Confabulation (The Department)

by Ronald Thomas

  Now, with his freedom, real freedom, returned, he saw things in a different life. He still thought his job was okay, but not great. He enjoyed the money, and the status, but he wondered if he could find those things elsewhere. Perhaps in an environment where he didn’t feel soiled after a tough negotiation. Though that criterion eliminated lawyer from his list of potential new occupations, he kept the door open for the others.

  He intended to investigate graduate school when he returned home, and see if perhaps there was something he hadn’t considered which he would enjoy. It had been years since he considered anything, but he was determined to enjoy his life now that it had been returned to him. He also vowed that he would no longer be so stupid with women. Though he had no prospects at the moment, that condition seldom lasted long for Simon. He was sure to find a woman again who he enjoyed being with. This time he would avoid the urge to run, just so that he could make out with the next gorgeous woman he saw.

  His life was back, but it had been changed forever. Things he had been sure of just three months ago, now seemed like puzzles. His future was before him, but he didn’t know what he would do. Things he had worried about or feared, now seemed trivial. He could hardly believe that he had been uncomfortable flying in the past. His life was his again. Not his old life, but a new life that he controlled. He rolled down the window and opened the sunroof to enjoy the bright warm air. From somewhere he couldn’t recall, a tune began playing in his head, and he whistled along. Enjoying the true freedom he had found.

  CHAPTER 64

  The boxes piled high against the wall, almost covering the window. The little space that did escape the monument to moving did allow in enough of sunlight to illuminate the room. Carolyn wiped the sweat from her forehead, and took a drink from her tall glass of water. As she drank, she stood and admired the room that would be the study.

  "Excuse me, Cookie, but these are rather heavy."

  Carolyn looked back and saw Douglas holding two large boxes, with a lamp balanced precariously atop. "Oh, sorry." She hopped out of the way, spilling a few drops of water in the carpet.

  Douglas set the boxes down and looked at the floor beneath Carolyn’s feet. "It’s a good thing that’s water. If it was your normal drink of red wine, that carpet would need a thorough cleaning."

  Carolyn looked down. "I think it does anyway, you slob."

  "Oh, I see. Now that you move in, the nagging begins. Well, remember this, I’ll dig up dirt to blackmail you if I have to."

  "Oh, yeah. You think you can scare me. Remember what I’ve been through." She scanned him from head to toe. "You’re nothing." She glared at him, but soon erupted in laughter. Carolyn had always amused herself at least as much as she amused others, and Douglas always amused her as well. The combination was too much for her, and she fell to the ground in laughter.

  Douglas soon joined her on the ground, and they stared at the boxes and each other as the laughed. They had decided to give a go of living together soon after the story ran. She had always had a reason to stay friends with Douglas and not take the relationship further. Though she knew he always wanted more, she kept that topic at the edges of their relationship. Her recent experiences had torn down many of the walls that had been built up over the years.

  Things she liked no longer seemed so wonderful, and others that she fled from now seemed appealing. On the whole, she was at that moment more confused than she had ever been, yet surer of what she would do than ever before. Faced with the prospect of losing control of her life, Carolyn’s spirit had been broken. Nothing she knew seemed real for weeks and now that it was over, many things still seemed surreal.

  She couldn’t imagine what had kept her from Douglas. She always enjoyed his company, and felt at ease with him. They had been friends for years, and something told her that was all they would ever be. Now, with those structures torn away, she wanted only to do what made her happy. Douglas made her happy. Being in his house, their house, made her happy.

  Whether or not it would last, she didn’t know. She wasn’t concerned about it either. They cared for each other, and wanted what was best for each other. If the day came that they felt being apart again was best, they would part. That much she was sure of. Her life was changing, and she liked the changes.

  "Hey, lazy bones."

  She looked up to see Douglas opening a box. "Yeah?"

  "If I’m going to lose my game room for a study, someone is going to help me make it happen."

  "Oh, okay, sorry." Carolyn stood up and walked out of the room.

  "What are you doing," Douglas yelled from the study.

  "Oh, just calling your cousin to say you need some help."

  "Billy?"

  "Yeah." She pressed a number on the phone, not caring which one. Before she could press another, Douglas had knocked the phone from her had. She started to act hurt, but Douglas lips seemed much more inviting than more teasing.

  CHAPTER 65

  Henry walked out of the office grinning. He had finally completed all of the paperwork needed to get back to work full-time. Dr. Davy had signed off on his return after two more sessions. She had seen the report, but wanted to make sure he was suffering any post-trauma problems. Once he had the medical clearance, he just needed to get the permission of Dennis. That came quickly, and then the waiting began. As usual, paperwork sent to human resources took a week longer than stated. He received a call that morning that everything had been processed and he just needed to sign one more form. He arrived early.

  His life was almost back to normal. He would need a few days to work his way back into the office groove, and his status as a pseudo-celebrity didn’t help. They had all agreed to use their names in the report to help ensure their safety, but it had led to a few odd moments. He had kept in touch with Simon and Carolyn in the days after the article, and each of them had their own experience with the recognition.

  Simon found it to be a mixed blessing. Though people often wanted to talk of little else, he actually found it easier to get appointments with some companies who had previously been unreachable. He knew what they wanted to talk about, but he did get a few new clients by accepting the meetings. Carolyn also found it helpful, as she could more easily tap into some fundraising sources. She was glad to see that certain people who held high government office now made regular donations. She knew it wouldn’t last forever, but the people it helped wouldn’t care.

  Henry, though, experienced few positives from the notoriety. His job was behind the scenes, and the attention was more than expected and at times more than he could stand. He was always polite to people who wanted to talk to him, but he often wondered when he would regain the privacy that he had fought for. He hoped that in time they furor would die down, and he could return to a normal life.

  He also knew that one thing would make it easier for him to handle the new problems. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to call Kelly. He felt he needed to have the rest of his life in order first so that he wouldn’t be a burden to her. He had caused her so much pain when he was haunted, that didn’t want to do so once he was emancipated. In addition, deep inside, he feared that he might have damaged her feelings too much. She would know what he did wasn’t his fault, but could she ever see his face without thinking of what he had done.

  For days, even after he knew he would have his job back, he couldn’t call. He cluing to his memories and hopes, and couldn’t bear to have them dashed by a harsh reality. He thought about how a conversation might go, and didn’t know how he would react if she didn’t want him back. He couldn’t call, no matter how much he longed for her touch and voice again.

  However, once his job was secure, and the other elements of his life were in order, he found that they meant nothing without Kelly. He needed her in his life. He couldn’t be truly happy unless she took him back. He picked up his phone and started to dial. After four digits, he hung up. He thought again of the rejection. What would he do if she said he couldn’t come back? He knew she
would be happy he was okay. But would she want him back?

  He stared at the phone, paralyzed. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He was tired of being afraid. So what if she wants to be alone, he thought. He would just have to convince her that they belonged together. If there was once thing he learned from the ordeal it was what really mattered to him. Whether he was crazed, angry, scared, or sensible, he only wanted what was beneficial for Kelly. He had tried to protect her, and left when he thought she was in danger. He risked his life to prove to her that he wasn’t insane. He had to have her back—well, he at least had to try. He picked up the phone and dialed.

  "Hello?"

  Henry took a deep breath. Kelly's voice resonated through him. It felt like home.

  "Hello?"

  "Hi, Kelly. It's me, Henry."

  "Henry, how are you? I've been worried sick about you. I heard that you had returned to work, but I didn’t know if I should call. I'm sorry about everything. Are you okay?"

  Henry couldn’t help but laugh at the fevered set of questions from his wife. "I'm fine. I just wasn't sure if you wanted to hear from."

  "Henry, just come home. We can figure everything else out later. Just come home."

  Henry smiled, began shutting down his computer, and stared at the picture of their wedding day as he waited.