Ophelia

by D. S. Ryelle

  “Three months into my treatment.”

  David’s eyebrow shot up. “Norman was still appearing to you in August?”

  “It took a while to find the right medication,” she said as she adjusted their daughter’s blanket. “Once I had been taking it for a few weeks, Athair began to appear less and less often.”

  “Until you became pregnant.”

  “I never stopped taking the medication, if that is what you are implying,” Ophelia snapped. “When I told my counsellor that I was pregnant, we looked at other treatment options, including herbs and acupuncture. She also offered more sessions if I needed them to handle any disparity between the pharmaceuticals and the herbs.”

  “Should we call Melody? See if she can recommend another psychiatrist? Perhaps get a new prescription?”

  “I need to continue the herbs until Elizabeth is no longer breastfeeding. As for calling Melody, we will see if the visions recur.”

  David was about to try switching to English when something distracted him.

  “You’re going to breastfeed?”

  “If the chief executive officer of Osborn Scientific cannot breastfeed, who can?”

  Normie

  Saturday, April 10, 2010

  “My office is top priority. I would like to move before I depart for maternity leave.”

  “When are you due?”

  “Three weeks.”

  The contractor took notes.

  “After you finish my office, move on to the lower floors—the cubicles and the common areas both need to be redone as soon as possible. When those are complete, you may take care of any remaining offices and workspaces.”

  “What about the remaining laboratories?”

  “We will tour those next, so that you may decide what needs to be done. It depends on how long your crew takes to do the rest of the tower and whether we are on budget.”

  Ophelia smiled, then excused herself, leaving the contractor with his thoughts for a moment. Some said that Ophelia Osborn had become as eccentric as her father had before his death, but Brian Casler didn’t see it. Those who whispered such things in the dark corners of cocktail parties either misunderstood her work, or had only seen prototypes based on the ideas of clients. Either way, Brian saw no need to be “extremely busy” as he had always been when Dr. Osborn came calling.

  “I must beg your pardon, Mr Casler,” Ophelia said upon her return. “But I will have to rejoin you shortly.”

  “Is there a problem?”

  She shook her head. “Mr Westbrooke just called to remind me that the laboratories here in the Executive Tower are infrequently used and may therefore not be entirely safe.”

  Brian raised an eyebrow. “Anything we should be concerned about?”

  “Not you.” Ophelia patted her belly. “But I should probably take precautions just in case.

  ~*~

  When they met again an hour later, Ophelia’s bodyguard was absent. The older gentleman had provided Brian with a mask and gloves…which left him feeling slightly underdressed when Ophelia reappeared in full protective gear.

  “Will Mr. Westbrooke be joining us?”

  Ophelia shook her head as she opened a nearby door. “He does not have the necessary clearance.”

  Brian stepped in to hold the door and she gratefully ambled past. After a few moments, however, it became clear that Ophelia would require assistance going down the stairs at such an advanced state of pregnancy. The contractor slipped in and took her free hand, artfully diverting her attention with a question.

  “How often are these labs used?”

  “Infrequently since the laboratory complex opened in 1991. At that time, activity down here became limited to what could be performed without protection. Nevertheless, it is uncertain that the regulations were ever completely obeyed.”

  The two of them spoke at length about what projects had been undertaken in the executive tower and what impact the establishment of clearance levels had had on future studies. Brian took several minutes to look around and when he came back, Ophelia appeared to be clutching her stomach.”

  “Are you all right?”

  “Perhaps my breakfast was not entirely wholesome.”

  Possible food poisoning seemed to be the least of her worries, however, as Ophelia moved away from the staircase and made an effort to continue their discussion. Brian noticed that she gave the center of the room a wide berth as they walked, but he was too busy taking notes and answering questions to linger on the thought.

  ~*~

  “One of my major concerns is that the electrical work is not up to code,” she said. “As far as the computers, I am still unwilling to put these laboratories on our network, however—”

  The contractor had pulled down his mask a few minutes before and now that he was considering taking it off altogether, he noticed that Ophelia was leaning against the glass chamber she’d been avoiding since the beginning of their tour.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Brian's answer was the sound of running water. Ophelia’s eyes closed.

  “I don’t think your breakfast was the problem.” He looked at the puddle near their feet. “More like contractions.”

  She took a deep breath. “Mr Westbrooke is waiting in the corridor. Get him and then call for help.”

  “Are you sure…?”

  “Do not argue!” The scientist made an imperious gesture and Brian sprinted up the stairs.

  “Now, Muirnín?” she murmured after the contractor crashed through the door.

  Ophelia fumbled at her wrists; she had argued against taping her sleeves, but David had insisted. When her hands were free of the double layer of gloves, Ophelia reached for the tape binding her boots. Fortunately, she recalled enough of her first birth to know that it was unlikely that she would deliver before completely shedding the remainder of her gear.

  Where is he? Ophelia thought, trying not to panic. Even if it will take the paramedics ten minutes or longer, he should be down here by now!

  Shimmying out of her street clothes, Ophelia pulled a drop cloth off a nearby computer, flipped it over and threw it around her shoulders to protect herself from the cold of the subterranean laboratory. As her contractions increased, Ophelia found herself sitting on the floor of the vaporization chamber, reaching for a comfort she hadn’t taken in a long time. She prayed.

  “Dear Goddess and God,” she murmured. “Thank you for bringing David into my life and thank you for the gift of another wonderful child.”

  A scream interrupted her prayer and Ophelia realized it was coming from her. It seemed that she was moments from delivery, without a single painkiller to dull her mind.

  “Please…” Ophelia panted and tried again. “Please get the ambulance here quickly. And find…”

  She stopped praying long enough to push; Normie was crowning.

  “Find David!” she cried at last.

  Ophelia pushed again. At this rate, her son would be in her arms before anyone came to the rescue. She muttered a quick oath and pushed a final time. Before Ophelia could reach for him, Norman Edward Harold Osborn drew breath and announced his presence to the world.

  Unbeknownst to his lover, David had seen the entire ordeal.

  Brian had found him in the bathroom one floor up and David had raced away almost before washing his hands. When he got there, however, he discovered that the keypad wouldn’t respond to the emergency override command Ophelia had given him. He slapped the pad in anger and it gave off a shower of sparks and a small cloud of smoke. Nearly frantic, David had called the fire department and begun pacing the hall.

  Ophelia’s scream alerted him to the fact that she had begun to deliver. David smacked the pad again and pounded on the door, but she was lost in the throes of childbirth.

  He watched anxiously as Ophelia struggled to bring their second child into the world. David had a ferocious desire to be there, holding her hand; but something—or someone—had decided otherwise. When Normie was
free, his lover struggled to her feet. David reached for his pocketknife, but quickly realized that there was no way to pass it through the door so that she could cut the umbilical cord.

  “Dammit!”

  By the time he had stowed the knife, Ophelia had found something to sever the cord and was once again sitting on the floor of the chamber. David was surprised at his lover’s calm, as if she thought nothing more was wrong than the ambulance getting stuck in Manhattan traffic. He watched a little longer…and when at last realized what was going on, it was too late.

  Unable to clean him off, Ophelia had begun to nurse her son and thereby failed to notice the closing of the chamber doors. Normie lost her breast and began to cry almost in synchronization with the first hiss.

  Ophelia’s mind screamed at her to get up and do something, but it was no use. The chamber had been designed with the idea that the occupant would be securely strapped to the gurney, with no desire to get out. There was no way to open the doors unless someone pressed the emergency decompression button on the outside.

  She tried to guide her son back to her breast, but her hands had begun to shake. Normie attempted to find the source of nourishment for himself, but was bouncing fruitlessly off her ribs, so tightly were his eyes closed against the vapors. If his hunger pangs weren’t bad enough, Ophelia noticed that the encroaching fog seemed to make him cry harder. Her eyes tearing, she began to sing an Irish lullaby. When she drew breath for the next verse, Ophelia glanced up to find her father’s visage leering at her from the chamber glass.

  Last Will

  and

  Testament of

  Dr. Norman E. Osborn, Ph.D.

  I, Doctor Norman Edward Osborn, Ph.D., a resident of the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, County of New York and State of New York, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, revoking all prior wills and codicils at any time heretofore made by me.

  I married Emmeline Maire Padraig on October 27, 1973 in the City of Dublin, County of Dublin, Republic of Ireland. We have been divorced since May 25, 1983, pursuant to the order of the 45th Probate Court of New York County. She has since remarried and will be referred to as “Emily Sullivan” hereon.

  I am the father of two living children: Ophelia Rhiannon, born October 31, 1978 (hereby referred to as “my daughter”) and Harold Ambrose, born February 22, 1983 (hereby referred to as “my son”). In the event that I am the sole surviving parent of minor children, I appoint Dr. Mendel William Stromm to serve as their guardian. If he is unable or unwilling to serve, then my daughter and my son shall become wards of Emily Sullivan.

  Article I

  Executor

  I hereby name, constitute and appoint my daughter as executor to administer my estate. If my daughter shall fail, cease or be unable to serve as executor for any reason, then Emily Sullivan shall serve as successor executor of my estate. Furthermore, let it be known that at no time shall my son serve as executor of my estate.

  Should the laws of the state in which my last will and testament is probated allow it, then my executor shall not be required to furnish a bond for the faithful performance of her duties as executor.

  In the event the laws of the state in which my last will and testament is probated allow it, I authorize my executor to administer my estate independently without adjudication, order or direction of any court. The decision to administer my state independently or under court supervision shall rest solely with my executor.

  My executor shall be paid reasonable compensation for serving in this office.

  Article II

  Burial/Payment of Debts

  My funerary arrangements are on file with the Rembrandt Memorial Center in Manhattan, New York and I hereby leave the final details of these arrangements to my daughter. Or, should she predecease me, my otherwise named executor. As soon as practical after my death, I direct my executor to pay any expenses related to my funerary services, including the travel costs of any beneficiaries of this will who have traveled from their residence to attend my funeral.

  My executor shall pay all outstanding debts and claims related to my estate upon the determination of which debts and claims are legally enforceable against my estate. It is my preference that the research and/or payment of the debts and claims begin no later than 48 hours after my burial.

  All expenses of administration of my estate shall first be paid out of the residuary of my estate (Article V), followed by the specific bequests found in Article IV.

  I direct that all taxes, of whatever kind, shall be paid out of the residuary of my estate. Should the residuary of my estate be insufficient to pay taxes, the executor shall take pro rata sufficient sums to pay taxes from the specific bequests listed in Article IV. The executor is not to seek, through force of law, contribution for the payment of taxes from any of my beneficiaries or from individuals I have made gifts to during life, unless directed to do so by court order.

  Article III

  Charitable Gifts

  No charitable gifts shall be made in my name with any of my money or any part of my estate or bequests.

  Article IV

  Specific Bequests

  I give and bequeath the ownership and operation of OsCorp Industries, Incorporated to my daughter. Ophelia shall retain complete control of OsCorp for the duration of an entire decade after my death, at which time she shall sell the corporation or retain control, at her discretion.

  I also give and bequeath my Carnegie Hill mansion to my daughter. Ophelia shall reside in the mansion for five years before selling or retaining ownership, at her discretion.

  I further give and bequeath my 2001 Lexus LS 300 to my daughter. Should Ophelia decide that ownership of a vehicle is not practicable in relation to her current circumstances; the bequest immediately turns over to my son.

  I give and bequeath the sum of $1,000,000 to Emily Sullivan, reducing to $750,000 should one of my children predecease me and to $500,000 should both my children predecease me. If Mrs. Sullivan should predecease me, the sum shall be given to my children in equal shares, per stirpes, providing that they have reached the age of majority at the time of my death.

  I give and bequeath the remainder of my personal effects of every kind and not otherwise named, to my daughter. If she should not survive me, my effects shall be given to my remaining children, per stirpes.

  The term “personal effects” as used in this article shall mean, “items of clothing, jewelry, mementos, personal papers, awards, photographs and other similar items owned by me at the time of my death”. No single item shall be included in this category if it has a fair market value greater than or equal to $500.00.

  Article V

  Residuary Estate

  I give and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate (after payment of all debts and expenses of my estate, pursuant to Article II and after all specific bequests found in Article IV) to my daughter. If Ophelia should not survive me, then the residuary shall be distributed to Emily Sullivan or to Harold Osborn, should Emily predecease him.

  Article VI

  Beneficiaries for whom Bequests are to be Held in Trust

  I give and bequeath the sum of $500,000 to my son, providing that he has reached the age of majority at the time of my death. If my son has not reached majority at the time of my death, the sum shall be given to Emily Sullivan for the care and keeping of my son and—if necessary—my daughter. Should my son predecease me, the sum shall be given to my daughter.

  Article VII

  Powers of the Executor

  A. I hereby grant to my executor all powers granted to that office by the State of New York, with respect to any and all property, which shall at any time constitute a part of my estate. These powers are exercisable at the discretion of my executor. In addition to any powers now or hereafter conferred upon the executor by law, the executor shall have the power to:

  1. Make all tax elections of any nature which in any
manner affect my estate under federal or state law,

  2. Sell estate assets at public or private sale for cash or on credit terms,

  3. Lease estate assets without restriction as to duration, and

  4. Invest any surplus money of the estate in real or personal property, as the executor deems advisable.

  B. Furthermore, on any distribution of assets from the estate, the executor shall have the discretion to partition, allot and distribute the assets in the following manner:

  1. In kind, including any undivided interest in an asset or in any part of it,

  2. Partly in cash and partly in kind, and

  3. Entirely in cash.

  C. For estate assets otherwise distributable to a minor beneficiary, the executor shall have the discretion to distribute said assets in one of the following manners:

  1. To the guardian of the minor’s person or estate,

  2. To any adult person with whom the minor resides and who has the care, custody or control of the minor, or

  3. To the custodian of the minor under the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act.

  The executor is free of liability and is discharged from any further accountability for distributing assets in compliance with the provisions of paragraph C.

  D. If a group of assets is distributable to more than one beneficiary, the executor shall have the discretion to distribute assets among them on a pro rata or non pro rata basis, with the assets valued as of the date of distribution.