The World Turned Upside Down

by jjw2795

As the roaring 20's come to an end, the pinnacle of ambition leads to a catastrophic fall on Wall Street. The resulting economic disaster snowballs over the winter, resulting in the Great Depression by the spring of 1930. In the middle of it all, Wick Sable has lost nearly everything. Now he must find a new purpose in life besides being a baron of industry.

4. Auction Day

Cobwebs

"Kids are dropped off, equipment is purchased, now all that's left is to set it up." I said, looking through our checklist as Rocky pulled into the familiar alley and idled up to the garage door.

"Well, this certainly feels familiar." Rocky said as he and I got out of the truck.

"I know, yesterday was the first time I've come by the old place in two years."

"You really think it's a good idea to make booze for Sweet?" Rocky asked. I hadn't expected any hesitation from him.

"Rocky, I think we're running out of ideas. How long until Joseph grows out of his clothes? And if I can't hunt anything this fall then both the kids are going to be starving for meat by winter. They need it even more than us."

"And what happens if a rival catches wind of this?"

"What rivals?" I asked, gesturing around. "The mafia is in charge now, and Asa Sweet works for the mafia. We're off the map, just memories and myths to the ones running the streets now. So we do what we need to in order to pay Asa and then disappear. No fights, no quarrels, no complications."

"Ethan, you know I'd do anything for Mitzi, but we have to be careful."

"I agree, Rocky. But I can't think of any reason why we can't do this. Besides, I already accepted the money. So, I say we would have more problems going back on my word. Now then, you still have the key?"

"Right here!" Rocky said as he dug the old skeleton key out of his pocket. Messing with the lock for a few seconds, Rocky finally got it to accept the key and finally the padlock opened. Taking the chains off the doors to the speakeasy, we opened them up, revealing a staircase descending into the abyss.

Rocky dug out the flashlight from the cab of the truck while I switched the power back on. Together, we descended the stairs to the second door. Shining the light up to the entrance, the gold outline of a three-lobed club shone in the artificial light. It was like opening up a tomb from some long forgotten past, yet we had both lived it and for Rocky this place held far more memories.

Shoving open the door, I felt around for the light switch. Flipping it on, the dim glow of lights filled the ceiling, getting brighter as they heated up. And there it was, the Lackadaisy Speakeasy.

Cloth draped over the lounge chairs and tables, a bar still partially stocked with liquor had gathered a half inch of dust since it was last used. The mirrors and memorabilia on the wall were coated in dust as well. And in the back, illuminated by a handful of light bulbs that were still good, was the old stage still draped in red curtains.

"Huh, it hasn't changed a bit." Rocky said.

"Of course it hasn't. No one has been down here since…" I looked down and immediately noticed a set of shoe prints that were quite recent. "…yesterday. Or maybe today."

"What?"

"Stay close, I don't think we're alone." I said, pulling out my revolver. We followed the prints into the caverns behind the speakeasy, coming to an isolated room that was used for storage in the past. Warm light leaked out through the bottom of the door. We both froze as the door handle started turning. I held my breath and leveled the pistol at the door, waiting for whoever was down here to reveal themselves. A short, rotund cat with a white patch of fur around one eye emerged from the room and noticed us instantly. He ducked out of the way, putting his hands up.

"Please, don't shoot!"

I didn't recognize the cat, but Rocky did because he immediately tried to get me to lower my gun. "He's not a threat, Ethan. It's Horatio."

"Horatio? Is that really you?" I asked, holstering my pistol. The cat put his hands down and breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank god, it's just you guys I thought you might be robbers."

"Horatio, what the hell are you doing down here?" I asked.

"Yeah, I thought you got a job at a speakeasy a few blocks away."

"I did… for a while. It got busted and I haven't really found much work since then. Then my landlord kicked me out because I couldn't pay rent, so I came back here." He explained, revealing to us the little home he made.

"Wait, you've been down here how long?"

"Months? Maybe a little over a year."

"Alright, we gotta hear this one." Rocky said. "Come with us, good man. We'll go to the bar and sample some of our old stock."

Horatio seemed to still be in good shape despite living in a cave. He no longer had that nice suit, nor did he need it, but it was obvious that he hadn't been interacting with people beyond going up top for food and supplies a couple times a week.

"…So I started using one of the back entrances down the block to get in and out." Horatio finished explaining.

"You've missed so much, friend. The stock market crashed, we can't sell grain, soup kitchens are overrun with unemployed workers—"

"I know. I haven't stayed underground the whole time, Rocky." Horatio said, slightly annoyed. "So what's new with you guys?"

"Well…"

"Wick Sable is bankrupt. We're going to his estate auction later today." I said, not wanting to divulge any personal details. "But to help him and Mitzi out we've taken on a unique job. You want in on it?"

"A job? What do I need to do?"

An hour later we were putting together the equipment we purchased and unloaded bags of wheat. "If you can keep a fire going for the next two days and make sure no one walks off with our stash, I'll cut you in on the profits. How does 10% sound?"

"Yeah, I think I can do that." Horatio said.

"Good. Tell you what, we need to get over to the auction. How'd you like to come with? Then we'll come back here and get the mash going. We can help you get a proper mattress and other things. Maybe a few rat traps—"

"No!" Horatio blurted out. "Um, sorry. No, rat traps won't be necessary. But I could use a good bed."

"uh… okay… I guess it's up to you." I said. Rocky then helped Horatio onto his feet. "Come on, bartender, let's get you some furniture."

End of the Estate

Furniture indeed! We quickly helped Horatio get things like a bed and a dresser so he didn't have to make do with an old cot and some boxes. Rocky combed through the different items up for auction or sale, looking for any little thing that might make life a bit easier. We weren't on a big spending spree but there were always tools or small materials that we either needed at the farm or Freckle and Ivy could use. Thinking of the lovebirds, I jumped in and got them a nice wardrobe that Ivy admired back when we had to stay at the estate.

"Ethan!" Rocky called my name after paying the auction assistant for the piece of furniture. "Over here, quick!"

I briskly walked over to Rocky while pointing at the truck so the hired men knew where to put the wardrobe. "What?"

"Look at this!" Rocky exclaimed as he walked around a parts car. Really, it was just a motor bolted to a rather small frame and some suspension.

"Ah, that old thing." Wick said as he and Mitzi walked up behind us.

"How have you been feeling, Wick?" I asked. "This is quite the auction."

"I know. It's… well, I'm just grateful for good friendship now. I don't have much else. Did you need a car?"

"I don't think so."

"Don't fret, dear. We've actually got something to show you after this is all done for the day." Mitzi said. I was in on the plan but hadn't let Rocky or anyone else know yet.

"Yeah, Wick. It's not the end, just the start of something else. Hey, at least you won't have a bunch of dead hovering over you! I can tell you right now that's a freeing feeling."

"I guess… There are a couple of items I think you'll be interested in though. So I was hoping to show you before the auctioneer gets to the gun collection."

"I'm more than interested, Wick. But what's this contraption?"

Rocky was too busy inspecting the thing to pay attention, but Wick explained. "That, my good man, is a midget racer. We were thinking of assembling a small-time racing team a few years back for the company but the plans fell through. This old kit car has been in the back for—"

"We'll take it!" Rocky said as his head came up from between two frame members.

"Hold the phone, Rocky. What could we possibly use a racecar for?"

"Racing, of course! Think about it, once this latest project is done what are we going to do to make money?"

While he made a good point, neither of us knew a thing about racing cars. In any case, Rocky was not easily dissuaded. "Alright, tell you what. Let's leave this to fate to decide. If you can get the car cheap at auction then we'll get it back to the farm."

"Deal!" He said before sneaking off toward the auction podium. With Rocky sorted, I turned my attention back to Wick. "Alright Wick, what did you want to show me?"

He led us into the house and into the dining room where all the antique guns were laid out on fine cloth being inspected by visitors from around the neighborhood. Wick took us into a back room where he had some stuff held out of sight. Turning on a single light bulb, he started digging around.

"I had a couple of guns pulled from the collection. They aren't worth as much as the antiques, but I heard you might be in need of some weapons."

"Oh, did you?" I asked before Mitzi patted my arm.

"I merely told Wick that you lack a rifle now that Alena is using Viktor's gun from the war."

"I suppose it would be nice to have a rifle… for hunting of course." I said, not wanting to let Wick know what Rocky and I were up to. After a few minutes of searching, Wick stopped and opened up a box.

"Found them!" He said as he came out from behind the pile. In one hand was a basic shotgun. It had two barrels mounted side-by-side. There were etchings and carvings in the gun which alluded to it being a finely-made shotgun from a custom shop. The big barrels looked like they were chambered in 10-gauge. Perfect for turkeys, geese, and any other tough bird. The other gun was quite different, however.

"So a shotgun and a rifle?"

"Not just any rifle, Ethan. I thought you might recognize the design." Wick said as he let me take it in my hands. Opening the bolt, I inspected it in the dim light. My eyes widened and a smile formed across my face when I realized what he had given me. It was a 1914 pattern Enfield still chambered in .303 British.

"My God, Wick. How much do you want for this beautiful girl?" I asked.

"Nothing for either of them. It occurred to me that I hadn't gotten you or Isabella a wedding gift." He said while also handing me a padded gun case and a sheathed blade. Opening up the blade, seventeen inches of cold, shiny steel revealed itself. This was a complete gun that had never served in war. The wood was still beautiful, the bolt ran like silk, and the sights were custom.

"I always took good care of my guns even if I haven't used them outside of a target range." Wick explained. "May it serve you well in the years to come."

"I don't know what to say, Wick. Thank you." I said while putting the rifle away.

Meanwhile, Rocky stood in a small crowd of people who clearly had a lot more money than him as the auctioneer pivoted toward the autos in the garage. He waited patiently while roadsters and coupes and sedans with massive engines came and went on the auction block. Finally, right at the end the auctioneer announced what he had been waiting for.

"And for those of your who are left, our last lot tonight is a kit car for racing. The four-cylinder engine has two-hundred cubic inches. In addition to the frame and motor all the other parts needed to complete this car are included in the lot." The auctioneer said, gesturing to several boxes.

The visitors weren't interested and most walked away before the auctioneer could even get started. Soon it was just Rocky standing by himself, waving his number paddle high in the air.

"What's the minimum bid, sir!" Rocky asked.

The auctioneer looked at the sheet while adjusting his glasses. "Twenty dollars, young man."

"Ooh, I bid that!"

The auctioneer sighed. "Fine. I've got twenty, do I hear twenty five?"

All the auctioneer got was crickets. "Looks like you have yourself a race car." The cat said, but before he could move on, Rocky stopped him.

"Could you do the thing, please?"

"The thing?"

"You know, close the auction properly."

"Very well. Going once, going twice, sold…" He said with no enthusiasm. "Go see my assistant in the tent over there. He'll get you the paperwork."

Just as I was coming out of the house with my new guns, Rocky found me. "I won!"

"You got the car, huh? How much was it?"

"Twenty dollars."

"Well shit, that is cheap. So now how do we get it to the farm, smart guy?"

"um…"

"I guess we can make two trips to town today." I said. "Wick generously gave us some firepower in case we need it. Shall we go back to the office building?"

Driving back into the city, our cab was kind of tight with Horatio sitting in the passenger seat while holding onto groceries and other things he needed. We pulled back into the garage, but instead of moving the furniture down into the cave I unlocked the door and had us move everything back up to the office. In one corner at the back there was still a full bathroom and a kitchen sink.

"Okay, Horatio. How would you like to live here for now? It's above ground, decent view of the alley, warm, and—"

"You'll let me stay up here?"

"Oh course, kid. I'm not going to force you to sleep down in a cave. You can make this place into your own little apartment. All I ask is enough every month to cover utilities. Think you can handle that?"

"Yes, sir!" Horatio said.

"Good. We'll leave you to it then. The freight elevator is probably the quickest way to bring your stuff up to the main level from the cave." I then turned to Rocky. "Let's get that mash going, shall we?"

Days Gone By

While water-testing commenced for the still, Rocky busied himself with looking around the speakeasy. It was odd having it be so quiet with just the two of them. He stood up on stage and looked out, letting the memories flood back to him all at once. When he was a few years younger and a little scrawnier, Rocky came up to the stage for the first time and impressed the crowd as well as the band with his violin skills. Now he was a father. Working on the farm gave his lean frame a little bit more strength. The muscles didn't show through his fur, but they were there. He wasn't some scrawny kid wandering the country anymore.

Rocky then moved to the bar to check out what had been left behind and forgotten in the old place. There were still some bottles of booze on the lower shelves, stacks of glasses, an ice-box full of rotted and fermented juices once used to mix drinks. The bottles of old juice gave off a pungent but not entirely unpleasant odor. It was almost like a poor man's wine that had aged badly. Wiping away the dust, Rocky could look at his reflection in the mirror. His clear, blue eyes showed some experience. His hair was a little longer and thicker, partially the result of going longer between haircuts. A couple of nicks and scars were displayed prominently on his ears, mostly the result of small accidents on the farm such as getting tangled in barbed wire or clipped by a falling branch.

A glint of nickel-coated steel caught Rocky's eye. He looked down and saw that it was a set of handcuffs. Stuffed in between some glasses was paper he recognized. It was his father's note. The last time Ransom had told him anything.

While checking for leaks in the still, I heard Rocky sniffling behind the bad. Standing up, I walked over. "Dust giving you trouble?"

But I was wrong. Rocky slid down the back of the bar until he was sitting on the floor, looking over the note in his hand. I hopped over the bar and sat down next to him. "What's wrong, Rocky?" I asked with genuine concern.

"It's my father's note. I can't believe I left it here."

Rocky had told me a time or two that he had regrets about his father, but I never got a specific answer about what he meant. "You miss him?"

"How do you miss a guy you barely knew?" He asked me. "I just wish things had turned out different for him."

"Rocky, he made his choices many years ago. Taking out that agent for us was the first and only honorable thing I've ever heard about Ransom."

"But what if he and I had more time together? Now both him and mom are gone. I'm never going to get to see them again."

"Perhaps not, Rocky. But we can't change our past. I have many regrets too. You that argument you and I had about what to do with Joseph?"

"Yeah, I regret ever getting mad at you over that."

"But you were right, Rocky. I was wrong, very wrong. I thought you might become a good father one day, but you were a good father from day one. And I'm not just saying that in comparison to our own fathers. You, Rocky, are a great father and you'll be rewarded for that with a lifetime of memories and happiness that your father couldn't have even dreamed of. I miss my own son, Rocky, but I'm glad you get to have Joseph in your life and it was wrong of me to ever doubt what you thought was right."

"You know, I thought this place would bring back happy memories. Looking back though, it was all just the opening act to what we have now." Rocky said.

"I agree, it's a mixed bag. But you never know, it could be useful to keep this building around. Let's get this batch of liquor made and then if you never want to come down here again, we'll lock it up permanently."

"What about Mitzi? She loves this place."

"Yeah, she does. But I think her heart has finally found a direction that's good for her. I don't think she needs this place anymore. Heck, did you notice who she left behind?" I said, pointing up at the wall. Hanging a few feet above us, covered in dust, was Atlas May's portrait. His gaze ever-looking across the crumbled remains of his empire.

"The world has changed, Rocky. We'll change with it and accept what comes no matter how worrying it might be. It would be better than wasting away down here."

"Yeah, I like the idea of locking this place up and moving on. Someone a century from now might uncover the source of our dirty deeds. Maybe they'll write songs and tell stories about us…"

"I don't think we're that important, brother." I said. "But yeah, I don't mind leaving everything down here for the rats. The building above us is a little different though. If things get really tough, we at least have something to fall back on. Close to schools and churches and work. Maybe that's Mitzi's real gift to us by selling me the property."

"Yeah, it's her way of giving us a lifejacket." Rocky said before standing up. "Well, I'm not losing this letter again. It's all I have of him."

Standing alongside him, I put a hand on his shoulder. "You'll have plenty of memories decades from now, Rocky. Some will be bad or sad, but most will be good. I think one day you'll look back on this time of our lives as when you finally became who you were meant to be."

While putting the padlock back in place and leaving Horatio a copy of the key, we got back into the truck that now just had the wardrobe in the back. Firing up the engine, we backed out of the garage and closed the doors. We gave a wave to Horatio as he leaned out the window. He'd be our "property manager" at least until we can help him find a permanent place to live.

"By the way, are you ever going to propose to Evelyn? You've been dating her a while now and it doesn't seem to be winding down."

Rocky laughed. "I don't think either of us really want a marriage, as it were. Her own parents had a volatile relationship in California and I think that scared her off the idea."

"You know Nina would be giving you a lecture right now for not taking her hand in marriage."

"I know, but since when have I done what she thinks is best? I'm lucky enough she doesn't lecture me about parenting."

"Only because you're so good at it. Say, do you think the lovebirds and the kids are back at their house?"

"I hope so." Rocky said. "I need space for the racer."

"That reminds me, there's one more thing I need to do while in town. I'll help unload the wardrobe, but do you think you can watch both kids tonight on the farm?"

"Sure… but why?"

"I need to see Bella and be with my wife for a while. She might not be ready to talk through everything, but I can't stand being away from her and I don't want Riley to have to be in the middle of it."

"You know I love that girl like she was my own sister. Of course I can watch her." Rocky said.

"Thank you."

The Days Yet to Come

Nina looked at the young couple while sipping tea and listening to their fears while the children played in the backyard. She hadn't actually meant to open up the can of worms, but it was apparent that her son and daughter-in-law were afraid of the next natural step in their relationship.

"But after what happened to Bella and Ethan, I don't know if I can go through with a pregnancy." Ivy explained.

"I know, did you see how Thomas' death affected them? I know they want to keep us shielded from all that they are going through but it's painfully obvious. And now Ethan told me today that Bella is staying with her family for a while." Freckle said before turning to the one woman he could rely on for advice. "I guess we're lost on what to do, mom."

Nina scratched her chin. "Hmm. Well, the scripture doesn't say anything specifically on this matter. And you are right to be afraid, Ivy. There's a reason I only had Calvin and it's not because Roark came to live with us… at least not completely the reason why."

Ivy and Freckle listened with intent as Nina continued.

"To have a child is a wonderful gift from God. Look at how much Joseph has forced Roark to mature over the last two years. But pregnancy is a long and complicated process. I'm very glad you two are waiting until you are ready." Nina explained.

"Yes, Nina, I understand that. But what about after the child is born? How do we keep our baby safe?" Ivy asked

"You don't." Nina said flatly. "At least not completely. That was a lesson I only learned in the last few years." She said.

"What do you mean, mom?"

"Well, Calvin, I taught you from birth to be a kind, compassionate, upstanding citizen of this town. And in many ways, you are, but you also ran off to help your cousin and Ivy survive. You had to put yourself in danger and there is very little I fear more than you being hurt. But this world isn't always safe, and now I see I couldn't have shielded you from that forever no matter how much I tried."

"So we just accept something bad will happen to our baby if we have a child?" Ivy asked, confused.

"Not exactly. This might sound crazy, but if you ask me, you both ought to follow Roark's example."

"That is crazy…" Ivy said. "Mom, you want us to adopt an orphan?"

"Adopting an orphan is up to you, Calvin, but I am serious about following Roark's example. Look at how he teaches little Joseph. He doesn't shield the boy from the world but rather teaches him to embrace it. I don't know where or how he learned this, but despite all his flaws that young man knows this world can be a cruel place, and yet he chooses to show Joseph as much of the world as he can. He has faith that the boy won't perish at the hands of wicked fate. You'll have to have faith as well. I recommend faith in the almighty that your children will survive, grow, and go out into the world to do great things."

"And if they don't? What if they die?"

"Then you mourn the loss, pray that you'll see them again someday, and try again." She said before standing up. "It's a leap of faith, dear, and his has been for mothers since Eve. Now, I'll be tending to the garden and watching the children if you need me."

Leaving the young couple in the living room, Nina donned her bonnet and sun hat, put on her weeding gloves, and went out the back door. Ivy looked at Freckle, still not sure. "Should we go for it?"

Freckle thought it over. "Well, we don't have a solid income yet, but we do have a house. I'll certainly be around until the day comes, I can find a real job…"

"I guess the real questions is, do you want to be a father?"

Freckle kissed Ivy. "I don't just want to be a father to a child, Ivy. I want to be the father of our kids. What about you?"

"I… never really considered being a mother until we got married. I mean, we were only nineteen! But after all that's happened, I can't shake the notion that it's something I want."

"Then it's decided. When do you want to start trying?" Freckle said. Now it was Ivy's turn to kiss him.

"How about we start trying as soon as our babysitting time is done for the day?" She said with a sly smile. It took Freckle to catch on and was surprised, but also quickly agreed with a passionate kiss of his own. Just then a truck pulled up and honked the horn.

"It's the boys!" Ivy said, getting off Freckle. "Timing couldn't be more perfect."

The two kids met them around front, going through the side gate of the yard. Rocky and I got out of the truck and embraced the kids. "You were good today for Ivy and Freckle, right Riley?" I asked, hugging my sister and running my hand through her hair.

"Oh, the young lady is always good to us." Ivy said, hugging Rocky and I. "How was the auction and that job assignment?"

Rocky and I looked at each other and decided right then and there that we wouldn't get them twisted up into our plans. They made it out of the business and had no reason to be drawn back into it. "Oh, it went well for a first day. And we decided to get you two lovebirds a little something from Wick's collection…" Rocky then dropped the tailgate of the truck before giving Joseph a boost so he could sit on the back. Ivy's eyes lit up at seeing what we had recovered from the auction.

"You got that wardrobe I always admired?"

"Of course, for the best aunt in town!" Rocky said. Real American Chestnut too. Must be decades old."

"Thank you, boys. We're still short on furniture but this will look great in the bedroom."

"About time you two showed up." Nina said as she took her bonnet off. "I was starting to think I wouldn't see you this week, Roark."

"It has been strangely busy, Aunt Nina." Rocky said as he leaned in and hugged his aunt. In the time since the speakeasy closed the two had gotten to know each other at a level neither had attempted to prioritize. He still drove her crazy on occasion and she still gave him a hard time whenever he did, but Nina could at least see the positives in Rocky these days.

"I found my father's note today." Rocky said, pulling it out. "You don't have to read it."

"That man only did two things right in his whole life." Nina said. "He helped make you and he gave you a chance to start anew. But I do hope you aren't taking any lessons from his memory."

"No, I'm trying to figure it out on my own."

"In that way, you're following right in the footsteps of your mother, Roark. She'd be proud of you. Now, I've got my garden to tend to and it looks like you have a wardrobe to bring up the stairs at Calvin's house."

"Indeed we do, Mrs. McMurray." I said. "Let's saddle up."

The drive to Freckle and Ivy's house was short. It was a little place a few blocks away from Nina. Just far enough that she wouldn't be by everyday but close enough that Freckle could help her when needed. It was small though, built last century in what would have been a rural area at the time. Now St. Charles has grown out some and new neighborhoods had popped up. Unloading the wardrobe was easy but carrying it up a narrow flight of stairs to the master bedroom took strength and creativity. Freckle and I had strength in spades and Rocky at least knew how to move the piece around without scratching the walls up. After a length process the wardrobe was at its final resting place.

"Okay, that should do it. If you want to move the thing again, we're going to hire someone." I said, slapping an out of breath Freckle on the back. "Ivy, just let me know how we can repay the favor for watching the kids so often."

"It's alright, Ethan. But Freckle and I are going to be glad to have a little time to ourselves tonight." She hinted at the bedroom.

Rocky seemed oblivious but I caught on immediately. "Okay, well don't have too much fun! We might have worn out your husband already."

"Trust me, you didn't." She said. "And if you need us again, just call."

I turned to Rocky and the kids as they loaded up in the car. "I'll catch a cab back to St. Louis, you guys go ahead and head back to the farm." I said.

"Wait, Ethan, where are you going?" Riley asked me.

"I need you to stay with Rocky. I've got to go talk to Bella tonight and so I'll be gone all night." I explained before bidding them farewell and heading down the street.

"Alright, hon. We're here." Mitzi said as they pulled up to the curb. While he portrayed the same upbeat man of wealth that the public had always seen, Wick had personally been battling the dread that comes with watching all a man has worked for and achieved in life being torn away. Now he was silent, watching the fading light through the spring trees. Mitzi volunteered to drive them to a special spot for the evening and now they apparently had arrived.

"Does a friend of yours live here?" He asked as he got out of the car.

"He does, yes." Mitzi said. "And old friend lives here."

"Huh, I'm surprised Atlas would have let you befriend other men." Wick said.

"Atlas never would have turned down one of his best customers in the speakeasy. Though I imagine he wouldn't have been too pleased with how smitten my friend was with me."

"Who, exactly, is this friend of yours?" Wick was confused now, and a little concerned about who they were going to meet. Instead, Mitzi produced a brass key and handed it to Wick. "Oh, I think you know him pretty well." She said with a smile before looking at the house in front of them. She was more than content for Wick to piece together what she meant.

Wick looked at the key, then up at the house. He alternated between the two several times before looking at Mitzi. "Did you find us a place to rent?"

Mitzi rolled her eyes. "No, dear. I bought us a place to rent."

"Really? How?"

"I found the deed to the Lackadaisy and saw you had gifted it back to me…"

"Oh, Mitzi, you didn't! I was trying to save that place for you."

"I know, and it is now owned by our trusted friends. Ethan managed to get enough money to purchase the property from me, at a good price I might add. And now I've used that money for a higher purpose than booze or jewels. I do hope the house is up to your standards."

"Mitzi, I was expecting to be living on a couch. This is just… it's wonderful. Really! Maybe a little smaller than I'm used to. Father would not be impressed, but I'm beyond happy!" He said before pulling Mitzi along to see the inside of the house.

It was quaint and small. Only two bedrooms on one and a half floors, but it was bought and paid for. There was even a garage off to the side which he could use to tinker and build! Mitzi tried to say something clever in the parlor of the home, but Wick quickly cut her off with a passionate kiss. One way or another they were going to be alright.

The Future

Getting out of the cab, I made my way down the driveway of the villa. By the time I got there Andres was already waiting for me.

"Mijo! I am glad to see you came back so soon."

"I am glad to see you as well, papa. How is Isabella?"

"Physically she is fine. But the heart, it still mourns."

"Yeah… I know the feeling." I said. "Well, could I speak to Isabella?"

"Of course, she is in her room."

I climbed the stairs of the villa to the second floor and snuck past the gathered family as they listened to a broadcast on the radio in their native Spanish. At the end of the hall I opened the last door. There she was, my Bella. She was sitting alone, looking out at the setting sun. I could tell she had been crying.

"Even on your worst days, you're still beautiful to me." I said calmly while gently closing the door to give us privacy. Bella turned to me and instantly rushed across the room into my arms. I helped lead her back to the bed where we sat together. I simply held her until the last of the sun's light left our faces. I recalled then what Joseph had told me.

"You know, our son is far away from the troubles of this world now. He's in a land of living skies, and one day we will meet him again."

"You really believe that?" She said, wiping away tears. "God, you're strong. Even now I'm a sobbing mess, and you're just here for me."

"I'm not, Bella. I cried over his grave again only a few days ago. But I've been trying as hard as possible to have faith." I said. "You, me, and everyone else we love will die one day, and we'll be reunited with our son and everyone else in our lives. Absent a God to pray to, that is my faith and it is what I must believe in."

"No, Ethan. That is strength." She said before falling silent. We could hear the radio show a few doors down. We sat there a while longer before I asked her what had been on my mind since she came here to her parents' house.

"Bella?"

"Hmm…"

"Do you want to remain married?"

She shot up and looked at me like I was insane. "Of course I do! What makes you say that?"

"Well, I don't know. Maybe it's the farm, maybe its my face, but it feels like my presence in your life is causing your grief."

"No, Ethan. Please believe me. Yes, Thomas looked just like you. And yes, every time I see that nursery I break down in tears. But there is no one else I would want to spend my life with. It's just…"

"What? Please, Bella. I want to know what I can do to help you."

"…I don't think I can handle losing another child. I'm so scared, Ethan. And I feel so guilty. I know how much you want to be a father, but I just can't…"

"Bella, what you say is true but I would never ask you to go through something so horrible again. If you are scared of becoming a parent again then I guess we just won't."

"And you're okay with that?" She asked me earnestly.

"Yes. I don't even need to think about it for a second longer. We've got a nephew, brothers and sisters, and possibly more nephews or nieces in the near future. And you want to be a teacher, right? Well, I get it's not the same as being a parent but those little ones will look up to you all the same. We might well have our hands full with kids and showing our siblings and in-laws the way forward through this crisis the country has found itself in."

Bella wiped away a tear before resting against me again. "Thank you, Ethan. Now if only the pain would go away."

I hugged her tight and kissed my wife on the top of her head while she settled into my chest. "I wish I could tell you that the pain fades with time, but it doesn't. In my experience we simply learn to carry the burden of our loss. Do you think you can do that?"

"I can try…"