Three Cheers

The next morning, there was a heavy knock on the front door. It was about 10, and it was just Thora and I up. She rushed to the door, "I get it!"

I scooped her up, "I'll get it." I told her.

Thora giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck, "Okay."

I opened the door, balancing Thora on my hip, and frowned when I saw a familiar looking woman there. I knew her face, but I couldn't place it; "Can I help you?"

"I need to speak to Gerard."

As soon as her mouth opened I knew who it was; "How the hell did you get my address?"

Eliza, she smiled evilly at me, "Gerard has been keeping me a secret from you." She let out a crackled laugh.

I narrowed my eyes and slammed the door in her face. I locked it and set Thora down, "Mommy, who is that?" She annunciated every word right.

"The devil." I muttered, "Lets go wake up daddy."

Thora cheered and I let her down, "Daddy! Daddy!"

I could hear Gerard groan from tiredness; Thora ran in and jumped on the bed, "Wakey!"

Gerard rubbed his eyes, "What?"

"The devil is outside!" Thora said to him.

He raised a brow, then looked to me, "The devil?"

I nodded, "Take a look for yourself. I'm sure she's still out there."

Gerard sat up, rubbing his eyes and then got out of bed. He was going to pick Thora up, but I stopped him, "No, you face that monster alone."

He looked utterly confused, "I don't get it."

"You will in a second." I picked Thora up and followed him out to the front door; but I took Thora to the kitchen with me. "What do you want for breakfast?"

She hummed, "Pancakes."

"Pancakes? Just pancakes?"

"Eggs too!"

"Okay, go wake up Biz." I set her down, "Don't run."

Thora hummed again and walked away, only to start running down the hall. I went out and followed behind, but only to the door to see that Gerard had gone outside. I was growing angry from him even giving that crazy bitch any of his time.

"Mama, where's daddy?" Busy and Thora came down the hall holding hands.

"He went outside to talk to someone." I told Busy.

"Mama say the devil, Biz!" Thora exclaimed.

Busy looked frightened, "The Devil?!"

I smiled at them, "Not the real devil."

They still looked worried, "Is he okay?"

"He's fine," I smiled at them, hiding my anger, "Come help me cook."

The girls followed me into the kitchen and began to get the pans out and the pancake mix. They helped me mix the pancake batter and added chocolate chips to the batter. As batter cooked Gerard came in; he stood by the counter; "Daddy, are you okay?" Busy asked him.

Gerard hummed, "Just fine."

"The devil no eat you?" Thora questioned him next.

"No."

I looked at him; I could see he wanted to tell me something. I looked back at the pancakes, making sure they weren't too big or burnt. Once they were finished, I set them on plates, "Okay, girls, sit at the table. I'll warm up the syrup."

Gerard put them in their seats and I got the syrup. I set their plates in front of them and pour a little bit of syrup on their pancakes. Thora pouted at me, "Ma-Ma!" She said sternly, "I want more!"

"More? You're nuts, Baby Bear." I told her, "You'll get the sugar shakes, then you'll be sorry you ate so much sugar."

She still pouted, "Daddy?"

Gerard shook his head, "I agree with your mama. You got enough sugar on that plate."

She made a face, "No fair."

"Life isn't fair." Busy said.

Thora shot her a look, "Mama, cut pancakes." She ordered.

I smiled and kissed her cheek, "Say please."

She huffed, "Please, mama, cut pancakes."

I cut her pancakes, "Eat them slow."

"Kay." She nodded vigorously.

Gerard looked at me and took my hand. I sighed and followed after him; we only went out towards the hall. I looked at him, waiting for him to explain why Eliza was here.

"She needed some help." He said slowly.

"What kind of help does she need?" I asked him incredulously.

Gerard sighed and leaned back against the wall, "She's been... In need of help."

I glared at him now, "What kind of help, Gerard?" I snapped at him, "And how long have you been talking to her?"

"Just a few weeks--"

"A few weeks?!"

He grabbed my forearms, "Calm down--"

I shoved him away, "I will not calm down! She's suppose to be in prison for arson! Do you not remember that she burnt my store down? She ruined my livelihood!"

Gerard grabbed me again, "You ain't broke now, are you?"

"That isn't the fucking point--"

He cut me off, "Watch your mouth."

I wanted to smack him, "Watch my mouth? Fuck you, Gerard! You really want to tell me to watch my mouth? I should be reeling you over some coals for bringing that crazy bitch to our house! Where we live with our children?"

"Look, October, I just wanted to help."

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever. You bring that bitch around here again, and I'll make sure it'll be the last time." I started to walk away, but Gerard grabbed me.

"Don't walk away from me."

I ripped my arm away, "You do what you want to do without telling me, I can walk away from you."

He growled after me, and I rolled my eyes at him. I returned to the kitchen where the girls were looking over towards the entry. I sighed softly, "Did you guys eat?"

Busy hummed and Thora shook her head; "Not yet!"

"It's okay, take your time." I sat down with them, "You guys wanna go see your cousins today?"

"Yes!" Busy exclaimed, "Can we?"

"Yeah," Gerard came in the room just then, "Your daddy will be swamped today, so I'll take you guys."

Gerard shot me a glare and I just smiled at him. He knew I was upset and now he had to fix it. But, I was more than upset, I was pissed off.

I mean, how could he even think about talking to Eliza? How could he even think about inviting her to our home? I'm surprised I haven't killed him yet.

The girls finished their pancakes and I had them go get ready to take a bath. Gerard stood by the counter, and I got their plates; "She steps one foot into my house and I'll make sure she never has the privilege of walking again."

"You're acting crazy, October." He said with a shake of his head.

"I'm crazy? I don't think so," I set the plates in the sink, "You better make her go away or I'll divorce you."

He narrowed his eyes, "Don't say that shit."

"I'm serious Gerard. I hate her. If you still love me, you'd make her go away."

Gerard's features softened and he nodded, "I'll... I'm sorry about bringing her here."

"Exactly." I muttered.

He grabbed my forearm gently and kissed the corner of my lips, "I love you."

"So you say."

He laughed softly, "Say it back and mean it."

I combed my hand through his hair and pulled it, "Not until that bitch is gone."

He sighed, "Alright, fine."