Later tonight
As the day progressed as its daylight died by the night's dawn, the Howards reserved for themselves a hotel room to stay around a couple of days as they kept in their minds it's going to be a piece of cake for Odette's release. Nonetheless, little did they know indisputably tough will be since she should pass one of her remarkable therapies in a matter of days without canceling it if she wants to be granted with carte blanche.
Once they reserved themselves a hotel room, Jude took a nap on the king-sized bed which she's going to share with her husband for rest the of the week, whereas Timothy promised her he will return within hours by bringing luggage with a handful of remarkable paraphernalia and a couple of garments and shoes, matching with their daily outfits.
Furthermore, the married couple were beyond casted down after Michael, one of Frank's colleagues invaded their private space by asking them to leave institution, charging them of being intruders, due to the head of Briarcliff's order.
In the interval, whilst the former man of the cloth was reclining on the king-sized bed by relaxing after hours of driving, running himself into the ground and a few sluggish and exasperating drivers driving him to murderous anger by yelling at them from time to time, Jude was on the balcony by sipping her glass of lukewarm white wine, smoking, sitting on the chair and contemplating the extraordinarily gorgeous nocturnal view from high.
On one hand, the both former devotional members of the clergy couldn't be more content and proud-spirited after seeing their love child in the mental hospital, where she's eventually born almost 19 years ago. The prominent, vivid moment they shared as a piece of memory they've already collected and dwelled into their hearts, molting them to edges like destroyed sandcastles. It was the young woman, dressed in pale dark blue gown, singing with the former Freak show owner Elsa Mars on the cabaret of a local Florida nightclub by earning sea of vigorous applauds by the audience. On other hand, it broke their hearts when they saw her in despaired condition which brightly contrasted her exquisite, elegant looks which she served the last time when she appeared on the television screen, being viewed by millions of Americans. When they paid a visit to her cell earlier, they saw their ray of sunshine dressed up in stone blue gown, knee length with round neckline and short sleeves. The image of her still drop-dead gorgeous ringlet of unkempt, filthy chestnut tresses, cascading down her mid-back and her patient's outfit haunted them especially the blonde.
As she took her first drag of her cigarette, subsequently she blowed dim, levitating in the thin air as she sipped its cool liquor, burning the corners of her mouth by licking greedily her lips by holding her glass of white wine.
Her mesmerizing hazelish-brown eyes admired its nocturnal, breathtaking grace as if she was on cloud nine, being in the paradise and contemplating its celestial beauty.
She and the former holy man felt relentless, exceeding remorses which gnawed them, in fact, they haven't made a revelation to their daughter for seeing her on the television screen 2 nights ago and following the tonight's show. Perhaps they had limited time, because of Michael. If it wasn't him to interrupt and ruin their family moment by reuniting altogether, otherwise either Jude or Timothy would admit to their daughter about the overwhelming evening when they beheld her with the German emigrant.
"It's going to be another sleepless night just like another night." Jude whispered to herself, chanting by lowering her honeyed voice as she hummed sweetly. "I won't be able to forget the night of the days when I finally saw her." She furthered by taking another puff of its cigar length, emitting dim from her tender nostrils and plumpish, rosy-coloured lips.
"Your humming is so beautiful, rare bird!" Timothy exclaimed plainly as one of his strong, muscular arms propped his head by being positioned underneath, looking up at the older woman with a beaming smile, curled up in the corner of his lips as he admired her divine beauty which dazzled him.
"How to not thank you, sweetie!" Jude turned to him as their dark eyes met, locking up his stare by offering him a radiant, tempting smile, distorted across her lips in crescent shape as its glinted her delirious happiness of the compliment and being encircled by the love of her life. "I'm just relaxing."
"Judy, you're missing its ultimate relaxation once you come over here!" The former Monsignor jeered at her as he set free a faint giggle.
"It's relaxing even with wonderful company especially when ya are smoking and drinking with me." She released a raspy chuckle, escaping her damp, berry-coloured lips as they motioned like piano keys.
"No, thank you! I just want to be with you!"
"Aww, don't ya realize how cute are you like that, do you?" She got from the chair by marching up to him in sultry gait as her black classy heels clicked against the carpeted flooring of the hotel room as her mane of old Hollywood honey curls bounced as she approached him, opting to be as sexy as mind-blowing. "I think some pressure should be released." She took a final drag before stubbing it out on the ashtray, gulping in a single sip the white wine as its sweet, sinful taste lingered on her tongue as she winked at him by kicking off her heels and leaving the emptied glass on the nightstand.
"You seem more than ready for anything dynamic, honey!" Timothy murmured as she flimped on top of his as she couldn't suppress snicker, joining her as well. In the meanwhile, he dangled his arms around her waist, while she cupped his cheeks in the palms of her parchment, creamy as silk hands by fixing her honey brown orbs on his chocolate brown, admiring one another's bewitching facial features as she gave him a seductive smile, dancing on her pale, porcelain face as it glinted as the moonlight. Their eyes were fueled with timeless lust, love and desire they felt for one another. "I can see it by the way you act."
"You think so?" All of a sudden, when she thought of raising the topic about the children, she abided stoic at the thought of Odette Beatrix as its rattled her about her recent condition though she came to the conclusion with Timothy she's still alive. "Timothy?"
"Mm, Jude?" He pushed swept in a delicate motion pieces of strands of her face by tucking them behind her petite ear.
"Do you want more children, besides Odette Beatrix?"
"I'd want, of course! Nonetheless, it's up to you, my love!" Timothy replied softly as their faces were scarcely inches away between kiss and skin. Moreover, Jude was beyond astounded as he answered her grave question without any hesitancy.
"I'd want to, but I don't know really. I'm so confused." Then she sighed plainly, chewing her bottom lip in flummoxed manner as she scrutinized the younger man's fresh, youthful face. "I don't even know how might Odette react for having one more child except her."
"It's okay, Judy! If we truly want it, therefore she should embrace whether her younger sister or brother."
"She will embrace her younger sibling, however, I'm readily sure she's going to love it as much as us."
A handful of hours after Elsa's night show ended as she headed directly to her dressing room to gather her belongings and flee the local Florida nightclub by getting in her husband's cab, driving her to home.
Once she held her purse that comprised important items as she left the bar, suddenly the blonde pushed the double door as she jumped immediately in Massimo's strong, secure arms by throwing them around his shoulders, pulling him in a tight, warm hug as his mammoth, veiny hands encircled her slim waist.
"Darling!"
"My angel!" In the meantime, she mischievously giggled by lowering her voice between the hug as her chin rested on his shoulder by closing her eyes for a split seconds, relishing the romantic moment as she was in seventh heaven. Once she's with Massimo, the German emigrant is a much different person. The romantic. The doting. The soft and sultry in the same time. When the middle-aged lady can be namely herself as she disregarded the others' opinions behind her back. "How your day passed?"
"It was wonderful the tonight show which I held. How about yours, sweetie?" They lastly broke off the hug as they hopped up inside the charcoal grayish cab as they buckled their belts as their impending destination was home.
"Well, my day was nothing special but not as bright as when we aren't together, you know."
"Indeed! is a busy Frau!" She emphasized the German word as the married couple couldn't repress guffaws which swam in the cab, seconds before the Italian turned on the vehicle's radio.
"At least, you aren't busy for love and family."
"Das ist richtig, mein Liebchen! The family and love are always knocking on my door after such a hectic day." When the middle-aged man stopped on a red light, they got limited time as he managed up to lift his hand to the car's radio, turning it on by switching the radio stations, while the German lady turned to the love of her life as she pressed her soft lips on his, sealing them in an ardent, light kiss by cupping one of his smooth cheeks as muffled moans escaped their soaked lips.
"Every night I hope and pray! A dream lover will come my way! A girl to hold in my arms And know the magic of her charms. 'Cause I want a girl to call my own!" Bobby Darin commenced to sing in the background as his silver-tongued, serene voice sailed up inside the temporarily stopped vehicle.
"Dream Lover?" Elsa enquired by arching an eyebrow in merriment manner shortly after they broke off the kiss by giggling girlishly as soon as Massimo was utterly focused on the driving process as his hands held the steering car wheel without deviating and losing control over his cab.
"Yes! One of our favorite songs if you don't remember when it was played on the radio for first time."
"Oh ja! It was vonderful!" She responded with her firm German accent as her tongue lightly clicked by wiping her clammy forehead. All of a sudden, the faint sound of growling stomach invaded her as it pulsated in her sensitive ears, whereas the growling stomach sound wasn't sufficiently.
First and foremost, the middle-aged singer hasn't eaten for hours and she has been starving as in the hours of not consuming even a single aliment, she spent them rather in practicing the songs and choreography of certain songs where she should do more than singing, in order to entertain the audience as they jubilantly, turbulently applaud her, clapping their hands.
"I want a dream lover, so I don't have to dream alone! Dream lover, where are you? With a love, oh, so true and the hand that I can hold to feel you near as I grow old! 'Cause I want a girl to call my own! I want a dream lover!"
"Are you peckish?" Massimo posed the question enthusiatically as his chocolate brown eyes were darted to the path without averting his studious stare.
"To be honest, ja! I've been starving for hours, in case to practice my songs and choreographs so that to not disappoint the audience tonight."
"Aww, my angel! It's unhealthy for you doing this to yourself. You should eat a little at least."
"The last time when I ate eventually was in the wee hours of the afternoon." The middle-aged man nodded, thrumming as he excitedly listened to his wife's eloquent voice which accentuated on her utterance that allured him, jingling angelic, hallowed anthems in his ears. "And it was nothing special than an apple strudel."
"Your favorite!" In the meanwhile, Elsa couldn't help but lick greedily, maliciously her lips as if she has heard the deepest, howsoever, discreet secret ever in her life.
"Ja! I love it so much! It has been months since I had an apple strudel as a dish."
"So I don't have to dream alone! Someday, I don't know how! I hope she'll hear my plea! Some way, I don't know how she'll bring her love to me! Dream lover, until then I'll go to sleep and dream again! That's the only thing to do!"
When the middle-aged singer delved in her purse, she unintentionally tipped something which wasn't soft as cream at all. It was rather a pendant. As soon as she gripped it in a swift motion, she scrutinized it as the pendant was heart shaped, made of steel. Odette's vintage photo gazed at her as if she was haunted by spectrals, roaming around her and inspecting each moment and action of hers. The steel necklace was wrapped around her fingers, lingering beneath its fingertips flesh as her hazelish-brown eyes were pooled with crystal dew, verging to well up in her eyes at the thought of the love child she lost when she was transported in the madhouse, where she was born and imprisoned as criminally insane. What an irony of fate for the young woman!
"My treasure! My Odette! I miss you!" She mumbled inwardly by sobbing quietly to herself by lifting up the wrapped pendant around her brittle, elegant fingers by clung it to her chest as she slightly bowed her head, shutting her eyelids by allowing the tears to stream down her cheeks.
"E-Elsa, my angel, are you alright?" Massimo stopped on another red light as he turned to his grieving wife over her favorite young singer and protege's disappearance by snaking his strong, toned arms around her upper back.
"It's not alright, my darling! I terribly miss this girl. She has always been in my heart with Evelyn. I love them equally and Odette deserves much better than to rot in the hellhole."
"Shu, shu, shu, sweetheart! One day she's going to be out of that snake pit. I completely understand your pain, because she's a special girl just like Evelyn."
"Nothing has changed since her worrisome absence! I hope she's well and still alive, at least!" Afterwards Massimo pecked an alleviating, feather kiss on the top of her head as he turned momentarily to his side by carrying on with driving process as their imminent journey was home. In this moment, the singer wiped her own tears with a thumb by frequently blinking her puffy, rufescent eyes as she kept its pendant to her bosom.
"Till all my lover's dreams come true! 'Cause I want a girl to call my own! I want a dream lover! So I don't have to dream alone! Dream lover, until then I'll go to sleep and dream again!"
"It's okay, my love! We're going to leave Florida tomorrow morning as we have booked a flight for Boston and surprise Odette by giving her a birthday present!" Massimo concluded as he attempted to soothe the desperate, jaded blonde with honeyed exclamation.
After Odette took a catnap in the wee hours of the noon, she socialized even more with the recently committed patient Kit as if he was the sole affable patient she had ever known though the reporter, who was housed in the mental hospital against her will Lana Winters opted to persuade the young woman to not interract with Kit, suspecting him in criminal wrongdoings and deeds which he has never done.
Flashback
Earlier today
"Hey!" The older brunette approached the younger one as she was seating with Kit on the old, shabby sofa in the common room by earning their enquiring looks they wore on their young-looking, palish complexions. "It's unhealthy this interraction between a murderer and drug addict!" The lesbian reporter resumed her sentence as the young man scowled, refraining himself to be aggressive towards her even responding her by ignoring her and perceiving her as nothing more than a compulsive bully, violating their inner space.
"You don't have the right to call us like that, bitch! It's not your business to pry." The young singer retorted as she narrowed her eyebrows, casting a pierce glare on the reporter, huffing cockily.
"I'm trying to help you, girl! You have no idea what he's capable of."
The truth was Lana was another recently committed inmate in the nuthouse against her will as a journalist though since the first day, she was disliked by Kit and Odette along since Odette wasn't a keen fan of journalists, considering them as particular liars and hypocrites, who seek solely fame and general population's approval.
Since Lana's arrival in Briarcliff, Odette found her for indisputably irritating and immensely inqusitive as the young lady's bile rose up in her throat every time she spotted anywhere the homosexual reporter.
"What do you take me for an idiot? Huh?" The love child sneered at Lana as a vile, wry grin flashed on her juvenile face by arching an eyebrow as her hands were clammy, wiping them in her stark, long and drop-dead gorgeous calves, thereafter picking up a cigarette from occasionally found cigarette pack somewhere in the common room by lighting up as she took her first drag of its cigar length, emitting severe dim in the middle-aged woman's face. "You're telling me what to do since you're committed here and you are just another lunatic, according to the society."
"Odette, let's go! It makes no sense to argue with this stubborn journalist." Kit extended his hand to reassure the livid young woman by rubbing her forearm as his fingers loitered on her milky, smooth skin.
"I can tell you what, Lana! If you try to tell me once again what to do with my own life or convince either of us what we shall do, I swear," She gestured her cigarette, seconds before promptly taking a puff of it and blowing a fog of stenching smoke. "I'm going to burn your tongue with the embers of this thing called cigarette." In the interval, the both young adults got from the ragged couch by avoiding as much as they can the prying, irksome brunette.
The night hours flew as sluggishly as possible as if weeks, months even years and centuries were advancing progressively.
Odette had already the same low-quality, bland dinner dish.
What it left her speechless and unable to close her eyes for a single second was the overwhelming visit of her parents in her cell earlier today by bringing not only smile on her face, but also rejoiced and bittersweet tears, welling up in her fragile hazel eyes.
At the thought of her biological parents by acknowledging their names and the dark past behind their seperation lit up her frail heart as it pulsated softly, sluggishly in her chest as she really can't put her finger on the events that took its place there.
What the young singer hankered for is to see them again and get her out of the hellhole before it was too late. Too late for her rescue. Too late for her roar to being heard in the abysmal, ebon vacuum.
Odette perfectly recalled Jude and Timothy's words as if she felt cupid arrows, shot right into her chest as her flimsy heart bleeded, dripping its rubicund blood of love and warmness which she had a yen for ages not just from her secondary parents. She wanted it from her own biological parents, nevertheless her small family.
"I love ya very much, Odette! My most beautiful girl who I've ever seen!"
"I love you too, darling!"
"We love you with your father more than anything!"
Her parents inner voices echoed in her frozen mind as it halted to functioning properly, factly, these words were far from unmindful for her to forget them, occupying her mind with insomnia at the thought of their staggering words which melted her heart at last. A content, euphoric smile cracked on her lips when she thought of these warmhearted words.
The bewails of the patients have been already muted since Odette was in her own ward after the common room's evacuation earlier tonight. The moonlight bathed the young woman's cell in chilling, spectacular moonlight, partly illuminating it and sweeping light goosebumps on her mossy skin. All she can hear was the former clerical members of the church's words, recurringly, monotonously repeating after a rhyme.
To be continued...