“Still married,” smiled Irene.“All these years later and they’re more in love than ever before.”
“How many children did they have?” she asked with excitement.
“Oh,” said Suzette, “her uncle made sure she could never have children.He wanted to marry her, kill her, and inherit it all.He wanted no children in the way.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Blythe.“Could the pond not help with that?”
“Her body was destroyed in that way,” said Irene.“The pond can provide many miracles but it cannot grow things back that were removed.Like Clay’s leg.It didn’t grow back but the phantom pains stopped and he was able to make his other leg stronger.That was the miracle.”
“I think it’s all a miracle,” said Blythe.“I think all of you are so used to miracles happening, that you don’t see the beauty of everything around you, every single day.It’s magnificent.
“The care taken in the homes, their design and décor; the love you all feel for one another as if you’re all related in blood.The food you share, the adventures, and yes, the tragedies.It’s the way you love one another but also love the animals.”
The women all laughed, shaking their heads.
“I admire you all so much and I’m so grateful to be included in your fold, your family.I’m terrified of what’s happening with Logan right now but I also know that the others will take care of him and he’ll come home to me.”The three women smiled at the younger woman, nodding.She took a deep breath and walked toward the door.
“He will come home to me, right?”
“He will, honey,” said Irene.Blythe nodded again, smiling at them.
“You can scan my brain tomorrow all you want.I’d like to know what’s going on up there as well.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Isaac often amazed himself at how easily he was able to move on after the death of a family member.
The first had been when he was just twelve and Leo was seven.He wasn’t able to help Isaac but he was able to watch for their parents to return home.At the time, Isaac had no idea why their littlest brother was so deformed, only that he was draining their bank accounts and causing stares and whispers from the neighbors.
Isaac knew enough that no one would suspect him when the child was found dead in his bed.It was easy to smother him with the pillow.At first, it wasn’t easy to watch his parents grieve and it was uncomfortable the way Leo stared at him but he knew he’d done the right thing.
The next three were easier.As they became old enough to be diagnosed with whatever their infirmity was, he knew that they had to leave this earth.The final task was to stop his parents from procreating.They were at the core of the problem and they had to be stopped.
So, one night he and Leo left the house on the premise of going to a movie.He was just seventeen years old.With the movie theater just a few blocks away, he told his brother to save his seat while he went to get popcorn and sodas for them.
“I may use the restroom as well.Don’t be scared,” he told Leo.
“I’m not a baby, Isaac.I won’t be scared.”
Isaac was gone much longer than Leo thought he would be but he didn’t get scared.In fact the only person who truly scared him was Isaac.When his brother returned, he was sweaty and looked nervous but was carrying the popcorn and sodas.
“Are you okay?” he’d asked him.
“Fine.Just a little stomach virus,” he said winking at his brother.Leo bought it.At least for a while.When they walked home, they saw the fire trucks and police cars, both boys taking off towards the house.
Isaac remembered the way his brother looked at him.The accusations were clear on his face but the other adults had no idea.They simply saw two boys that needed one another.
Since Isaac had been part of a gifted program in school, he was given special permission, under the watchful eye of a child advocate to care for his little brother.He was already in college and Leo was mature in his own way.Isaac fully expected his brother to follow in his footsteps.When he joined the military, he was shocked.
“Why would you do that without my permission?” he yelled.
“I don’t need your permission, Isaac.I need my own life, my own path and the military can provide that for me.I already have a bunch of college credits and they’ll pay for me to continue and get my degree.”
“We are supposed to be working on this project together,” he said through clenched teeth.Hovering over Leo, Isaac knew that he was scaring his brother.He didn’t care.
“I’ll come back, Isaac.”
In the end, he didn’t come back.Isaac had to track Leo down, time and time again.He’d move from one base to another, one duty station to another, and never notify his big brother.
