Paranoia (Michael Bennett #17)

CHAPTER 67

MY MORNING STARTED when a bad dream jolted me awake. I guessed it was Mary Catherine’s concern about the baby. I dreamed we were in a doctor’s office and they were giving us bad news. But like a lot of dreams, it wasn’t clear to me what the bad news concerned. It left me unsettled, and I lay there quietly, staring up at the ceiling.

I didn’t hear any kids, so I guessed it was early, maybe sometime around 6 a.m. It had been the longest night’s rest I’d gotten in a week. The family dinner with Trilling and his new paramedic friend had been a great success. It had made me happy to see everyone getting along. Even though my grandfather had overindulged in the pinot noir a little, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking how his long-winded stories entertained the kids.

I slipped out of bed without waking Mary Catherine and padded through the apartment, hearing the first stirrings of the morning. I headed into the kitchen and started breakfast, which always required at least a dozen eggs as well as ham, turkey bacon, an assortment of cereals and fruits, and three different kinds of milk: whole, skim, and almond. The entire process took some time to accommodate the kids waking and coming out at different times.

While I concentrated on flipping the eggs perfectly, so they were actually “over easy,” Juliana walked into the kitchen fully dressed.

“Where are you going so early?”

“Got a lot of work to do today and I want to meet with some people at school this morning to go over some class requirements. It may not be Ivy League, but City College is still a college. Don’t worry. Brian said he’d take the kids to school.”

“I can do it. Brian’s got a job. You guys have covered for me enough. And for the record, I think City College is a good school. A really good school. I’m proud that you go there.”

That earned me a weak smile from my oldest child. Without any more conversation, Juliana just said, “Bye.” And walked out the door. It all felt a little awkward. Then I tried to put it in context with her reaction to Trilling the previous night. I still didn’t get it completely, but I knew it had to do with him.

Just then the other kids started filing out of their bedrooms and moving like zombies toward the kitchen. I handed out plates with food randomly piled on. The twins both took plates out of my hand without acknowledging me in any way.

While everyone was eating, I slipped back into the bedroom and got dressed for work. Mary Catherine turned in bed and said, “Come lie down with me for a bit.”

“That’s the best offer I’ve heard in a long time. But I need to get the kids to school in a little while.”

“If that’s all I can get, I’ll take a little while.”

I sat, then stretched out on the bed next to my beautiful wife. Her tangle of golden hair shot through with glints of red made it look like she was a feral child. Of course I didn’t say that.

Mary Catherine said, “Any crises this morning?”

“Nothing really. Juliana shot out of here like a missile without eating or talking to anyone. I think it might have something to do with Rob and his date last night.”

Mary Catherine propped herself up on her elbow. “Really, Dr. Phil, that’s your analysis?”

“Why? Am I wrong?”

“No. You actually got it exactly right. Juliana has had a crush on Rob Trilling since the first day you brought him home.”

“Rob does attract pretty girls. Why do you think that is?”

“You think it might be because he’s good-looking, polite, smart, loves his family, and has a good job? Gee, that’s a tough one to figure out.”

I had to laugh at Mary Catherine’s sarcasm. She knew me better than anyone. And this was one of my blind spots. Especially when it related to my own children. Criminals and murderers were more in my comfort zone than relationships.

We chatted for a few moments. She kissed me lightly on the lips. That turned into a little more serious kiss. Before I knew it, I lost track of time until Eddie knocked on the bedroom door and said in a low voice, “Hey, Dad, we only have fifteen minutes to make it to school. Sister Sheilah will never let you forget it if we’re late again.”

I looked at Mary Catherine and said, “Duty calls.” I got the kids to Holy Name with almost a full thirty seconds to spare.