Word of Caution

 

 

“Okay, so when are you going to tell me what’s really bothering you?”  John set his toothbrush back in its holder and turned to look at Helena who was sitting at her dressing table brushing her hair.

 

“What makes you think anything is bothering me?”

 

John took the brush from his wife’s hand and began to draw it through her hair at a more soothing tempo.  “You’ve been cheery and helpful around your sister and your mother all week, but not so away from them.   And on the way home from the wedding, the car was like a tomb.”

 

She reached up to intercept the brush, but he pulled it away from her.  “I thought you and Tori would be chattering away with each other, but you’ve barely spoken to anyone.”

 

Helena put her hands in her lap and sighed.  She met John’s eyes in the mirror and he stood back, waiting for her explanation.

 

“They’re just so young.  I just love Christie, you know that.  And Robbie, well, he’s probably the most loveable of Mel’s three.  The most like Alan, steady and … honorable.”  She gave a little shrug, but a nod from John told her that even if it wasn’t the best word, he understood what she meant.  “But as much as I love them both, I think they’re too young for this.  I just can’t condone this, can’t be happy for them, as much as I wish I could.  And I certainly don’t want Sam and Tori to think I approve of this, think it’s a good idea, something they might want to do too.”

 

“Well, I talked to Sam this week, and he says he tried to talk them out of this.  So I don’t think you have any reason to worry there.  Sam is looking forward to going off to college next year, and isn’t any more interested in settling down that we were at that age.”

 

“And Tori,”  Helena sighed.  “I know she’s enjoying school, but I see the way she and Austin look at each other, and she’s just too young to make that kind of commitment.”

 

“Tori is too sensible for something like this, and so is Austin.”

 

“I do hope so.  John, I love our children, and have never regretted having children, but we were older, had more experience, and having them was a choice that still limited our activities for the past nineteen years.  I don’t think they understand that aspect.”

 

“You’re right, it did limit us, but we have no regrets.  And what’s done is done.  Christie and Robbie will just have to cope with starting a family very early.”

 

“I know, and I have no intention of letting them know how I feel, or my sister.  It doesn’t help matters any.”  She reached out for his hand and he took it in his.  “I just didn’t know I was ‘broadcasting’ to you.”

 

“I know your moods pretty well.”  He drew her hand up to his lips.  “And I don’t think anyone else has picked up on it.  But if you’re worried about Tori, you should talk to her before she goes back to school tomorrow.”

 

Helena nodded.  She stood and hugged her husband.  “I think I’ll go see if she’s still up.”

 

“Ask her if she wants breakfast at Chuck’s in the morning.”

 

“I’m sure she’ll take you up on that, it’s her favorite.”

 

John watched his wife leave the room, happy to see her smile again.

 

 

Tori’s door was open and her light was on.  She sat at her desk, the computer screen on, phone to her ear.  Helena couldn’t hear what she was saying as she knocked on the door.  Tori turned, smiled, and said “I gotta go, yeah, tomorrow,” and sat the phone down.

 

“Hi Mama.”

 

“Hi Sweetheart.  You father wants to know if you want to go out to breakfast in the morning.”

 

“Chucks?”  she said with a smile.

 

“Of course, I don’t know who likes it better, you or your father.”  Helena sat on the foot of her daughter’s bed.

 

“We both do.”  Tori said with a grin that looked so much like her father’s.

 

Helena glanced at the bridesmaid dress hanging on the closet door.  “You looked lovely today.”

 

“That dress was beautiful.  Did you pick it out?”

 

“It was a group effort.  Christie did have final say.  But your aunt had us organized like an army this last week.  I’m still amazed we were able to pull off a wedding on such short notice.”

 

“Christie told me all about it.  I think she was just stunned at how complex it all was.”

 

“Well, you know your aunt, and your grandmother.  Neither would think of doing anything halfway.”

 

“Or you,”  Tori teased.

 

Helena smiled and shrugged.

 

“She also told me how kind you’ve been, making sure the baby is okay and the insurance and all.  She really appreciates all you’ve done, you and the rest of the family.”

 

“She’s a sweet girl, and a member of the family herself now.”

 

“Yes, isn’t that great?”

 

Helena had to hesitate.  “Tori, you know I love Christie.  She’s a sweet girl and she certainly deserves far more than the family she was born into.”

 

“But?”

 

“But I can’t really condone her actions, hers and Robbie’s.  I just think they’re a bit young to be parents.  Tori, you know that your father and I were together on Alpha for a long time before we married, so it would be hypocritical of me to say I don’t approve of premarital sex.  But we were much older, and we waited to have you and Sam when we knew we would be in the best position to care for you.  I just don’t want you to think…”

 

“You don’t want me getting ideas?”  Tori said with a smile.  Tori stood and joined her mother on the bed, gracefully folding her legs under her.  She wore short satin pajamas that she filled out well.  She certainly wasn’t a child any more.  She took her mother’s hand.  “Mama, let me assure you that I have no intention of having children for at least ten years or so.  I’m enjoying being away at college, and am just starting to plan out my life.  I promise that I’m both careful and choosy.” 

 

Helena leaned over and kissed her daughter on the cheek.  “I’m glad to hear it.  Med school is no place to raise children.”

 

Tori settled next to her mother, her head against Helena’s shoulder.  “I’m kind of rethinking the med school idea.  Would that disappoint you horribly?”

 

Helena had to think about that for a minute.  There had always been a doctor in the family.  She had never knowingly pushed Tori into choosing a career, but had always felt a little bit of a glow deep inside her when her little girl would say she wanted to be a doctor, ‘just like Mommy’.

 

“That’s a decision you have to make, sweetheart.  If you don’t see yourself as a doctor, I know you’ll do brilliantly to anything you set your mind to.”

 

Tori leaned up and kissed her mother again and yawned.  “I’d tell you more, but I’m pretty beat.  Will you fly back to Auburn with us tomorrow?”

Helena smiled.  “I could be persuaded to do that.”

 

“And is it okay if Austin joins us for breakfast?”

 

“I suppose.  Ask him to meet us at seven.”

 

“Thanks, Mama.”  Tori bounced off the bed and swept her phone off the desk.  “Goodnight.”

 

Helena could see she had been dismissed.  She just hoped Tori took her words of caution to heart.