by Utt, Kelly
“I am okay,” she says, raising a hand up to smooth the hair on the side of my head. “It’s nice of you boys to check on me.”
“Hey, Mom,” I say. “Liam is moving to Ithaca. Can you believe that?”
“Wow!” she says, sounding more like herself now that we’ve moved on to another subject. “That’s really good news. When?”
“Soon,” Liam answers. “When we get back from Tahoe, I’m going to buy a house. Then it’ll just be a matter of wrapping things up in D.C. and getting my retirement paperwork in order.”
“That’s truly wonderful news,” Mom says. “It will be lovely to have you and Estella nearby.”
I look at my uncle as he pauses.
“Not Estella,” I say. “Just Liam.”
“Oh,” Mom says. “I see. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Liam says. “Trial separation. We’ll see how it goes.”
“I understand,” she confirms.
“It will be great to live nearby you, too, Linette,” Liam says. “If you ever need anything at all, you will know I’m here and happy to help.”
“You’re too kind, Liam,” Mom says. “Your big brother sure would be proud of you. Both for the man you are and for how good you’ve been to me.”
Tears fill Liam’s eyes upon hearing this and I’m struck by how many times I’ve been the teary-eyed one this year. It’s unusual to see my uncle in that position. I place my arm tightly around his shoulder and give him a squeeze.
“Thank you for saying that, Linette,” Liam says, his voice breaking mid-way through. “I try.”
Mom leans in towards us and we stand together in a warm embrace for a few minutes without saying anything.
“You boys are too good to me,” Mom says. “I love you both.”
We tell her the same.
“Mom?” I ask.
“Yes, dear, what is it?” she replies. She sounds like her old self again now.
“Can we come inside your house?” I ask. “We’d really love to meet your guest.”
She smiles slyly and lowers her head into the shy schoolgirl pose once more. She looks like she’s debating the options in her mind.
“I want you to,” Mom begins. “I’m not ready though. Can we put this off until you return from your trip?”
I look at Liam, who has regained his composure now. He lowers his eyebrows and nods his head up and down.
“Of course,” I say. “That will give us something to look forward to for when we get back.”
“Good,” Mom says, looking relieved. “Thanks for being patient with me.”
Liam looks at Mom and smiles. I get the idea he thinks he’s keeping me under control and that Mom sanctions the effort. I don’t mind. It’s kind of humorous, actually. Our schtick.
“So, are you all packed up and ready to go?” Mom asks.
“Yep, we are,” I answer.
“Are our boys excited?”
“They are,” I say. “It will be a trip to remember. Life is good.”
“That’s wonderful,” she replies. “I’m so glad. How about Lady? Do you need someone to keep her while you’re gone?”
“She’s staying with Jen and Duke,” I answer. “Oh, and Jen’s pregnant! They announced it last night at the party.”
“That’s such good news!” Mom exclaims. “Sounds like I missed a great party.”
“You did,” Liam says.
“There was one more big announcement,” I add.
“Oh?” Mom says, shifting her weight forward and looking genuinely excited to hear the news.
“Marjorie and Roddy and moving to Ithaca, too,” I say.
“What?” she asks. “That’s truly wonderful news!” She doesn’t show any indication of being jealous of my in-laws, which I really appreciate. It’s not a competition, and I’m glad our parents don’t try to make it one. They’re so different. There’s room in our lives for each of them.
“Yeah,” I continue. “They’re planning to open a musical theater facility in town which will put on shows and concerts. It will offer camps for kids as well. Between the two of them, they’re well suited to make a big splash here. I can’t wait to see what they do. I’m sure their new place will be a huge asset for our little town.”
“Wow!” she exclaims. “What a gift to Ithaca that will be. I wish John Wendell was still around to hear about this. He would be jazzed about a musical theater place. He’d be there for every show.”
Mom’s face suddenly contorts at the thought of her dad missing out on something he would have loved so very much. She begins to cry. I pull her into me tightly and let her get it out. Liam and I don’t have dry eyes either. It’s emotional. We all loved John Wendell. He was a special man. And Mom’s right, a musical theater is right up his alley. I wish he were alive to see it.
“Well,” Mom says, finally pulling away from me and dabbing at her eyes. “Good things are happening for the family. And right here in Ithaca. It’s a dream come true for me. We have a lot to look forward to.”
“That we do,” Liam says with a smile.
“Okay, Mom,” I say. “We’re meeting the others at Pepperoni Parlour for dinner and we have an early flight tomorrow, so we’ll let you get back to whatever it was you were doing.”
She blushes again, although not quite as severely. I don’t mention our business plans. Neither does Liam. We hadn’t discussed whether to tell Mom about them, but he knows better. We’ll deal with that when we get back from our trip. All in good time. We say goodbye to Mom and head out to dinner, feeling positive about the status of things. Maybe Mom is okay. And just maybe, she’s more than okay. A significant other might be exactly what she needs.
Dinner is uneventful but pleasant. We enjoy ourselves every time we’re together. These people I’m living this life with are essential nourishment for me. We don’t get tired of each other. We’re grateful to simply be together. I hope I’m just as nourishing to them. I want to be the best man I can be for them. I look forward to having my uncle and my in-laws living here in Ithaca permanently. We’ll eat many meals together like this. We’ll move through life, together.
Once we finish dinner and get the boys back to the house and in bed, Liam and I take Lady over to Jen and Duke’s. Ladygirl hasn’t been apart from us since the day we brought her home from the animal hospital. She was freshly patched up that day and very wobbly. She was relieved to be home though. It had to have been traumatic for her to have been shot like that, then to spend a week in an animal hospital away from us. She probably focuses on the positive and lives mostly in the moment. She’s a dog, after all. But I can’t help but wonder how much it gets to her. I wonder if she’ll be anxious with us away.
As we drive on the way over, Lady seems apprehensive. But she relaxes once she gets into their house and sees Jen. Luckily, Jen is great with dogs and our girl knows it. I squat down and talk to Lady while Liam chats with Duke and Jen. I reassure her we’ll be back soon and that everything will be okay. She whines a little and nuzzles my neck as if she knows what I’m saying. She reluctantly accepts the situation, walking over and sitting down on the floor near Jen’s spot on the couch.
I’m proud of Ladygirl. Here she is, making the best of it already. I’m sure Lady and Jen will be just fine together. I thank Jen for keeping her. She’s gracious and seems genuinely happy to pet sit.
I sort of hate to bring up the business and the Tahoe invite right now. It feels late at night and spur of the moment to spring something like this on Duke. I consider not telling him just yet. Liam can tell I’m hesitating, so he shoots me a look that reminds me how serious Roddy seemed. I guess this moment is more about honoring my father-in-law’s request than anything else. He wants Duke. Hopefully, it’s Duke he shall have. Roddy sees something in Duke Hale. I can’t necessarily connect all of the dots to explain what. Hell, I can’t connect all the dots about Roddy, period. But I get the message loud and clear that he deserves to be revered and respected. He has a quiet strength th
at I deeply admire. I’m sure Liam feels the same way about Ali’s dad.
“Hey, Duke,” I begin.
“Yeah, man,” he replies. “What’s good?”
“Actually,” I say. “I have what may sound like a strange request, but it’s serious.”
“Okay,” he says. “Shoot.”
Ever the basketball fan. I wonder if he intended the reference.
“So, I’m not sure if you’ve heard any details yet. But you know that Liam is moving up here so he and I can go into business together, right?” I ask.
“I heard his announcement at the party last night,” Duke confirms. “But that’s all I know. Why?”
“It’s a long story,” I say. “And I don’t want to tell it now. It’s late and you two need to be left alone to go to bed.”
“What are you saying then, George?” Liam interjects, prompting me to carry on.
“Yeah,” Duke says. “So, what?”
“So,” I continue. “To make a long story very short, Roddy and Taye have also come on board, and we want you to join us.”
“In business?” Duke asks, looking confused. He turns to where Jen has settled on the couch near Lady and lowers his brows when his eyes land on her.
“Yes,” I say.
“It’s private security,” Liam adds. “Drones. The focus is mostly on residential security for the time being. Roddy insists on having you involved.”
“Wow,” Duke says. “I’m honored. But, you know, I have a wedding coming up and a baby on the way. I’m not sure I should get involved in another big project right now.”
“I hear you,” I say. “It’s a lot.”
“Listen,” Liam says, placing a hand on Duke’s shoulder as if he’s about to tell him the real story. “There’s a lot of money being put up here. And that means there’s a certain safety net, the likes of which employment at the Sheriff’s Department can’t provide. Work will be flexible. If anything, you’ll be even more available to your family than you would have been otherwise.”
Liam sounds like an expert recruiter right now. I’m impressed. Everything he’s saying is relevant. He somehow knows exactly what to say to ease Duke’s concerns. I make a mental note to let Liam be the guy who smooths things over if we ever need to talk our way out of a difficult business situation.
“Now, that does sound attractive,” Duke says. “I wasn’t thinking about it in those terms.”
“Yeah,” Liam confirms. “That’s the bottom line as far as what you need to know right now. Think about it like that. We can fill you in on the details later.”
“We’re all getting together in Tahoe to hash out business plans,” I say. “We’d like you to join us.”
“This week?” Duke asks, raising his eyebrows now.
He probably thinks we’re insane.
“Yeah,” Liam says. “Can you take a few days off?”
“Roddy insists on paying your travel expenses,” I add. “He says to tell you he won’t take no for an answer.”
“Wow,” Duke says again. “I’m flattered guys. Really.”
“Are you saying yes?” Liam asks. “Taye is arriving Wednesday and staying through Sunday. That’s our window for next steps.”
“Well,” Duke begins. “Wow.”
Jen’s listening from across the room but hasn’t commented yet.
“Look,” Duke says. “Give me a little while to talk to Jen. I could probably take a few days off, even though this is crazy. You guys do know that, right? It’s bonkers.”
“I know,” I say with a chuckle. “Sometimes life is, well, bonkers.”
“Alright, man,” Duke says, quickly ushering us towards the door. “I’ll get back to you.”
We thank Jen again and I call out another goodbye to Lady. Both look settled in comfortably together. Then Liam and I get back into his big blue truck and drive around the lake towards home.
We keep the windows down while we ride and lean into the fresh air on our faces. It’s a warm, clear night with gorgeous weather. The stars are sparking at their best this evening, brilliant and unencumbered by our mortal worries. The city is quiet, and the lake is calm and peaceful. The only sounds outside are those of crickets and the occasional bullfrog. It’s a perfect summer night. The kind people remember and write songs about.
When we arrive at our house and walk inside, we’re greeted by the heavenly sounds of Ali playing her cello in the den. It takes me a minute to place the melody, but I soon recognize it as a rendition of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. I’m struck by the deep meaning of the song selection. I haven’t even told Ali that I remember living with and loving her in Ancient Greece. Ethan mentioned us being together in Greece the week of the break-in. I wonder if Ali is making the connection to the lyrics. It feels like a part of her is, even if not consciously. We’ve loved each other for more than a thousand years.
Playing cello is like breathing for Ali. Even though she decided not to make a career as a professional musician, it’s very much a part of her soul. I can hear the passion and the oneness she shares with her instrument as they emote together. Maybe it’s because I know her so well, but I’ll bet others hear it, too. My wife is probably playing cello this evening to center herself before our trip. It’s a meditation for her, really.
Liam and I slowly walk towards the den like moths drawn to a flame. I smile as I walk, letting the music wash over me. When I enter the room and see my wife, my heart just about leaps out of my chest. I’ve walked into rooms and seen her a million times by now, yet doing so still makes my insides warm and gooey. I’m completely and totally in love with this woman. I fall harder and harder for her with each passing day. I pause in the doorway, too taken with her to move any further. Liam stops and stands by my side, a proud smile on his face.
Alessandra Davies is bowing her head down towards the neck of the cello. Her golden hair is tied back in a messy bun. A few rebellious strands cling playfully to her temples and volley around her cherry-red lips when her head moves from side to side. She’s wearing a white sleeveless top and matching white yoga pants. She looks like a ballerina. Or a real-life angel. She has her eyes closed, immersed completely in the act of bringing forth these beautiful sounds. Every touch of her fingers to the instrument is pure love and joy. She caresses the bow and the strings tenderly, with the utmost reverence for the experience they’re sharing. I know how it feels to be caressed by those loving fingers.
Marjorie is sitting in a chair nearby with Leo and Will on her lap. She raises one finger to her lips when she sees us, then smiles and begins to sway gently to the music. Both boys lean back contentedly on their grandmother’s chest as they watch and listen. Roddy and Ethan have been upstairs, but they must have heard Liam and I come in. They tiptoe down each step slowly so as not to interrupt, then enter the doorway to the den and stand beside me. I pick Ethan up into my arms. He leans his little head on my shoulder as I embrace him tightly.
I’m not sure Ali even knows we’re here. She’s in her own world and she’s casting a spell on everyone around her. It feels amazing to bask in her goodness. Roddy folds his arms over his chest, one on top of the other. It reminds me of the way my dad used to stand during our late night talks back in Brooklyn. Then Roddy leans over towards me and bumps one of his shoulders into mine as he nods towards his amazing daughter. He’s so very proud of his little girl. I guess kids who grow up are always their parents’ babies. It doesn’t matter how big or how old they get. Times like these make me see that clearly.
I know I’m biased, but Ali truly is one of the very best human beings to ever walk this planet. I hope our boys realize how lucky they are to have her for a mother. First of all, she’s kind. She genuinely cares about people. It shows in everything she does, from taking time for chats with little old ladies at the grocery store to working in her career to help immigrants navigate the legal system as they try to bring beloved family members to America from their home countries. She’s as smart as anyone I’ve ever met. And
I work with literal rocket scientists. Not to mention, she’s staggeringly beautiful by anyone’s standards. Her loving spirit and kindness no doubt add to her remarkable beauty. And she has a wisdom and grace about her as if she’s an old soul, here to guide those of us less sophisticated beings. It’s the biggest honor of my life to call her and our sweet boys my own.
As I ponder all that is Alessandra Davies, I feel goosebumps spread across my skin from head to toe. Suddenly, the plodding baseline in the music seems to be ushering my consciousness along with no active process on my part. I begin to see a vision. It’s… Ancient Greece again. My knees go weak as the scene floods into my awareness. Roddy and Liam stand closer on either side of me, holding me steady. I grip Ethan tightly in my arms and allow myself to experience the memory.
In a rush, I feel myself back in Greece, holding Ethan just as tightly. He’s an infant here, and he’s bundled up in white swaddling cloth. He’s looking up at me with big, brown trusting eyes. My love for him is overwhelming in its intensity. I recognize the rugged terrain and sweeping ocean views from my previous memories. The setting feels more familiar, more like home this time.
Ali is sitting beside me. I have one arm around her and am holding her securely as we’re bumped and jostled around. Her beautiful face is stained with tears. I take a deep breath and my heart feels broken right inside of my chest. We’re riding in some sort of horse-drawn buggy. In a flood of awareness and knowing, I come to understand that Ali and Ethan are being taken out of the city against their will. Against my will. Ali and I look at each with great sadness as we ride along. We understand this is a fate that cannot be avoided, no matter how much we wish it could.
The horses are running furiously, hooves pounding the earth below them as another soldier whips and spurs them on in front of me. I turn around and see four additional soldiers on horseback, obediently escorting us. Their horses are galloping with the same ferocity. They’re on a mission. I can see all of this and feel it as if I’m right there. The other soldiers are my friends. One of them is our Leo. I recognize him immediately from the memories experienced under hypnosis at Dr. Epstein’s office. These soldiers aren’t mean or malicious. They’re doing their duty. They’ve been ordered to see that Ali and Ethan are taken to a remote village outside of the city where they will spend the remainder of their days. In this lifetime, anyway.
