Encompassing Love

by Richard Lord

  “Were you invited, Joy?” Sara asks. Then she walks over to Joy and kisses her on her forehead and pushes back her hair to look at her face. “When I get time, I’ll drop in on you and your husband one day! Speaking of which, any recent romances?”

  Joy raises her eyes over her peach to look at her mother. She pauses mid-bite. Then her eyes move to her left as she looks at Renfield.

  Renfield stands and yells out, “Stanley, let’s go get some air!” Then he turns to Tomorrow and Joy and says, “Girl talk. We’re going to go have guy talk.” As Adam walks into the other room he makes a “Hrmph” sound triumphantly as Stanley begins explaining what he is doing.

  Joy and Sara laugh at the look on his face, but Joy speaks up, “I’ve thought of something, Dad.”

  Renfield stops cold and pivots on his right heel, turns and walks back towards the kitchen to look at her. “Go on. By the way, you look marvelous. I clearly have good genes.”

  “Well, I’ve been talking to Illumna, trying to get to know my sister a bit better.” Joy looks at her mother oddly unable to shake the facts of their odd bloodline.

  “When?” Renfield asks.

  “Multiple when’s, Dad. She knows I’m her sister, if that’s what you’re asking. I’ve seen Solstice too. Solstice doesn’t recognize me. It’s not like I am around much when she visits.” Joy reaches for another peach and finds there are only apples left. She takes one rubs it in her shirt and drops it in her pocket. Then she looks up at Renfield, “It’s for Solstice. She likes apples.”

  Renfield looks wistful but then he looks at Joy and says, “Okay. He sucks in air trying not to lose himself to thought about Solstice. He does note Joy mentioned, when she visits, so he knows the timeframe. He finds it odd neither Solstice or Illumna ever mentioned her to him. He steels his jaw and then says, “Get to your point, Joy.”

  “Brady is Illumna’s grandfather, as you know.” Joy comments while finding a grape at the bottom of the fruit basket and grabbing at it.

  “Yeah, Joy, I get it. Christina had more of an appetite than even you, but for different things. If it’s not clear, I’d prefer not to talk about it with either of you.” Renfield’s jaw clenches harder.

  “Actually, Dad, I don’t think she did. I think she loved you as much as she said she did. I think Johnson pulled a dirty trick. I’ll explain later, but he kind of used Christina’s love for you against her and you.” Joy peered into the fruit basket and turned her nose up at the orange.

  “You can have the banana.” Renfield said, while trying to remain patient.

  Joy rose and went to inspect the refrigerator. Digging around she found the remnants of a steak, some habanero sauce and some minced avocado. She poured the hot sauce on the steak, smeared the avocado on it and then began chewing it without heating it.

  Sara narrowed her eyes at Adam. “She’s more and more like you every day.”

  Renfield ignored the comment and then looked at Joy for answers, “How so?”

  Sara rolls her eyes at Adam.

  Joy went on, “Christina was with Brady, but she was hoping to one day rectify things with you. So she insisted he use, protection. She didn’t want to become pregnant because she was hoping for you, but then she found out about Sara. That was Johnson’s doing. He really hates both of you a lot. I’m still trying to figure that out.” She opened the refrigerator again to scrounge. “Later, he took one of your ‘versions’ of Christina in time, she was captured and…”

  Sara spoke up, “Then how was I born both here and there as two different people?”

  “I said one of Christina’s versions. I haven’t figured out how you have Tomorrow’s life and Sara’s in your head.” Joy found a few hard boiled eggs and began making short work of them.

  Tomorrow looked at Renfield. Renfield nodded. “We do. Illumna could move into previous versions of herself. Clearly it was a trait passed down. Sara didn’t know she could, when she did was during the Stephen thing. We…never mind, it’s complicated. Go on, Joy.”

  Joy stopped chewing and looked at her parents then she held up a finger. “Oh. Yeah, I guess that makes sense.”

  Renfield looked at Sara again as he heard the voice behind him. “Are we going to go do something? You said we were.” Renfield turned and looked down at Stanley.

  Renfield looked up at Joy who responded, “Uh, no! I may be looking for a man, but I was thinking of someone more my age.” She chuckled to herself.

  Renfield narrowed his eyes and said, “If you keep eating like that you’re going to lose your figure long before you find someone interested.”

  “Adam! That’s a cruel statement!” Sara was up and at Stanley’s side in a moment.

  “Mom, calm down, he knows how fast it burns off when we click time.” Joy looked down at Stanley. “Want to go on a roller coaster?”

  “Not really.” Stanley replies in thought alone.

  Hearing his thoughts Joy says, “Okay, but I’m not too good at video games. You’ll have to teach me. Want some grapes first?”

  “Sure!” Stanley’s face brightens as Joy moves towards him and grabs his small hand. As they vanish, Sara looks at Adam, who holds a finger to his lips and points to Joy grabbing a bowl to put the bunch of grapes in.

  Joy walks begins walking into the living room when she feels a hand on her shoulder. “You still look young which means you are clicking quickly in an out of time. I have been on your side trying to keep your mother from pressuring you to settle down with a man, but what you are doing is unwise. It’s smart, but trust me, it’s unwise.” Adam says to his daughter.

  “I know you’re worried that what is happening to you will happen to me. It might, but I want this all to be put to rest.” Joy responds. She hugs Adam with all of her might. “You’ve always been a good Dad. I can’t explain what happens next because I don’t understand it yet, but, Dad, I can’t stop.”

  “I have seen you long after I am gone, which should be impossible. You and your mother have the potential to do many things, which is why I had those suites made. Concentrate on that. Believe it or not small changes matter.” Adam advises.

  “I love you Dad, you are food to Mom and good to the brat and you were great to me. I don’t want to let you down, but I know I have to do this. Please, don’t ask.” Joy turns to Stanley and walks into the living room and says, “Okay, buddy, what’s the first game I can annihilate you in?”

  Sara looks at Renfield and sighs, “I’ll never get that whole time thing down. How long do you think they were gone?”

  Renfield shrugs, “My guess is long enough to wear him down. She seems far more confident she can beat him at any game. She is good to her little brother. She’ll make a good mom herself some day.” Then Adam considered all the places she must have been to gather more information than even he had. “When she slows down enough to settle someplace with a man who can put up with her.”

  Sara giggles. Then she stops abruptly. “I know she’s too old for us to tell her what to do, but I have a place in mind.”

  Renfield hears her thoughts. “Well Lawrence’s son is the patient type and with you still asking me to ferry you to the twin cities, the third could do well with a Renfield to help out.”

  “That’s what she meant!” Tomorrow’s eyes widen as she realizes they already had an answer. She thinks to him quickly.

  “I gathered that. Let’s go home.” Renfield embraces Tomorrow.

  Then they hear the crash and look to Joy who looks as shocked as they are. Renfield hears the growl and he knows what it is. He thinks at Joy, “Move Stanley! Go left!” He thinks to Tomorrow, “Go right, you’re bait, go near the stairs, but please don’t try to take them.”

  All three move instantly. The being is distracted by Tomorrow’s sudden movement and goes for her. Renfield lands on top of it and slashes down into it with a knife as he reaches to the wall where he kept Brian’s sword. Pulling it free he slashes, but it results in only a nick as the Hunter turns to him, rolling out of the a
rc of the blade.

  Tomorrow clicks, and yells, “Where is the gun?”

  Adam is thrown hard to the ground and tries desperately to catch air. He looks up at Tomorrow and shakes his head. As the Hunter grabs him by the throat he holds out three fingers to her and then makes a goose egg symbol.

  Tomorrow thinks to him, “What does that mean?”

  Adam is being thrown into the walls of his own home, by the Hunter. Through the pain of the impacts and the quick clicks to avoid it’s blows, but he manages to think back, “Three shots left!” Then Tomorrow here’s him think, “There must be more Hunters left than we thought. Don’t use the last three shots!”

  Joy lands on its back and begins stabbing at it furiously. It reaches over its shoulder and throws her in front of it as if it will deal with her momentarily. It clearly wants to finish Adam. Tomorrow, with the instincts of a mother grabs a broom and looks for the exhaustion area on the Hunter. She runs at full charge and shoves. The Hunter reels back in agony.

  Renfield reaches his hand out, grabs the sword and clicks above the Hunter while bringing the sword down on its neck, decapitating it. Then he says, “Better you than me, buddy. I hope she got that out of her system.” He turns and looks at Joy who is holding a bloody knife and he winks at his daughter. Then he looks at Tomorrow. “Nice work, girls.”

  “So do we have to change camps now?” Tomorrow responds sarcastically.

  “No, but the garbage man is going to have some weight to haul.” Adam laughs as he heads to the laundry room and grabs a bottle of bleach.

  Sara watches him knowing he is thinking more than he will let on. Joy says, “There’s more of them. He knows that. That’s not what’s bothering him.”

  Tomorrow looks at Joy and says flatly, “No shit.”

  “So you know?” Joy asks.

  “I do now.” Sara waves off her daughter. “He won’t quit and he can’t win. Your father is a strong man, but how does he reconcile this?”

  “Joy points at the hug in her father’s hand. “Well for now, apparently with bleach. There is only one way, Mom. He already knows it. He stays because he doesn’t want to hurt you, but you both know.”

  “I can’t accept that Joy. I’ve been through two lifetimes with that man you call your father. Do you have any idea what he would do for me? What I would do for him?” Sara looks at her daughter with a look that extends past time.

  “Yes, Mother, I do. That’s why he’ll do it when the time comes. He feels the same way about you. He always has. It’s why he’s here, but he’ll go there when he realizes it’s the only way.” Joy explains.

  “Joy, just go. I can’t talk to you right now.” Tomorrow moves towards Adam. Her eyes ask him to be with her. Adam turns to look at Stanley and then back to her. He holds out a finger to Stanley.

  “So I’m going to that place now, aren’t I?” Stanley remarks.

  “Yeah, pretty much. Man up, Stan.” Adam says in a quite whisper while staring directly at his wife.

  “Can’t I just go to bed?” Stanley responds.

  “Weird time of the day for sleep, kid. Plus, you need to learn the future anyway.”

  “Dad, why is it all bad stuff?” Stanley remarks.

  “What do you mean?” Renfield locks in on the comment.

  “I know what happens in my future, but it’s your past. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I become those things.” Stanley points at the spot where the Hunter was brought down.

  “We’ve talked about this! There are potentials. Even if we saw that just now doesn’t mean that’s our future.” Adam doesn’t click. He looks down at Stanley hearing several thoughts. Many of which he wishes he didn’t have to consider, but he has to for his son’s sake.

  “You’re lying, Dad. When am I old enough for you to tell me about Stephen?” Stanley says flatly.

  Renfield considers the statement and tries hard not to think. He is aware Stanley has started to hear the minds of others. “I think Joy is there right now.” He responds changing the topic.

  Stanley replies, “Okay, she’s fun.” Then he clicks.

  Renfield looks at Sara and thinks to her, “Did you know he could do that?”

  “Don’t look shocked.” Sara begins walking up the stairs to the bedroom and Renfield looks up long enough to see her toss down the clothes she was previously wearing.

  “Caught the panties. So do I get a prize?” Renfield yells up the stairs while moving swiftly.

  CHAPTER 37

  “The martyr, as they called him, did not know. I did.” -- from the Book of Tina

  “Welcome home, Joy. I suppose it is official now?” Kumadri asks.

  Joy smiles and begins to answer as she looks over Kumadri’s shoulder and notices two figures. “So it begins, I take it?”

  “When it comes to ambassadorship, your father doesn’t waste much time. We are prepared if we can agree.” Kumadri answers.

  Joy walks down the hill, “I am Joy, daughter of Tomorrow.”

  Tina looks at Venetia who responds, “We know who you are.”

  Joy wanted to look into a mirror. She was surprised they could recognize her at her current age. Then she realized that wasn’t what they meant. She took a breath and answered, “My mother will be looking for the two of you.” Then she stopped. “Wait, you couldn’t have come here unless you’ve already seen my father.”

  Kumadri steps in and says to Joy, “You have four new outfits ready, my dear. Go, try them on. One is for casual, one is for formal and the other is understandable.”

  “The fourth?” Joy asks. She sees Jeremy wave at her from the dock. Then she notes, Kumadri look away. “I suspect my mother is a bit of an ambassador herself.” She shrugs and adds, “He’s cute. I’ll go see how good he really is at fishing.”

  Kumadri looks down with a tad bit of a grin. Tina laughs outright as Joy heads down to the dock. Venetia reminds them they have business to attend to and some things are none of their business. The three look down at the plans and Venetia looks up at Kumadri, “She does have her own room, right?”

  Kumadri says, “She prefers to sleep in the tents with the other women.” She points back at the structures behind her. “But she does have a room in our growing city. You can take the girl out of the village, but you can’t get the village out of the girl.”

  Tina asks, “And you?”

  Kumadri answers. “At my age, I stay where I’m wanted. Sometimes here and sometimes in there.” She points back to the city behind her again. “How are your children?”

  Tina begins, “Amy is a mother now. She’s far less concerned about being different. Her name is Harmony. Her husband is respectable, but you know I will never think any man is good enough for her!” Tina laughs as she thinks of younger days with Kumadri. Before Kumadri’s crimes.

  Kumadri sees the look in Tina’s eyes, but turns her attention to Venetia, “And Conan?”

  Venetia looks perturbed at the familial nature of the conversation, but replies, “He learned time. He met some woman far in the past. He says she’s a Queen. I don’t know. He’s happy. He says she is like him. I assume she’s…” Her eyes narrow and she turns her head to Joy while she watches her lean on a dock post while talking to Jeremy. She finished her sentence, “One of them.”

  Kumadri breathes deep and Tina looks at her with an understanding. Kumadri says, “So, if we build two roads from the sea to the city, instead of one, as you suggest we will face turmoil amongst the workers. But, we establish a backup route, giving people choice and avoiding most unforeseen incidents that might shut down one trade route.”

  Venetia responds, “Have the fishers trade with the builders. There are many shells in the sea. Fishermen need boats. I think you will find that they will work together well.”

  Kumadri nods. “That makes sense. Now onto the more pressing topic for all of us. How can we trade with each other and still keep this place unknown to the people of both of your cities?”

  “The ten year agreements with A
dam are over. He has infused our cities with technologies to grow and you have skilled workers here.” Venetia points out.

  Tina watches as Kumadri’s face forms into a scowl and Kumadri says, “They left there. We don’t want to come back. We want to build our own city. I’ve agreed to meet with you because Adam asked.

  Venetia leans back then forward, “I think we’ve established there is a whole new generation who learned their trades from their fathers and mothers. They have never been to the twin cities. Are you so certain they are not curious?”

  Kumadri’s face goes pale with anger as she stands. She sees Joy whispering something to Jeremy, but calls to her nonetheless. Joy clicks to her, knowing that everyone knows about her and her family in this place. Kumadri says, “Kindly take these two back, Joy. Our meeting is over.”

  Joy notes Kumadri’s tone and hears her think, “Take Venetia first. I could use some time with Tina, so no rush, please.”

  Joy turns to Tina and Venetia hearing clearly that they are both let down by the turn of events. She announces, “Okay, who’s first.” Then she grabs Venetia’s wrist and vanishes with her.

  Tina looks at Kumadri, “She has a point and it is good for all three cities.”

  “No, it is good for your city. Venetia is being unfair. You know that Tina. I know she’s your friend, but you do know she is being rather one sided and my people don’t want to see everything they’ve built be simply to watch their children go back to what they built this city to get away from.”

  Tina considers that for a moment and then says, “Mutual apprenticeships! Win for all of us. We’ll send people to help you build both of those roads.” Tina points down at the plans laying on the table between them.

  “Do you have the authority to agree and stand by those terms?” Kumadri asks.

  “Most assuredly. Stephen said you would use this tactic. We have Tomorrow, we have Adam and we have Joy now, thanks to your predictability.” Tina stood and said, “I will be staying here to oversee the project.” Then her eyes went wide and blood spilled from her mouth. Behind her stood a woman Kumadri didn’t know. She noted the young lady was bleeding profusely.