The R Word (On Hold)

Chapter 23 - Fortune

Jane and Danni were settled in the second floor living room, when her father returned home from work. He walked in to find them in a state of leisure, side by side with the radio softly playing; their faces covered in green mask, cucumber slices over their eyes, their fingers and toes painted.

"I can't say that I'm surprised to find you kicking back and relaxing girls," he said. Jane removed her cucumber slices and gave him a thumbs up. As much as she wanted to smile and talk, her now hardened mask made it impossible. Her father laughed, collapsing on the armchair in front of the TV.

"Your mother will be home soon. You best get washed up for dinner. I take it, you're staying too Danni?"

Jane looked round at her best friend. She had zoned out completely. She may as well as be asleep. She put her finger to her lips and stood; giving her dad a squeeze on the shoulder before making her way to the bathroom.

Jane opened and stretched her mouth, cracking the mask before washing it off.

"Oh that's better," she sighed, for the first time pleased to hear her own voice. True, she had kept the mask on longer than required, but she definitely felt better for it. So did her now baby-smooth skin.

She walked back into the living room to find her father flicking through channels. Danni was gone.

"She went to the upstairs bathroom," said Robert, without looking up. Jane smiled, bending down to kissing his head, as she took up her old seat.

"How was work?" she asked.

"Same odd," he sighed. After a moment, having settled on the Sky News channel, he smiled at her. "Your day any better?"

"Can't you tell?" she laughed, showing off her French pedicure and glowing face.

"And how come you didn't go to college?" he asked, ominously and with slight accusation.

"I only go in Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday," she told him. "The other days are for studying independently."

He only chuckled, tuning in on the weather. "I'm pretty sure a beauty day doesn't count as independent study."

Jane was saved by Danni's return. "But it is well deserved, Mr Parkinson."

"Danni, dear, I've known you since you were a little girl. Call me Robert," he rolled his eyes. "Mr Parkinson makes me sound old."

The girls laughed, at once protesting that he wasn't, but he wasn't convinced. Childishly, he crossed his arms and stared at the television through narrowed eyes. Jane rolled her eyes, Danni smirked.  For the reminder for the evening, until her mother came home, they watched the news and a couple of old episodes of Top Gear.

They were all startled when Kate poked her head round the door and cried. "Boo!"

Jane and Danni laughed, Robert held his chest, swearing and gasping. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

Kate laughed, sitting on the edge of the armchair, her arm around her husband's shoulders. She kissed his head lovingly. "Must you be such a drama king?" She joked.

Jane watched that mischievous light ignite in her father's eye, right before he pulled his wife by the hand onto his leap, and snatched her up in a tight hug. She shrilled, trying to fight him.

"Guys! I have company," shouted Jane, wholly embarrassed. She turned to Danni, surprised to see her looking out the window; visibly uncomfortable. Jane felt her face fell as she realised her friend's train of thought. It must be hard, witnessing another's parents love it up when yours was on the verge of divorce.

Jane shook her head at her parents, silently urging them to stop. They did, clearing their throats.

"Danni, are you staying for dinner?" asked Kate.

Danni seemed to snap out of her daze and smiled quickly. "If that's okay?"

"Of course, don't be silly. In that case, I'll order the Chinese," she chirped; twirling on her heels and heading downstairs. Jane and her father looked at each other.

"We never have Chinese," her father said, surprised but his face lighting up. "Would you like to stay forever, Danni?"

Danni giggled. "As tempting as that sounds at the moment, no thank you. I have enough crazy at my own house."

"We're not crazy!" shrilled Jane and Robert, laughably at the same time. That only caused Danni to laugh harder and louder.

Jane sat watching her, wondering when the last time she looked so happy.

---

Kate called up to the girls that the Chinese arrived and they came promptly. Halfway down the stairs, Jane tapped Danni on the shoulder; making her pause.

"Hey, I'm sorry about earlier," she said. "With my mum and dad, I mean."

Danni smiled. "Jane, don't. Your parents are happy. So you should be too."

"Yeah, but-"

"No buts," she insisted. "Besides, I think it's cute."

Jane giggled. "But horribly embarrassing."

"Yeah, that too."

They entered the room laughing, at once drawing attention. Kate settled the plates round, asking if they wanted drinks of sauces.

"Mother, just sit down," ordered Jane. No doubt she had been on her walk all day, and needed the rest. Her father had the right idea. He was sitting at the head of the table; a glass of cider to his left and chop sticks in his right. He snapped them impatiently.

"Did we get fortune cookies this time?" asked Jane, excited. Kate smiled, revealing them from one of the white bags.

She took one and then gave Danni one. Jane waited for her friend to say her fortune first. She didn't like the attention, especially if it was bad.

Danni pursed her lips. "An unexpected arrival will change a friendship.Your lucky numbers are: 3, 18, 26, 49 and 70."

Jane couldn't help but gulp. Her throat went dry very quickly, and looked down at her own daunting cookie. It was easy for Danni to laugh it off, she wasn't at all superstitious, but Jane was. She believed in the power of horoscopes and fortunes. She always searched the meaning of such messages, whether they really did apply to a particular person, their own situation.

An unexpected arrival could be anything. A person, a message, a gift...a secret.

"Come on, Janey," urged her father suddenly. She snapped out of it and cracked the cookie in the palm of her hand. Her heart raced.

Please be good, please be good, she prayed.

She unrolled the little piece of paper. "Every darkness will come to light. Be strong."

She re-read the words several times. Every...darkness? Was that literal? That could never happen. Could it? She wondered. She rushed on; feeling the eyes of everyone on her. "Lucky numbers are: 6, 18, 32, 45 and 69."

Danni nudged her then, leaning in close; mischief in her eyes. "69, eh? You know what that means?" Jane slapped her thigh, hard and laughed. 

"What?" asked her father, digging into the special fried rice.

"Nothing!" shrilled Jane and Danni at the same time. "Jinx! Touch wood"! They both started laughing again. The parents just rolled their eyes and smirked.