Strangely Normal

by Tess Oliver

  “So your dad is coming home,” I said.

  “Yep.”

  “You sound much less enthusiastic than Finley about the news.”

  “I’m glad he’s coming home to rest, but Dad and I aren’t always on the same wave length.”

  “I sort of gathered that.” I placed the tomato slices on the sandwiches.

  “Dad was hoping I would go into the music business. I had talent on the drums, but I liked art. He was really disappointed that I didn’t pursue music.”

  “What about Cole and Finley? Didn’t he want them to go into music?”

  “His dream was that we all got into the music business. But Cole is basically tone deaf. He’s good with his hands though, which is why my dad bought a construction company. He wanted to give Cole a career. And Dad never pushed Finley into anything. He’s always treated her like a fragile, porcelain doll who just needed to be loved.”

  “Construction isn’t your thing?”

  “Actually, I like building houses too, but as much as Cole and I get along, we don’t work great together.”

  “That seems understandable.” I cut the sandwiches in half. “It would be hard to work side by side with a sibling.”

  “Yeah, we’ve nearly come to blows a few times.”

  I handed him two plates and we walked toward the couch.

  “Well, Valley, ready yourself. You’re about to find out what it’s like to live with the god of rock.”

  Chapter 16

  An entourage of people arrived hours before Nicky King’s plane landed, and a whirlwind of activity flooded the house. Finley avoided the circus downstairs as much as possible, leaving Jude and Cole to deal with it all. Oddly enough, by the time the limo pulled up out front, most of the people had gone and things had quieted down.

  Finley and I had been listening to music and hanging out with Some Pig in her room when she heard the car pull up. She jumped to her feet. “He’s here. Let’s go down.”

  I hesitated and realized that I was more than slightly nervous about meeting her dad. Not because of who he was but because of what he might think of me, or if he would think anything of me at all. “I think you should go down alone, Finley. You haven’t seen him for awhile and after the whole health scare and everything.”

  Her bracelets jangled as she held her hand out to let me know my reasoning wasn’t going to fly. Reluctantly, I took her hand and we headed to the stairs. There were still unfamiliar voices coming from the front room, but the crowd had definitely diminished.”

  “What if he doesn’t like me?” I asked.

  “Impossible. If I like you then Dad will like you.”

  Nicky King, the rock and roller who my dad worshipped, the man whose voice I’d grown up listening to, was standing in the kitchen with a phone pressed to his ear. He looked smaller than I’d imagined and skinnier and a bit more wrinkly, but his presence could not be ignored. He looked our way, and his eyes lit up when he saw Finley. “Got to go.” He put down his phone and held out his arms.

  Finley ran to her dad and hugged him so tightly it seemed she had no intention of ever letting him go. Instantly she broke into tears. “I was so scared, Dad.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “It was nothing, Fin Fin. I’m all right.”

  She peered up at him. “You didn’t take the vitamins, did you?”

  “I will now. I promise.”

  A man with an earpiece walked into the kitchen. “Nick, they can’t book the whole suite of rooms— just half.”

  “Then find another bloody hotel, Ray.”

  The man walked away.

  Finley reached back and grabbed my hand. “Dad, this is Eden.”

  He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Eden, Finley has told me a lot about you. Welcome.”

  “Nice to meet you.” They were the only words I could push out. I’d never been the type to be star struck, and maybe it was just because my dad had glorified the man so much, but I was truly feeling shy and nervous around him.

  His phone rang. “Excuse me.” He turned away to answer it.

  Finley reached into the fridge for a soda. “Want one?” she asked.

  “No, I’m good.”

  Jude walked into the kitchen, and it dawned on me that just seeing him made my heart speed up. That may or may not have been a good thing. A small muscle in his jaw twitched as he reached for a glass. I could tell he was upset, and the fact that he basically ignored me, made my racing heart slow and drop to my stomach.

  His dad hung up the phone. “Look, Jude, it’s just that if you were the reason for Tanya leaving then the least you could have done is hired another fucking chef.”

  Jude placed the glass down hard on the counter. “First of all, Dad, I’m not the reason Tanya left. She’s the reason.”

  His dad waved a ring-covered hand at him. “Yeah, yeah. You could have handled the whole damn thing better.”

  “Just because you sleep with every woman who blinks at you, doesn’t mean I have to follow in my old man’s footsteps.”

  Nicky looked harshly at Jude. “I guess that’s why they named a bloody saint after you, Jude.”

  Finley grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the kitchen. “They don’t always get along. Jude knows how to push all of the right buttons.”

  “Sounds like some pretty mutual button pushing,” I said, and realized it was a comment better left unsaid.

  Finley didn’t respond, but it was obvious she didn’t want to hear anything negative about her dad. The glass door slid open and Jude stormed out.

  Finley returned to the kitchen, took hold of her dad’s hand, and dragged him to the couch. “You’re supposed to be taking it easy, Dad.”

  The couch was filled with several strangers, two were on phones and one was on a laptop. I was feeling awkwardly out of place and Finley was occupied with her dad, so I slipped out the door to find Jude.

  He was a few hundred yards ahead on the path leading to the pool house. I hurried to catch up to him, terrified that he might not want to see me at all. He was upset, but a cold greeting would be heartbreaking. I’d have no other choice but to face the sobering reality that he didn’t care for me that much.

  “Jude.” At first it seemed he was ignoring me, and it felt like a fist in the stomach. But then he stopped and turned around. His face was a torrent of emotions, and the anger and sadness in his expression only made the pain in my stomach worse.

  His long legs closed the gap between us in seconds, and he grabbed my arms roughly and pulled me into an urgent kiss. His arms wrapped around me. He held me so tightly it felt as if my ribs would crack and yet I wanted him to hold me even tighter.

  After a deep, long kiss my head felt as if it might float away from my shoulders. He held me against him.

  “I’m sorry things went so badly for you in there,” I said.

  “It’s nothing new. Dad and I are alike in a lot of ways, so we’re always butting heads. Sometimes, when things are calm around here, we actually get along.” His arms fell away, and he took hold of my hand. “I’ve got to warn you though, when Dad’s around, Finley doesn’t know anyone else exists. So don’t feel too hurt if she seems distracted and distant. She thinks he’s a god too.”

  We wandered past the hedge border of Finley’s invisible perimeter and across the verdant green lawn. “The man does have a presence. No doubt about it. There are half a dozen people in that room but your dad is like a—”

  “Like a giant meteor that just crashed into the room?” he asked.

  I laughed. “Sort of. I don’t know if it’s because my dad built him up as larger than life or what, but I was totally tongue tied when he greeted me.”

  “He definitely steals any room he walks into.”

  “You two are alike.”

  He shook his head. “I usually only attract negativ
e attention when I walk into a room filled with people.”

  “Not true.” We stopped at the edge of the lawn that sloped down toward some professional looking tennis courts. “Finley mentioned the tennis courts. We are planning to play out there one day.”

  He sat and I plopped down next to him.

  “Fin was really good. She had a huge career ahead of her but then life got in the way of it.”

  “Her moods do swing really sharply, just like you warned.”

  “Trust me, she’s really mellowed out since you’ve arrived. Dad doesn’t see it as often because he’s never home, so he thinks it will all work itself out.”

  “He sounds just like my mom. Somehow, she thinks a college will magically appear in the small town they’re moving to. She’s never really been a fan of college. My parents had to quit high school when my mom got pregnant with me. But I’ve always dreamed of becoming a doctor, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to need some college for that.”

  He put his arm around me. “A doctor? I’m impressed.”

  “Don’t be. At this rate, I’ll have to buy one of those toy doctor kits and just pretend.”

  “All right, this sounds demented, but having you talk about playing doctor is really turning me on.”

  “Yes, slightly demented. However—” I straddled his lap and wrapped my hands around his neck. “I have had a lot of practice on my dolls and various stuffed animals who’ve all suffered some terrible maladies.” I kissed him lightly. “And I must admit, I’m a fairly skilled physician.” I kissed him again. “Just tell me where it hurts.”

  His hands clutched at my hips. “Well, Doc.”

  I kissed him again. “Yes.”

  “You see, I’ve got this terrible ache, and there’s only one way I can think to ease my suffering.”

  My mouth hovered over his. “Sounds serious.”

  “It is definitely serious.” He lay back and pulled me down on top of him. My light teasing kisses intensified just as a giant, cold nose touched the back of my neck. I flew off of Jude and landed hard on my butt. Butch sat back on his haunches, apparently satisfied that he’d saved his master from a vicious attack.

  Jude looked back at the dog and laughed.

  “You won’t be laughing when I send you the bill, Mister.” I looked down at the tennis courts below. “I think I’ll go down there and look around.”

  Jude got to his feet. “I’ll go with you. There’s an awesome little make-out spot behind the equipment shed.”

  “And you know this because . . .”

  “I know because I’ve made out there on several instances.” He started walking down the hill. “Come on, I’ll show it to you.”

  “You go ahead. I’m not planning to walk down,” I said.

  He turned back to me with a puzzled expression.

  I stretched out on the grass, crossed my arms, and rolled down, laughing hysterically the entire way. As the incline disappeared I came to an abrupt stop.

  Jude was peering down at me. “Not exactly doctor behavior.” He pulled me to my feet.

  I looked back fondly at the hill I’d just rolled down. “I would have killed to have a hill like that in my backyard.” I took hold of his hand. “Who am I kidding? I would have killed to have had a back yard.”

  “In the winter, we used to ride down on big blocks of ice.”

  “That would be fun.”

  “Only if you don’t mind getting frostbite on your ass.” Both dogs had joined us as we made the journey down to the tennis courts, but before we reached cement, a loud whistle turned our attention back toward the house.

  “Dad wants to see you, Jude,” Cole called across the lawn.

  “Shit. Well, I’ll have to show you that spot another time. The master is summoning me.”

  ***

  There had been a long family meeting, and I‘d taken the opportunity to hang alone in my room and read. Nicky King’s arrival had definitely left me feeling obscure and unnecessary, but he did send some money to my bank account for my first week’s pay and then he handed me an extra hundred in cash. I looked at the bill like it was a Wonka Golden Ticket. I’d never held a hundred dollar bill in my life. I decided to arrange for a cab to pick me up in the morning just for a ride to the bus stop. And from there, I’d take the bus home. Finley didn’t need me for the time being, and I missed my family. I wanted to see them before they left.

  Finley knocked on my door and climbed onto my bed. “I hate family meetings. Dad and Jude spend the whole time grumbling at each other and nothing ever gets accomplished. But I think Jude is going to have to head back to construction work until he decides what to” she held up air quotes, “do with his life”.

  “He wants to be a painter,” I said.

  “I know. Poor guy.” She dismissed his dream rather callously. It was the first time I’d felt some anger toward her. “He rode off on his bike after the meeting.”

  “He did?” I was certain my disappointment was evident, but Finley didn’t take notice.

  “Anyhow, Dad was extremely pissed about my tattoo because now I have a pig on my shoulder, but I pouted and he got over it.”

  Her dad was much more pliant when it came to her wishes than to Jude’s.

  “Dad’s agent, Ray, ordered some food to be delivered, and Dad has invited a few people over, which in his world means at least a dozen and most will be women. We could hang out with them if you want.”

  “I thought your dad was supposed to rest.”

  “Believe me, for him, that is rest.”

  “I’m hungry but I think then I’ll turn in early. I figured since your dad is home, I’d go see my parents tomorrow.”

  “You should definitely see them before they leave. Dad’s driver can take you in the limo.”

  “No really, Finley, I’d feel silly pulling up to our apartment house in a limo. Besides, I like riding the bus. I’ll have a taxi pick me up here and take me to the bus stop. I’d walk but I’m fairly confident I’d get lost.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Well, all right.” She hopped off the bed. “You’re coming back though, right?”

  “I was planning on it. Do you want me to?”

  “Absolutely. I think the food’s here. I’m starved and they ordered some vegetarian lasagna.”

  I plodded behind her, upset at myself for being completely distraught that Jude had left. It was stupid to think he would hang around just because of me. He’d been trapped here for months, and I’m sure he had friends he hadn’t seen for a long time. And, no doubt, some of them were girls, and that thought left me even more distraught.

  There were a lot of voices coming from the pool area and the music was blasting. Trays of hot food were spread out across the kitchen counter. Nicky King was standing in the kitchen pouring beer into a glass. “Hey girls, help yourselves. Lots of food.” He looked across to the couch. “Cole, do you want a beer?”

  Cole was sitting on the couch with his head turned to the side as he checked out a nude centerfold.

  His dad leaned forward and squinted at the picture. “I think I know that girl,” he said.

  Cole grunted in disgust and threw the magazine onto the coffee table. “Well, that just took the gloss off Miss June. Thanks, Dad, I will take that beer.”

  Finley handed me a plate, and I scooped up some lasagna but discovered my appetite had shrunk with the news of Jude’s departure.

  “So, Eden, Finley tells me your dad is a fan of Black Thunder.” Even after talking to him several times throughout the day, having the man address me directly still churned up a case of nerves. It took me a moment to answer.

  “The word fan might not capture the true scope of his admiration. In fact, I would go so far as to say he worships Black Thunder. When I was little and couldn’t sleep, instead
of a lullaby, he sang Angel Tears.”

  His laughter echoed off the kitchen walls. “I haven’t met him, but I like him already. We’ll have to get together some day.”

  “As I told Finley, that would be great but it will require tranquilizers.”

  He laughed again. “No wonder you like her so much, Finley. You girls should join us at the pool when you’re done eating.” With that, he picked up his beer, tossed a can to Cole, and headed outside. He took a certain amount of kinetic energy with him when he left the room.

  Finley and I sat alone at the counter. “Where’s Some Pig?’

  She sprinkled some cheese on her lasagna and handed me the packet. “He hates big crowds. I fed him upstairs so he could go to sleep early.”

  “Sleeping early sounds like a plan,” I said. I badly wanted to ask her if she knew where Jude might have gone or if she thought he would be meeting someone. And even though I’d felt I could talk to Finley about everything, I decided to keep my feelings about Jude to myself. It just seemed the smart thing to do. And for the moment, I was still in utter confusion about my feelings for him. So there wouldn’t be much to discuss.

  Chapter 17

  I’d heard the clamor of the party go on until way past midnight, so the entire house was dead silent as I climbed out of bed at seven. As I showered and dressed, I wondered if Jude had ever returned home last night. More reason to solidify my heart against this whole thing. Jude lived in a world so completely different that mine, it was almost laughable to think that he’d ever commit to someone like me.

  I brushed my hair up into a ponytail and couldn’t help but be amused by the pouty face staring back at me in the mirror. I was excited about seeing my family and decided to focus on getting home. Yesterday, for the first time since my arrival, I’d felt horribly uncomfortable and out of place. The thought of going home to a place where I fit and where I was important made me anxious to see my family. Maybe I would even decide to stay.

  As silently as possible, I packed a few things in my duffle, tucked the money in my pocket, and headed down the stairs. I’d arranged for a taxi to pick me up outside the security gates.