by Richard Lord
Renfield considers the implications and the impact to the timeline he is now on. Adding to that is the complicated question as to how both of his daughters met guys with the same surname on the same day.
Illumna jumps in on his thoughts and says, “Coincidence is the map. You’ve said it yourself. But now you’re being paranoid that there is something more to it.”
At that Solstice reaches out her arms, but doesn’t raise from her resting position, “Come here Encyclopedia Girl! Hug me and let’s ‘dish’!”
Renfield turns to see the two of them hugging and snuggling together and smiles. He looks at Solstice and says, “I don’t think people say that anymore, but go on with your bad self!” Solstice and Illumna laugh and then he disappears, again.
CHAPTER 53
“Nothing seems like it isn’t, but we have a name for it, so clearly it is.” -- from the book of Brian
“Why are you back here so soon?” Renfield_2 asks.
“Answer me honestly, you already know what I’m thinking!” Renfield_1 ripostes.
“Coincidence is the map, Adam. You understand that or you couldn’t do what you do and I would not exist.”
“Cut through the bullshit now. What do you have planned?” Renfield_1 raises his voice in anger but his tone goes much deeper. “Stop!” His hand physically raises as if he can stop time, which he can’t. He proceeds, “Did you think it was sly to throw in the ‘Crossroads’ reference? Did you not know I would know it was me? Who are those boys and if you stray from the truth by an even a millimeter, I will end your existence. I promise!”
Renfield_2 knows that Renfield_1 is not bluffing. Yet he answers, “And what kind of existence do I have? I am nowhere.”
“Yeah, yeah queue the Beatles now. You move out of here. I know that for sure now. So what is in your mind that you don’t want me to know?”
Renfield_2 notes the facts and then responds, “You’re familiar with the philosopher Rumi who’s name leads to the word ‘ruminate’. He once said…”
“I know the quote, ‘Why think of this life and the next when one is born from the last.’. It’s a good concept, but it’s flawed for so many reasons. My take on life is that you live your life as you. Then you have a child and you live your life for your child, knowing you have to stay alive to be able to provide assistance when they need it. You cease being you, alone, in nowhere. You become a new being. You don’t look at anything in life the same anymore and you can’t. So yes, one should seriously consider this life and the next. And I mean that on both levels. We’ve ascended by having children. The next life we live, if we were to be re-incarnated, will be affected by this one. We must put more into the world to make it a better place for them. I like Rumi’s quote, but its lazy thinking. It has it’s time and it’s space, but this is no longer that time and this certainly is not the space.”
Renfield_2 nods. “So you do understand what I am doing. You’re just not ready to accept that we’re really getting older.”
Renfield_1 nods. “Plan well. I have to go.” With that he stands above his two daughters sleeping and moves to his own bunk to think.
CHAPTER 54
“The past has a funny way of becoming our futures.” – from the book of Phillip
He awakes suddenly to a sound he knows should not be happening and instantly clicks to the foot of the bed and begins dressing. He looks up at the door to the room and both of his daughters stand there as if they are staring through it. He tries to clear the fog from his mind, but he knows enough to take a visual inventory of what they must take with them. He clicks around the room putting the essentials into one duffle then he as he clicks towards the door, a man in a suit, large sunglasses, a moustache and a beard awkwardly covering most of his lower face, says to his daughters, “It’s my job.” Renfield clicked too far. He didn’t have the accuracy that Illumna possesses. As the man draws two pistols and aims he begins to click again, but when he arrives the man is already clearly dead. He looks at the two of them and asks, “Which...?”
He abandons the question but Solstice answers anyway. “Illumna.” Then Solstice looks at her father and asks, “So how does this effect our date plans?”
Renfield stops cold in the midst of dragging the body into the room. “Well, we can’t stay here. Someone knows we are here and doesn’t seem to like us very much. Wouldn’t you agree?” He gestures his eyes to the body he is dragging. “I don’t know. I think you should both still go on your dates, but we have to move now. Is that okay?”
Illumna looks at Solstice who is looking at Illumna surprised that Illumna could do what needed to be done. They don’t bother to look at the body Renfield is dragging into the bathroom. They do hear his audibly comment, “No pressure?”
Renfield again stops dragging the body and again looking frustrated responds to his daughters, “This adds more pressure, but we came here for you two to have a good time. So no pressure from me.” He doesn’t really look at the body either. Adam’s mind is still on the fact that Illumna was the one who took the man out. The girls smile at each other to hear he still approves of their dinner dates. “BUT!” Renfield adds, “We have to get the hell out of here, OK?”
Illumna and Solstice look at each other, then at Renfield and in unison respond, “Deal!”
After a few minutes Illumna turns to Solstice and asks, “So what’s he doing in there?”
“He’ll want to make a point. We probably don’t want to know.” Changing the topic Solstice says, “By the way, nice first kill, Sis! That’s two cherries popped in 24 hours!”
Illumna sits up, “Why does everyone assume I’ve never done either before?”
Solstice replies, “Well, I uh, well because you’re Miss Encyclopedia.”
“And you’re Miss, ‘I can create a whole new species and jump into them at will and check out my skills!’”
“OK, truce! You got me there.” Solstice leans back wondering about her older sister.
“Solstice, was that your first time?” Illumna asks and then adds, “I mean with a boy, guy, whatever. I’ve seen you kill before so I’m not asking that.”
Solstice leans over and whispers in Illumna’s ear, “Your’s too. So shhh!” At that they both laugh and spontaneously giggle. Then they look back at each other and can’t help but grin.
Renfield emerges from the bathroom. “Solstice, take your sister to get a cheap phone so she can call Joseph and plan a time to meet. I’ll assume you have Robert’s number?” He looks at her seriously inquiring.
“No, Dad. We thought I’d still be in this room, so duh, there wasn’t any thought into contact information if he knew where I was.” Solstice explains.
“OK, well go get that and then take your sister and you get yourself a phone too. In fact, grab me one. It’s more dependable if I can hear your voices than it is to listen.” Renfield remarks.
Solstice looks at her father in a completely different light. “So basically you’re giving us the green light and you don’t want to hear, so you’re going old school?”
Renfield sighs, “Something like that, I guess. Just go now before I change my mind. Meet me at…”
Illumna looks at Renfield and mouths, “We know.” and then they disappear.
Renfield, duffel in hand, clicks out too.
He steps forward sizing up the person at the front desk and says, “I need 2 rooms for the night”
The front desk person asks, “How many?”
“Five total, one dual suite and one single room one bed.” As he answers his jaw clenches and then he hears the total and his jaw clenches more as he reaches into his pocket. As he hands over the money he begrudgingly requests, “Two bottles of champagne, chilled for the double suite, please.”
He reaches back into his pocket but the front desk person announces, “That will be on the house, sir.”
Renfield’s mind is flooded by the thought flow coming from the person on the other side of that counter. He takes the keys and makes a hasty
retreat to his room. He lays back in his bed and then he clicks out.
For a few seconds he watches Sara and Christina together. They work well as a team in the kitchen. Then he feels a slap on his back and a firm hand on his shoulder. “How’s things?” asks Brady.
Sara turns and runs to Renfield and holds him tightly to herself. Renfield stands firm, but wants to melt into her. Then he meets eyes with Christina who looks him up and down and then says, “You have news.”
“Well not in particular, yet. I just needed to visit my family.” Then he turns to Brady and says, “Unfortunately that includes you.” They both laugh and Brady heads to the fridge to grab some cold ones. Somehow, he senses, this is going to be interesting.
While Sara is still holding Renfield tightly Christina walks over and kisses him deeply and then says, “So it’s about the girls, but it’s not particularly bad or you would have spoken by now. So what’s troubling you? Did they get boyfriends or something?”
Renfield gazes at Christina and thinks how eerie her word choices are. Sara stands up straight and stares at Renfield, “Answer her!” Sara demands.
“Yes, well sort of, they…”
“Both of them?” Christina asks.
“Yeah well, umm.” Adam turns to shout out to the deck, “Brady you still have my cigar?”
“Yup, it’s sitting right here in the ashtray, better come get it before I smoke it!” Brady laughs to himself knowing he is the exit plan.
“Ok, girls, let me go get that. I’ve been craving it! It’s wonderful to see you both! I mean amazing to see you both, turn around.”
They know where he is going but play along and turn around anyway.
“See now that’s worth coming home to!” Renfield remarks.
They both giggle and look at him and give him a hug. Christina comments to Sara out loud, “You know that’s about me not about you!” Then they both laugh again and Sara makes wooshing gestures toward the deck.
“Go, we can talk about your cigar later.” Sara blushes. Christina gives a look of disapproval or perhaps competiveness towards her own daughter. Sara turns to Christina and says, “Mom, our daughters are going to be...”
Christina holds up a hand limply and says, “I get it Sara. Let’s rework these recipes for one more. That ass never announces himself.”
Sara and Christina lock gazes and begin to laugh. Sara reaches to the top of the refrigerator and pulls down an ancient vine wine. Christina watching her from the corner of her eye says, “I would recommend against us both doing that tonight, but when in Rome…” They laugh again and the pour begins.
Sara stops mid gulp and says, “This isn’t Rome, it’s the middle of Bum Fuck Egypt!”
Christina’s eyes narrow in disapproval, “Where did you get that saying?”
“Who do you think?”, replies Sara and they both laugh and slug down another gulp. Christina turns to the stovetop and moves quickly.
“Stop distracting me, Sara! See?” Then they both laugh again. Christina reaches down and turns the oven all the way to the maximum. Then she realizes Sara saw the move and responds to the inquiry in her daughters eyes. “If you fuck it up, go all the way and call it fajitas!”
Sara laughs with a mouthful that sprays everywhere and then slightly toots while laughing so hard at spitting over everything.
Christina comments, “Girl, you’re not going to be any good to him tonight!”
Sara retorts, “Anyone who’s seen as much shit as he has doesn’t mind a…” She stops cold and looks at her mother. “Oh. You want him tonight. I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
Christina nods at her daughter and mentions, “I know you love him too. I have come to accept that. But yes, I need him tonight. I’m sure you do too and I’m being selfish, but…”
Sara interrupts, “He’s your husband. I will always love him, but he married you and the only reason I ever met him is because he was angry with you. His emotions are with you. His thoughts are with me. I understand.”
Christina, taken aback suddenly realizes why Illumna is the way she is. Then she thinks of Solstice and wonders what influences she has had on her daughters. Her mind flings into a void trying to grab something to say. She finds nothing because it’s a void. Yet nature abhors a vacuum so she sits down in front of Sara and begins talking anyway. “He expresses love in many ways. He may be a killer but he’s a lover. I know he has an intense love for you as I am absolutely sure he has an intense love for me. We are different people to him. We aren’t just women. We are his choices in a complicated world.” Christina pauses, takes a breath and without considering the weight of her next words says, “I’m your mother. He’s not your father. I cannot tell him what to do and I can only try to influence you.” Then she thinks for a moment because Sara remains silent, as is her usual. Then she states, “He needs you right now. That’s why he’s here. I want him, but he needs you.” Tears begin rolling down Christina’s cheek as she finishes, “As you said he thinks to you, he feels to me. He didn’t come here to feel, he came here to think and he does that well with you.”
Sara looks at her mother and feels her pain. She starts to raise her arms to hug her, but she stops. Her mother grabs her arms and throws them around her own body. Christina thinks, “How can one man cause so much emotion to so many?” She hugs her daughter tighter and then thinks to herself, “But that’s why I love him.”
Sara speaks, “Mom. I know he seems chaotic, but he’s…”
“I know, Sara. He paints a finer picture with a broader brush.”
Sara looks at her mother stunned. “That’s the perfect description! Who is that quote by?”
Christina laughs as she walks toward the oven to turn it off. “Your mother!”
Sara grins.
CHAPTER 55
“Old habits are defining. Some habits can save your life. Some will kill you. Either way, we live or die based on those habits.” – from the book of Brady
“So you know I hate cigars?” mentions Renfield to Brady.
“Yup.” He grins at Renfield. “That’s how I knew you just wanted out of that.” Brady looks over at Renfield. “Hard shit man. Daughter’s growing up on you, women wanting to be with you, world to save and you already know you’ll win…”
“Yeah Brady, and I see you’re living the hard life. You get cooked for, laundered, and sit out on this deck with that. What is that Scotch?”
“Hey man, I not only single handedly saved you from that…“ Brady gestures a thumb towards the kitchen, “But I acquired two beers for you! Be thankful! Damn!”
Renfield grins. Then he nods and says, “Okay, thanks, asshole.”
They both grin and look out at the scenery. The sun begins to set and they watch the ducks fly over the lake.
The moment of peace is interrupted when Christina walks out and says, “Boys, are you two ready to eat?”
Brady answers, “I’m always ready to eat! Bring it!” He then looks across at Renfield who did not move just stared at the lake. Christina turns and heads back to the kitchen to bring out the ‘fajitas’. Brady leans over and puts a hand on Renfield’s forearm. “You’re not going to stay for dinner are you?”
Renfield turns slowly and looks at Brady. “Thank you and thank the girls for me. I needed this, but there are two other girls who need me nearby right about now.” He then reaches into his pocket and pulls out an object and holds it up in front of Brady, “And see, I’ve got a cell phone now! I’m getting younger!” Then he disappears.
He calls both of the only two numbers he has. Both answer and both reply in the same tone, “Yes, Dad, everything’s fine. Relax. Thanks for the room!”
Renfield nods and stares at the phone. He wonders if they noticed he and Renfield_2 clicked them all back a few hours. By doing so he didn’t particularly change the events, just the order in which they happen. So the dinner should happen simultaneously to the knock on the door, the night after he suggests cell phones, but they don’t remember why, besides
their echo memory. Do they realize he has put a fracture in the timeline by doing so? Renfield clicks out.
Brady looks at the chair in front of him and Renfield is again there staring out at the lake again.
“Not the smoothest way to get out of a bad meal. You missed the ‘fajitas’.” Brady points out.
Renfield laughs while still staring at the lake. “’Fajitas’, huh?” He begins laughing harder, and then states over his shoulder to Brady, “You know that’s Christina’s code word for ‘I fucked this up’.”
Brady leans forward, “Now you tell me, ass!”
“Hell, I’d have eaten it. Right now I’d eat the grubs in the yard.” Renfield is serious as he thinks about how much he hates eating grubs, but would love some food. Then he remembers eating grubs and loses his appetite, momentarily. He thinks deeper into it and realizes he would do it again, but hate it more now than ever.
Brady looks at him in protest, “Are you saying I don’t care for the lawn properly?”
Renfield laughs, “Well, I can hear them, so, I’m suggesting if you want to keep the lawn green you take some action.”
Brady huffs at Renfield, “You’re odd, man! But seriously, can you hear their thoughts?”
“Yes.”
“Well out with it! What do grubs think about?” Brady sits up with full focus on Renfield.
“Making more grubs and chewing. Mostly. Hiding and comfort. Trying to disappear when discovered.” Renfield tries to put the thoughts of a grub into English, but finds it challenging so he stops there.
Brady straightens his back and mutters to Renfield, “Heads up!”
Christina opens the door to the deck, but Renfield already heard her anger and has turned to face her wrath. She slaps him hard. “My daughter is upstairs crying over you! You’re an ass!”
Brady chimes in, “Seconded, bro, just sayin’”
Renfield stands and grabs Christina by the waist pulls her to him and kisses her before she can say more. He pauses and looks at her and she slaps him again. Then she begins yelling, “You knew both of those were coming, why didn’t you avoid either?”
