A Pact For Life (25 page)

He couldn't quit though. For one thing, he needed the money to pay off what he still owed on Diana's wedding ring. A ring that was still missing in some yard down her street.

After the ring was paid for, then he could quit, and focus solely on being a family man. He had no problem letting Diana bring in all the income. He didn't require much, only a reason to keep going. With Diana and the baby, maybe he had that reason?

If his future was doomed to the unmagnificent life of the dull, then he was ready to welcome it with talentless arms.

With two hands full of house listings, Cale stepped into Diana's black Mercedes and off they sped. It was a gray Saturday in February where not an inch of blue would be seen in the sky from 6 AM through 5 PM. Snow was not a threat. The day was destined to be gray, not white.

“I'm not sure where you want to start, Diana. There is an open house half a mile from your parents' house in Lakewood.” He thumbed through the listings until he found what he was looking for. “Here, take a look.”

At the red light, Diana looked over a two story house that looked like a mini castle. “They must've built this after I left home. It's a little weird looking. Do you really want to check it out?”

“We don't have to go, it's up to you.”

Diana gripped the wheel and answered, “We might as well stop in since we have to meet my parents for brunch anyway.”

They passed through the city and into the suburbs, the transition happening instantly as they crossed over Interstate 25. It was apparent they reached the suburbs by the families out for bike rides and walks with strollers and dogs.

Eventually they arrived at the house in question. There were two other vehicles in the driveway, balloons on the mailbox, and a sign in the grass featuring a picture of a realtor with a smile that screamed forced. With spires on each corner, large wooden doors that could serve as a drawbridge, and the subtle gray that was all the rage in the 12th century, the house looked even more like a mini-castle than the listing let on.

Cale and Diana walked through the wooden doors into a tall foyer where another couple stood with their backs toward Diana and Cale. From the kitchen a voice called, “Mr. and Mrs. Brancton, would your children like some cookies? They're fresh out of the oven!”

There was a stampede of footsteps from above that grew louder until two children appeared hopping down the stairs. Diana thought the name Brancton sounded familiar, but wasn't able to remember why.

The Brancton mom, a round woman with curly, light brown hair turned toward the children and sternly said, “One cookie for each of you, and that's it. Oh, and bring one for me.” The eager looking children nodded and raced for the kitchen as the woman turned toward Diana and Cale. “Oh my God! Diana Young!? Is that you?”

Diana's heart sank and she realized why the name Brancton sounded familiar. They were her classmates in high school. A sanctimonious pair that ran every Christian and honors club, thumbed their noses at those they considered sinners, talked shit about their friends while smiling to their faces, befriended any teacher that could help them, and mortally hated Diana.

Patty Brancton, or as she was known back then, Patty Engleman, was the cause of their hatred toward Diana. Diana was her only rival for Valedictorian, a competition they both took seriously. Ultimately, being the Christianiest of Christians prevailed in the secular public school, and Patty was crowned Valedictorian. As for Ron Brancton, her high school boyfriend and now husband, well he was just whipped. His balls were in a jar that Patty kept in her pocket only to hand them back to him when she needed him to treat Diana or any other person deemed unworthy like crap. Because of this, Diana saw him as even more despicable than Patty.

Diana didn't want to give her the satisfaction of being memorable, so she faked confusion and said, “Ummm... hey”

“It's Patty, Patty Engleman! Do you remember me and my husband Ron Brancton from high school?”

“Oh yeah... yes... yes! I remember now. Sorry, it's just been awhile.” Diana said and walked forward to shake their hands. “This is my boyfriend, Cale Dawkins. Cale, this is Patty and Ron.”

Cale fought through the impulse to slap their hands in low fives. Instead, he shook their hands with an uneasiness for how much strength to use.

Patty asked Diana, “So, what are you doing now”

“I'm a partner at JCPG, a law firm downtown next to the capital. What about you guys?”

“Well, I was teaching, but quit when my daughter was born. Now I'm a stay at home mom, blessed by God with two amazing children. We are trying for a third. Hopefully God will provide us with one.”

Diana smiled, but in her mind gave a scoff for the ages. Only the most self-centered and overtly righteous people would think God gave them a child. Well, excluding Mary that is.

Of course, Cale couldn't hate on their perceived blessing from God. He felt the same way about his and Diana's baby. Sure, the Branctons probably credited White Jesus for their blessing, and Cale's deity was something else entirely, but the key facet is they were both blessed by a higher power.

Patty continued, “That leaves Ron as the breadwinner. He's now the head supervisor for technical support with Century Link's internet service. He'll probably make the move up to executive in the next year or so, isn't that right honey?”

Ron nodded his head.

“Wow Ron, you must be making a lot to support such a large family?” Diana had been around enough courtrooms to know when someone was lying, and Patty was lying.

Speaking for Ron, his wife said, “He makes plenty for us. To be honest with you Diana, most of our money we give to our church. Having too much money is one of those sins that we try and avoid.”

Cale debated in his head whether or not that was actually a sin as Diana responded with, “That's nice.”

From the kitchen, the realtor stepped into the foyer, and was surprised to find another couple. She put on her tremendously fake smile and exclaimed, “Why hello there! I'm Donna Massey. Welcome welcome to this MAGnificent house!”

Diana shook the realtor's hand and said, “Hi, I'm Diana, and this is my boyfriend, Cale.”

Patty spoke before the realtor got the chance. “Diana and I were dear friends back in high school.”

“Really? Well that is wonderful! Would you guys like some cookies too? Homemade and fresh!”

Diana looked over at Patty Brancton scarfing down her cookie and said loudly, “No thanks. I like to stay away from sweets.”

Patty interjected, “Oh Diana, come on and have one. There are starving children who would do anything for that cookie.”

“And if I eat this then they'll never get it.”

“Are you on a diet or something? You look a little more filled out since high school.”

Diana gave an audible gasp. A women who put on at least seventy pounds since the last time she saw her had called her fat. Taking off her coat to reveal her round stomach, it was time for clarification. “It's not a diet, I'm just a healthy eater. And you must be confused about me filling out because I'm pregnant.”

“Oh, congratulations! You know Diana, I never pegged you as a mother. How many weeks are you?”

“Let's see, I think either nineteen or twenty?

“C'mon Diana, you really should know that. It's very important. Cale, are you the father?”

Cale bit his lip to stop from laughing and to remind himself not to say something inappropriate. “Yep, that's me.”

“Good. It's important that a baby has both a mommy and daddy.”

Diana interjected, “When isn't that the case?”

Patty ignored this and said, “There are so many broken homes now-a-days. Diana, I'm so happy you finally found someone. Ron and I were worried your aggressive personality would be an issue.”

“My personality wasn't a problem. I just wanted to make sure that I experienced life a little before settling down. It would've been a huge mistake to marry the first guy I dated.”

Patty answered, “It doesn't matter if it's true love. Ron and I were lucky to find each other when we did. Most people aren't as fortunate as we were.”

The conversation had devolved into a war of smiles and insulting compliments. Patty wanted to slap Diana across the face, Diana wanted to thrust the palm of her hand straight into Patty's nose.

The realtor held the tray of cookies, ignorant to the fight that was going on right in front of her and asked, “Would anyone like another cookie?” The four adults answered no, the two kids were missing. “How about we start on the tour, then? If you all would like, we'll start with the rooms upstairs?”

“Kids, come on!” Patty shrieked as the boy and girl ran from the kitchen.

Cale and Diana started up the stairs several steps in front of the Branctons. Diana could hear their whispers, but was unable to make out individual words. She knew they were talking about her, and she wished she could let Cale in on what was happening. If he was aware of the situation, then he would make them sorry. After all, defending her through offending others was Cale's specialty.

The realtor entered the first room and said, “So this room here would make an excellent bedroom for one or two children. The ceiling is high enough to accommodate a bunk bed, and they even would have their own bathroom.”

“I don't want to share with Trisha,” The Brancton's little boy said.

“I wouldn't want to share one with you either, stupid.” The little girl responded.

“Apologize to your brother, we don't call each other names in this family.” Patricia Brancton said out loud.

“I'm sorry, RJ.” The little girl said without any feeling.

RJ, which Diana presumed to stand for Ronald Jr. and Trisha, short for Patricia. They had named their children after themselves. Diana couldn't help but laugh out loud at the sheer ridiculousness of it.

“I'm sorry,” Diana said through gasps of air as the others gave looks that ranged from dirty with the Branctons to bewilderment from Cale.

After the guest room, they went to the master bedroom. It was a room as typical as they come, but the master bath on the other hand was heaven on Earth. Granite counter tops, dual stainless-steel sinks, a mini-chandelier, a gigantic walk-in closet with a rotating shelf for shoes, and a shower that had built in speakers as well as three different areas where water came out. Diana loved everything about the bathroom, while Cale nearly yelled out that they would buy the house as soon as his eyes caught the speakers in the shower.

After the bathroom, every room they toured coincided with a fight between the Brancton children. To name a few, they fought about whose future room they were standing in, how one of them smelled, that one bumped into the other, and this annoying sound the little boy made that almost drew Diana into the fight. Every time the fights would be broken up by a stern warning from Patty Brancton, only to start again in the next room. By the third fight, Diana was convinced she would be getting her tubes tied as soon as this pregnancy was over.

Downstairs once again, the realtor showed them the kitchen, family room, and finally, the office/den that overlooked the backyard with the Rockies in view. Diana had been iffy on the house up to this point, but this room changed everything. It had potential, but more than that, it had that feeling it was made solely for her. This was her office.

Within a minute, she had pictured where everything would go. The walls would have bookshelves, a giant rug over the hardwood floor, and her great desk and leather chair right in the middle. She knew if she had this room, she would never go into the office ever again.

They headed for the backyard with the Branctons in the lead. Ron Brancton held the spring loaded back door open for his wife, but released it in Diana's face. He hadn't said much during the tour, but this act confirmed he was still as dickless a human being as ever. Diana would've loved to kick him between the legs, but sadly there wouldn't have been anything there.

At the end of the tour, the Branctons were in the kitchen with the realtor giving Diana the chance to tell Cale all about her high school rivals.