Chapter 4- A Little More Noise

Chapter 4-A Little More Noise

The next morning Hale and Whitley slept in. The ceremony and reception had been far more effort than either of them realized. Whitley had been a little worried about how the wedding pictures had turned out, while Hale worried about his own legacy. They were still living in the family house, and that meant still being subjected to his little brother and sister, who had both had birthdays during the reception. Katia had a little flat she moved into almost immediately after becoming legally an adult.
 

Kellan had remained at home at Princess’ insistence. She was worried that everyone would still pick on her baby boy out in the big bad world. She felt his artistic ability ought to be coddled at home with his big brother and herself to nurse it.
 

Outside on the lawn, a gnome ring had sprung up on the lawn; a sure sign that the universe approved of Hale and Whitley’s union and would protect them.

Hale was awoken by one of his biggest fears: His mother coming in to gather laundry. They were a newly married couple, eager to prove that they really could make it on their own. He knew his mother was merely “mothering,” but it was not a good omen on the morning after the wedding.

“Good morning, husband,” Whitley murmured. She’d awoke to find him staring at the door of their room.

“My mother just came in to get laundry,” said Hale.

“A little early isn’t she,” Whitley asked. “We were so tired we didn’t even get a chance to soil anything!”

“Wanna make her some more laundry?”

A little while later, Hale was able to express his concerns to his new bride.

“I want my mother to back off. But, do I want that more than a real job? I’ve never been allowed to do anything but what she sanctioned. Don’t get me wrong. I love sculpting, but I want to do more. I just don’t want to hurt Mom’s feelings.”

Whitley listened and after a lot of discussion, it was decided that Hale could put off a job for a little while in favor of getting his mother to back off. So with a little bit of bile in his throat, he returned to his sculpting table for more art.

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Monday was rent day. A family representative had to travel to each of the properties and businesses the Blues owned and collect what was due to them. Before Geneva had left, she had split the duties with Princess as it was too much to do for one person alone. As a way to make up for her scene, Princess decided to ask Whitley to split the collection with her. This would bring in the profit and maybe show Whitley that she really did mean well. Whitley was scheduled to end at a new business owned by the family. The Brightmore was a dance club out on the opposite edge of town. Knowing this would be her last stop, she decided to have a girls’ night with her sister Torrance who hadn’t been able to make it to her wedding, and Hales sister Geneva. Torrance had been nursing her elderly husband and couldn’t get away. Geneva had left the ceremony after her mother’s outburst and was anxious to see how Whitley was doing.

However, Princess had been planning to make the run to the club herself to see just how this new place was run. When Whitley informed her she was meeting her sister and Geneva there, Princess invited herself to join them.

“I’ve been so worried about what you thought when I left. I asked Naval to explain to you during the reception, did he?” Geneva was still upset about how things had turned out.

“It’s ok. If it had been me, I’d probably have walked out too,” said Whitley.

“Naval told me he would walk out on our own ceremony if such a thing happened at ours. His mother didn’t even show up out of fear!” Both girls were still chuckling together when Princess finally showed up, looking, and feeling, very out of place.

Torrance had showed up soon after and they all went down to the bar area along with an officer. Princess had asked him along to make sure things were running above board. She’d never owned a bar before and was desperate to make sure everything went smoothly.

Whitley went straight for the dance floor while Princess went around frightening the employees simply by being there. Whitley and her sisters had often turned the radio on and danced together as children. Now as an adult, she loved the free feeling dancing gave her.

Geneva’s nanny had phoned while Princess had been chatting with her at the bar. She had rushed home shortly after to look after her son. Princess took the opportunity to see what Whitley was doing.

Whitley spotted her mother-in-law and caught her eye.

“Dance!” Whitley shouted over the throb of the bass.

Princess merely stood, watching Whitley bounce and sway. “She looks ridiculous. I wonder if she knows that,” Princess thought. “She does look like she’s having fun though. Ok.”

Tentatively she put her arms in the air, mimicking Whitley’s own motions.

“Some forms of dance are considered Art you know!” She shouted at Whitley.

Whitley just nodded at her, smiling. Princess was really wondering if Whitley actually heard her or if she was merely dancing still. Watching Whitley dance a little more exuberantly to a new song playing, Princess decided she’d better step up her moves too.

Seeing this, Whitley clapped her hands in glee. Princess was starting to let go a little. Whitley had long felt Princess needed a release outside of her own home. She needed friends and an outlet that made a little more noise.

“Of course, you know dancing is also very healthy, too!” Princess shouted to Whitley. Whitley thought Princess was trying a little too hard with the conversation, but decided merely smiling and nodding was enough for now.

However, Princess’ next shout, which of course happened in the heartbeat of that dead pause between songs would not allow merely a nod and pause.

                “I’m getting grandbabies, right?” Princess bellowed. It was enough to bring the whole place to a momentary standstill. The DJ, already nervous the owners were on his floor, fumbled making the pause pregnant indeed.

Princess’ face had become serious as Whitley blushed and tried to laugh it off. She and Hale had never discussed children. She knew she wanted kids, she just didn’t know when, or how many. She had a sudden urge to run to the bar.

Instead, Whitley stood still for a moment and thought. This might be an opportunity to show Princess that she was capable of controlling a situation. She started to move her body to the beat before answering.

“Kids are in the future,” Whitley shouted back, careful to keep her tone modulated.

Princess just smiled. It had been too long since Kat and Kell were small enough to fit in her arms. She missed that warm weight, the sweet smell, gummy smiles.

Torrance walked back in. Her phone had gone off at nearly the same time as Geneva’s. But Torrance didn’t have a nanny. She had a sick, elderly husband watching her kids. Torrance was here to let loose after weeks cooped up acting like a nurse.

Whitley looked her big sister square in the eye. “So… How is Abram,” Whitley asked.

Torrance looked away. Looked down. “Abram is Abram. He will always be Abram. Getting married won’t… hasn’t stopped that.” She looked sharply at Whitley. “Did it stop Jackson? Or Mom? Looks like it doesn’t stop me, either.”

“I shouldn’t have married him just because I got knocked up. I love my babies, but I shouldn’t have kept him around.” Torrance’s lip curled a little as she said it. “I can’t be with just one person. It cramps me. I’m so boxed in.”

Torrance looked so miserable as she said it; Whitley was tempted to feel sorry for her wild sister. Abram was trying to change who she was, had always tried to change her. He was another who couldn’t love blindly; another whose trust had been shattered. But he was wealthy, and Torrance had wanted that. She also knew that eventually he would die and she would be rich, and free.

Whitley wasn’t going to answer her sister. She had asked out of concern, and got more than she bargained for. She couldn’t agree with Torrance’s view of marriage, but she couldn’t change it either.

Sensing her sister’s disapproval, Torrance had more to say. “What about Oliver,” she asked Whitley.

“Oliver is not in my life anymore,” Whitley said. “I even think he’s married as well, much to his parents’ relief.”

“You know you’re still the one he wants though. And I saw enough of the two of you early on in high school. Even I know that there’s probably still something there. That break-up was supposed to be for his mother’s sake. Only Hale popped in with more money. Do you really have anything in common with that geek? Surely not little girl,” Torrance laughed.

Whitley stalked off to the bar leaving Torrance feeling bitter and lonely on the dance floor. Torrance didn’t stand there for long though, she headed off to the bathroom hoping for a little privacy.

She hurriedly wiped her face with a paper towel as Princess entered. Princess was bringing her a drink. She had seen the sisters’ facial expressions on the floor. The tension between the two was thick, and Princess had heard rumors that Abram and Torrance were not very well matched.

“I’ve heard these can solve a lot of problems,” said Princess, handing the drink over.

Torrance just stared at the glass. Princess was just starting to get worried that she might try to drown herself in it when Torrance thanked her for it.

                “I guess it can’t hurt to try and see if it does,” Torrance said.

Princess was starting to give credit to the rumors stating infidelity was also a problem. Abram must be an incredibly difficult person to live with for someone so young and vibrant. She had never been very outgoing or carefree. She had handled her situation better, with more grace, Princess thought to herself.

“I ought to write a book for these young kids. How to cope when your spouse is sleeping with other people,” thought Princess.

“PlumbBob. I would so have done her when she was younger. She’s still hot,” Torrance’s thoughts were bent quite differently.

Whitley had decided to get into the hot tub. She felt she needed a good scalding after what her sister had brought up.

Whitley had moved on from Oliver a long time ago. Being with Hale had shown her what stability could be. She and Oliver had been very rocky indeed. But Torrance was right about one thing. Oliver was still there, beneath the surface, lurking, waiting to be recognized. She pushed her hand hard against a jet, fighting the water rushing out, trying to force it into another course.

Whitley had about 10 minutes of solitary reflection when Torrance finally came out of the bathroom. Torrance had jumped in with such force a lot of water had splashed out. One of the employees had hurried over to mop it up, smiling at Whitley like she was terrified of being reprimanded. Princess had to talk to the officer as he left before she was at leisure to join them. She was a bit lost until Whitley told her the staff had bathing suits you could rent.

Whitley decided to leave the other two on one side. She wasn’t quite sure if she was ready to talk to Torrance at all yet, and Princess was enjoying her fifth cocktail of the evening. Whitley was glad she had arranged for transportation home.

Princess watched Whitley lean back, a small smile on her face. She sincerely hoped that Whitley was thinking about Hale. She wanted grandbabies.

At about that time, one of the bouncers timidly walked over to them.

“It’s closing time, Mrs. Blue.” His deep voice soft, cautious.

Whitley slowly opened her eyes, looked at him and smiled. “Thank you. Could you make sure our cab is outside, please,” she asked. Whitley was more than ready for this particular girls’ night to be over. All she wanted was to be back at home with Hale.

               Princess just wanted to be in bed. It had been a long night, and she was feeling that last Pink Fuzzy a little too much.