Chapter two: Cara Mia

Gomez approached the front door to the Addams family manor and was greeted by Lurch the family butler. He jogged up the stairs, breaking in his latest purchase properly, he thought about how this day could get any better. He's found himself a new hobby and a new investment in a brilliant young mind.

Mr. Addams was a tactician certainly. A truly brilliant and macabre mind. He somehow always came out on top. It's been said the only thing he has ever failed at, is failing. He followed his will, his gut, his heart. He had a feeling that the boy had a bright future ahead of him. He got the feeling just by looking at him. The image of a bright mind and a hard worker; one who he felt was his duty to help any way he could.

Yet, as Gomez entered his bedroom door he was greeted with another most captivating sight before him.

"Hello, my love." Morticia Addams greeted her husband as she turned around. She tilted her head at the odd spectacle before her as he strode over and took her in his arms.

"Cara mia!" he breathed into her shoulder as he kissed down her arm and held onto her hands. "When did you get back?" He asked her brushing his thumb over her hand lightly.

Morticia Addams smiled at her husband, and began smoothing out his hair as it's become quite frazzled and… sweaty?

"This morning my dear. Likely only a short time after you'd left." she said placing a hand on Gomez's chest. He held his hand over hers, pressing it to his heartbeat.

"My love, I've picked up a new hobby this morning, and… a new ward." he said with a smile on the last few words. This caught Morticia's attention.

"A new ward? As in… A child?"

"Sort of. Not exactly my beloved."

Morticia smiled at this posh game her husband was playing but she felt herself a step ahead.

"Did you adopt a werewolf?"

"...Possibly? But no I don't think so."

This did catch the tall woman in black off. She began to step around her husband as she thought up her next guess.

"A vampire?"

"No."

"A demon?"

"Nope"

"A ghost? I know how upset you were when you found out this house wasn't haunted but my love, taking in a ghost won't really be the same. I mean for the time we had aunt Minerva around-"

"My dearest. He is not a ghost, nor of any other plane of existence. He's really quite something extraordinary though. A whole lot of potential, and something I'd love to see grow into something really superb." Gomez said as he stepped past his wife toward the master bathroom.

"...Did you get your hands on one of those other witches flying monkeys?"

"I-" Gomez gave pause as he thought about those little mischievous flying primates. He had suggested it before, but was Morticia's suggestion a prompt to it being alright if he did? -Question for later. "No my beloved. Something much more catastrophic."

"No…" Morticia's eyes widened a bit at this. Well that answers that question.

"Oh yes my dear. A college student." Gomez said as Morticia danced back around him blocking him from entering the master bathroom.

"A student? Whatever for?" she asked curiously. She wasn't against such an idea, but why she must know.

"Bubuleh, he is a struggling academic achiever in the making." He said as he held her by the shoulders and switched places between the two. "I couldn't help but… overhear, that he was not from this town, but wishes to be. The boy is attending that college not too far from here. He wants to succeed, and he works hard to do so. I can see he is an eager young man with an open mind, and a hard worker. I offered to board him."

"Board him?" Morticia smiled amused at her husband's interest in this 'academic achiever in the making'. "How much my love? What need of you of money? Are the buzzard farms not doing well?"

"No."

"The Tombstone factory?"

"No?" Gomez looked at his wife quizzically.

"The Uranium mines?"

"No- Well actually those are turning out very well thank you for asking, but again no. I simply want to help the boy, Querida mia." He said caressing her cheek with his hand softly.

She couldn't help but give in and smile at him. She found her hand gently on the back of his head and pulling him in for a kiss.

"My love… you are a man of many fortunes, but you are also very rich where it counts" She said forcing herself to pull away for the moment. "Here." She said resting her hand against his heart.

Gomez smiled and kissed her forehead, pulling her into his embrace.

"As are you cara mia… As are you" he said smiling into her neck. "But… I do need a bath. I have just gotten back from a run."

"Ah… As do I, as I've just gotten back from a very exhausting trip to a very moody sister" Morticia retorted as she switched back places with Gomez and walked over to the bath.

"Well, I can't argue with that." Gomez said resting his hands on his waist, as he turned to head out the door.

"So I guess you'll just have to join me." She said snatching his attention before he walked out. Mr. Addams smiled at this as a jet black dress hit the floor…

~Meanwhile elsewhere~

"Oh my god dude."

"Jeremy."

"Can you believe it!"

"Jeremy!"

"I'm gonna be able to make it-"

"JEREMY!" an exasperated Martin yelled as Jeremy was walking fast down the sidewalk to his friend's grey Acura.

"Yeah?" He asked, turning around shoebox in hand.

"...Are you really considering this?" asked Martin as he pulled out his keys and clicked the unlock button. As Jeremy slid into the passenger seat and Martin got into the drivers, he asked that very question to himself.

"I mean… yeah. Why wouldn't I?" He said adjusting the shoe box on his lap.

"Because it's Mr. Addams. Like, he's not a bad dude, but you don't know him." Martin retorted as he dropped two boxes into the back seat.

"So? It's not like I'd know any roommate that Union would stick me with, IF they could." Jeremy pointed out while they pulled on their seatbelts. Martin looked like he was about to say something, but then actually gave a tilt to his head as if to say-

"Fair point." as he started the car, and turned onto the street to take Jeremy back home. It'd be a little over about an hour and a half drive back to Palmer. "But, still… the Addams family? They're just so odd. The place is creepy. Who knows what they're up to in there?"

Jeremy turned to Martin and smiled.

"Yeah. Who knows? You don't. You've got to give some people the benefit of the doubt. He seems like a nice guy, and it's not like I have many other options." He said. Martin made a face.

"You could ask my mom. We could probably convince her to take you in; use my room-" Martin started.

"Bruh, she won't even take you in while you're attending school."

"Hey! That's my choice. I wanted to dorm on campus."

"But you already live in town-"

"That's besides the point. I don't want to deal with my moms on a day to day basis while attending school, and bringing girls home."

Jeremy had to stifle his laughter.

"Yeah, cause you sure are bringing tons of girls home."

This earned another look from Martin.

"Boy, practice has been busy, but once class starts up again, shoooot. You know I'm gonna have myself a pretty little thing on my arm."

Jeremy smiled at this. He didn't doubt his friend could, but Martin had a habit of getting in his own way at times. He was either always busy with football practice, or always studying.

Since they were kids, Martin's always had a love for marine life. He loved visiting the aquarium back when he lived in Pennsylvania. Jeremy remembers Martin's excitement when his mom came in from the kitchen holding a glass bowl with his first couple of fish to take care of on his 9th birthday.

He always said when he grew up he wanted to work with the aquatic animals. Like at sea world or something. Ideally, Martin was on the right path. He was studying to be a marine biologist, and was using his football scholarship to get himself there.

"Yeah. Well good luck with that." Jeremy teased. "But don't try to stick me with your momma for the year if you don't want to stick with her yourself."

"Hahaha. You right. You right." Martin laughed as he turned onto the freeway. "But listen, if you're really considering this. Be careful man. I don't want to have to go digging you out of a crypt or nothing. Or worse, have to babysit your frankensteined ass around campus." Jeremy couldn't help but laugh at that.

"For sure man. For sure." He ensured his friend.

Jeremy was in a genuinely good mood for most of the ride back. He wasn't completely decided on taking up Mr. Addams's offer, but he was sure leaning toward it. Though he was certain he could figure things out if he had to.

He was willing to drive the hour and a half to go to class, for the time being. At least while he sorted out other living arrangements if he didn't take up Mr. Addams's offer. His dad took this weekend to fix the car while he explored Westfield with Martin, so he should be good to go.

"Oh… Hell no." Martin said with a look of concern on his face. Jeremy looked up from his phone to see what was going on to make Martin upset.

"Oh man." Jeremy could only say when he saw the damaged bridge with a road closed sign stopping them from getting over into town. There was a patrol car parked not too far from it with a standing officer sipping his coffee

As Martin pulled over next to the officer, Jeremy rolled down his window.

"Excuse me. Hi, do you know what happened here?" he asked leaning his head out. The officer turned his attention to Jeremy and stepped over.

"What is it?"

"Do you know what happened to the bridge?"

"Oh, yeah. Last night it was storming and I guess there were a couple people who lost control o' their vehicles. Wrecked the bridges." The officer said removing his damp hat and running his hand through his short orange hair. "Tad o' bad luck"

"Bridges? As in both?" Martin said leaning closer to the window over Jeremy's shoulder.

"Phew. Yeah. Both em'. Two cars swerved into each other here, taking out the guard rails. Thankfully the drivers were only a bit banged up. Can't say the same for their cars though. Oi vey." said the officer, putting his hat back on.

"And the other?" asked Jeremy concerned.

"Well, the other was a truck driver. He said lightning took down the ol' oak just as he was passing over. Drove right through the concrete support and destabilized the foundation. He's alright, but says his boss'll kill him twice over than tha' tree would've." the officer noted.

"Huh… That's awful. Well, is there still another way into town? Any bridge that's safe to get across? How long will these be out?" Martin asked. The officer nodded.

"Oh yeah. Course, bit of a detour but still can get in and out. Just head south down this road" He said pointing west. "And take the second right. You can't miss it. But it'll drop ye' on 25th, near Riverview."

"We need to get closer to Palmer. There one more north?" Martin asked looking down the road, then back toward where they had come from.

"Psshh… Not really. Not unless you're trying to go to Belvidere"

"Ah- man." Martin said putting his hand on his forehead.

"Damn. That far huh…" Jeremy said looking down the road the officer had pointed them initially. "Any idea how long till these will be cleared to use again?"

"Well I'd give it a good month. What with the paperwork needing to go through, surveying the damage on this one and rebuilding the guardrails on it, and the whole reconstruction on the east end of the other."

"Oh man… Well, thank you Officer…" Jeremy said, putting his hand out the window.

"Bridges." Officer Bridges said firmly shaking Jeremy's hand.

"Officer Bridg-" Jeremy had to stop himself from laughing. Officer Bridges smiled at this and laughed himself.

"Hahaha. Yeah, I know. Funny ain't it?" he said with a good smile. Martin turned his attention back to them and gave a good chuckle himself.

"Damn, they really picked the right man for the job huh?" Martin said.

"They sure did. You two have a safe rest of your drive." Officer Bridges said tipping his hat to the two young men.

"We will. Thanks again" Jeremy said, as they pulled back onto Canal road and headed for South Easton.

~About an hour later~

"Oh my god dude." Martin said as they pulled up to the front of Jeremy's house. Jeremy rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands, and tried wiping the stress away.

"I'm sorry man. I didn't know the bridges were out."

"Not your fault dude. Just that is stressful. I can't stay long, I gotta start heading off now so I'm back before dark." Martin said as he stretched his arms behind his headrest. He had a good 2 and a half hour drive now back to Westfield. He reached out a fist bump to Jeremy and took it with a smile.

"Alright man. Again, I appreciate it."

"No problem, let's just hope your cars good to go for this next month or so." Martin said as he popped the trunk. "Cause I sure as hell am not gonna grab your goofy ass every morning." He said laughing.

Jeremy smiled and laughed as he clicked the seatbelt, and got out with his box.

"Phshhh… damn. That's gonna be a helluva trip back and forth each day." Jeremy sighed to himself. He stretched his legs as he looked up to the grey sky. 'It better not keep raining' he thought to himself.

Martin rolled down his window and looked back at Jeremy who walked to the trunk and pulled out his overnight bag. Jeremy then walked back up to the drivers side window and held out another fist bump.

"See ya later man. Drive safe."

"Will do. Tell your folks I said hi." Martin said bumping their fists again. He put his car in drive and cruised off.

Jeremy walked up the driveway and looked at the old Nissan Pathfinder. He honestly couldn't tell if it was good to go or not, and he hadn't gotten any text from his dad. He'd remember to ask when he went inside.

He headed to the front door and let himself in and walked around to the kitchen to find his mother stirring a pot of beef stew, while his dad sat at the table reading this month's sports illustrated.

"Hi mom." Jeremy said as he came up and kissed his mother's cheek.

"Hi sweety, how was the trip?" She asked lowering the flame under the pot.

"It was pretty alright. Bit of a snag though- Hey pops." he said as he came over to his dads side of the table to look over his shoulder at what he was reading.

"Hey kiddo" he said reaching behind him and patting his sons arm as he passed by. "What happened? What's the snag?" He asked as Jeremy put his shoe box on the table, and drooped his bag over the back of the chair.

"Well, a couple things. Union doesn't have any dorms open at the moment. Won't for a while it seems." He started while sitting down.

"Oh. That's awful." his mom said as she walked over to the table with her coffee mug and sat beside her husband; taking his hand in hers.

"Well, damn. That's a long trip to make every morning. Are you and Martin gonna do that apartment thing you guys talked about?" asked his father.

"Can't. We don't got enough time, or enough money to do that right away. Plus, did you hear about what happened in Easton?" Jeremy asked. His father looked at his mom and then turned back to him shaking their heads.

"Both main bridges out to Jersey are closed. Apparently there were two wrecks last night during the storm. One on each bridge" He finished.

"Oh that's terrible." His dad said, setting down his newspaper. "How'd you get back here then? You cross the river on foot?" His dad laughed as he jokingly looked his son over atop his reading glasses.

"Actually, Officer Bridges pointed us to a bridge in South Easton. Adds about another 50 minutes back here though, and I'm really not looking forward to adding onto my morning- what's the word? Trek? Route?"

"Commute?" said a little blonde girl standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Commute! Thank you Annie!" exclaimed Jeremy to his sister. She smiled and walked over to hug his shoulder where he sat.

"Well… damn. That's really not great… You sure you don't want to switch over to Lafayette?" his father suggested rubbing his stubbly grey jaw.

"No, no, no. I'm sure."

"Sweety, we know you've been planning to go to Union for years but that's a really long drive to make every day back and forth." his mom started.

"I found someone to board me." he quickly interjected before his parents could try to talk him out of going to Union. This caught his parents surprise.

"To board you? Well, that's a great idea, but how much? Do you know this person?" his dad asked.

"Kind of. He's one of the patrons of Westfield I guess. Mr. Addams."

"Mr. Addams… I think I've heard that name before. Doesn't he own that cement factory up by Martins Creek?" Jeremy's mother asked her husband. His father looked to his wife and sipped from her coffee mug, shrugging his shoulders. She smacked his shoulder and took back her coffee while he gave a small chuckle.

"I think so. I've heard the name too. Guy owns a couple businesses." Jeremy's dad said as he shook out his magazine.

"Wow. So you're gonna be like Robin to Batman?" His 11 year old sister said bouncing on her toes. "Moving in with a rich old guy?" Jeremy smiled at this.

"Totally." He laughed.

"Now wait just a minute there sport, just cause someone's successful doesn't make them the greatest of all people. I mean look at politician's, our president, or your mother's friend Karen." his father started as his mother playfully smacked him on the shoulder. He couldn't help but smile at this. He loved his folks, but he really didn't have too much a choice. There's no way he could manage class, a social life, work, and almost 5 hours thrown away driving each day.

"I know. I know, but I've heard a lot of good things about his family." Jeremy began. "And he's only asking $500 a month."

This made his parents both raise their eyebrows.

"Huh… I guess when you're rich you don't really need to charge too much. That's a great deal sweetheart, but you still don't know these people. We don't know these people." his mother said with a look of concern.

"I know mom. I know… but it's not like I'd know anyone else I'd have to board or room with over there anyway. The Addams family is in the public eye, and I'm sure Martin will have my back if anything goes wrong... Plus, Mr. Addams invited me over to dinner this week to actually meet the family, and for them to meet me." Jeremy said with a small smile.

"I'm not the only one who'd take a risk with this. Him and his family would too." he added. "It's a point that's already been brought up by himself."

His parents looked at one another, as Annie smiled at her older brother. His father nodded taking off his glasses and set them on the table with his magazine.

"Son, you're growing into a fine young man. I think we did a good job raising you right and I'm proud of you that you're so determined to go to Union. This is a big move, and if you're taking the precautions to board with the Addams family, then I support you." His father said, before turning to his wife. She smiled and nodded. "We support you." He finished turning back to Jeremy.

"Thank you guys." He said with a big smile. It meant a lot to him his parents trusted him this much. They were always so supportive. Of his older sister Ashley who'd already grown up and moved out 4 years ago to Philly, of him taking a little time to work after finishing high school and gather scholarships, and of his little sister Annie who was definitely one of the brightest students in her grade. They were doing something right.

"I call dibs on Jeremy's room when he moves out." Annie topped off.

"You wish." Jeremy chuckled as his parents began laughing. Annie smiled up at him and giggled. "I love you guys, and well… I think I gotta make a phone call." He said with a smile as he picked up his bag and box and headed to his room…