by Jillian Neal
“Sign her out, Arthur,” Mrs. Vindico demanded.
“Lindley, why do you do this?” the Governor’s tone was perforated with exhaustion and failure.
“We were just having a little fun, Daddy. It’s no big thing,” Lindley had perfected her cooing pout years before.
Fionna laced her fingers through Dan’s, in effort to calm him down, but he was too angry to let her in. To Dan’s shock, he heard his father’s voice turn commanding.
“No, Marion; Dan is right. Take her on to Felsink. I’ll sign the papers Monday.”
Kara and Meredith’s mouths hung open.
“Arthur!” Mrs. Vindico gasped.
“Daddy!” Lindley was stunned.
“Now!” the Governor wasn’t backing down, much to Dan’s delight. With that, he closed the front door as everyone stared in shocked silence. Dan put his arm around Fionna. He wasn’t certain how his mother would react, but she began clearing the table.
“Well, why don’t we have coffee and open presents?” It seemed she’d decided that ignoring the fact that her daughter was just hauled off to prison would keep reality from ruining her holiday meal.
With nervous glances, everyone stood and followed her lead.
“Can I help you with the coffee, Mrs. Vindico?” Fionna asked hesitantly.
“I’ll get it,” Mrs. Vindico stormed from the room. She returned several minutes later with the silver tea service, and handed out teacups full of coffee. Having regained her composure while she was alone in the kitchen, she pursed her lips and set her face to a stone carving of martyrdom.
The Governor looked relieved that she was at least going to make it through the evening with her children, without reaming him out for his decision.
“Now, I suppose I’ll let Lindley know this Monday,” she, apparently, was not going to let the Governor off without several quips and dirty looks, however. “But, I got all of my girls,” she seated herself and patted Fionna’s leg to let her know that she’d been included in the group, “a three-year subscription to Women of the Realm!” Mrs. Vindico tittered in her excitement. Fionna looked stunned by the inclusion. She grasped Dan’s hand quickly.
Kara and Meredith didn’t look any more thrilled with the gift than Fionna.
“Thank you,” Fionna managed as she tried to hide the horrified expression that broadcast from her features.
Women of the Realm was a bimonthly publication that, as far as Dan was concerned, was only suitable for kindling. It contained recipes, generally quick on time and short on health and taste, remedies for medical problems that either didn’t exist or should be handled by a Medio, relationship advice that generally preached that sex was immoral, and advertisements for everything from plant watering trays to bladder pads.
“Three years,” Fionna whimpered to Dan as Olivia and Oliver began pulling open their packages.
“Twice a month,” Dan added morosely.
“All right, Fionna, since you’re a guest, why don’t you open a gift?” Mrs. Vindico shoved a present into Fionna’s hands. Dan wasn’t certain which was worse, his mother’s attempts to include Fionna in the family, or her reminders that she was not yet a Vindico. Oddly enough, the attempts to be inclusive seemed more off-putting.
“Thank you. You really didn’t have to get me anything.”
Dan studied the present. His left shoulder twitched. His shield shimmered in his hands. His body attempted to shield Fionna without his concisely ordering it to. It was an extremely odd sensation for his shield to move of its own accord onto someone who wasn’t him.
Fionna hesitantly pulled the tape on the package. Dan wondered how big a disaster the presents were going to be. He sincerely hoped that the things he’d gotten for her would somehow be enough to make up for the pile of presents gathered at her feet. She smiled sweetly and feigned excitement.
“I just happened to notice that old sewing machine that you had in your guest bedroom at your house, Fionna,” Mrs. Vindico explained. “So, I thought maybe you could learn to sew. That might be a nice hobby when you decide to stop this Angels business.”
Dan visibly cringed.
Fionna held a book in her lap called Let’s Sew Something Together, with pictures of beginner sewing projects straight from the 1970s on the cover.
“Once you get through straight lines and picking out material, you can get to patterns and actually making things,” Mrs. Vindico patted Fionna’s leg again.
In the past month, Dan had not seen Fionna sew much of anything. He assumed that was because her machine wasn’t working and because he’d been taking up all of her available time. But he knew that all of the intricate quilts in their home she’d made by hand. Not to mention that she often sewed banners for the Angels, clothing, and all of her extensive apron collection that she used regularly. She certainly didn’t need a beginner’s sewing book. Dan rubbed his temples, praying that the book would be the worst of it.
“Well, uh, thank you,” Fionna glanced at Dan and then back to the book in her lap.
“Didn’t you sew all of the Auxiliary Order banners when we were in school?” Kara quizzed.
“Well, you can always use a refresher course.”
Kara opened gifts for the baby, and Olivia pushed around the doll carriage Mr. and Mrs. Vindico had purchased for her with great delight.
Kara and Meredith were elated with the rather expensive cashmere wraps Fionna had picked out for them.
“Dan, you open one, son,” Governor Vindico handed Dan a box.
“This is from me. Your mom wanted to get you socks.”
Dan chuckled and pulled the paper off. His father was telling the truth. The wrapping was rather crude. The Governor had clearly both wrapped and picked out the gift.
“Wow!” A broad grin spread across his face. Fionna looked excited that Dan was so pleased. “Dad, thank you.” Dan lifted the Colt .38 Special from the box. Fionna giggled at his adoration.
“It was your grandfather’s,” Governor Vindico explained. “It’s over fifty years old, still shoots perfectly. He wanted you to have it. I’ve kept it for a few years.”
Though he was truly honored, Dan knew why he hadn’t been given the gun when his grandfather passed. Grandpa Vindico was the only other Ioses in the Vindico line. He’d taught Dan to shoot. He’d also passed away just two weeks after Amelia. The blow had been crushing. Dan wasn’t certain he’d ever recover. His father wasn’t going to be the one to hand Dan the pistol.
“Thanks, Dad. This means a lot.” More than the cherished memories of the times he’d spent with his grandfather, it meant that his own father could see the changes and the healing taking place in Dan as well.
He flipped open the barrel and spun it quickly, before popping it back in.
“Open this one, Fionna. It’s for both of you,” Mrs. Vindico lobbed a large, rather heavy, box onto Dan and Fionna’s laps.
Clenching his jaw to keep himself from shouting at his mother, Dan eased the pistol out from under the new package. His mother’s present had driven the barrel into his thigh. He eased the gun into its box and set it out of reach of Olivia and Oliver.
When he returned, he gestured for Fionna to open the package. A moment later she bit her lips together. Dan watched blood pool in her cheeks as she pulled out a baby-blue hand towel from several matching sets. They were all embroidered with a large, yellow letter ‘V.’
“Mother!” Dan spat angrily. “Vindico is not Fionna’s last name. Why would you give this to both of us?”
“I assumed that since she is now living with you, Daniel, that you would be changing her last name.”
Infuriated, Dan shoved the hand towel back into the huge box full of towels and dropped it quickly to the floor.
“Now, Fionna when you add the ‘D’ and ‘F’ to them I can tell you where I had them done. You don’t want them done improperly.”
Fionna sighed. She looked exhausted with the entire evening. Dan could feel the heat of her embarrassment in her tens
ing rhythms.
A few more rounds of gifts went by, and Dan kept his steely eyes leveled at his mother. She was ignoring the glower.
“Fionna, open your last one,” Kara clearly hoped that whatever the box contained would help smooth over the towels.
Fionna was now a nervous wreck, and Dan was too angry to calm her as she picked up a relatively small package and began pulling the ribboning off of it.
“This was just a sweet little gift I put together for you,” Mrs. Vindico moved closer. Dan pulled Fionna tighter. Her body gave a timid shudder. Her internal Receiver’s shield was setting.
She opened the box, and Dan’s head dropped in horror. But Fionna relaxed a little and choked back hysterical laughter.
Inside was a framed photograph of Dan in his Cub Scout uniform at the age of seven and then a bound ring of notecards.
“Those are all of my recipes of the things that were Daniel’s favorite things to eat growing up. See, here’s my meatloaf, and pork chops, and my chicken casserole, oh, and the ham you had here a few weeks ago,” she showed Fionna the recipe cards as Dan whimpered audibly.
There was a recipe for every single one of the dishes that Dan had whined about just before they’d arrived for their horrific evening. Fionna was unable to keep from laughing, though she tried to hide it from Mrs. Vindico.
“Thank you so much. This is so thoughtful.” She pulled the rather dorky-looking photo of Dan performing the Cub Scout salute, smiling broadly, displaying a gap-toothed smile.
Fionna, still giggling, turned to beam at Dan, who was certain that his face was as red as hers. “You were so cute.”
Dan squeezed his eyes shut in defeat.
Echoes of Home
Suddenly, Fionna’s cell phone began playing the chorus of ‘Brown-Eyed Girl.’ Her teasing grin turned into one of heartbreak.
“Please excuse me. That’s my dad.”
“Of course, sweetheart,” the Governor nodded before his wife could respond.
Fionna raced to her purse and extracted her phone. She slipped into the entryway as she answered.
“Daddy, what’s wrong?”
Dan stood and set Fionna’s gifts where he’d been seated. He rushed to Fionna, pulled his own phone from his pocket, and looked up the enhanced flight schedule to Monterrey, Mexico. There was a flight out in an hour and a half.
“Oh,” her entire body slumped in relief, “hi, Nana.” Tears formed in her eyes. She leaned and laid her head tenderly on Dan’s shoulder.
She’d been through quite enough for one evening, and his shield wasn’t taking no for an answer anyway. It surrounded her with the fierce double bands of his protection, without Dan summoning it. He reveled in the satiated peacefulness that he brought her.
“I miss you so much.” Tears were now flowing down her face. Dan wiped them away and kissed her forehead silently as she spoke. He grinned as she pushed her hand under his jacket, in an attempt to crawl into his chest. He pulled the sports coat open and cossetted her in it, hiding a bit of her face. She nuzzled against him.
“You sound better than when I talked to you a few days ago.”
Dan squeezed her tighter and strengthened his shield around her.
“Well, you need to do what the Medio says, Nana.”
Governor Vindico halted abruptly as he took in Dan’s shield. He took several steps back. “Son, why don’t you take her upstairs?”
Dan took Fionna’s hand and felt his heart pound with every step he ordered his feet to advance. His gut seized as he listened to Fionna talk to her grandmother.
“No, Nana, I didn’t know.” Like he’d been given a cadenced marching order, Dan passed the door to his father’s study. One foot in front of the other, he walked past Lindley’s door and the bathroom. Kara and Meredith’s rooms were to his right, beside his parents’ master suite. At the end of the hall, he swallowed down bile as he opened the door to his childhood bedroom.
Not certain what he was supposed to feel, he gave himself a moment to let the memories of the life that the room had once held wash over him.
His mother had taken down the Ioses banners and posters of motorcycles, typically with bikini-clad women splayed across them, down when he’d moved in with Amelia. She’d changed the bedspread and curtains, but the room was basically the same. His desk, his chest of drawers, his bed; he cringed as his eyes travelled from one piece of furniture to another. He tried to push the memories outside his shield.
Get it together, you moron. He guided Fionna into the room. She seemed hesitant. She studied him, but kept up the conversation with her ailing grandmother. He closed the door behind her.
Fionna had nothing to do with what happened here when you were seventeen, and she needs you.
“Did Daddy make you your pani popo?” Fionna asked her grandmother sweetly, and then smiled at her response.
“I loved them. Thank you, but you didn’t need to send me anything.”
Dan distracted himself by wondering what her grandmother had sent her and when she’d sent it.
“Yes, Daddy gave them to me at the bakery on Monday.”
Forcing himself to do this by remembering that he’d been a complete coward when it had come to introducing Fionna to Amelia’s parents, Dan led her to the bed.
He seated himself with determination and then pulled her onto his lap.
“Nana,” Fionna giggled. The sound eased Dan’s breathing. “Yes, he’s very cute.” Her blush returned. She rolled her eyes, and Dan was shocked to hear the chuckle that spilled from his lips.
“No, Nana,” Fionna argued. “He’s kind of the most amazing man I’ve ever met.” She held Dan’s eyes with her own. He swallowed back the emotion that had him in a chokehold as he shook his head.
“Yes, I’ll tell him you want him to come to Monterey,” Fionna agreed in a placating tone, and then she giggled hysterically. “No, Nana, I will not tell him that. Nana!” Fionna gasped loudly.
Dan gave her a wry smirk. He was, once again, astounded. She could even make him feel loved and comforted in a room that held memories, now harrowing, with too much pain for him to manage alone.
“Nana, I think you need to back off on the pain medication.”
Dan laughed outright as he rubbed her back and watched her eyes dance from hearing her grandmother’s voice.
Her grandmother began talking rapidly, and Fionna grinned again.
“All right, Nana. I need to go. I love you, and I miss you so much.”
Dan could feel her misery and her longing to be with her own family. He felt sick as his mind replayed their evening in gory detail. “I will.” Fionna agreed to a request. “I love you. Merry Christmas,” were her parting words.
Fionna hung up the phone, while blinking back another round of tears. She needed a minute. She curled herself up in her ball in his lap. He cradled her against him and brushed his thumb over her cheek in a tender caress.
“Baby, I wish you’d told me you wanted to go. I would’ve taken you down there.”
“We would’ve just had to come home tomorrow.” She buried her face in his chest. Abruptly, she sat up and glanced around. “I’m sorry. You don’t want to be up here. Let’s go back downstairs.” She tried to stand, though the task seemed a heavy burden. Dan held her tightly.
“No,” he prevented her from moving further. “Just stay right here with me for a few minutes, before we go back to all of that insanity.” He gestured his head to the hallway outside his door.
“Are you sure?” To test him, she linked their fingers and drew a healthy dose of his energy.
“Did I pass?” He gave her another cocky smirk. She grinned and nodded. “I’m fine, honey. I just want to hold you.” He wanted that more than he wanted anything else in the world.
Utter relief washed over her, and she curled herself up inside his protective embrace.
“So, what did Nana say?”
She giggled, making him all the more curious. “She seems so much better. They have her o
n some new medications. Mama took her to see a new Medio yesterday.”
“What did she send you?” He hadn’t meant to ask. He hoped she didn’t feel like he was intruding.
Fionna didn’t seem to mind. “I wanted to make a quilt for Mama with some fabrics from Mexico, so Nana sent me a bunch of fat quarters. Those are what you use for quilting squares, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her about my sewing machine.” She hesitated. “She was so excited that I wanted to make it. She binds all of my quilts for me.”
Dan gazed at her, curled up in his lap, as he kissed the top of her head. “What were you not going to tell me?” He curved his fingers and tickled her ribs. She wiggled and laughed hysterically then clamped her arms to her side.
“Do not tickle me!” she shrieked through more laughter. Dan waggled his eyebrows.
“What did she want you to tell me?”
“I’m gonna scream for your dad!” Fionna looked delighted with their game.
“Uh huh, go ahead,” Dan knew perfectly well she’d chicken out because she wasn’t frightened in any way. Fionna giggled deliciously. “Tell me, baby.” Dan wiggled his fingers between her ribs for a split second.
“Okay, okay,” she agreed. Dan raised his left eyebrow in expectation. Fionna was the color of a ripe strawberry as she tightened the hold of her arms against her ribcage. “But my Nana is really a spry, old lady; and kind of dirty.” Another round of laughter overtook her.
Dan joined in her laughter and put away everything that had happened to him in that room. That was a lifetime ago, and, right now, everything he could ever want was curled up in his lap.
“And her dirty comment was?” Dan lifted his hand, threating another assault of her rib cage.
“You know I really like it when you do other things with your hands, Officer Vindico.”
“We’ll get to that later,” Dan assured her.
Rolling her eyes, Fionna finally acquiesced. “Nana said to tell you that if you think I’m hot in the bedroom, you should see me in the kitchen.” Her entire body, hot from her embarrassment, cringed into Dan.
