Chapter 8 - Home Sweet Home
Tom had stayed in town for five or six days, conducting business on his phone and notebook during the day, and carrying what he considered to be weighty boxes and being bossed around by his sister all night. When he even made the slightest attempt of complaint, she was always ready with the invitation to return to his 'cushy city office', which as he had already told her privately, to his chagrin, was in their parents' basement. And nobody, not even the crickets that surrounded them outside on the veranda at night, ever joined him there. He didn't really mind the work, and he found the three 'urchins', considerably entertaining, if not all that intellectual. Jacob and Ray had made a game of how many times and ways they could make his wallet and wristwatch disappear, and Jason, having fixed a glitch on his computer early on, took a great amount of glee in making, not totally grotesque, but considerably inappropriate pictures appear before Tom at random times during his tele-conferences, causing him to laugh hysterically and inexplicably at material his clients and coworkers did not see.
These actions, having been witnessed by the boss lady a few times, had garnered them a number of finger wags….each time, after she had left, Tom would signal them to keep things more on the down low…and the mayhem would start afresh…
Having relocated his daytime 'office' from Lu's apartment to the university, Tom was rewarded with a new introduction, Tali. Having a newly discovered 'Uncle' Tali had a thousand questions, which she proceeded to ask at random without waiting for the full answer to the previous ones first.
"Tali, take it easy…." Marilou gently scolded. "I'm sure Mr Morrow is quite busy…and you have your own work to take care of, don't you…."
Deterred, but not defeated, she dropped her chin, looking at Tom, but her eyes raised pleadingly toward her grandmother.
"I'll be happy to answer all of your questions, with a little more time…a little later….?" He promised her. She returned with a broad smile, a tight squeezing 'air hug', that he pretended to suffocate from, and trotted back to the table with her books and computer on it.
"You might want to confer with your sister exactly what she may Not want Tali to know" Nelson's deep voice warned from over his shoulder, nearly scaring the life out of him. He just smiled meekly back.
By Saturday, he had earned himself an invitation to the homestead. Even if Marilou and Nelson hadn't had the invitation in mind near from the moment they had found out about the new arrival, it's doubtful their firebrand of a granddaughter would have had it any other way. Having found out so much, a bit more piece meal than she had originally attempted, about his life, she had been more than happy to tell him all about hers…and now, she wanted to have the opportunity to show him.
From the moment Lu's car pulled into the driveway, Tali had bolted out of the door, with just enough time to put on her mask, and was standing beside the car just as Tom was getting his first foot out.
"Hi Tom…."she greeted excitedly. "Grandma gave me the ok to hold off on the second round of egg gathering until you got here…then I can show you the cows…and my new horse, Eve…and….."
"Tali, whoa girl! He's only just arrived….It's not exactly the shortest drive you know…" Lu laughed.
"Besides," Nelson added, walking the path more sedately with his wife in tow, "He's a guest….you're turning him into a farm hand…"
Tali's face dropped slowly again. Tom reached his arm around the young girl. "It's ok…give me a little while to sit and talk with everyone, then you can give me the twenty-five cent tour…maybe after you've collected the eggs…after all, the chickens don't know me…I should probably introduce myself first before trying to sneak away with all their hard work…"
Tali let forth an unfiltered giggle… "Aside from the fact I don't think there's a place you can get a tour of in this World, that's twenty five cents….sounds good…It will also give me time to find you the right size white suit…"
"White suit?" he inquired in a moment of stunned surprise.
"To go see the beehives, silly!" and with that she shot over to a nearby tree, grabbed the basket and headed for the barn.
Tom blinked sharply, watching her speed away… "Beehive? Uhhh, but of course…sounds…." He turned back to his sister and just mouthed again…beehive?
Lu looked back over to him. "Hey, at least you got a hug…Since you've arrived, I'm virtually chopped liver…" She closed the car door, fixed her own mask, walked up, and air hugged the couple.
"Don't worry, I don't think you'd be able to find chopped liver anywhere in the world for twenty-five cents either…" Marilou teased.
After a bit of bold coffee and comfortable conversation, Tali reappeared with a basket half full of eggs, and what looked to be a white lab coat draped over it. A moment of panic ghosted across the younger man's eyes….
"Tali, I think we're going to have to postpone Tom's visit to Beeanka and the family…I need to do a bit of repair on the hive today, and you know how nervous they get when things are getting banged around…even when it's someone they know who's doing it…" Nelson winked at Morrow, who offered back a quiet nod of appreciation.
"Oh rats…do you think we could just walk by so I can show him where it is…before you get started…"
"Well, it's quite a walk and…" Marilou started.
"That's fine…I'm sure it will be quite a beautiful walk…and with such lovely company, how could anything go wrong…" Tom insisted. Marilou just smiled politely…This city boy might be in for the surprise of his life…
It was a fairly warm day, for February in Southern Tier New York. Nonetheless, the walk through the fields, though perhaps not Ironman worthy took a bit more athleticism than Thomas had been expecting. By the time they got back to Eve's paddock, he was so dotted with perspiration though she barely knew him, the animal nuzzled up and tried to lick the saltwater off his face.
"My God!" He jumped back with a start…"Did she just try to bite me?"
"Bite…this one?" Lulu tittered. "She barely showed teeth at all"
"Yup….just Tongue!" Tali laughed, gently grabbing hold of her sizable friend's muzzle and guiding her over to her oats, before any further turmoil might arise.
Arriving at the coop, Tom thought himself more in his element, till he was wildly pecked and scratched after reaching into one of the boxes unguided. Tali, stifling yet another giggle, demonstrated next to one of the more colorful hens, stroking her feathers, then while gently scratching her neck unidirectionally with the thumb of her left hand she brushed down the chest and softly reached underneath the bird with the back of one hand, coming out the side with two eggs sitting in her palm. Tom studied her actions closely. Making his first attempt, the result was little better than his first foray. Tali gently smiled, calmed the ruffled mama, then gently took his hands stroking the bird with his hand under hers…She could feel him tense. He almost started to think she was petting his hands to calm him instead of the bird…she then guided him to the front of the bird, keeping her hand to the breast and directing his down below…He went on, expecting nothing but to be gauged with another claw, when he felt something smooth, and round. He held back on the speed that his excitement brought on, and slowly drew it out…
It was an egg…not as many…or as big…as the ones that Tali had pulled before…but it was an egg…
"I did it!" He cheered, swinging his hand up to display his prize, but just as it had gotten to chin level, it shot from his fingers, up to the ceiling, smashing on a crossbeam, and began to drip back down, right on his head.
Lulu had to just walk away from that one….
After getting cleaned up, and watching Tali and his sister gather up the few remaining eggs, he heard an low primal bellow from the other side of the barn….
"Ok, this, even I can't screw up…" he tried to rally, spotting a three legged stool and bucket across the hall, he grabbed both, and headed to the place from which the sound had emanated.
Just as he had gotten to the gate, Tali tried to warned him off…
"Nonsense." He insisted. "I've seen this done on a dozen WePlay channels…I've always had a thing for farm life…I'm sure this can't be too difficult.
Tal looked to Lu in desperation, not sure what to say that might convince him this was Not a good idea…
"I think you'll notice one part that's different in this situation, from any of your videos…"
"Oh really…what's that….?" He scoffed, opening the gate and beginning to step through.
"The number of…teats…on that…udder…"
It was then that Tom realized his presumed cow…was not quite everything he'd expected…
"Yeah, ummm…." He stepped slowly back and out of the stall. "Is there anybody…else…I might try my hand with…."
Tali smiled silently, quite relieved she would not have to clean up whatever mess might have come from this debacle.
"I think I'll introduce you…to James' mother…Mary…." she encouraged.
"She's not going to…lose her head…about this, is she?" he paused.
"No, she's quite gentle." She assured him, placing the stool beside the proper bovine, and putting the bucket in place. He took his seat, stretched his fingers nervously, but before Tali could give him direction to the proper hold and squeeze technique….
His cyber self-schooling had paid off…for once!
The owners came out to find Tom and the ladies coming out of the barn. He appeared a bit more disheveled, but slightly more accomplished than when he had left, Marilou noted. Just as the threesome had made it halfway across the yard, Jess' car could be heard coming up the driveway….
"DADDYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Tali cheered, doubling back to where her father was parking.
"That child has an immeasurable amount of energy!" Tom responded, much astounded.
"You don't even know the half of it…." Lu laughed, handing him the basket in his left hand as he carried the bucket in his right and directing him forward to the couple on the porch. "Try not to drop anything…." She warned, turning back to greet the two men stepping forward from the car.
He sneered, shook his head, and continued forward with his small treasure…Perhaps not a complete victory, but it had been a good day.
Dinner with the Skye family, Thomas discovered, was apparently an 'offer he couldn't refuse'. Though his sister didn't press one way or the other, Marilou and Tali would not take no for an answer. As each dish came forward, the lady of the house played coy as Tom heaped praise upon praise for the presentation, color, smell, flavor…at one point even the dishes…
"I'd say he doesn't get out much…." Lu entered in when the lauds became almost laughable. "…but perhaps the problem is he's out…TOO much!"
"What can I say….home cooking isn't something we get much of back home…mom's new chef makes things so Nuevo, they're hardly edible….I usually head out of the house on this or that errand just to bypass the meal, and eat elsewhere."
"Well, crazy question, but why don't you just…move out….?" Jess inquired.
Lu and Clint just looked at each other...silently enjoying the irony of the statement.
"Don't know really, guess I just haven't had full motivation…"
"Mother seriously isn't motivation enough for you?" Lu unabashedly growled.
"I stay downstairs…Even put together a small 'apartment' for myself down there when she wasn't looking…She hates it down there, hence, I love it...no, it's not as posh as the rest of the house…but it's more than comfortable. And it's not like she would think of charging me rent or anything, so all my money is mine…There's another cook for breakfast and lunch, so I can slide up for those before and or after her 8 and 12 self-seatings…and I come and go whenever I please…so for the most part I am living independently, just with benefits."
"Does dad eat with her anymore?"
"Formal occasions, yes…I appear at those as well…mostly…but the day to day…can't say for sure…but probably not…"
Marilou looked down, wiping her mouth with her napkin. She knew this family certainly had more money and things than they did, but she felt so bad for their disjointed, inharmonious existence. She and Nelson had worked hard all their lives to create and build their little corner of the world, and she knew she wouldn't have traded what she had with her family for all the mansions on the globe…And now she was even more glad that Lulu, and now Thomas, was a part of that family.
After they had all settled in to the living room for coffee…and tea, Thomas commented on the bold flavor, an got whiplash from the direction of the response.
"It's my own blend." Nelson proclaimed. "Something I've been fine tuning for years…" Tom raised his cup in salute to his achievement.
"And before you start a river of drool over the cake." Tali preemptively stepped in…"It's from the store!" The room dissolved in soft laughter as Marilou playfully slapped her granddaughter's knee in reprimand.
Just then, a knock came on the door.
"Hi everyone, hope we're not too late…" Byron called strolling into the room.
"Not at all, there's still plenty of cake and coffee left." Marilu confirmed, heading back into the kitchen to gather up more plates and cups.
Her back to the new arrivals, Lulu's eyes grew wide…remembering the picture of Tali on the stallion when she and Byron first met, she couldn't help but wonder…did he know her brother too?
Nelson made introductions this time, between Thomas and the couple, so there apparently was no familiarity….until.
"I'm sure we've never met….but your face is familiar…what's your name again…."Byron asked.
"Thomas….Thomas Morrow…" Tom responded.
Ohhhhhhh boy….Lulu thought….Here we go….
"Any relation to….Oscar?"
"Why yes, he's my…our…father."
"Well I'll be…." Byron smiled, turning back toward Lulu…. "I knew you were a Morrow…but I didn't know you were one of THE Morrows…."
"Surprise." Lu responded, with a marked lack of enthusiasm.
Byron's eye marked his confusion. Jess quietly signaled him to leave it be.
Just then, the doorbell rang…again. Part of the room looked to Clint and Jess, but they looked at each other. Neither had gotten a call, and none of the squad had contacted them about wanting to come over or needing them for something.
The voice coming from the doorway grew dried fish scales up Lulu's spine.
"Good evening, Mister…Skye, I believe…We've never met…My name is Abigail Morrow…I believe my, now two, runaway children are here in your home. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would like to speak with them please.
Nelson was at a complete loss. The elder woman before him, bedecked in jewels and finery that screamed her financial status, instead of merely spoke of it, wasn't in and of herself, all that threatening. But still, she had a very Cruella-ish aire about her. He did not genuinely want her tumultuous presence in his house…but he could not find a plausible reason to tell her no.
As she stepped into the room, Thomas immediately took to his feet.
"Mother…but how…" he stammered.
"You're not the only one who knows how to hire a private dick darling…" she cooed. "Or have them attach a GPS device to a car…"
Thomas looked down Lulu, still seated with her back to the door, not having moved in the slightest. Had she even looked up at him for a moment, her gaze would have likely sautéed him on the spot and he knew it.
"And if it's not my own prodigal daughter I see before me….Long time no see my dear…."
All eyes were on Lulu now, and she knew it. What would happen if she turned back to speak with her mother? Part of her thought if she turned, she might tear her throat out…the other, that she'd turn into a crying quivering childlike mass…part of her just wanted to bolt for the kitchen and avoid the whole scene…
In a surprising move, Byron stepped in.
"Ms. Morrow...What an extreme pleasure to finally see you again…"
"You," Abigail stumbled, remarkably unsure of herself for someone seemingly so confident in any situation. "You seem…very…familiar…"
"I'm surprised you don't recognize me…Byron…Byron LaCroix…I'm a...business…associate of your husband's….."
It took her a few moments to search her memory banks, then recognition came, bright as the dawn, followed by what seemed to be a few moments of reverie…which left the rest of the room to wonder what she was remembering….everyone except Byron, that is…
"Ahhh, yes….Byron…how are you darling….it's been an age…"
"I'm fine, thank you so much for asking…How is Oscar?"
"Oh, well you know…he's Oscar…" she smiled, alluringly, shooing thoughts of her husband as far from her own mind, and that of her present conversation companion, as she could… "How do you know my daughter?"
"Oh, well she's been…keeping company…with my son, Jessie…" his arm waved back to where the sedate, but inwardly befuddled man was rising from his chair.
Jess' thoughts were a mess…He'd always kept the security of the homestead paramount…How did a GPS come on site without him knowing…What were Marilou, Nelson, and Tali, going to think about this whole situation….How did his father know Lulu's family…and most importantly, how was Lu going to handle this whole situation. In a normal situation, he knew he'd have to reach out to shake Abigail's hand…but present circumstances…
"Well, isn't he the gentleman…" Abigail, commented at Jess's delay, "Waiting for the lady to extend her hand before reaching out….VERY well done my dear…"
"So glad he meets with your approval…" Lu growled as Jess finally, tentatively, shook the other woman's hand.
"Well…he probably wouldn't have been the one I sought out for you…" she sneered mildly, then gave Byron another looking over…. "But he seems to come from good stock…so I suppose I can't complain…"
"That's never stopped you before." She scowled. Abigail just ignored her, having found a more interesting, willing subject than her ungrateful snarling daughter.
"Byron, my dear, when was the last time you had been to our, little hovel" she giggled coquettishly.
Marie, in the corner, coiling, was growing less and less fond of this new arrival.
"It's been years…." Byron replied, gratuitously. "But I did see Oscar himself, just a little while ago…when I brought my granddaughter down to the tra….stables…." He quickly corrected himself. Jess quietly leered as Tali made her way forward, reaching out directly for a handshake herself, then nervously curtsying…
"Isn't she charming…" Abigail smiled. "You said they were together….is she…I mean she isn't…"
"Jess was married to my sister…" Clint jumped in, before things could get any more uncomfortable. "Before she passed away…"
"Oh, well, I'm very sorry to hear that…" the bejeweled woman obliged, before continuing on with Byron. "I'm glad that you and Oscar were able to get…reacquainted." She smirked non-committaly, speaking as though there was no one else in the room. "Perhaps we might do the same…Why don't you…" she leaned in seductively, then finally spying his irate fiancé, reeled in quickly. "I certainly mean ALL of you…Come to the house…this weekend."
"Because of course, nobody has plans they wouldn't be willing to drop for Abigail Morrow…" Lu hissed.
"Ludovica Arianna Apollonia Morrow…" Abigail pronounced, as everyone but her own brother tried to hide their astonishment at the regal title their familiar had been gifted with at birth. "…such behavior…completely unbecoming for a lady…"
"Finally," Lulu smiled at last. "We touch upon a subject you're a true expert of…" and with that, she finally stood, and without a word or motion more, headed straight for the kitchen. The folks around watched her go, frozen with confusion. Tali alone, followed her aunt to see what she could do.
"My daughter…we're sooo Proud of her…" Ms Morrow spat.
"You should be." Clint put forth strongly. "She's accomplished a great deal in her life."
"And she could have accomplished so much more…if she'd only listen to her mother…!"
Jess and Clint stared at each other…both knowing more details of the truth of this than they cared to share with the full party, not to mention the guest of horror.
"All the same…I don't mean to inconvenience anyone, as my dear child just put forth…if this weekend is no good…how about next…Things being…as they are…I can't imagine anyone's social calendar is That full…"
"Mother…" Thomas came forward again. "Clint and Jess are both…FBI agents…their schedules can be…unpredictable…"
Abigail, looked first to Clint, who she began to recognize from a brief encounter ages past, then to Jess, whom she had no recollection of whatsoever, and sneered "…she's become a badge bunny to boot…Oh well, such things will be…Your jobs notwithstanding, if you are free, you're more than welcome to come…We'd never think to leave out law enforcement.
This last statement brought Jess's blood to full boil. He was just about to let Abigail have it with both barrels when a cooler head stepped between the two. "Well, there is one simple matter." Marilou's voice sweetly called as she continued to smile graciously. "We have no idea where you live…"
"Oh, that's not an issue…We plan a day and I'll simply have our helicopter come and pick you all up right here…" She began a quick headcount, then paused and added the missing two in the other room. "Looks like there may be two trips, or perhaps we'll call on one of our friends…or just rent one I suppose…simple enough…" Marie finally turned away. This woman was just too much. "We're a couple hours away by car, but just a hop…skip…and jump when you go up in the whirly bird…" She waved her wrist with each verb accentuating how unworried the whole arrangement made her. The whole affair was having quite the reverse affect on Nelson.
"Well, we'll have to…take a look at how things stand…and get back to you." Jess announced with determination, before his father could volunteer the whole crew for what could very well be the most uncomfortable trip of their lives.
"Of course. Well then, I apologize for intruding on your evening…Come along Thomas…" She gazed towards the kitchen disappointingly. "It doesn't appear your sister will be coming home with us today after all…"
"If it's all the same, I'd like to stay." Tom answered sheepishly. "I've been handling business just fine remotely, and I've quite enjoyed my time here…That is.." he turned towards the Skye, "if it wouldn't be too much of a bother."
"Not at all." Marilou beamed, before Abigail could get a word in vertical. "We have a small apartment in the barn…It's simple, but warm and clean…you're welcome to stay as long as you like."
Byron looked toward his son…but for once, held his peace.
He smiled at the older woman, gratified, then back at his mother, assured.
"Well, then I guess it's settled…I'll see you home…in a week…or two…" Abigail responded, with all the confidence she could still muster. Then saying her goodbyes, was followed by her security escort out the door, which was followed by a long sigh of relief by everyone remaining in the room.
As the hall settled down and individual conversations reconciling what had just taken place ensued, Jess made his way to the kitchen. Lu was seated at the breakfast bar, head in hand, while Tali was making her a cup of what was undoubtedly, Hon-Tea. Lu looked up as the young girl came forward with the mug, and took it gratefully. Tali spotted her father walking in shortly thereafter, nodded, and walked quietly out of the room.
"Ludovica…?" he inquired.
"Don't you even start…" she responded, trying for fierce anger, but too spent to bring forth much more than resigned frustration.
He stepped softly closer, slowly reaching his hand into her hair and bringing her head into his chest as he stroked it. "It's ok…she's gone now…"
"But she'll be back…she knows where I am now…What's more, now she wants all of us to come to her…"
Jess silently huffed at that one. Tali had been out of the room for most of the conversation after that part, but undoubtedly, as concerned as she was for her aunt, her excitement would undoubtably be growing over taking a helicopter anywhere...It was something he'd promised her they'd do for the longest time, but just never seemed to happen. Now, that same trip seemed somehow, unavoidable.
"Listen. You've lived your own life up to this point…With her…and without her…You've built a life here, that you've told me repeatedly she has no power in, and hence, can't take it away…I can certainly tell you one thing…She hasn't scared me off..."
Lu looked hopefully up into his eyes. "Nope, not a bit…Even if you are a badge bunny…I'm still in love with you…"
Lu pulled back in embarrassed shock… "Badge what?….Oh…oh no she didn't?!" she plowed her forehead regretfully into his stomach. He just laughed and held her closer.
