Cacophony

chapter ten: black coffee

Marie's cooking has definitely gotten better since the fifth grade, when she burnt eggplant pasta before their mother had gotten home from work, and had to sit through a rant about fire safety. Nicholas apparently does the dishes in the household, something explained away as fighting gender roles. Elisa thinks it's crazy, but Marie never let Elisa help Nicholas with the dishes during the visit.

On the third day, Marie and Nicholas have an argument about something petty, something eggs from the grocery store and forgetfulness. They don't speak to each other during lunch, but by dinner, they are laughing about some kind of inside joke and stealing random kisses.

Elisa wonders if they are perfect.

It's the kind of life Elisa yearns for, the kind with Saturday afternoon lazing, Sunday brunches, split up chores and kisses every couple minutes. It's not plausible for her, she knows that. Jay doesn't have a steady job with a degree in Physics, and law school is a painstaking four years plus internships.

Sunday morning brunch will probably be spent in a diner, serving it for another paycheck.

On the last day, Marie sits Elisa down, and looks nervously between her and Nicholas. It's the kind of look she had before she would win a board game, or get Elisa in trouble, or sneak out of the house.

"Tell her." Nick eggs her on, a smile breaking through his face.

"Elisa-"

"Is this about how annoying I've been? Because I just won't bother you next time I need someplace to stay in Philly, I'll just stay at a hotel."

"It's not that, Elisa." Nicholas reassures her.

"Oh, okay. Good."

"It's just that," Marie pauses before a smile erupts on her face, "we're pregnant!"

"I really hope it's just you that's pregnant, because it would be kind of weird for Nick to be."

"Elisa!" Marie huffs, but Nick chuckles, and Elisa smiles at his reaction.

"I'm just kidding. Congratulations, you guys." She hugs both Marie and Nick together, and smiles from ear to ear. "You guys are going to be the best parents."

"Only if you'll be the best aunt."

"Oh my gosh, Marie, you make me feel so old." Elisa laughs.

"The struggle comes with adulthood, okay?" Marie quips.

"Have you told mom?" Elisa glances at the hardwood floor, but Marie's smile doesn't falter.

"Not yet. We wanted you to be the first to know." Nicholas shakes Elisa's hand.

"I can't wait to meet her. Or is it a him? How many weeks along?"

"Only a couple. We'll let you know once we know the gender." Nick smiles and looks up at the ceiling.

"You'd better."

"I thought you'd be happier." Marie pokes at Elisa's stomach, and Elisa bites her lip to keep from laughing hysterically.

"Trust me," she says, pulling Nick and Marie back in, "you don't know how happy I really am."

☽ ● ☾ ◯

She arrives back at the house before Jay does.

Jay's flight is scheduled to arrive in three hours, so Elisa mopes around the house, cleaning and texting Jay periodically to ask how the convention was.