Chapter 18:

Taking a Trip

5-25-02, 6/2/02

Ohio:

At the kitchen table Suzzy and Cyrus were having their morning breakfast as normal: eggs, bacon, sausage and a cup of coffee. As soon as Suzzy placed her dishes in the sink the phone on the wall next to her rang.

"If it's the cops again. I'll have to lie again." Responded Suzzy as she let out a sigh.

"Yep, that would be the best thing to do till we figure out what really happened here."

"Here goes." She reached up after drying her hand on a near by towel. "Hello."

"Mom great, you answered the phone this time."

"It's good to hear from you Israel. How's work?"

"Very well thanks, but I didn't call to chitchat. I have a question and I want a straight answer." Israel sounded upset and his mother knew it.

"Ok, ok just calm down son." She stretched the phone as far as the cord would allow her too, she barely was able to sit down back down at the kitchen table. This sounded serious. "Now what's your question?"

"Do I have a twin that you didn't tell me about in NY City?"

"Well," her voice started to trail off. He wasn't supposed to know about his twin brother but I can't lie to him any more.

"Well, do I? I have a right to know if I do." He was somewhat shouting though the phone now.

"Shh, keep your voice down at me." With that, Cyrus gave his wife a confused look just over the top of the newspaper that he was reading. He placed it down at just stared at her.

"Sorry mother, I just want to get some answers. I'm confused as it is."

She turned her head away from Cyrus and whispered. "Yes, you do have a twin but let me explain."

"Thank you. That's all I needed to know."

"Israel, Israel wait..." she was cut off with a click. With the shrug of her shoulders she placed the phone back in its cradle.

"What did Israel want to know?"

"About," she started then she thought better of it. Should I tell him that I told Israel about his brother?

"About what?" Suzzy just left the kitchen to go into the green living area. She sat down on the couch.

"What did he want?" Cyrus demanded.

"He some how came across some information about his twin and was asking me about him. I was about to explain it to him but he hung up on me when I told him that he did."

"You told him? How dare you!" with that Cyrus extended to the second floor and then there was a slam of a door. Suzzy knew that he was upset but really didn't care. She would just stay out of his way for a few days and it would pass, it always didn't. Cyrus would get mad one minute and then the next, be like nothing was the matter.

Florida:

I guess I really do have a twin. Why wouldn't mom and dad tell me about him? Am I really their son? Should I visit my so-called brother in NY? Israel said to himself as he paced his den. If I hadn't had seen the paper would anyone have told me about my twin? Would they have kept this all secrete the rest of their lives? How could they do this to me? What's the real story behind all of this? What else are they hiding from me? Who really am I? I have lot of questions that I need answered but is this the right time to ask them? I wonder if what's his name again? Israel picked up the sports page and sat down on the couch. Egon that's it, even knows about me?

What if he doesn't know either? How would this affect him if I went to see him? Should I even go? What would I say to him if it were true? Would my life change? "There's only one way to find out." He said out loud. "I have to know. No time like the present to change." He picked up the phone. "It's time for me to make a trip to NY City. I need a vacation anyway. I just hope this is not the biggest mistake of my life or Egon's for that matter." He called to make reservations in NY. He also called the hospital and told them his plains.

"How long will you be gone Dr Spengler?" the nurse asked.

"Not to sure I have a family thing that I have to take care of. A few weeks I suppose. I call you guys if I extent the trip."

"That will be fine. I think that we can handle things over here with the new Dr."

NY:

There was a knock at the firehouse.

"Yeah, comin." Winston called as he slid from under ecto. Who could be coming over at a time like this in the morning? He whipped his oily hands on the front of his apron and turned to open the door when it cracked open some.

"Guys, it's Louis." Winston swung open the door the rest of the way.

"Come on in Louis. What are you doing here so early?"

"Well," He hesitated at the doorway. "I hope that I didn't wake any of you."

"Oh no, I was just working on ecto. What can I help you with?" Louis finally came all the way thought the doorway and shut it.

"I was filing more taxes and had a couple of screw ups that Peter seemed to have made. I was just making sure that they were all right."

"Ah, again? I thought that we just finished the last taxes. How could he have screwed up again?"

"Well," Janine coming downstairs in her night cloths to investigate all the talking cut off Louis. "Oh hey Janine. I'm not even going to ask." He shook his head.

"Louis, it's alright. The weather was all bad last night with the snow an all." She knew that he was laughing on the inside at her excuse but it was true. "I stayed the night."

Ray who was standing by the kitchen door just watched all of them.

"That sounds like Peter to screw up." Janine put on a sad look. Talking about Peter or Egon made her even sadder. She was somewhat thinking that they might have some hope.

"Talking about Peter where is he? I can't seem to reach him. Every time I call you," Louis looks back at Janine, "I leave a message but he never calls me back."

"Well," both Ray and Winston start.

"He's not coming back." Janine busted out and then started crying.

"What? What do you mean not coming back? When did he leave you guys?" Louise looked over at Ray and Winston with concern. They didn't have a clue how to tell him the story. He wouldn't believe it any way.

"Janine, you tell the story to well. You tell Louis." Ray called.

"Yeah, I have to get back to ecto." Winston shot back as he headed towards the car. He was getting teary eyed again about the guys, working on ecto kept his mind off of them. He slid back under the car and began to work. Ray went back upstairs. Janine sighed.

"Sure, pull up a chair Louis." Janine answered out. She really didn't like to tell the story but she knew she was stuck doing it. "It could take a while to tell you the story."

She told him the story but left out the part of Egon getting her pregnant. She didn't believe that any of them needed to know that yet. She didn't even know that she would tell them.

Down town NY:

Dana got into town from her business trip. Oscar four now, who was staying with the nanny, came running up to her.

"Mom," he cried.

"Yes, I'm back. I didn't know that it would take that long."

"I glade you are home."

"Me too." She faced the nanny. "Was he good?"

"Was I good?" Oscar smiled. "I always good."

"Yes, he was. He had fun this week at school."

"That's great." Dana went over to the table in the kitchen. She placed her luggage down and wrote the nanny a check for her time. "Here you are," she handed the check to the nanny.

"Thank you," she faced Oscar, "I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled. Oscar really enjoyed the nanny. It gave him someone to talk to since his father left Dana when he was born. Dana collected her things then went to the bedroom. Oscar followed her like a lost puppy. He jumped on her bed. "Mommy's home, mommy's home." He kept saying over and over.

"Yes, I'm, Now will you please get off my bed so I can get some sleep."

"But, I want to play with mommy."

"Not right now, maybe later. I need some rest."

"But,"

"No buts now. I know that there are some cartoons on TV for you to watch."

"I guess." The little boy started to walk out of the bedroom. He turned to see his mother already lying down in bed. "When is daddy coming home?" Dana never thought about that. When is he coming back? She thought. That was a good question. One which, she didn't know how to answer. She tried to explain once to Oscar that he left and wasn't coming back to them but she always left and returned. She believe that he, in his mind, was thinking that his father was doing the same thing just like her and that any day would be coming home. Who really knows but him?

"I have no idea honey," she shook her head. "Maybe someday."

"If he calls can I talk to him?"

"Yes, dear. Now will you go play and let mommy rest. We can talk some later."

"Okey Dokey." And with that Oscar left and shut the door to the bedroom. After Dana got up she had a thought about Peter. She thought she might go visit him.

To be continued…………