Ronnie admired the look with a few more glances in the mirror tilting her head to see it at different angles. As it swung around her shoulders it looked like her hair was ablaze. But, she didn’t have much time. She had plans to make, and her mom to see and console.
Ronnie hugged her friend good bye, tipped her generously even when Margaret tried to protest. She was ready to face her mom. Nikko could wait. Let him stew awhile, she mused. But he’d face his comeuppance soon. The prick. He’d realize the ice princess could burn too.
***
Ronnie pulled into her driveway. Jay was home; she braced herself and took several calming breaths before she got out of the car. Seeing her fall apart was the last thing her mom needed.
Turning the handle, she slowly pushed open the door. Her mom and Jay were in the kitchen putting away the dishes they apparently just washed. Jay was laughing about something. She found that odd. Just three hours ago, the bear of a man had been crying like a tortured animal. Her mom, still looked frail, but she was smiling from ear to ear. Ronnie cleared her throat to announce her arrival, and they both turned to her.
Lou’s eyes widened at her daughter. Her hair! It looked magnificent. The steaks were gone; the blonde shimmered like the palest of gold, and was tipped with red, and orange. “Wow! I didn’t know you were getting your hair done. It looks great. I love it.”
“Thanks,” Ronnie returned the smile. “I just felt like I needed to do something different, and then when the trial comes up, I can always just get the tips trimmed.”
“Good idea,” her mom nodded. “Although I really like the tips. My baby girl is on fire.” Lou laughed and Jay added his own laughter after delivering a wolfish whistle.
Their good humor was beginning to really confuse Ronnie. So, she set her shopping bags down by the door, and approached them. But, she would let her mom take the lead, tell her in her own time. Her mind was trying to sort out this change in mood. Probably, putting on a happy face for her daughter. But she wanted the truth, all of it. Good and bad. She needed to know what they were dealing with so she could help her mom.
“Yeah, I like it too,” she added. “Nikko wasn’t in, so I got my hair done. Visited with Margaret.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I like her. She does good work. Really different, but stunning. I should go see her.”
“You can’t,” Jay burst out. ““I heard the chemicals...”
Lou silenced him with a look.
Ronnie needed to know what was going on. “Why can’t she?” she asked. She hoped it would encourage the two to reveal their secret.
Lou and Jay exchanged a look. Then a small smile. He patted and rubbed her back affectionately, and nodded.
Lou looked to Ronnie. “Sit down, baby. We’ve got some news.”
“Yes, um . . . you mentioned some good news and bad news in your text,” Ronnie prompted when her mom stalled. Jay and Louisa exchanged another secretive look.
Ronnie looked at them both curiously, and went into the kitchen and sat at the counter. “So, what’s up?” She waited.
Lou looked to Jay one more time. “You tell her, Jay,” she encouraged. Ronnie was so confused. The two were now grinning like the cat that caught the canary.
“You sure?” he asked. “You want me to tell her?”
“Yes, tell her.” Lou laughed as he turned to face Ronnie.
Ronnie looked to him expectantly.
“Well,” he started. “Your mom . . .”
“And you,” Lou added when he stopped.
He gave her the biggest smile.
“Your mom and I,” he emphasized, “well, we are going to have a baby.”
A baby!!! Ronnie practically fell out of her chair. Her head snapped back and forth several times. Her eyes grew round. Four months? Her mother had said four months. She had assumed that it meant four months to live, but now it dawned on her. Her mother had meant she was four months pregnant.
“A . . . a . . . baby?” she croaked.
“Yep, I know. I was as shocked as you,” Jay stated, seeing the worry on her face. “But, are you okay with this?”
She saw the worry there. For her? “Uh, yeah!” Relief swept through her. “A brother or sister. Holy hell! I’m more than okay with that. Holy hell!” She got off her seat and rushed around the counter pulling her mom into her arms, the mother she thought she might lose.
Her mom was mumbling something. She made herself focus on what she was saying. “Yeah, I’m already four months along. I have suspected it for a while, I took a test, and the doctor confirmed it today. But, I had no idea I was that far along.”
“Oh my God!” Ronnie shrieked pulling her mom back and looking at her. “You’re not even showing.”