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Chapter 5
Problems on Problems
Kris
So, I should tell her that my meeting went horribly. I even tried calling the Zoom customer support to see if they could tell me anything, but my memories were fading. I was becoming less me and more something else. I knew that I had an urgent job. That I needed to do it. And I was feeling more out of control about my own fate.
And then to top it off I come out to see a creepy dude invading Lila’s space. It was naughty. Glacius--whoever he was-- was being bad.
She was really my only hope at this point. Before I could tell her about my predicament, I heard the gravel on the driveway popping up under some tires. In what seemed like two heartbeats, the garage door slammed.
“Hey Long Arms!” A clear female voice echoed through the house, the lofted ceilings catching the tone and sending it back to us.
Lila responded quickly, rushing to the couch and grabbing a throw blanket off the back. There were two beats where I saw a woman standing in a superhero pose in her underwear before Lila covered her up with the blanket.
“Tossed your clothes in the washer, huh?” Lila held the blanket up as a makeshift divider and peered over her shoulder at me. “Hey Kris, meet my sister, Sonnet. Apparently she’s home from college.”
The woman on the other side of the blanket pulled it down enough so she could look at me. She squinted before addressing me, “Hey Kris, why are you wearing the ugliest thing my father has ever owned?” I ran my hands down the front of the jacket, rubbing the soft velvet in the opposite direction. She didn’t wait for the answer. “Lila Heather Van Goodson. Did you bang that dude in our parents room and then dress him in dad’s clothes?”
Lila jabbed the throw under Sonnet’s armpits so she was wrapped in the material, then she covered her sister’s mouth. “Stop. No more talking from you. Why are you here?” Sonnet made a mumbling noise and widened her eyes. Lila shook her head, her long hair ruffling. “Nevermind. You’re right I said no talking and I honestly don’t need to know. Kris here needed some help and that’s what’s happening. Do not jump to dirty conclusions.”
Sonnet made her eyebrows go up and down a few times and then Lila retracted her hand quickly.
“Ugh. Licking people? Are we eight years old?” Lila wiped her hand off on her sweats.
Sonnet was just as beautiful as her sister, but had a devious gleam in her eyes. Oh, she was leaning toward the naughty list for sure.
“You put your hand on my mouth. You’re entitled to anything that comes out of it. I came home because I have a date tomorrow. My SwipeSpark match lives in the area.” She looks me over before making a kissy sound. “But why don’t you tell me where you met this guy? Does he have any friends?” Sonnet skillfully wrapped herself in the blanket like it was a towel at the beach, tucking the end of it at her bust.
“I thought you were banned from SwipeSpark. Actually, I thought you were banned from all dating apps?” Lila folded her arms across her chest.
“Only in America. I rerouted a VPN so I’m Canadian now. I’m all abooot the moose and maple now.” Sonnet made her hands into two antlers on her head.
‘That sounds like a great way to start a relationship.” Lila heaved a heavy sigh.
“Babydoll, I’m just looking to get my muffin buttered. You’re the one that thinks everyone should be settled down by twenty-one.” Sonnet moved to the couch and flopped down on it.
“I’m unhinged like that--thinking that the person I’m dating should be confident what county I actually live in. But I also change my clothes in my room instead of stripping the garage like a madwoman.” Lila covered Sonnet again with another blanket from the back of the recliner in the corner.
Sonnet pulled it off. “Stop burying me like a turd in a litter box, weirdo.”
“Kris and I have to go out. I’m going to need you to either move your car or let me drive it. It’s blocking mine.” She turned to me. “I’m going to put on some real clothes so we can go talk to Mrs. Fargone.”
I grimaced. “Maybe, could you just wear that so I’m not so over/underdressed?”
She considered me for a few minutes before holding up her index finger. “Just wait.” Then she turned to her sister. “Do nothing, Sonnet.”
Lila sprinted up the stairs and I heard her rummaging around. Sonnet did in fact look like she wanted to do something, fidgeting with the edge of the blanket she was wearing. Before anything could be said though, Lila appeared with a red tracksuit jacket.
She slid it on and turned so I could see the back. A female reindeer was bedazzled on the back of it. “Now we will look Christmas obsessed together.”
I rubbed my forming beard, hiding my smile. Her in Christmas clothes made my whole body tingle like peppermint. “You look adorable.”
Sonnet gave a low whistle. “The velvet duo. Go get you some Holiday spirit.” She gave us both a very sarcastic seeming thumbs up.
Lila ignored her and walked over to me. “Do you think it’s safe to leave her here after that guy came to visit?” The way she opened her eyes wide told me that she was going to be verbally tip-toeing around the situation of all the magic and unexplainable happenings.
I was hard pressed to be able to advise her. This was all new to me. I wasn’t even sure Glasius was dangerous, but I’d still rather be safe than sorry. “She can come with us if you want?”
“I just drove three hours to get here. I’m not getting in the car again. I’m taking a bath, getting in my comfy pjs and cyber stalking my date for tomorrow.” Sonnet stood up.
“Okay, but you have to keep the doors locked. I have the camera app on my phone and I will turn on notifications so I’ll know if anyone approaches the house.”
With that decision made, Sonnet blew me a kiss before heading up the stairs to her parents' part of the house. “My keys are hanging at the door. Fill the gas up while you’re at it.”
Lila grabbed her purse and the old book. I held the door for her. As she ducked under my arm, she warned me, “Just so you know, my sister’s car is…different.”
As the garage door opened, I felt like different was an understatement.
The car itself was normal, but the decorations on it were next level.
“My sister has a vinyl cutting machine and a very established problem with following rules.” Lila hit the unlock button and a little tune played that was clearly an aftermarket addition.
The car was emblazoned with colorful anime recreations and LED lights.
I went to the front driver’s side door in time to catch it for Lila and hold it open until she was inside and her book and purse were in the backseat. I was trying to tamp down my panic. I wasn't coming up with anything anymore, on a personal level. No middle name was forming in my mind when I tried to think of what mine had been. As I buckled myself in the car, I wondered at what point this would become a medical concern.
Inside of Sonnet’s car was equally as chaotic with led lights and designs stickered to every available surface. I ran my hand over the patterned car ceiling.
As Lila put her arm behind my seat to aid her in backing up, her gaze followed my hand. “Oh yeah, she even does the fabric with iron on stuff. We stopped trying to tell her what to do a long time ago.”
I put my hands back in my lap. My velvet, velvet lap. “So which way to go?”
It was the way past dinnertime and the night was as dark as it could get.
“Darren and Mrs. Fargone live together close to the real estate office. Maybe we start there.” Lila put her sister’s car in gear and headed toward our next confrontation.
~~~~
Lila
Did I want to face Darren the same day I got fired? No, I did not. Did I have any choices? I don’t think so. I glanced at Kris. His face was starting to show the strain. He’d been a good sport about everything so far. I would have had a sit down melt down twice if I was in his shoes.
I didn’t get a lot of time to ruminate because Tivoli was small and I was already pulling next to the curb outside the Fargone residence. Back in the day, when times were slower, being close to the road was a good thing. It made visiting with neighbors easier and you could get off your horse and climb in your window. Okay, I was probably remembering that fact wrong, but I’ve had a stressful day too.
I got out of the car before Kris could hold my door. I appreciated how sweet he was with it, but I’ve been opening my own door like 99.8% of the time in my life and that habit was hard to break in a few hours. I strode up ahead before I could lose my nerve and rapped on the front door with my knuckles. Kris reached around me and also pressed the doorbell.
It was the fancy kind that was recording video as well as doing its job announcing visitors.
Darren’s voice wafted out of the speaker, “I feel like this is not appropriate, Lila.”
Maybe this would be harder than I thought it would be, even facturing in the embarrassment.
“Do you think she wants to be here? Seriously. This fine woman was unjustly fired at your place of business just mere hours ago. I’m seriously getting coal vibes from you young man.” Kris stood up taller. I regarded Kris. He was easily ten years younger than Darren, but had a tone of a chastising father on pretty hard right now.
I stepped closer to the doorbell camera. “Listen, Darren, some weird things have been going on that I think your mother might be able to shed some light on.”
“My mother left for her retirement vacation today. She’s staying there all the way through Christmas. Even though I will be here. No one will make my mashed potatoes at all.” There was a hint of a slur to his words.
Kris lifted an eyebrow and mouthed, “He’s drunk.”
Before I could respond Darren did, “I can see you on the video, you lug. Of course I’m drinking, but I’m not drunk. Not drunk at all.”
I tried one more time when it was clear Darren had no intention of opening his door. “Where did your mom go, Darren?”
I ran through the sounds I heard when I first called her and it sounded like she was hopping right off the planet real quick.
“She’s going on a cruise to Alaska. Not even caring about the business. And that’s all I’ll say about that. To you. You poo.”
We heard the very obvious sounds of ice rattling in a glass.
We turned and left, getting in Sonnet’s car. The led rainbow lights lit up Kris’ new beard growth while we contemplated what to do next.
“Listen, Lila, you’ve been wonderful and all, but I can’t keep imposing on you like this. You have a life to live. A sister to hang out with…” He trailed off.
I reached out and grabbed his large hand that was resting on his leg. “Hey, I’m not about to abandon you tonight. We both saw some crazy crap and I think sticking together is the only way to make sense of it.”
I didn't add that I was seriously concerned about the slight vacancy I was seeing in Kris’ face. Like he was losing something. Like he was losing himself.
“Besides, I initialed the extra holiday duties. That’s on me.” I gave his a smile that I hoped was encouraging. He returned it and my heart felt lighter.
My phone buzzed and I picked it up to check it, thinking maybe Mrs. Fargone was contacting me to help pull this puzzle together, but instead it was a picture of my sister giving her best selfie pout at the camera in front of the colorful wall at Bailey’s Restaurant just a few blocks away.
She looked beautiful and ready for trouble. A text from her popped through.
Sonnet: Meeting my date at Bailey’s. Sharing my location just to be safe.
I looked at her picture a bit longer, then expanded the picture so I could zoom in on her neck.
“You didn’t.” I spoke to her picture like she could hear me.
“What happened?” Kris leaned closer.
“My freaking sister. I’m going to strangle her. Check it out.” I flashed the screen in Kris’ direction.
“Is that the necklace that Glacius left for you?” Kris wrinkled his nose at the transgression. “That’s naughty for sure.”
“It sure the hell is. Why would she wear that?” I sighed. Before I could respond, I had another picture coming in from Sonnet.
Sonnet: And here’s my date
The picture was slightly blurry, but clearly showed a man headed toward her in the restaurant.
“Oh crap.” I flashed the screen at Kris again to show him Sonnet’s date.
We both said the same thing at the same time, “Glacius is her date!”
~~~
Author's Note: Thank you to my Carol the Sonnet and my Beta Beauties and to YOU! The reader. Let me know how you want the story to go below. XO
