CHAPTER 5
TWILIGHT
October 30th
"There was a call for you, Doctor Forger."
Loid swiveled his head to look at Ilina and took a moment to switch mental gears. He was still thinking about the session that had just wrapped up. He'd been writing notes about Mrs. Wright. She'd displayed some odd mannerisms for a septuagenarian. Perhaps there was some type of degenerate disorder in play for which she ought to be referred to a specialist. "Ah, thank you," he said. "Should I call them back?"
"I think so." She glanced down at her notepad. "It was from your wife, at 11:46. She said it's about the Halloween concert."
He blinked. "Ah." Loid glanced at his wristwatch. "I believe that she will still be on her break, so I can't call back until after the 1:00 session. Would you remind me?"
"Of course, Doctor Forger." Ilina made a note. Her face twitched. That was the only sign that the conversation was about to go wrong. "Mrs. Wright said something on her way out."
"Something that concerns you."
Ilina averted her eyes. "She confirmed that your daughter attends Eden Academy. I didn't answer, of course, but she seemed certain."
His eyebrows shot up. That seemed inappropriate.
"Does she have a grandchild in attendance?" Loid wondered. It was the only innocent reason he could think of her for to know that. Unless perhaps she had a relative who worked there? But would she really have told a relative about her mental health practitioner?
"She might make an appearance at the school event tomorrow, Doctor." Ilina was discomfited. Her usual professional smile was a bit thin. "I suspect she has a personal interest in you."
…
Mrs. Wright was a fine lady with children older than he was. In fact, her oldest grandchild was only two years younger than Twilight.
'I appreciate her optimistic spirit, but have new insight into her reluctance to discuss her contentious marriage.'
"Alas, I am married to the love of my life," Loid said lightly. "And Mrs. Wright is my patient. We are star crossed and must never meet outside of office hours. Thank you for the warning."
'I'll keep an eye out. Surely I can dodge her without causing offense.'
The secretary nodded, tension unwinding. She must have been worried he'd take the news worse. "As you say, Doctor."
He had his lunch break in the office. Ilina went out as she usually did, for her 90 minute lunch where she met friends at a café.
Loid didn't need the reminder to call Yor. He dialed up her office.
"City hall, this is Camilla speaking. How may I help you?" The voice that came out of the speaker had a very pleasant, plummy quality to it. If he didn't know better, he would have felt it belonged to a very kind young lady.
'This is the terrible woman who attempted to throw hot potato gratin on Yor. It would have been both a tragic waste of food and a cruel assault.'
Yor was so sweet and gentle. He felt a spike of anger that she worked with such a snake.
"Good afternoon, Camilla," he said smoothly. There was a sharp intake of breath as he recognized her. "I'm sorry, but may I speak to Yor-san?"
She paused. "Of course, Mr. Forger." Her voice rose just a little louder than it needed to, to accommodate the office gossips no doubt. "Just one moment," she oozed sweetly.
"Thank you so very much," he purred back. He felt his eyes narrow into a predatory line that little Camilla would certainly have mistaken for something else, had she seen it in person.
He heard her breath for a moment, and then a quiet click. One, two, three seconds later-
"This is Yor speaking."
"Good afternoon, I'm sorry I missed your call." Loid leaned against the office wall. "How are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine." Yor sounded a little flustered. A fond smile stole across his face. "I was actually calling about Anya's school event tomorrow."
"Oh?" He watched as the office door unlocked and Ilina entered. Her mouth opened in a greeting that turned into a head nod when she noticed that he was on the phone. Loid returned the nod with a faint smile.
"Yeees," Yor stalled. "I found out what the event flyer meant and got Anya a pumpkin costume. But about the other costumes…"
"Already taken care of," he reminded her.
Yor coughed quietly. "Ah… you see, the thing is that Anya-chan really wants to do a group Spy Wars costume."
His heart jumped at the word "spy" and then fell into a pit of despair.
"Ah, it's a little late to change," he tried desperately.
"She has that princess dress," Yor reminded him. Her voice took on the stubborn quality that he rarely heard. His shoulders sank preemptively. "And you have your costume from before. I already bought the costume that she wants me to wear. So really, it isn't too late."
No. There had to be another way.
"I understand," Loid said dully. In his peripheral he saw Ilina perk her head up and frown slightly at his tone. She was going to ask him about this conversation.
He stared at the office wall as if it had a more pleasant suggestion for him. "I will think about it. In fact, we can discuss it when we get home."
"Of course." Yor's tone brightened. "Have a good afternoon at work."
"You as well," he said, and ended the call. He looked at the receiver mournfully before putting it down.
Ilina hummed in the back of her throat, one long curious note. Then she clacked over. "Your daughter doesn't want to use your costumes?" She asked sympathetically.
"She hasn't even seen them," he said miserably. Loid put his head in his hands. "Her dress is much cuter than the one from her television show!"
He heard Ilina stifle a laugh. Loid repressed a glare.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," she lied.
He sighed.
"Perhaps you should have shown her the costumes much earlier, before she had her own idea." Ilina shuffled some papers behind him. "I'm sure that if she'd seen your designs, her imagination would have been captured. But once she's made up her mind, it would be difficult to change."
"I will try to change her mind." He rubbed at his temples. "I'm certain that she would love it, if she saw it."
Ilina hummed doubtfully. "There's always next year," she said after a moment. "Halloween is about the children, isn't it?" Her voice was deliberately light.
'As her parent, I should have the final say. She is only a small child and doesn't truly understand the situation.'
Despite that thought, Loid felt encroaching doom and mortification.
No. He couldn't give up so easily! He was an elite secret agent who enacted his country's will on a routine basis. He could outmaneuver a 6 year old girl and a mildly disapproving civilian lady on the matters of what clothes he would wear to a party. His dignity would allow no less than an unqualified success.
He went home with groceries and an air of determination. "I'm home," Twilight called out, voice strong and firm. He wanted to convey strength.
"Welcome back," Yor and Anya echoed. He could hear that they were in Anya's bedroom. No doubt they were finishing up Anya's schoolwork.
Grimly, Twilight put away the groceries and began his preparations for dinner. The bread had gone cold in the oven but it remained fresh and fragrant. He wrapped it in a hand towel and set it aside. Then he started a pan to heat and finely chopped garlic, onion, and carrot. He added oil to the pan. He cut up potatoes and started a smaller pot with hot water. Then he was ready to add the seasonings to the pan. They hit the oil with a sizzle.
He balanced agitating the mix of onion, carrot, and garlic while assembling the rest of his ingredients. He pulled the fresh cut of meat from the fridge and cut it to size. The water boiled, so he added beef flavor cubes to it. He removed the bulk of the cooked seasonings and set them aside so that he could cook the beef cubes along with a generous portion of black pepper. They were cooked, set aside, and then he added flour to the pan. It was no sooner mixed in than he added a generous dash of red wine and began deglazing the pan.
He hummed as the air began to sing with flavor. He added everything into the pot of broth then washed the cutting board so that he could add fresh parsley, rosemary, and thyme. He took off his apron and washed his hands as the stew began melding flavors into harmony.
Twilight knocked faintly at Anya's doorframe. "Hello, ladies," he said.
They both looked up. Anya had black ink on her fingers. Yor had blue ink on her nose.
Fondness stole his breath. It took a moment to manage- "Dinner should be ready soon. How are my girls doing?" He leaned slightly into the room.
"Math," Anya said darkly, misunderstanding the question.
Yor gave him a nervous laugh and a meaningful look.
'No! I have not given up!'
Anya swiveled to look up at him. "Daddy," she wheedled. "Anya is so, so happy that we can be Spy Wars family together!" She bounced in her seat.
Oh no.
"Mama showed me her costume," Anya babbled. "She's going to be Candy Dancer! She doesn't have a real bazooka so she's going to make one today when you take me to the reversal!"
"Rehearsal," he automatically corrected. "Ah- she is?" His voice betrayed his helplessness.
'I really don't want to wear that costume. Surely if she saw what I designed, Anya would love it.'
Anya shook her head. "Anya only loves Spy Wars!" She clutched her hands to her chest and looked up at him with the biggest eyes known to man. "Anya is so happy!"
'...I can't tell her now.'
"Yes, I hope that's alright." Yor gave him a slightly nervous look. "I have done some arts and crafts projects before. I'm sorry to leave you on your own, but I don't know how much time I'll need to make a bazooka." She had a stressed look to her eyes that he hated to see on her.
Poor Yor-san… between her work, her usual household management tasks, and the last minute work to ensure the concert went off smoothly, she must be all but overwhelmed.
'To save her the effort I could borrow a bazooka from work,' Loid thought for a moment. And then he realized that giving one to a civilian in a school would be problematic.
So he gave her a patient smile instead. "Of course I can take Anya-chan by myself. Don't trouble yourself, Yor-san. You are an indispensable member of this household."
He retreated to the kitchen. He had lost a battle, but not the war.
Twilight put out dishware and plotted. He tried again over dinner.
"Anya-chan, there's something I would like to show you."
His tone was casual, but Yor still shot him a panicked look.
He let out a little cough, disconcerted. "I actually had another idea for costumes. Yours is still a princess. It's very cute!"
Her face began to turn pink and her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Can I show you?" He began to plead. Maybe she would like it, maybe she would -
Anya's face turned white.
"Anya doesn't feel well!" She shrieked.
Yor dropped her spoon on the table.
Anya stood from her chair. "Anya thinks- may Anya- music!" She made a fist. "Anya thinks- that music would help her feel better! Can Anya turn on Mama's radio?"
Loid stared at her.
'...What is she doing? Is it just an attempt to change the subject?'
"Ah… of course," Yor said. She pushed her chair back. "I'll-"
"Anya wants to do it!" She ran across the room and flicked on the radio. Classical piano music began to play. "It's too quiet!" Anya took a glance at the door. And then she turned the volume up to the maximum.
Stringed instruments began SHOUTING soulfully into the room.
"Anya-" he tried to make himself heard above the music.
"Anya loves this song!" She began dancing and singing along with it, discordant. It was wildly obvious that she did not know the song.
Yor frowned and looked to the right. Her mouth moved to make words that he thought might be, "Was that the door?"
He heard nothing. Twilight slumped in his seat. He ate his stew.
