The Many and the One

by Donald Wells

  “Jason, what’s going on? Why is everybody here and yelling surprise? Oh Boomer you didn’t plan a surprise wedding did you? I’m not ready. I have to get my hair done and—”

  “Lindsay,”

  “Yes?”

  “Honey the surprise is—we’re home.”

  A look of confusion crosses Lindsay’s face, as she scans the room.

  “What do you mean we’re home? You mean just until we move into the apartment, right?”

  “No baby, I mean we are home. The cabin is ours now. My parents sold it to us.”

  “Jason, don’t kid me like that, it’s not nice, you know how much I love this place.”

  Everyone breaks out in laughter at Lindsay’s disbelief.

  Jason kisses her as he takes the baby. “Honey, sweetie, Lindsay, I’m not kidding. The cabin belongs to us now.”

  “Really Jason?”

  Jason smiles, “Really baby.”

  Lindsay sits on the sofa, her sofa, in front of her fireplace, and cries pure tears of joy.

  * * *

  After everyone has left, they lay baby Simona into her crib for her first night’s sleep at home.

  “Jason when did they do all this? They removed part of the wall here so this bedroom could become a nursery, and look, Boomer the Bear and all my dolls are all over the room.”

  “I know honey, when my mom gets an idea, look out.”

  “It’s unbelievable. Thank you honey, I never want to live anywhere else.”

  “My dad shocked the hell out of me when he offered to sell it to us, and I guess I shocked the hell out of him when I told him we could actually afford to buy it.”

  Lindsay grins. “I think Simone’s secretly flattered about us naming the baby Simona.”

  “I don’t think it’s too big a secret, she smiled every time she heard the name.”

  Lindsay gazes down into the crib.

  “Oh, look at her Boomer; she’s perfect, our baby, my little girl,”

  “Lindsay, let’s go to bed in our own home.”

  “Ours,” Lindsay marvels, looking around.

  * * *

  Saturday December 4th, 1982, Wedding Day

  They had planned a small ceremony indoors because of the time of year. However, the day warmed to a comfy sixty-three degrees and so the wedding is held outdoors, near the granite bench that overlooks the sea.

  Lindsay wears a dress of purest white that matches the gown of her beloved and precious daughter Simona Lynn, who she holds proudly throughout the ceremony.

  Jason, looking very dapper dressed in a newly bought tuxedo, stands beside his best man Paul Martinez, who himself gazes lovingly at the maid of honor, Simone Diaz.

  After the ceremony, the weather suddenly changes, as if once serving its purpose, the unseasonable warmth wishes not to deceive anyone into believing winter does not lie ahead. The wedding party and the guests make their way back to the cabin, to enjoy the reception in comfort.

  * * *

  With all guests gone, they sit in front of the fireplace where they first declared their love for each other.

  Lindsay Parker Reynolds holds her daughter Simona snug within her arms as her husband Jason embraces her within his own.

  Lindsay stares at her wedding band. “We’re married. I can hardly believe it.”

  “And we have a daughter.”

  “After carrying her for nine months, I can believe it.”

  “Someday we’ll have grandchildren, and we’ll sit here by the fireplace holding them.”

  “In our cabin in the sky,” Lindsay says.

  “All ours,” Jason says, and the three of them flow into the future.

  THE

  MANY

  AND

  THE

  ONE

  PART TWO

  18

  Saturday May 13th, 1989, 4:43 a.m.

  Six-year-old Simona Lynn Reynolds slips into her parents’ bedroom and climbs up into a soft oasis of goose down pillows and double-stitched comforters. After making her way under the covers, she snuggles between her parents, who were spooned together in their sleep.

  Jason mumbles, “I hope that’s you Simona or we have got one very friendly burglar.” he then squints at the bedside clock through sleep-blurred eyes. “Oh, it’s not even five yet. What’s wrong baby? Did you have a bad dream?”

  Simona kisses her father. “No daddy, I just woke up missing you and mommy.”

  “What’s the matter?” Lindsay moans, barely awake.

  “Nothing honey, Simona just missed us, that’s all.”

  “See Jason, this is why we get dressed after.”

  “After what mommy?”

  “Never mind precious, it’s just mommy daddy talk.” Lindsay says.

  “Oh mommy daddy talk,” Simona says, as if that were that.

  Jason sits up on the side of the bed. “Honey, I’m going to take Simona downstairs, go back to sleep.”

  “Bless you Boomer, I could use some more sleep.”

  Jason grabs his robe. “Come on baby, daddy will keep you company.”

  “Bye bye mommy, I love you.”

  Lindsay murmurs, “I love you too precious.” as she fades back to sleep.

  Jason carries Simona downstairs into the kitchen and flips on the lights of the ceiling fan that hangs above the breakfast table. Simona slides to the floor and looks up at him expectantly.

  “Are you hungry baby?”

  “No daddy, but can I have some orange juice?”

  Jason bows at the waist. “Anything for you M’lady,”

  “Oh daddy,” Simona says.

  Jason pours Simona a glass of juice and puts on the coffee.

  “Daddy, what are we doing today?”

  “I had a big day of staring at the wall planned, I can’t wait.”

  “Noooo, daddy stop kidding, you know what day it is.”

  “Oh, is it that day already? Well then, I guess we’ll go there instead, my wall can wait.”

  Jason looks at his daughter, her precious face is framed by hair as golden as her mother’s own, as she stares up at him with beautiful violet eyes.

  I love her so much, how is it possible to love someone this much?

  “Daddy, you’re silly.”

  “Only for you baby,”

  Simona points at the window. “Look it’s coming, can we go see?”

  “Sure honey, go grab the blanket.”

  “Okay,” Simona says, and then scurries off to the hall closet.

  Jason opens the front door of the cabin on the beginning of one glorious spring day, as the sun peeks over the horizon.

  With Simona in one arm and a blanket in the other, he makes his way to the granite bench. Simona starts squirming as they approach the scenic overlook.

  She cries out, “Daddy it’s coming!” as the sun inches its way above the calm sea.

  “I see. Come on Simona let’s sit and watch.”

  “Can I get down on the grass?”

  “Okay baby, but take off your slippers first so they don’t get wet.”

  Simona slides off of Jason’s lap and giggles as she runs around. “My toes are getting wet.”

  She dances and plays among the sunbeams while singing her own little song of joy.

  “Daddy look more sun, more sunball is coming.”

  Jason laughs at her description. “A sunball is what it is all right, bouncing up every morning just for you.”

  Mist forms from the evaporation of the dew and all at once, Simona is standing in fog.

  “I can’t see my feet anymore, it’s too steamy.”

  “Come sit on daddy’s lap now baby, I want to dry your feet off.”

  Simona skips over and jumps into Jason’s arms. He places her on his lap and dries her feet with a corner of the blanket.

  “The sunball’s all out of the water. Can we go now?” Simona asks, full of hope.

  “No baby it’s still too early, don’t worry we’re going soon.”

  “I can�
��t wait… can I pick him out?”

  “Let mommy help you with that when we get there, okay?”

  “Okay,” Simona says sadly, but then she brightens and asks, “Can I name him?”

  “Hmm, why not? He’s going to be yours.”

  Simona cries, “Yeeaaah,” and then pecks Jason on the nose with a kiss.

  “What are you going to name him honey?” Jason asks.

  Simona now looks at her father as if he were the simplest man alive.

  “Daddy, I have to see him before I can name him or I won’t know what to call him, silly.”

  “Oh,” Jason says quietly.

  “I can’t wait.”

  “I know baby.”

  “Why do we have to wait for things daddy?”

  “To make us happier when we get them honey.”

  “Then I’m gonna be super happy.”

  “I know baby, I know.”

  Father and daughter sit in the sun of a new day, watching the surf break on the white sand beach below. Puppy day has begun.

  19

  Lindsay slides open a frosted glass door and steps out of the shower.

  “Boomer, hand me a towel please.”

  Jason stands in front of the sink wiping steam from the mirror above it; his face is covered in shaving cream.

  “Here you go honey.” As he hands her the towel he kisses her.

  Lindsay wrinkles her nose. “Ooohh, you got shaving cream all over me.”

  “That’s why I handed you the towel, so you can wipe it off.”

  “Very funny, where’s the baby?”

  “She’s watching TV on our bed; I can see her in the mirror.”

  “Oh Jason, Paul and Simone are coming over for dinner tonight.”

  “Great, we haven’t seen them in weeks; they’re so busy these days.”

  As Lindsay is fastening her robe, Simona slips into the room and laughs at her father’s partially shaved face.

  “You look funny daddy.”

  Jason leans down toward her. “Give daddy a big kiss.”

  “Mommy help, daddy’s gonna get shaving cream all over me.”

  “Tell daddy to stop playing so we can go get the puppy.”

  “Stop playing daddy, we have to go get the puppy.” Simona scolds.

  “Yes Ma’am, daddy’s sorry.”

  “It’s okay daddy, I’m not really mad.”

  “Whew!”

  “Boomer I’ll get her ready, would you make breakfast?”

  “Sure hon, are eggs and biscuits okay?”

  “Simona, wouldn’t it be nice if daddy made his special French toast?”

  “Daddy make your French toast, it’s a special day. It’s puppy day!”

  “French toast it is.” Jason says.

  * * *

  They promised Simona she could have a puppy when they thought she was old enough to care for one.

  Simona said, “Okay,” and then begged her Grandpa Adam to take her to the pet shop.

  Adam watched as Simona carefully picked out the exact size and color leash and doggy bowls she would want her puppy to have, along with real dog food.

  While paying for the items, Adam asked, “What are you going to do with those Simona?”

  “I’m gonna play pretend, till I get a real puppy grandpa.”

  And that’s exactly what she did.

  Every morning for two weeks, Simona would go downstairs to the kitchen and pour an appropriate amount of puppy food into the blue plastic food bowl and put water in the red plastic water dish. Next, she would sit and praise her imaginary puppy for eating all his food. Afterward, she would take the leash and go outside dragging it along the ground at the edge of the pine trees that bordered the property.

  “Boomer she’s so cute. Look at her out there proving she’s ready for a puppy.”

  “She’s breaking my heart, when she comes in why don’t we tell her she can have one?”

  “Okay, we’ll take her Saturday. My special little girl, she’s so responsible.”

  “Lindsay, judging by this, what do you think she’ll do when she wants a husband?”

  Lindsay laughs. “Oh Jason,”

  And so, Saturday became puppy day.

  * * *

  Puppies and Guppies is located inside the mall on Ocean Beach Island. Simona fairly drags her parents along the walkway until they’re inside.

  After a few minutes, the proprietor approaches. He’s a short man with reddish hair.

  “Hi folks, can I help you?”

  “Hi, my daughter’s looking for a puppy, but she can’t decide which one.” Jason says.

  The man responds with a knowing smile. “Why don’t we take her in the back where she can play with them? We usually find the puppy picks the owner anyway.”

  “How do you mean?” Lindsay asks.

  “You’ll see.” The man says.

  Behind the cages is a storage area with shelves full of supplies, however the center of the room is empty, and its floor is covered in black linoleum.

  The store owner opens the rear of the cages and takes out a couple of puppies from each one, to place them near Simona’s feet. Within seconds she’s drowning in puppies.

  “Oh, we should have brought the camera.” Lindsay says.

  “I know.” Jason says.

  Simona giggles and plays with the various pups, but there is one black Labrador puppy that keeps climbing into her lap, even when she’s trying to hold another dog. After a while, the other puppies have either fallen asleep or gone off to explore the corners of the room, lying in Simona’s lap and licking her face is the persistent black pup.

  “See what I mean folks?” The man asks.

  “Mommy, daddy, can I have this one, please?”

  They look at each other and shrug.

  “Sure honey, he’s all yours.” Lindsay says.

  “Yeeaaah!” Simona cries. “I’ve got a puppy.”

  * * *

  As the family is leaving the mall, a black limousine pulls up at the entrance. Jason recognizes McGee and knows what’s coming next.

  “Oh great,” He moans.

  Lindsay is about to ask him what’s wrong when Charlotte emerges from the car.

  “Well, if it isn’t the Reynolds family. How nice, I must remember to tell Derek I ran into you, he asks about you often.”

  “Why don’t you tell Derek to go straight to—”

  “Jason! Remember the baby.” Lindsay says.

  Charlotte smiles at Simona. “Yes, the baby, hello child, my you’re a beautiful child, but then, Derek was a beautiful child too.”

  Simona tries to hide behind her father’s legs. “Daddy, can we go home now?”

  “Good idea, goodbye Charlotte.” Jason picks up Simona and the puppy, on the walk to their minivan, he looks over at Lindsay and sees an angry face. “Smile honey, it’s puppy day,”

  “I’m so tired of her innuendo every time we cross paths. I’d like to get us tested and shove the blood results in her stupid, grinning face.”

  “What’s inmoowendo mommy?” Simona asks.

  “Nothing baby, that woman back there was being silly, that’s all.”

  “I didn’t like her, was I rude?”

  “You were fine precious, you just have good judgment about people.”

  “And puppies too, right?”

  Lindsay smiles, “Especially puppies,”

  Jason opens the van’s sliding door. “What are you going to name him honey?”

  “Sunshine, cause look, he’s always smiling.”

  The little puppy does appear to be smiling, as he pants away.

  Jason shrugs. “A black dog named Sunshine, why not?”

  * * *

  Paul and Simone married in September of 1983 after Simone discovered she was pregnant with Paul Jr. They’d planned to wait until after college, but babies have a schedule all their own.

  Paul, now Sergeant Martinez, joined the police after college and moved up in rank fast, in fact, faster than a
nyone since his mentor Robert C. Rollins, now Chief of Police.

  Simone took time off from her studies while having the baby, but was now earning her doctorate in psychiatry.

  And although it took them nearly six years, Jason and Lindsay had both earned their bachelor of art degrees.

  * * *

  They sit on the cabin’s patio after dinner, sipping cups of cafecito, Cuban coffee. It’s a sweet, dark and potent blend that both Jason and Lindsay developed a taste for over the years, they especially enjoy it after dinner.

  Lindsay watches Simona and Paul Jr. have fun with the puppy.

  “They play so well together.”

  “Just like their parents.” Jason quips.

  “How’s the new book coming along Lindsay?” Paul asks.

  “Really well, I’m nearly finished.”

  “I bet I figure out the ending this time.”

  Lindsay smiles, “And my publisher is betting that you don’t.”

  Jason grins. They have this same conversation every time.

  * * *

  Several years ago, Paul, an avid reader of murder mysteries, loaned Lindsay a copy of his favorite author’s new book to read, while she was on jury duty.

  To Paul’s surprise, Lindsay gave the book back the next day saying she had figured out the killer’s identity by page sixteen.

  Paul told her that it was the greatest mystery novel he had ever read, and that she had just gotten lucky.

  Lindsay, annoyed, told Paul she could, “Eat a bowl of alphabet soup and vomit a better book.”

  Paul, now equally annoyed, challenged Lindsay.

  “Prove it! Write one of your own.”

  Lindsay did, and the book sold well. Three books later she’s still at it.

  * * *

  “Jason, what are you working on now?” Simone asks.

  Lindsay rubs Jason’s back. “Boomer’s releasing a line of lithographs, all seascapes and all limited editions.”

  “I let my contract with the giraffe people expire. I was getting tired of designing logos and wrapping paper.” Jason says.

  “Oh,” Simone says. “Before I forget, we have a favor to ask, could you watch Paul Jr. for a week in August? We’ve decided to take our vacation then.”

  “No problem, where are you guys headed?” Jason asks.

  “Paris, Simone’s always wanted to go there.” Paul says.

  “Listen to him.” Simone teases. “You would think I was dragging him along, meanwhile he’s the one taking French lessons and buying guidebooks.”