Quantum (33 page)

Continue
? Who was she kidding? The last few days had proven to be quite the opposite of
normal
. They were now surrounded by a security detail–paranormal security–because they were at risk from the Sigma-W-Pi. No, their lives would never be the same again, but she owed it to the kids to keep it as normal as possible, starting with pizza night after a trip to the ice rink to watch Arizona play in her first league game of the season.

“Ollie, what are you thinking about?”

“Turning you into a research specimen,” she smiled.

Rupert chuckled. “Trust you to turn this into a project, even if it’s only in your mind. But, no, hon. While you can get me to do most things, I’m not letting you experiment on me.”

“I was just joking… I think,” she smiled. “I promise to banish those thoughts!”

He shrugged his shoulders still looking bemused.

“Rup, how do you think we should handle Harry? What if he comes back from Amadea’s wanting to convert?”

“Convert? Ollie, it’s not like joining a cult.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, but you know what I mean.”

“I have no idea what Harry will decide to do with his life. I think we’ve brought him up to be well grounded, so I’m confident that whatever he chooses to do, he’ll do so based on solid reasoning. I don’t think we have to worry. Even if he did decide to join Sigma-W, it’s not like we’re sending him into battle. The Wanderers are peaceful. His life will be good either way. I’m sure of it.”

“Sure of it?”

“Well, as sure as any parent can be of their offspring being ready to face and deal with the real world, and be happy doing it. Harry is basically a peacemaker, everyone likes him. That will help him along in his journey through life.”

“Ideally, what do you want for him?” Olivia asked.

“I’d like him to finish college to start with, and then think about doing a graduate degree, followed by entering the job market, just like anyone else. The Sigma-W council will want the same. They place a heavy emphasis on education. After that, he’ll make his own decision. And whatever that may be, I’ll be happy with it.”

Olivia nodded. She would be, also. “Let’s go home and take Gertrude for a walk. Ella should be back from her play date soon. I managed to reschedule with Sally for this afternoon, so Ella was pleased. She wanted to take the tiara, but I said no.”

Rupert laughed. “Good call! Goodness knows what that thing is worth.”

Half an hour later, they were in the woods behind their house walking Gertrude. Gertrude had been overjoyed to see Olivia, jumping and pawing at her. Ella hadn’t returned home yet.

“Ollie, we need to talk about Gertrude.”

“You know, she seems really happy right now. Look at her little tail wagging.”

“Ollie, it may seem like that, but she’s not happy. Inez told me so.”

“Inez told you so? Look, I’ve had Gertrude for years. I know that she’s happy, just look at her.”

“Inez is sure,” Rupert insisted.

“How? She only spent a day or so with her. Maybe Gertrude was sad to have been left behind. She’s fine now.”

“Remember that Gertrude is a Wanderer.”

To be honest she’d completely forgotten that fact. “And?”

“That means that Inez can communicate with her. Gertrude is unhappy here. She wants to go back.”

“I’m finding this even harder to take in than it was accepting that you are a Wanderer. Where on earth does she want to go back to? Surely not to Dillard in Princeton! They never got along. Dillard’s not an animal person. We knew that before we got Gertrude. It was all he could do to tolerate her. This is utterly ridiculous. The three people that she’s been the closest to–Arizona, Ella and I–are here!” She shook her head in confusion.

“Olivia, calm down. Gertrude does not belong here. Ask her yourself.”

“You’re kidding right? I just ask her and she’ll suddenly talk back to me?”

“No, let’s go over to Inez and have her help you communicate with her.”

“Rup, is this really necessary?”

“Yes.”

“All right, we’ll do it tomorrow.”

“No, Ollie, today. Right now. I’ve asked if Ella can remain playing with Sally for a bit longer.”

“I can’t see the urgency. I’m tired and we still have to get to Arizona’s game….”

“We have time, Ollie.”

I
t felt so good to wake up in my own bed this morning. Not that I had any complaints about Potomal’s hospitality. His digs were awesome, but my room felt
safe
. I went straight to sleep after my journey back home. I was conveniently dropped off in my own bed, so I hit the pillow, without getting into my pajamas. I woke up this morning looking like something out of a zombie movie, my mascara smeared into raccoon eyes and my hair definitely reminiscent of Bozo. Thank goodness for Chanel Vendetta nail polish, I thought to myself, as I glanced down at my intact pedicure. At least something looked decent.

Now, on the back of David’s bike, I felt back to normal. A shower had quickly refreshed me and a cup of coffee jolted me into a rush of activity, which concluded with the application of lip gloss. We were heading over to the lake, for some one-on-one time. David had woken me up with a call to let me know that he was going back to his dad’s tomorrow. So today was all we had and I wanted to catch up with him.

Kellan was a bit put out naturally. We’d planned to spend the day together, and that would have included going to school. When I asked Rupert–Mom was not around–if I could cut school, he’d been surprisingly understanding, positive even. So I was having a day off from school!

David and I hadn’t seen much of each other during the past year. When we did, it was rushed and we didn’t manage to catch up. Last Halloween there was a certain closeness between us that I really missed. I wondered whether it was gone forever, or if it was just missing for the moment because we’d been apart.

Oops! I checked myself. I wondered if David could still
read
me. Last October, he revealed that when he made physical contact with me, he could hear my thoughts. There was no distance between us now. I was hugging him tightly as he rode the bike through the trees toward the lake.
Can you hear my thoughts, David?
He nodded. I could only imagine the grin behind the helmet.

The grin was still firmly planted on his face as he removed his helmet and lifted me off the bike. He held up both hands in a surrender move. Very cute.

“Can’t read you now! Ponder away!” he teased.

I took his hand, dragging him along to the lake, making sure to blank my mind of any inappropriate thoughts. I concentrated on the image of a burger. It made me hungry.

“Me, too,” David said, as he dropped down on the grass and started emptying out the contents of the picnic basket. “No burgers, but here’s a bacon sub. It’s really nice to get to share some downtime with you, Poppet. I’ve missed you.”

“Why didn’t you come back? Your dad’s okay now isn’t he?”

David nodded. “Yeah. He’s still scarred, both physically and emotionally, but he’s back at work. I think work has been really good for him.”

“What about you? Been playing any hockey?”

“Yeah, I’m captain of the varsity team,” he beamed. “I hear you’re the captain of the girls’ team. How’s that working out?”

“I love it! I didn’t think I would, but the girls are awesome. We just started the season; we’re playing the first league game tonight. Will you come and watch?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Great! I’m still playing for the varsity team as well, just not as much. But it’s fun to hang out with the guys.”

“How have you been coping with Simla and Justin?”

“They’ve sort of kept to themselves this year. I did try to reach out a bit to Simla. I really felt for her after her mom died, but she seemed to want to be left alone. Strangely, though, when we were at Potomal’s, she was different somehow. She was more direct with me, treated me like a friend almost. It’ll be interesting to see where we go with our day-to-day relationship now.”

“Did you hear about her dad?” David asked.

“There’s more news?”

David nodded. “He turned up just outside Mountain View yesterday.”

“Get out!”

“Really, he did. The FBI is all over it, as are the Wanderers.”

“What does he want? He has the blueprints, right?”

“Mom spoke to Constance this morning. He apparently wanted another copy. He must have left the last set behind in the other dimension.”

“I’m assuming Mom called the FBI on him?”

“Nope. He pulled the Dillard threat from last year.”

“Figures. So she sent the prints?”

“Yes, she is emailing them to him.”

“Does Simla know about this?” I asked.

“She knows about him being back, but not about the blueprint saga.”

“I assume she wants to see him?”

“Yeah. Her house is surrounded by the FBI, though. She can’t be seen trying to find him, even if he has managed to make contact with her somehow.”

“How did the FBI get involved? Did Potomal dump him here as he threatened?” I listened carefully as David repeated the story back to me. Poor old ladies. “So, I guess Simla will lay low until the FBI loses interest again and then try to find him. He’ll be loaded soon. I bet he’ll get a fortune for those prints.”

David nodded. “Yeah, I expect that’s what she’ll do. I don’t think the Elders will stop her. She’s old enough to make her own decisions.” He sighed. “What about you and Justin?”

“The same, over the last year. We played hockey together, but apart from that we’ve kept our distance. We did seem to bond when we were held captive, but I don’t know if it’ll last or not. I hope so, sure makes life easier.”

“What else, Poppet? Everything fine with you? You and Kellan still going strong?”

I nodded, making sure not to emote too much. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Best to change the subject. “What about you, David? It must be surreal to go to the same school in a different dimension.”

He suddenly looked uncomfortable, rubbing his leg and running his fingers through his hair.