Discovering Normal (5 page)

She’d had no intention of leaving; The Most Masterful knew that for certain. She’d been so kind and lovely--humming softly and smiling sweetly to he who would soon be her son. They all knew of her initial defiance
;
of how she’d mistakenly believed that she’d been one of them, one of the evil. But the truth had been revealed. The truth.

Farley-Fauna was put on the holy, sanctioned earth to serve The Master and all his flock.

The Most Masterful turned when the door to his sanctuary slid open. There were amenities here and he was grateful for that when Dara-Dawn drifted in with a can of American cola and a cellular phone on a tray. The Most Masterful had spent time in the States after his schooling was complete and he’d come to enjoy the trickery of video games and the alluring beat of rock
music
. They were intended for a simpler man to be sure
--
certainly not a supreme one
--b
ut for that tiny portion of his being that was, in fact, so embarrassingly human, he too could find pleasure in the trivial.

“For you, my Master,” Dara-Dawn said with reverence as she set the tray at his side. “Are you in need of anything else?” she asked as she tossed her yellow satin locks over her shoulder.

He touched her hand, saw her tremble. He’d enjoyed her in the most intimate way--in fact she was carrying his child--but Dara-Dawn would always be little more than a scullery maid.

Some were divine and some simply weren’t.

“That is all.”

She backed from the room and closed the door behind her.

The Most Masterful reached for the cool can of soda and took a satisfying swallow. Rain beat against the pane of his fortress window and he rather enjoyed the sound. Nature was a force as mighty as he and he welcomed her. His father had taught him many years ago that with power came responsibility and now at twenty-four years of age, the time had come to prove that he’d been listening.

A lesser man would’ve struck as soon as his muscles had ripened and his anger sharpened to a cruel point. But The Most Masterful gained strength in patience. What good would it do to shatter the world of Special Agent Stoddard when with each passing day he’d have more to lose? It was close to the right time now.

So very, very close.

He glanced at his reflection in the mirror hung nearest his chair for the sheer pleasure of vanity. On a day in the very near future he’d no longer see an image of himself. All great ones become omnipotent and the few qualities they possessed of this small world must disappear, but he’d not yet exonerated his father. It was with justice that immortality came.

He dialed from memory and waited as he took in the slender frame and almost feminine features that reflected off of the glass. He wasn’t a large man, nor particularly masculine, but he had wisdom and wisdom was the greatest strength of all.

“I am here,” a voice said on the opposite end of the line.

“As you should be. Have you found any information
which will
aid us for the moon is high, the time could be now.”

“I’ve searched as you desire, My Master,” the voice said.

“Continue.”

“As you wish,” the trembling voice replied.

The Most Masterful closed
the
phone
and pushed the antennae in with the palm of his hand.

Then he reached for the cola and decided without question.

He so preferred this sweet liquid in the red can to the similar concoction in the blue.

Chapter 4

Beth listened to a bird calling--beckoning somewhere in the distance. She took a delicate drag on her cigarette and hoped the kids wouldn’t catch her with it. Smoking had been a vice since she’d been a nervous co-ed. In smoky bars or at sorority parties, smoking had helped her feel like perhaps she wasn’t so different. She’d always been ashamed by the weakness however, and now only indulged in a filtered cigarette when she was incredibly nervous or incredibly relaxed. Two guesses what kind of day today was.

Beth turned when she heard light footsteps on the back porch. She leaned back from her spot on the step to see Ramona dressed casually with a tear in her eye. “Damn, I told myself I wouldn’t cry,” she said as she plopped down.

Beth leaned in and bumped her friend’s shoulder. “I’d be secretly heartbroken if you didn’t.”

Ramona took Beth’s dainty cigarette and inhaled before handing it back. “Never a good sign.”

Beth crushed the remainder under her sandaled foot and hoisted, brushing her palms on the legs of her jeans. “I guess I’m ready.”

Ramona hopped up too and pulled Beth tight to her chest. “Oh, honey, I’m going to miss you so much. I can’t believe you’re not going to be here.”

“I’m just a phone call away, Ramona. Never more than that.”

Ramona released her grip and swatted her eye with the back of her wrist. “Are you absolutely certain that this is the right thing to do?”

“Absolutely.”

“And Chris has just backed down now? He just told you that you could go?”
             
Beth couldn’t let her mind wander yet again to the night she’d broken him, used him one last time and stripped him of everything from his conviction to his children. “I think he knows
its
best.”

Ramona slid her hands into her back pockets. “Okay then, let’s get you out of here before I really make a scene.”

Beth swung her arm around her friend’s shoulder. She’d miss her too--the talks, the carpools, the recipes, the giggles, the understanding. Her friends before Ramona had always been polished and standoffish, not bawdy and fun. Ramona would be the thing Beth missed the most. “Did you see Chris when you came in?”

Ramona nodded as they made their way across the porch. The creak of the kids’ swing set seemed to say goodbye. Beth held her head high and kept walking.

Chris was on the front step with Audrey on his knee and Noah tucked beneath his arm. She couldn’t think about what he mu
st be feeling--
the rawness and helplessness he’d been forced into because she couldn’t pretend anymore. He glanced up when Beth and Ramona rounded the wisteria bushes, but looked back to the kids just as quickly.

Beth stepped to his side and extended her hands to her children. “Come on guys. We have to get on the road.”

“Daddy’s driving
!
” Audrey said as she slid off her father’s lap and tugged his massive arm.

He stood and shook his head.
“No, not this time, Audrey. Mommy’s driving.”

Chris scooped up their little girl and pulled her so close, Audrey looked startled. He buried a kiss in the hair that Beth knew smelled sweet and simply froze it there. He lowered her finally and handed her to Beth. Noah stood head down, kicking at dusty sand.

“I wanna stay with you,” he whispered and Beth’s heart tugged knowing he truly did want that, and she couldn’t even blame him.

“Your mom needs you, buddy. I’ll see you in a month, okay? I’m anxious to hear all about that new school of yours.”
             
“I don’t want to go to school in damned Connecticut.”

“Noah!” Beth snapped, but Chris just smirked and ruffled the hair that was almost identical to his own.

“It’ll be okay, Noah. Promise.”

Noah started to slink toward the car, but then apparently thought better and zoomed back to wrap his arms around Chris’ waist. “Come with us.”

Beth had seen tears in her husband’s eyes a total of three times ever. The first had been the day she’d finally remembered, whispered that she loved him and thanked him for not giving up. The second had been the day this child had been pushed into the world and Chris held him to his chest as he’d smiled down at her. The third had been an almost identical moment six years later when Audrey had arrived.

Today was number four.

Noah turned and bolted to the car, obviously not able to linger a minute more. After Chris had given Audrey a final kiss, Beth handed her off to Ramona to settle into the car.

And now there was nothing left but goodbye.

“I’ll call when we get there.”

He sucked in a breath, but used everything left in him not to meet her eye. “Did you get oil?”

Beth nodded and crossed her arms so she was certain that she wouldn’t touch him. “Yes, Fosters’ put it in this morning when I filled up.”

“Okay then.”

He backed toward the house as if he were ready to disappear into it and Beth was well aware that it would only be cruel to make him stay, but she called to him anyway. He turned--so handsome and sad--and met her eyes.

“I am very sorry that it’s ending this way. I never wanted this.”

He swallowed, looked toward the car, gave his fingers a kiss and raised them in that direction before disappearing into the house.

***

Beth glanced at her sleeping children in the rearview mirror. They’d been good and mostly quiet as if even Audrey sensed that life was changing forever more. Beth had indulged them with McDonald’s, but they’d eaten in silence just as they’d driven most of the way.

“Noah,” Beth called, her eyes weary.

He shifted and readjusted his head against Audrey’s car seat.

“Noah, honey. Can you wake up?”

Noah opened the eyes that Beth was well aware a girl in the future would lose herself in, and rubbed them with a yawn.

“We’re only eight miles from Grandmother and Grandfathers’. Why don’t you try and wake up a bit so you can say hello when we get there.”

Noah stretched, yawned again and straightened in the seat.

“Honey,”

He met her eyes in the mirror.

“I know this is really hard for you, but I’m going to do my best to make everything all right. I went to school here and so did Uncle Brock and Uncle Miles. They were both very good athletes in school, and I’m sure you’ll be happy here.”

“Dad said it’s just for a little while.”
             
Fury bubbled in her gut, but she couldn’t convey that to her son. “We’re here for a
while, honey. Remember I told you that?”

Noah dug a baseball out of his backpack and began bouncing it against the back of the front seat. Beth generally wouldn’t allow it and he knew it too, but she ignored it as she pulled onto Patrick Henry Drive.

The house she’d lived in from birth until she left for college was lit up
causing it to
stand out on the quiet cul de sac at 11:45 at night. The front door swung open as soon as Beth pulled into the circular drive. Their longtime housekeeper, Francine, scurried down the front walk.

Beth
shifted
the car in
to
park and hopped out only to be met by Francine’s energetic squeeze. Emotionally, Francine had been more a mother than her own
ever
had. “Oh, sweetie. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Noah was unfastening his sister’s car seat when Francine stuck her head in. Her hair had always been more gray than a color, but now it was completely white, twisted high on her head and she still wore her uniform even though she officially finished her shift at 9:00. “Noah! Do you remember me darlin’?”

He climbed out and kept his arms stiff to his sides when Francine embraced him. “I know who you are,” was all he said.

Audrey had scurried out of the seat and the car. She dragged a Raggedy Ann by one arm and they both looked weary. “And this must be beautiful Miss Audrey!” Audrey nodded a sleepy nod and Francine pulled her tight. “I’ve never had the pleasure of actually meeting you. Your Mommy hasn’t gotten here much in the last few years.”

“But she’s here now,” Beth said and turned to see her parents dressed in matching burgundy colored robes, making their way down the walk. Beth watched her mother give her grandchildren polite hugs and then instructed Francine to take them inside.

“You should’ve flown, Elizabeth,” her father said when he leaned in to buss her cheek.

“But I had so much to bring and I wanted my car.”

Her father raised his brow at the
SUV
.

“I’m so tired. Can we talk tomorrow?” Beth grabbed a suitcase from the back and clicked the gate closed.

Her father took it from her hand. “Chris called an hour ago. He was growing concerned.”

“I had my cell.”

“I don’t suppose he actually
wanted to speak
with you, dear,” her mother said with impeccable British pronunciation as she led the way inside.

***

Beth pulled on a simple sleeveless nightgown and combed through her wet hair. She’d called Chris briefly to say they’d arrived and let Noah say a quick hello. Then she shooed her son to bed and planned to follow after she scrubbed the twelve hour drive from her body. She set the brush on the vanity and turned down the silk sheets just as the door slid open.