9 September 2006...The apartment above the Poltice and Poltergeist

The shower spray beat down on her as the steam rose, fogging the mirrors and escaping through the open door into the livingroom. Letting the hot water pound down on her head and shoulders, the muscles screaming out in protest as the knots began to ease slowly out. Another fussy night for Jenni meant another sleepless night for her, it had been that way for the last week and was beginning to take its toll.

Jenni was sleeping now, letting her time to slip into the shower to have some peace. She let her head rest against the smooth tile of the shower stall as the spray continued the steady pounding...the hard massage almost a caress as she closed her eyes to think.

The wedding hadn't gone off as planned, her parents wanted answers and she put them off as long as she could. She visited them in Boston on Mothers Day and managed to hide her pregnacy well enough. They seemed pleased that she had been adding some weight and looked so healthy.

June had been a hard month with her progressing pregnancy and the shop. Daniel was busy with his practice and she didn't want to push things on him. Her parents were putting enough pressure on her that she felt ready to explode. Her own doubts had given way to sleepless nights and not eating. Her doctor had threatened her with a hospital stay if she didn't start taking care of herself, so she had agreed to taking on extra help with the shop.

The tilt of her head slightly as she listened for any sign that Jenni had decided to wake and cut her quiet time short. It happened so often in the month since she was born. The water sputtered and the spray continued to pound down on her head as she leaned more heavily on the shower wall. Her hand slid down her stomach across the scars and light stretch marks as the dam slowly burst and her tears mingled with the rivits of water that ran down her face.

The day her parents showed up unannounced she stood and faced them with her head high, chin jutting out proudly and promptly collapsed at their feet in a dead faint. Her father demanded to know how she had gotten in this condition and the doctor had ushered him out of the cubicle at the emergeny room to explain the facts of life. His voice boomed when he exploded at being treated like some teenager but the Doctor held his own through the tirade.

Avoid the conflict and let the Doctor deal with her parents, seemed to be the easiest way though her conscience dictated she handle them herself. She was too tired and she just didn't feel up to the fight. That came after she was sent home and told to rest. Her father demanded that she return to Boston, until the baby was born. His tone and stance told her not to argue but her pride and independance fought that in everyway right up to the minute they had left the apartment headed for the airport.

Jenni's shrill cry brought her out of her daze with a start. She turned the water off before stepping out to the cool tiles, grabbing the large robe hanging on the back of the door, she trailed water into the livingroom across the hardwood floor. Leaning over the bassinet the soft cooing she made to her fussy daughter and the sight of her quieted the crying some.

The red faced little girl balled her tiny fists waving them in the air kicking her fat little legs in protest. The clear green eyes stared back up at her mother and the toothless grin spread on her tiny face. "Oh Jenni...am I doing the right thing?" She picked her up cradling her close to her breast and kissing her head. The soft brown curls tickling at her nose and lips as she rocked slowly.

Her gaze moved to the stack of luggage sitting by the door. The tears filled her eyes as Jenni grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked. "I certainly hope so Jenni....I hope leaving isn't the wrong thing to do."