by Jill Cooper
Would he be okay?
“Gentlemen.” Rebecca Seers broke Wendy’s thoughts effortlessly and with a slight smile. “I believe you’ve lost your manners.”
The doctors barely stammered, their eyes glazed over as they turned her attention toward her.
Rebecca placed a hand warmly on Wendy’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “She is dying to know about the condition of her baby. Can’t you tell? The poor girl is nearly in tears.”
One doctor, short and with the perpetual smell of mint blushed profusely. “I apologize, Ms. Seers and Wendy.” He smiled, offering his hand to Jake. “You’re going to have a son and so far, he looks just fine. Just fine!”
Jake broke out into a broad grin and Wendy’s heart pounded so fast that she wasn’t sure her chest could contain the racing beats. “Oh, Jake,” she cracked out, and the two teenagers embraced hard. Sniffling, Wendy glanced back at the monitor. “Is that really him?”
The doctor nodded, pointing to the screen. “There’s the nose and over here, the feet.”
“He’s all right?” Jake asked apprehensively. “He’s…is he going to be like me?” There was fear in his face and Wendy felt sorry for how apologetic he was. He shouldn’t be; he was wonderful. She loved him despite their differences and didn’t care if he was human or glistening. He was Jake and that was enough for her. It was like her dad always taught her. Glistenings could do well if that’s what they wanted and Jake did. He was raised by good parents.
How they must be missing him now. It made Wendy sad and she was sorry, but they had no choice. They had to be together and protect their baby. Rebecca would make sure they were safe.
“Every test and everything we’ve done shows that he’s human. I’m sure there will be a few glistening traits, however—”
Rebecca cut him off by warmly placing her hand on Jake’s shoulder. “This is proof that you, and the other glistenings, are human. You were infected, but you are no different than me. No different than Wendy, and you deserve life and the liberties that go along with that.” She smiled warmly at them. “With your help and this baby, maybe we can find a cure from your ailments, and liberty will be right around the corner.”
Wendy smiled kindly at the doctor, who wiped the cold gel from her belly and helped her sit up. She pulled down her shirt. “What now?”
Rebecca glanced over her shoulder, but there was no one else but them in the small room. It was the first time Wendy saw a trace of apprehension in the woman’s face and it scared her. She was the leader of a great activist group; what did Rebecca Seers have to be afraid of?
“There’s a small fishing community not far from here. Away from the prying eyes of the media and anyone else that might look for you. Jake, you need to be taught to blend, to hide among humans. We can’t get caught. And sooner or later, someone is going to come looking for Wendy.”
Jake nodded. “I can do it. If you teach me, I can do whatever you tell me.”
Rebecca smiled at him. “I know. Only my key staff here knows who the both of you really are. We’ll move you after lunch. Staff is already there getting the cabin ready for you.”
“You’re not coming with us?” Wendy asked. Jake helped her down off the examination table and draped an arm across her shoulder. Wendy delicately touched his fingertips.
“Someone else will be, someone that I trust my life with. I have to be here to keep up pretenses, but we will talk as often as you want to.” Her smile was warm, reassuring. “Jake, you’ll need to learn to take care of Wendy and your child. We’re going to arrange for a job for you, but we’ll get you everything you needed to get started.”
“If they find us—” Jake’s voice trailed off, rubbing Wendy’s shoulder.
“You’ll be protected. You have my word.” Rebecca touched each of their cheeks in turn. “Now, go enjoy some lunch maybe out under the trees. Relax.”
She was relieved, glad and happy. Hand in hand, Wendy and Jake left the examination room. From behind the closed door, Wendy thought she heard one of the doctors say, “We need to talk.”
She must have misheard, Wendy thought as she rubbed her belly where she felt the baby kick. If there were something wrong, Rebecca would tell her. The woman was more than just their friend. She was their savior.
Chapter Thirteen Susan
“He never came home.”
The words left Susan’s mouth, but it didn’t feel real. This wasn’t like Jake at all. He always came home on time and never stayed out all night. It was supposed to be impossible. If an underage glistening was out past curfew—ten p.m.—the police were supposed to be notified. They would pick them up and return them home. That was how things were done, but no one came. No one called.
Her son was missing.
Jeff glanced around Jake’s room and Susan could see that he was disturbed by what he saw: the perfectly made bed, the folded clothes over the back of his chair. Jake was always a good boy. He always did his chores before he went to practice. He always did what his mom asked of him. “Maybe he—” Jeff broke off, “I just don’t know, Susan. Did the phone ring at all in the middle of the night?”
“No, I would have noticed. I sat up half the night waiting for him.” Susan had dark circles under her eyes that concealer wouldn’t begin to cover. She looked puffy, certainly not her best. “Should we call the police?”
Jeff sighed, bending to peek beneath their son’s bed. “With everything that’s going on, I don’t think this is the best time to call them.”
“Our son is missing,” Susan said intently, quietly. “And you’re worried about how that will look?”
“I’m worried about the rest of my family. Marie, you,” Jeff rubbed her arms. “He can’t go anywhere or hurt anyone. He’ll be back and he’ll have some explaining to do.”
“I just want him home safe,” Susan whispered, hands over her mouth. There were thick tears in her eyes and fear netted in her chest. “He can say anything he wants if he’d just come home.”
“Oh, honey.” Jeff hugged her. “Please, try not to panic.”
“What if he’s hurt somewhere? What if he can’t come home?”
“You know as well as I do, if he was in distress the police would be notified. They’d go to him. They’d call us.” Jeff’s tone was still soft, even. It made Susan want to scream at him. Couldn’t he get emotional, just once?
“With everything that’s going on? How do we know that? How?” Susan’s voice broke off. “I just got him more eggs yesterday. I promised him I’d make them for him. How come he’s not here?”
“Do you want me to keep the restaurant closed today?” Jeff rubbed her arms, making eye contact. “I can stay with you.”
Susan shook her head, her chin quivered. “You go. We both shouldn’t go crazy.” Besides, she knew that if Dusty’s didn’t open, the police would get suspicious. Maybe even think somehow they were involved in what happened to Travis Reynolds.
“I’ll swing by his school, all right? Talk to a few of his friends. See if they know anything, okay?”
Relief flooded her eyes. “Oh, please. Call me, after you talk to them.”
“I will, honey, I will.” Jeff kissed her forehead. “Try to relax. Go about your day as normal as possible, for me. I can’t live without you, hon.” Jeff gave her a smile; it gave her strength. Then he was gone.
After a moment of looking inside her son’s closets, she went downstairs. Marie was sitting on the sofa with her notebook cradled to her chest. Her eyes were wide and she was staring off at the wall. The look on her face said she didn’t really see it, didn’t really see anything. “Marie?” Her mother bent over and stroked her hair back.
“I don’t mean it, you know,” her daughter whispered. “When I tease him, I don’t mean it.”
“He knows. Don’t look so sad, he’ll be back.” Susan kissed her daughter’s cheeks. “I bet you’ll see him at school or he’ll be here when you get back. You have a test today, don’t you?”
Marie nod
ded. “Math. I hate math.”
“You better hop to it then. Off to school. Tonight I’m making your favorite.”
“Jake’s favorite too,” Marie reminded her. She stood up and grabbed her lunchbox off the floor. “Bye, Mom.” Her eyes were haunted, moist, as she headed out the door.
Susan sighed, wringing her hands together. She hurried into the kitchen and picked up the phone. She dialed the number for the school and paced the floor back and forth. Finally the switchboard operator answered. “New Haven High. How can I direct your call?”
She paused and took a deep breath. “I need to speak to Coach Walters please. This is Mrs. Jeff Monroe.”
“One moment please.” A beep resonated across the phone and then Susan was placed on hold. Light music from Barry Manilow played and she found her nerves calmed by it. Toward the end, she began to hum lightly along. Finally a gruff, but pleasant voice answered. “Mrs. Monroe, nice to speak with you again.”
“Coach,” Susan tried to get control of her rising panic, “I was wondering if everything went all right last night. At the practice.”
“Ma’am?” the coach asked, as if he hadn’t heard her.
“Last night’s practice? Jake,” Susan twirled the phone’s cord around her finger, unable to believe she was really saying it out loud, “didn’t come home last night.”
“Oh Mrs. Monroe, that is horrible, horrible news. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but there was no practice last night. Jake, well, he quit the team last Friday.”
“Wh—Pardon?” Susan’s legs were rubber. She thought she might slide right down to the floor. “He quit?”
“Yes, ma’am. He said it was interfering with his studies. I know he’s always struggled, but he’s a bright boy. Have you been in touch with the police?”
“Not yet,” Susan said lifelessly. It felt like she was floating and when she glanced down at her arm, she saw it was beginning to shimmer. Her skin was turning blue. She was losing control of her form; the shock was too much for her.
“I recommend you do.”
“I will. Thank you so much for your concern. I really need to go.” Susan rattled on, hanging up the phone before Coach said good-bye. Behind her, she could hear wind gathering steam as her wings stretched. The transformation into a real glistening was nearly complete, and with that morph came the power of anger, hunger. Susan opened the door to the fridge and instead of a hand gripping the handle were tight claws, pointed and sharp.
Reaching inside, Susan pulled out a container of juice and jugged it back. Some dribbled down her chin and her tongue licked the corner of her lips to gather off stray moisture beads. With that done, her form morphed back into a human one. The rage she felt was under control, it was in check. Bliss overcame her and Susan’s face tightened, as if she had applied too much acne cream. Her skin contracted, constricted and she felt a tingle stretching through every fiber of her skin. To be young and to be beautiful was a glistenings’ right, but it was also a dangerous curse.
She nearly dropped the container when the phone rang. Susan placed it down on the counter as she answered. “Good morning, Monroe residence.”
“Well, there you are, my dear!”
Susan’s heart felt like it stopped inside her chest. “Megan,” she practically screamed into the receiver.
“That is my name, or so they tell me.” Her tone was playful and filled with fun.
“I thought—I mean the police,” Susan whispered, eyes darting around the kitchen, “the police took you.”
“I know, I know! I was there, remember?” Megan laughed, her voice airy like she had not a care in the world. “I just needed to cool down. I’m sorry if I frightened you, but I’m all right. I’m home with my boys and have been dying, dying to talk to you. Now they’re off to school, work and the like.”
Susan squeezed her eyes shut and her shoulders quaked with a sob. “Oh, Megan—are you sure, sure you’re all right?”
“Don’t I sound all right, sugar puff? What’s the matter? You sound like they canceled your favorite soap opera. It’s not about John and Marlena again, is it? I missed yesterday’s episode.”
How could she be so casual? “Megan, I hope you’re all right. Really I do, but it’s about Jake.” Susan’s lips quivered. “It’s about my son.”
“You sound horrible. Should I head over? I could make a lemon Bundt cake.”
“There’s no time. He’s—” Susan lowered her voice, as if someone it would make it better, “—he’s missing. Last night, he didn’t come home,” she sobbed with a crack. Susan covered her mouth and tried to compose herself.
Megan gasped. “Oh dear, Susan! I’m too stunned for words. Do the police know? Have you called anyone?”
Susan shook her head, unable to speak. “I was afraid. Jeff thinks that with everything going on with the chief, they’ll be suspicious. But, he’s just a boy. What do I do? What?” The words charged from her mouth.
“Clean your face, darling. Clean your face and come meet me. There’s someone I know who can help you.”
It felt like Megan was the sun to her storm cloud, always able to help and pull back the veil of black. She always knew what to do. “Where? Who? I’ll meet you right away.”
“Thirty-Seven Acre Woods Road. There’s a building. Go to the basement. It’s safe to talk there. Very safe.”
Susan didn’t understand how any place could be safe to talk. “Who can help me?”
“Lawrence Stark, darling.”
Terror struck her heart. “No, no. I can’t. What if the police see me? They might take me away too.”
“Just like me? Don’t I sound fine? The police were understanding, really, hon. But if you want your son, if you want help finding him, Lawrence can help you. He knows this city in ways no one else does. He’s a smart industrious young man.”
Megan did sound fine, happy. But earlier, she was so upset about how they were forced to live their lives. Susan didn’t understand the sudden change. Maybe she could take this chance, maybe Lawrence could help her and she could keep it quiet. Jeff would never need to know. He’d worry so much if he knew she went to Lawrence Stark.
“Will you come, Susan?”
She thought about it, twisting the cord around her finger. “Yes, I’ll come. I’ll meet you there.”
“Good.” Megan’s voice was smiling. “Good. You be a good girl and get ready. I have a quick errand to run and I’ll meet you there in fifteen?”
“Okay. You’re sure—you’re sure about this?”
“Definitely, hon! Lawrence Stark is going to be the answer to all your prayers.”
Acre Woods Avenue in a small cluster of streets in the far east of New Haven, where all the roads were named after Winnie the Pooh. Susan loved reading those stories and watching the cartoons so always wanted to live there. Except for the fact that the blue bubble that kept New Haven safe came down sharply around them. When you looked out your window you could see the bubble veering down despite the fact there was a tense collection of trees made to look like a forest. Really, it was like hanging a beautiful portrait on a steel beam. Underneath, the beam was still present.
Susan parked her car behind a cluster of others and checked her reflection. It wasn’t that bad, she thought, and gave a quick powder to her nose. The address was a giant, steepled white church with marble stairs. The door was heavy as she pushed on the metal handle. Inside it smelled like coffee and disinfectant. Lights dimmed as the door slowly shut behind her, blocking out the sunlight. Its bottom dragged along the floor and screeched shut, like a vault.
She felt a bit trapped as she eyed the entryway. Along the left were mailboxes for the members of the church. Straight ahead, around a bendm she saw pews, but directly in front of her was a set of plush steps leaning downstairs into the basement. From that way she heard the clinking of silverware and the light rumble of voices. Susan took a deep breath, death-gripped the railing, and slowly made her decent down.
She could barely s
ee as the stairwell darkened. Her eyes blinked to adjust as she came to the bottom level. It was a small basement with chairs lined up ready for bible study. Along one wall, a table was set up with coffee and cookies. Susan recognized several of those gathered. Through the crowd, Megan stepped with a huge grin.
Susan felt better just seeing it and her heart opened up, welling with pain for her missing son. They gripped each other’s arms. She felt like crying, leaning her head on her friend’s shoulder.
Megan patted her head gently so not to disrupt her hair. “Now, now. It’ll be okay, won’t it? Nothing to be sad about, right? We’re going to help you.”
Susan wiped her tears away delicately. “Who are all these people? Is Lawrence here?”
Megan held a finger to her lips. “Not yet, dear. Sssh, not yet.”
She didn’t understand what was going on. Her eyes cast to Megan. Her friend’s wrist had a bright red mark on it. What was that about? Did the police hurt her? Was it something else? Susan’s chest heaved with anxiety and she wanted to run, to get out of there. It was stupid to come. Jeff would kill her if he found out. What if she were putting him and Marie in jeopardy just by going? Always listening to her crazy friend, he’d say. Getting pulled into one stupid scheme after another. Who did she they think they were? Lucy and Ethel?
Susan’s eyes were attracted by a tall man. He was dressed in a simple black suit that matched his hair and his eyes were cool, like the mid-morning sky. The lines around his lips and eyes were severe and sunken. She felt afraid of him, and again felt the instinct to run as he glanced at her. His hand swept across a device that looked like a radio. A low noise pulsed around the group as a beam of light traveled in a circle around the wall. When it completed its trajectory, the room lit up in a blue glow. Susan didn’t understand what was going on, but Megan grabbed her hand and forced her to take a seat.
