Chapter 30: Reunited
Natasha was sitting in a camper that had no windows in the back and had a lead interior panel. Natasha held the microphone of a CB radio. She looked through the rearview mirror and saw Claire in a red BMW 540i right behind the camper.
"I see you hold the space between us pretty good. Assistant driving systems are on?" Natasha spoke into the radio.
Claire's voice sounded from the speakers.
"Yeah. I press a button and I do half on the work. These German cars are awesome."
"I believe that. How is Gretchen doing?"
"Roger Roger. Gretchen is doing well. She looks out of the window and looks at trucks."
Natasha giggled and pressed the PTT button.
"Yeah that's pretty cool. Or remember the raindrops on the window when it rains? Like watching these?"
"Oh I remember. That was the best to watch."
"Exactly. I radio you later. Roger?"
"Roger. Over."
"Over."
Natasha put the microphone down.
"I'm glad Gretchen has fun." Mike said.
"Either she sleeps or she looks out of the window. Both are good."
"Kinda like you. You slept pretty fast when we were on a road trip."
Natasha looked back on the road.
Lori finished showering, and put her clothes on. She went to the living room, where Lorraine was playing with empty rifle cartridges.
"Are you having fun Lorraine?" Lori asked.
Lorraine looked at the empty rifle cartridge.
"Interesting stuff. I know."
Lori picked her up.
"Now it's time for your bath."
Lori went into the bathroom, and let water in the bathtub.
"So. Now it's your turn."
Lorraine looked at the water, as Lori took her clothes off.
"Now little mouse, time for a bath."
Lori put her into the warm water. Lorraine tried to grab the water.
"You can't grab water Lorraine."
Lori started washing Lorraine. After she finished washing her, she took Lorraine out of the water, dried her with a towel, and put her clothes on. A purple sweater and black pants. Lorraine looked at the clothes.
"You like it. Right?" Lorraine's giggled and waved her arms.
"You love purple." Lori touched Lorraine's nose. Slobodan entered the bathroom.
"You cleaned her?" Slobodan asked.
"Yes. She is clean again. We took a bath two days ago."
"Good." Slobodan petted Lorraine's head. Lorraine tried to take Slobodan's fingers.
"You want to go outside?" Slobodan asked.
"It would be good if you go out with her. She needs some sun."
"This is okay. We walk through the town and look around."
"That's good." Lori said, and put socks and shoes on Lorraine's feet.
"Be careful. I don't want anyone to recognize you."
"Low possibility. I'm a Serb and she is a baby that was born in the mountains. No one will recognize us." Lori shrugged.
"Okay. Then have fun. I stay here. Oh, and get groceries. Take some money from my car and buy something to eat."
Slobodan nodded, and left with Lorraine. He took some money from Lori's car, and went on the streets with Lorraine. They walked down the sidewalk and looked around.
"Је ли то био дом твоје мајке? Занимљиво."
(That's your mom's home?)
Lorraine tried to grab his hand again. They entered a grocery store. Slobodan took a shopping cart and put Lorraine in it. They went through the store. Slobodan found potatoes. He took two sacks and put them next to Lorraine. A woman with a tired face, and a cane to help her with walking, came to the potato shelf. It was Rita. She spoke unclearly and it was hard to understand her.
"Come here Luna. Help me get some potatoes." Rita said with a depressed voice.
"Yes mom." Luna said.
Luna wore a purple sweater, and had slightly longer hair. She helped Rita, and put the potato sack in the shopping cart, next to Lily. Lily was wearing a black sweater and a purple skirt. She had hair that hung to her neck.
"No. Potato is ewww!" Lily said.
"Don't be rude, Lily!" Rita said sternly.
Rita, Luna and Lily went on. Slobodan looked at Lorraine.
"Каква чудна жена, зар не Лорраине?"
(What a strange woman, isn't she, Lorraine?)
Lorraine tried to touch Slobodan's nose. They went on and got eggs and salt. After fifteen minutes, they entered the apartment in the hotel. Lori sat in the living room, and looked at a frozen picture on the TV. The infamous picture of her, shooting her STGW 57. Slobodan looked at the Screen.
"Interesting photo."
He put Lorraine next to Lori on the couch. Lorraine hugged Lori's hip. Lori looked at her and gave her a warm smile. Slobodan walked in the kitchen, and put the eggs and the potatoes on the kitchen table.
"Stuff is in the kitchen." Slobodan said.
"Good. What did you get?" Lori asked.
"Potatoes, eggs and salt." Slobodan answered.
"Okay. Maybe I can cook something for dinner."
"Make fried eggs and potatoes."
"I could do that. At least we have a real kitchen now."
At the evening, Lori was cooking the fried eggs. She smelled the eggs.
"Eggs smell like this?" Lori asked herself, and put a bit of salt on the eggs.
Lori looked at the potatoes wich were in the boiling water.
"I hope these are as good as the ones we made in the mountains."
Slobodan was with Lorraine in the living room. They sat on the couch and held each another empty rifle cartridge.
"Is your little cartridge man a farmer?"
Lorraine waved with the cartridge in her hand.
"My cartridge man is a worker from Yugoslavia. Farmers and workers are united for their country."
Lorraine looked at Slobodan. And Slobodan noticed confusion in her face.
"Every country needs farmers and workers. Important people."
"Slobodan, Lorraine, food is ready." Lori said.
They got up and went into the kitchen. Slobodan put Lorraine in a baby seat, and sat down on the opposite end of the table. They started eating.
"This is an interesting town." Slobodan said.
"Yeah. It's a really interesting town." Lori said.
"Do you want to see your family again?"
Lori froze, and looked at her plate.
"My family… my family doesn't want to see me."
"Why would they think that?"
"Because I screwed up… way too much."
"They would like to see your daughter."
"But not me."
"What do you mean?"
"They don't want to see me!"
Lori took Lorraine, and went with her in her room to feed her. Lori came back ten minutes later, gave Lorraine to Slobodan, and left the Hotel apartment. She went to her car, took the brown leather jacket and put her glasses on, before she went to the streets of Royal Woods. She walked in a certain direction. The Franklin Avenue. As she saw her old Home, she went to a bush and sat in it. She watched the house.
"At least I can see them. And they don't need to see me."
After some minutes, Rita and Lynn senior left the house. She got shocked. Her mother looked terrible. They talked. It was hard for Lori to understand her mother. She had a lot of trouble speaking.
"I hope this restaurant has no Stairs!" Rita said angrily.
"I checked it out! No stairs!" Lynn senior answered.
"I hope so. You know I need help with stairs."
They left the Franklin avenue. Lori remained in the bush. Eventually, Leni and Lincoln came out. Leni held Lincoln at his wrist. She was angry.
"Fifty pushups! You will never spill your glass again!" Leni yelled.
"Fifty? Leni please." Lincoln begged.
"Do it! I can wait all night!"
Lincoln started to do the pushups. After that he was exhausted. Leni grabbed his wrist and pulled him in.
"Leni is acting like Lynn. Or like me."
In the house was a tense silence. The siblings sat at the dining table. Nobody spoke. But not for long.
"I miss Lori." Lynn junior whispered.
Leni angrily got up, and approached Lynn junior.
"What did you say? What did you say!?" Leni yelled.
Lynn looked at the floor in panic.
"Nothing."
Leni grabbed Lynn and yelled at her.
"Don't you ever say the name of this traitor in this house again!"
Lynn nodded scared. Leni let her go, and sat back next to Lily.
"She destroyed our family… May she rest in hell." Leni said, looking at her plate.
"She is your sister." Lincoln said.
"She isn't my sister… and she isn't our sister. She is a traitor, a murder. She cheated on Bobby with this fat slut Natasha and joined a nazi gang! She is a cheating, lesbian Nazi!"
Lori heard the yelling from the house. She didn't understand what was yelled. But she knew something more.
"I destroyed my family." Lori said to herself.
She heard a meow next to her. Cliff entered the bush and went to her. He smelled her and started purring.
"You still recognize me?" Cliff meowed.
"Means for sure yes, little guy."
Lori started petting him.
Natasha and Mike arrived at Royal Woods. It was dark and the typical figures of the night were wandering around the city.
"What do we do when we find a place to settle us in?" Natasha asked.
"Remember the second message a few days ago. The message after the first one that was t for us?" Mike asked.
"Oh. The hotel."
"Yes. That's where we go to." Mike stopped.
He had seen something. There was graffiti by Lori on the wall of a building in the area where many drug addicts hang out. Blonde hair, with an assault rifle in his hand and a cigarette between his lips.
"Wow." Natasha said shocked.
"That's Lori." Mike said.
Claire's voice sounded from the CB radio.
"You look at the graffiti?"
Natasha took the microphone and pressed the PTT button.
"Yeah. We're looking at it."
Mike continued driving.
They reached the hotel and parked in the underground car park. Claire parked her car next to the camper and got out. Natasha stretched.
"Finally we are here." Natasha said.
Claire came to her with Gretchen.
"Take her for a moment please."
Natasha took Gretchen. Claire also stretched her body.
"Driving that long is much more pleasant now. At least I managed to lose weight. I shouldn't eat any sugar." Natasha said.
Mike, Claire, Natasha and Gretchen went with their bags into an elevator, got the key, and went to the room they got. When they opened the door, they realized that it wasn't a room. It was an apartment. They entered it, closed the door and put their stuff in the living room.
"I think I like it here." Claire said.
"It's a nice place." Mike said.
"Where will Gretchen sleep?" Natasha asked.
"In our room." Claire answered.
"Then I get a room for myself alone?"
"Yes."
"Perfect." Mike looked in the two rooms.
"Here. The smaller one is yours." Mike said.
Natasha gave Gretchen to Claire, and went together with Mike in the room.
"That's decent." Natasha said.
"I'll give you some time to settle in. Okay?" Mike asked.
"Okay. Sure."
Mike left the room, and Natasha sat down on her bed.
Natasha took out her wallet, which had a photo of her and Lori in it. She started to tear.
"I miss you Lori."
Cynthia and Marie drove into Royal Woods. Cynthia drove a lead-plated camper. Marie was sleeping in the passenger seat.
"So. There we are." Cynthia said. Marie woke up. She looked tired through the windshield.
"We're finally here?"
"Yes Marie. We are here. After four days of traveling."
Marie looked out of the window.
"Mom, I think I feel happy."
"Yes. Because you like this place Marie."
"I guess. But I don't know if I like it."
"Why do you think that?" Cynthia asked.
"Because before we went to New Mexico, we only were there for three weeks or one month."
"Hmmm… That's true. We weren't really long here."
"Where do we gonna stay?"
Cynthia looked at Marie, and then back at the road.
"Marie, you literally decoded the message by the number station. The hotel."
Cynthia reached the Hotel, and parked in the garage. They took their stuff, and got out to get the keys. Cynthia and Marie entered the hotel apartment and after closing the door, they looked around.
"Looks nice." Cynthia said.
"I don't have an opinion on that."
Lori walked out of Franklin avenue. After she walked some minutes, she heard a clicking behind her, and felt something cold on the back of her head. She heard the voice of a young woman.
"Tell me one reason why I shouldn't shoot you right now, Lori."
Lori slowly turned around, and looked in Carol Pringey's eyes. She was wearing a beige coat, and had a small ponytail. She pointed a pistol at Lori.
"I fucking knew it. It's you." Carol said.
"Hi Carol." Lori said.
"You are back. I'm not sure if I missed you, or hoped that you would be away forever."
"I'm sorry that I didn't say goodbye."
"At least your shooting gave me a purpose as FBI agent. I was watching your family. Congrats for destroying your family."
"I saw it. Why don't you shoot my right now? I don't really want to live on…"
Lori looked at the ground.
"And in a few years, my daughter hates me too."
"I'm not allowed to kill you. You are still needed."
"Needed. Interesting. For what?"
"I don't know. Do you know San sharp?"
"Yes. Lunas girlfriend."
"Leni has a police file of minor bodily harm against Sam. Leni is sure you cheated on Bobby with Natasha. She has several other police files, all of domestic violence."
Lori froze. Carol saw her reaction.
"Yeah. You did that Lori. Leni slapped Luna several times, because she is the girlfriend of Sam. I arrested her five times. Just congratulations Lori. Congratulations."
Lori felt a painful feeling. She closed her eyes, and tears ran down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry…"
She only heard herself sobbing, and Carol breathing with an angered energy.
"You mentioned a daughter. And what did you do to Bobby? I saw recordings of him, when he was questioned by my colleagues… What did you monster do to him? Did you rape him? He ignores everything about you. And doesn't respond at all… As if he never knew you. What happened to him?"
Lori looked into Carol's eyes.
"We had sex… I never saw him again… And I gave birth to a girl…"
It went silent between Lori and Carol. Carol spoke with a soft yet angry voice.
"Go kill your self Lori. Royal Woods will be a better place without you."
"I deserve it… but who cares about my daughter?"
"I hope you don't fail to raise her."
"I try my best. But I'm already a terrible mom."
"I believe that. Now go. I don't want to see you here." Lori nodded.
She walked away, looked back at Carol, and left the street. Slobodan sat at a table in the hotel lobby where the bar was, and drank vodka. Lorraine sat on the table next to the glass. She looked at Slobodan.
"Шта?"
(What?)
Lorraine smiled and tried to reach for Slobodan.
"Хоћеш ли да те држим?"
(Do you want me to hold you?)
Slobodan took Lorraine and held her.
Lori went into the bar.
"Боже мој. Ту си. Морамо да се вратимо у стан. Ма хајде, опет пијеш вотку?"
(My god. There you are. we have to go back in the apartment. Oh come on, you drink vodka again?)
"Нико нам није остао у стану. Хоћу бар да попијем вотку. И не могу да оставим Лорену саму."
(We didn't have anyone left in the apartment. I want at least drink vodka. And I can't leave Lorraine alone.)
"Можеш сутра ићи да купиш вотку. Хајде сада са мном."
(You can go buy vodka tomorrow. Come with me now.)
Slobodan got up, and they went with Lori back in their apartment. They sat on the couch and turned on the television. Something about fishermen was on the TV.
"It was nice to go Fishing. Especially at the Dunav." Slobodan said.
"The dunav? The river that flows through former Yugoslavia?" Lori asked.
"Да."
"That was nice for sure."
The advertisement began on the tv. Lori switched the channel and saw a kids show called Pocoyo.
"Look Lorraine. That's something for you." Lori said.
Lorraine looked at the screen, and it looked like she wasn't sure what she should think.
"Looks like she doesn't know if she likes it."
Lorraine clapped her hands. She started liking it. Lori put her hand on Lorraine's shoulder.
Natasha left the hotel apartment and went to the elevator. When the elevator door opened, Marie was standing in front of her. The two looked at each other. Natasha hugged Marie.
"Am I dreaming?" Marie asked.
"You. I'm here." Natasha said, and her eyes started tearing up.
"What are you doing here?" Marie asked.
"I got ordered here. Together with Dad and Claire and Gretchen."
"Gretchen?"
"Long story. We have a new sister."
Marie looked at Natasha, and started blinking slowly.
"Really?" Marie asked.
"Yes. And you? Why are you here?"
"Mom and I got ordered here over a number station."
Natasha looked at Marie.
"Do you mean... uhm... the peeper?" Natasha asked.
"X-Ray Papa Golf Lima!" Marie yelled excitedly, and jumped up and down.
"It's just great to see you again." Natasha said.
"We should go to mom." Marie said.
"Okay. I need to see her."
They went to the apartment door, which was two doors down the hall from the door of Natasha's apartment.
"You are here?" Natasha asked.
"Yes."
"I'm just there. Two doors down the floor."
Marie looked at Natasha, and blinked slowly.
"You lost weight."
"Yes I did."
"You look better now."
"Thank you Marie..."
Marie opened the door, and they entered the apartment. Cynthia was in the living room. Natasha saw Cynthia. Cynthia jumped up and hugged Natasha immediately.
"You're back." Natasha hugged Cynthia back.
"I missed you Mom."
"Did you hear anything from Lori?" Cynthia asked.
"No. She disappeared and was never heard again. But, it's like there is a cult around her. I counted three graffiti's of her in Royal Woods." Natasha said.
"Really?"
"Yes. Especially in this drug area where I got high on weed once, twice where there."
"Natasha, tell mom about our new sister." Mary said.
"New sister?"
"Yes. Claire was pregnant and now we have a new sister. Gretchen. She is here." Natasha said.
"Mike and Claire are here?" "Yes. We should go to them."
"Yes. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Cynthia, Natasha and Marie left the apartment and locked the door. They walked to the door of the apartment where Mike, Claire and Gretchen were, and Natasha opened the door.
"Dad! Look who I found."
Marie ran into the living room and jumped at Mike. Mike was surprised, and Claire was surprised as much as him. But the moment Mike realized, he hugged his daughter.
"Marie... I'm so happy to see you."
"I heard about Gretchen. How is she?" Marie asked.
"Marie...Slow down!" Cynthia said. Marie looked at Cynthia and blinked slowly.
"Why slow down?"
"You just saw him the first time in a year. Slow down." Marie nodded.
"Hi Mike. Claire. Good to see you both together."
"It's good to see you Cynthia." Claire said. Claire got up.
"I get Gretchen."
She went into the room where she and Mike slept. Claire came back with the sleeping Gretchen in her arms.
"So. This is Gretchen." Claire whispered.
Marie went to Claire, and looked very close to Gretchen.
"Gretchen." Marie said quietly, and blinked slowly at Claire.
Natasha took Gretchen, and put her in Marie's hands. Marie's eyes widened.
"I feel joyful." Mary said.
"Put her on your left arm, so she is sitting in it, and hold her body with your right arm." Claire said.
Marie refused, and did so. She looked at Gretchen, then at her Family. She blinked slowly. Marie's expression changed. She looked at Natasha.
"Take her. I think I let her fall." Marie said with panic.
"It's okay. Come here Gretchen." Natasha said, and took Gretchen.
Marie looked at Gretchen.
"It's nice to have her in our family."
They spent the evening together, and went back to their apartments to go sleeping.
In the morning, Natasha walked to the apartment of Cynthia and Marie. But unexpectedly, the door of the middle apartment opened, and Natasha bumped into a man in his sixties, who was holding a Baby with a light caramel skin tone. The man yelled angry at her, in a language she kinda understood.
"Зашто ходаш тако близу врата!? Јеси ли глуп?"
(Why do you walk that Close to the door!? Are you stupid?)
Natasha looked shocked at him, and tried to explain herself. She started speaking Russian.
"Что? Мне очень жаль. Я не знал, что сюда кто-то придет."
(What? I'm really sorry. I didn't know anyone was coming here.)
The man looked at her with a surprised look.
"Јеси ли ти Рус?"
(Are you russian?)
"Вроде того. Я говорю на этом достаточно хорошо."
(Kinda. I speak it well enough.)
The voice of a young woman came from the apartment.
"Слободан! Шта се тамо дешава?"
(Slobodan! What is going on there?)
"Ништа важно. Налетео сам на некога."
(Nothing important. I bumped into someone.)
"Lori?" Natasha asked.
She shook her head.
"Lori!" Natasha yelled overjoyed.
"Tasha?" Lori yelled cheerfully.
Lori ran to Natasha and they hugged each other happily.
"You are also here." Natasha said with tears
"I cant believe this. I thought I never see you again."
"Come in. We need to go in."
They went in, and closed the door. The moment they entered the livingroom, Natasha eyes wided and she looked surprised at Lorraine.
"Wait… Is this baby… yours?" Natasha asked shocked.
"Yes. That's Lorraine."
"And this old man…"
"Is not her father. That's Uncle Slobodan."
"Uncle?" Natasha asked confused.
"I call him that. I tell Lorraine to call him that, even though she doesn't know how to speak."
"Sorry, who even is he?"
"Tell who you are."
Slobodan nodded. He looked at Natasha.
"My name is Slobodan Radosavljević. Zastavnik 1 klase, Vojska Jugoslavije, anti air troops."
"Yugoslavia? That country hasn't existed for twenty years." Natasha said.
"He is a Serb." Lori said.
"Oh. That's why I was able to understand him earlier."
"I get Marie."
"She is also here?" Lori asked.
"Yes. I saw her yesterday."
Natasha left. Slobodan looked at Lori.
"Nice friend you have." Slobodan said.
"I guess."
Natasha walked together with Marie to the apartment of Lori.
"Lori is back?" Marie asked excitedly.
"Yes. She will be happy to see you."
They walked on.
"Remember that we have Gretchen now?" Marie nodded.
"Well, Lori has now also a daughter."
Marie looked at Natasha and blinked slowly.
"Really?"
"Yes." Natasha said.
They entered the apartment, and closed the door. Natasha and Marie entered the Living room.
"Lori. You are back." Marie said happily.
"Good to see you Marie." Lori said.
Marie went to Lori and gave her a hug.
"Where have you been?" Marie asked.
"Somewhere in Montana."
"Really? We were in New Mexico."
"And we in New York City." Natasha said.
"Where is your baby?" Marie asked.
"The Serb on the couch hold her." Lori said.
Marie and Natasha went to Lorraine, who was held by Slobodan.
"Her name is Lorraine by the way." Lori said.
Lori came to them, took Lorraine and held her. Marie took a close look.
"She is Mexican."
"Her father is Mexican."
"She is cute." Marie said and blinked slowly at Lorraine.
"She is very cute. My little heart." Lori said and gave Lorraine a kiss on the forehead.
Lorraine yawned.
"You are tired already?" Lori asked.
"Didn't she sleep?" Natasha asked.
"She did. But she always is a sleepy girl."
Lori gave Lorraine to Slobodan. He put her on his lap, an it took a few seconds, and she slept. She stroked over her head.
"Good night Lorraine." Lori whispered.
Marie tilted her head.
"It's morning."
"It's just a phrase Lorraine." Natasha said.
"But it's wrong."
"Let her sleep. Come with me. Let's go in the kitchen." Lori said.
They went into the kitchen. Slobodan Looked at Lorraine. She slept. Peacefully. As if nothing could wake her up.
End of Chapter.