Babies 30 & 31: Let's Set the Record Straight

After the incident where Rachel came home drunk and I grounded her, she seemed a lot better. She stuck to staying home and dancing...

She even started hanging out with her younger sisters. I'm hoping it sticks...Sue and Wellsie could certainly use a good role model in an older sister.

She's doing so well, I let her off the hook.

Meanwhile, Vishous was of course still here, as the new baby hasn't been born yet. After he was here for awhile, I noticed something weird about him. Every time I started to tell him something, he would already know what I was going to say. I finally decided to ask him about it.

Me: The other day when I was about to ask you to take the trash out, before I could even say anything, you answered me...and you do that all the time...what's up with that?
Vishous: I'm surprised you didn't notice before, I'm actually telepathic. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier.
Me: Hmm, I don't guess it matters. I'm generally an open book.

Vishous: True...generally everything that goes through your mind comes out of your mouth anyway.

Vishous: There's actually something else. I also have the gift of foresight.
Me: Foresight? You mean you can see the future?
Vishous: Yes...and I wanted to talk to you about Rachel...
Me: What about her?
Vishous: Well, here's the thing about my gift: I can tell what's going to happen in the future, but I have no idea when exactly it's going to happen. It's more of a curse actually...
Me: Okay, so what does this have to do with Rachel?
Vishous: *pauses* I can sometimes see how someone is going to...*gulp*...going to die...and even though I don't know exactly when for Rachel, I could tell that she was very young...

I feel like I've been hit in the head with a sledgehammer and rubbed raw with sand paper at the same time. Is he seriously telling me that my daughter is going to die soon?

Me: *gulp* Did you see how it happens?
Vishous: Yes...but...
Me: Tell me.
Vishous: It might not...
Me: TELL me.
Vishous: It's dark...nighttime...she's at a place with a lot of nature, a park, I think. Someone else is with her. She is talking to someone and they give her something...then she gets groggy. Then she passes out...and no one finds her...
Me: This is not going to happen.
Vishous: How can you be so sure?
Me: Because I'm going to lock her in her room until she graduates.

***RACHEL'S POV***

So, I work really hard to earn my mom's trust, do better in school, and finally get ungrounded! I call Jasmine...it's time to celebrate!

I wait for Mom to go to bed, then I head out!

Jas and I meet outside of The Indigo Room.
Jasmine: Hey girl, it took me forever to get out of the house, my dad is such a nazi!
Me: I know, right? A fun nazi! Haha!

Me: I am so done with high school...I can't wait to be out of that place!
Jasmine: I hear ya there, babe! I'm so ready for graduation!

So after yacking, we go inside and get our drink on! I'm telling you, drinking makes everything better!

Me: I want to kiss the man that invented alcohol!
Jasmine: You think this is good...I heard from this guy at school that his older brother knows a guy that sells this stuff you can take that is better than drinking...and you can take it during school...
Me: Wow, really? That would be awesome...
Jasmine: Interested? I can give him a call...

So Jasmine calls her friend...who calls his brother...who calls his friend...then they all call each other again and tell us the guy is willing to meet us, even though it's on short notice.

So we go to the park to meet this guy, but then Jasmine gets a call from her dad, who is flipping out and she has to go. Great, so that's how I found myself standing in front of a drug dealer by myself at night...yeah, sure, this is totally safe...*note the sarcasm*

D.D.: Hey there, sexy.
Me: *throw up in mouth* Hey...uh, are you...
D.D.: Shh, on names...feds could be watching...
Me: Uh...ok...
D.D.: So you got the cash?
Me: Yeah...

I hand him my entire life savings...geez, this stuff is expensive. It better be worth it.

D.D.: You know, I could maybe save you some money...
Me: Really? How?
D.D.: I'm sure we could come up with some kind of...arrangement.

He leers at me and I want to gag, especially once I realize what he's talking about.

Me: Um, no...thanks.

So he gives me a bag of pills and leaves. Hmm, that was easy enough. I pop one of the pills and swig it with a beer I took from the club.

At first, I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time. It did feel like drinking, but better. But soon, I started feeling like I could barely stand up.

I feel like I might pass out and puke at the same time. Everything is fuzzy and there's no one else around...

I'm really scared...I'm here alone, that guy could come back....and I keep wanting to pass out. Everything is fuzzy...I don't know what to do...I have never felt so alone in my whole life. I move toward the bench and I can feel myself falling. Just as I am about to collapse on the park bench, I see a dark figure coming toward me with a bright light. Could it be the angel of death? He catches me and holds me. The bright light feels warm through my body. I start to feel better. He speaks.

Angel of Death: Your father would never forgive me if you died on my watch.

As I started to come to, I realize it isn't the angel of death, but it's Vishous.

Me: What happened?
Vishous: I got to you just in time. A few minutes later...

I start sobbing and bury my face in his shoulder. He rubs my back and comforts me. I can tell he seems uncomfortable, but he's trying.

Vishous: Let's get you home.

So we head home, but instead of letting me go to bed, he makes me sit up with him.

Vishous: Okay, let's have a chat.
Me: How did you know where I was?
Vishous: I just did, it's not important. What I'm more concerned about is what you were doing there in the first place.
Me: I don't know...just trying to have fun...take the edge off a little bit.
Vishous: Take the edge off what?
Me: I don't know...
Vishous: Yes you do...

Me: It's just really hard dealing with stuff, ya know?
Vishous: What kind of stuff?
Me: Just life, I guess. School, my younger siblings, my mom...I want to do everything right for them, but it's hard sometimes.
Vishous: Now you sound like your father.

Me: I wouldn't know...he skipped out before I could remember him.
Vishous: It wasn't exactly like that...
Me: Than exactly how was it? All my life I've heard from my mom and my older brothers about what a great guy my dad was, but if he's so great, why isn't he here?
Vishous: Rachel, it practically killed your father to have to leave you and your brothers. I have never in my years met a person more selfless, nurturing, and caring than him. Do you know how he lost his leg?
Me: No...
Vishous: It got stuck in the processes of saving his brother and he chose to shoot it off and save his brother rather than let his brother die and save his leg.
Me: Yeah, I know he must really care for his brother, but he must not care that much for me...
Vishous: That's where your wrong. He loves you more than you could ever possibly know...
Me: ...but...
Vishous: He is following the orders of his king, as am I, but make no mistake. That does not mean he doesn't care about you. He would tear through the asshole of the world and then crawl through it to be with you if he could.

I wonder if what Vishous is telling me about my dad is true when I realize that he wouldn't have any reason to lie to me.

Me: Hmm, that's quite possibly the sweetest thing I've ever heard....at least with the word asshole in it.
Vishous laughs and rolls his eyes: Ok, kiddo, nobody likes a smart ass.
Me: So are you going to tell my mom?
Vishous: Nope, you are.


***HADLEY'S POV***

I woke up this morning in a really good mood. Even though I'm about a thousand years pregnant, I feel really good.

As I came out of my bedroom, I found Rachel pacing in front of my door.
Me: What's the matter babe?
Rachel: Mom, I need to talk to you...
Me: Okay...

She goes into this whole story about going out and drinking last night, then taking these pills she bought off a guy in the park...then about Vishous finding her.

Rachel: Mom, I'm so sorry, I swear. I'm never going to do any of this again.

Rachel: I swear...I'm thinking of going to AA...I think I have a real problem with drinking...
Me: I do to...I think you could really benefit from an AA meeting.
Rachel: So you're not mad?
Me: I can't say I'm particularly happy with you, but if you are honestly telling me you're turning your life around, I'm happy for you.

I pull her into a hug before sending her off to school.

As I see the kids off, my water breaks and I get a strong contraction.

So Vishous and I are off to the hospital.

A couple hours later, we welcomed Baby 30: Quinn Reed into the world...

And her sister, Baby 31: Tina Reed.