Cyrosphere 8: Lives Uneasily Affected

by Deandre Dean

  Thank heavens the day was over, a quick word with Shane before she went out with Lucas. Even though she was pregnant and working crazy mad hours, he always managed to make her feel special. Ginger appreciated that and loved this man with all her heart.

  Seeing Shane and his dazzling smile made her crappy day vanish. They sat in a Starbucks in Corona as he awaited for his shift to begin. The drive down helped calm her over active mind. Making an inventory list of all the people who may possible return to bring hell down on her family.

  Shane didn’t give her much. As a guard, he interacted little as possible with the inmates. The upside was his abilities that allowed him access to visions of acts of violence. Thanks to Shane, he was able to prevent many occurrences of murders. Each day he went in with the hope to change lives and make a difference. That didn’t always go according to plan when he saw Brutus Creed. He plotted Ginger’s murder on a daily basis.

  That did not sit well with Ginger each time this psychopath went to bed, the last image he probably saw was her strangled, stabbed or killed other various ways. Leaving from talking with Shane, she felt better that some forgave but a few would forever hold a grudge.

  All this worry did not help turning twenty-seven. It was the last thing she wanted to think about but of course with all the joy going around, everyone would want to celebrate. Sometimes Ginger wished she could pack a bag and vanish, but with everything in her life that was not an option at the moment.

  Life would be so much better if she didn’t have so many responsibilities or other things to preoccupy her time. Work, the book and now the baby on the way; this was a lot to juggle. Things were all over the place and she felt like it was too much to handle at times.

  Driving back to the city was time to think about visiting an old friend. After work, she’d see if Alkmene Kincaid knew anything. Ginger didn’t think to ask why Alkmene never came to visit Shalice or had any sort of contact with her long lost sister. It had been years and that should have been a warning sign in the first place.

  Chapter 21:

  The long day ended with dinner with Lucas. Sure it was Norms, but it was nice to go out and sit to allow someone else to take care of things. This was one of the benefits of having a partner, not just the championship but a shoulder to lean on.

  Friends did this too like Lupio, Stacey, Penny, Shane, Mark, or Gretchen but it wasn’t the same. Each day with Lucas was a miracle since she hadn’t had many with Diego.

  Diego has been the love of her life into Feltus ripped that away. Diego was gone and she didn’t think she’d ever love again. Mark proved her wrong, but he wasn’t the one. Just a hot guy Ginger had incredible chemistry with.

  Meeting Lucas Faraday Catalano was like opening a window after years with light or air. He made her feet safe and secure. The soulmate she had thought she lost when Diego died. Lucas made her feel whole like life was not complete into she met him.

  It was as if everything aligned just right and all the pain she endured didn’t seem to matter any longer. The next day was Wednesday, so she had a double shift. Work a few hours at the hotel. Leave around two to go home to grade papers and check email.

  Normally Ginger took her laptop with her everywhere to check email, but not yesterday. She used her phone to check in periodically. After two hours of busy work, she had a late lunch with Penny and Jurnee. The boys were getting so big. It felt like just yesterday they were born. Before going to work at the school, she read the email from Victoria.

  Victoria did want to change her life around and wanted Ginger to help get her enrolled at Dark Force University. That would be easy now that Stacey accepted a job on the board. Stacey had finished her Masters and began to train cadets at the Academy.

  It seems Stacey found her calling. Teaching and inspiring was easy when you loved what you did. Stacey had thought she do more with her life and yet the teaching aspect since she became a mom was apart of her. They seemed to become closer friends as they got older. Having children and on day soon Ginger would be a wife.

  The night classes for her English Composition class and Creative writing covered how to write a research paper. Sure all her students were juniors and freshmen, but it never hurt to cover an important topic. All her years in school, Ginger wished teachers covered as much as she tried to.

  After classes were done, she asked Vincent if he could get her all the forms and paperwork for Victoria. He was kind enough to help her out and now was time to face Alkmene. See what the she beast was up to. Never in all the years has Ginger known. Stacey has her aunt need an ounce nice or kind to Ginger.

  Ginger didn’t like to jump to conclusions but felt a part of Alkmene was racist. Stacey had abandoned that side of her family for Ginger but that never sat right with her. Could it be possible that Alkmene was apart of PHD and all the pain they caused? This was a dark thought but might be a part of reality.

  Chapter 22:

  Standing outside her house, Ginger had no other choice. Accuse the woman of misconduct and hope her ice shield cracks. If not, screw it. Read her mind and get the truth no matter what. This was the harsh reality; her child might be endangered by whoever this indigo was that was tailing her.

  No amount of human decency would allow Ginger to forget that. Her child’s life depended on her not missing up and making the wrong decision. Going down this road would have consequences, but that wasn’t the important thing in that moment.

  Ginger knocked and waited. A few seconds the door in the pants-suit. Alkmene wore set of pearls and her hair up in a conservative updue. She was the image of wealth and sophistication. Ginger pushed down the bile that hoped to escape on this despicable woman.

  Morning sickness had amazing time, but she wanted to keep things civil. For now, she bites back her grin and says, “I’ll like to speak to you for a moment if you don’t mind?”

  Alkmene rolled her eyes and she stepped aside to allow Ginger access either. Ginger walked through the foyer to the dinning room and sat as gracefully as possible. Every time in Alkmene’s presence, Ginger felt like a seven year old about to be scolded for bad behavior.

  She ignored her feelings of inadequacy. Ginger smiles and states, “I wanted to ask you some questions concerning PHD.”

  Trying not to let out a frustrated sigh, Ginger tried a different tactic. “Your sister Shalice is home and getting married to Daniel. I don’t want to overstep but I thought you’d like to know,” Ginger finishes.

  Alkmene cackles stand and says, “You don’t want to overstep! Please, you love to stick your nose where it does not belong.”

  Ginger stands up and does the cruelest thing possible. She touches Alkmene with no warning and blast through her mind for the answers. No demanding or reasoning but force as Ginger digs deeper to pull out the truth.

  Alkmene tried to resist any longer, collapses onto the sofa and passes out. Ginger felt horrible, but allowed that moment to pass. She had to do what she had to do. IT may not be right, but it gave her a lot to think on. The traitor came from within and PHD was back in business.

  Chapter 23:

  What she read in her head was those that lay close are not to be trusted. They are the ones that will betray you. Those words haunted Ginger. Naturally the only person that came to mind was Adorsa, but somehow Ginger knew she could trust her with her life.

  Somehow she knew that Alkmene had told her the truth, but that didn’t mean she would start mistrusting everyone left and right. About time she got home, all Ginger did was brush her teeth before falling fast asleep. The next morning, she got up and called everyone to come to the house around eight.

  The day went by in a flash. Worrying about the possibilities of a mole within her small secure group of friends didn’t sit well with her anxiety levels. All this worry was no good for the baby, which reminded her to schedule her next ultrasound. They were going to be able to determine the sex of the baby.

  Did she want to know?

  This thought played around in her head. Kno
wing the sex of your baby, that scared her more so then delivering the baby. No, absolutely no way did she want to know. Screw baby clothes and the dump tradition. If she had a daughter, she could teach her everything she knew about being a woman.

  Ginger wondered, if she had a boy. Dear God! She wouldn’t love him any less but would Lucas be enough. He was estranged from his parents and hers’ were dead. This left little to no guidance besides Aaron. The man one true love was no longer dead, but up and around dating someone else. He had it rough, no wonder he didn’t date.

  Aaron was hosting this meeting and would be watching little Judy. The things we do for those we love. Once she was off at six, too anxious to actually eat. Baby and mommie had too much on her plate to actually take a bite of any food in sight.

  Sitting alone in the hotel’s restaurant was not pathetic if she wrote. So that’s what she did, Ginger wrote for an hour and an half while traffic died down. Leaving her comfy downtown Los Angeles office for Westchester with bad news was not how she planned to end her day.

  No, a back massage and lots of sex with her fiancée was the original plan. Now as she drove toward the house, all she kept thinking I wonder who it is that is betraying us?

  Ginger came face to face with all her friends as she delivered this devasting news. She opened the door to the first place that felt like home after losing her parents and true love Diego. There could not be a traitor here, could there?

  Adorsa sitting on Mark’s lap asks, “So Ginger what’s going on?”

  Mark gave her an assessing look. Stacey cuddle up besides Peter were beside them also looking at her as she walked through the door.

  “Give the girl some breathing room,” states Lupio. He stands up against a wall with Stephen Shar. That could be the possible candidate. It wasn’t as if Ginger knew him all that well.

  No! Stop it; don’t jump to conclusions without evidence. To her left was Jurnee on the arm rest of a sofa with Penny beside her. Gretchen walks in with Shane. Could it be one of them? Gretchen turned sides once, would she do it again?

  Shane was the last addiction to their group beside Adorsa. Stan was here also with MaryAnne, Jensen, Shalice and Daniel had extra chairs added. They all waited for her answers.

  Fine, I’ll tell. “We have a mole,” Ginger shouts.

  Chapter 24:

  That was bad. She just let it out with no regard to who would be hurt. Ginger had just confessed that they had a rat and at the same time accused everyone there tonight.

  This was not going according to plan. All she wanted was a Twixt bar and Lucas to have sex with her all night long. Everyone was silent as the information was sinking into place. Who did everyone think it was?

  “How do you know this?” asks Stacey.

  Of course. The one question she really wasn’t prepared to answer. Ginger responds, “I took the information from Alkmene Kincaid and I am sorry.”

  Stacey takes in the information in silence. Thank God Yvette and Aaron was not here. A whole village of Darkholme would be scary to face.

  “How could you?” Peter demands.

  That was the last person she expected to speak out on objection or to defend Alkmene.

  “Maybe she had no other choice. Did you ever think of that Peter? That is my sister, but I wouldn’t put it past her to back stab along the way,’ Shalice answers.

  Ginger takes a second to allow everything to sink in and announces, “I didn’t want to do that. I did have a choice and I took the easy route. My child and I are being stalked by some indigo so I take that as a sign of war. I am not going to gamble with this baby’s life. Do you understand me?”

  The scary mom claws were out and Ginger made her point.

  Penny states, “Now that all thank ugliness is behind us. What are we going to do?”

  “Should we trust Alkmene?” asks Shane.

  “I believe in Ginger so what’s the plan?” finishes Gretchen.

  All eyes turned to her. Ginger lets out a sigh and replies, “I trust all of you. I have no reason to doubt you so let’s just move on. Try and determine who the new mastermind behind PHD is.”

  “And make them pay,” Lupio states.

  Laughs and hesitation filled the room. Ginger wondered if she should have told them what she discovered.

  Chapter 25:

  Thank God it was Friday and her short day. Off by two and no work until Sunday. Not a lot of free time, but felt incredible to have some alone time.

  Today she had appointment with Lupio to try and reduce her stress, so they’d be doing light weights and a few circles around the park. The cardio was total bullshit. Ginger was caring a child, not a piece of damaged goods. Sure she could take it easy but that wasn’t her style.

  Ginger met with Lupio at three so they could lift at the downtown 24 Hour Fitness. After that they walked in the park for an hour. She wanted to go longer but he refused.

  Fine, she thought. I’ll just go on my own to get a true workout without the kid glows on.

  “Hey, can we talk,” he asks.

  Ginger nods and answers, “Sure Lupio. What’s up?”

  “My accountant has hit a little trouble and I was hoping you can take a quick look and tell me what you think,” Lupio finishes.

  “Sounds reasonable, when is a good time?” Ginger asks.

  Lupio shrugs and asks. “How about tomorrow afternoon you drop by?”

  That was fast but since her friend, why not. She nodded and they ended things, so she could go home and eat. Ginger has been craving tuna, twixt and peanut butter sandwiches.

  After lunch, Ginger showered and changed into some sweats so she could sit in her office and write. This new mystery book just practically wrote itself. That is why she loved writing; it was as if she were the vessel for creativity. Not necessary dictating the route, but helped guide the direction.

  Tired and ready to sex up her man, she made a meatloaf with vegetarian ingredients. While the meatloaf was baking, Ginger whipped up some mashed potatoes, cabbage and fresh turkey gravy.

  Once done, she went back to her writing for the next forty minutes or so. Lucas came home and they watched Spy while eating. After he rubbed her feet, she awoke from her nap feeling frisky and ready for action.

  The next day, Ginger didn’t want to get out of bed as she glanced at the clock to see eight fifty three. She did spend half the night up in the horizontal tango. Ginger stretched and went about cleaning to work up a healthy appetite. The best thing about cleaning, it was a real work-out for the full body if done correctly.

  After cleaning, Ginger showered before making some oatmeal mixed with freshen chopped up fruit. After tidying up the kitchen, she left to see Guadalupe’s accountant. Sure it was hours away, plenty of time to get baby registry and schedule her ultrasound.

  Chapter 26:

  Shopping, or rather scanning a bunch of gifts she needed was not fun. Nothing showed true friendship then out buying one another. Thank heavens Ginger only registered at Target, so as not to over whelm all her friends or break their banks.

  Once that was done, she called the doctor’s office to schedule her appointment. Lucas had gave her a few dates so they could see the baby together. He was so sweet that it made her sick sometimes. The result of happily ever after was fast approaching and they were going to start a family together.

  The accountant name was Kurtis Delmare. The pixie nome also was a carpenter for Lupio. Lupio’s business has been flourishing and his latest project was enough profit to take a vacation at the end of summer. The handsome Kurtis reminded Ginger of Peter because they both had the same built and height.

  Six foot two inches with a tone, lean body. Peter had dimples, but the rough edges of Kurtis’ persona intrigued Ginger. He showed her the financial reports. They were standard and looked similar to the ones Ginger used at the Marriott. She didn’t see any irregularities, but wondered about an invoice for a meeting.

  It was the only thing that stuck out to her. Kurtis explained the invoice
was for a remodel that Lupio decided not to invest in. This didn’t make any sense as they were talking, Ginger leaned in and kissed Kurtis.

  She pulls away from the kiss in total disbelief. Ginger gasps her hand over her mouth as if to see it really happened. Sure he was handsome but why would she throw away her relationship with Lucas. What was wrong with her?

  Could it have been the hormones? That had to be why, right?!

  Ginger found him attractive but was not a cheater. Well there was the kiss with Mark. No, that was years ago. She just needed to escape and process everything.

  She walks out the office with Kurtis calling after her. He was probably checking on make sure she was okay. He was sweet. This was not happening.