A Life Less Ordinary by Victoria Bernadine Page A

I don’t even know how long.  Jaime might be back tomorrow, she might be
gone for a couple of weeks.  But during the next few days, I have business
commitments I can’t break or reschedule.  So, how about this:  I’ll give you
each a pre-paid credit card – say, a thousand dollars?  You can use it for
yourself or to do things with Tris and whatever.  Just let me know when the
cards get low, and I’ll put more money on them.”
    “That’s
way too much!” Daisy protested.
    Rebecca
laughed and waved away Daisy’s objection.  “Nothing’s too much for my
granddaughter!  Besides, I trust you kids.  Plus Tris knows and likes you, and
I’m not going to lie to her about paying you to look after her.  The cards are
also for entertainment costs if you want to go to a movie, or go shopping, or
whatever it is kids do these days for fun.”
    “Well,”
Janika said slowly, “I’d prefer to think of it as an expense account then,
rather than you paying us to look after her.”
    “That’s
fine,” Rebecca shrugged.  “Whatever you’d prefer.  I’m just glad you can help
me out.”
    Jakob
grinned.  “No worries.  Always happy to help you, Auntie.”
    Jakob
and Janika went to their respective bedrooms to start their homework.  Rebecca
and Daisy watched them go with fond smiles.
    “You
raised good kids,” Rebecca said to Daisy.
    “I’m
not sure if I should take any credit,” Daisy said thoughtfully.  “Maybe they
were just born that way.”
    “Come
on – take the credit.  Milk it, baby, milk it, and hopefully you’ll be able to
continue to milk it into old age.” 
    They
laughed then Daisy sobered as she leaned back and stared thoughtfully at the teacup
cradled in her hands.
    “I
may need to milk it sooner than that,” she said softly.
    Rebecca’s
eyes widened at Daisy’s tone.  “Why?”
    Daisy
glanced down the hall to her children’s closed doors.  “I don’t want to talk
about it now.  Maybe in a few days.  I’ll call you, okay?”
    Rebecca
slowly nodded, her eyes wide.  “All right,” she said slowly, curious and
suddenly worried, but she allowed Daisy to change the subject.  Besides, she
knew Daisy would unburden herself soon enough.
    * * * * *

Day 13
    The
days were, Manny was told, unusually warm for the time of year. 
    She
wasn’t complaining.
    She
soaked up the sun as she and Zeke wandered the streets of San Francisco, and
after the first few days, her legs began to get used to the constant workout of
constantly walking both up and downhill.
    For
the most part, Zeke accompanied her on her daily excursions, and watched her
with a distantly observant albeit slightly mocking expression.  He held himself
aloof from her excited and wide-eyed enjoyment of the tourist sites and of the
city itself and appeared to be deliberately holding himself back from truly
enjoying himself.  It almost felt like he was taking notes, she thought
ruefully, he watched everything so carefully.  It puzzled her but then again,
she sometimes watched him just as carefully.  They were still strangers to each
other after all and still trying to figure each other out.
    On
the few occasions Zeke had begged off from accompanying her, Manny had taken
the opportunity to do more shopping.  During their journey through Alberta,
she’d replaced the baggy sweats and t-shirt with some jeans and new t-shirts,
and now she added shorts and tank tops to her wardrobe.  When she pulled on a
pair of the new jeans and a tank top in her room, she almost didn’t recognize
herself.
    Harvey
gave a slow whistle.  Looks good, he said.
    These
jeans are so... low !  And this top clings to my tummy bulge too much.
    Stop
worrying.  Nobody’s looking at you anyway.
    ...aren’t
you supposed to help build my self-esteem?
    That
was meant to be comforting.  You’re the only one who’s looking for flaws
and therefore you’ll be the only one to see them.
    ...I’m
not sure that’s actually logical.
    You
do realize