sean asked from the passenger's seat. He had noticed his friend's tears as quickly as Barbara.

"I don't know, let me find out. Be a good boy and go inside for a while and let us talk." Barbara already had her suspicions of what might be wrong.

"Can't I help? I feel bad seeing her cry."

"I know, its because you have a heart of gold like your father use to. But, the best thing you can do is let me talk to her. Okay?"

"Yes, Mom." Sean frowned and waited in the car as his mother walked up to Emily. He didn't want to just walk by her without saying a word so he sat until his mom started talking and then quietly got out of the car and walked around back by the pool.

Barbara sat beside the crying girl and stroked her hair. "What's wrong, sweety? I left you in such a good mood."

"My mom."

"What happened?"

"She said I was a prissy..." Emily paused and quietly said the word, "bitch", knowing it was forbidden.

"Sounds like your mom is having problems; we both know that you aren't."

"Still, hurts when she says it."

"I know, baby, come on, sit on Aunty's lap."

Emily sat on Barbara's lap and got hugged. Barbara rocked her back and forth as Emily cried. "Let it out, baby, you're safe now," Barbara whispered in the soft voice she would use for a much younger child, trying to be soothing, to make the child feel safe.

Emily did feel safe, too, for some strange reason. After a few moments, the tears subsided.

"Let's get you cleaned up." Barbara said as she looked at the red-eyed little girl.

"Okay," Emily said meekly.

They went to the bathroom and Emily washed her face and dried off. "Why don't you go talk to Sean, he is worried about you?" Barbara suggested, wanting to make a call without worrying the girl.

"Okay," Emily walked out the back door and saw Sean sitting on a lawn chair.

"You okay?" Sean asked earnestly.

"I'll be fine, I'm just sad."

"I get like that way, too. Mom makes it all better, though."

"Yeah, you got a great mom."

Emily sat on the chair with Sean, he put his arm around her shoulder. The two looked up at the clouds and told each other what they thought the puffy shapes looked like. For some other strange but somehow different reason, being in Sean's arm made Emily feel safe, too.

 

Barbara was on the phone, calling Emily's house.

"John.... Good, I'm glad I got you.... I have someone here.... Yes, she is quite upset.... Oh, your wife said that did she?" Barbara felt angry.

She glanced out the back window to see the children sitting together just talking. She continued, replying to John's question. "I don't think Emily is one to make a story up like that.... Maybe you should come over and we can talk." She let her anger color her voice, "Just tell Vivian the truth, you are coming to pick Emily up."

 

John took only ten minutes to get over to Barbara's house. Barbara met him on the lawn led him to the living room. "The kids are out back, I think we should leave them there while we talk," she said.

"Sounds good." John felt wary.

"I didn't know that Emily had said your wife abused her." Barbara didn't waste any time.

"Well, you know, that's not something to be broadcast."

"True, but usually kids this age, they don't make stuff like that up on a whim."

"Well, who do I believe? You can see the bind I am in."

"It's not an easy choice, I admit. You know you can take her to the doctor and he can check for physical signs; what all did Emily say had happened."

"Well, Emily said that Vivian felt her, I doubt that would show up. Vivian did say she gave Emily laxatives so she could infantilize her." John was embarrassed to admit that his wife had done such a thing.

"She admitted it. What's the problem then?" Barbara felt her anger coming back.

"She said she said that because she was in labor and was half out of her mind, and that she didn't say anything in the hospital because she didn't want to cause a scene."

"Well, I say tomorrow we go to the doctor and find out the truth. I'm sure that something will show up, or at least they know what to look for."

"Well, they would know more then me, that's for sure." John admitted.

"Take her home, don't make Vivian suspicious," Barbar advised. "If it did happen, you need to keep Emily saf;, if it didn't, then you don't want to start a family war and you can figure out where to go next."

"Sounds good, thanks." John felt relief that Barbara wasn't going to push things further immediately.

"Personally, I think she is telling the truth, so don't leave them alone together."

John thanked Barbara again then went out back and gathered Emily. He told her that she would be going to the doctor the next day and to make sure everything was okay. He didn't want to alarm her. They went home together and neither said much, at all.

 

That night stayed quiet, the family ate dinner in silence; the baby cried a few times to interupt it all. The few moments when she could, with John out of hearing, Vivian called Emily a snitch. Emily decided to go to bed early, and locked her bedroom door to keep herself safe.

 

The next chapter will have the first day of school. Finally out of the house. Plus we see what the doctor finds out. Hmm, so much stuff going on, luckily children have boundless energy, because I know I don't.

  

  

  

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