Terms (The Experiments Book 3)

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Well, they do say you can get just about anything there.”

  Jake laughed and then turned when the screen door opened, “Hey, Rickie.”

  “Sarge, Chuck. Can I have a beer?” Rickie asked.

  Jake handed him one. “How was the date?”

  “Good. Fun. Thanks for fronting me the money until I get my check from the toot.”

  “No problem.”

  “Ah, Jake, you dog.” Chuck grinned. “Such a father thing to do and impressive for a cheap bastard such as yourself.”

  “Chuck, what the fuck. He’s like my kid.” Jake winked. “Plus, any amount is good to get him out of the house.” He glanced up to watch Rickie struggle with the opening of his beer. “What’s wrong?”

  “My twister is broke.” Rickie grunted.

  “Give me that,” Jake took the bottle, twisted off the cap, and gave it to Rickie. “So if the date was good. Why is it over.”

  “Sarge, you are so rude,” Rickie said. “I can’t believe you expected me to get laid. It was like only the first date.”

  “I never said I expected you to get laid. It was a date.” Jake said. “You’re early.”

  “It was an early date,” Rickie said, “She has to start her shift at ten at the Wal-Mart.”

  Jake gave a ‘what did I tell you’ look to Chuck.

  Rickie continued, “Cal will love this, Sarge. If like we keep dating, she said she could get my mom a discount there.”

  Jake cringed. “Rickie, I’m trying to break Cal of that habit.”

  “I know, but Cal loves Wal-Mart. We go when you’re sleeping. That’s how I met Rachel.”

  “Wow,” Chuck said. “Rachel. Sounds great. What’s she look like?”

  “Dude, she’s like the best.”

  Jake interjected. “Old and fat.”

  “Sarge! Dude. Wrong-a-mundo thing to say.”

  Chuck laughed, “Yeah, Jake. Why would you say that?”

  “All the women Rickie dates are old and fat.” Jake replied.

  “Dude, no, they are mature and healthy,” Rickie corrected.

  “Mature and healthy.” Jake smirked. “Rickie how tall is this woman?”

  “Shorter than me.”

  “How much does she weigh?”

  “I can’t ask her that. That’s rude,” Rickie answered.

  Chuck tried. “Let’s be diplomatic. Mrs. Carlson at the commissary. She weighs about two forty. She smaller, bigger, larger.”

  Rickie thought. “Breasts or what?”

  “All.” Chuck said.

  “Bigger.” Rickie said.

  Jake nodded. “How old is she Rickie?”

  “Not old.”

  “How old?”

  “Fifty five.”

  Chuck choked. “Fifty five!”

  “See.” Jake said. “Old and fat. Rickie-style.”

  “Rickie,” Chuck said with a chuckle. “I don’t get it. You’re a good looking kid.”

  “Uh!” Rickie shrieked.

  “What?” Chuck asked.

  “Dude, are you gay?”

  “No, I’m no gay.” Chuck snapped. “Why would you say that?’

  “You said I was hot.” Rickie stated.

  “No, I did not.”

  Jake pointed with his beer bottle. “Did too. But, Rickie, whenever a guy is at least fifteen years older than another guy, then he can freely complement without being gay.”

  “Oh, Sarge, I get it, like a father compliment.” Rickie said. “So, Chuck thinking I’m hot is not a gay thing. Cool. Thanks, Chuck.”

  “Not … not a problem. But what I was saying is you’re a good looking kid, Rickie, Why do you go after older heavier women?”

  “Because Sarge won’t let me go after the young ones.” Rickie said.

  “No, Rickie,” Jake corrected. “I won’t let you go after the young ones on base, they all are daughters of officers.”

  “Oh,” Rickie nodded. “Still. Having to stay away from the babes on base got me used to the older babes. They like me better.”

  Chuck smiled “I bet they love you.”

  “Dude, they do.” Rickie said with surprise. “Hey, Sarge, did you hear from the Cal-Babe? She was supposed to call me on my cell phone and she didn’t.”

  “Yes, I did, Rickie. She’ll probably call later again. She arrived but they had her really busy.”

  “Did she hook up with Billy?” Rickie asked.

  Jake only raised his eyes over his beer bottle.

  “No, not hook up as in hook up, she did that already. I mean see him?”

  Jake grumbled. “No yet. She saw him but didn’t talk to him.”

  “Were they fighting?” Rickie asked.

  “No, he was sleeping,” Jake answered.

  “Bored, huh?” Rickie drank some of his beer. “But I wouldn’t worry Sarge, there are lots of women gonna be there to take his attention away from Cal-Babe. He might hook up.”

  “Rickie, they’re pregnant.” Jake stated. “I hardly think Billy is going to find any of them attractive nor will he hook up.”

  “How do you know?” Rickie asked.

  “They’re pregnant. You don’t pick up pregnant women, let alone sleep with them.”

  “So, like you’ve ditched the Cal-Babe during her momentous bambino carrying state?”

  “We’re married, Rickie, it doesn’t count.”

  “Dude, there is nothing wrong with finding a pregnant woman hot. And … there’s more of them to love, to quote the Billy Meister.”

  “Let’s not quote Billy.” Jake put down the empty bottle.

  Years. Chuck had known Jake for so many years he lost count, and in knowing his big friend he knew his reactions. It was obvious, but there as a twitch of something on his face that Chuck saw. Something there when Billy’s name was mentioned.

  Chuck looked at Jake for a moment, “You’re not OK with this.”

  “With what?” Jake asked.

  “The entire Billy, Cal, baby, research. You name it. Are you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jake said. “I’m fine.” He reached into the cooler. “And, were out. I’m gonna go get some more.” Jake stood, and walked in the house.

  Chuck followed.

  Jake was pulling beers from the fridge. “You plan on drinking much more?” he asked. “How many should I bring?”

  “Jake.” Chuck stepped to him. “You’re not OK with this. The island thing … Rickie will be there in a day or two.”

  “I know.” Jake said.

  “It’s more. Talk to me.”

  Jake exhaled. “I’m trying.”

  “Understandable.”

  “My wife was unfaithful. Some of that was her own doing, a lot was induced by Caldwell. In any case, she was unfaithful. I have dealt with that. I am over that.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Jake nodded assuredly. “One hundred percent.”

  “The babies?”

  “Chuck, I want to be a father. I really want to be a father. The babies … despite how they came to be are a precious gift.”

  “So it’s not Cal’s infidelity. It’s not the fact that a pregnancy resulted from that. It has to be Billy.”

  “Bingo.” Jake opened a beer. “I really thought … I thought I could handle him still being in the picture. I thought I could handle it. I’m trying. He’s the biological father to the babies, and he will be a part of their lives. An uncle … but part. But does he have to be such a part of Cal’s life. It’s not like it was a one night stand fling. The guy is in love with her. And knowing my wife, there had to be an attraction for her to cheat on me.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “On the island, during the experiment, we couldn’t let it break the team. We also had to depend on each other, so we had to put it all aside, and act all honky dory,” Jake said. “I like Bill, don’t get me wrong. He has good guy qualities. But, we’re not on the island anymore. He’s a good guy I wish my wife would stay away from.”r />
  “So get him out of the picture.”

  “How?”

  “I’m not talking about the kids. I’m talking about with Cal. Jake; I may be overstepping my boundaries. But, out of respect for you, and your marriage, she should distance herself from him. Really distance herself from him.”

  “Can I ask that of her?” Jake questioned.

  Chuck responded strongly. “Yes. Yes. You can. You have every right.”

  “But isn’t that showing my mistrust?”

  “Jake, she broke that trust once. No one is saying she’ll break it again. But she should want to stay away from him. You have this powder fluff pregnancy research happening. Where Caldwell conveniently put Billy there at the same time. Fine. Nothing right now, you can do about it. But after …” Chuck fluttered his lips. “Talk to her. You don’t have to be … how did you put it … honky dory? Island’s done. Iso-Stasis finished. Experiment is over.”

  Jake chuckled sarcastically, and soft. “With Caldwell pulling so many shots. I have to wonder. Is it?” he took a long drink with a serious look. “Is the experiment really over?”

  ***

  Has he returned yet?

  Not yet.

  Somehow Cal didn’t believe it and went to Billy’s room three times. Nothing. No Billy. Cal waited patiently, she had dinner in her room, and was able to watch the movie the research study provided her. Stan stopped by to check on her, invited her to take a walk, but Cal declined. She was tired and, really did want to visit with Billy when he was available.

  The movie ended, and she grabbed her phone. She walked to her balcony, looked below at the women seated around the fire. Their laughter emanated up to her. What were they laughing about? Chatting? It was reminiscent of the first Iso stasis when Cal didn’t want to get to know anyone. But that was a lifetime ago and a lot had changed. A lot of love came back into her life and she started to like people again.

  An inkling, just an inkling of her looked forward to the first full meeting in the morning.

  It was probably time to call Jake, but last she spoke to him, Chuck was coming over, and she didn’t want to disturb that. Just as she was about to contemplate that call, her phone rang.

  She smiled as the caller’s identity was displayed.

  “Rickie,” she answered upbeat. “I thought you had a date.”

  “I did. Went well. She had to work the night shift. How are you Cal-Babe?”

  “Lonely. I miss you.”

  “Ah, I miss you too. A couple more days and you’ll be floating in a sea of the Rickie Meister company.”

  “I can’t wait. Tomorrow is the day huh?”

  “Yep.” Rickie replied. “I’m going to the White House.”

  “I’m so proud of you and excited. Will you say hi to the president for me.”

  “Cal-Babe I will tell him all about you.”

  “Thanks, Rickie.”

  “Oh! Dude!”

  “What?”

  “Check this out. Rachel, if she becomes my new babe a licous. Cal-Babe, she works the night shift at the Wal-Mart. Just the time we like to go. We can get a discount.”

  “No, way.” Cal smiled. “You didn’t tell Jake, did you?’

  Rickie didn’t answer.

  “Rickie, Jake hates me shopping at Wal-Mart.”

  “I know. I mentioned the discount; I thought it would help the Sarge with the Wal-Mart issue. But no. We still have to do the secret shopping trips and hide the bags.”

  “Can you imagine if he ever found out we bought his underwear there? He’d have a fit.”

  Rickie laughed. “Sarge is tough about image.”

  “Sarge is tough about everything. How is he?”

  “Drunk.”

  “Drunk? Jake? Really?”

  “Chuck is here.” Rickie said. “All they do is bitch and drink.”

  “What are they bitching about.”

  “Billy.”

  Cal drew silent.

  “Cal-Babe?”

  “Why are they bitching about Billy?”

  “Well, just so you know, the Sarge isn’t really saying much. It’s Chuck doing all the talking. He thinks Sarge should put his foot down on the Cal-Babe and Billy bond leaving it pretty much to just a bambino connection.”

  “Is that so?” Cal asked. “Does Jake want that?”

  “Don’t know. If you were here you’d see me shrug. But, I would wait until the Sarge talks to you. I mean it could be like some beer ball blasting happening.”

  “True.”

  “You OK?”

  “Um sure, sure. I had to watch a really lame movie tonight and take notes. Then some nurse came in here to do my blood pressure to see if it affected me. Just still out of sorts over that.”

  “Have you spoken to Billy?” Rickie asked.

  “Not yet. I don’t know what happened to him.” Cal said. “It’s getting late.”

  “You gonna go to sleep?”

  “No, I think I’ll walk on the beach. Can you tell the Sarge I’ll call him when I get back.”

  “I’ll try,” Rickie replied. “But he’s already toasted now. He may be too drunk to talk later.”

  “I’ll take my chance.” Cal giggled. “And Rickie, if I don’t speak to you tomorrow. Good luck with the presidential dinner.”

  “I’ll record it.”

  “Excellent.”

  Cal said her good night to Rickie. The beach did look inviting, and Cal decided that was what she would do. Take a walk.

  She had something to think about. Mostly she was wondering two things. One, what was going through Jake’s mind about Bill, and two, where was Billy?

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  September 4th

  Jake called within minutes of Cal’s conversation with Rickie. He didn’t sound drunk, but he didn’t sound completely sober either. He said nothing about Billy, or his conversation with Chuck. It was a sweet conversation, short, but sweet. Cal ended it with commenting that she wanted to take a walk.

  She hadn’t realized it yet, but other than the testing, Cal imprisoned herself in her own room.

  By the time Cal had changed into beach appropriate attire. Something warm, and sand friendly, it was late, and the other ladies had turned in. Assured it was safe to walk alone, Cal did.

  Not long after her walk began she spotted Billy …. Walking down the beach to her.

  Walking.

  Her enthusiasm was overwhelming and she ran as fast as she could to greet him. She supposed, her pummeling knocked him off balance, but he didn’t fall.

  Caldwell delivered a temporary leg to Billy that he had learned to use all night. He wanted to greet Cal standing on two feet, not from a wheelchair.

  He looked great to her. The Billy that went to the island. The Billy before he fell victim to the experiment.

  They walked for a short while until his thigh began to hurt and then they returned to her room where they continued to talk about anything and nothing until the sun began to peek over the horizon.

  Old friends.

  But the whole time, Cal held in the back of her mind, the fact that Jake would not approve.

  They parted ways, and Cal fell fast asleep. She probably wouldn’t have chatted so late and so much had she known that she would be woken in just two hours. A seven AM wake up for an eight AM start.

  She had to join the others for breakfast and that would be her first face to face with them all. They were all there, and seemingly on friendly terms. All of them introducing themselves to Cal when she walked into the well maintained and beautifully decorated dining room.

  “We heard so much about you from Stan.”

  “We wish you would have joined us last night.”

  “You weren’t sick were you?”

  The questions pelted her and her reception was a lot better than she anticipated. The women were genuinely nice, and though she still felt somewhat like an outsider, Cal tried to interject into the breakfast conversation as much as she could.

  But it was
idle conversation at best. They were actually instructed to keep it that way. They would go over specific questions at the gathering circle before they were divided up into groups.

  Groups of two, where they would be placed in a cozy chair, stuck in front of a movie while fetal heart monitors were attached to their bellies.

  Cal only hoped that the movie she viewed was going to be much better than the one she had watched the night before.

  After breakfast they were brought into a lounge, soft music played, Cal figured that had something to do with it. Four tiny tables were placed together with swivel lounge chairs.

  Instructions were give, “Ladies, gather round. Get comfortable while we set up for you.” The testing manager said. Where was Stan?, Cal wondered “I want all of you to go down your personal lives. Lives as they are now. Who you are married to, how far along you are, etc. Please take a moment to do so.” The manger began to leave. “Oh, and yes, before I forget. There’s an entire chocolate cream pie in it for the woman who can be the first to tell me what the common factor is between you. Other than pregnancy. Be back shortly.”

  Common factor.

  Cal had to admit; she probably would have gotten it easier had she taken the time to listen to the women. But her mind was searching. She wanted that Chocolate pie. A whole pie, Jake would have a fit.

  Cal smiled at that.

  She eliminated the obvious. It wasn’t that they were all married, because two of them weren’t. Same age? No. One was in her forties, one as young as twenty-one. All previous mothers? Cal had to disregard that. It had to be something. Most of them were getting ready to hit their third trimester, but it couldn’t be that.

  Cal had to be the one to guess. She had to be. It was a challenge and since being with Jake, her hatred of losing was even stronger.

  She had to tell herself to listen.

  “I’ve been married twelve years to a wonderful man. This is a our first baby …” Blah, blah blah.

  Next was similar.

  It was the third mother that gave Cal the answer. It was obvious, because it would be the unspoken denominator. The woman six months pregnant had been divorced for three months.

  In a ‘eureka!’ style, Cal sprang to her feet. “I got it!”

  They looked at her.