CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
(part four)

Sunday afternoon – 1 P.M.

“So I said I would,” Sandy said to Jill.

Knowing better than to make a scene, Jill beamed. They were walking behind Noelle, Nash and Katy at the Denver Zoo. Katy ran off to see the penguins with Noelle right on her heels. There was snow on the ground, but the day was bright and warm.

“What about the kids?” Jill asked

“I love these kids as if they were my own,” Sandy said. “It’s like my little brother and sister were practice for these guys. I don’t know how the next couple of months will go.”

“Since you work so much?”

“Yeah, I’m scheduled every day for the next six weeks. I’m off on Thanksgiving but that’s it,” Sandy said. “Everyone wants the perfect hair for their holiday parties.”

“We’ve been invited to a dozen, at least,” Jill said.

“Another round of charity events,” Sandy said. “It’s been a weird year. Can you believe that in January you were married to Trevor?”

Jill gave a dramatic shudder. They laughed.

“Do you think you and Jacob will have kids soon?”

“I don’t know,” Jill said. “Seeing Heather….”

“How happy and supported she is? Unlike when you had Katy?”

“Yeah, it gives me the urge. But Katy was so upset about Bree and Becky on Halloween. We decided to wait a while so she could just adjust to all these changes.”

“Probably smart,” Sandy said.

Katy ran back to Jill for a hug then took off to catch up with Nash at the Bear Mountain.

“What about you, Sandy? You could have kids. Aden is a great father.”

“Thinking about spending my life with him is enough to adjust to,” Sandy said.

Jill laughed.

“I’m not opposed to the idea,” Sandy said. “I’m just….”

“Cautious.”

“I don’t know if I’d be a great mother. I like kids. Took care of my brother and sister when they were babies, but…. Well, you know what they say about people like me.”

“Oh whatever,” Jill said. “Just because there’s some statistic that people who were abused can become abusers, doesn’t mean it has to be that way, Sandy. I mean really, who have you ever hurt?”

“There are a few people on my list that I’d like to hurt.” Sandy’s face went dark. “Like the sperm donor.”

“He’s an asshole.”

“I wanted to hurt Trevor, but I guess your Dad got to him first.” Sandy laughed.

“Do you think he’s my father? You mean like my real father?” Jill asked.

“Your mother calls him ‘your Papa’,” Sandy said.

“I need to spend more time with her, but I haven’t had a Mom since I was ten years old. I don’t really know how to… do it.”

“She’s coming over for dinner tonight right?”

Jill nodded.

“Just enjoy it,” Sandy said. “I bet she feels uncomfortable too. It’s a lot of pressure after all those years in quiet Costa Rica.”

Jill nodded.  Crying, Katy ran back to Jill and threw herself into Jill’s arms.

“What’s a matter, Katy-baby?” Jill asked.

“Apes don’t like snow,” Katy said in Jill’s ear.

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow….