The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments)

by Jacqueline Druga

  “What do you mean, can’t? Are you coming down in a few days? Are there things you have to take care of? What?”

  “I think we should be apart.”

  “Like a long distance relationship? Cal, we’ve been living together for . . .”

  “Jake.” Cal just wanted this moment over with. She wished the plane would land and she could run off. “Please understand what I’m saying. I think you and I should be apart. I’ll go home to Pittsburgh and you go home to Fort Bragg and your life there.”

  “Where is this coming from? What do you mean my life there? I want it to be our life there.”

  “It can’t.”

  “Explain to me why.”

  Cal took a deep breath. “Things are different now. Our lives are different. We’re not the same people. Jake, I don’t even know you outside of the project. Who you are, what you do . . .”

  “Then you’ll learn.”

  “How can we be like we were if we’re learning who we are? Jake, I didn’t even realize you had curly hair.”

  “So what, Cal? No one knows I have curly hair. I’ve shaved my head for years. So you’re breaking up with me because you didn’t know I had curly hair?”

  “No, Jake, I’m breaking up with you because I don’t think what we were during the project can survive in the real world.”

  “Bull shit!” Jake’s words were harsh. “You’re copping out.”

  “No, Jake. You aren’t making this easy.”

  “Did you think I would? Did you? I can’t believe you’re doing this. Your mind can’t possibly be made up.”

  “It is.” Cal lowered her head.

  “And when were you planning on telling me you didn’t want to see me again? When you never showed up in North Carolina?”

  “I never said I was.”

  “You never said you weren’t!” His voice was loud and carried in the empty plane. “How can you do this? How can you just walk away from it and never look back? Never see each other again?”

  “I want to stay in touch with you, Jake. You’ve become my friend.” She handed him a slip of paper she had in her hand. “I wrote down my number, my address, call me or write . . .”

  “You want to be fuckin’ pen pals? I don’t want your address, Cal . . .” He crinkled the paper and threw it down. “I want you. You! You said you loved me, was that a lie?”

  “No, Jake . . .”

  “Then what are you doing? Come on.” His hands went up in the air and fell hard to the seat. “I love you. I took very seriously what happened between us. Call me old fashioned, but I thought when we said how we felt, when we slept together, that all but said that we would make it work.” He reached over and grabbed her hand. “You’re breaking my heart, Cal, breaking my heart. Don’t do this to me.”

  “I’m sorry, Jake. Maybe if we take some time. Maybe after some time apart and we see this was wrong then we can try again. It’s not like I don’t want to ever talk to you again.”

  “I cannot accept this. I won’t.” Jake looked up as the landing bells sounded. “Cal, let’s not get off this plane like this. Let’s settle it.”

  “It is settled, Jake. There’s nothing you can do. My mind is made up.”

  “Just tell me what brought you to this. What? I deserve to know.”

  “I’m afraid of who you are. I’m afraid of what you are outside of the experiment. I knew that Jake.”

  “Then you know this one. I’m the same man. If you don’t believe that then you have to find out. You have to give it a chance.”

  “And what, find out it doesn’t work? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Too late, you already have.” Jake sat back in his seat as the plane came to a stop. Cal wasted no time. She stood up quickly and before he knew it she had climbed over him and into the aisle.

  Cal took one more look at Jake who began to follow her. She wanted to stop, run back to him and tell him she changed her mind, but the truth was she knew she had to go home alone.

  Stepping into the airport she faced the scary sight of the awaiting military. They were there for Jake, getting ready to snatch him up, quickly and without any questions.

  “Cal Reynolds?” A voice called to her, very close to her.

  “Yes?” Her eyes moved to the voice and saw a suited dark haired gentleman standing next to her.

  “I’m here to take you to the plane, Ma’am.”

  “Thank you.” She paused before she walked with him to watch Jake. He had barely stepped into the airport before he was approached by the four uniformed men that awaited him. Her eyes never left his as he walked with them, almost being dragged away. “Let’s go.” She lowered her head and moved with the man to the other corridor just inside the private waiting room.

  Jake watched her hit the edge of the hallway and knew she was leaving. He felt helpless as he felt himself being tugged at a speed he fought to slow down. “Wait a second.” He told his escorts. “Wait a second.” Abruptly he pulled from them, left the pack and stormed to Cal. “Stop.” He snatched her back by her arm. “Hold up. Please.” Jake looked to the man who stood beside Cal. “Can you give us a second?” He waited for the man to step away. “Cal, don’t just walk away without even saying goodbye to me. I deserve more than that. I have spent seven months of my life with you. Every waking moment was with you. I’m not ready to give that up.”

  “Jake, they’re waiting for you.”

  “I don’t give a shit.” He tried, he tried his best to stay calm but Jake came off as angry as he felt. “They can wait. Don’t do this.” He hunched down to her level, placing his hand on her face, brushing his lips against hers. “Don’t walk away from me. Change your mind. Tell me you’re coming home with me.” Again he kissed her, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks.

  Cal grabbed his hands softly and slid them from her face. “I will call you.” She brought herself up to him and kissed him. “Goodbye.” She released his hands, walked backwards a few steps, and then moved down the corridor with the man.

  Jake stood there watching Cal until he couldn’t see her anymore. Before facing the men who awaited him, Jake took a long breath through his nose, stood tall, shoulders back. He put on his hat, turned about face and walked in perfect stride to his escort with an emotionless look on his face. Jake didn’t look back. He held his head high as he walked from O’Hara airport.

  ^^^^

  “We’ll be taking off momentarily, Ms. Reynolds. We’re second to go.” The man who took her on the plane spoke to her. “Have a seat, make yourself comfortable.”

  Cal gave a sad smile. Before she looked around the private plane, before she noticed anything, she saw the military plane adjacent to them on the runway. She saw Jake walking quickly and so strongly with his escorts. The military wasted no time. Within seconds of Jake stepping on that plane, the plane began to back up. Cal watched Jake’s plane head to a runway as she stood in center of the plane. An immediate empty feeling hit her. They had reached their furthest distance apart in seven months.

  Cal swallowed and finally looked at the plane she had boarded. “Wow.” She commented aloud and she took her seat on the black leather bench seat against the window.

  Cal rested her head back in the moment directly after they hit the air. She closed her eyes, mind never far from Jake. She snapped to attention when she heard the click-click of a door. She turned her head to the sound to see a different man walk from the back of the plane. An immediate warm feeling told her she knew him. Cal smiled at him.

  “Cal.” He called her name like it was a sign of relief and walked up to her. “You don’t know who I am.” He extended his hand warmly, when hers met his, he cupped his other hand over hers. “I apologize for the intrusion on your privacy but I just had to meet you. You don’t mind, do you?”

  Cal lowered her head and feeling a little awkward slipped her hand from his. “No, I don’t at all. Actually, I’d love company. This is . . .” She shook her head. “This is going to sound stupid, but . . . th
is is the first time in a long time that I’ve been by myself. It’s a little scary. Sounds weird, huh?” Cal stepped back and sat down.

  “No, it doesn’t at all. I expected as much.” Aldo sat down next to her and noticed she was leaning into him, almost smelling him. “Is something wrong?”

  Cal smiled. “No, again, you’re going to think I’m strange. But you smell so good.”

  “I try.” Aldo leaned his side against the couch, arm on its back as he faced Cal. “Here we are sitting here talking and you haven’t a clue as to who I am.”

  “Not necessarily. Are you . . . Mr. Connilucci?”

  “How did you . . .”

  “Nice plane, and just the way you look, you look like you would be an Aldo.” Cal smiled. “I’m very happy to meet you. In fact, I received your gifts. They were very generous, but . . . I can’t accept them. It just doesn’t seem appropriate for me to take such gifts from a man I . . .”

  “You sound like Graison, stop it.” Aldo rested his hand on her knee. “You deserve it. I will take it as an insult if you do not take it, or this.”

  Cal heard a clinking and smelled the overwhelmingly wonderful scent of real food. She turned her head to the cart that was being wheeled in. “For me?”

  “Of course, it is.” Aldo stood up, nodding his head to the woman so she could leave. “Thank you.” On the wheeled table were three silver covered dishes. “I hadn’t any idea what you would be in the mood for, breakfast, lunch or dinner. I did know that you probably couldn’t wait for real food, so. . .” Aldo began to lift the lids reciting, “Eggs Benedict, Lobster Newburg and Veal Oscar. Indulge.”

  “Oh, shit.” Cal looked at the array of food. “You are going to join me, aren’t you?”

  “No. It’s all yours.”

  “Please.” She spoke with sarcasm. “Don’t make me eat alone. Grab another dish. We’ll share.”

  “I’d like that.” Aldo walked to the back and came back out with a dish, set it on the table then sat next to Cal. “So, can I overstep the boundaries and ask why you informed my man that we are going to Pittsburgh instead of North Carolina?”

  “You may.” Cal placed a fork of food in her mouth and closed her eyes. It tasted so good it was almost orgasmic. She took another bite. “I’m not going with Jake.”

  “Cal, you don’t know me, but I feel like I know you. I’ve watched you for seven months. I’d like to know why I feel like I just watched my favorite two characters on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, break up?”

  Cal laughed and wiped her mouth. “We were good up there. I’m afraid of things not working out down here. I can’t take that chance. I’m afraid of who Jake may be now, that maybe I won’t . . . . No, that’s not it at all.”

  “No, it’s not. You’re afraid of yourself. You’re afraid of being happy again. You feel like you’re doing something wrong. Home reminds you of pain, pain you feel you have to carry.”

  “Wow. You must know me well.”

  “I do.” Aldo took another bite, then a drink of water. “But I’m speaking from experience more so.”

  “Are you married, Aldo?” Cal asked.

  “I was. I’m a widower. My wife was killed. In fact they just found the man last year. It added some closure to it all.”

  “Children?” Cal pried.

  “A daughter, Allison. Feisty.” Aldo shook his head. “A handful to manage alone.”

  “I bet you do wonderfully.” Cal shifted from the empty eggs benedict plate to the lobster.

  “I have another gift.” He shifted his body and reached to a blue box on the table next to him. “This is for you.”

  “What is this?” Cal opened the lid. “Video tapes?”

  “Again, I might be assuming too much. These six tapes are highlights of the favorite scenes that I watched. And I only picked the ones that weren’t painful for you, and that you might enjoy.”

  “Thank you.” Cal ran her hand over them. “By chance, would there be any . . .”

  “There is a whole tape of Rickie. I made sure that second day when he told his fireman story was on there. I laughed extremely hard at that.” He watched a tear fall down her face as she held the tape with his name on it. “You did good for that boy, real good. I was proud of you.”

  “Thank you.” Cal wiped her eye. “And thank you for this.” She set down the box and started to eat again.

  “Can I give you some food for thought, other than food for you belly?”

  “Why do I think you’re going to anyway?”

  With a chuckle, Aldo continued. “I’m speaking from experience here. Cal, no one knows better than you how short life is. How quickly things that seem good can be over with. It’s one thing when they are taken from us out of our control, when we still want them. It’s another when we give them up when we had a choice.”

  Aldo captured her attention, and captured her thoughts. She was grateful for meeting this man. And though she knew she had just met him, she felt a bond to him, a bond that told her ‘listen to him.’

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Fort Bragg, NC

  Jake was not fazed by the congratulatory handshakes, well wishes and ‘glad you are backs’ from those higher in rank. Even the cigarette smoke didn’t irk him. He guessed it didn’t because he had grown used to it with Cal. He sat in the meeting, listening to what he had to hear, saying what had to be said, nothing more and nothing less. His mind wandered, unlike it had ever done before. Usually he’d listen to the boring fishing and golf stories, smiling like he enjoyed them, when he didn’t. He wished in his mind they would just move on with it. It was pushing five o’clock and most of the meeting was spent on idle bull. Though he sat straight up in his chair, occasional grabbing his glass of water, Jake’s pencil moved about a notebook, scribbling nonsense, wanting like a teenager, just to write her name.

  Jake’s eyes felt heavy and it wasn’t because he was tired. He wanted to close them, but only to think about Cal. He didn’t fully understand why he felt like he did. He felt empty, angry, and alone.

  Jake was the last one to leave the meeting, aside from the Colonel. H figured no one would notice the change in his demeanor. He thought he was like he always was, stone, hard, emotionless. But they didn’t know what he had become, Jake didn’t fully know what he had become.

  “Jake.” The Colonel stopped him before he walked out the door. “You don’t seem as happy as I thought you’d be on finding out that promotion is coming through Monday and all.”

  “I’m sorry, Colonel, I am pleased. I just have a lot on my mind, sir. Personal things, things I have to take care of.” Jake nodded firmly.

  “You’re anxious to get moving, huh? Jake, son, I’ve known you a long time. I wanted to let you know how glad I am that you finally found someone, someone to help fill that life of yours.”

  Jake paused, lowered his head and raised his eyes. “Thank you.” He swallowed. “So am I. Have a good night, sir.” He reached for the door knob again.

  “Jake, you aren’t letting this one go, are you? You are going to marry her?”

  Jake stopped in his reach, he tilted his head and a smile finally came over his face. “You know what? . . . Yes, I am.” More confident, he left from the office.

  He had made a lot of decisions in that meeting, none of them having to do with his job. That was something he supposed he’d regret come Monday morning. But no decision was as important as the one he reached seconds after he walked from the room with Colonel Roberts. Jake was a fighter. He never went down without a fight, or ever gave up. He wasn’t about to do so now. If Cal thought for one second he was giving up that easily, she was wrong. Wrong just like that first day they met, just like when he went into her room through the bathroom and she told him to leave. Jake didn’t stop trying to reach her then, he just tried another door. And he would do that again. He was going to try another door.

  ^^^^

  New Eagle, PA

  Joyce stopped arguing with Peter over how dry the chicken breast was at
their dinner as she peered in amazement at her house. “What the hell is going on?”

  “What are you talking about, Joyce? One second it’s the chicken, the next . . .”

  “Lights, my lights are on and I didn’t leave them on.” Joyce opened the car door. “It can’t be.” She shook her head. “I bet it is.”

  “What!” Pete yelled as he watched Joyce race from the car into her house.

  Cal spread the mayonnaise on the bread for her bologna sandwich. Bologna wasn’t her meal of choice at that moment but it seemed Joyce had failed to shop for her return. As she placed the knife in the jar for another scoop of white stuff, a loud shriek in the kitchen caused her to jump and nearly knock her food to the floor. “God, Joyce.”

  “Cal!” Joyce, running grabbed Cal and embraced her tightly.

  Cal’s arms swung around nearly hitting everything with mayonnaise. “Easy.”

  “Let me look at you.” Joyce stepped back folding her arms. “You look great. Hey.” She grabbed Cal’s arms. “Are these muscles?”

  “Don’t ask.” Cal licked the mayonnaise off her finger.

  “I can’t believe you’re here. I didn’t think you were coming home. Not from the experiment, but coming home here.”

  “Where else would I go?” Cal slid the paper plate with the half made sandwich aside.

  With a loud breath out, Joyce sat down. “Let me catch my breath for a moment.” She placed her hand to her chest. “Fort Bragg. I thought you were going there with that Major.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Just by what Chuck said. When he dropped off the supplies, he said there was an emotional thing happening on the roof. Jake started crying, really mushy stuff.”

  “Oh Chuck is full of shit. That never happened. He lied.”

  “Oh.” Joyce seemed surprised. “So you’re not in love with Major Graison?”

  “I’m very much in love with Major Graison.”

  “OK, so why are you here? Is he here?”

  “Nope he’s in Fort Bragg. It’s my idea. I just think, Joyce, we shouldn’t be together. Our lives are different now, so completely different.” Cal slid her finger tips over the counter. “I just can’t take the chance that it won’t work. And can we please not talk about this anymore? I’m depressed. It’s all I’ve thought about since I left him. I need to take it off my mind, get Jake off my mind.”