A/N: Thank you to all my wonderful readers. I hope you're enjoying this experiment.
Last time on EIDN:
Jacob has come into a new world. At the estate of Dr. Laura Frederick, he is encountering more
feelings and new emotions than he ever expected. He's trying to hold back before he makes any
decisions to see if he can tell where his new life is headed.
P. S. I'm keeping this journal hidden cause I don't want Laura to see it yet. Maybe someday.
Everything Is Different Now
Chapter 3
February 8, 2013
"Willikins, have you awakened Mr. Black yet?"
"Yes Madam, he is on his way here now, freshly showered and dressed."
"Did you take his breakfast request?"
"Yes Madam, Marie is preparing it now."
"Thank you Willikins."
"Of course, Madam. Would you like me to remain?"
"I don't think that will be necessary. Does Mr. Black seem to feel chipper this morning?"
"I believe so Madam. He expressed that he had a restful sleep and emphasized his hunger."
"Very good. Thank you Willikins. That will be all for now. We'll have lunch on the terrace at 1:00."
"As you wish, Madam."
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"Come in Mr. Black. Join me. I hope you're hungry."
"Thank you and I definitely am starving. This high altitude thin air does it I guess."
"Of course, you're accustomed to sea level atmospheres aren't you?"
"Well, yeah, most of the time anyway."
"Would you like some orange juice?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Marie will have your plate out in just a bit."
"Oh, thank you. You didn't need to go to all this trouble."
"It's no trouble at all. You're a guest here."
"Who's paying for this by the way?"
"Nobody."
"Nobody? What does that mean?"
"Without beating around the bush, it means your stay here and my professional services are free of charge."
"Free?! Are you shitting me? I'm sorry, I mean, are you kidding me? Why?"
"Don't worry about it and no, I'm not kidding. The why is quite uncomplicated. Because I want to and I'm really not prepared to discuss it further right now."
"Oh, I see. Well, okay I guess. Can we discuss it someday?"
"Yes, someday. Ah, here's your omelet. Bon appétit, Mr. Black."
"This looks yummy, and call me Jacob, or Jake."
"Very well, Jacob. Thank you Marie, wonderful job as always. Jacob, this is Marie, my chief cook and bottle washer. She is a genius. Period. Anything you desire in the category of food or drink, she can produce it. If she doesn't have it on hand immediately, I believe she can create it out of thin air. At least that is my suspicion."
"Well, great. I'll have to remember that. Nice to meet you Marie."
"A pleasure to meet you Sir."
"Jacob, please."
"Jacob? Madam?"
"Of course, Marie. If it's okay with Jacob, it's okay with me."
"Okay, a pleasure to meet you Jacob. Do you have any food allergies or special likes or dislikes?"
"Hmmm, no allergies that I know of. Likes?, lasagna, pot roast, cheeseburgers, banana pudding. Dislikes, um, cauliflower, cold soup, fish, except salmon, I love salmon. I never cared for asparagus. I guess that's about it. And I'm a big eater."
"Yes Sir, I mean Jacob, I don't wonder. You look like a healthy, growing boy."
"You're in for a treat Jacob. Marie can make any Italian dish like she was born in the Old Country and her banana pudding is to die for."
"Thank you Ma'am."
"It's true Marie, no need for modesty in your kitchen."
"Well, I'm looking forward to being your guinea pig Marie. If you need a taste tester, you just call me."
"Ha, ha. I'll do that Jacob. I'll do that. Lunch on the terrace at 1. Correct Madam?"
"That's right. Let's keep it simple today, okay? Fruits and cheeses? Maybe some prosciutto?"
"Very good, Madam."
"Whoa! What's pro-shooto?"
"It's a slightly salty, cured and dried Italian ham. Try it, you'll like it."
"Oh, okay. I was just curious."
"How's the omelet, Jacob?"
"It's delicious, thanks."
"Good. More coffee?"
"Nah, I'm good, thank you."
"Very well. Jacob, I think today we'll take it easy, I'll show you around, we can get acquainted, you know, just lay some ground work."
"You mean I don't have to start out stretched out on a couch and tell you my life story?"
"Not unless that's what you feel like doing."
"I'll pass."
"Okay then, if you're finished we'll start the nickel tour."
"I don't know Doc, this place may take 25 cents."
"Funny. Because it's kind of large?"
"Kinda? It's fuc—freakin' huge!"
"Yeah, I guess it is. Jacob, you don't have to feel uncomfortable about your language in front of me. If you normally use those words, use them, but maybe not in front of Marie, okay?"
"Yeah, okay, sorry, I'll watch it."
"Thanks. It'll probably become easy for you. She's a lot like a grandma. You'll clean up in front of her in spite of yourself."
"I know what you mean. Quil's grandmother was just like that. You couldn't help but be an angel around her. No matter how sharp your horns and how pointy your tail."
"I see. Is Quil a friend of yours?"
"Um...yeah, a friend, you could say that."
"Jacob, you don't have to worry that you'll come to any harm here and you don't have to be concerned that any of your friends or family would come to harm. I can promise you that you are safe here. And if it's what you prefer, nobody has to be informed of your whereabouts. You have committed no crimes and you are presumably over 18. But, if we're going to get to know one another so we can work together to help you feel better and deal with things, it will definitely help if you at least trust me enough to tell me about your background. Please?
"He's a cousin back home in La Push, Washington. The Quileute reservation. The rez."
"Ah, got it. Do you have a large family there?"
"Yes and no. There's my Dad and I have older twin sisters. Then there's some cousins and aunts and uncles, but pretty much the whole Tribe is one big family, ya know?"
"Yes, I understand. Why did you find it necessary to leave your family behind?"
"I thought we were going to take it easy today."
"You're right. We were. I'm sorry. I just got anxious. Please forgive me. Sometimes I'm too enthusiastic."
"It's okay. I get it. We'll work up to it okay?"
"It's a deal."
"How about you? Where's the rest of the people who live here with you?"
"It's just me."
"Really?"
"Really. Well, there's the staff who help keep the place running."
"How come? I mean, what about your parents, or brothers and sisters and, uh, well, a beautiful lady like you must have a husband and children, right?"
"Well, no not really. My parents are both deceased, I'm an only child, I'm a widow and I have no children. I have a cat and 3 dogs. Does that count?"
"Wow, I'm sorry. I mean, about your family. The cats and dogs are good."
"Well, thank you, but there's no need to be sorry. My parents adopted me when they were both older than average parents and they both died after full and fairly long lives. My husband was killed in a boat racing accident after we'd been married 7 months, so not enough time for children. And I love my cat and dogs. They're my babies. You'll meet them later."
"Okay, well, I'm sorry about your husband. How long ago was that?"
"About 9 years. I was 18 when we married. He was a Prince."
"A real great guy huh?"
"Well, yes, but he was an actual Prince."
"Oh, wow!"
"Yeah, I got to be a real Princess for a short while. It's every little girl's dream."
"You're pretty enough to be a Princess. I think you still are one."
"Well, thank you, kind Sir."
"You're welcome m'lady."
"Now you're just bull-shitting."
"Hah! You weren't kidding about the language, huh?"
"Nope. If that's how something needs to be expressed, that's how it needs to be expressed. Sometimes, curse words are incredibly useful. Sometimes, they're just for show."
"Ya know, I never thought about it like that. I agree."
"Good. Come down this way, I'll show you the other side of the property."
"This place goes on and on. What's that over there?"
"Oh, that's my father's koi pond. He was so proud of that. Designed it himself. Stocked it from all over the world. Got some prize winners in there. Come on."
"Whoo, look at that one!"
"Where? Oh, that's Bubba."
"Bubba?"
"Yeah. He's mine. Not a prize winner, but I loved his colors and patterns and I had to have him. Daddy kind of spoiled me sometimes."
"Sounds like maybe he did. If you were my girl I'da probably spoiled you too. I bet you deserved it."
"Hah! I don't know about that but I sort of had him around my little finger I guess. Mom was the stern one. But she was full of love too."
"Sounds like they were good folks."
"They really were. I didn't get to have them as long as I would have liked, but I loved them a lot and we had fun while they were here."
"What about your husband? Your Prince?"
"I met him when I was 8 years old. He was 12. His parents and mine were good friends and he and I became best friends. We just knew we'd be together and as soon as I turned 18, we married."
"Yeah...I know something about loving your best friend."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Doesn't always work out."
"I guess not. Can't have everything. Where would you put it?"
"Ahem. Very funny."
"Thank you, I'll be here all week."
"Don't quit your day job."
"I think I'll hang onto it."
"About that, do you...I mean, who do you work for?"
"Oh, well, myself, I guess. My parents left me this estate, a trust fund and a stock portfolio, complete with built in CPA and attorney. My husband also left me something and I used some of that to go to college. I got my degrees, just like I'd promised him. That was a condition of our marriage. He didn't want to marry me when I was so young unless I swore I would finish my education."
"It's good that you followed through on that."
"Thanks, yeah, it was the smart thing for me to do."
"Where'd you go?"
"Well, all over. I got my Bachelor's at Notre Dame, my Masters came from UCLA and I did my Doctoral work in Great Britain."
"Damn! You got around!"
"I did, didn't I? I really enjoyed that too. I loved the football games at Notre Dame and UCLA."
"You like football? A girl?"
"Yes, I do, a girl. What are you, some sort of chauvinist?"
"No, no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I just never knew a girl before who liked football. All the females I've ever known assumed kitchen duties when there was football going on. And they did it willingly."
"Oh. Hmm. I didn't realize I was special. I've always loved football. I had some friends, guys, in grade school who let me play with them, cause I was fast."
"Coordinated, too?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Well, hell yeah. A girl who's coordinated AND fast? Can't beat that with a stick."
"So, I could have made your team?"
"Oh absolutely! I'da picked you first."
"Why, thank you Jacob."
"Anytime, Doc."
"Laura, please."
"Really? Are you sure? That wouldn't be too, you know, familiar?"
"Hey, it's my place."
"Oh, yeah, right. Okay, Laura it is."
"Do you prefer Jacob or Jake?"
"I used to be called Jake a lot. Maybe now, if you could, call me Jacob."
"Done. Jacob."
"Yes'm?"
"Ooh, so polite, and handsome too. Aren't you just the whole package."
"I'm whatever you'd like me to be...Laura."
"Okay, deal. How 'bout you be my riding partner."
"S'cuse me?"
"You know how to ride a horse?"
"Oh. OH! Yeah, I can ride a little."
"Alrighty, let's head over to the barn. Come on cowboy."
"No no, ma'am, not cowboy, Indian."
"Oh you! Now stop."
"Hey, you started it."
"I stand corrected and chastised."
"Stand? I thought we were riding?"
"You just full of it today, aren't you?"
"Full of something. Marie's omelet, I guess."
"Oh, so now you're gonna blame Marie for your bad jokes?"
"Hey, I can't take all the credit."
"Yeah, right. Come on, in here, hey Barney! Where are ya?"
"Right here Doc. You folks aimin' to go for a ride?"
"Thinking about it. Would you saddle up Snowball for Mr. Black, please? I'll get Rocky ready myself."
"Sure thing, Doc. My! How tall are you Mr. Black?"
"Jacob, please, and I'm 6'7."
"Holy Nefertitties! I'll need to lower these stirrups."
"I guess you will Barney, we don't want him to look like a jockey in the Derby do we?"
"Heh, heh, no ma'am. That wouldn't do at all would it? Although I'm not sure it would be possible to make him look like a jockey, not at all."
"You're probably right."
"I'm standin' right here."
"I know, Jacob. Sorry."
"So, you're puttin' me on a horse named Snowball? Where's the justice in that?"
"Oh, don't underestimate Snowball, son. The name doesn't completely describe the horse."
"Hmm, okay, I'll bite, what does that mean...Holy shit!"
"That's what that means."
"What is that? A Clydesdale?"
"Hah! No, just a really big horse. He's a Percheron."
"Isn't that a fish?"
"No, that's a perch."
"Okay, I get you need to put me on a big horse, but it's a he and you call him Snowball."
"Takes some getting used to I know. I named him when I was younger. Look at his coat. His coloring and texture sparkles like newly fallen snow."
"Ooookay, if you say so. And yours is...Rocky? For the reason I'm thinking?"
"Probably not. When you get mounted up come on out this way."
"You on there good now, Sir?"
"Yeah, I'm good Barney. And it's Jacob, please."
"Okay, Jacob. Have fun now. Snowball's an old pro, won't give you no trouble."
"Thanks, Barney. Oh, hah, I see it now. Rocky. As in Road Ice Cream?"
"Got it in one! You're good."
"You know, you're right. His coat does look like Rocky Road ice cream. I see the chocolate chunks and the marshmallows. Perfect."
"What can I say? I was always into color and I was a very visually oriented child."
"I can believe it!"
"Wait till you meet Cranberry."
"Seriously?"
"Yep."
"Is that a he or a she?"
"A she of course!"
"Hmmm, yeah."
"Would you name a big red stud, Cranberry?"
"I guess not, but not Snowball, either."
"He's a gelding."
"Ooh! Ouch. Snowball, I'm so sorry dude. Oh, wait, S'no – ball. I get it. You got a little mean streak in you dontcha?"
"Oh no, Jacob! I got a big mean streak in me."
"I have been properly corrected and chastised."
"Well done, Jacob."
"Thank you, Ma'am."