Chapter 211: Cecile XVI

A/N: I do not own Penny Parker or The Rocky Mountain News but she does make for great reading hee!

 

Chapter 210: Cecile XVI—Properly Engaged

 

            Cecile slept heavily; there were no dreams, no worries, and no future in her as she curled up on her bed, clutching the locket in her hands. She woke and she felt a bliss in her as soft and cool as a mink stole that was touched for the first time. She kept her eyes closed, smiled, wondered if it had really happened and she felt it in her sore knuckles as she opened her hands and saw the pendant. There was no picture enclosed, no treasure other than the engraving, the beautiful words.

            “Yes,” she whispered, relieving the moment, the hug and she sat up and kissed it. This was special and everything she needed. It was certain now, she had to tell her mother about Danny as soon as she returned, she had to make her stand, and she was reinforced now by a powerful, pure and holy bond. It was perhaps just the strength she needed.

            “Nooo!” Mitchell giggled. “You can’t have it!” It was after breakfast and the little boy had snatched Cecile’s crucifix after she had taken it off to show the twins. He was jumping on the couch, swinging it in his chubby hands. “Hehehehe you can’t have it!”

            “Mitchell!” Cecile said in a serious voice, but she couldn’t lose the smile, she pressed her hand on her hip and reached out her other hand, holding it open. “Give it back!”

            “Nope!” Mitchell said.

            “Bad!” Kamryn yelled. And she pointed at Mitchell. “Bad! Bad! Bad!”

            “Baaaad!” Chase howled but he was laughing. “Bad! No! Bad!”

            “See,” Cecile said with a nod, “You’re being bad Mitchie.”

            Mitchell stopped jumping and he looked closely at the emerald crucifix and then he collapsed on the couch and held it out. “I’m not bad!”

            Cecile kneeled down by the couch and took the crucifix back, slid it over her head, and she whispered to Mitchell. “You’re not bad?”

            “No,” Mitchell replied. “I’m not like Jana! She’s bad!”

            Cecile smiled and patted Mitchell on the tummy.

            “Oh come on Jana can’t be that bad,” a male voice said.

            “Daddy!” Chase and Kamryn piped as they scampered into the arms of their father. “Hockey! Hockey!”

            Joe Sakic kissed each twin on the cheek and he squeezed them before setting them on the ground. “Go get mommy,” he said, “Mitchell you too. Take them to Mommy she’s upstairs.”

            Cecile narrowed her eyes as Mitchell sighed, “OK,” and he slid off the couch. “Come on,” he said to the twins and he ran with them out of the living room.

            Cecile watched them leave, she didn’t really look at Mr. Sakic, she sensed that perhaps he wanted to talk to her, and she couldn’t fathom a reason why. It sent a nervous twinge in her body. Should she say something?

            “You’re quite gleeful this morning,” Mr. Sakic said.

            Cecile smiled nervously and she looked at him, saw that he was also smiling, he didn’t look angry or accusing. “Do I?” she asked, her voice sounded too thin.

            Joe nodded, and then his eyes absolutely twinkled with what looked like a mischievous light. Mr. Sakic? Mischievous? Impossible!

            “So have you two set a date?” he asked and the words sent an instant dart of fear through her core.

            “How could you know?” Cecile exclaimed standing up and pressing her hand over the locket that was underneath her blouse. “He hasn’t even given me a ring yet!”

            Mr. Sakic’s eyebrows crinkled but his grin remained. “No ring?” he asked. “What kind of man is he?”

            “A good man Mr. Sakic,” Cecile said in a heated voice, angry that she sounded so terrible. “Now how could you know? He just asked me last night.”

            “Aw naw now don’t get so defensive,” Mr. Sakic said holding out his hands in a mock defensive posture, and it all touched Cecile immensely. She had never before seen him so… humanly nice! “I read it in the paper this morning,” and he held up the newspaper to emphasize his point.

            “What?” Cecile cried, knowing that she was sounding more and more shrill with each passing second. “You’re teasing!” She leaped forward and grabbed the paper, expecting to see, Danny Hinote to Wed Cecile Danceny in glaring headlines across the front of the Rocky Mountain News. Of course it wasn’t there but she could hear Mr. Sakic laughing and her heart was pumping with so much anger she actually wanted to roll the entire periodical up and swat him with it. “That’s not nice!”

            Mr. Sakic shook his head and took the paper back, “It’s true,” he said as he opened up the newspaper, peered at the pages, “It was in the gossip column… here it is. There,” he handed the paper back to her, pointing at the section. “Right there, Danny’s name is highlighted.”

            Cecile gulped and stared at the section. It was indeed a gossip column run by some woman named Penny Parker… what a ridiculous name!

 

            …..and women everywhere will be saddened to hear the latest news about Avalanche hottie, 5280’s bachelor of the year, Dan Hinote. My sources tell me that last night he was seen at The Chophouse with an absolutely gorgeous mystery lady. As if this couldn’t get worse, Hinote fell to one knee during the course of their dinner and proposed to the young lady who seemed overwhelmed with emotion in accepting. So it seems as if Dan Hinote is indeed off limits once and for all. If there is any consolation in any of this for dreaming women everywhere, it is that Dan carried off an extremely romantic proposal and seems to be the prince charming we have all fantasized he would be. There is no definite word on who the mysterious young lady is other than the restaurant owner thinks she may be perhaps related to Avalanche Captain Joe Sakic. Hmm, lucky girl, it sounds like she had an unfair advantage….

 

            Cecile’s mouth went dry as she looked up at Joe and she felt the paper trembling in her hands. “How dare she invade on our privacy like that!” she said. “Who said she… she…”

            Joe was still smiling however and Cecile let the paper fall from her hands as he said, “Congratulations.”

            “Mr. Sakic,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

            “Why would I mind?” Mr. Sakic said, holding out his arms. “It’s nice to actually read some good news in the paper for once over breakfast.”

            “Thanks,” Cecile said, feeling a relief that smoothed over her skin. “I’m… I’m happy.”

            “That’s great,” Mr. Sakic said, “Actually that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. If you have a moment that is.”

            Uh oh, there was the nervousness again. “Mmhmm,” Cecile said. “Sure.”

            “Good,” Mr. Sakic said. “First of all, are you sure about this?”

            Cecile nodded. “More than anything I’ve ever… yes, of course I am I wouldn’t have said yes otherwise.”

            Mr. Sakic nodded. “I know Danny is probably the nicest guy in our locker room, he’s a real good kid, but honey how old are you? Aren’t you nineteen?”

            Cecile felt herself blushing, felt the fire in her cheeks and she looked down at the carpet before looking back at his commanding, silvery eyes. “Yes, but I’m not a child. I mean it’s not like I’ve just met Danny, I mean I’ve known him for years, and he’s… I just KNOW that it’s right. I can feel it.”
            Mr. Sakic raised his eyebrows. “Right enough to tell your mother?”

            Dagger in the heart, a weakening in the knees, a slap in the face and then a shard of cold strength pressing against her flesh, it was the confirmation of his love and devotion, and a demand that she show him the same. Cecile lifted her chin, jutted it, “Of course,” she said. “She will know.”

            “I’m not trying to be mean,” Mr. Sakic said, “It’s just that you’re so young and for you to have kept a secret like this from your mother so long. Well there has to be some reason in your mind, some good reason that you would have delayed it so long. If anything is holding you back, you should take a good long look at it.”

            Cecile shook her head. “No,” She said, “I know my heart. And it’s about time I took hold of it Mr. Sakic. Thank you for your concern.”

            Joe smiled, “Good, it sounds like you’re standing with a good head on your shoulders. Don’t lose your resolve.”

            “I won’t,” Cecile said.

 

            Debbie Sakic had been euphoric when Cecile saw her next. The woman had hugged and kissed Cecile, congratulated her and Cecile barely knew what to say. She had never had someone coo over her like this before and it felt a little embarrassing. She could only blush and hug one of the twins as she was crawling up her leg.

            Within the minute, however, Debbie was back to business and Cecile agreed to take the children to the new interactive exhibit at the museum so she could get some work done with the assistant decorator. Cecile didn’t mind at all, this was the job she signed on for and it’s the part she enjoyed the most, especially as she watched the twins teasing each other through the tall glass that was flickering lights, they were giggling and making faces at each other. And then Mitchell kept squealing into the device that bent the human voice into different frequencies, Cecile couldn’t stop laughing.

            We’ll have three, she thought, Danny wants three.

            They were at the museum for almost three hours until the twins began to get cranky and Mitchell couldn’t seem to stop yawning. Cecile fed them their snacks before she bundled them up to take them back home.

            Dry cold air, Cecile blinked at the white snow piled and plowed into large drifts in the parking lot, but the sun was shining brightly. It was a deceptive sun that gave no heat. She exhaled heavily, and she felt no weight in her chest. She had strength now, a bounty of it. A tiny locket, a wealth of power.

            “Cecile!”

            Cecile’s eyes widened as she came back to the Sakic house, the twins tumbling at her knees, Mitchell skipping behind. She was met full force by a beaming Jennifer Foote. “We read the news in this morning’s paper, how wonderful! Congratulations!”

            “Oh thank you,” Cecile said softly, trying not to make eye contact with Jennifer as she helped the twins peel out of their jackets. As soon as they were free they tottered into the dining area squealing for “Momma!”

            Cecile stood up slowly and was enveloped in Jennifer’s hug. “You are such a lovely girl!”

            “And such a lovely boy to be marrying, yes?”

            It was amazing. Cecile could actually feel the warmth sucked out of Jennifer’s hug, she felt Mrs. Foote tighten and she turned around to face Michele Roy, and didn’t take her arm from around Cecile’s waist. In fact, it felt to Cecile as if Jennifer was guarding her. “Yes,” Jennifer said in an icy voice. “Danny is sweet, Mee-Mee.”

            Michele smiled; it was a smile with no warmth, her eyes as flinty as a block of ice. “We’re all very happy, yes?”

            “I think Tammy needs help with the coffee,” Jennifer said briskly, “Come on Cecile, want to help?”

            “Oh,” Cecile said, not following Jennifer’s lead. “I… I still have to take off my coat and put away the children’s snow things, I’ll be there in a minute.”

            Jennifer nodded. “Don’t be too long.” And she walked back into the dining area.

            Cecile looked at Michele who was staring after Jennifer. Then the French woman looked at her with warm, glistening eyes. “We’ve had a disagreement, such a silly thing, but do not let it ruin your day mon petite!”

            Cecile saw the sun rise in Michele’s eyes, the ice melted, the smile… it had to be genuine! If she had wanted Danny this whole time, she would have thrown her to the mercies of her mother, turned her in, let her be taken. She had stayed true to her. “You’re really happy for me?” she whispered, gauging Michele’s face.

            Michele nodded, her eyes brimming and a tear fell down her cheek, “I hope you’ve found true happiness. I hope it stays youthful love, yes, it is beautiful.”

            Cecile felt her bottom lip tremble and she threw herself into Michele’s arms, hugged her tightly, thought of the ugly bruises Michele carried quietly on her flesh, of her husband’s heated breath, his staring eyes. “I’m so sorry I was so cruel,” Cecile whispered, “Can you ever forgive me?”

            “None is required,” Michele whispered and Cecile felt her heart skip a beat to feel Michele’s hand smooth over her hair, to inhale her sweet, simple scent of the day. “Just remember that this isn’t an excuse to relax, an engagement, is such a.. a dangerous time, and some of the liaisons we make never turn out to be what.. what we expected.”

 

            It was certainly a strange day for Cecile. The wives and girlfriends were ablaze with the new engagement and Cecile could hardly go into a room without being pounced upon by a doting smiling face. They called her Baby Girl and Baby Doll and that new girlfriend of Chris Drury’s kept asking her how long she and Danny had been dating before he popped the question.

            What bothered Cecile was that she noticed Jennifer, and Tammy and quite a few other of the women being syrupy sweet to Michele Roy and whenever Debbie left the room she could sense the iciness, the hatred they were silently pouring over her. Was it something that was none of her business?

            “Cecile!” Debbie whispered in her ear, wrapped her arm around her waist and steered her into a quiet room. “Can I ask you a favor?”

            “Of course,” Cecile replied, expecting to hear of a last minute appointment for Mitchell or the twins.

            “Seeing as you and Danny are… are properly engaged. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind… I’m so exhausted from today and I promised Mitchie that I would watch the Spy Kids movie with him tonight and I forgot that…”

            Cecile’s eyes widened, “Omigosh Mrs. Sakic… the Charity Auction?”

            Debbie nodded. “Oh please can you fill in for me! Everyone is so eager to meet you now, I’m sure of it they would be just lovely to you… and Mimi will be there and Jennifer as well. They wouldn’t abandon you, please?”

            Cecile swallowed. “Of course,” she whispered.