The Many and the One

by Donald Wells

  McGee nods in agreement. “I knew a guy once, who always moaned about what a bitch his wife was, then she died in a car accident and he was never the same, he just shriveled up. I guess what they were was kinda like a husband and wife, in a creepy crawly sort of way.”

  Marta sighs. “I guess you’re right.”

  Jenny comes in the backdoor. “Hi Marta, hi Mr. McGee, is father home yet?”

  “Sure kid, he’s out back in the greenhouse.” McGee says.

  Jenny says, “Thanks!” and runs back out the door.

  “Cute kid,” McGee says.

  “I just hope she’s not too cute, if you know what I’m saying.”

  “Oh God Marta, you don’t think he’s like his mother do you?”

  “I hope not, for Jenny’s sake.”

  “Wasn’t he the one who pushed for that child abuse bill last year? I don’t know all the details, but it gave tougher penalties for sexual abuse, didn’t it?”

  “That’s his public side; we both know his private side.”

  “You’re wrong! The kid’s a hound, but he chases cats not kittens.”

  “I pray you’re right Michael, but who knows what demons Charlotte left inside him.”

  * * *

  Jenny opens the greenhouse door and calls out.

  “Father are you in here?”

  “I’m over here Jenny.” Derek says. He sits brooding on a wooden bench.

  The damp smelling greenhouse is full of hothouse tomato plants, just as it was when Charlotte was alive.

  “Father, why do you come out here?”

  “I come here to think about your grandmother, this was her place of refuge.”

  “What’s refuge mean?”

  “Peace Jenny, refuge is peace.”

  Jenny climbs up on Derek’s lap. “I have to ask you something.”

  Derek smiles as he holds her. “What is it my dear?”

  “I saw the new neighbors, Jason and Lindsay.”

  “Yes, Marta informed me they were back on the Island.”

  With a look of hope in her eyes, Jenny asks. “Can I see them sometimes? They like me. Lindsay even let me be Jason’s girlfriend.”

  “She said that did she, that you could be his girlfriend?”

  “Father, why are you smiling like that?”

  “Father is just happy that you’ve made new friends.”

  “Are you saying it’s okay to see them?”

  “Yes you can, as much as you want.”

  Jenny hugs Derek. “Thank you, you’re so nice to me.”

  “Always remember Jenny, father loves you more than anyone.”

  “I love you too father.”

  Derek suddenly looks away. “I must tell the gardener to water the plants more often.”

  “You like growing your own things, don’t you father?”

  Derek stares at the little girl in his lap, he then kisses her hard and full on the mouth. Afterward, Jenny looks at him strangely.

  “That was like a grown-up’s kiss.”

  “Yes Jenny, fathers kiss their daughters like that when they love them very much, did you like it?”

  “I guess, but the grown-up kiss feels… funny.”

  “Jenny, that kiss is our secret, something we only do when we’re alone, understand?”

  “Okay,”

  “Have you been to your room?”

  “No.”

  “Father’s brought you a gift; I left it on your bed.”

  “What did you get me?”

  “I want you to be surprised, go take a look.”

  Jenny hops down from Derek’s lap and runs toward the door; then, she stops, and returns to Derek, to hug him.

  “Thank you for the gift father, I love you.”

  “Remember Jenny, father loves you more than anyone.”

  Jenny releases him and heads to her room, as she’s leaving, Emily walks in. Jenny rushes past her, eager to see her gift.

  “Hi Emily,”

  “Jenny be careful, you almost knocked me over.”

  Jenny calls back, “Sorry,” as she runs toward the house.

  Emily finds Derek hidden among the plants and sits to his left on the bench.

  He turns and looks at her. Her hair is coiffured beautifully, professionally, her blue dress appears new and shows off her long legs nicely, but her eyes are bloodshot and her left hand shakes slightly as it rests atop her lap. Derek hasn’t seen her in over a month and thinks she looks thinner, perhaps older also.

  “Hello Emily, what brings you out here?”

  “I wanted to see my husband, I hardly see you anymore.”

  “Campaigning takes all my time, but the polls have me far ahead, soon you’ll be the wife of a congressman.”

  “I want to ask you about that, when are we moving to Washington?”

  Derek smiles, “We won’t be, I’m leasing a townhouse in D.C. and moving there while you stay on the Island and raise Jenny. Washington is no place for her. I want her to grow up here like we did. I’ll try and make it home every other weekend.”

  “You expect me to stay here and raise your bastard child while you play the rising politician? No, I’m moving to Washington with you.”

  “Very well, have it your way.”

  “Really Derek, you’re saying it’s all right?” Emily asks, suspicious, she expected to battle over this and spent the day at the salon trying to look her best.

  She’d even managed to limit herself to only three Bloody Marys so she’d have a clear head to persuade him. Now, Derek is agreeing without a fight. Something is wrong.

  “If that’s what you want Emily, it’s fine by me, still, I insist Jenny be raised on the Island. I’ll have to find someone to look after her when we’re away.”

  “What do you mean, like a nanny?”

  “Oh no, that’s much too impersonal. No, I was thinking more like friends of the family. Did you know that Jason and Lindsay are back on the Island? In fact, Lindsay and Jenny seemed to have formed quite a bond already.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Maybe Jenny could stay with them, possibly even grow to replace Simona in their hearts. In time, it would almost be as if Lindsay and I had never lost our daughter, we could raise and nurture Jenny together. Perhaps Jenny could become a bridge between our families and Lindsay and I could grow close again.” Derek turns to Emily. “What do you think of that dear?”

  Emily begins to cry. “I think I’ll be staying here after all, I also think you’re a bastard.”

  Derek smiles and wipes her tears away. “Give me a kiss.”

  Emily kisses him, an angry peck; Derek then kisses her passionately as his right hand slides beneath her dress. Emily stiffens, but then relaxes, opening her thighs, and Derek massages her as they’re kissing.

  He stands and reaches down to push Emily to lie flat. She looks up and the bare fluorescent lights overhead blind her.

  Derek moves to the end of the bench and unbuckles his pants, letting them fall; the keys in his pocket make a clinking sound, as they hit the gray slate floor. He pulls Emily along the bench until her hips are on its edge and her ankles rest against his shoulders. Emily pulls her dress up around her waist, as she’s about to slide her panties down Derek rips them from her body and tosses the new rag onto a tomato plant behind him.

  He pushes into Emily, slowly. She gasps, taking in the humid air, sampling the bitter scent of the nearby soil, as if tasting it.

  Derek thrusts into her hard now, and grabbing her by the ankles, he sporadically lifts her hips off the bench.

  When her orgasm strikes, she shrieks and claws at the top of the bench, feeling slivers of wood snake painfully beneath her fingernails, and caring not.

  Still, Derek keeps thrusting, smirking, as he looks down at her.

  Before long, Emily feels a second orgasm cascade while realizing that Derek is also peaking. He releases her ankles and thrust to the hilt. Emily wraps her legs tightly around him, forcing him just a bit deeper.
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  As her senses return, she looks up into his face. His black eyes shine upon her like negative stars.

  “I love you so much.” She tells him.

  He kisses her and then stands up straight, letting her legs drop off the bench as he removes himself from between them.

  Emily watches as Derek pulls up his pants and heads toward the door, leaving her splayed on the bench like a sacrificed virgin.

  He calls to her. “I’ll be having dinner in town with… an advisor. I’ll see you later.” He then leaves.

  After a time, Emily gets up, straightens her dress, and walks back to the house.

  35

  The aroma awakens them, a rich scent of spices and lemon, with more than a tang of seafood thrown in.

  “M’mm, what did you cook Boomer it smells delicious?” Lindsay murmurs on awakening.

  Jason turns over, barely conscious. “I thought you cooked, it smells great.”

  “Oh no, it’s not me.” Lindsay says, and then the two of them nod off back to sleep.

  Then, both sets of eyes pop open and they scramble out of bed.

  “Jason, please say you’ve hired a cook without telling me.”

  “No I wouldn’t do that. Who could be down there?”

  “Oh my God, judging by the smells it’s a French chef. What do we do?”

  Jason shrugs. “Let’s go take a look.”

  They creep downstairs in robes and slippers. As they pass the fireplace they see that light streams brightly from the kitchen’s doorway and beyond it they hear a spoon stirring in a pan.

  They peek around the corner. Little Jenny stands on a step stool in front of the stove, stirring a ladle in a saucepan.

  When Jenny sees them in the doorway she hops off the stool and runs to them.

  “Jason, Lindsay, I’m glad you woke up, breakfast is almost ready.”

  “Jenny you scared us. How did you get in?” Jason says.

  Jenny points to Sunshine’s old doggy door at the bottom of the kitchen door.

  “You’re not mad at me are you? I told you guys I’d make you breakfast, remember?”

  “No sweetie we’re not mad.” Lindsay says. “We’re just surprised to see you, a little too surprised. Maybe we should think about getting a security system.”

  Jenny smiles and raises her arms in the air. “Kisses,” She says, and they bend down and exchange hugs and kisses. Jenny then goes back to cooking breakfast.

  “Jennifer, honey did you talk to your father like we discussed?”

  “Un huh, he said I could come over any time I wanted.”

  “Really honey?” Lindsay asks.

  “Really, I’m not lying, father said it was okay.”

  They look at each other in bewilderment.

  “Aren’t you guys glad to see me?”

  “Yes Little Girl, more than you know.”

  “Jenny what are you making here? It smells so good.”

  “It’s eggs Benedict with salmon and hollandaise sauce, and call me Jennifer, Jason.”

  “Sorry Jennifer, I won’t forget again.”

  “Jenny, who taught you how to cook, your mommy?”

  “No, I learned from the cookbooks, it’s easy.”

  “Easy for you maybe, it’s never been a skill I’ve mastered.”

  “Lindsay, can’t you cook?”

  “Sure honey, but basic things like the fried chicken we had yesterday.”

  “I can cook anything, just show me the recipe.”

  A timer goes off and Jenny moves the step stool aside, after grabbing a potholder, she reaches into the oven and takes out a pan.

  “Careful honey,” Jason says, fearful. “That oven’s hot.”

  “I only burned myself once and I’ll never do it again.”

  “When was that?” Lindsay asks.

  “I dunno, a couple of years ago I guess.”

  Lindsay looks perplexed. “Honey, how long have you known how to cook?”

  Jenny thinks about it for a moment. “I don’t remember when I didn’t cook.”

  “Did your mommy cook for you?” Jason asks.

  “No. My mom was sick a lot, she had a, a problem.”

  Jason gently asks. “Was it the drugs honey?”

  A look of fear comes over Jenny. “You guys know my mom was a drug addict?”

  “We heard something about it.” Lindsay says.

  Jenny lowers her eyes and speaks softly. “And you still like me?”

  “Of course Jenny, why wouldn’t we?” Lindsay asks.

  “Father told me to let nobody know about my mom or then they wouldn’t like me.”

  Jason, sitting at the kitchen table, offers his hand. “Jennifer,”

  She takes his hand and stands before him timidly. “Yes Jason?”

  “You’re my Jennifer and you’re Lindsay’s Little Girl no matter what, okay honey.”

  “Really?”

  “Always,” Jason says.

  Jenny grins, and then she tells them it’s time to eat.

  Lindsay takes the first bite and sighs with pleasure. “Jason are you tasting this? This food’s incredible. My mother barely cooks this well and she’s won contests.”

  “Jennifer this is so good, aren’t you going to eat too honey?”

  “Marta made me oatmeal, so I’m not hungry now.”

  Lindsay touches Jenny tenderly on the cheek. “She eats oatmeal and then fixes us a gourmet meal, what a sweetheart.”

  “I’ll cook for you guys whenever you want. I love you.”

  “Oh, honey we love you too… we really do.” Lindsay says.

  “Father’s leaving soon and I have to say goodbye. Can I come back later?”

  “Of course sweetheart, anytime,” Jason says.

  “Bye bye,” Jenny waves and leaves out the backdoor.

  They sit eating quietly and finish at the same moment. They then look across at each other, saying nothing.

  After a sigh, Jason speaks. “What the hell are we doing?”

  “I know.” Lindsay says. “I know, but was I lying? Don’t you love her too? And I don’t mean as a substitute for Simona, I mean for herself.”

  “I do, I honestly do, and I think she really loves us.”

  “Could we be that blessed?” Lindsay asks.

  “I don’t know. I also don’t know why Derek would let her visit. What I do know is that whenever she’s around I’m happy and you’re happy; what more do we need to know?”

  “Maybe we need to know why.”

  “Simone?” Jason asks.

  “Simone.” Lindsay answers.

  * * *

  Simone sits at the kitchen table along with Jason and Lindsay, sipping on cafecito, as Paul Jr. runs about the cabin playing with Sunshine.

  “The question you need to ask yourselves is this—do we truly love her for herself or only because she fills the need we have to be parents?”

  Lindsay sighs. “We know we have a need to be parents. We enjoyed being parents to Simona so much that we can’t imagine not having more children. I don’t think she’s just filling that need for us. I believe we both love her and that she also loves us.”

  “All right then, that leaves the issue of her father, how long do you think he’ll allow her to keep coming here? Sooner or later Derek may use her as a way to hurt you.”

  Jason nods. “We told Jennifer to get permission before she could come back here and for whatever reasons he has, Derek told her she could visit as much as she wants. Anyway, it looks like he’ll soon be busy in Washington most of the year while Jennifer’s here.”

  “I don’t want you guys hurt if Derek yanks her away or makes a decision on how to raise her that you don’t agree with, but as long as you remember she’s not yours, I don’t see why you can’t enjoy each other.”

  When she next speaks, Lindsay stares down at her hands coiled tightly together in her lap.

  “Simone… I…you don’t think we’re betraying Simona’s memory, do you?”

  Simone rea
ches out and gently covers Lindsay’s hands with her own.

  “Lindsay, love is never a betrayal.”

  The backdoor opens and Jenny walks in. “Hi guys,” She then spots Simone and snuggles against Lindsay, as if for protection.

  Lindsay makes the introductions. “Jenny this is one of our best friends, Simone, Simone this is Jenny.”

  “Hello Jenny, my you certainly are a beautiful little girl. I hope we can be friends too?”

  “Un huh,” Jenny says shyly.

  Paul Jr. enters the room, when he sees Jenny he stops moving and just stares at her.

  “Paul honey, this is Jenny, say hi.” Simone says.

  Paul keeps staring, speechless. When Jenny goes over to pet Sunshine, Paul reaches out and touches her long red hair. “You’re so pretty.”

  “Uh oh Boomer, I think you’ve got a rival for your girlfriend.”

  Jenny smiles at Paul Jr., she then goes over and sits on Jason’s lap.

  “Jason will always be my boyfriend Lindsay, but I like Paul too.”

  Jenny gives Jason a peck on the lips and hops down, then she and Paul go running off with Sunshine.

  “That little girl could be on TV. I see she’s gotten her father’s looks, or possibly her grandmother’s judging by that red hair.”

  “She is stunning, and Simone she can cook like a chef already. Jason and I are just going to enjoy her as much as possible, we’ll think of her as a gift.”

  “That’s a healthy way to look at this situation guys, treat her as a gift, a loan even.”

  Lindsay smiles at Simone. “Dr. Martinez we will definitely take your advice.”

  “You’ll be getting my bill in the mail.”

  * * *

  Later that night, in the municipal building, Paul sits across the desk from Chief Rollins in the Chief’s office. For the last three hours they’ve been going over crime statistic reports and discussing departmental business. Now, they decide to take a coffee break.

  “Why were you chewing out Jackson earlier?” Rollins asks.

  “He and Rivera were playing a stupid guessing game.”

  “What was it?”

  “They were trying to guess which kids on the Island might be Derek’s illegitimate children.”

  Rollins laughs. “Oh, I know about that. They don’t mean anything by it; it’s just a way to pass a slow night.”

  “I don’t like it, and God help them if I ever hear Simona’s name mentioned.”