Hope from the Ocean: 64

"You okay today?"  Jack asked, peeking his head into the kitchen and finding Jenna there, eating a poptart.

"I think so.  By the way, this might be the last poptart, but I only had one, the other one is right there."  She pointed to the silver, recognizable wrapper on the counter.

"Thanks," he said, taking it and putting it into the toaster.

"Are you okay?  Hear from your parents?"

"Yeah.  They're fine.  Mom called earlier, she said they'll be home sometime later today, most likely."

"Oh, that was quick."

"I know.  It really was.  I guess I overreacted."

"It's totally understandable."

"I guess.  What about you, you okay?"

"I'm here.  That's a good thing.  I miss her, every day.  Like I did before, when she was gone from us, just more . . . I don't know.  Final, maybe?  It will never be different for her and I."

He gulped, thinking that it could have been that way for him, with both his parents, in the last years, and wasn't.  And then, there was Shane and Gigi. . . "I guess I should be lucky that I have them."

She nodded, finishing off her poptart, and his popped out of the toaster.  He said, "What do you want to do today?"

"Swim."

"Swim?  It's like, really cold outside?"

"Doesn't the gym have an indoor pool?"

"Yeah, but we still have to walk over there, and it's pretty cold today."

"Well, we can bring clothes, change there, swim, change back and walk back?"

"I guess so, sure.  If you want to swim, we can swim."

She smiled.  "I want to.  I used to swim at the community pool a lot, downtown in Llanview.  You know the one.  It wasn't far from your grandfather's penthouse building."

"I know the one."  He ate his pop tart, and poured a large glass of milk.

Sister Rebecca Katherine came into the kitchen.  "Please tell me the two of ya are not eating those snaptarts as a breakfast!"

"Pop tarts."  Jack corrected, finishing the last bite.

"Whatever ya call them, that's not healthy.  Have ya got a few minutes for a real breakfast?"

Jenna said, "I'm sorry, but since I already ate that, I don't think I will be very hungry for anything else. Maybe something very small."

"I'm game, just didn't feel like cooking."

"Then it's settled."

"Will you mind if we go up and get some stuff together?  We're going swimming."  Jack said.

"No, I don't mind.  I'll be glad to make it while ya organize yourselves."

The teens exited, and Dorian came into the kitchen with Shaun in tow.  "Morning, Sister," Shaun said.

"Ah, good morning, Shaun.  Can I interest ya in breakfast?"

"Sure.  Dorian here says you all need a house Dad for the next few days.  I'm your man."  Shaun said.

"Well, since Timothy took off, chasing that information we discussed, I figured we could use someone to run teen interference."  Dorian said, sitting at the table.

"That is a good idea.  Unless ya want to chase the little road runner around."  The nun said.

Shaun poured himself some orange juice.  "No thanks.  Besides, I'm tight with Jack, and he can be a toughie at times.  That's when he gets something in his head he wants to pursue."

"And that would be Jenna," Dorian said.

"I agree.  All right.  Ya will be on pool duty. They want to swim.  They went to get their things."  Sister said.

Shaun rolled his eyes, "Pool duty.  Okay, sounds good."

Dorian said, "Where is Ray, anyway?"

"He's still in his crib, playing with toys.  I'm due to go up and get him in a few."  The nun replied.

"I'll get him," Shaun said, as they heard the front door, and Jenna came back into the room.

"I'm back," she said, putting her bag down on the floor.

"You look like you're dressed for a storm," Shaun said, heading toward the stairs.

"We're going to change at the pool."

He gave her the side-eye and said, "Great.  I'll be there with you all, trying to relax and put my feet up a bit."

She smiled, and took her seat at the table.

Jack, appearing at the other entrance to the kitchen said, "Oh great, a babysitter."

"That's if you're going to be a baby about it," Shaun said, folding his arms.

***

"Come on, Blair, let's go get some breakfast," Tina encouraged.  Blair was on her side, her knees as close as they would go.  Both her hands were on her belly.

"I don't want to."

"I know you don't, but you need to eat.  You're pregnant."

"Oh, no duh, Tina.  I know I'm pregnant."

"Well then you know that you have to eat."

Blair sat up, and propped herself on her elbow.  "I just don't want to.  I'll wait until Todd gets back."

"That's not going to make him come back faster."

Blair plopped back onto the bed.  "Please.  I just don't feel like it.  I just want to stay here with my baby and wait."

Tina walked to the bed and sat on the edge.  "You and I have no love lost between us.  I know that."

"That's behind us, isn't it?  We've come beyond that.  When you helped save my baby, and my kids.  And Todd."  Blair said.

"Yeah, pretty amazing to think I did that, isn't it?"  She said, primping her hair a little.

"It is.  But I'm grateful.  Todd was . . ."  Her voice broke, and then she finished.  "Todd was grateful, too."

"Todd is grateful, you mean."

"Yes.  Todd is grateful.  And he's gone," her voice trailed off.

"He's not gone.  The hormones are talking.  He'll be back.  Soon."

"You were there when he vanished before.  Remember?  It was . . . I was pregnant, the same number of months, with Starr.  It was two days after our wedding.  I had to bury him before we even shared married life for more than a day."

Tina swallowed.  "Well, that's not the case now.  He's fine.  As a matter of fact, why don't you call him?"

"He's flying.  That would be dangerous."

"Okay, then in an hour or so?  After we eat?"  Tina said, peeking around to Blair's face.

"Oh, okay, Tina.  You win.  Do we have to be in public with all kinds of people, in the pub where Todd once vanished?"

"No.  Why don't we get room service, then?"

"Fine."  She put her head back down onto the bed.  

Tina went and ordered things she knew would be healthy and well-taken by Blair, and then sat by the window, with her book, reading.  Blair dozed until the room service arrived.  She picked at her food, and Tina said, "Did I order the wrong things?"

"No.  It's fine, Tina.  I'm just not hungry."

"I understand.  Just try and eat a little, all right?"

"I am just so scared.  So afraid that he might . . . that he might . . ."

"No, that's not what this is about.  Now, it's been about forty minutes, call him, for goodness sake."

Blair took her cell phone and dialed.  "It went to voice mail," she said.

"That's okay, that means he's busy flying that thing.  Or that he lost a signal where he is.  If they are near the ocean, or somewhere remote, he won't be able to get the call."

"Right."

The phone rang, and Blair hurriedly picked it up.  "Hello?"

"Hi, Babe."

"Todd, are you all right?"

"I'm perfect.  I'm great.  Aiden's fine, too.  We landed a few minutes ago.  I have a lot to tell you when I get back.  It won't be long."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine.  Wait until you hear about this one."

"What?"

"Let's just say, you won't believe it."

"I'll just be glad to see your face when you tell me," she said.  He heard the strain in her voice.  

"Hey, none of that.  I'm fine.  Aiden's fine.  We'll be back, pretty soon, or at least I will.  We haven't decided how to handle it, yet."

"Okay.  Please, Todd, come back to us.  Don't . . ."

"None of that, Blair.  There's nothing I'd do to ever put us in jeopardy, ever again.  Just relax.  Tell my sister to keep you calm."  The line when quiet.  Then, "I love you."

"I love you, Todd."  She said, hanging up.  "He said for you to keep me calm."

"Oh, great.  That one's not so easy, but I'll try.  Croissant?"

"Why not?"

***

"Murdered his mother?"  Timothy said in whispers, and his face was ashen.

"Yah, she was killed, in his plain view.  That is what he was told, when he was a lad."  Jimmy said.

"Killed.  In front of him?"

"Yah.  Spectators said that she was shot down, in the street, none the less.  Both of them.  Most likely, the scar on Aiden's head . . ."

"Oh Good Lord in Heaven,"  Timothy said, getting up from his seat and pacing.

"I'm sorry, Timothy.  This must have brought up bad memories for ya."

"Memories."  He repeated, staring off.  He flashed back to his dream, the night before.  Johnny's eyes.  Erin's eyes.  His son, face down and dead.  Him, being dragged off, crying and screaming, away from them.  They were cremated.  Cremated and buried.  Both of them, on a rainy, Ireland day . . .

"Do ya know someone who told this story?  Who did they tell it to?"  Timothy continued.

"They told it to the O'Farrells.  Supposedly, they thought the boy would be safer there, away from Dublin.  The O'Farrells became like parents to Aiden.  I suppose someone saw what happened and relayed it."  Jimmy said.

Colin spoke up, "We might be able to rely on Owen for this."

"Owen, of course.  He's been around longer than any of us.  He'll be eighty-seven, he will."  Jimmy said.

"Can you find me this Owen?"  Timothy asked.

"Of course, we can.  Let's go, Mates," Colin said, "I know just where he'll be on a morning like this one."

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.