Chapter Nineteen: D for Disaster

After their little adventure down to the Supermarket, Veronica went to call her family. Her nervous fingers slowly keyed in the numbers and she held her breath as she waited for someone to pick up.

Come on. She mentally commanded after the third ring. 

Maybe no one is home.. Came a later thought. 

Veronica was on the verge of hanging up when a someone finally answered. 

"Hello, sorry about the wait." Nina answered. 

"Hi Nina..uh, how are you?" Veronica asked unsure what to say. She was hoping she would have gotten her brother, but hope failed her this time. 

"Veronica? Hi. I'm fine." Nina was just as unsure on how to respond to Veronica. They hadn't talked since her visit to rehab and neither of them were 100% used to their new, peaceful relationship. "How's rehab?" 

"Rehab was helpful. I'm out now, that's why I called. I'm in a halfway house.." Veronica replied.

"Oh that's great! You should come over, if you can. The boys would love to see you I'm sure." Nina said. She wasn't entirely sure of what she had said until the words were already spoken. 

She regretted instantly inviting her over. Daniel nor Jeremy were home to confirm rather or not they'd want to see Veronica. But it was too late to take back now. All she could hope was Veronica would turn down her offer. 

"Sure." Veronica accepted.

"Great." Nina said. 

"Wonderful." Veronica replied. "I gotta go." She said suddenly and hung up. 

Veronica pondered over the brief conversation as she went to take a seat behind her. 

What had I done? She thought to herself. 

Veronica was still processing the thought of seeing her children after her time spent in jail and rehab. She didn't have to think too deeply to know Jeremy would be standoffish. After he turned 12, it had always been that way. It was as if all hope for Veronica was lost by that age. And Malcolm? Veronica worried if he would even remember her. He was still so young and although she was his mother, she certainly hadn't been stable in his life. 

"What's wrong with you?" Shane asked as she suddenly joined Veronica in the living room. Caught off guard, Veronica had jumped slightly. 

"Calm down. I'm not gonna bit ya." Shane joked. 

Veronica thought her new roommate had a strange sense of humor, but re-framed from sharing that. 

"I was just thinking." Veronica replied. 

"Thinking about tailing it out of here? Me too." Shane said. Veronica shook her head. 

"Oh? Well what's on your mind then?" Shane said, changing her tune. She took a seat. 

"My boys, my family. I'm suppose to see them tomorrow." Veronica said. 

"Then why do you look so down about it? I'd be jumping for joy." Shane said. 

"I just..I'm worried they might hate me." Veronica replied. 

"Hate you? You're their mother! They could never hate you." Shane said. 

Veronica wasn't sure if Shane was joking or being dead serious. 

"They would have good reason too.." Veronica started. 

"Bull. My eldest tried to guilt me once. Saying I was a shitty mother. I had to remind her that no matter what I did, I did my best to make sure they never wanted for nothing. Even if I had to sell my ass to God know's who. If your kids give you any lip, you smack their ungrateful asses." Shane said. 

Veronica didn't know Shane had kids or anything about the woman for that matter. Veronica was too ashamed to say her actions weren't for the benefit of her kids, but for her own selfish desires. Shane obviously wasn't perfect, but she seemed to care more about her children's well being than Veronica. So to avoid going down memory lane, she switched gears. 

"How many kids do you have?" Veronica asked. 

"Five. Four girls and a boy." Shane replied. 

"I have two boys." Veronica said. 

Before the two women could get further acquainted, a voice called out from down the hall.

"First meeting is starting in five, get ready!" 

The next morning, after she had gotten permission, Veronica began to get ready. She was still anxious about seeing her kids, Daniel and Nina, but she tried her best to hide it. 

Nina was up bright and early too. She had broke the news to both Daniel and Jeremy last night. Daniel wasn't too thrilled about being told at the last minute, but didn't put up an argument. Jeremy on the other hand, said that he had to work and would try to take the day off. His eyes said another story though, his eyes were saying he would be anywhere but home when Veronica came to visit. 

But that was yesterdays worries, Nina didn't want to cloud her head with negativity. She only hope that Jeremy showed up. 

As the morning progressed, Nina had seen Jeremy off to school, got herself ready for the day and then began to get Malcolm ready. He was always so happy in the morning. He never fussed, he just simply waited until someone freed him from his crib, he was such a sweet baby. 

"Morning love bug. Are you ready to see your mama today?" Nina asked with forced cheer. She wasn't entirely happy with Veronica coming to visit herself. It just reminded of her of the inevitable, that she'd be childless again. 

Malcolm stretched out his hands happily, oblivious to Nina's worries. 

The time had finally arrived for Veronica to make her debut. It was nearing 2 pm and Jeremy would be home soon, so it was the perfect time to have her come. Nina was the first to spot her and called out to Daniel. 

As she was holding Malcolm in her arms, she let Veronica inside. 

The two women smiled at each other and exchanged greetings, Daniel appeared out of the bedroom seconds later and greeted his sister too. 

Nina and Veronica continued to make small talk, until Daniel began to venture away from the group. They hadn't prepared lunch yet and so he opted to do it. 

"Nina why don't you help me?" Daniel suggested. 

Nina knew he didn't need help preparing something so simple as a Salad. 

"Put Malcolm down and come over here." He added. 

That was what he had meant. He wanted to tell her, indiscreetly, to let Veronica hold her son. 

"Right, here I come." Nina called back. She forced a small smile before placing the toddler on the ground.  

Veronica took the opportunity to pick Malcolm up. 

**My game crashed after this, so excuse Malcolm's mini wardrobe change**

"Oh Mama missed you so so much little guy. Have you been a good boy for your Aunt and Uncle?" Veronica said and hugged him close to her. She had forgotten how soft he felt, how love and innocence just radiated from him. 

"Mama" Malcolm simply replied. 

"Yes, mama is here and she's never leaving you again." She promised. 

Nina and Daniel had finished the salads. Well Daniel had, Nina was too distracted by watching Veronica interact with Malcolm. She was happy for him, she truly was. But she couldn't help but to feel jealous. She had been his "mother" for weeks now and Veronica walks in and it's as if she no longer matters. It broke her heart. 

"Veronica why don't you go to Malcolm's room? You can play with his toys with him." Daniel said upon seeing the sour look on Nina's face. He hoped that it would lighten her mood. 

"Nina.." Daniel called once the coast was clear. 

"Yes?" She answered from a short distance away.

"Come here." He said.

She turned around and joined him by the kitchen sink.

"What is it?" She asked. 

"It's okay." Daniel told her. 

Nina didn't bother to deny that anything was wrong, he wouldn't believe her anyways. She simply nodded her head. He kissed his wife, hoping to kiss away any negative thoughts still lingering in her mind. 

Veronica enjoyed watching her youngest son play with his Xylophone. He banged against the keys happily and even tried to chew on the stick a few times, but she enjoyed every moment of it. 

Time was passing by rapidly, so fast that she almost forgot Jeremy never came home. More time passed and they ate together. The salad was nothing special, but enjoying it with people who loved her felt nice. She even got to fed Malcolm for the first time in what felt like forever. Although he was a big boy and could hold the bottle himself, he happily accepted her help. 

The duo had returned back to the nursery, but Veronica was growing annoyed. Not with Malcolm, but being forced to wait things out and no one addressing the fact that Jeremy wasn't home. 

She gathered Malcolm up in her arms and went in search for Danny or Nina, whomever she spotted first. Malcolm was reluctant to detach from his toy, but he didn't protest too long. Nina saw her brother in the kitchen washing the few dishes that gathered. 

"Danny?" Veronica called out.

"Hey." He said and turned around. She walked further into the kitchen with Malcolm still attached to her hip.

"Thank you for this, it really meant a lot." Veronica said honestly. It hadn't turned out exactly how she imagined, but she was still grateful.

Daniel shook his head. 

"It was all Nina's idea, thank her." Daniel said. 

Veronica nodded. 

"Yes thank her for me too." Veronica replied.

"Do it yourself, she's only in the bedroom. I'll go get her." He offered. 

"No no, that isn't necessary. I need to go anyways." Veronica interjected. 

He looked at her puzzled by her sudden urge to leave.

"Why?" He asked. 

"I have a curfew to keep and besides he's not coming.." Veronica replied.

"Jeremy?" Daniel inquired. "He probably had to work. He will be home soon." Daniel tried to convince her to stay. 

"It's alright. I understand." Veronica said. She hoped he wouldn't push the topic any further and he didn't. He reached for Malcolm and saw her to the door. 

         

Veronica decided to take advantage of the time she had before the taxi would be around to pick her back up. It wasn't long, but she needed to do something to pass the time. She decided to take a stroll throughout the neighborhood. She hadn't been on this side in a while, since her arrest to be exact. 

Truthfully, she missed it. She knew she shouldn't, but she did. 

She was debating on rather or not to go inside. She was right there, so close. But she had came too far to throw things away now. 

Just as she was walking pass, a patron was exiting. 

"Veronica?" A scruffy voice called behind her. "Damn it's been forever...you're looking good." He commented. 

"Thanks." She said not bothering to turn around. 

"You coming in? First drink is on me." He offered.

"No..I'm good." She said and kept walking. 

Veronica had finally made it home, just in time too. She said goodbye to the taxi driver and headed inside. 

She entered the small house and noticed she wasn't alone in the living room. 

"You made it home on time, barely." Kathy remarked. 

"Sorry.." Veronica said. 

"It's okay. This doesn't count as a strike yet." Kathy replied. "Have a seat, our meeting is about to start now that you're home." 

Great Veronica thought as she took her seat. 

***This wasn't exactly how I pictured the welcome home lunch going. Jeremy would have been there if my game didn't keep crashing at their house..After the third attempt I gave up and did the best with what I had***