Infinity Chapter 98 - Birthdays

[itztigress3]

Chapter 98 – Birthdays
POV:  Zac
Word count: 2783


October 18, 2014

  We were doing a party for Alexander today, given our birthdays were again during the middle of the week. She had left the theme up to me, music was the obvious choice but he also had been watching a lot of Scooby-doo lately and I felt that going with that theme would both honor Velma and be something he truly likes. The party was at the house because of Ian and Glen, who had not stopped mentioning this countdown crap. I got up with the kids early and got them bathed, dressed, and fed before she got up. Alexander had a Scooby doo shirt he was wearing with black pants; Isabella had a little dress with Scrappy doo on the front.

“Where is Emily?” George asked.

He was the only other person up beside me.  “Still asleep or getting ready, I haven’t heard any footsteps. But, Glen sent messages all during the night, he’s really starting to remind her of Adam.”

He frowned. “I can’t believe I didn’t know the asshole had a brother.”

“Apparently not many did, but apparently Adam told him everything about her.”

“Why do you say that?”

I opened the container of sour crème to make the dip with and then looked at him.

“Glen mentioned the snow globes he had made, mentioned what he did at the apartment. We know what he’s doing; he’s trying to put her back there and me as well. Ian’s sending the same types of messages to me, reminding me what he did.”

“You seem to be doing a lot better.”

I poured the ranch mix into the container and began to stir it up. “If it weren’t for Emily I wouldn’t be. Her determination and sheer stubbornness is what helped. She didn’t give up on me when he sent me home, no matter how stressed out she was.”

“She’s always been that way, determined and stubborn.”

“I’m glad she is. She was determined that she wasn’t going to let me slip away. Granted, she has ways.”

He smiled. “She’s loved you for a long time Zachary, granted I don’t think she really considered that the two of you would be married and have two wonderful children.”

Emily laughed from the steps. “Boy are you wrong, I knew who I was marrying when I was 13, you think my wedding wasn’t planned before then?”

We both laughed and she came over the gate and came to the kitchen, leaned on George.

“I knew he would be my husband, I didn’t know when but I knew.”

“Yeah, you and about three thousand other women, but I am glad he chose you.”

“I don’t think I had a choice there, I mean I saw her and that was pretty much it.”

“Where is everyone?”

“They should be awake, let me run down and check. I’m betting there trying to get the many children ready.”

He went down and she fixed cereal, Alexander ended up eating some of hers too. Isabella was on the counter in her bouncer and when Emily was done she took them to the living room, joined shortly by her older three brothers and the kids. Craig and Christopher showed up at 10 and they look rather sleep deprived and Jasmine was crying when they walked in.

Emily got her from the car seat and Craig handed her the bottle. “She’s been fussy as hell all night.”

“You two look like she has been.” Jason said.

Emily had her calmed down very quickly and eating but they flanked her and then called for us to all come in.

“What’s up?” George asked.

“We’re moving.” Christopher said.

“Why? I thought you bought the house your in.” Emily said.

“We tried, we signed a lease originally and they just want too much for the house and property. It’s far from our jobs and we wanted something a little more private and safe, we realized a few weeks ago that when she’s running like Alexander she could run right to the road.”

“Where are you moving too?” Jason asked.

“Well, technically the property we are purchasing has a house but we’re having it demolished and redone.”

“Why not renovate?” I asked.

He looked at me. “Even if we renovate the house we fear that you wouldn’t be able to be inside. We thought about it and the layout’s wrong for us, it’s too small and we wanted to just start over.”

That confused me, why would I ever fear a house I’ve never been in and then it hit me. “You’re buying one of his houses?”

“Not just any house, we apologize for the construction noise. We’re buying the house next to you.”

“Wait, like the one right next door?”

“Yeah. The realtor we were talking too before said that the property would be available after the first. Apparently the FBI has it and there releasing it, we are not making concrete plans until we can legally obtain the property. Then we’ll be building the new house. We know the existing house is ok, but we just want something new, untainted.”

“Probably a good idea.” Joshua said.

“Anyway, where is the birthday boy?”

“Running around with his cousins, good luck.” George said.

When she finished feeding Jasmine she laid her down and helped me, the party was in full swing by 1, everyone was here and the kids are playing and having fun and the adults talking. Most of his presents were new toys and clothes, which was perfectly fine with us because he can never have too many toys. About 3 Maddi dragged us all outside for the pictures. I got to escape most of these, only if I had to be. She had come up Friday and gotten really great pictures of Isabella and Alexander for us and family pictures. She also took her 3 months pictures and his 2 year pictures. Today was simply her family. I was as shocked as the others when she agreed to really good pictures of her and Eliza, the one she’d let them take in Australia had not been shared with anyone still. I was slightly worried when Craig asked for one of them holding her, it wasn’t like it was just Emily now, and she was no longer the only girl. They tried twice to get them both up before Taylor came out and sat them down on the steps, then had Emily lay one way and Eliza the next. I had to admit that was a good idea and it was a good picture. It wasn’t lost on us that it really was their first professional pictures as a family.

I stepped inside for a bit and Taylor was almost begging Mom to watch Penny and Ezra for Halloween as well, but she was not budging.

“Why do you need someone to watch them?”

“Natalie and I would like a date night, but Mom has Everett and Monroe and will only take River and Viggo.”

“Bring Penny and Ezra here; Penny would love to be here with Isabella, considering she’s pretty much stayed around whoever had Isabella and
Jasmine.”

“You guys wouldn’t mind?”

“No. We can keep them for the night or for the day, whatever you were planning.”

“It was for a day trip, do you not need to ask Emily?”

I giggled. “No Tay, she won’t mind.”

He actually hugged me and I just smiled, because it did feel normal. When they came back inside I observed from the table, everyone was happy. Emily was smiling interacting with everyone in the room and the children, her brothers were happy and smiling with their spouses, even if Craig and Christopher were about to pass out. My family was happy that I was here, happy that I was me. It was normal like it should have been.

After his party was done those not staying headed home but her brothers kind of hung out, went over some more childhood favorites for Eliza.
It was about 7:45 when my phone rang and it was Agent Stewart.

“Hello?”

“Are you and Emily at home?”

“Yes. She’s feeding the baby and I’m cleaning up some. Her brother’s are here too.”

“We’ve been trying to reach David Daniels Jr. Is he there?”

“Yeah, he’s here.”

“I’ll be there in ten.”

He then hung-up and Emily looked up. “Baby?”

“It was Agent Stewart; he’ll be here in ten.”

He was there in eight and was kind of pleased that everyone was here, but it was clear that he was not bringing us good news.

“Agent Stewart, what is going on?” Emily asked.

“We’ve been trying to reach you Mr. Daniels.”  He was looking at George.

“My phone is downstairs, its family time I wasn’t here to answer the phone. Why were you trying to reach me and don’t bother to ask if we can
speak alone. Whatever you tell me, you can tell them.”

He took a deep breath. “We got word two hours ago that your father, David Daniels, was attacked in his jail cell.”

The entire room seemed to go silent and everyone looked at him. “Attacked?”

“Yes, unfortunately he died from his injuries. As his oldest son you are next of kin, we’ve been trying to reach you.”

It was clear the news affected them all, even Emily looked quite sad about that.

“Do you know what happen or who done it?”

“The report we received stated that an inmate at the jail, Charles Ray Franklin, was found in the cell with him and freely admitted to the
attack.”

“Was there a reason given?” Joshua asked.

Agent Stewart took a deep breath. “Mr. Franklin is the oldest brother of Grace Marie Franklin; she was one of the many girls that were killed in the case against him. From what the report said, David was the one that actually killed her. Mr. Franklin was 15 when she was killed. He stated he done it for his sister and he’d do it again. I am sorry for your loss.”

I expected one of the younger three to say something but none of them did, Emily just looked down at Isabella under the shawl.

“Thank you. If you can leave me a contact number uh, we fly out tomorrow I can call them when I am home.” George said.

“Not a problem, it will take them some time to process everything and be certain of the cause of death.”

George nodded and Agent Stewart saw himself out. Everyone seemed to ignore the fact that they were just told their father was dead. Eliza seemed as confused as I was, but I noticed Emily’s hands were slightly shaking and I suspected she wasn’t dealing with the news very well. I was sure when Isabella got done.

“I’m going to take her up-stairs; I can feel the wetness against my hand, so bath and clean clothes. I will spare everyone and leave the shawl.”

Her voice was slightly quivering and her hands were trembling, at least the one I seen. Craig looked at me and I got up.

“I’ll come with you, I am sure Alexander will be fine with everyone here. Just in case you need help.”

“I can bathe her alone Zac.”

I laid my hand on her back. “I know, but in case.”

She didn’t argue with me but I could see the extra moisture in her eyes so I followed her up-stairs where she laid Isabella down in her crib and turned the mobile on.

“You should have stayed downstairs.”

“Why? So you can come up here and sulk alone? You’re shaking already and I can see the tears Emily. Did you think I would just let you sit and cry alone?”

“I shouldn’t be crying at all, he hated me, he doesn’t deserve for me to feel this way.”

I wiped her checks off and pulled her to me, held her to me and I really didn’t expect her to cry like she was. I was aware someone else was in the room and it wasn’t until he moved to check on Isabella that I realized it was Craig. He’d been sitting beside Emily and probably knew the exploding diaper was false. He stood there until she realized he was in the room.

“I was wondering how you were going to get out of the room, diaper explosion was a good excuse. But, none of us bought that.”

“Didn’t care.” She mumbled.

I moved us to the bed and he sat down on the other side. “You ok now?”

“Don’t understand. Eliza asked me if there were any good memories of him and all I can remember is Christmas. It’s clear he never wanted me there, it shouldn’t hurt like this.”

“Just because he didn’t want you there, didn’t mean you didn’t believe he did. Come on Emily, you love him still. It’s not wrong, it’s not bad.
You were devastated when he was there and until that time you really thought he was dad.” Craig said.

“I know the last several years you haven’t really wanted to see him and I know those visits to the jail hurt you.  But, it’s ok to feel hurt and to be sad. Regardless, he raised you until you were 16 and maybe at some point he did care.”

“I shouldn’t…”

“None of us should Emmy.” Christopher said.

He kind of scared us all there. He came over and kneeled in front of her.

“He was awful to us all. You heard how he reacted when I told him I preferred men; he basically told me I was nothing. He’s an asshole, he abused us, he’s a pedophile, and a murderer. But, Emily he still took care of us, he made sure we ate, he made sure our clothes were appropriate, he made us stop being so rough with you so we wouldn’t accidentally hurt you anymore. He doesn’t deserve for you or I, or any of us to feel hurt by his death, but we’re human and we have emotions and we’re going to hurt even if we can’t stand him or hate him.”

She really seemed to listen to him, probably because Craig and I didn’t grow up in that house so if Christopher could admit that his death hurt him as well, then it was ok for her to be hurt as well. She nodded.

“I don’t know if I can attend a funeral.”

“Understandable. If you want too, for your own closure then we’ll make sure you’re ok. We won’t let his brothers or sister say anything or do anything that would upset you or anything. In fact if what you want is to be completely alone then I am sure we can arrange that.”

“I’ll have to see what George plans and the FBI too, because I don’t know if they’ll let me go.”

He patted her knee. “Ok, I’m going back with the baby, don’t call the police on me.”

She smiled some. “It’s fine, she is still awake, I can hear her cooing to herself.” I said.

He got her from the crib and left the room, Craig sat there until she’d calmed down completely. Then he left.

“Let’s not worry about going to Georgia for a funeral or anything until after George is back, let him do what he has to and then he can tell you and you can decide.”

“Yeah. Depends on when, because I’m not spending your birthday and his at a funeral.”

I nuzzled her neck and giggled. “We’ve never done it in a funeral home…”

I got punched hard for that but least she smiled. “You are horrible! But…if I was going to have sex at someone’s funeral it would be his and no one else.”

I smiled. “Come on, let’s see how they are but it is getting to be bedtime for the wild ones.”

We returned downstairs and spent more time with them before just tiredness took over everyone. Christopher and Craig were staying with us so Jasmine was laid down in our room with Isabella. Emily told them to sleep; because we were both well aware that sleep deprived parents are bad. Alexander was asleep pretty quickly himself he was tired, he’d napped only thirty minutes during the day. Isabella and Jasmine were quick to get down too. We both had to get up when they woke up, because she couldn’t feed them both at the same time, not that either of us minded. She was hoping if they could sleep well it would help. We also planned a long talk about taking turns when she wakes up during the night.