by Steven Wolff
CHAPTER 5:
LONNIE & R'DELL'S HOUSE
Anica sleeps through the night, peacefully till mid-morning when suddenly she shoots up in the bed, screaming like she just had a bad nightmare. She looks around, unfamiliar with where she is and is panicky.
'Where Am I? Did I have a bad dream? Am I still dreaming? Am I wearing Pajamas? Who wears Pajamas anymore? This must be a dream… Oh my God, who dressed me?' Anica notices she was wearing pajamas that old ladies usually wear which confuses her even more. 'Don't tell me I'm in a nursing home! Oh please don’t be a nursing home! Wait a minute. Why would I be in a nursing home? Did I have too much to drink last night? I must have… explains the fuzziness.'
Anica catches herself making facial expressions as she ponders these thoughts.
'I really need to stop making these faces...'
Anica sees that she is in a guest bedroom that is very warm and cozy looking. There is a gentle knock at the door, with a kind voice of an old lady who's checking on her. She asks if she can come in and Anica invites her in. The old lady sits down on the edge of the bed and looks at Anica with a gentle, angelic smile.
“How you feeling” she asks.
Anica looks at the lady with a puzzled expression, still trying to remember what happened. Everything is still a little fuzzy.
“I don't know yet, I am still not awake. Where am I?”
“You're in our home.”
“This isn't a nursing home is it?”
The old lady laughs, amused. “Oh dear, heavens no. You must have hit your head harder than we thought.”
“We?”
“My husband and I. We rescued you and brought you inside yesterday.” She says with a soft angelic voice, the kind that warms the heart with assurance. The old man walks up to the bedroom door and stops at the threshold, watching quietly.
“Thank you.” Anica says.
“You're welcome. My name is R'dell, and this is my husband Lonnie.”
“My name is Anica.”
“Well Anica, would you like some fresh coffee and breakfast? I've got it ready downstairs.”
“Yes, I would love some, thank you.”
“Well, it'll be waiting for you when you're ready. I'll fix you a plate of eggs, bacon and toast. Do you take cream and sugar with your coffee?”
“Yes please.”
“Wow,” Lonnie says, “You're a polite young woman. I don't see that as much anymore.”
“Well my parents raised me to have good manners.”
“Don't lose it! It's very refreshing to see.” Lonnie says in a friendly, kind voice.
“Why don't I remember what happened night?” Anica asks.
R'dell isn't sure what to say, so she asks, “What's the last thing you remember?”
Anica thinks for a moment and then answers, “I was getting ready to go somewhere and ...um...” She struggles to remember past that point.
“It's all a blur to me. If you hand me my phone, I'll be able to tell you.”
R'dell and Lonnie look at each other before saying anything.
“We didn't find a phone on you when we found you,” R'dell says, holding Anica's hand gently.
“Found?” Anica asks, looking at R'dell in confusion.
“Yes dear, you were in a car accident. The driver was killed but thankfully you survived. It was a good thing we got to you in time.”
“Where did this happen?” Anica asks.
R'dell and Lonnie walk over to the window.
“Come take a look…”
Anica slips on a robe and ties the belt as she walks over to the window.
“See that clearing just beyond those trees? Just to the left of that, that's where we found you, lying in a soft patch of grass and mud.” Lonnie says.
“We carried you home, and R'dell cleaned you up and tended to your wounds,” Lonnie continued. “Boy, you were out like a light!”
Anica examines her body, looking for any scratches or bruises, but there are none.
“If I was in a car accident, shouldn't I have a scratch or scar to prove it?”
“We think you were thrown from the car and landed in a soft patch of grass,” R'dell says with a warm smile.
Lonnie adds “Lucky you, R'dell used to be a nurse. She cleaned you up and looked you over… not one scratch or bump. You didn't even flinch one bit. You must have been either really tired or sipping one too many from the bottle.” He says jokingly.
R'dell gives Lonnie a disapproving frown and Lonnie says, “What?”
“No I didn't drink anything. That I'm pretty sure of, I just don't remember.”
Anica's stomach grumbles loud enough that R'dell and Lonnie hear it.
“Sounds like someone's hungry,” Lonnie says.
“I could sure go for some fresh bacon and eggs. You said there’s coffee too right?
“Yes there is.”
“Well, you don't have to twist my arm, you had me at Bacon!” Anica jokes as she gets up out of bed.
She follows Lonnie and R'dell downstairs and sits at a large round table that has a beautiful Lazy-Susan marble centerpiece. On it is a cream and sugar service with a yellow flower centerpiece. She scoots her seat forward and waits patiently as R'dell fixes her a plate from the stove.
Anica takes the opportunity to look around and get a feel for the house she's in. It's a cottage style home that makes her feel safe and cozy, almost too cozy. It's very clean, with lots of knick-knacks, oddball trinkets and souvenirs blending together nicely, each in its proper place. The cabinets have a glass window that allows you to see the many coffee cups they have, as well as other dishes they are proud to display. The drawers have old-fashioned knobs and the sink has a garden window with a stunning view outside. Anica sees a large number of family photos, among them a younger looking Lonnie & R'dell. He's in a military uniform and she's in a waitress outfit.
“Is that photo of the both of you?”
“R'dell glances at it and smiles while bringing the food over to the table.
“Yeah, that was me when I was young and not-so-heavy, Lonnie was also in the service at the time.”
“It's a great photo of you two. You guys look so happy and in love.”
“We were and we still are… 30 years and counting.” Lonnie says.
“Wow… Congrats you guys! What's your secret for staying together?” Anica asks.
“Do you really want to know?” Lonnie challenges Anica.
“Yes, do tell, please!”
“Two Words,” He says, whispering in a low voice so R'dell doesn’t hear.
“Yes, Dear.”
Anica burst into laughter “Hahahaha! Oh My Gosh that's so adorable.”
“Do I really want to know?” R'dell asks.
“I told her Beer and Football!”
R'dell rolls her eyes “Yeah, right.
“I'm kidding, I'm kidding! It is two words and they are True Love. That's the secret to a long successful marriage.”
“Aww that's so sweet!” Anica almost melts at how nice that makes her feel. Anica's hands are wrapped around the outside of a coffee cup, savoring the warmth emanating from her hot coffee as she takes little sips to keep from burning her tongue.
“Good save there mister!” R'dell says.
“Otherwise I would have to share MY two words.”
“Yeah, and what words would they be?”
“No Nookie!”
Anica is caught off guard by the remark, spitting coffee out of her mouth as she bursts out in laughter.
“Oh my God, I'm so sorry! You guys… Unbelievable! I hope I'm as happy and in love as you two are. It's so adorable.” She says, trying to wipe up her mess.
R'dell brings a damp warm rag for Anica to clean up with, grinning. Anica resumes finishing up her plate until there is nothing left.
“My, you were hungry” R'dell says as she picks up the finished plate. “Would you like some more?”
“Yes please, it was delicious!”
Hearing those words pu
ts a smile on R'dell's face and gives her a feeling of accomplishment as she serves up a few more pancakes.
“By chance, did you find any of my belongings?” Wonders Anica.
“I'm sorry, we didn't. Lonnie went back looking for your wallet or purse but had no luck finding it.”
“How weird.” Anica's face turns from hopefulness to disappointment, but she gives a half-hearted smile to try to cover it up.
“What?” R'dell asks.
“I'm still trying to remember everything that happened but can't. I was supposedly in a car accident yet I don't have any scratch marks nor any evidence of there being a car accident. My wallet, phone and purse are all gone and for some reason the name Mark keeps popping up in my head but I don't remember any Mark. Sorry, this is all unnerving and I hate it.”
“Maybe he's your husband or boyfriend?”
“No, I'm pretty sure I'm not married and there aren't many guys who would date me because I'm a little awkward, socially.”
R'dell and Lonnie look at each other like there's something to say but they're afraid to say it.
“Hey, what are your thoughts about Vampires, Werewolves and Fairies?” R'dell asks.
Anica takes another bite of her food and waits for a second to clear her throat before answering. 'Why are they asking about this? I knew it, these people are into some freaky stuff, probably believe in government conspiracies, I bet you anything!'
“I think they make great campfire stories. In fact, they make for great reading! Anne Rice just happens to be one of my favorite authors. Why do you ask?”
Anica then takes a sip from her coffee, waiting for an answer.
“What if I were to say they are real?” R'dell asks.
'HA! I knew it.' Anica thinks to herself but remains calm.
Anica smiles. “I’d say you’ve lost your marbles.”
There is a pause for a moment where no one says anything.
'This is all probably a practical joke. I bet you anything there's a camera filming me.'
“Am I on camera? Because this would all make sense, then.” says Anica, looking around for a hidden camera.
“Would you believe me if I said they are real?”
“No, because I don't believe in any of this mumbo jumbo stuff.”
“Honey, some things exist, whether you believe in them or not.” R'dell says with a serious face.
Anica sarcastically replies, “Really? So you're telling me... Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are all real?”
R'dell answers, “Not exactly.”
Lonnie chimes in, “The Tooth Fairy is!”
R'dell elbows him to shut up.
“So is Santa...” Lonnie mumbles under his voice.
'I knew this was all too good to be true. Damn it Anica, you did it again! Why's everyone I meet crazy, on drugs or want to take advantage of me? I'm so sick of it!'
Anica wipes her mouth, and is about to get up when R'dell confesses.
“You were in a car accident because a Dark Fae was trying to kill you and somehow you managed to escape. We heard the crash and came running out, we saw he was trying to kill you but you stabbed him in self-defense and down he went.” R'dell says in a rush.
“Okay, so now you're saying I was in a car accident and then a guy tried to kill me, but I killed him, but he was no ordinary guy, he was a dark Gay?”
Lonnie corrected her. “Fae, it means Fairy. When you kill a Fae, you absorb their magical abilities. It doesn’t mean you know how to use those abilities; they're just there until you learn how to develop them. But make no mistake: they're there in you now.” Lonnie says.
'Okay Anica, get out of here NOW! Just walk away.'
Anica gets up quickly, pushing her chair back hard.
“Look, I really appreciate everything you've done for me, but I've got to get going.”
“Anica, please wait…” R'dell asks as she watches Anica ignore her request and just walks upstairs, slamming the door behind her.
'Okay pull yourself together!' She thinks to herself while examining herself in a mirror. “This is all a bad dream. I'm still dreaming... Wake up Anica... Wake up!”
“You're not dreaming,” a disembodied male voice says.
“Who said that?!?” Anica asks as she spins around and presses her back up against the wall. Scanning the room she can't see anyone else, which unnerves her even more. She begins searching for hidden microphones and cameras.
“Okay, now I know I'm on one of those reality TV shows. HAHA, very funny! Michelle, did you set me up to this? Where's the camera? You got me, come out now.”
Anica looks for anything that a camera could be hidden in.
“It’s just me,” the disembodied voice answers back.
“Who’s 'Me'?” Anica asks, focusing in on where the voice is coming from.
“It's me, you know... The monster under the bed.”
*****
