CHAPTER 15

THE FINAL STRAW

After work, Lugosi returned home, and got out his house key, when he heard something he was at this point wondering whether or not he wanted to hear: moaning... coming from his wife... and some other man... And there was that scent again that kept reappearing... deer. This scent was distinctly different than the scent he smelled 4 years prior, but THIS scent... This wasn't the first time he smelled this one. Lugosi growled, wanting to burst through the door and rip them both up with his teeth, but... he knew the law would have none of that. He just stood outside the door, listening to his wife having sex with another man, all the while trying to calm down, as impossible as that seemed. He knew there was no chance in Hell this was going to go good by any means, but he didn't want the law to get involved... Eventually, the time would come when he would come through the door, lying eyes on what could very well be the final straw: his wife ontop of the guy, riding him on the couch. Lugosi dropped his briefcase, purposely alerting them to his presence, both having "Uh-oh" faces on.

"Hello, dear... and deer." said Lugosi.

"Sir, I... I..." said the deer.

"You what?" asked Lugosi.

"She told me she was single!" said the deer.

"Yeah, she would." said Lugosi. "But hey, don't trouble yourself, because she clearly loves you more."

"I'm sorry, man!" the deer said.

"Just get out." said Lugosi. "I'm not ready to deal with you yet."

As he got his clothes on and left, Lugosi and his wife remained quiet. As soon as he left...

"How long have you been fucking him?" asked Lugosi.

His wife was quiet, afraid to answer.

"How long?" asked Lugosi.

"Four months." said his wife.

"Four months..." said Lugosi. "And when were you going to tell me, hmm? When you were planning your wedding date?"

"When I had to!" shouted his wife.

"You know... I held on as long as this shitshow has gone on, because despite smelling him all over you, I tried to make myself believe I was wrong... That you could never be unfaithful, but it's my fault for believing you could be better than that!" shouted Lugosi.

"Well what are you going to do about it, hmm?" asked Lugosi's wife.

"What do you mean 'what am I going to do'?! We're throug!" shouted Lugosi. "Have a better life with your new boyfriend!" he said, then went into his room. She then followed him.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"I'm getting my shit and I'm going to Montana." said Lugosi.

"Don't bother coming back." said his wife.

"I wasn't planning on it." said Lugosi.

On the radio in his 1965 Ford Mustang, as he drove through the night, Love Lockdown by Kanye West played as he tried to shake the image that was before him, and tried to create better images in his mind. Just as he began thinking about better days ahead, his cellphone rang. Without taking his eyes off the road, he grabbed it, held it against the steering wheel, then took a quick peak, the caller ID reading "Henry Lanchester". He then turned the radio down and pulled over as he answered it.

"Hello?" Lugosi answered.

"Is it true, dad?" a male voice said on the phone.

"What did you hear about me?" asked Lugosi.

"You left mom." said Henry.

"I did." said Lugosi. "Buddy, we haven't gotten along lately. She's... been sleeping around behind my back."

"I... knew... that you were... having problems for a while." said Henry.

"You knew?" asked Lugosi. "How?"

"Whenever we would have lunch." said Henry. "Whenever I would ask you about mom... I could see it in your eyes that you were hurting..."

Lugosi got tears in his eyes as he spoke, voice cracking.

"I'll be fine, son." he said.

"Where are you at?" asked Henry.

"I'm on my way to Montana, to a place called the Buyer Farm." said Lugosi. "I might just move there."

"I'll be there as soon as I can." said Henry. "Love ya, dad."

"I love you too, son." said Lugosi.

"Take care." said Henry.

"You too." said Lugosi and hung up the phone.

Meanwhile, at the Old Mill, as Louise sat on the grass, feet hanging over above the water, a black Bentley Continental GT pulled up and a younger doe stepped out of the car, then walked up to her and took a moment before she spoke.

"I am so tired of hating you." she said. "I need to know whether I was justified or I was wrong."

"What do you need to know?" asked Louise.

"Have you ever loved dad?" asked the doe. "Or did you know our family was going to be torn apart?"

"I did love your father for a time." said Louise. "We were both happy... But one day, he found out about a boyfriend I had once. I had forgotten about him for a time, but... after your father found some things my ex made me now 31 years ago, I started missing him... And your father couldn't stand to see me miserable anymore."

Tears streamed down the young doe's face.

"It's dad's fault." she said.

"I could've handled it better." said Louise. "For your sake, I wish I had."

After a moment, the young doe then sat down beside her and hugged her, starting to cry.

"I'm so sorry..." said the doe.

"It's alright, honey." said Louise and hugged her.

"I love you, mom." said the doe.

"I love you too, Kara." said Louise.

At night, Art and Maria were at a restaurant for dinner, just finishing up. They both smiled at each other and Art put his hand ontop of hers.

"I've always loved you." he said. "I just... I guess from school... They love to tear you down and... it broke my confidence... I wanted to tell you so long ago, but I didn't know how... I mean... I was the fragile little nerd..."

Maria giggled.

"First of all, you're not little." she said. "You're far from it."

Art blushed.

"Second, we grew up together." said Maria. "I've known you better than most kids at school. You're sweet, fun, and... You totally kick ass. So many times before, I've looked for a boy when I knew the perfect one all along."

Art blushed again.

"And another thing." said Maria. "It's so cute when you blush."

Art chuckled.

"You wanna get out of here?" he asked.

"Yes." said Maria.

On the dirt roads to the barnyard in the moonlight, the two were walking.

"Do you remember the time when you first used powers to cook?" asked Maria.

Art laughed.

"Yeah, mom and dad weren't too thrilled with me." he said. "We all thought I was going to give Grandma Tori a heart attack."

"Yeah, but it was funny." Maria said and giggled. "You had Animus believing for an entire month that it was possible to grill water."

Art laughed.

"I remember that!" he exclaimed.

The two of them look at each other.

"I love you." said Maria.

"I love you too." said Art and kissed Maria passionately, her kissing back just as passionately.