Chapter 4

Dan drove them home, where Wendy, Tina, Lisa, and Jenny were waiting with Danny and Jessica.

They entered the front door, where Danny was quick to reach his mother’s arms. “Where’s Daddy?” That was all it took for him to ask, and she began to tear up.

Jessica wiggled from Lisa’s arms and hurried to Dan. “She knows who her daddy is,” Tina mentioned as he picked her up.

“Danny, I need you to be the young man we’ve talked before about you being,” Cathy said, taking him to the living room couch.

“Where’s Daddy?” He asked again.

Cathy sat, placing him on her lap. “I’ll tell you where he is. Remember me telling you your grandmother, my mom, is an angel in heaven?”

“Yes, you said she has on a white gown and looks so pretty.”

“Yes, she does; I’m just like her.”

“But you’re not an angel, though you are very pretty,” he said, his hand cupping her cheek.

“Thank you, honey. No, I’m not an angel. I hope that I don’t become one until I’m very, very old. Your dad is visiting Grandma in heaven, and he’s going to be staying there forever.”

“Daddy isn’t coming home?”

“No, honey, I’m afraid not. He’s become an angel. His body is no longer alive. He isn’t breathing like you and I are.”

“Will I ever get to see Daddy again?”

“You’ll see him in your dreams, looking at his pictures, and someday you’ll be with him again too.” Cathy couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, and, hugging her son, she wept hard against him.

Danny hugged her as tight as he could. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you too, sweetie,” she replied through quivering lips.

Everyone was standing by the living room and kitchen doorway, fighting back tears as she spoke to Danny. He slipped from her lap and went to play with Sarg and Major.

“Damn, Cathy, you sure are one hell of a mother!” Karen stated, hugging her.

“Maybe I should have been a better wife, and Ben would still be alive.”

“Honey, you can’t keep blaming yourself for Ben driving drunk,” Dan said.

“That may be true, but I can’t help it. I know there’s a lot to do, but I think I’ll lie down for a while. Thank you everyone for your love and support.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jenny said, taking her hand.

“I’m afraid that I wouldn’t be very good company.”

“You can cuddle with me.”

Jenny led her to the main bedroom and lay on her side, her back against Cathy. Jenny thought Cathy would feel better and guided her hand under her top to caress her bare breast.

“We don’t have to do anything except hold me.”

“Thank you, Jenny.” Cathy held her tighter, cried, then dozed off for a short, tormented nap.

“Dan, we’ve got to keep an eye on Cathy, or she could end up playing the blame game, like I did, and you know what I almost did,” Karen mentioned, accepting Dan’s hug.

“I agree. She might need to see Carla Mackenzie for a few sessions to get a better perspective on Ben’s death.”

Later, Dan walked into the bedroom to put away his suit. “Dad, will you lay with me?” Cathy asked.

“Of course I will.” He crawled onto the bed, cuddling against her back.

“I’m trying to make Cathy feel better too,” Jenny said. Dan could see her hand moving slightly under Jenny’s top.

Cathy smoothed her hand over the bed. “I think we created Jessica on this bed. I don’t feel like trying to make another baby right now.”

“We don’t have to, ever.”

“I’m so mixed up. I’m grieving for the loss of my husband, yet I love you and want to have your baby. Will you just hold me for a while?”

“Of course I will.” She cuddled her small ass closer to his midsection and guided his hand inside her low top to caress her bare breast.

Jenny turned to face Cathy. “I wish I could make gentle love to you and make you feel better.”

“I do too, but I wouldn’t be very good company. We’ll make love soon, I promise. Will you cuddle with us and hold me?”

Jenny shuffled closer; they embraced and shared a soft kiss. Cathy didn’t object to her hand joining Dan’s on her other breast.

They just dozed off when Karen had to wake them up. “Honey, Officer Alexander is on the phone and would like to come over in about thirty minutes and talk to Cathy.” She raised her head and nodded her agreement.

The girls made sure they were conservatively clothed, which meant they added bras to their low-cut tops and short skirts and wore panties. Tina joked she’d gone so long without wearing any; she couldn’t find any to wear.

Curious minds wondered why a Belleville Police Services patrol car was parking in Hayward’s driveway.

Karen let Officer Alexander in, and introductions were exchanged. “I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. McCormack. I’ll only take a few minutes of your time.”

They sat at the dining room table, where he began. Jenny sat on Dan’s leg, her arm around his shoulder and his around her tiny waist. At least this time her short hemmed skirt revealed the crotch of white panties and not her bare pussy.