Failings of the Fathers: 48

"I'll have to be going, Doctor.  I appreciate ya helping me bring my bags down.  My nephew is in dire straights in Switzerland, and my brotha needs me."  The nun was harried, and having run into Ray Martino in the lobby, unintentionally convinced him to help her vacate Mountainview.  

In opening the door, her feet shuffled on something, and they both looked down.  It was another drawing from Bea.  Ray said, "Well, I'd guess that soon, she'll have to come out of it.  She's trying desperately to tell us something."

"And I think I know what it is," the nun, studying the drawing, said.

***

"Hey, are you the new guy?"  Sam said, watching Malcolm discard leaves from one of the gutters.

"Well, have you seen me before?"

"No."

"Then I guess I'm the new guy.  What's your name?"

"Sam."

"Sam," he repeated, and the child wasn't sure of what to make of his initial reaction.  Then, Malcolm smiled.  "Well, hello, Sam."

"Hi."

"I'm Malcolm.  Malcolm Carlisle."

"Well, nice to meet you.  I'm going to play in the gazebo.  I make it into my stage for the Spiderman show."

"Oh, Spiderman, eh?"

"Yeah, he's my favorite.  But my dad's better."

Malcolm paused.  Then, he said, "Oh, your dad is special, huh?"

"Yep.  He's not here.  He's in Swiggerland."

"Switzerland.  Yes, he is."

"Runty, get in the house.  Mom wants you for something."  Jack called from the door.  Sam ran off, after saying goodbye to Malcolm.

***

As they studied the paper, and Ray waited for Sister Rebecca Katherine's thought to complete, Clyde came into view.  He was just getting off shift.  He said, "Hey, Doc, Sister."

"Hi Clyde," Ray said.  "Anything new?"

"Just that woman downstairs.  I had to direct her back to her room again last night.  Such a shame, really."

"What do you mean?"  Sister Rebecca Katherine asked him, still holding Bea's drawing.

"She was walking all around this hall, like she was lost.  Lucky I recognized her from doing the lower level on Pablo's night off.  Anyway, she was, like, in a trance or something?"

"A trance, can you explain more?"  Ray asked.

"It reminded me of my brother, when we was kids?  Like sleepwalking.  That's what I thought.  I know you ain't supposed to wake them, do I didn't.  I just sorta pushed her along softly, until she got back to her room."

"Which room?"  The nun asked.

"The one right under this one, Sister."

"Thanks, Clyde." Ray said, and the man nodded and left.

"Whatever does it mean, Doctor?"

"Bea's drawing and walking in her sleep.  Trying to tell you something."

"Well, look at this.  Ya can tell exactly what she's thinking, ya can."

The drawing was different than her others.  It was more childlike, not as precise.  It was a roughly-sketched skull and crossbones.  On the back, it said, He's coming.

"This makes no sense," Ray said, absently, for he knew that it did make sense, in a way.

"It makes sense, if ya believe this sort of thing.  Otherwise, no, it doesn't."

"Well, we're assuming who it is she means."  The nun held her tongue, and Ray could tell she was doing just that.  He said, "It can be a number of things, could mean death is coming, could mean the bear the family dealt with."

"And it could be good Saint Nicholas, or the Easter Bunny.  For goodness sake, she's talking about Peter.  Ya either have a very delusional woman on y'ar hands, or someone who has developed knowings."

"Knowings?"

"Seeing things ahead of time.  She's been right about a few, namely, making a basket for that precious little babby."

He didn't respond.  Instead, he said, "Well, Sister, I won't hold you up.  What I'll do is take care of all this," he carefully took the drawing from her, "and let Blair know.  She's planning to come and visit soon, so I'll share with her.  I was going to call Todd, but I realized he has his plate full with your nephew's illness."

"Yes, I agree.  I'll be on my way, if ya can kindly help me to the limo."

"I'll be glad to, Sister."

"And don't underestimate our minds and more, our spirits," she said.

***


Blair put the baby into her basket, and looked out the glass panes into the yard.  She could see Malcolm, puttering around the beds, doing light weeding.  He had already cleared the gutters and transferred the decaying leaves and debris into the woodline.  She looked out over the yard and realized that Todd had created all of it just for them: her and his children.

Just the night before, her son had taken the time and initiative to arrange private time for Blair to spend with Todd, alone, via internet.  She'd brought the laptop into the bedroom and set it on the coffee table by the fireplace, her feet up as she made herself comfortable on the sofa.  It had taken him quite a while to come to the screen, and she was patient.  She had on his favorite negligee, and of course, it was red.  It fit her like a glove, seductively, even after just having given birth to Jewel.

She had listened to him tell her about his day: the deeper, more intimate details of the situation with Malcolm, which he shared with her like a story that had lulled her into imagining him supporting this stranger in a profoundly personal moment.  But something in her husband sounded so desolate and alone as he explained the remainder of the day.  The results of Aiden's surgery, and Todd's being overwhelmed by the emotion of his sister and father, made her feel her heart would shatter.  He needed her, and whatever it took, across the miles, he would have her as a source of comfort, whatever way he needed.

That was when she got up and stepped back from the camera and undressed for him,  watching him lick his lips and watch her.  She drove him wild, intentionally, in her slow, bewitching movements, and with her wispy, sultry words, encouraged him to pleasure himself as he watched.  He obliged, and she became enthralled with seeing him, which lead to her participation.  They both enjoyed their escapade and laughed when it was completed.

Today, she longed for him, so much, just to hold him, comfort him, and hear him breathe next to her.  She knew her place was with the children, but she had a slight regret that she did not insist they all pack up and go with him, since he had spent so much of the last decade alone, it was hard for him to be apart from them.  

Instead, she planned things that would please him: a welcome home dinner, his favorites; the children making a banner to hang for him; more Skype calls, if there were time; and a day pampering him when he returned.  As well, she was finalizing a visit to Bea, which would be very soon, possibly the next day, depending on Starr and Jack.  She wanted her children to learn to care for each other, so that they had each other to rely on throughout their lives.  And so, her mood changed from reflective to determined, and she left the windows and took out her diary to make notes for her plans.

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