CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
(part five)
Thursday night, 7 p.m.

Mike looked down the Castle’s dining room table at his brother, Steve and Steve’s wife, Leslie.  They were as silent as Megan, Tim and Candy on the other side of the table.  Jill was at the hospital for her first official “date” with Jacob. Delphie was entertaining the Megan’s kids and Katy in one of the sitting areas.  The clinking of silverware echoed in the formal dining room.

Valerie slipped her hand into Mike’s.  He turned to look at her.  She had lost weight this week.  Tonight, her beautiful black hair was held back with a simple band.  Her face was make up free.  When she smiled, he felt the same heart constricting feeling that he had felt the first time she smiled at him.

“Ok,” Steve said.  “Since no one’s going to do it, I’m going to.  Frankly, I’m sick to vomit of the secrets in this family.  Mike and Val invited us here for dinner and we’re acting like church mice.”

“What secrets?” Candy asked.  Her dark eyes blazed a ‘shut up’ to her brother.

“YOUR secrets,” Steve said.

Candy bristled.

“Meg’s secrets.”  Meg’s head jerked up to look at Steve.

“Hell, my own secrets,” Steve said.  “Fuck, did you know how abusive Trevor was? Anyone?”

Every head shook from side to side.

“He almost raped her and Jill was like same shit different day,” Mike said.  “OUR baby sister sat in Walgreen’s praying for her child’s life because that fucker wouldn’t let her go to the hospital. Why? Because she couldn’t afford it. It makes me furious.”

“Me too,” Megan said.  “I… I had no idea.”

“We are all we have.  Our parents are gone. We don’t have grandparents.  No more secrets,” Steve said.  “It’s time to put it all out there on the table.”

“We’ll start,” Leslie said.  “We can’t get pregnant.  I have endometriosis and… we’ll….”

Everyone’s head turned to look at Leslie.

“We’re good candidates for IVF. We’re healthy, don’t drink or smoke. The doctor thinks we’ll be successful but….” Steve stopped talking.  He looked at Leslie then nodded. “We can’t afford it. We wanted to ask if maybe…”

“We’ll help,” Valerie said.  “If you prefer to borrow the money, we can do that as well.”

“I make good commissions on my painting and Val’s contract was extended for another year,” Mike said.

“You’re not driving anymore?” Candy asked.

“I only drove so I could drive Val when she was in town,” Mike said. “See there’s a secret.”

“We could be together and no one would know,” Valerie said.

“We’d love to help you guys have a baby,” Mike said.  “Just if that’s all right with you.”

“Thanks,” Leslie said.

“We’re not married,” Tim said.

Megan’s eyes went wide and she shook her head.

“We got pregnant before we got married, then didn’t want to….” Tim caught Megan’s look and stopped talking.  Megan’s face was bright red.

“Ah shit. Who cares?” Mike asked.

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow….