Chapter 2
"2666! Get up! You have a visitor!"
Prisoner 2666's mouth set into a grim line. Four more days. That was it. Four more days, he thought. A scowl on his lips as the guard shoved him forward. Father was going to pay for this. "Hello.Son," he spoke.
"Don't call me that. You have NO right."
"Whether you like it or not, Chad, I AM your father. You have Crane ice water in your veins. You and I."
"Shut up! Just shut up and listen to me. I'm putting you on notice, old man. I'm going to be watching your every move. And if you so much as."
"Save your threats," Julian spat. "I'm coming home in four days. I think a celebration is in order."
The scrape of metal on the tile floor was audible even through the thick glass barrier. And the phone dangled in the air.
"I love you, too, Son."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Luis.what's going on? Is it the station?"
Danielle stopped mid-motion. Juice from the red apple in her right hand trickling down her arm. "Dad," she whined. "You just got home."
Luis picked up the keys to his jeep from the counter and kissed his daughter's forehead. "It wasn't the station. It was Sam. He wants me to meet him at the clinic down by the waterfront. Sounds important." He hooked his fingers in the belt loops of Sheridan's jeans and tugged her forward.
"I wish you didn't have to leave."
"Me, too," he whispered. Tipping her chin up with his index finger and kissing her lips. "Will you be okay?"
She chewed on her bottom lip and nodded her head.
"I love you both," he waved.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Dr. Eve.what's going on? Why did our dad want us to meet him here?" Jessica asked in a concerned voice.
"Where's Noah?"
"He's with Paloma," Kay offered. Peering over Eve's shoulder at Room 13.
"I think you should wait until he gets here. Do this together. Are Miguel and Charity on their way?"
Kay's head snapped back. "Miguel and Charity? How does this concern them?" she asked suspiciously.
"We're here," Charity said breathlessly. Missing the look that passed between her cousin and her husband.
"Now tell us Eve."
"Tell us what?"
"Noah. Good. You're all here."
"Yes. We're all here," Kay huffed impatiently. "Can you tell us now?"
"Eve," Sam interrupted. "I think I should take it from here. Thank you."
"Daddy," Jessica said in a little girl voice.
Sam wrapped a comforting arm around her waist and took a deep breath. "I have some incredible news."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Tessa. Tessa," a voice beckoned. A whisper.
Miguel didn't notice the absence of her tiny fingers entwined with his own.
"Tessa."
"I don't understand, Daddy. What exactly are you saying?"
"Mom? Are you.are you talking about Mom?" Kay asked shakily.
Noah steadied her with a hand on her elbow.
"Tessa."
No one noticed the little girl push the door forward and step inside.
"Is this some cruel joke? I mean, you wouldn't do this to us. Right, Dad?" Noah choked. "Mom's dead."
"Your mom disappeared almost nine years ago, Noah."
"Tessa. Come closer, Tessa."
Tessa jumped when the woman's blue eyes opened suddenly.
"Aunt Grace is not dead," Charity uttered in disbelief. "She's alive."
The woman's eyes glittered in the pale glow of the overhead lamp.
Tessa stared back.
The silence heavy. Oppressive.
Until Jessica's keening cry shattered it. "Mom!"
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Let me see if I get this straight. A man brings a Jane Doe to this clinic last night."
"Grace," Sam shook his head. "That woman in there is Grace, Luis. I don't know how to explain it. But I'm positive."
"You're telling me that Grace just suddenly reappeared after ten years. I know you were having your problems, Big Brother, but this.this just makes no sense. Grace wouldn't leave her children like that, Man. No matter what kind of hell you put her through with Ivy."
"What about Ivy?" Luis interjected.
"What about her?" Sam asked dully.
"Have you told your fiancee that your wife returned from the dead yet?" Hank posed.
Sam buried his face in his hands. No. He hadn't even had a conscious thought about her since this whole scenario began playing out. And that fact worried him.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Is this seat taken?"
Simone studied her mother carefully. Noting the dark circles, the bags, under her eyes. She looked so tired. So defeated. And like she wanted to.needed to talk to someone. "No," she pursed her lips. "But I don't have much time. I have an appointment in a couple hours," she said quietly. Picking up the little straw beside her mug and stirring her coffee.
"A date?"
"Not really. Just meeting up with an old friend. Reminiscing about older, happier times."
"Oh. I won't pry. I just saw you sitting here.when were you going to tell me you were back in Harmony, Simone? You were going to tell me, weren't you?"
Simone's lips furled in disgust, and she set the lukewarm, murky liquid down. "Maybe. Maybe not," she shrugged. Standing up. "I'm home, Mom. For good. And so is Daddy. As if you care. How is that?"
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
The plates clattered in the sink, and Theresa sighed heavily. "No. Leave them, Whit. I'll do them later."
Whitney dried her hands and put the dishtowel back in its place. Then followed Theresa out into the spacious living room. They watched Matthew chase Wolf in the back yard. "Does he still call that dog 'Woof'?" Whitney laughed. Trying to lighten the somber mood.
Theresa smiled. "Not as often. I still remember the day Ethan brought him home from the pound," she whispered. "Ethan wouldn't get a puppy. Everyone wants puppies. But what about the older dogs? The volunteers had already named him. Matthew was only two. Woof was easier to say, I guess."
Whitney smiled. She could remember Matthew as a baby. Not so long ago. And she felt even more terrible at the pain the little boy was going through. The pain her best friend was experiencing.
"Whitney.I'm losing Ethan," she sobbed. "And there's nothing I can do."
She couldn't swallow over the lump in her throat. Couldn't speak a word. All she had to offer was a shoulder to cry on.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
She sat alone. Her knees drawn to her chest. Her hands clasped. The cool sea breeze ruffled her sun-kissed hair, and she could feel the tickle of the ocean's mist against her cheeks. She closed her eyes with a sigh. She loved this house. Love at first sight.
"What are you thinking about?" her daughter asked curiously. Gazing at her thoughtfully with those
wondrously wise blue eyes.
"Things," she said nonchalantly. Making room for Danielle on the porch swing.
Wispy dark curls escaped the yellow ribbon in Danielle's dark hair. She mimicked her mother's actions, and Sheridan's blue eyes sparkled with amusement.
"I have an idea. What do you say me and you take a walk? See the sunset?"
Danielle uncurled her limbs and stood on bare feet. "You go ahead, Mom. I'll get my sandals and catch up," she called. Disappearing inside.
"Okay, Baby. Meet you there."
"2666! Get up! You have a visitor!"
Prisoner 2666's mouth set into a grim line. Four more days. That was it. Four more days, he thought. A scowl on his lips as the guard shoved him forward. Father was going to pay for this. "Hello.Son," he spoke.
"Don't call me that. You have NO right."
"Whether you like it or not, Chad, I AM your father. You have Crane ice water in your veins. You and I."
"Shut up! Just shut up and listen to me. I'm putting you on notice, old man. I'm going to be watching your every move. And if you so much as."
"Save your threats," Julian spat. "I'm coming home in four days. I think a celebration is in order."
The scrape of metal on the tile floor was audible even through the thick glass barrier. And the phone dangled in the air.
"I love you, too, Son."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Luis.what's going on? Is it the station?"
Danielle stopped mid-motion. Juice from the red apple in her right hand trickling down her arm. "Dad," she whined. "You just got home."
Luis picked up the keys to his jeep from the counter and kissed his daughter's forehead. "It wasn't the station. It was Sam. He wants me to meet him at the clinic down by the waterfront. Sounds important." He hooked his fingers in the belt loops of Sheridan's jeans and tugged her forward.
"I wish you didn't have to leave."
"Me, too," he whispered. Tipping her chin up with his index finger and kissing her lips. "Will you be okay?"
She chewed on her bottom lip and nodded her head.
"I love you both," he waved.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Dr. Eve.what's going on? Why did our dad want us to meet him here?" Jessica asked in a concerned voice.
"Where's Noah?"
"He's with Paloma," Kay offered. Peering over Eve's shoulder at Room 13.
"I think you should wait until he gets here. Do this together. Are Miguel and Charity on their way?"
Kay's head snapped back. "Miguel and Charity? How does this concern them?" she asked suspiciously.
"We're here," Charity said breathlessly. Missing the look that passed between her cousin and her husband.
"Now tell us Eve."
"Tell us what?"
"Noah. Good. You're all here."
"Yes. We're all here," Kay huffed impatiently. "Can you tell us now?"
"Eve," Sam interrupted. "I think I should take it from here. Thank you."
"Daddy," Jessica said in a little girl voice.
Sam wrapped a comforting arm around her waist and took a deep breath. "I have some incredible news."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Tessa. Tessa," a voice beckoned. A whisper.
Miguel didn't notice the absence of her tiny fingers entwined with his own.
"Tessa."
"I don't understand, Daddy. What exactly are you saying?"
"Mom? Are you.are you talking about Mom?" Kay asked shakily.
Noah steadied her with a hand on her elbow.
"Tessa."
No one noticed the little girl push the door forward and step inside.
"Is this some cruel joke? I mean, you wouldn't do this to us. Right, Dad?" Noah choked. "Mom's dead."
"Your mom disappeared almost nine years ago, Noah."
"Tessa. Come closer, Tessa."
Tessa jumped when the woman's blue eyes opened suddenly.
"Aunt Grace is not dead," Charity uttered in disbelief. "She's alive."
The woman's eyes glittered in the pale glow of the overhead lamp.
Tessa stared back.
The silence heavy. Oppressive.
Until Jessica's keening cry shattered it. "Mom!"
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Let me see if I get this straight. A man brings a Jane Doe to this clinic last night."
"Grace," Sam shook his head. "That woman in there is Grace, Luis. I don't know how to explain it. But I'm positive."
"You're telling me that Grace just suddenly reappeared after ten years. I know you were having your problems, Big Brother, but this.this just makes no sense. Grace wouldn't leave her children like that, Man. No matter what kind of hell you put her through with Ivy."
"What about Ivy?" Luis interjected.
"What about her?" Sam asked dully.
"Have you told your fiancee that your wife returned from the dead yet?" Hank posed.
Sam buried his face in his hands. No. He hadn't even had a conscious thought about her since this whole scenario began playing out. And that fact worried him.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Is this seat taken?"
Simone studied her mother carefully. Noting the dark circles, the bags, under her eyes. She looked so tired. So defeated. And like she wanted to.needed to talk to someone. "No," she pursed her lips. "But I don't have much time. I have an appointment in a couple hours," she said quietly. Picking up the little straw beside her mug and stirring her coffee.
"A date?"
"Not really. Just meeting up with an old friend. Reminiscing about older, happier times."
"Oh. I won't pry. I just saw you sitting here.when were you going to tell me you were back in Harmony, Simone? You were going to tell me, weren't you?"
Simone's lips furled in disgust, and she set the lukewarm, murky liquid down. "Maybe. Maybe not," she shrugged. Standing up. "I'm home, Mom. For good. And so is Daddy. As if you care. How is that?"
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
The plates clattered in the sink, and Theresa sighed heavily. "No. Leave them, Whit. I'll do them later."
Whitney dried her hands and put the dishtowel back in its place. Then followed Theresa out into the spacious living room. They watched Matthew chase Wolf in the back yard. "Does he still call that dog 'Woof'?" Whitney laughed. Trying to lighten the somber mood.
Theresa smiled. "Not as often. I still remember the day Ethan brought him home from the pound," she whispered. "Ethan wouldn't get a puppy. Everyone wants puppies. But what about the older dogs? The volunteers had already named him. Matthew was only two. Woof was easier to say, I guess."
Whitney smiled. She could remember Matthew as a baby. Not so long ago. And she felt even more terrible at the pain the little boy was going through. The pain her best friend was experiencing.
"Whitney.I'm losing Ethan," she sobbed. "And there's nothing I can do."
She couldn't swallow over the lump in her throat. Couldn't speak a word. All she had to offer was a shoulder to cry on.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
She sat alone. Her knees drawn to her chest. Her hands clasped. The cool sea breeze ruffled her sun-kissed hair, and she could feel the tickle of the ocean's mist against her cheeks. She closed her eyes with a sigh. She loved this house. Love at first sight.
"What are you thinking about?" her daughter asked curiously. Gazing at her thoughtfully with those
wondrously wise blue eyes.
"Things," she said nonchalantly. Making room for Danielle on the porch swing.
Wispy dark curls escaped the yellow ribbon in Danielle's dark hair. She mimicked her mother's actions, and Sheridan's blue eyes sparkled with amusement.
"I have an idea. What do you say me and you take a walk? See the sunset?"
Danielle uncurled her limbs and stood on bare feet. "You go ahead, Mom. I'll get my sandals and catch up," she called. Disappearing inside.
"Okay, Baby. Meet you there."