Here's the next bit.
I'm sorry this took a while. The story board is completed, but it was harder to write it out than expected. I did not want to repeat the mistake I made with the last 2 chapters. It is difficult to pick which part to write out and which part to leave behind. And then the writing itself is also harder than expected.
I am grateful for the reviews and comments. I hope this bit is still as enjoyable, even though it is not the action part. But it is a scene that have to happen. I was also personally happy to have a scene where Laura can play a role...
Please do continue to be as generous and as supportive
I Remembered a Storm-tossed Night
Chapter 12
The rain poured and the wind howled. Within the safety of a little home with a sturdy roof, dinner was being served. Who would have thought a simple dinner would be so difficult to put into words? But ah, dinner was where everything comes together; so sayeth the man of the house. –Jolly
HBHBHB
39
Sam Radley was worried. Fenton had missed his last check-in.
And Sam had already checked all alternative sources of contact; emails, voice mails, and fax.
Sure they had a 48 hour lee-way in the case of international check-in times, just in case something happened. But Fenton rarely if ever miss his check-ins. His partner always anticipated his actions and left notice if he were to be late or if he had to miss a call. This was very unlike his partner. Sam spared another glance at the clock. It was almost 48 hours.
He wondered if he should call Frank.
Finally Sam made the decision he would wait till dinner time before heading over to the Hardy residence. It was a Sunday today, and he knew that Frank would be there with his fiancée.
And Fenton disappearance was not something they could keep from Laura. Not this time…
40
I felt this sense of déjà vu as I drove into Bayport.
It bothered me greatly.
Yes, there was Bayport Elementary and Bayport High, where the brothers spent a decade of their lives together.
And round that corner, yes, that was the famed Mr. Pizza where the brothers spent many hours with their best friends.
Somehow, I could almost see the tables and chairs in that eatery. And there was this robust man twirling pizza base, flipping it over and over into the air before laying it down for the fillings, and then there was Frank passing me this huge slab of pizza. I could almost taste it…
I shook my head to clear those images. No; to clear those sights, those sounds, and those aromas. I might have spent the bulk of last night reading through Joseph's very detailed dossier. But this… this level of familiarity was still ridiculous!
My hands tightened on the steering wheel.
I could see Ehla eyeing me, concern clear in her eyes. I gave her a quick smile to let her know I was fine.
"Tense?" She asked.
"A little," I told her.
"Don't worry; you're still her nephew, Paul." Ehla said. "She'll have to start off liking you…"
I gave her a sidelong glance.
"You're also a little tense yourself." I said.
She let out a little laugh.
"Will Aunt Laura like me?" She wondered. "We needed her to if you want to get closer to Frank…"
"I don't think you'll have a problem with Laura, Ehla…" I told her. "My main concern is Frank's fiancée, Callie Shaw."
"Why is that?" She asked, curious.
"Cal's always a little jealous of the closeness between Frank and his younger brother. So she may not be as receptive to us getting too close to Frank." I told her.
"Ah, I see. That's quite an intimate piece of detail you got from the dossier. Albert must have been really thorough…" She commented.
Her comment shook me a little. That bit of detail was not in the files. How did I know? I was starting to feel an unease rising in my guts.
"Yes… Albert is grandpa's best agent." I lied.
I actually lied to Ehla…
That surprised me.
"Grandpa's very protective of us; I was surprise he let us drive here on our own. I thought he was going to insist we take his chauffeur and limo." Ehla said.
I chuckled.
"Albert's always around Ehla." I said to her in an amused voice.
She raised her brow at me.
"Look through your side mirror or the rear view mirror, dear. You will see a dark blue sedan about three cars behind us…"
And I watched as Ehla did as I told her, her expression first curious, then a little irate, and finally resigned. Then she shook her head and laugh.
"I should have known, Paul. You really don't mind being followed like that?"
"Grandpa's old, Ehla. If this makes him feel better, I don't have a problem with it… as long as Albert keeps his distance."
I turned down High Street, and finally the Hardy residence slide into view. It was a lovely two-storey building. I could almost imagine two boys running havoc over the front porch, and then there was this tree house in the backyard…
Again I shivered at those visions flashing by…
I turned round the corner and parked our sky blue Mercedes on Elm Street. For a short while, I simply sat there in the driver's seat and took a few deep breaths. I was more shaken than I cared to admit.
Then Ehla's voice caught my attention.
"Paul, everything will be fine. I am sure of it." Then her eyes darkened a little, and I noted she looked a little uncomfortable. "Paul, at the end of the day, they are still family and…"
"I know… why not we forget all about the consortium and the Cause for this evening, and simply enjoy our time here with our aunt and cousin, huh?
Ehla smiled. "I like that idea very much, Paul."
I leaned over and gave her a deep and loving kiss before we got out of the car together.
I saw the front door open, and there was Aunt Laura, looking so much like my own mother, standing at the threshold, a warm welcoming smile on her face.
Ah, how I missed mom…
41
Laura Hardy had been waiting at the window, seeing the cars going pass her home without really seeing them.
Then her heart gave a tiny hitch as she watched a sky blue Mercedes slowed to a stop just after the driveway. She watched as a blond headed young man got out of the driver's seat.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Yes, that's her son. Definitely her son!
Her eyes stung, and she furiously wiped away the beginnings of those tears, and firmly willed her tear ducts to behave.
"Frank!" She called out to her eldest. "They're here!"
And seconds later, she heard the rush of footsteps pounding down the stairs. And she could glimpse Callie making her way down behind Frank…
She ignored them both and walked swiftly towards the door and opened it. And she waited, her hands gripping the door knob so tightly her knuckles were white.
She thought of all of Joe's favorite food waiting in the oven and on the stove, all the hours she spent earlier today carefully preparing everything. She wondered if he'd remembered any of those. But no matter, there must be something in this house that would feel familiar to him, and from there, she could slowly work her way to getting her son back, she vowed.
She stood there and watched her youngest make his way towards her, his wife by his side.
She smiled brightly at him, and in her heart, welcomed her long lost son home with open arms.
42
Tense.
He felt tightly strung as a bow.
There was tension in the air.
Tension so thick he had to battle for each breath.
The tension was from the efforts to maintain the fiction of nephews meeting aunts and cousins meeting cousins; instead of the reality of reunion between brothers, sons and mother.
And joy.
The joyous contentment of a family finally reunited after over six long years.
The scene before him was almost picture perfect.
He only wished his dad was here too.
Frank sat and watched and quietly mused at the light and happy conversation going on about him. 'Paul' had everyone in stitches as he regaled his many mishaps through his years in Oxford. And Ehlana had collaborated in those tales making, Frank was sure, the stories sound a lot more ridiculous than they were.
Yes, he liked Ehlana a lot. And he knew his mom felt the same. She's perfect for Joe.
He sat there, barely eating his dinner as he watch his brother's every gesture, and every nuance of his expression.
He laughed with everyone else, like everyone else.
But in his heart, he pretended that it was really Joe sitting there. He pretended it was his Joe telling those tales. He pretended that Joe remembered and 'Paul' was gone.
He pretended, and for the duration of that dinner, let himself be lost in the delusion that the last six plus years never happened, and life was like what it was before.
43
Dinner was almost over. Laura was happy to see that Joe had polished up his plates, just like he did as a hungry teenager attending Bayport High.
And she listened, totally rapt, to her son's tales.
So many years of her son's life she missed!
This was all because her own sister wanted a son to replace the lost of her own son, Paul. Her own sister stole her son from her. And now she could not openly acknowledge her son, because his life was in danger and he did not know it.
He did not even know who he was!
Would he be willing to listen even if she told him the truth? Laura wondered. Or would telling drive him away?
It was not good to speak ill of the dead. But she could not help the anger, almost bordering on hate, at the thought of the woman who stole her son from her. Her very own sister, Sarah…
She had to rein in her scowls when he talked about his mother. He talked about a loving and supportive mother, and how much he missed her and loved her.
That should have been about me, Laura's heart cried out.
He talked about a dare devil mother who went cross country skiing and sky-diving with him.
Okay, I can't do that, Joe. But I am your real mom… and I'm still here… Her heart bleeds; she hated Sarah even more.
But she smiled at her son and pretended to miss her sister. Then she felt bad for thinking so cruelly at the dead.
Why should she? Laura suddenly lashed back out.
She looked at her precious blond headed boy again. She mentally traced his features, noting the all the minute differences between her eighteen year old, and this twenty five year old young man before her.
All those years stolen from her; all gone. She could never have them back. Never. And her son loved another for his mother…
Suddenly she felt the tears coming. She stood up abruptly, surprising everyone at the table. She excused herself, mumbling something about bringing out the dessert and rushed out of the dining room into the kitchen.
44
Aunt Laura's sudden exit took me by surprise. I did not miss the brightness of unshed tears in her eyes.
For a short instance, I wondered at her actions.
Then I realized why the evening might have been a little stressful on her. I knew I look a lot like Joe. It must have been a constant reminder to have me sitting here.
Was I still trying to pretend to be like her dead son? I wondered and felt a little twinge of guilt. After all, I and Ehla agreed this evening would be family time. I shot Ehla a quick question; she signaled me a 'no' and I felt a little better. I re-ran all my actions through the evening, and yes, I ascertained I was definitely being myself.
Then I remembered all I said about my mother. Aunt Laura must have missed her sister too. It must be the combination of a number of things all folded into the tight space of the last two hours, I decided.
I saw Frank making to follow his mother into the kitchen and forestalled him.
Let me, I told him with my eyes.
I watch him hesitate for a moment, and gave me a quick nod and a little smile.
I got up and made my way into the kitchen.
45
Once within the privacy and the safety of her very familiar kitchen, Laura let her tears flow. She leaned heavily against the coolness of the refrigerator, and gave in to her aching heart.
She stifled her gut wrenching sobs, even as she cried for her son who did not know his parents were still alive and looking after him. She cried for Frank who had to bear the burden of knowing and pain of faking it all. She cried for herself, for her youngest who was so near, yet so far.
Suddenly she felt a presence behind her. She turned to see those familiar deep blue orbs looking at her, the concern so clear in his eyes. He reached out to hold her, and she let him.
For a while it was Joe holding her. She took that moment and hoarded it jealously.
Finally, she let go of him.
"Thanks," she said as she worked to wiped away her tears and make herself presentable.
She watched her youngest simply shrugged and gave her a shy smile.
"I missed my son…" She said.
The blue orbs reflected his understanding and sympathy.
"Joseph must be very special…" he commented.
She did not miss that tiny little bit of wistfulness in his voice. She wondered at it, and then realized the opportunity before her.
"Yes, Joe is very special…" She said. "But all mothers are bias… would you mind me sharing a bit of him with you? I've kept almost everything in his room the way it was…"
She saw him hesitated for a short while and she held her breath.
He nodded; she could breathe again.
"Come," she said, suddenly excited.
And grabbing his hand, she pulled him up the stairs through the dining hall. She knew he gestured for Ehla to join him, and she knew Frank followed leaving Callie alone at the dining table. But all those mattered not.
What mattered was her son seeing his room. The room she spent the entire yesterday reconstructing…
45
I followed Aunt Laura towards Joseph's room, and wondered at why it mattered so much to her that I see it. I stepped through the door after her, and my world stopped.
A quiet stillness took over my surroundings.
The thunderous sound of a sharp indrawn breath drew my attention away from the sight before me. That was from Ehla, I knew.
We were staring at the almost exact replica of my room back in London when I was attending Oxford.
There was the poster of the cherry red Pontiac 1965 GTO gracing the wall by my bed. And that model of Aston Martin DB4 1958 proudly on display on the shelf was the model I drove while studying in Oxford. I restored it myself, and that car was my pride and joy.
I felt Ehla holding on tightly to my hand. I turned to face my wife, and I knew even as I stared into her curious and slightly fearful eyes that confusion shone from the depths of my own eyes.
I could feel both Aunt Laura and Frank staring at me, and I forced myself to ignore that. For the time being… I needed time to sort out the scene before me.
What does that mean? I asked myself my heart pounding fiercely, even as I knew I had no answers.
There was no time to think.
A sharp piercing scream cut through the quiet night and resonated off the walls of the house.
That was Callie.
We all turned as one and raced back down the steps.
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