Forever 51

by Pamela Skjolsvik

  She thought she’d drained him, but his chest still pressed and recessed against her. With as much strength as she could muster, she attempted to push him off, but his heft was immoveable. Trapped, she inhaled the cold night air through her mouth to avoid smelling the stench of his stomach contents. As she exhaled, her hot breath shrouded their bodies in fog. Lying helpless with vomit-cicles forming in the tendrils of her curls, she imagined that if hell existed, this was probably it.

  “God, please help me,” he whispered into the icy pavement. “I’ll never drink and I won’t never kill nobody. I’ll be a good daddy to Shirley and…”

  Veronica raised her right wrist to her mouth and ripped it open. She’d only done this a few times, but if it would get him off her, it was worth the effort. She shoved her bloody wrist into his face. “Drink this. Trust me. You’ll die on top of me if you don’t.”

  Without further prodding, he drank.

  33

  Present

  In a sea of children with eagle-eyed teachers watching their every sticky-handed move, Veronica spotted Eddie Riordan on a bench staring up at the Field Museum’s skeletal thirty-one-dollar attraction. The vomit, the cold, and the feeling of utter helplessness came back in an instant. Her legs felt dipped in concrete. She inched in his direction, fretting over what to say to atone for her reckless actions that night. There had to be a secret combination of words that would get this over with as quickly as possible, if she could only find them in the muddy menopausal recesses of her brain. I’m sorry? I’m sorry I took your soul? I’m sorry I ruined your life? Unlike the others she’d turned, Veronica didn’t stick around to tutor him on the pesky details of surviving as a vampire.

  But by all appearances, he had survived, maybe even thrived thus far. He looked gainfully employed as a mechanic, dressed in steel-toed boots, black pants and a Dickies work shirt that clung to his heavily muscled body. Apart from his size, the only thing remarkable about his appearance was his thick brown hair slicked back in a pompadour. If he hadn’t been clutching a smart phone in one of his giant grease-stained hands, he could have recently stepped out of the fifties. It would certainly be easier on Veronica if he had. Outside of meetings, almost everyone she encountered in the twenty-first century was cynical, entitled and in a giant hurry for the next stupid thing to click, press or swipe. Unlike the people swarming around him, he didn’t look like he was in a rush to go anywhere.

  Veronica nodded in his direction. Mary followed, navigating through the maze of bustling, sugar-buzzed children.

  “Is that him on the bench? Dear, Lord, I hope so. Why didn’t you tell me he was a hunk?” Mary whispered, as if she had to keep her voice low.

  “I’m old and I can’t remember shit. The only thing I remember about the man is that I turned him to avoid being trapped under his body.” Veronica laughed at her old fear. The sun’s rays held no power over her or anyone else in the same undead predicament.

  “Who in their right mind would want that man off their body?” Mary stuck out her chest and smiled. “Do I look okay?”

  “Yes. In my clothes, you look like a nice respectable woman. Now just try and act like one. I want to get this over with as quickly as inhumanly possible.”

  A crowd of children darted in front of their path. Parents and teachers directed their movements, clicking endless pictures with phones in front of their faces. Mary stopped and clutched Veronica’s arm to avoid an awkward photobomb.

  Jenny tapped Mary’s shoulder. “Will you take a picture of me in front of Sue?”

  Mary reflexively pulled out her phone, eyeing Jenny through its lens. “Okay, move a little to the left and smile.”

  Veronica used this opportunity to meet Eddie Riordan without an entourage. Here goes nothing.

  Eddie rose from his seat and smiled at her, revealing that his front right tooth was missing. Extending his arm, he shook Veronica’s hand with a mixture of vigor and reverence, placing his other hand on top of hers.

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you after all these years,” he said. His dark brown eyes welled with tears.

  Veronica didn’t know how to respond.

  Fortunately, she didn’t have to. Above the rapid pounding of her own heart, Jenny’s unmistakable voice boomed a string of obscenities that echoed in the museum’s grand entrance. Veronica whipped around in an instant. Carl, duct tape still stuck to yesterday’s shirt, dragged Jenny by the arm towards the exit.

  “Oh, shit.” Veronica took off at a sprint.

  “What’s going on? Is she with you?” Eddie called out. He weaved through the crowd as frantic teachers pulled their students towards the periphery of the room.

  “Get away from me, motherfucker! Help! Rape! Fire! I don’t know this redneck douchebag!” Jenny kicked and screamed at Carl like an angry toddler.

  Children, even a few teachers, pulled out their phones and started recording.

  Veronica grabbed Jenny’s free arm and tried to pull her from Carl’s clutches. “Let go of her!” she growled.

  Carl kept Jenny’s right arm firmly in his grasp. “After what you pulled yesterday, you and your little slutty friend, I’m about one step away from calling the police.” Carl squeezed one of the bruises on Jenny’s arm. “Is that what you want? You want to embarrass your father even more than you already have?”

  “Do it,” Jenny spat. “I dare you.”

  “Is there a problem here?” Eddie edged between Jenny and Carl, dwarfing them both in the process.

  “Yes, this asshole won’t let go of me.” Jenny yanked her arm from Veronica’s.

  Surrounded, Carl released Jenny’s arm with grudging respect. “Her dad hired me to escort her to a rehab facility, sir.”

  “That’s all well and good, dipshit, but I’m an adult,” Jenny snarled. “You can’t make me go anywhere, so fuck off.” She sidled up to Eddie. “And by the way, Carl, this is my new boyfriend. We’re moving to Nebraska to raise chickens. Aren’t we, honey?”

  “That’s the plan, sugar-buns.” Eddie pulled her tiny body close with his meaty arm. “Is this guy bothering you, baby-cakes?”

  “What’s going on here?” Armed with radios and stern expressions, two young security guards approached Carl, sandwiching him in chambray and khaki.

  “It was just a little misunderstanding between me and this young lady. It’s over now, and we’re very sorry.” Carl wiped the sweat from his brow.

  One of the guards spoke into his radio as the other guard moved in closer. Carl narrowed his eyes at Jenny, shaking his head. “Does he know who your daddy is?”

  “Yeah, he knows. He also knows where you live, so you best be skedaddling, Carl Junior.”

  “I think we should all be leaving. Once again I seem to be causing other people problems.” Veronica looked up at Eddie, who was dutifully playing along, and mouthed I’m sorry. They’d been reacquainted for all of a minute and a half and already the poor guy was hip-deep in Veroni-drama. “Maybe we could all walk Carl to his car. Would that be okay?”

  “That might be a good idea.” Eddie released his arm from Jenny’s shoulder and clutched his stomach. With a slight grimace, as if he had a bit of indigestion, he stepped behind Carl. “After you, sir.”

  Veronica felt a slight stirring in her own core, but it barely registered. It couldn’t be that easy.

  Veronica held her breath until they were clear of the museum. Miraculously, everyone remained calm as they shuffled down the sidewalk. The air was cool, whispering a steady promise of winter. Veronica planted her arms firmly across her chest and attempted a directionless smile to keep herself from uttering words that would only stir the placid pot. Three paces in front of the group, Carl tugged at his shirt, removing the last remnant of tape. He crumpled the sticky wad and tossed it into the gutter.

  “Hey, man. Pick that up,” Eddie demanded, pointing at the grey ball. “The world is not your trash can. Have some respect.”

  A number six bus lurched beside the curb, exhaling a da
rk plume of exhaust. Passengers with downcast eyes spilled from the rear door. Veronica caught a glimpse of herself in the darkened window. Beside her, still pointing into the street was Eddie’s reflection. No one else had witnessed this tiny miracle as all eyes were focused on Carl, who was rapidly turning a darker shade of red. Outwitted and outnumbered, Carl dashed into the street behind the bus and retrieved the orb of tape.

  “Now deposit that in a proper trash receptacle.” Eddie said.

  Carl surveyed the street for a trashcan and shoved the ball into his front pocket. “Yes, sir.”

  “Where’s your car?” Eddie’s voice lowered.

  “Same lot as them, down the block.”

  “Well, isn’t that convenient?” Mary applied a fresh coat of lip gloss. “I’m curious. How were you able to find us at this museum? Was it Seamus?”

  Carl plunged his hands into the front pockets of his Wranglers. “I don’t know anyone by the name of Seamus.”

  “Did Seamus tell you how to find these ladies?” Eddie moved in closer.

  “As I said, I don’t know anyone by the name of Seamus and if I did, I’d surely remember a name like that. I used a GPS tracker, which is pretty much private investigation 101.” Lowering his head in defeat, Carl trudged towards the garage.

  Veronica looked at Mary. “Let me handle this.” She caught up with Carl, while the others lagged behind. “We can’t have you following us, Carl. I know you have a job to do, but Jenny has no intention of going to rehab. Trust me on this.” She tried to sound confident, but even she couldn’t predict Jenny’s erratic behavior. “But I assure you, she’s in good hands.” Veronica smiled hopefully.

  Carl stopped and turned to face her. “You drugged me, stole my gun and detained me against my will. Not only that, the car y’all are driving is registered to a man in San Francisco who appears to have gone missing, at least that's what his landlord said.” Carl squinted in the sunlight. “I’m not feeling real good about Jenny being in your particular hands.”

  “I understand how you could feel that way.” She dug in her purse for the keys. “And I apologize for what we did to you, but she’s not going. Either you let her go or you’ll be dragged into something you don’t need to be a part of, Carl.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  The wind picked up, blowing long strands of Veronica’s hair into her face. “Of course not. I’m just trying to talk some sense into you. Trust me, life is a lot easier when you drop the rope and let people like Jenny live their own lives.” She gathered the long, unruly strands as if to secure them into a ponytail and forced a smile.

  “I need to talk to her before I head back to Texas.”

  The word “Texas” in Carl’s twang elicited the feeling of a homesick sucker punch. Irritated by the situation and her distance from home, she stabbed the air above her shoulder with a raised thumb. “She’s right back there.”

  “Yeah, next to the Hulk. She ain’t going to talk to me unless you tell her to. So, I would appreciate it if you got her over here. I’ll be quick.”

  Veronica eyed him up and down. Despite his actions at the museum, he looked like a disheveled, broken man whose dog had just died. She couldn’t sense imminent danger in his demeanor; just the agony of defeat. “Jenny,” she called out. “Come here for a minute.”

  Jenny zipped up her hoody and shuffled forward. Mary and Eddie followed. “Alone,” Veronica said.

  “What?” Jenny said.

  “He needs to talk to you and he’ll be on his way. I’ll be right over here.” She walked backwards to lean against a street sign. She wanted to give Carl the impression that she was a badass.

  The exchange between Jenny and Carl was quick. He handed her something small that Veronica couldn’t see. Jenny shoved the item into her front jean’s pocket, crossed her arms and nodded. He patted her on the shoulder and walked into the garage. Watching their interaction gave her an uneasy feeling in her considerably less crowded core. She had a feeling this wasn’t the last time she’d see Carl if Jenny remained in her company.

  34

  Mary and Eddie were entangled in a deep eye-to-eye conversation when Jenny and Veronica rejoined them.

  “He’s hungry,” Mary exclaimed, as if he were deathly ill.

  “Well, don’t look at me.” Jenny crossed her arms and rolled her raccoon-tired eyes. “I’m hungry too, not that any of you bloodsuckers give a shit.”

  “Of course we give a shit. What are you hungry for?” Veronica tousled Jenny’s red hair.

  “Pizza. We should try and find a Chicago-style place. I mean, that’s what they’re known for here, right?”

  They all stared blankly back at Jenny as if she’d suggested they venture to Toys R Us to pick out a car seat for a newborn baby. None of them had ever ingested a pizza, let alone understood the complexities of a deep-dish pie.

  “Sounds good to me.” Eddie’s stomach grumbled audibly as he swiped at his phone. “Looks like there’s a place right down the block. It says they’ve got pizza, salads and there’s a ton of Yelp reviews. Looks good.”

  A few stragglers from the lunch crowd remained in the Italian restaurant. A chipper hostess led them to a corner table, covered in a vinyl red and white checked tablecloth. The second Eddie pulled out a chair, Mary clamored for the seat beside him. Veronica felt grateful that in her abnormally long life, she had experienced reciprocal love. She wasn’t entirely sure that Mary had.

  Jenny opened the menu and studied its contents. “Am I the only one ordering? If so, I’m just going to get a small.”

  “I’ll share something with you.” Eddie looked to Mary and Veronica with raised brows. “Do either of you have any experience with this? I’m not going to throw up, am I?”

  “I can’t believe you never turned anyone.” Mary leaned in closer. For a dead person, she was radiating heat. “I love a man who is in control.”

  From the looks of their body language, Veronica figured Mary and Eddie were headed to a no-tell motel in the very near future. “I felt your soul leave my body. I’m pretty sure you felt it too. You’re going to be okay. I was with my daughter when she became mortal and she wolfed down a giant burger half an hour later.”

  “So, what’s it going to be, big guy? Cheese, meat, veggie, both?” Jenny asked.

  “I really don’t know.” Eddie raised his open hands and shrugged his shoulders.

  “What’s the last thing you remember eating?” Mary asked.

  Eddie looked down, as if he couldn’t bear to meet her gaze. “Bourbon. And whatever was at the bar that night. Probably olives or a pickled egg. I wasn’t too concerned with eating at that point.”

  “We should probably go with a vegetarian. It’s healthier.” Jenny closed her menu.

  “But he needs protein. Look at him.” Mary touched his bicep, biting her lip.

  Eddie flashed a smile. “Whatever you’re having is fine, little lady, but you better order an extra-large. I’m starving.”

  The waitress appeared with four water glasses, setting them down on the table with a thump. “Are you ready to order, or do you need a few minutes?”

  “We’ll have the veggie. Extra-large, please.” Veronica felt a glimmer of normalcy ordering their food, as if she were the matriarch of the misfits.

  “Sure thing.” The waitress gathered the menus. “Anything to drink?”

  “I’ll take a Virgin Bloody Mary, and hold the garlic on that pizza,” Jenny said, looking to Veronica for a reaction. “We don’t want bad breath. Right?”

  The table remained silent.

  “I’ll be right back with your drink.” The waitress sashayed towards a neighboring table.

  “Isn’t garlic a thing? Or is that just another big lie to keep you kids in check?” Jenny stuck her hand in her front pocket, and then stuffed something in her backpack.

  “It’s a total myth. The only thing it repels is kissing.” Mary placed her manicured hand on Eddie’s forearm. “Speaking of kissing, you got any big p
lans?”

  “Big plans? Not really. I’ll keep doing what I’ve always done, with a few adjustments, of course.” He brought the glass of water to his nose, swirled it gently and sniffed, as if tasting a forty-dollar glass of wine.

  “You should probably just get it over with. I’m pretty sure it’s easier that way,” Jenny said.

  “Have you done this before?” He took a sip and leaned back in his chair.

  “Hell no. I’m human.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I mean, last time I checked I was.”

  “Hmmmm.” He lifted and inspected the glass. “This is pretty refreshing.”

  “It’s water, dude. If you really want refreshment, you should order an ice-cold beer.” Jenny pushed the beer placard towards him. “Bud on tap, can’t get any more refreshing than that.”

  “I gave it up years ago, and it took that lady right there to help me do it.” Eddie beamed at Veronica as if she were a saint. “She saved my life.”

  With incredulous faces, Mary and Jenny turned towards Veronica. Mary winked at Eddie. “She saved your life? That’s cute. Is that really what you think?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He pulled his arm from under hers and massaged his massive hands together as if prepping for prayer.

  “Please. Call me Mary.”

  “I thought you went by Porsche,” Jenny quipped.

  Mary shot her a warning glare. “Don’t be ridiculous. I was just joking about that name.”

  Jenny sank into her chair and scanned the restaurant.

  “I didn’t save your life, Eddie. I took it.” Veronica was thankful for Eddie’s expression of gratitude, even if it was misplaced.

  Eddie turned and looked her square in the eye. “Whatever you want to think about that night is your deal—but if it hadn’t been for you showing up and doing whatever you did, I’d have never quit drinking. After that, I convinced my wife to give me another chance. I got my kids back. I even started my own business. For the first time in my life, I could walk down the street with my head held high.”