Chapter 5
The next day, the next rainy day, drawled on, and on for Opie. He felt himself becoming drowsy, yet fidgety and anxious all at the same time. He sat in class, unable to concentrate on his work. Opie fell in and out of consciousness, as he had sleeping spells. He woke up though, as the final dismissal bell rang, and went down to the office for his pickup. He fell asleep periodically. Andy was waiting for him down at the office.
"Pa, I wasn't sleeping". Opie said, widening his eyes to show Andy he wasn't sleeping. "Oh, it's alright if you were, which I know you weren't". Andy said, playing along. "But let's say if you were, it's alright". "I know it's been a hard day".
"Kind of". Opie said. "Well, when I lost your mother and your sister it was hard for me to stay awake during the day". Andy said, gently. "It still is, and being at the precinct all day, sitting there is pretty tough". They walked outside, getting in the car.
"What do you do at the police station?". Opie asked. "Oh, well, I check criminal records, do payroll, and handle other business". Andy said, gently. "I got into policing as my father did it beforehand". "I've always liked policing, it makes good money, and Barney's there".
"Barney is funny". Opie said. "Yes, Barney has always been a peach, but, he means well, and does what he can to help out most of the time". Andy said, gently. "Barney and I used to do a lot as cousins". "I just look back, and I can't believe he's all we have left". "It strikes me everyday, but, I find strength in being with someone new". "Esmeralda has given us everything, and I just hope our wedding is as perfect as she is".
"Is this Esmeralda's first time getting married?". Opie asked. "It is". Andy said, gently. "She's anxious to raise kids, and have her own family so I told her, why don't we make the perfect example for her". Opie laughed at that. "But, I've never loved anyone in the dating aspect as much as I love Esmeralda". Opie could tell Andy was in love by the way he sounded. The reality was, and Opie wasn't aware, as he was still a little kid, but Andy was sex thirsty for Esmeralda.
Esmeralda was just as sex thirsty as Andy.
"Of course I will always love your mother, Gail, but Esmeralda just heals on another plane". Andy said, gently. "I'm excited to start this beautiful new life with her".
"I'm excited for you, Pa". Opie said. "Thank you, son". Andy said, gently. They drove for some time. "So, what was life like when you were little?". Opie asked. "Well, life was very complicated, and desolate when I was young". "World War 2 happened, and we had to ration everything, everything was more expensive". "We didn't have a television, or even a turn dial phone". Andy said, gently. "We had to listen to the radio to get our news, and even then, everything was inaccurate". "Kids my age were pretty disciplined, and well read, religious it was our only source of hope". "Luckily, I grew up with kind parents, who let me explore my individuality, and seek out what I wanted".
"Grandpa never hit you?". Opie asked. "No, never". Andy said, gently. "He was a gentle man with all the kindness he could muster". "He was a very educated, intelligent man that somehow knew that hitting a child, especially if it's your own, will not make the child respect you any more". "It will only make the child act out". "But, I was a well-behaved little boy who always did the right thing, but also knew of my individuality, and who I was, and what exactly made up who I was". "I want that for you". "Every parent wants that for their kid". "No matter what time period you grow up in".
"Ma always wanted me to do what I wanted". Opie said. He was talking about his late mother, Gail. "She was the easy one of the family". Andy said, gently. "She would always let you kids have one more glass of water, one more bowl of ice cream". "She was always childlike in nature, loving, that's because she was like a child, herself". "She would jump around with you kids, she would play tinker toys with you kids, let you all run around". "She was the best with children".
"I remember ma would always hold me and kiss me before I went to bed". Opie said. "She would stay up, and read you kids a story". Andy said, gently. "But, more than that, she would love you dearly".
"She and I had a perfect marriage when we were together". "We loved one another, dearly, and if we had an argument, or a disagreement, we would work it out, no matter how hard it got". "That's the beauty of a good marriage". "Disagreements worked out, colloquially". Andy said, gently.
"We always wanted to have children". Andy said, gently. "Unfortunately, Gail was sterile for a while". "We decided to adopt, after she and I agreed to help less fortunate children". "We went through the process, and got you and Addie".
"What was my birth family like?". Opie asked. "Your birth family passed on". Andy said, gently. "But they were good natured, loving, and well meaning". "However, you were in an orphanage that wasn't very financially stable". "They would be very distant with you and your sister". "You both were lucky to get out when you did". "They didn't have the money to care for children". "But your mother and I are very fortunate to have had you and your sister". "You both touched our lives". "I wake up each day, and I'm fortunate to have you helping me through anything I may have trouble with". "You are a blessing".
"Thank you, Pa". Opie said, looking up at Andy. "On another aspect, how does your heart feel?". Andy asked, gently. "I know sometimes when you're having a hard time, it can beat loudly". "Good". Opie said. "My heart beat loud in school, but I didn't pay attention to it, and I just did my alphabet, and my arithmetic". "My heart beats loud, and I get nervous myself". Andy said, gently.
"I started pacing the floor at the station, in my office, and my head felt so light, I felt sweat on my feet".
"My feet were sweaty, and I felt light". Opie said. "My heart beat light, also". "I hid under my desk".
"Oh, well, if you can, you can always ask the teacher if you can lie down". Andy said, gently. "I might". Opie said. "I think our grief counseling thing is tonight". Andy said, acknowledging Opie. "Our thing Esmeralda wants us to do".
"Yeah, let's just get through it". Opie said. They both chuckled.
Andy parked the car in the driveway, as Opie got out. They both went in the house.
Esmeralda was in the living room with a snack on the table prepared ahead of time, as Esmeralda laid stretched out on the wooden chair, as she wore her red silk robe. Green mush, lotion whatever was on her face, replenishing her skin. Cucumbers were over her eyes. An attendant was filing her nails, both her fingernails, and toenails.
Andy and Opie came in, as Andy saw Esmeralda getting dolled up. "Hi, Essy". Opie said, looking, still recognizing Esmeralda in her green facial mask. "Hello, sweetie". Esmeralda said, gently. "How are you this afternoon?".
"Fine, well". Opie said. "Love, I have cucumber water over on the table there, would you be fine and hand it to me?". Esmeralda asked, gently. "Yes, certainly". Opie said, handing Esmeralda her cucumber water. "Thank you, love". Esmeralda said, gently.
"Gussing up for tonight?". Andy asked. "Oh, I just like to keep beautified for certain days of the week". Esmeralda said. "Mm, so I hear you gentlemen have your appointment tonight".
"We certainly do". Andy said. "We have Dr. Handers". "Mm, I'm so glad you're doing this, babe". Esmeralda said, kissing Andy on the lips. Some of her facial cream got on Andy's nose. "This will be good for you, trust me". "You'll like it". Esmeralda said, kindly. "I suppose I will". Andy said, gently. Esmeralda kissed Andy again on the lips. "It'll make you feel better". She embraced Andy.
Opie sat on the couch, as his palms became sweaty. In his mind, he played out, what if I had the kitchen knife, and cut. He sat, as his palms became sweaty, as his heart beat out of his chest again. Tears welled up in his eyes. He cried softly.
"Opie, are you ok?". Andy asked, gently. "No, don't worry about me, pa". "Everything's alright". Opie said, with loud alertness. He felt lightheaded again as he ran into Andy's arms.
"It's ok, son". Andy said, gently. "It'll be ok". "I'm here". He hugged Opie tightly. Opie cried, as his face looked red. "It'll be ok, darling". Esmeralda assured, gently. She rubbed Opie's back. "I love you". She said, kindly. Opie cried, as his body shook. Andy held him tightly.
"He does need this medicine". Esmeralda whispered to Andy. "I think it would help". Andy said. "It would be beneficial". Esmeralda whispered. Andy picked Opie up in his arms. "It's alright, son". Andy said, gently. "Oh, there there". "It'll be alright". He rubbed Opie's back.
Opie felt horrified, pained as he sat in Andy's arms, feeling the fabric of Andy's police uniform. Opie just cried into Andy's shirt. "It's alright". "We'll meet with this man, and straighten things out". He said, kindly.
Opie still cried. "It's alright, son". "Would you like some orange juice?". Andy asked, gently. He gave Opie some orange juice. "Yeah". Opie sobbed. He cried loudly. "Alright, son, here you go". "Drink slowly now". "You don't want to get a stomachache". Andy said, gently.
Opie cried, loudly. He put his hands up, blocking away the orange juice. "Oh, would you like Brown Bear?". Andy asked, gently. "Yeah". Opie said, sobbing. Andy put Opie down, as he went into Opie's room, getting Opie's teddy bear, Gail gave him. Opie still cried, as Crystal clear tears streamed down.
Opie cried into his bear, blubbering at the emotional age of two. "It's ok, son". Andy said, gently. "You'll be ok".
Opie remembered what Esmeralda taught him, squeezing his fists, closing his eyes, as he sat, thinking about his firetrucks". He released the anger, the fear he felt, the sweaty palms, the thoughts of death. He breathed, releasing the bad thoughts. He thought of life, and his late mother. Oddly enough, he was content with his stepmother's advice. He felt this to be healing him. He felt himself calm down.
He sat, holding his bear close to him, as Esmeralda talked with Andy. Opie felt content as the day went on. He felt fine afterwards.
Andy and Opie came home from the grief counselor office. They came in the house putting their things down. "Where's Essy?". Opie asked. "That's a good question". Andy said, setting the keys down. "Where is she?". Andy went in his bathroom, looking in the bathtub, jacuzzi tub, finding Esmeralda in the bathtub, taking a bubble bath. "Hey, hon". Andy said, standing by the jacuzzi tub. "Hey, babe". Esmeralda said, alluringly, sipping her wines. "How was it?". "Did you enjoy the experience?". "Well, I shouldn't say that". "That experience isn't supposed to be enjoyable".
"It was fine". Andy said. "We just introduced ourselves today, but he promised us we would get into some things while together". He sniffled. "Well, I'm glad you and Opie went". Esmeralda said, gently. "Did he recommend medication for Opie?". She asked this in a whisper.
"He did". Andy said. "Medical Marijuana, just like you mentioned". "They make them in gummy form, and he is to get them once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening". "That's lovely". Esmeralda said, gently. "I'll go pick them up tomorrow". She smiled. "Why don't you come in, honeydew". She swirled her glass of wine. "I'm lonely in here, I need a strong, man to please me". She said this in a sexual register. "Oh well, alright". Andy said, romantically.
"But only because you're cute". He chuckled. "Mm, you're a dirty man". Esmeralda said, seductively. "Come punish me with your love". They both chuckled, as Andy closed the bathroom door, taking off his clothes. He got in the bathtub, it was a big enough bathtub.
He and Esmeralda kissed in the tub, Esmeralda poured him a glass of wine. She whispered in his ear, as he kissed her lips. They both kissed, as Andy wrapped his arms around Esmeralda, and they sat in the hot tub, having a romantic time.
Later that night in bed, Andy laid beside Esmeralda. They both held love deep within one another. Their love was fervent. Soon, this love would turn to a commitment.