Saturday afternoon— 12:15 p.m.

Nelson Weeks awoke with a start.

He took a breath.

He knew this feeling — a low grumbling in his belly, a sense of tension across his shoulders, a feeling light a bright light had been shone in his eyes but was suddenly gone.

Something — some thing? —was happening.

He needed to get ready. His feet hit the floor with purpose. He pushed himself across the room to the closet. He let out a breath. A broad sword in its scabbard was leaning against the closet.

He reached for the sword and stood up.

By magic, he was clothed in the garb he wore as a Templar. He jerked open the door.

“Is it the 14^th Century in that room?” Mari, the fairy, asked.

“Wha…” Flooded with words in a variety of languages, this was all Nelson managed to say.

Mari nodded to what he was wearing.

“Out here,” Mari said, “it’s already the 21^st century.”

“And?” Nelson asked, irritably.

“Humans have developed this incredible stuff they call ‘body armor,’” Mari said.

“Then tell the magic on the sword to dress me in this,” Nelson said.

“You could actually use your eyes…” Mari started. “Oh, never mind.”

She snapped her fingers. One item at a time, Nelson’s 14^th Century gear was replaced with modern military body armor.

“But…” Nelson started.

“The sword is tuned to whatever you’re wearing,” Mari said. “When you touch the sword next, you will be dressed in this.”

“Fine,” Nelson said. “Why are you here?”

“I came to get you,” Mari said.

“For what?” Nelson asked.

“What do you feel?” Mari asked.

“I’m not sure I can put it into words,” Nelson said. He fell silent thinking for a long moment. “Time for battle, I guess. But…”

“Yes?” Mari asked.

“Who?” Nelson asked. He looked at the fairy. “Am I well enough to do this?”

“Do what?” Mari asked. “I’m not sure who’s ass we’re about to kick.”

Nelson grinned at her. He looked down at himself in this armor. He had become heavier, with denser, bigger muscles across his chest and his arms. His thighs and calves bulged through the fabric of this new body armor. He was surprised at how thin he’d become as well. He looked down at himself for a long moment.

“You look good,” Mari said with a nod.

“Do you know what’s happening? What triggered my…” He waved his hand in front of his face. “Spidey sense?”

“I don’t know about spidey senses,” Mari said, “but your father is in trouble.”

“Why?” Nelson asked.

“Templars,” Nelson and Mari said in unison.

“Assholes,” Nelson said. “Let’s go get them.”

“You sure you don’t want to call the cops?” Mari asked. “They are trespassing.”

Mari nodded to her left. She was standing in front of the window in what was now an nearly completed small kitchen. Because Jeraine and Tanesha needed the privacy, the window was set up so that while you could look out it, no one could see inside. A group of seven men and women were creeping in front of the window.

“Why?” Nelson asked.

“You’re asking that as Nelson the brilliant doctor and forensic scientist,” Mari said. “We need Nelson the Grand Master of the Templars.”

Nelson heaved a heavy sigh.

“Look at your sword,” Mari said.

Nelson looked at the sword for the first time. This was not his sword. He held it up to his eyes.

“This is…” Nelson whispered.

“Come on,” Mari said.

She snapped her fingers, and they were standing next to Nelson’s father Pierre’s bed. Nelson slipped the sword back into its scabbard.

A nurse wearing a face mask looked up at their sudden arrival. She stood and walked toward them.

“I don’t know how you got in here, but this man is very ill,” she said. “He…”

She looked at Nelson for a long moment.

“Guy?” the nurse asked. “Guy Semaines? You probably can’t tell with this mask but I’m Mary Joy. Mary Joy Baldwin.”

“Mary Joy?” Nelson asked. “Wow, I haven’t seen you since…”

“Junior high,” Mary Joy, the nurse, said. “Yeah. We moved. I came back for nursing school. I saw that this position was for Pierre Semaines and thought that I… You probably aren’t here to chat. You look… Wow.”

“I’ve been working out,” Nelson said with a smile. “Nice to see you. I apologize, but we’re expecting family that…”

“Yes, I was warned,” Mary said. “I was assigned here because I was a medic in the Army. Afghanistan. Let me get dressed.”

Nelson gave her a kind of nod and a bow. Mary Joy stopped at the door.

“Please put on your face mask,” Mary Joy said in a soft chide. “Your father is very ill. He doesn’t need the coronavirus as well.”

“Sorry,” Nelson said. “I should know better.”

“Yes, you should,” Mary Joy said before she disappeared out the door.

Mari snapped her fingers, and they were both wearing face masks.

“Fin said that we should wear them too,” Mari said. “He said that humans are part fairy so there’s no way to know if we’ll be affected. I’ll tell you that Edie shut down the fairy queendoms. No one in or out. Since we went to help Sam Lipson. “

“You went to help Sam?” Nelson asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I took Otis there,” Mari said. “I found a lost fairy working in the ER there so I called Edie. She thought… well, let’s just say that she’s annoyed with me.”

“Is that new?” Nelson asked.

“No,” Mari said. “Sisters. They are always annoyed with you for something. Just be glad you don’t have any.”

Nelson grinned at her but then realized that she couldn’t see him smiling. He winked, and she nodded in understanding.

“Here they come.”

He heard Mari whisper through the mask. Sighing to himself, he turned toward the door.

They heard scratching and saw the door knob giggle. Mari raised her hand to block them out but Nelson pushed her hand down.

“We need to deal with this,” Nelson said.

“Why?” Mari asked.

“They’ll keep coming until they know,” Nelson sighed. Taking a breath, he said, “They have to know that I am the Grand Master and that everything that happens from here on out is up to me by the blessing of…”

He waved his hand in the air.

“Blah, blah, blah,” Nelson said.

“I’m here,” Mary Joy said.

They turned to look at her. She had changed into modern military grade body armor. Her face was covered in a black mask and she was holding a machine gun.

“I don’t think we’ll need that,” Nelson said.

“Better to be safe than sorry,” Mary Joy said.

“I like her,” Mari said.

“Who are you?” Mary Joy asked.

“This is my friend, Princess Marigold,” Nelson said.

“Oh, a princess,” Mary Joy said with a roll of her eyes.

“She’s of the fairy realm,” Nelson said. “Don’t antagonize her. Fairies are fierce warriors, not little fluffy, giggly things like in the movies. They are long lived and have spent much of that time battling for their realms. In fact, they are the only realm that held back the Viking hoards. We are no match for them.”

Unoffended by Mary Joy, Mari just lifted an eyebrow and nodded.

“Just don’t get in front of her,” Nelson said with a sigh.

“Are you getting tired?” Mari asked. She put her hand on his elbow.

“I’m tired of having to protect myself and my father from people who are supposed to be family,” Nelson said.

“I understand,” Mari said.

“I know you do,” Nelson said.

The door moved a tiny bit.

“Here they come,” Mari said.

Mary Joy turned off the lights.

The door opened with a dramatic bang. Two men and a woman slipped inside the door. The back door of Nelson’s little house banged open. A man and two women moved in their direction. When they were set, Nelson pulled the sword from its scabbard.

Sparks of light burst from the sword as it was pulled from the scabbard. Nelson held the sword above him. The light from the sword was so bright that the invaders had to cover their eyes from the sight.

“I am Guy Semaines, the Grand Master of the Templars,” Nelson said in old Frank. “Who dares to disturb my father’s sick bed?”

“What did he say?” A woman whispered.

Nelson sighed and shook his head.

“You are Templars,” Nelson said in modern French. “You should, at the very least, be able to speak old Frank.”

There was some mumbling between these invaders. Nelson pointed the sword at Mary Joy and she flicked on the light. Nelson, Mari, and Mary Joy shaded their eyes. The invaders groaned and covered their eyes.

“And you should be wearing eye coverings,” Nelson said, continuing in French. “You say that you are Templars, are will to kill for the cause, and yet you are…”

“Pathetic,” Mari said.

“Pathetic is too mild of a word,” Mary Joy said.

Nelson sighed and shook his head.

“Go home,” Nelson said. “That is my order.”

“You can’t order us,” a middle aged man with a significant paunch said. “You are not Grand Master.”

“I am the surviving heir of Bernard of Clairvaux,” Nelson said. “My father passed the Grand Master to me when he inherited it.”

“Show them the sword,” Mari whispered.

“Jacque de Molay gave me his sword,” Nelson said. “It’s a direct pass of the Grand Master position from him to me.”

He held up the sword and the invaders took a step back.

“Where did you…?” the woman who’d come to kill him previously.

“I went back in time,” Nelson said. “I fought side-by-side with our ancestors for more than seven years. I was returned to this time by some ancient ancestral magic. The sword came with me. I have been recovering. But, I promise you — I am well enough to kill all of you.”

“You wouldn’t kill us!” the elderly woman who came in the back door said.

“I’ve killed plenty,” Nelson said. “You are here to kill my father?”

The invaders gave him a variety of guilty looks.

“Prepare to die,” Nelson said, feeling a bit like the movie character Indigo Montoya.

“Yay!” Mari said. “Let’s kill them all!”

The invaders turned in place and ran out of the building. Nelson grabbed Mari by the shoulders to keep her from running after them. She let him hold her back.

“Consider your life forfeit should you ever return,” Nelson yelled after he got a hold of Mari.

“Your life forfeit?” Mari asked. “Who talks like that?”

Nelson laughed. He swung the sword around and stuck it back into the scabbard.

“How did you get that?” Mary Joy asked. “The sword I mean. It’s beautiful and so powerful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I went on a quest for it,” Nelson said. “Right after my father got sick. It was my effort to help him get well. But I have only completed half of it.”

“Count me in on the next one,” Mary Joy said.

They heard rustling behind them and turned quickly. An elderly man stepped out from behind them. He gave Nelson a kind of bow.

“What do you want?” Mary Joy asked irritably.

“We have met,” the man said in modern French. “We have decided to accept you as the Grand Master.”

“Whoop-di-doo,” Nelson said. “Why would I give even one care about that?”

“We are having issues in France,” the man said.

“Okay,” Nelson said mildly.

He had a vague memory of his father speaking about the government taking land from the Templars and something else. He glanced at Mari. She gave him a curt nod. She had blocked him from any stress that might impede his healing.

“If you are to be Grand Master, then our problems are your problems,” the elderly man said.

“Who are you?” Mary Joy asked. “Where do you get off telling someone else what to do?”

“I am his great uncle,” the elderly man said. “His mother was my niece.”

“The mother you killed?” Mari asked.

“I don’t know anything about that,” the elderly man said.

“One of the women you travel with told us that she paid for the bombing,” Nelson said.

“I will look into it,” the elderly man said. “My name is ‘Guy.’ I am also a Semaines. You were named after me.”

“I go by Nelson now,” he said.

“Yes, I am aware,” Guy said.

“How are you a Semaines?” Mari asked.

“Pierre took our name,” Guy said. “It was your mother’s father’s requirement.”

“He still tried to kill us anyway,” Nelson said.

“Yes, I know about that,” Guy said. “And you killed him?”

“I wasn’t there,” Nelson said.

“They were killed by an ancient and angry God,” Mari said.

The man snorted and shook his head in disbelief.

“Who could believe this kind of tripe?” Guy asked. “There are no Gods. No…”

He sucked in a breath when Perses appeared out of nowhere.

“May I introduce you to Perses?” Nelson asked, mildly. “You may remember that he’s a Titan. He was also there.”

“Want me to kill him?” Perses said in a loud excited whisper.

The man fell back. After a moment, he gained his bearings.

“You are connected with the Titans?” Guy asked.

“Beings of power seek each other,” Perses said. “I am married to the mother of his partner’s cousin. His partner is married to a Greek Goddess.”

“I’m a fairy,” Mari said.

“She’s a fairy,” Perses said.

Guy looked at Mary Joy. She shrugged.

“I’m human,” Mary Joy said. “As far as I know.”

“You’re super-human,” Nelson said. “You’re a nurse.”

“And a soldier,” Mari said.

Mary Joy blushed and nodded.

“Why don’t you head back to wherever you are staying?” Perses asked. “Discuss what you need from your grandmaster. He and I and possibly one of those… what are they called?”

“Lawyers,” Mari said.

“Lawyers,” Perses said. “And this little fairy. Is your partner around?”

“Otis?” Mari asked.

Perses nodded.

“I’ll bring him,” Mari said. “Good thinking.”

“Why so many?” Guy asked.

“We need to support our friend,” Mari said.

“Teach him how to lead,” Perses said. “Her partner, a man named Otis, has led large groups of humans. He will be able to help.”

“If you have a partner, I’d like to meet her,” Guy said.

“Him,” Nelson said. “We are not ashamed.”

“Of course,” Guy said. “Good for you.”

With that, the man turned in place and walked out of the building. They waited to see if anyone else would show up. When no one appeared, everyone took a breath.

“How is he?” Perses asked.

“Stable,” Mary Joy said. “He has been sick for a long time.”

“He touched a powerful object,” Perses said.

“Yes,” Mary Joy said. “Let’s hope that someone awakens him soon.”

“Why soon?” Nelson’s voice was tight with concern.

“No human can stay in this state forever,” Mary Joy said.

Nelson gave a stiff nod.

“If we are meeting them later, I need to rest,” Nelson said.

Mari touched his arm and he was back in the little room that he’d been staying in. Oddly, the room was bare of all furniture and equipment.

“Where is the bed?” Mari asked.

She tipped her head backward.

“Upstairs,” Mari said.

She touched his sleeve, and they moved through the house. They landed outside the door to what would be his bedroom.

“I’ll be back,” Mari said. She turned to go and pushed him forward, “Go on.”

Nelson opened the door. He sucked in a breath.

The room was beautiful. It was everything he could have ever wanted and then some. The back wall had a large window that opened out onto a tiny patio. He floated through the room touching this and that. There was the antique armoire he’d used when he was a child. The mirror that had been his mother’s hung on the wall next to a closet filled with his suits, workout clothing, and even a chest of drawers with everything else.

The walls were painted a color that he couldn’t begin to describe. The floors were made from his favorite wood — beetle-kill pine that meant that they were light yellow with streaks of blue. The bed was… perfect. He recognized the bedframe as one he’d used where… This was from his father’s home as well!

Nelson wandered into the bathroom to find all of his favorite products lined up waiting for him.

Waiting for him.

It was like this entire life — his entire life — was waiting patiently for him.

He came out of the bathroom and went out to the open windows. Blane was sitting at a small table reading a book. There was a bottle of champagne and two empty glasses. Blane looked up when Nelson appeared at the door.

“What do you think?” Blane asked.

“Wow,” Nelson said. “I don’t think that I’ve stayed at a hotel that was this nice. It’s perfect.”

Blane grinned.

“Did you do this?” Nelson asked.

“No,” Blane said. “This was Jill and Jacob. I found a few things for them, but mostly it was them.”

“The only thing that I notice is that this patio is too small for my telescopes and…” Nelson started.

Blane pointed to something behind Nelson. He turned to look. There was a spiral staircase that went up.

“Shall we?” Blane asked.

“I don’t want to miss our time together.” Nelson gestured to the champagne.

“We can take a look and come back down,” Blane said with a grin.

Nelson gave a nod to Blane and started up the stairs. Very soon they were at the top of the building. A wide patio was cut into the roofline. There was a gas barbeque and a comfortable outdoor seating arrangement

“This was attic space,” Blane said. “We thought it would be perfect for a little observation platform. All of your gear is…”

Blane pointed to a closet sized space with a microwave, a small refrigerator and a closet.

“We took the liberty of putting all of your star watching stuff in there,” Blane said. “Even all of the stuff from your attic.”

Blane opened a door in the little space which opened a long storage space where his books, charts, and telescopes were arranged. Nelson giggled like a school boy. He went through the space and touched everything.

“This is…” Nelson said. “Is yours ready too?”

“All of our space,” Blane said. “Tanesha and Jeraine’s is the last space to finish because Jeraine has been a little slow to let go of control.”

“Ah,” Nelson said. “I never would have given over this much control.”

Blane nodded.

“Lucky, I’ve been so sick,” Nelson said.

Blane grinned in agreement.

“I need to rest,” Nelson said. “I have to meet with the Templars this afternoon.”

“Yuck,” Blane said.

“I know,” Nelson said. “But I have time for champagne and you.”

Blane turned in place and jogged down the stairs. Laughing, Nelson followed him.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Saturday morning — 9:02 a.m.

“Oh, no way,” Sandy said. “Jeraine had a poster of himself with his thumb in the front of his pants?”

“Kinda pulling them down,” Tanesha said as she slowly walked by Sandy’s side.

“How did we miss that for our dart board?” Sandy asked.

Tanesha laughed. Sandy had greeted Tanesha at the door of Seth O’Malley’s house. They were moving into the house.

“You know what he told me?” Tanesha asked.

“I’m not sure if I do,” Sandy said with a laugh.

“‘I am very sexy,’” Tanesha said.

They broke down laughing. Sandy stopped rolling and Tanesha bent over with laughter.

“What are you girls laughing about?” Bernie asked, poking his head out of the front room.

“Tanesha’s husband,” Maresol coming from the kitchen. She patted Bernie’s chest. “You remember that Tanesha’s married to Dionne’s son.”

“R and B star,” Bernie said, with a nod. “Jeraine.”

“That child never knew any shame,” Maresol said. “Remember when he decided that ripped shirts were his style? He’d tear them so that you could see just his little boy belly.”

“‘Shows off my hotness,’” Sandy said in an imitation of Jeraine.

“He was ten!” Tanesha said.

The woman laughed again.

“He is very handsome,” Bernie said.

“Don’t defend him,” Maresol said. “He’s done many, many, many cruel things to our Tanesha. He would be in prison if Seth hadn’t saved him. That was enough of an effort from your male kindship.”

Bernie scowled and looked at Maresol. Catching Sandy’s expression, he nodded.

“I acquiesce to your greater wisdom,” Bernie said.

“Smart man,” Maresol said.

Bernie chuckled and went back into the front room. In a few minutes, they heard him playing the grand piano that lived in that room.

“Where’s O’Malley?” Tanesha asked.

“He’s in New York,” Maresol said. “He has to finish that fourth movie. Plus…”

Maresol raised an eyebrow.

“What?” Tanesha asked.

“That jackass wants to own all of Hell’s Kitchen,” Maresol said.

“And remake it in his image,” Sandy said. “He owns the building around O’Malley’s and is trying to pressure O’Malley to sell his. If O’Malley caves, he thinks the rest of Hell’s Kitchen will cave.”

“It’s a real stand-off,” Maresol said. “They’re harassing the tenants of O’Malley’s building. They tried to steal the food trucks in O’Malley’s parking lot last night.”

“How did they stop that?” Tanesha asked.

“O’Malley and Claire told the tenants that this was coming,” Maresol said. “They were ready for the assault. One of those music guys was coming back from a gig and found them trying to break into the trucks.”

“What happened?” Tanesha asked.

“He called the police,” Maresol said. “The men said straight out that they were paid by that asshole.”

“Awful,” Sandy said.

“What about the other buildings?” Tanesha asked. “Will they cave?”

“Probably not,” Maresol said. “They are owned by Tafoya Industries.”

“Isn’t that your name?” Tanesha asked.

Sandy and Maresol laughed.

“O’Malley bought it about a year ago when it was clear what was coming,” Sandy said. “It’s this weird deal where he owns the property but the original owner manages the buildings and collects rent. After ten years, we can get control if we want it. Those idiots haven’t figured it out yet. They keep calling Maresol.”

Sandy nodded to Maresol.

“I answer: ‘Que?’ and just keep repeating it until they hang up,” Maresol said.

The women laughed.

“Frankly, it would be a bigger deal if O’Malley wasn’t wealthier than they are,” Maresol said. “They owe on everything. If O’Malley holds out for even just another month, they’ll likely default.”

“How did O’Malley get wealthier than them?” Tanesha asked.

“Look around you,” Maresol said. “This is his father’s home. The man doesn’t spend money.”

Maresol set a cup of coffee in front of Tanesha, who took a long drink. Maresol filled the cup again.

“Suits, planes,” Sandy said.

“He rents planes. But he does spend on people,” Maresol said. “But all of it is a lot less than spending money on failing business projects, lawyers, and federal penalties on your crimes.”

“Should he invest more?” Sandy asked with a scowl.

“That’s your department. I just answer the phone,” Maresol said with a smile. “Now, what are we doing today?”

“I was hoping to get back to organizing the crap from Poland,” Tanesha said. “I’ve been working at the hospital so much that I’ve fallen behind my schedule.”

“As long as you realize the schedule exists only in your head,” Maresol said. “That junk sat in a tunnel in Poland for decades. It can sit here a while longer.”

“I know,” Tanesha said. “I just like to finish what I start.”

Maresol nodded in understanding.

“What are you up to?” Maresol asked Sandy.

“I was going to hang out with Tanesha,” Sandy said. “She found a crate that she thought we could start with.”

“Don’t overdo it,” Maresol said.

“I’ll be careful,” Sandy said. “I should be out of the wheelchair by Monday.”

Maresol gave Sandy a worried nod.

“What are you up to?” Tanesha asked Maresol.

“I was going to help Delphie,” Maresol said. “You know their cleaner, Rosa?”

Sandy and Tanesha nodded.

“She said that Delphie has too much on her plate,” Maresol said. “You know — with the kids and the new greenhouses…”

“And Sam,” Tanesha said. “I found her with Sam when I got home yesterday. She’d clearly been there since he got home. She was exhausted. Overwrought.”

“She needs her friends around her,” Maresol said. “Just like we all do sometimes.”

“What will you do there?” Tanesha asked.

“I was going to teach a little cooking class,” Maresol said. “Get that Charlie and his teens working in the kitchen. I can’t believe they aren’t cooking!”

“Quanshay’s there,” Tanesha said.

“She’s the woman you were talking to your mom about?” Maresol asked.

“She’ll be a big help,” Tanesha said with a nod.

“Blane’s around too,” Maresol nodded. “Sounds like we’ll have a fun day. You girls will be all right here?”

“Of course,” Sandy said.

“We’ll avoid any creepy objects,” Tanesha said. “Dark energy and all of that. I’m pretty good at picking up on that stuff. I have lots of practice.”

“I bet you are good at it,” Maresol said. She nodded. “Well, I’ll get ready to go.”

In turn, Tanesha and Sandy hugged Maresol and the older woman headed back to her rooms.

“What did you see?” Sandy asked.

“When?” Tanesha asked.

Sandy gestured toward the stack of crates, boxes, and other precious antiquity junk.

“Oh, I have to show you,” Tanesha said.

They went over to where the crates were stacked. Tanesha pointed to one near the bottom.

“Do you see this stamp?” Tanesha asked.

“Looks like a rose,” Sandy said.

Tanesha dropped to a crouch and Sandy bent over. Tanesha brushed dust off the imprint.

“I think so too,” Tanesha said.

“What is it?” Sandy asked.

“Have you ever heard of the ‘White Rose’?” Tanesha asked. She continued when Sandy shook her head. “It’s kind of complicated but this woman, girl really, called ‘Sophie Scholl’ and her brother ‘Hans’ were involved in Hitler Youth, but became disgusted with it. Hans fought for the Nazi’s in Poland and saw the atrocities for himself. They started printing and distributing leaflets around 1942. It was kind of a college group.”

Sandy reached out to touch the rose.

“Should I continue?” Tanesha asked.

“Please do,” Sandy said. “There was a core group of students and professors. They only published six pamphlets. And remember there wasn’t printing like there now.”

“Typewriters and mimeographs?” Sandy asked.

“And the mail,” Tanesha said with a nod.

Tanesha stopped talking. Sandy nodded.

“Killed by the Nazis?” Sandy asked.

“Beheaded by guillotine,” Tanesha said. “At least Sophie and her brother were. Hans. There was a gruesome mock trial and long interrogations. They never gave up their friends. But they were arrested anyway. The last question asked her was if she thought that she’d committed a crime against her community.”

Tanesha sighed. She glanced at Sandy and saw Sandy’s rapt attention.

“I memorized it when I was in college,” Tanesha said.

“What did she say?” Sandy asked with a nod.

“‘I am, now as before, of the opinion that I did the best that I could do for my nation. I therefore do not regret my conduct and will bear the consequences that result from my conduct.’”

Tanesha gave Sandy a soft smile.

“She was so brave,” Tanesha said. “I wished for her surety and courage so I could… You know, because my mom was trapped and my dad in prison and gran… Jeraine… I mean, things have turned out really great, just then…”

“You needed courage and surety,” Sandy said.

Nodding, Tanesha sighed. She nodded to the box.

“The sixth leaflet was smuggled into the UK,” Tanesha said. “It was reprinted and dropped from planes just months after she and her brother were killed.”

“Wow,” Sandy said.

“Yeah,” Tanesha said. “Anyway, this crate could have leaflets or…”

“Let’s find out,” Sandy said. “Whatever is here — we will celebrate a life well lived. Depending on what it is, we’ll send it on to a museum or start one ourselves.”

Tanesha took the top crate off the stack. Setting it to the side, she took the next crate and stacked it on top of the other. She took the crate that was stamped with the rose. Using the small crowbar for leverage, she broke the seal on the top of the crate. The lid opened just an inch.

A musty smell filled the area.

“No,” Ava O’Malley, Seth’s wife, said running in their direction. “Leave it. Back up.”

“What is it?” Tanesha asked as she and Sandy backed away.

“That’s the smell of death,” Ava said. “Decay.”

Ava was a forensic scientist who ran a lab at the Denver Crime Labs. She pressed her way passed Tanesha and Sandy, effectively blocking them from the crate.

“Do you mind if I take a look?” Ava asked. “Sorry. I heard you talking about Sophie Scholl. She’s a hero of mine. I…”

Ava looked at the crate and saw the Rose stamp.

“Oh,” Ava said.

She turned her back to Tanesha and Sandy in such a way that she covered what she was doing with the crate. They saw only her back and rear end. After a long moment, they heard the top of the crate close. There was a pounding sound as Ava resealed the crate. Ava stood up holding the small crowbar.

“I’m sorry,” Ava said. “I have to report this.”

“Wha…” Sandy asked but didn’t finish.

“What is it?” Tanesha asked.

“A decaying head,” Ava said.

Sandy and Tanesha gasped.

“I’m telling you this because you’re strong,” Ava said. “You can handle this. There’s no way to know why this is here. It could be the Nazis. It could also be her friends and family keeping these remains away from being shown off by the Nazis.”

Sandy gave Ava a vague nod. Tanesha stood gawking at Ava.

“What will you do?” Tanesha asked.

“I have to call this in to the Denver Police,” Ava said. “So they don’t think we’re killing people and saving the heads. They will call my friend at Colorado History. She’ll come out to check to see if it’s a criminal matter or archeological. We also have to check with the Council on Indian Affairs so that they know these remains aren’t theirs. In all likelihood, it will go to Dr. Quincy. You’ve met her, Sandy.”

“Joan,” Sandy said.

Ava nodded.

“She’s a bone specialist,” Ava said. “Why don’t I call her so that she can have a look before all the chaos starts? I’ll call my friend from Colorado History as well.”

“That sounds great,” Sandy said. “Thanks.”

“Of course,” Ava said, as she moved toward the landline phone.

“It’s Sophie,” Tanesha said softly.

“Probably,” Ava said. “I’m sorry.”

Ava touched Tanesha’s shoulder as she passed. Sandy and Tanesha watched her go. Tanesha sighed.

“What do you want to do now?” Tanesha asked.

Sandy chuckled.

“Why don’t we work over on the end here?” Sandy asked. “I think maybe, just maybe, there’s one of those missing art works in these big crates. We’ll be out of the way of whatever chaos comes, but we’ll also be right here to watch.”

“Do there are more bodies?” Tanesha asked.

“Since we’ve only found one, I bet we’re safe,” Sandy said.

“We live on hope,” Tanesha said.

Grinning, Sandy rolled over to the stack of crates against the wall.

~~~~~~~~

Saturday morning — 10:35 a.m.

Quanshay was laughing at something Maresol had said when she realized that the pocket of that cozy robe was buzzing. She was sitting in the beautiful garden drinking tea when Maresol had stopped by to ask for her help in the kitchen.

“Your phone?” Maresol asked.

“I lost my phone,” Quanshay said. “Turns out it was here in this pocket. Ugh!”

“He’ll understand,” Maresol said.

“It’s really the worst sin a military spouse can do,” Quanshay said.

“He’ll understand.” Maresol nodded.

“I’ll see you there,” Quanshay said as Maresol left her to her call.

“Hello?” Quanshay asked.

“Where have you been?” her husband Chief Petty Officer Royce Tubman asked.

“Don’t take that tone with me,” Quanshay said. “I am not someone you get to boss around.”

Royce was silent for a long moment.

“And, no, I wasn’t messing around with Jeraine,” Quanshay said. “But today is a new day.”

When she heard Royce’s low chuckle, she laughed.

“How are you holding up?” Quanshay asked.

“I’m okay,” Royce said. “I’m sorry for barking at you.”

“I understand,” Quanshay said. “It’s the longest we’ve gone without talking since you were a SEAL.”

“Hard days,” Royce said.

“It was hard on us,” Quanshay said. “I’ve missed you. I just lost my phone.”

“How are you?” Royce asked. “Honey said that you’ve been sleeping a lot. Are you sick?”

“We called Dr. Bumpy,” Quanshay said. “Did you remember that he was Jeraine’s father?”

“I did not,” Royce said.

“I didn’t either,” Quanshay said with a snort of a laugh.

“What did he say?” Royce asked.

“He said that they don’t have a lot of tests,” Quanshay said. “If I don’t have fever or a cough, then they can’t really give me a test.”

Royce sighed.

“I think that I’m just tired,” Quanshay said. “That son of ours has been creeping around with some girl. This virus. The business. Everything. I haven’t been sleeping very much. Then I got here and… It’s like everything just slipped away.”

“That sounds good,” Royce said.

“I talked to John Drayson,” Quanshay said. “He came by here to check on Julie Hargreaves and Margaret’s uncle, Gando. They both have had Covid. Bad. So does Jake and Val’s father, Sam.”

“That’s a shame,” Royce said.

“They’re getting better, slowly,” Quanshay said. “You remember that kid Paddie? White hair?”

“Colin’s eldest,” Royce said.

“That’s right,” Quanshay said. “He was really sick but he’s better. He was at dinner last night. I guess he’s been quarantining by himself. He was kind of shy at first. After a bit, he was playing with the other kids.”

“And Katie?” Royce asked. “Isn’t that his best friend in the world?”

“She was there,” Quanshay said. “They are really cute. Our youngest played with all of the kids they call the ‘Wild Bunch.’ He’s there now. I think.”

“You haven’t seen him?” Royce asked.

“Not today,” Quanshay said with a little laugh. “They are giving me a break since I kind of freaked out.”

“I saw,” Royce said.

“I bet you did,” Quanshay said with a laugh. “Do you remember Rodney Smith?”

“The name is familiar,” Royce said.

“He was wrongly charged with murdering someone and got out?” Quanshay asked. “We went to see him speak when we first got here.”

“Uh-huh,” Royce said doubtfully.

“He’s Tanesha’s father,” Quanshay said. “And you know who Tanesha is?”

“Miss T?” Royce asked.

“Miss T!” Quanshay said. “This place is like a resort. I sleep in late. The food is good. My kids are taken care of. I don’t know if I’m ever coming home.”

Royce chuckled.

“What did John Drayson say?” Royce asked.

“He said that we should worry about the loan or the business,” Quanshay said. “I told him that I didn’t want to put them out. You know what he said?”

“He told me they save for rainy days,” Royce said.

“And it’s pouring!” Quanshay said with a chuckle. Royce laughed. “When did you talk to him?”

“He’s married to the LC,” Royce said.

“Oh, that’s right,” Quanshay said. “You probably talk to all these people more than I do.”

“You’ve been asleep,” Royce said.

She could hear the smile in his voice. He never resented the time she spent caring for himself. When he was home, he would insist on it. She smiled.

“Today, I’m going to help teach the teenagers how to cook,” Quanshay said. “Maybe I’ll figure out who J’Ron’s dating.”

“Or see our youngest?” Royce asked.

“Maybe even that,” Quanshay said.

Royce chuckled.

“I’m glad that they are taking such good care of you,” Royce said.

“They are caring for everyone,” Quanshay said. “It’s amazing. The kids are having a great time. The teens aren’t as sneering or surly. It’s like a miracle.”

“Someone else’s house,” Royce said.

“Exactly,” Quanshay said. “Kallyn told me that no one wants to go home to their boring house so they are on their best behavior.”

“I bet,” Royce said.

“I think she has a crush on Alexander,” Quanshay said. “They’ve been practicing fighting with those sticks.”

“Bokkens?” Royce asked.

“That,” Quanshay said. “He’s become so handsome.”

“He has,” Royce said. “I saw a picture of his parents once. They were gorgeous. So it’s not much of a surprise.”

They were quiet for a long moment.

“You’all ’re going ta be home when I get there?” Royce asked.

“We’ll be there waiting,” Quanshay said. “I just needed a break.”

“I understand completely,” Royce said. “I’ll be home soon.”

“You’d better,” Quanshay said.

Chuckling, Royce hung up. Quanshay looked at the clock. Maresol said that they would work with the kids at 11:30 am. She just had time for a bath.

Smiling to herself, Quanshay started the water for a bath.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

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Jill waved for Jeraine to follow her through the new home. They went up a now wood clad stairwell and into what would be a gorgeous entry area for Jeraine’s recording studio. Jeraine pulled up the hood on his jacket. Jill took a knit cap from her jacket pocket. She pulled it down low on her head. They slipped out the side door and walked down the driveway. They made it across the street. They were through the gate and into the house before the photographers caught up with them.

“What was that?” Jill turned on Jeraine. “What bullshit are you involved with? What did you do?”

“Nothing,” Jeraine raised his hands. “I swear, Jill. I swear. No women. No drugs. I’ve been good. Really good.”

Jill sniffed at him in disbelief. They walked into the Castle main living room. For the first time in days, no one was there. They continued through the building to the backyard.

Delphie was teaching the children how to plant seeds. The older kids were filling seedling trays with dirt and giving them to the younger kids to place the seeds. The teenagers were watering the seed trays and labeling them. Everyone was happily working.

“Hey,” Jill said to Valerie, who was looking hugely pregnant.

“I think I grew four inches,” Valerie said.

“The baby’s ready to come,” Jeraine said.

“Yeah,” Valerie said. “Another baby to add to the crowd.”

“I’m sure your baby will be wonderful,” Jeraine said.

Valerie smiled. Jeraine started inside.

“Hey, Jer?” Valerie asked.

“I’m going to find Jacob,” Jill said.

“You’ll do the colors?” Jeraine asked. “Make it nice for Miss T and us?”

“Of course,” Jill said.

“For Miss T?” Jeraine asked.

“Of course,” Jill said with a grin.

Jeraine nodded with all the sincerity he could muster. He knew that he could never make up for all of his misbehavior to Tanesha’s friends. He was just glad that they loved her enough to be decent to him.

“What’s up?” Jeraine asked Valerie.

“They got a photo of you,” Valerie said.

“Just now?” Jeraine asked. “With Jill?”

“Jill? No,” Valerie said. “Why?”

Jeraine explained what had happened.

“Assholes,” Valerie said. She shook her head. “This photo is actually worse than that. They took a photo of you with Quanshay.”

“Who?” Jeraine asked.

“The woman yesterday?” Valerie asked.

Jeraine scowled and then gave Valerie a vague shrug.

“You look naked,” Valerie said. “See for yourself.”

Valerie held out her cell phone, and Jeraine took it from her.

“Oh fuck,” Jeraine said. “Miss T’s going to kill me.”

“She’s seen it,” Valerie said. “On the bus.”

Jeraine groaned.

“They were waiting for her at school,” Valerie said. “But… Don’t freak out.”

“Too late,” Jeraine said.

“Here’s what she said,” Valerie said.

Valerie played the full video of Tanesha’s mini-rant. Jeraine watched it twice before handing the phone back to Valerie.

“She’s really great,” Valerie said.

“You don’t think she’s going to say that in public and be pissed at me in private?” Jeraine asked.

“Does she do that?” Valerie asked. “She strikes me as pretty straight forward.”

“No, I guess she doesn’t,” Jeraine said.

“You’d better call her to be sure,” Valerie said.

Nodding, Jeraine took his phone out of the pocket in his pants.

“In the meantime,” Valerie said.

“We avoid the photogs,” Jeraine said.

“Vultures,” Valerie said. “You might also want to keep your shirt on.”

Jeraine scowled and shook his head. He stood there for a moment before heading inside. He walked with purpose until he was in their apartment in the basement.

Then he freaked out.

It was a nightmare that never ended. His past just screwed him over and over again. What was he going to do if Tanesha left him? What was he going to do about all of this?

His head exploded with pain. Rather than deal with everything, he went to the bathroom, took his meds, and got in bed. He called Heather to ask if she would keep an eye on Jabari. That’s the last thing he remembered before the drugs kicked in.

~~~~~~~~

Friday afternoon — 2:13 p.m.

“Kallyn?”

The word was on the lips of her mother, Quanshay, before Quanshay was even awake. Quanshay’s eyes fluttered open.

Where on earth?

Quanshay sat up in bed.

The bed was so comfortable and inviting that she almost lay back down. She looked down at herself. She was wearing a man’s old T-shirt. It was roomy and soft from multiple washings. Her hand went under the covers. She was wearing just her underwear.

She lay back down in the warm bed and fell asleep again.

Sometime later… Had it been three minutes? Two hours? She sat straight up in bed. Her daughter was talking? Was she crying or laughing?

Where was she?

Quanshay saw the old soft robe on the end of the bed. She wrapped herself in its warmth and went to the restroom. Her purse was set on the counter. Her phone was charging on a cord hooked into a socket.

She grabbed her phone and started to look at it.

She heard her daughter again.

Without thinking, she walked toward the sound. She opened a glass door that led to a lovely garden patio. There was a small pond with fish and benches around the edge of the patio. The planters were filled with winter dormant plants, but the flowing ivy and box made the patio inviting. Quanshay saw a few shoots of bulbs coming up from the soil. A foot above this beautiful shady oasis was what looked like a brightly lit driveway.

Looking up, she recognized Kallyn’s shoes moving forward and then back. There was an odd slapping sound.

If someone was beating on her daughter, they were going to have Quanshay to deal with. Quanshay trotted up a shady paved path to the driveway. Standing just out of sight in shadow, she saw that her daughter was fighting a boy with some kind of wooden sword.

The boy was much better with the wooden sword than Kallyn.

But Kallyn was good. Really good.

They were speaking… something. Quanshay knew she should recognize it but it always took her a moment. It sounded like French sometimes but it wasn’t. It slid across her mind like a river.

Quanshay sighed at her exhausted mind.

Kallyn was studying… in school. She had to get special permission and the mean kids had made fun of her but she was almost fluent in…

Arabic. The word popped in her mind.

Kallyn started learning Arabic when her father started with the language. Of course, Royce picked it up like he picked up everything — easily with a lot of grace.

Kallyn and the boy were speaking Arabic.

Laughing. They were laughing. Quanshay smiled.

The boy said something to Kallyn and her daughter turned.

“Mama!” Kallyn said.

“Watch it girl!” Quanshay said.

The boy had distracted Kallyn in order to win at whatever game they were playing. But Kallyn was able to block his attack. The boy cheered for her.

Kallyn said something to the boy, and he gave her a solemn nod. He turned to Quanshay and raised a hand in “Hello.”

In that moment, Quanshay recognized him. He was Alexander, son of one of Royce’s bosses, Major Joseph Walter. He had grown into a very handsome teenager. She smiled at him.

Kallyn hugged her mother, and Quanshay wrapped herself around her first born. Kallyn was silently weeping into her mother’s chest.

“I’ll get J’Ron,” Alexander said.

Quanshay nodded. She made soothing sounds to Kallyn.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Quanshay asked.

“I just missed you,” Kallyn said. “I was so worried and…”

J’Ron threw himself on them. They weaved for a moment before finding balance. Quanshay held onto her children. After a few moments, Quanshay led them to the sitting area. Kallyn didn’t let go of her arm while J’Ron just wanted to be as close as possible.

“You’re wearing those masks,” Quanshay said, noticing for the first time that she wasn’t.

J’Ron pulled a clean mask from his pocket.

“We pick up two every day,” J’Ron said. “Our rule is one for the pocket, one for the face. I guess they liked it so much they’re using it at the construction company.”

Quanshay smiled broadly, “That’s really good.”

“Where have you been?” Kallyn asked, still crying. “I tried to call.”

“So did I,” J’Ron said.

“I was asleep in this room,” Quanshay said. “Where are we?”

“We’re at the Castle,” J’Ron said.

“You don’t remember?” Kallyn asked.

Quanshay shook her head.

“We came here and you saw Jeraine and…” J’Ron said.

Quanshay gasped. She looked embarrassed.

“That wasn’t a dream?” Quanshay asked.

“Oh, no,” J’Ron said. “Look.”

He took out his phone from his pocket and showed her the photo.

“It’s everywhere,” J’Ron said.

“Are they mad?” Quanshay asked. “I don’t want to cause them any trouble.”

“It’s just a part of their life,” Kallyn said. “Or at least that’s what Charlie says. I guess it happens all the time to either Jeraine or Valerie, you know, Valerie Lipson. She’s a movie star.”

“I know,” Quanshay said. “She’s a very beautiful movie star.”

“I thought Dad would call us but…” J’Ron said.

“He doesn’t have your numbers,” Quanshay winced. “Remember, he got his new phone after he left the house.”

Her kids nodded.

“He must be really worried,” Quanshay said. “Upset.”

“Why?” Kallyn and J’Ron asked in near unison.

“I had this thing about Jeraine when we were in high school,” Quanshay said. “Your dad was so mad about it. But I…?”

Quanshay looked at her kids.

“Jeraine lives here?” Quanshay asked.

Both children nodded.

“Your dad is going to be flipped out,” Quanshay said with a little laugh. “He’s just going to have to deal with it.”

When she laughed, her children laughed with her.

“Where have you been?” Kallyn asked.

“In there, I think,” Quanshay said. “Asleep. I just… I remember talking to… Oh my God, that’s Miss T. I know people have said that to me before but I never quite… Tanesha Smith is Miss T.”

Quanshay shook her head.

“Mercy,” Quanshay said. “Well… Can’t change the past.”

She looked at her children.

“Any idea why I’m here?” Quanshay gestured to the room she’d come out of.

“You’re staying in Fey Team Honey’s guest room,” Kallyn said. “I never would have guessed that it was here.”

“It’s really nice,” J’Ron said.

“Come on,” Quanshay said. “I’ll show you.”

Quanshay got up. The kids followed her inside to where she’d been sleeping. She was going to get dressed but when she saw the bed, her fatigue returned.

“Are you sick, Mama?” Kallyn asked.

“I doubt it,” Quanshay said. “I’m just tired. All of this stuff — virus, business, your dad being gone, you kids being home… I…”

There was a tap on the door. Quanshay saw the stack of masks next to her door. She put one on before letting Honey inside.

“I heard voices and wanted to check on you,” Honey said.

Uncomfortable with another adult they didn’t know, the kids moved away from the door.

“I can’t get over how well you’re walking,” Quanshay said.

“It’s still early in the day,” Honey said with a smile. She gave Quanshay a critical look. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” Quanshay said. “Hungry.”

“Should we get you a Covid test?” Honey asked.

“I don’t think so,” Quanshay said.

“Mom, you really…” Kallyn started at the same time J’Ron said, “Dad would want you to…”

“I guess I’d better,” Quanshay said.

“Best to be safe,” Honey said. “I’ll make an appointment with Dr. Bumpy.”

“Oh,” Quanshay said. “You know him?”

“He’s Jeraine’s father,” Honey said with a shrug. “We all see him.”

“Jeraine’s father?” Quanshay asked blushing. “I forgot that.”

“Is it okay?” Honey asked. “Should I call someone else?”

“No,” Quanshay said. “I really like him. We’ve come into to town to see him. He’s taking care of our kids and me through my pregnancy.”

Quanshay looked at her children.

“Where’s your brother?” Quanshay asked.

“He’s playing with the ‘Wild bunch,’” Honey said with a smile.

“Wild bunch?” Quanshay asked.

“We have a lot of kids who are about the same age,” Honey said. “Your son fit right in. They have so much fun that we call them the ‘Wild Bunch.’”

Quanshay looked at her kids. They both nodded at Honey’s words. Honey grinned at the silent communication between mother and children.

“You have been asleep for a long time,” Honey said. “You need to drink some fluids and eat. I made a sandwich if you would like it…”

“Thank you,” Quanshay said, embarrassed.

“We Fey wives have to stick together,” Honey said. “I’m sure the kids will tell you. We have a few sick people in the house, so we’re all wearing masks and trying to stay well.”

“Mama, Julie Hargreaves is here,” Kallyn said softly.

“Paddie’s mom?” J’Ron asked.

“Oh,” Quanshay said. “She’s such a sweet woman. I’d heard that she was sick.”

“She’s getting better,” Honey said. “I just wanted to make sure that you knew to be careful. Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Keep your distance from people even if you’re outside.”

Quanshay nodded.

“Call Royce,” Honey said.

“I will,” Quanshay said.

“Kids?” Honey asked. “Let’s let your mom get some rest.”

“They’re okay for now,” Quanshay said.

“You’re sure?” Honey asked.

“I am,” Quanshay said with a nod.

“I’ll let you know about the doctor,” Honey said.

Honey brought in a tray with a sandwich and a glass. She pointed that there was filtered water in the corner.

“It’s like a hotel,” Quanshay said.

Honey grinned, “We aim to please. Dinner starts at six. We have so many people now that it goes for a while. You don’t have to worry about being on time.”

Quanshay nodded.

“I washed the clothing you were wearing,” Honey said. “It’s hanging there. You didn’t bring other clothes so I thought you’d like something clean.”

“Thank you,” Quanshay said.

“It’s my pleasure,” Honey said. “Absolutely. I’ve had so many people help me over the years. It’s wonderful to have a chance to give back a little.”

Quanshay smiled, and Honey left them.

“Well, how is it here?” Quanshay asked the kids.

“Perfect,” Kallyn said. “We’re having a great time.”

“A blast,” J’Ron said. “We play video games from three to dinner. It’s… Amazing. I’m learning a lot and…”

Quanshay grinned. She was sure that they would go home when her husband returned. For now, this was a great place to land.

“I’m going to eat my sandwich and rest some more,” Quanshay said. “If you want to hang out with your friends you can.”

The kids gave each other guilty looks.

“I’m serious,” Quanshay said. “Go have fun.”

The kids nodded to each other. They hugged their mother one more time and then left her. Quanshay ate her sandwich, drank a lot of water, and went back to bed. For the first time since she knew about this stupid virus, she fell asleep quickly and slept well.

~~~~~~~~

Friday afternoon — 4:43 p.m.

“How is he?” Tanesha whispered to Delphie.

Tanesha and Fin were sent home early because of the chaos of reporters. She went to check on their patients in the medical office. Even thought they were still on oxygen, Julie Hargreaves and Gando Peaches were sitting in chairs on the deck off the medical offices. They nodded to Tanesha as she’d passed through the doors to check on Sam Lipson.

“The nurse said he’s doing well,” Delphie said.

“But?” Tanesha asked.

“I just have never known him to sleep so much,” Delphie said with a sigh. “I keep thinking that he must be really sick because he’s sleeping.”

Tanesha picked up the chart and started going through it.

“Do you mind if I take a little break?” the nurse asked.

“Of course,” Tanesha said, looking up at him. “I’ll stay until you’re back.”

“Thanks,” the nurse said. “I have to pee.”

Tanesha grinned at the young man before turning back to Delphie.

“He’s on some heavy meds,” Tanesha said. Looking up at Delphie, she added, “That’s why he’s sleeping.”

“But why does he have to sleep?” Delphie asked.

The women looked at each other for a long moment before Tanesha nodded.

“I see what you mean,” Tanesha said. “He wouldn’t be on the meds and wouldn’t be sleeping if he wasn’t so sick.”

“Exactly,” Delphie said with a nod.

“This is just a really awful disease,” Tanesha said. “We know that he’s getting great treatment, right?”

Never taking her eyes off Sam, Delphie nodded.

“Then we have to trust that he will get well on his own terms,” Tanesha said. “Julie and Gando seem much better.”

Delphie nodded. After a moment, Delphie looked at Tanesha.

“You think Sam will get better too?” Dephie asked.

“His chart is good,” Tanesha said. “It looks like he was very, very sick. But he doesn’t seem to have much lung scarring.”

She looked at Delphie and nodded.

“My guess is that he’ll be back to his old self sooner than you think,” Tanesha said.

“I hope so,” Delphie said.

Tanesha turned an assessing look at Delphie.

“How are you?” Tanesha asked. “Have you been taking care of yourself? Sleeping?”

Delphie shook her head.

“I can’t sleep,” Delphie said. “You probably know that I’ve been a little crazy.”

“You need to rest!” Tanesha said. “What would any of us do without you?”

Delphie gave a slight nod.

“When the nurse returns, why don’t we get some tea?” Tanesha asked.

“You’re going to put me to sleep,” Delphie said.

“I am,” Tanesha said with a grin.

“You’re mom told me that you can do that,” Delphie said.

“I practiced on Gran,” Tanesha said. “She could be a real bear when she wasn’t sleeping.”

Delphie gave a slight nod. The nurse slipped into the room and gave Tanesha a nod.

“Come on,” Tanesha said to Delphie.

Delphie looked at Tanesha for a long moment before following her out of the room. They went down the hallway. Valerie was waiting for them at the head of the stairs.

“Delphie needs rest,” Tanesha said.

“Delphie?” Valerie put her arm around Delphie. Using her gift of commanding voice, she said, “You need to sleep.”

That was enough of a nudge for Delphie to go with Tanesha toward her apartment. Valerie followed close behind. Together, Tanesha and Valerie got Delphie into bed. They left her when she was sound asleep.

“How are you?” Tanesha asked Valerie.

“I feel huge,” Valerie said.

“Any day now,” Tanesha said.

Valerie gave her a worried look.

“What’s going on?” Tanesha asked.

“The hospitals are full of sick people,” Valerie said. “Jake made those medical offices so I could have Jackie. Now, they are full of people.”

Valerie stopped walking and looked at Tanesha.

“What am I going to do?” Valerie asked.

“Well,” Tanesha said and then thought for a moment. “Your pregnancy is normal?”

Valerie nodded.

“Nothing for the doctor to worry about?” Tanesha asked.

Valerie nodded.

“You could have her anywhere,” Tanesha said. “My gran used to say that my ancestors had their babies in the fields and went back to work.”

“I don’t want to do that,” Valerie said.

Tanesha grinned.

“You always get a little weird when you’re going into labor,” Tanesha said. “Give it time. Whatever happens will be perfect. I’ll certainly help in any way that I can.”

“Promise?” Valerie asked.

“Promise,” Tanesha said. “I’d better go find Jeraine.”

Valerie nodded. The women walked together down the stairs until the reached the kitchen. Valerie was immediately caught up in making dinner. Tanesha smiled at the happy chaos and went to find Jeraine.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Friday morning — 8:02 a.m.

In the middle of Denver’s night, Reuters paid a near fortune for the picture.

It reached social media networks around eight in the morning. The entertainment news media began doing what only they could do.

“We begin this morning with a photo from right here in Denver,” the male morning newscaster said. “Denver’s own R and B sensation Jeraine hugs a woman in the middle of the street.”

“Is he naked there?” the female morning newscaster asked. “He looks naked to me.”

“I believe he’s just not wearing a top,” the man said.

“He looks naked to me,” the woman said. “Why would he be naked on the street?”

“At least he’s wearing a mask,” the man said.

“That’s what’s so confusing,” the woman said. “He’s naked but wearing a mask over his mouth and his nose.”

“I think we’re all wondering,” the man paused for dramatic flair, “what does Miss T think about Jeraine hugging another woman?”

“Naked,” the woman said, repeating her point. “You know, she’s helping out at the hospitals as part of her medical schooling.”

“She’s out saving lives while he’s doing who knows what with who knows who,” the man said.

“Poor Miss T,” the woman said.

“Poor Miss T,” the man said. “Next up, your morning weather. When will this cold snap end?”

~~~~~~~~

Location redacted

“That’s my wife!” Chief Petty Officer Royce Tubman roiled. “What is that bastard doing with my wife?”

Clearly on a rant, no one bothered to interrupt him.

“She had his poster,” Royce said, “you know, on her wall when we were in high school. She probably saw him and… He… Is he naked here? The papers are saying he’s naked and she’s just standing there and…”

“He has his top off,” Senior Homeland Security Agent Arthur “Raz” Rasmussen said. “Here’s the original. Look!”

Royce turned toward Raz and leaned over to look into the photo. They were flying in a Fey Team C-130 Hercules plane.

“He has his shirt in his hand,” Raz pointed to the clump of fabric in Jeraine’s hand. “You can see that he’s sweating. You can also see that she’s crying.”

“He’s wearing a mask,” Marine Sergeant Margaret Peaches said. She pointed to the edge of the picture. “That’s outside the Castle. Look at the fence. Street. Sidewalk. Have you been there?”

Royce shook his head.

“Hey Scully!” Margaret yelled for her partner Marine Sergeant MJ Scully. She held up the lap top. “Isn’t this the Castle?”

“Looks like it,” MJ said from his seat a few rows behind them. He gestured to his lap where he was counting medical supplies. “I can’t get up. Is that Jeraine?”

“Bastard,” Royce said. “That guy’s had more women than everyone on this plane combined. Even Trece and Rasmussen. My Quanshay is a poor little lamb, and he’s…”

“Jeraine lives there now,” MJ said, cutting Royce off. “He, Tanesha, and Jabari live just below us. They’re waiting for the house across the street to be finished. He was supposed to be in Las Vegas half time but because of the virus his show is on hold for a while.”

“My kids are there,” Margaret said.

“Mine too,” Major Joseph Walter said.

“Your kids probably bullied Quanshay into taking them there,” Colin Hargreaves said. “Julie’s there. Our kids.”

Royce blew out an angry breath.

“Fey?” Royce asked.

“Uh-huh,” Lieutenant Colonel Alexandra “The Fey” Hargreaves said, not looking up from her lap top.

“I want Tanesha’s phone number,” Royce said.

Alex rattled off a telephone number.

“That’s it?” Royce asked.

Alex nodded but never looked at him.

“But…” she said. Turning to him, she gestured to her lap top screen. “You should look at the whole photo.”

Royce took two long steps toward her. The entire team gathered around to look.

“That’s Marlowe,” Alex said, pointing to Jacob who was caught mid-step walking toward Quanshay and Jeraine. “He did your remodel? That’s Tres Sierra. You probably don’t know him but he’s the CFO at Lipson Construction. Great guy.”

Alex pointed to a group of teenagers running in the direction of Jeraine and Quanshay.

“I believe you know them,” Alex said. She lifted her eyebrows to Royce. “Aren’t these two your kids?”

Royce squinted at the blurry image.

“Where’d you get this?” Royce asked. “Did you make it?”

“I don’t have those skills,” Alex said. “I pulled it from the satellite feed last night when Reuters bought it. You’ll notice something…”

“What?” Royce asked crossing his arms.

“You can see her face. Clear as day,” Margaret said. “You can’t see her face in the photo on the Internet.”

“They did it in response to my flag,” Alex said. “You’re welcome.”

Royce scowled.

“Your wife and kids are at the Castle,” Alex said. “According to John, everyone is having a great time. They’ve spent the last few days making a chicken coop and building greenhouses with Jake. My guess is that they’ll start seedlings today.”

“Ooljee told me that there are a lot of kids there,” Margaret said. “Babies, toddlers, and kids Máire and Joey’s age. Lots of teens.”

“Why are they there?” Royce asked.

“Bored at home,” Margaret said. “At least that’s what my kids say.”

“Mine, too,” Alex said. “Máire and Joey are having a great time. They go to City Park with the dogs, play games, chase each other around the backyard…”

“Honey says that Quanshay is with her,” MJ held up a satellite phone. “She says that Quanshay was just exhausted, over-worried. She and the kids got there midday, and Quanshay’s been resting since then.”

“Can I talk to my wife?” Royce asked MJ.

“You can talk to Honey,” MJ said, passing him the phone. “She thinks Quanshay’s asleep. Tanesha’s at the hospital. She and Fin are second year medical students so they’re helping out in the ER.”

Royce gave MJ a distracted nod and took the phone.

“Honey?” Royce asked.

He listened to the phone for a few moments.

“Thank you for taking care of her,” Royce said. “Can you ask her to send me an email or…?”

He fell silent and then nodded.

“Okay, thanks,” Royce said.

He handed the phone back to MJ who said his good-byes.

“I still want to talk to Tanesha,” Royce said.

MJ held up the phone to Royce. He dialed the number and walked away to get some privacy. He came back a moment later.

“I left a message,” Royce said.

The team nodded.

“Time to head back to your seats,” Cliff said. “We’re getting ready to land.”

“On Jeraine,” Zack said. “He’s so sexy.”

The team laughed while they moved back to their seats to lock in for landing.

~~~~~~~~

Friday morning — 8:35 a.m.

Sitting on the RTD 20 bus, Tanesha noticed that there was a message on her cellphone. She couldn’t figure out who would call her. Now that she was working at the hospital, her mother sent her long, wordy texts with weird emojis. Jeraine sent texts. Her girlfriends sent texts. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d received anything other than a spam call.

“What is it?” Fin asked.

“Someone telephoned me,” Tanesha said. “But the phone didn’t ring.”

Fin made a disinterested noise. For a long moment, Tanesha wondered if she should bother to listen to it. Shrugging to herself, she dialed into her voicemail and put in the code.

She listened to an African American man introduce himself. She scowled and played the message again.

“What is it?” Fin asked.

“Some dude,” Tanesha said. “Talking about… something. I don’t know.”

She looked up and noticed that some of the passengers were giving her furtive looks. She noticed a woman holding up her cellphone with the camera toward Tanesha.

“Shit,” Tanesha said under her breath.

“What causes you distress?” Fin asked.

“People are looking at me,” Tanesha said. “That woman just took my photo.”

Fin stood up. Tanesha tried to pull him back to sitting down.

“Why are you looking at this woman?” Fin asked.

The magic bounced around the inside of the aluminum bus.

“Fin!” Tanesha whispered. “You’re making it worse!”

Fin lifted an eyebrow at Tanesha and spoke again.

“Speak one at a time,” Fin said. He pointed to the bus driver. “Driver. You start.”

“That’s Miss T. Tanesha,” the bus driver spoke first. “She’s on my bus every morning with you. She’s so sweet and nice. I don’t know how she puts up with that rascal Jeraine.”

“You,” Fin pointed to the person sitting behind the driver.

“Hay una nuevo foto de su hombre y alguna otra mujer,” the woman said that there was a photo of Jeraine and another woman.

Tanesha groaned and dug out her phone from her purse again.

“They’s a photo of her man and some chick,” said the woman next to the Spanish speaking woman. “He don’ have a lick of clothes on.”

Fin started to laugh.

“This is what we saw yesterday,” Fin said.

“It’s not funny,” Tanesha said looking at her phone.

“It’s very funny,” Fin said.

“You should dump that asshole,” the woman who’d taken Tanesha’s photo said. “I just said that on my Twitter and I got lots of ‘likes.’”

Three other women nodded. Fin laughed as if he’d never heard anything funnier.

“Hey, Miss T,” the bus driver said. “They’re saying over the radio that a lot of photographers and news people are waiting for you at the hospital.”

“Shit,” Tanesha said. She punched Fin. “Stop laughing!”

“It’s very funny,” Fin said.

“My Twitter friends say that you should have left him the last time,” a young woman said from the back of the bus. Reading her phone, she said, “A leopard doesn’t change his stripes.”

“Zebra,” Fin said using “zed” for the “z” instead of “zee.”

“What?” the young woman asked. “What’s that?”

“A zebra doesn’t change his stripes,” Fin said.

“Yeah, but what’s a zebra?” the young woman said.

“He means ‘zeebra,’” a man seated nearby said. “He’s from England.”

“I am most certainly not from En-gland,” Fin said with disdain. “I am from the Isle of Man. I am Manx.”

“Like the Bee Gees?” another woman asked. “They were Manx too.”

Tanesha bit her lip to keep from laughing. Fin looked at her. Shaking his head at her glee, he snapped his fingers and everyone went back to their own thoughts.

They settled in for a few minutes.

“What am I going to do?” Tanesha whispered to Fin.

“About what?” Fin asked.

“The reporters,” Tanesha said.

“You will do what you always do,” Fin said. “Grace and power. That’s my granddaughter.”

He put his arm around her shoulder. The bus pulled up at the medical complex in Aurora. Reporters, photographers, and videographers surrounded the bus.

Tanesha stepped out into the mess.

“I would like to say something,” Tanesha said.

It took a moment before everyone settled down. Fin stood so that her back pressed into his chest.

“I was on the bus today — getting myself mentally prepared to assist doctors and nurses in their fight to save lives — when I was informed of some photographic nonsense,” Tanesha said. “I was on the street when that picture was taken. A dear friend of ours came to the house for our help. Her husband is deployed. She’s raising two children alone while her husband fights for our country.”

“But the photo shows…” a reporter yelled.

“Jeraine hugged our friend because she was upset and overwhelmed,” Tanesha said. “This shit is real. People are dying. It’s likely that each of us, including you, will have a moment when we are stretched beyond what we can handle. Hopefully, someone will care enough to reach out.”

“He was naked, Miss T,” the reporter in front of her said.

“I was there,” Tanesha said. “My cousin and I were walking back from the bus. I can assure you that he only had his top off. He was hot because he was helping to build greenhouses. They are growing food for people out of work and hungry. That’s all.”

Tanesha took a breath and continued.

“This photo, that looks so provocative to some, is really where we all should be,” Tanesha said. Swallowing hard, she continued. “We should all be exhausted from our work in the service of our neighbors, holding onto each other in comfort and love. This photo is a photo of the pandemic.”

“It’s not romantic or sexy or anything other than human kindness,” Tanesha said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my cousin and I are due for our shift at the hospital.”

Tanesha pushed her way through the reporters and entered the hospital. Fin put his arm around her.

“Cousin?” Fin asked.

Laughing, they walked to the ward together.

~~~~~~~~

Friday morning — 9:05 a.m.

“I don’t know,” Jeraine said. “I just…”

“I can always ask Tanesha,” Jill threatened.

Jill and Jeraine were looking at the space that he, Tanesha, and Jabari would live in. He was also going to run a recording studio another area of this home. Jill was talking to Jeraine about the interior design. Today, the painting contractor was there to work on the main space and a few of Jeraine and Tanesha’s rooms.

Nelson was still using Jabari’s room. After a brief chat, they left him alone to rest.

“Tanesha will pick white,” Jeraine said. “You know who’s really great at color?”

“Me?” Jill asked.

Having grown up with Jeraine, she knew how much he appreciated an honest brag. He grinned at her.

“Tanesha’s mom,” Jill said. “That’s who you were going to say.”

Jeraine nodded.

“She’s going to paint a mural out in the big room,” Jill said. “Would you like me to pick the colors?”

“I feel like I should know what to put on the walls but…” Jeraine mumbled.

Jill looked around the room that Jeraine and Tanesha would share.

“It’s kind of a box,” Jill said.

“Right,” Jeraine said.

“So white on the ceilings,” Jill said.

“Why?” Jeraine asked.

“it makes the room look taller, more open,” Jill said.

“Oh,” Jeraine said. “Is it always white?”

“Usually white or off-white,” Jill said with a nod. “I’d use white on these interior rooms.”

“Ones without a window,” Jeraine said what he’d learned.

Jill nodded. They stood in the room looking around.

“Are they going to be nice to live in?” Jeraine asked.

“The interior rooms?” Jill asked, nodding. “They will be quiet and private — which is what both you and Tanesha asked for. We can move your room to the one on the end with the big windows. They haven’t put in the small kitchen or the wall to make Tanesha’s office…”

“No, no,” Jeraine said. “I’m not changing a thing. I’ll just mess it up. You and Miss T worked hard on all of this.”

“Why don’t you talk to her when she gets home?” Jill asked.

Jeraine gave Jill a vague nod. He wandered a little further into the room and stared at the wall.

“This house has a great feel to it,” Jeraine said. “I think we’re going to be really happy here.”

“I’m sure you will be,” Jill said with a grin.

Jeraine looked at Jill and smiled at her.

“I still don’t have any idea about the…” Jeraine said.

There was a flash and then another.

“What the hell?” Jill asked. The photographer continued taking photos of them. “How did you get in here?”

“The door was open,” the photographer said with a smirk. “This another one of your girlfriend’s Jeraine?”

“What are you talking about?” Jeraine asked.

“The door was most certainly not open,” Jill said. “You’re not even wearing a mask.”

Jill glanced at Jeraine. He looked overwhelmed. Jill pushed the man backwards.

“Get out of here,” she said. “Out!”

She pushed him backward again.

“Go!” Jill said.

She saw that the door in the big window was open and she pointed to the door.

“Out!” Jill said.

“I’m calling the Denver Police,” Jeraine said. He held his cell phone to his ear and spoke into the phone.

“You know what that means,” Jill said.

The photographer turned and ran out of the building. Jill closed and locked the door. As she looked out, she saw that there were at least a hundred of photographers standing around the backyard.

“That’s why you wanted a bedroom without windows,” Jill said.

“Bastards,” Jeraine said. “They have us pinned down.”

“No, they don’t,” Jill said. “Come on.”

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Quanshay snuck a glance at Tanesha and saw only compassion in her eyes.

“I haven’t been sleeping,” Quanshay said. “That’s the truth of it. We had to close our nail business and I owe all this money to John Drayson and Royce is gone and we’re going to have to close the nail salon for good and then what? I mean, how we going to pay rent if we can’t work? And this virus is going to kill us all. And the kids are either screaming at each other or screaming at me…”

Quanshay began to cry. Tanesha reached out to Quanshay so that her hand touched the upset young woman’s shoulder. They sat like that for a long moment.

“Quanshay?” Honey asked from the kitchen door.

“Oh, Honey,” Quanshay said. She glanced at Tanesha. “Honey’s a Fey wife.”

Tanesha nodded. Quanshay looked at Honey

“I forgot that you lived here,” Quanshay said.

“My father’s partner owns this home,” Honey said. “MJ and I moved in right after we were married.”

Honey gave Tanesha a concerned look.

“She needs rest,” Tanesha said. “Quiet.”

“Why don’t you come with me?” Honey asked. “We have an extra bedroom. You can get some rest and quiet.”

“Isn’t Hermes in there?” Tanesha asked.

“Charlie moved him somewhere else,” Honey said. “Maggie and I would love to have you stay with us, Quanshay. From one Fey family to another, you are most welcome.”

Quanshay looked at Tanesha.

“Will you tell my children where I am?” Quanshay asked Tanesha. “If they decide they want to see me.”

“Of course,” Tanesha said.

She nodded to encourage Quanshay. Tanesha hugged her.

“You’re walking pretty good now,” Quanshay said to Honey as they walked away.

Honey’s response was lost as the women walked away. Tanesha sat at the table for a long moment.

“Did you figure out what was going on?” Jeraine asked.

“She’s tired,” Tanesha said. “Overwrought. She just needs some sleep.”

Jeraine took a cookie and ate it.

“Did you have a poster of you without your top and pulling your pants down with your thumb?” Tanesha asked.

Jeraine thought for a moment and then shrugged.

“I am very sexy,” Jeraine said without a hint of self-modesty.

Tanesha laughed. He held out his arms. She got up and hugged him.

“Why did you ask about the poster?” Jeraine asked.

“She had one,” Tanesha said.

“Ah,” Jeraine said. “When you have all of this…” He waved his hands across his body. “The women go crazy.”

He looked at Tanesha, and they both laughed.

“I’m going for a swim,” Tanesha said. “You?”

“I’m still helping Jake,” Jeraine said. “Your dad’s here. Still.”

“Mom?” Tanesha asked.

“She and Delphie went off with Maresol,” Jeraine said.

Nodding, Tanesha sighed.

“You’d better get swimming before your time is gone,” Jeraine said.

She pulled down her mask to kiss him.

“How did Jabari do at the doctor?” Tanesha asked, pulling up her mask.

“Dr. Bumpy wants him to isolate for another week, but he thought the virus had passed,” Jeraine said. “No fever. He seems fine.”

Tanesha gave Jeraine a distracted nod.

“Where is he now?” Tanesha asked.

“He’s outside with Maggie and Mack,” Jeraine said. “They are playing isolation. It’s really cute. You go swim. I’ll watch him. We’re okay.”

Tanesha nodded. He pushed her on her way. She went into the downstairs bathroom and changed.

This virus was exhausting and disheartening. Everyone seemed at a breaking point. But Tanesha knew in her heart that they were just getting started with it. She felt lucky that she had so much support from people who loved her.

She wondered how long it would last. Shaking her head at her own gloom, she left the bathroom to go for a swim.

~~~~~~~~

Friday morning — 5:12 a.m.

Jacob was standing on the deck drinking a cup of warm tea when he felt more than saw a shadow by the chicken coop. Curious, Jacob went down the deck steps to the grass. He walked across the frost crisp grass to where someone in a hospital gown was standing.

“Gandy?” Jacob asked to the naked backside of Gando Peaches.

Gando jerked around in place. His eyebrows dropped in a scowl as he looked at Jacob.

“Wha…?” Gando asked. “I…”

Remembering his mask, Jacob reached into his pocket and put the cloth mask on. Gando’s eyes watched Jacob’s movements. Gando blinked.

“I don’t have one of those,” Gando said.

Jacob took another mask out of his pocket and held it out to Gando. The man looked at Jacob’s hand for a long moment before taking the mask. They waited a few seconds while Gando put on the mask. Jacob waited for Gando to say something. A few curious chickens peered out of the coop to see what was going on.

“Where am I?” Gando asked.

“You’re standing in the backyard of my mother’s old place,” Jacob said. “You remember. We call it the ‘Castle’?”

“That burned out shack you lived in when you were in high school?” Gando asked, looking around at the back of the building.

“You used to come through here when you were on leave,” Jacob said.

Gando nodded.

“How do I know you?” Gando asked.

“I was in the state meet that your little sister ran in. You sat next to my mom and Delphie in the bleachers? Remember? Delphie’s an oracle,” Jacob said. “They told you to stop by when you were in town. I met you when you came to the house. I do remodeling and contracting for Max and John? I am married to Jill Roper?”

“That fast chick from East High,” Gando nodded. “She blew my sister out of the water at that meet. Roper’s little sister.”

Jacob nodded.

“How did I get here?” Gando asked.

“Your partner, Hecate, brought you,” Jacob said.

Gando gave Jacob a vague nod.

“I hear the truth in your words,” Gando said with a shake of his head. “I have no memory of anyone named ‘Hecate.’”

“She’s a Titan,” Jacob said. “Very beautiful. Powerful.”

“I’m partnered with a Titan?” Gando asked with a laugh. “You mean, like ancestors to the Greek Gods?”

Jacob gave him a slight nod.

“Aren’t they dead?” Gando asked. Answering his own question, he said, “No, I know they aren’t dead.”

Gando put his hand on his chest.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Jacob asked.

“I woke up and heard the chickens,” Gando said. “New flock?”

“They combined five chickens from two separate flocks yesterday,” Jacob said. “This is a new flock of ten.”

“They are unsure,” Gando said. “Calling for their friends.”

“Chickens have friends?” Jacob asked.

“Every living thing has friends,” Gando said. He was silent for a moment. “These chickens… They were prepared to be separated. They don’t mind being here. Listen…”

For a moment, the men listened to the sounds of the chickens in their new roost. Gando looked at Jacob.

“Whoever combined the birds…” Gando said.

“Rodney Smith,” Jacob said.

“…did a good job of it,” Gando said. “Do I know Rodney Smith?”

“You’ve met him,” Jacob said. “His wife is a child of…”

“Urial,” Gando said. “I remember her. Yvonne. She has a daughter. Tanesha?”

“Married to the R and B star, Jeraine?” Jacob asked.

“We used to listen to him in Iraq,” Gando said with a slight nod. “Basic. You built that office of Alex’s?”

“Twice.” Jacob nodded.

“I’ve spent nights on that floor,” Gando said. “Warm, safe, secure, talking about nothing.”

Jacob nodded.

“What do you remember before waking up this morning?” Jacob asked.

“Oh memory,” Gando said. He smiled at Jacob. “As a shaman, I see time, experience, memory like a river. I remember everything and nothing.”

“You don’t remember anything before waking up this morning?” Jacob asked.

Gando grinned.

“You’ve spent a lot of time with Delphie, the true oracle,” Gando said.

“I have,” Jacob said.

“I know what you’re asking,” Gando said. “I remember Roper. Mike. Mike Roper. I remember coming here on the wings of an enormous bird. I remember… what am I sick with?”

“Coronavirus,” Jacob said. “New one.”

“The people are suffering,” Gando nodded. “I sense that Ooljee is here. Her brother, too.”

Gando looked at Jacob.

“Why am I here?” Gando asked.

“My wife and her family…” Jacob started.

“Roper,” Gando said. He nodded and then looked at Jacob again. “I have always knows this about Roper.”

Gando nodded and turned his attention back to the chickens. Jacob waited a long moment for Gando to say something else. When he didn’t, Jacob put his hand on Gando’s shoulder. Gando turned and looked at Jacob as if he were seeing Jacob for the first time.

“Gandy?” Jacob asked.

Gando shook himself head to toe and then weaved. Jacob stabilized him with a hand.

“Could you lead me back to my bed?” Gando asked. “You are…?”

“Marlowe,” Jacob said.

“Jake, I know him. Jake Marlowe,” Gando said, almost to himself. “I feel a fatigue that… Where is my beloved? I miss her desperately.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know,” Jacob said. “She’s gone somewhere beyond this world for fear of being charged with causing this pandemic.”

“Pandemic,” Gando nodded. “Yes, that’s what this is.”

“Let’s get you back in bed,” Jacob said.

Gando’s knees gave out. Jacob put his arm around Gando and helped him across the grass and up the wooden stairs. They passed the hot tub and went into the medical offices. The nurse was sound asleep in a chair between Julie Hargreaves bed and an empty bed.

Jacob loudly cleared his throat. She jumped up and took the other side of Gando. Jacob left her to get him settled in his bed.

“Hey Marlowe,” Gando croaked as Jacob walked away.

Jacob turned around to look at him.

“Thanks,” Gando said.

Jacob lifted a hand in waving but saw that Gando’s eyes had closed. He nodded to the nurse and left the medical offices. He hustled back to the loft where he changed his clothing and went in to see Jill. She was asleep.

“Sorry to wake you,” Jacob said. “Would you mind checking me?”

“Of course,” Jill said, sitting up.

“I saw Gando,” Jacob said, his voice fast and anxious. “He was standing outside the chickens. He said they called to him and then he needed help back to the medical offices and…”

“You’re okay,” Jill said. “He must be a lot better.”

“I guess so,” Jacob said. “He seemed really out of it.”

“Understandable,” Jill said.

She kissed him, and he smiled.

“Why are you up so early?” Jill asked.

“I wanted to make a dent into the greenhouses before the helpers arrived,” Jacob said.

“Good thinking,” Jill said.

“I have to be at Lipson this afternoon,” Jacob said.

“Sounds like a busy day,” Jill said.

“We’re finishing our first week of job sharing,” Jacob said. “There’s a site manager meeting and I need to check in with quotes and…”

He sighed.

“Go back to sleep,” he said. “I’ll be outside when you get up.”

She nodded and lay back down. He pulled on clean clothing and went outside to start working on the greenhouses.

~~~~~~~~

Friday morning — 8:15 a.m.

“Jake?” Delphie called.

Jacob looked up from where he was building the wooden structure for the third greenhouse.

“Here!” Jacob waved.

Delphie came over to where he was working. Having worked alone all morning, Jacob took a clean mask from his pocket and put it on as Delphie approached.

“I… um… well…” Delphie said.

Jacob stood up and hugged Delphie tight.

“You do not owe an apology,” Jacob said, softly. “We’re all at our wits end without dad.”

Delphie cried into Jacob’s shoulder for a moment before she mastered herself. He pulled back to a safe six feet away.

“I am your servant,” Jacob said. He gestured to the garden and the house. “You should know that by now.”

“But you’re married now and have kids and…” Delphie sighed. “I’m out of my mind.”

“Yes, I know,” Jacob said. “Me too.”

They would have hugged again, but they nodded instead.

“Don’t suffer,” Jacob said.

Delphie looked shocked and hurt.

“Please,” Jacob said. “You are so good at suffering that you don’t even notice when you’re doing it. I see it. Val, Mike, Jill, Yvonne, Rodney — we all see you suffering.”

Delphie’s hand went to her heart.

“Just tell me what you need and I’ll make it happen,” Jacob said. “You have to know by now that I will move heaven and earth for you.”

Delphie gave him a slight nod. Her eyes welled with tears and her mouth opened and closed. Jacob gave her a nod in silent communication. To give her some emotional space, he turned his attention to the greenhouses.

“What do you think?” Jacob asked.

“You’ve finished two?” Delphie asked.

“I’ve been saving windows for years,” Jacob said. “The first was mostly done last night, and I put the other one together this morning. I’m just working on the third.”

“Where will everyone park?” Delphie asked, her voice rising with anxiety. “They’ll be so angry with me for taking up all this space and…”

Jacob shook his head so violently that she stopped talking.

“I bought the lot next us,” Jacob said.

“Last year,” Delphie said.

“Nearly three years ago,” Jacob said. “Everyone’s parked there now.”

The land that the Castle sat on was about three feet above the lot just to the south. Long before Delphie and Celia had moved here, someone had laid a thick layer of concrete on the slope between the properties. Delphie looked down to see everyone’s cars.

“When I finish here, I’ll build some stairs down,” Jacob said. “The fence guys will be here today to add onto this one. There’s a couple of ways they can do it. It will be interesting to see what they do.”

Delphie nodded.

“I talked to the store and they said that it wouldn’t affect them to have the fence there,” Jacob said.

“We just have to move their trash and recycling,” Delphie said as if she were waking up from a dream.

“Exactly,” Jacob said. “Val asked for stairs so she doesn’t have to go out to the street with the kids.”

Delphie nodded. She looked up at Jacob.

“You have it all worked out,” Delphie said.

“I do my best, ma’am,” Jacob said.

Delphie grinned at the sarcastic come back he used to say in high school. He grinned.

“You’re my…” he started.

“I’m your Delphie,” she said at the same time.

He smiled.

“The one question we have is whether we want to replace this wood shingles with brick,” Jacob said.

Delphie nodded.

“Oh, Jacob, what do you think I should do?” Jacob said in a ridiculous imitation of Delphie.

“When are the brickies coming?” Delphie asked with a grin.

“Brickies!” Jacob said with glee.

“That’s what they are called, right?” Delphie asked. “I thought that’s what you called them.”

“I do,” Jacob said. “And yes, your boyfriend Ramon will be here this morning.”

“Finally,” Delphie said flippantly. “What’s the point of having a boyfriend if he’s never around?”

Jacob burst out laughing. Her eyes sparkled with glee.

“I expect you to be finished with this by breakfast,” she said with a pretend sniff.

Jacob stopped moving. He looked up and then tipped his head to the side.

“What is it?” Delphie asked.

Valerie came running out of the house screaming: “Dad’s coming home!”

Jacob and Delphie hugged again. Valerie threw herself onto them. The three hugged each other for a long time.

“I’ll go get him,” Jacob said.

“I’ll go,” Delphie said.

“I’ll go,” Valerie said.

“I’m leaving,” Mike said.

They turned to look at Mike, who was walking toward them. It made a lot of sense for Mike to pick up Sam because Mike couldn’t get sick.

“You don’t mind?” Delphie asked.

“You’re my Delphie too,” Mike said.

He walked passed them, slid down the cement edge from the Castle to where the cars were parked, and drove away.

“Come on, Delphie,” Valerie said. “Let’s have some tea and get ready for Dad.”

“What did John tell you?” Delphie asked.

“Dr. Drayson said that Dad was being discharged,” Valerie said. “He was still sick and would need to be monitored but he didn’t need a hospital anymore.”

Valerie smiled bright and big.

“He said that we were doing such a great job with Julie and Gandy that he was sure we could care for Dad,” Valerie said.

Delphie started to laugh and Jacob followed. Valerie couldn’t help to join in. They laughed insanely for a few minutes and then hugged each other again.

“I’ll go tell the nurse,” Valerie said running across the yard.

“I’d better get Sam’s things ready,” Delphie said.

In a few minutes, Jacob was alone with the greenhouse again. Shrugging, he went back to work.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Thursday mid-day — 12:37 p.m.

“Hey,” Jacob said in a soft voice to Jill’s back.

Jill turned to look at him. She was standing in the loft nursery and holding Bidzil, Margaret Peaches’ young son. He was sleepily drinking a bottle of what looked like milk.

“How is he?” Jacob asked.

“A lot better,” Jill said. “Few more days and he’ll be ready to join the others playing.”

“Good,” Jacob said. “What does he have?”

“Parasite,” Jill said. “Particularly nasty one. Dr. Bumpy thought we might have been too late to help him, but he’s responded really well to the treatment.”

“And to your cuddles,” Jacob said.

“It’s nice to have an easy-going child,” Jill said with a grin.

“You mean one that can’t move things with their minds?” Jacob asked with a laugh.

“That, too,” Jill said. She glanced up and grinned at him. “Let me set him down. He’s ready to nap a bit.”

Jill set the child down in a crib and they left the room. Jacob migrated after Jill as she walked toward their small kitchen.

“I saw our boys on the way up,” Jacob said. “Is Katy in her room?”

Jill nodded.

“She doesn’t want to leave Paddie alone,” Jill said. “Have you eaten?”

Jacob shook his head.

“How’s Paddie?” Jacob asked.

“Much better,” Jill said. “I have an appointment to take him and Jabari to see Dr. Bumpy this afternoon.”

“For a test?” Jacob asked.

“I guess so,” Jill said with a shrug. “I don’t really know how that works. Dr. Bumpy was following Jabari, Paddie, and Connor. John was Julie’s doctor. I think John took care of Paddie and Connor because they’re his nephews.”

“He’s a nice guy,” Jacob said.

“Great doctor,” Jill said. “That’s what Dr. Bumpy says too.”

“Any idea what’s going on in the backyard?” Jacob asked.

“Delphie had a meltdown this morning,” Jill said. “Sandwich? Warmed up soup? Fast food on the way back? Delphie casserole?”

“No,” Jacob said. He closed his eyes and put his hand up like he was protecting his head. “No Delphie casserole. No.”

Jill laughed.

“I was checking to see if you were listening,” Jill said.

Jacob grinned and leaned over to kiss her. They kissed. He stroked her face.

“I wish…” Jill whispered.

“Me too,” Jacob said, with a sigh.

“Too much work,” Jill said.

“Too many people, everywhere,” Jacob said. “Have the teenagers started to clone? When I left the house this morning, there were half of the kids who are here now.”

“Fey Team kids,” Jill said. “Once we had Joey and Máire, they started arriving. They always knew that Teddy lived here. So they knew where to go. Charlie’s done a great job keeping the teens moving in the same direction. He’s…amazing. The teens are reading books and talking, mostly. In the afternoon, they play competitive video games.”

“That’s bound to get them fighting,” Jacob said.

“Charlie won’t tolerate it,” Jill said. “If you fight, you can’t play. If you can’t get along, you go home. His rules. So far, it’s worked out great because no one wants to go home.

Jacob nodded. They fell silent as Jill made him a sandwich. She set out some peeled carrots for him to eat while she finished the sandwich.

“Delphie was due for a meltdown,” Jacob said. “Mom and Dad always grounded her. Kept her on an even keel. Since Dad’s sick, it was only a matter of time. Any idea what sparked it?”

“She wanted to get some things done in the backyard,” Jill said.

“Ah,” Jacob said. “I wonder why she didn’t talk to me.”

“She said that you were too busy with work to deal with an old woman’s issues,” Jill said.

“Really,” Jacob said as a statement. “That’s worse than I thought. She was… pretty upset?”

Jill nodded.

“What happened?” Jacob asked.

“Tanesha found her crying in the hallway in the basement. Tanesha called her parents, who came right over,” Jill said. “I mean, like, they were here in fifteen minutes or something. You know how Delphie helped Yvonne when she was trapped. I guess, Rodney told someone that she’d saved his life when he was in prison. They told me that they would show up for Delphie anytime, anywhere.”

“Wow,” Jacob said.

“I know,” Jill said. “Yvonne took Delphie into the dining room. She fed Delphie tea and those breakfast cookies she likes until Delphie was coherent. Delphie had given Charlie this crazy map.”

“I’ve seen those,” Jacob said.

“I bet,” Jill said. “Anyway, Yvonne took Delphie. Rodney got Charlie to tell him what he remembered of what she wanted. Rodney drew it up and they got started with what they could do.”

“I saw some of the Lipson guys out there,” Jacob said. “Jeraine’s out there too.”

“Rodney thinks he’s lazy,” Jill said.

“Compared to Rodney, everyone is lazy,” Jacob said.

Jacob bit into his sandwich. He smiled at her. She’d made the sandwich exactly the way he liked it. She nodded in acknowledgement.

“Are you heading back to Lipson?” Jill asked.

His mouth full, Jacob shook his head. He gestured to the backyard.

“You’re going to help out back?” Jill asked.

“I think so?” Jacob said with a shrug. “I thought maybe I could figure out what’s going on and then look for Delphie.”

“That’s a good idea,” Jill said. “She’s asked me when you’ll be home three times, maybe four. She keeps saying that you and she made this house and…”

“She doesn’t want to make me mad,” Jacob said with a smile.

He swallowed down a glass of water that she’d set out for him.

“That’s what she always says,” Jacob said. “Do you know where she is now?”

“With Val,” Jill said. She looked at her watch. “I think they are feeding the little kids.”

Jacob nodded. He moved away and then swept her into his arms. He kissed her hard. She giggled.

“What do I owe this pleasure?” she asked.

“Just love you,” Jacob said. “You’ve given so much in the last few days, flexed with school, and the kids, and the ever growing population of people.”

He kissed her again.

“It’s not easy,” Jacob said. “I appreciate it. Makes me love you even more.”

She smiled and kissed him. He let her go and sped out of the loft to look for Delphie.

She smiled at his back. When the door closed, she went to check on Katy and get Paddie ready for his doctor’s appointment.

~~~~~~~~~

Thursday mid-day — 1:37 p.m.

After a long heartfelt conversation involving with Delphie, Jacob went out to the backyard. When he was younger, he would have just asserted his authority. After years at Lipson Construction, he’d learned that everything and everyone had its own logic and rhythm.

He found Rodney and spoke to him about what was going on. He then spoke to the heads of the groups of people working.

Delphie had finally decided that she wanted greenhouses and a chicken run. Because no one was quite sure about the greenhouses, they’d focused on building a chicken coop and run. They were nearly finished with a grand castle for a whole flock of chickens.

The only problem was that they’d built it in the middle of the yard.

With a little nudging, they moved the chicken run to the quiet side yard of the medical offices, an optimal location in the quiet side yard.

“It’s almost as if this spot was set up for chickens,” one of the men said with a smile.

“Imagine that,” Jacob said with a grin.

Jacob left Rodney to sort out introducing the arriving chickens to each other and into their new home.

Jacob turned his attention to the new effort to build greenhouses. Delphie had drawn a map to have them run along the edge of the driveway. Believing that Delphie knew best, Rodney had copied her suggestion.

Of course, the sun ran from east to west and the house was east facing. In Delphie’s configuration, only one of her greenhouses would get full sun. The other two would be in shaded by the first greenhouse. It was the kind of thing that Jacob changed without thinking.

One thing the helpers didn’t know was that Jacob had been accumulating old single paned windows for years. He and Delphie had gone back and forth about the greenhouses since the time that he’d poured the cement for this driveway. He’d been waiting for Delphie to decide that she needed them. After the first whisper of the pandemic, Jacob moved the old windows and salvaged wood to the area between the Mike’s studio, aka the garage, and the new restroom.

Before Jacob arrived, a few of the teenagers, led by Jeraine, were diligently working to make Delphie’s plan happen. Luckily, they hadn’t gotten too far because Jacob arrived.

Jacob led them through his plan for the greenhouses. Under his guidance, everyone got to work.

While the early spring day was by no means warm, they were working in the sun. After a while, the young men stripped off their shirts. A few of the young women stripped to their sports bras.

The warm sun and clear vision made for a happy crew. After a while, Jeraine began to singing his own songs to himself. Completely indifferent to Jeraine’s fame, the teens sang along with him in joyful bliss.

“Hey!” Tres yelled over the happy ruckus. “Jake!”

Jacob looked up from where he was installing an old window into the greenhouse.

“There’s a lady over there screaming,” Tres said.

Jacob looked at Tres and then out to the street where a few paparazzi were milling around.

Jacob looked at Tres and shrugged. Tres pointed to a small black sedan.

Inside, a woman seemed to be screaming and crying.

“Jeraine!” Jacob yelled.

Caught up in his song, Jeraine didn’t respond until one of the teens touched his shoulder. He looked at the girl, who pointed at Jacob.

Jeraine looked up at Jacob.

“Someone’s here to see you,” Jacob said, pointing at the vehicle.

“Hey, that’s J’Ron and Kallyn,” Hope, one of the Fey Team teens, said.

The teens looked up to see their friends.

“Why is their mom screaming?” Tink asked.

“She’s a big fan of Jeraine’s,” Joy, the identical twin of Hope, said. “She always plays him in the car.”

“And at home,” Hope added.

Jeraine scowled at the girls. He grabbed his shirt and started walking to the fence.

“You could come.” Jeraine threw the words to where Jacob and Tres were standing and laughing at him.

Still laughing, Jacob and Tres followed Jeraine to the fence. The closer Jeraine got to the fence, the more excited the woman became. Tres and Jacob openly laughed at Jeraine.

“Ma’am?” Jeraine asked through the gate.

The woman fell still. She pointed to herself.

“Is there something I can help with?” Jeraine asked.

The woman began to cry. Jacob opened the gate and went to the vehicle. Realizing the woman was too upset to open the locks, Jacob flicked his hand and the vehicle’s locks opened. The kids fell out of the vehicle like balls out of the back of a truck.

“Masks!” Tres said as the kids started across the driveway to see the other teens.

The children skid to a stop and pulled cloth masks out of their pocket. They put on their masks on and then ran to their friends.

Jeraine gestured with his head for Jacob and Tres to stand with him. They moved to the driver’s seat where the woman was sobbing. Jacob opened the driver’s side door. Tres helped Jeraine pull her out of the vehicle.

The woman threw her arms around Jeraine.

And the paparazzi’s camera’s started whirring.

Tres and Jacob tried to surround Jeraine and the woman but the paparazzo were more aggressive. Hearing running, Jacob looked up.

The teens were running in their direction. They made a circle around Jeraine and the woman as they shuffled beyond the fence. They got the woman inside the fence and toward the back of the house.

“What are those vultures rabid about this time?” Fin asked as he and Tanesha walked toward the Castle from where the bus had let them off on Eighteenth Street.

“A woman is crying over Jeraine,” Tanesha said.

“Why?” Fin asked.

“He’s a huge star,” Tanesha said. “This happens a lot. Women love him.”

“Jeraine?” Fin asked with a snort of a laugh. “Our Jeraine?”

Tanesha grinned. They walked along the fence until they reached the door.

“There is a small child in the back of that vehicle,” Fin said.

“I’ll get him,” Tanesha said.

“Why?” Fin asked.

Tanesha just laughed at Fin. He gave her his “I am a Prince” shake of his head which made her laugh even harder. She reached in the back sleep and took the sleeping boy out of the vehicle. The child was wrapped in a soft wool blanket. She held his face away from the cameras.

“Can you…?” Tanesha asked Fin. She gestured to the paparazzi. “But! Don’t break their cameras this time. Just the pictures of me and any of the child.”

“Tsk,” Fin said. “Would I do that to these fine fellows?”

Tanesha grinned at him. They went in the gate and down the driveway.

“Where’s Jeraine?” Tanesha asked.

“They went inside with a fan of his,” Tres said. “She was hysterical. We took her inside to have a glass of water.”

Tanesha nodded to Tres and started toward the side door.

“What is going on here?” Fin asked, gesturing to the greenhouse project.

“Jake’s building greenhouses,” Tres said. “You know, to grow food.”

“Why?” Fin asked.

Tanesha shook her head at Fin’s ridiculousness and went inside.

“Come on, man,” Tres said. “You could help.”

“I am a Prince!” Fin said. “Plus, I am tired.”

“I get it,” Tres said. “It’s too hard for you.”

Fin growled at Tres. Tres gestured for Fin to go work on the greenhouses.

“Where is my descendant, Jacob?” Fin asked, his Isle of Man distinctive and loud.

Grinning, Tres followed Fin toward the greenhouse.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday afternoon — 2:12 p.m.

Tanesha carried the small child into the house. Once in the door, she set down her backpack while holding the… She leaned back to see if it was a girl or a boy and saw a little boy looking up at her.

“Hello,” Tanesha said.

The child slowly closed and opened his eyes before snuggling against her. Smiling, Tanesha followed the noise to where Jeraine was speaking to someone. Jill had her hand on the woman’s shoulder. She carried the boy into the kitchen.

The woman was so upset that she was nearly incoherent.

Tanesha looked at Jill, and she shook her head. The woman wasn’t infected. Tanesha nodded.

Tanesha put her hand on the woman’s arm. Jill retreated.

“Quanshay?” Tanesha asked.

Hearing her own name, the woman stopped talking and crying. She blinked at Jeraine and then looked at Tanesha.

“Miss T?” Quanshay asked.

“I found your son,” Tanesha said. “He was waiting of you in the car.”

Quanshay took the boy from Tanesha. For a moment, the mother and child snuggled each other.

“Mama, can I go play?” the boy asked.

“Yes, you may,” Quanshay said. “But you need your mask.”

“Okay, Mama,” the boy said.

He kissed his mother and put on his mask. She gave the child an extra squeeze and set him down. He stood next to his mom for a moment before being absorbed into the group of children playing in the living room. They watched the child disappear.

“What’s going on?” Tanesha asked. “We saw you crying and then hug Jeraine. That’s so unlike you.”

“I know,” Quanshay said with a nod.

Tanesha gestured for Jeraine and Jacob to leave. They slipped out the back. Tanesha She turned on the pot and grabbed a tin of cookies. She guided Quanshay to the picnic table on the deck overlooking the Castle backyard. She made sure to sit six feet away from Quanshay.

“You’re wearing scrubs,” Quanshay said.

“Fin and I are working at the hospitals,” Tanesha said. “They just need help getting through this wave.”

“Stupid virus,” Quanshay said, adjusting her mask. “Can you believe these fools?”

“I cannot,” Tanesha said. “If you saw what the hospitals are like now… It’s just tomfoolery.”

Quanshay nodded.

“What happened today?” Tanesha asked.

Tanesha looked up to see Valerie bring out a pot of tea. Valerie set the pot and two mugs down before returning to the house.

“That was Valerie Lipson,” Quanshay said, quietly. “She lives here too?”

“She’s here for now,” Tanesha said. “She’s due in a month or so. After she has the baby, she may leave for a film or whatever. I guess it depends on what happens with the virus.”

Quanshay nodded. Tanesha opened the tin of cookies.

“Cookies!” Nash said appearing from nowhere.

“You don’t like these,” Tanesha said. “Ginger molasses.”

Nash stopped for a moment and then shrugged. He grabbed a handful and disappeared.

“Teenage boys like locusts,” Tanesha said in soft tones to Quanshay. “Please. Have a cookie before the teens multiply.”

Quanshay took out a cookie. Tanesha poured the tea. For a moment, they ate cookies and drank their tea. Quanshay sighed.

“The kids wanted to come here,” Quanshay said. “You know, their friends are here. I…” Royce has been home a lot this year. When he’s home, everything works. It’s easy. I sleep well. The kids are happy. We have great days. But he’s been gone a long time this time. I…”

Quanshay’s husband, Chief Petty Officer Royce Putnam, was a member of the Fey Team.

“It’s exhausting to hold the line by yourself,” Tanesha said.

“With teens?” Quanshay asked.

“Parents,” Tanesha said. “You were talking about parents, right?”

“That, too.” Quanshay said with a rueful laugh.

“What happened today?” Tanesha asked again.

“I talking to them when we drove up,” Quanshay said. “You know how it is — wear your mask, don’t show your ass, follow the house rules, don’t break anything, these are still white people… You know.”

“I sure do,” Tanesha nodded.

“Then I look over and I see Jeraine standing there with his shirt off,” Quanshay said. “I… I had that poster when I was in high school. You know the one with his thumb in the front of his shorts pulling them down just low enough to see a little hair; looking so fine. I looked over and saw him standing next to that greenhouse. I remembered all the hope and joy of that time in my life and now with everything and… I just lost it.”

Quanshay snuck a glance at Tanesha and saw only compassion in her eyes.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Wednesday early morning — 5:30 a.m.

In their new home, Blane turned the corner and stopped short. They had said they would install the large kitchen yesterday and, like magic, he was looking at kitchen cabinets. He blinked and looked down. The floor people must have put this floor in sometime earlier this week.

Where had he been?

He’d come through here three times a day but he never saw a thing.

“Blane.”

His head jerked up at his name. Nelson was sitting in a chair at a small round table set next to the window. Nelson wore pajamas and a thick bathrobe. He was framed in early morning blue light reflected through the windows to the courtyard..

“Nelson?” Blane asked. “Are you… I mean… Uh…”

“I’m okay,” Nelson said. “Or okay-ish.”

“How?” Blane asked.

“Mari stopped by with Otis last night,” Nelson said. “With the acupuncture and Abi and Jill… well, everything… I’m okay.”

Blane walked across the wide open, now oak floored space, to Nelson. He picked up Nelson’s left wrist and then his right.

“Tongue?” Blane asked.

Nelson stuck out his tongue. Blane read Nelson’s tongue. He shook his head.

“Wow,” Blane said. “You’re so much better. So much. It’s amazing.”

“Otis said that I was nearly there,” Nelson said. Nelson reached up to hold Blane’s hand. “Thank you. Without your help, I would be lingering in a hospital — alone and… “

Nelson sighed.

“You’ve saved me,” Nelson said. “Again.”

“It sounds like Otis and Bathsheba saved you,” Blane said.

“Don’t do that,” Nelson said. “If I didn’t have you to come home to, Bathsheba would never have been able to reach me. Otis told me that the acupuncture had detoxified me. That’s mostly what’s been wrong with me. I took in so much toxic shit being at war for years. Your work flushed all of that way, healed me, so that I could use what he gave me. He said that.”

Blane blushed. He started taking breakfast out of the reusable bag he’d brought.

“I’m so grateful for you,” Nelson said. “You and this weird and wonderful family you’ve included me and my father in.”

“Breakfast burritos,” Blane said, setting down a burrito for Blane and one for himself.

“Jake’s?” Nelson asked.

“It was kind of a group effort,” Blane said. “Children keep showing up at the Castle. There’s a gang of teenagers and about a billion kids under 10 years old.”

“Really?” Nelson asked, with a laugh. “A billion?”

“I kid you not,” Blane said. “Jake got up and made about a hundred breakfast burritos. You know Troy?”

“Olivas?” Nelson said. “The genius?”

“Him,” Blane said. “His boys are here. With Charlie and Nelson, they eat like locusts. You would notbelieve the number of eggs we use. Yesterday, Delphie raided their chickens for eggs. She’s decided that we need our own flock.”

“Please sit down,” Nelson said.

“Where’s the nurse?” Blane asked.

“The doctor dropped by this morning and sent her home,” Nelson said. “I’ll have a nurse tonight but if I’m better than I don’t need it. Today, I’m to read and rest. Ava and the team are video calling me at noon to talk about cases.”

Smiling, Blane sat down in a chair across from Nelson.

“I feel almost normal,” Nelson said. “This place looks amazing. Everything will be all set very soon. It’s exciting.”

Blane nodded.

“What?” Nelson asked.

“What do you mean ‘What’?” Blane asked.

“You look like you’re not asking me something,” Nelson said.

“When do you leave again?” Blane asked.

“For the treasure?” Nelson asked.

“To save your father’s life,” Blane said, softly.

“I don’t know,” Nelson sighed. “I…”

Nelson shook his head.

“I can only do one day at a time,” Nelson said. “Right this moment, it feels great to just be here with you. I’m excited to see my work team. I can’t wait to see the boys, Hedone, even Tres. I…”

Blane watched Nelson closely.

“I don’t want to go,” Nelson said. “When I sit here, as the sun rises, I never want to leave. But then I remember my father and I…”

Nelson shook his head.

“What if you do it differently this time?” Blane asked.

“I’m listening,” Nelson said.

“Alex’s biological father is hooked into the French government,” Blane said. “I bet she could connect you with someone in antiquities. You could raise this fortune in full view of the public.”

“What?” Nelson asked.

“What do you mean ‘What’?’ Blane asked.

“I never thought of it,” Nelson said.

“Huh,” Blane said.

“It’s so obvious when you say it,” Nelson said. “If I knew where it is.”

“The group of goddesses came up with ten possible sites. Alex and her team used them to figure it out,” Blane said. “Fin said that his father went there to check it out.”

“And?” Nelson asked.

“It’s definitely there,” Blane said.

“Where?” Nelson asked.

“When you’re better, we’ll talk,” Blane said. “Right now, you just have to decide if you want to go public with your situation and ask the French to get involved.”

“I do,” Nelson said. “I definitely do. Public means resources, modern resources. No more creeping around in cold, dark Castles.”

“Okay,” Blane said. “I’ll tell Alex.”

“Isn’t she somewhere secret?” Nelson asked.

“I can always call her,” Blane said. “I leave a message and she calls me back.”

Nelson nodded.

“Shall we?” Blane asked.

Nelson took the top off the insulated traveling mug that Blane had given to him. He groaned.

“Hot chocolate,” Nelson sighed. He took a drink. “Perfect.”

“Help you put back on some weight,” Blane said.

Nelson nodded. They ate in silence for a few minutes.

“If I get well enough, I want to help out at the ERs,” Nelson said. “When summer comes, the virus will likely slow down or that’s what the nurse said.”

“And?” Blane asked.

“I can work this spring, head out in the summer,” Nelson said. “I’ll be back by the time the Fall surge happens.”

“You’re planning your life around a virus,” Blane said. “A new virus, none-the-less.”

“I’m planning my life around what I love to do,” Nelson said. “Be with you, the kids, Hedone…”

“Heather,” Blane corrected.

“Right, sorry,” Nelson said. “Heather and Tres. Work with Ava on some mysteries. Get some hours in the ER. Help people. I really want to help people and love. I want to immerse myself in love.”

Blane grinned.

“Don’t you dare laugh at me,” Nelson said.

“I’m not laughing,” Blane said. “I’m anticipating the spring of love, the summer at sea, and the fall fighting the virus.”

Nelson laughed. Blane looked at his watch.

“I have to go,” Blane said. “Today’s my day in the office to help Aden. I’m job sharing with the secretaries to give everyone a break. With the Marlowe School closed, the kids are home so everyone is stretched.”

“Nice of you,” Nelson said.

Blane got up. He pointed at Nelson.

“Your job right now is to heal,” Blane said. “You cannot do any of the things you talked about if you’re one-hundred percent.”

“Will do,” Nelson said.

“You have your phone?” Blane asked.

“Phone, laptop,” Nelson said. “Television, radio. Mostly, I need sleep. That’s what you always tell me.”

“True,” Blane said. He leaned over and kissed Nelson. “Get well. That’s hard enough.”

Nelson grinned at Blane.

“I’ll check on you tonight,” Blane said as he left the downstairs.

Nelson watched him go before getting up and returning to bed. He fell into a sound sleep.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday early morning — 5:30 a.m.

“So it is,” Delphie whispered.

She was kneeling at the altar in her chapel. She felt a longing to stay there all day. The world certainly needed her prayers right now.

But today was not a day to be spent in worship. There was simply too much to do. With Sam in the hospital, she needed to recruit new help. She went up the stairs to the hallway where Sam’s Birch room and Honey’s apartment was located. She then went down the padded stairs to the basement.

Hearing the washers going, she glanced in to see Valerie washing a load of children’s clothing. There were so many little kids that they had to keep up with all of the laundry. Valerie waved to Delphie as she passed. Delphie turned down the hallway.

She knew the meditation room was now where some of the teenagers were sleeping — two more arrived last night. Delphie had been too tired to meet them. She thought that they were in the mediation room.

The study room was in the middle of a remodel for online school. She peered in to see boxes of computers that hadn’t been unpacked. Sam had been working on this room before…

Delphie sighed.

How had Sam gotten sick and she hadn’t?

She felt a well of sorrow but refused to give in. She stopped walking in the middle of the hallway.

Which one was Charlie and Tink’s apartment?

She went to a door and started to knock but hesitated.

This wasn’t it.

There were so many new people, new souls, that it was hard for Delphie to keep them all straight.

“No Delphie,” she said, softly to herself. “You can keep them straight. There’s nothing wrong with you. You just have a lot on your mind.”

A door opened to her left.

“Tanesha!” Delphie exclaimed. “How are you?”

“A little tired but okay,” Tanesha said. “Are you okay?”

“I’m looking for Charlie,” Delphie said. “I thought he and Tink were living down here but I can’t…” I can’t…”

Tanesha’s heart tore in two to see Delphie cry. Delphie was so generous with her home and her life. It was no wonder she was confused.

“How about this?” Tanesha said.

Delphie gave Tanesha a watery look.

“Why don’t you head down to your chapel?” Tanesha asked. “I’ll get Charlie and Tink. Do you need anyone else?”

“Jeraine?” Delphie asked.

Tanesha opened the door to the apartment.

“Jer?” Tanesha called into the apartment.

Jeraine was there in a moment.

“We were just finishing breakfast,” Tanesha said. “Can you help Delphie?”

“Absolutely,” Jeraine said. “I need to get Jabari ready for the day. Can he come?”

“We’ll be outside,” Delphie said. “I think that’s safe.”

Jeraine turned back and then came to the door.

“You know, your dad’s not working the rest of this week,” Jeraine said to Tanesha.

Tanesha nodded.

“Can my dad help?” Tanesha asked. “He’s driving my mom crazy at home.”

“Would you?” Delphie looked on the verge of weeping.

“We’ll get this together,” Tanesha said. “Don’t you worry. Would it be okay if my mom came over?”

Looking relieved, Delphie nodded. Yvonne was one of Delphie’s best friends. If she came over, Maresol and Dionne wouldn’t be far behind. Looking at Jeraine, Tanesha gestured with her head toward Delphie. He pushed past her to Delphie’s side.

“Why don’t I help you down to your chapel?” Jeraine said. “I heard Tanesha say that she’ll get Charlie and Tink. We’ll get her dad here and I’ll help with whatever you need.”

“I would really like that,” Delphie said.

Still wearing pajama bottoms and a tank top, Jeraine helped Delphie down to her chapel. She returned to praying. He jogged back up the stairs and down the stairs.

“What’s going on?” Valerie asked Jeraine.

“I’m not sure,” Jeraine said. “Seems like Delphie needs some physical labor in the back.”

“I’ll tell Mike,” Valerie said as she pulled a load of laundry out of the dryer. “These are almost done.”

Jeraine nodded and jogged back to his apartment.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday morning — 6:35 a.m.

Tanesha’s parents, Yvonne and Rodney Smith, arrived less than fifteen minutes after Tanesha has called. Even at the crack of dawn, they looked like models and had gorgeous African print masks over their mouths and noses. Of course, Yvonne was such a beautiful woman that people stepped back when she walked through. They found Delphie sitting in the kitchen.

“Delphie?” Yvonne asked.

“I have to figure this out!” Delphie exclaimed.

Yvonne looked over at Valerie, who was standing behind the counter. Valerie gave a slow shake of her head. Clearly other’s had tried to help.

Yvonne knelt down to her dear friend, Delphie. She covered Delphie’s hands.

“Why don’t you tell my Rodney what you want?” Yvonne’s voice was soothing and low. “You know how good he is at that kind of thing.”

Yvonne’s eyes gestured to a chair. Rodney pulled a chair from under the table and moved it closed to Delphie.

“Usually Sam helps her with this,” Yvonne said to Rodney.

He nodded.

“That looks like a good picture of your backyard,” Rodney said. “What’s this?”

“That’s the new grass we planted last fall,” Delphie said. “It’s a grain and it had long roots.”

“We had some of that nice bread you made,” Rodney said.

“Better days,” Yvonne said.

“What’s box?” Rodney asked.

“That’s the big bathroom Erik and those boys made for us,” Delphie said.

“Now I remember,” Rodney said. “This is Mike’s studio.”

Delphie nodded. In the company of her dear friends, and grounded in talking about her own backyard, Delphie began to calm down. She took a breath and sighed.

“I…” Delphie said, her emotions rising again.

Yvonne took Delphie’s hands again.

“Why don’t you just tell me what you want?” Rodney asked.

“We need chickens,” Delphie said. “But if we get chicks now, they won’t be able to lay until next year! We can’t wait that long. We have so many people in the house that we need to be able to feed them and ourselves and…”

She looked up and saw only interest and concern on Rodney’s face.

“There’s a guy who works for me that has some chickens to sell,” Rodney said. “He raised them from chicks last fall. He thought people would want them when they’re ready to lay rather than get chicks now.”

“Don’t those boys at your facility have chickens?” Valerie asked. “I forgot what it was called.”

“You’re right,” Rodney said. “They did the same thing. They’ve got thirty or forty extra chickens to sell.”

“We can get you chickens,” Yvonne said, nodding. “Both Rodney and I have taken care of chickens. It’ll be easy for us to set this up for you. Get everything you need.”

“Maresol raised chickens for the State Fair,” Delphie said with a nod.

“That’s right, she did,” Yvonne said. She put her arm around Delphie. “You have the best friends.”

“I do,” Delphie said

She looked at Yvonne and then at Rodney before giving them a watery smile.

“Come on, Delphie,” Yvonne said. “Let’s get some coffee and talk.”

She guided her friend out of the room. Seeing the kids in the living room and the side room, Yvonne guided Delphie into the dining room and closed the doors.

“Just left you here?” Valerie asked with a smile.

“Gives me a chance to fix this,” Rodney said. “I love Delphie. You know, she used to visit me in prison? When I first got there, I had a pretty hard time. Delphie started coming. She used her gift to charm to guards and grant them free readings, helped them with their lives, you know how she is. The guards started protecting me and… “

Rodney sighed and nodded.

“She’s a great woman,” Valerie said.

“She is,” Rodney said. “But she can’t draw for shit.”

Valerie laughed.

“You have any idea what she wants?” Rodney asked.

“I do,” Charlie said appearing at the door to the kitchen. “She told me and I went to get dressed and wake the other guys.”

“Just guys?” Valerie asked.

“And girls,” Charlie said, shooting Valerie and annoyed look.

She gave him her beautiful smile. He laughed.

“Nice to see you, Charlie,” Rodney said. “Let’s head out and see what we can do.”

Rodney got up. Charlie started toward the back door.

“Mike’s here?” Rodney said.

“I’ll get him,” Valerie said.

Rodney nodded to her and headed out into the garden. With Charlie’s help, Rodney walked through the practicality of what Delphie wanted. Mike and Charlie conferred and they talked to Rodney. It took over an hour, but the men put together a plan for the backyard.

“Let’s have breakfast,” Rodney said.

“Delphie’s pretty anxious about this,” Charlie said. “She woke me up at five-thirty!”

“She and Yvonne will be talking for hours,” Rodney said. “Maresol will show up any moment. They’ll cheer Delphie up.”

“Oh,” Charlie said. “When do we need to work?”

“Ten?” Rodney looked up at the sky to judge the sky. “Eleven?”

“I’m going back to bed,” Charlie said. “If you need us, we’re in our old apartment. We moved back when Noelle and Nash, Rachel, came home.”

“Thank you, Charlie,” Rodney said.

Mike pointed to his studio and wandered away. Rodney headed up the outside stairs to the deck. He settled in on a bench. The mountains were on full display from this spot. He took the fancy phone that Tanesha forced him to buy out of his back pocket and settled in to read. His mind relaxed and he began to enjoy his morning.

Around 10:30 a.m., Yvonne came out the back door. He whistled to her and she waved him down. He put his phone away and went to greet her. She rewarded him with a kiss, which made him grin like a 10 year old.

“How’s Delphie?” Rodney asked.

“Better,” Yvonne said. “This thing with Sam is really messing her up. She doesn’t know why she didn’t get it. She thinks that she should be sick and he should be here.”

Yvonne shook her head.

“You know what that’s like,” Yvonne said.

“I sure do,” Rodney said.

“Maresol’s here,” Yvonne said. “She’s already had those kids cleaning up the living room. She made a game out of it and it’s all done. Everyone’s laughing.”

“That’s really good,” Rodney said.

Yvonne nodded.

“You ready to get to work?” Yvonne asked.

“Yes ma’am,” Rodney said.

“You have a bunch of little helpers,” Yvonne said.

“Sounds fun,” Rodney said.

“They’re so cute in their little masks,” Yvonne said.

Rodney smiled and kissed her forehead.

“Where’s yours?” Yvonne asked.

“Uh.” Rodney patted his pockets and came up with one from his back pocket.

“Where’s yours?” Rodney asked.

“I just took mine off to kiss you,” Yvonne said. “if you’d rather…”

Rodney kissed her one more time. They hugged.

“Are you ready, Mr. Smith?” Tink asked. “Delphie said that she wanted to see what you came up with. Mike won’t show it if you’re not here.”

“Of course,” Rodney said.

He put on his mask and Yvonne put hers on. They went inside to lay out the plan for the changes to the backyard.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Thursday afternoon — 3:01 p.m.

Lying in the middle of all of her friends, Maggie Scully opened her eyes. All of the kids had played hard all day, eaten lunch, and then played again. Everyone had been so lonely in their homes that they played a little too hard. When the crying and bickering started, they were put in the big Castle living room for a nap. When the door to the kitchen slid closed and closed off the dining room — something Maggie, in all three years of her life, had never seen done — the living room was became dark. Mr. Mike built a big fire in the fireplace and soon all of the kids were asleep.

The older kids had taken over the side sitting room off the living room. They were talking quietly or reading. Some kids that Maggie recognized from school had showed up about mid-day. They lived with Joey and Máire.

That’s what Maggie knew.

The boys were given rooms in people’s apartments. The one named “Hermes” was staying with Maggie and her parents in their apartment. Maggie didn’t know where his brother was staying.

Maggie thought about all of these things while she lay awake in a pool of sleeping kids. After a few more minutes, Maggie got up and looked around. It took her a moment to remember that her good friend and adventure partner, Jabari, wasn’t there. For a moment, Maggie felt sad that her friend was so sick. She touched the piece of cloth over her mouth and hoped that she didn’t get sick.

“Don’t go,” her good friend, Mack, said, from his position sleeping next to her.

He was wearing a Superman mask that glowed in the dark.

“I want to see my mommy,” Maggie whispered. “She probably needs me since daddy’s gone.”

Mack got up from where he was sleeping.

“I’ll go with you,” Mack said.

Maggie held up a finger to her covered lips and gestured to the couch where Ms. Valerie and Mr. Mike were sitting. Mack nodded.

The children started creeping across the living room. When they got to Chase and Beau, Maggie stopped.

Beau was crying.

Mack dropped down to a squat and touched the boy’s shoulder. The boy opened his blue eyes to look at them. His mask matched his eyes.

“Don’t be sad,” Mack said.

The worst thing imaginable to Maggie was to be friendless. She said something that she was sure would fix the boy’s sorrow.

“We’re your friends!” Maggie said.

The boy just shook his head and closed his eyes. Clearly, Maggie and Mack being his friend didn’t make the boy feel instantly better. Maggie looked at Mack. Mack touched the boy’s shoulder again.

Beau opened his eyes.

Mack gestured for Beau to come with them. The boy looked away for a moment but then he nodded. The boy was a little younger than Maggie, probably the age of those twin boys who lived upstairs. Mack took the boy’s hand and Maggie took the other.

Being so much older, and much more mature, Maggie and Mack felt responsible for this child. They got to the edge of the room.

“Where are we going?” Beau asked, looking horrified.

“My Mommy’s over there,” Maggie said with a nod. “She needs me to take care of her.”

“I don’t want to go into the basement,” Beau said with a shake of his head. He leaned forward. “I’ve heard it’s haunted.”

Maggie shrugged. To Maggie, ghosts were just more friends. The eldest, Mack gave the boy a more serious look.

“That sounds scary,” Mack said. “But you’re our friend now. We never let anything happen to our friends.”

Maggie nodded sincerely in support of Mack, not because she was the least bit afraid of ghosts.

The young children walked past the side door. Maggie pointed down a hallway. They turned and went to a wooden panel. Maggie pushed on the door in a special way and it opened. Maggie went inside, but Beau hesitated.

“Maggie lives here,” Mack said.

“Behind the secret entrance?” Beau asked, brightening. “My auntie has a secret entrance to her office.”

Not sure what that meant, Mack nodded to support his new friend,. The boys followed Maggie inside the apartment. They heard a woman speaking. Maggie ran down the hallway and the boys followed. Maggie stopped at the edge of the office.

“Mommy?” Maggie whispered.

Mommy’s mother, Honey Lipson-Scully, was sitting in front of a computer screen talking to someone. Honey’s head jerked to look at her daughter and the two bedraggled boys standing behind her.

“Hey, I have to go,” Honey said.

The other person said something and waved to Maggie. Honey turned to see Maggie waving to her assistant, who grinned at the happy, friendly girl.

“I thought you were napping,” Honey said.

“Naps are boring,” Maggie said.

“Maggie,” Honey said, firmly.

“I tried Mommy,” Maggie said. “I really, really tried.”

The little girl shrugged.

“They don’t make Katy take naps,” Maggie said.

“She has to lie down for an hour,” Honey said.

“But, Mack woke up and then we became friends with Beau and I knew you’d want to meet him,” Maggie said with a nod. “Plus, you might need my help.”

Honey grinned at her daughter. When her husband, M.J. Scully, was deployed out of the country, Maggie always felt like she had to help her mother. Honey held out her arms and Maggie ran into them. Mack followed but Beau stood in the hallway. Beau began to cry again.

“Looks like you could use a hug,” Honey said.

Beau nodded.

“Come on,” Maggie said. “My Mommy gives the best hugs.”

Maggie held out an arm and Beau ran to them. For a few long moments, Honey just hugged the children.

“Why don’t you — Maggie and Mack — go pick out some ice cream from our freezer,” Honey said.

“Yea!” Maggie and Mack ran off.

When they were gone, Honey sent a text message to Valerie telling her that Maggie, Mack, and Beau were with her. Then she turned her attention to Beau.

“Did you have an accident?” Honey asked.

Beau gave a nod and tears streamed down his face.

“’Sposed to be growd up,” Beau said through his tears. The mask garbled his message even more. “Da tol’ me to be bes-s behav’r.”

Beau began crying in earnest. Honey hugged him again.

“You have plenty of time to grow up,” Honey said. “Why don’t we go clean up?”

“Wha ’bout dem?” Beau asked.

“They’ll be arguing over ice cream for a while,” Honey said with a smile. “Can you walk?”

Beau nodded.

Honey smiled. She gestured to the bathroom off her office and grabbed her forearm crutches. She started filling the bathtub and put in some lovely smells. Then she turned to the boy. His face was dirty from playing, as well as tear and snot stained. His clothing was finely made but dirty. She helped him out of his shirt and then took off his pants. The diaper had leaked.

“Ah, I see,” Honey said with a nod. “This is a really common problem for kids about your size.”

“It is?” Beau asked.

“You bet,” Honey said with a nod.

“You can see how small I am,” Honey said.

Beau nodded.

“My little sisters are the same size as me,” Honey said, as she wet some washcloths with warm water. “This happened all the time. Gaps in these kind of diapers. Just happens.”

Honey shrugged.

“My broder is big,” Beau said.

“Yes, I imagine that this never happens to him,” Honey said.

Beau nodded.

“May I clean you up with these cloths?” Honey asked, holding up the wash cloths.

Beau nodded. Honey wiped off all of the pee and excrement that had somehow gone all over the boy. She put the diaper in the trash bag and knotted the trash bag. When most of the filth was off him, she stuck him in the bath. She scrubbed the boy so that his white skin glistened.

She leaned back from the tub just in time for Maggie and Mack to appear at the door.

“I want a bath,” Maggie said in her unsure voice.

“Me too,” Mack said what he always said when Maggie had a want.

“You have to ask your new friend,” Honey said.

“Can I come in?” Maggie asked.

“Me too?” Mack asked.

Beau looked surprised. After a moment, he nodded.

“But!” Maggie said. She turned to her mother, “Can we have magic bubbles?”

“Magic bubbles!” Mack said.

“Of course,” Honey said with a smile.

Honey drained the original water from the tub and started the tub again. Beau seemed so happy to have friends that he didn’t mind the drained bathtub. Honey refilled the tub with warm water and bubbles that smelled like bubble gum.

Honey helped Maggie and Mack undress and get in the tub.

“Mommy?” Maggie asked.

“Yes?” Honey asked.

“Do we still get ice cream?” Maggie asked.

Honey turned from where she was working to clean up Beau’s shorts.

“Of course,” Honey said with a nod.

Honey checked the tags and saw that Beau’s clothing, like the other kids, was machine washable. She knew that Alex Hargreaves did the laundry in their house so it made sense that everything was easy to care for.

“I’m going to take these to the washer,” Honey said.

Honey grabbed the children’s clothing to take them to her small washer and dryer.

“Mommy?” Maggie asked when Honey got to the door.

“Yes?” Honey asked.

“Where are my toys?” Maggie asked.

Mack nodded.

“You’re right,” Honey said. “We put your toys away. Give me one second to find them.”

Honey looked around the bathroom. Their entire apartment had been set up for Honey when she was in a wheelchair. Everything was a little low now.

“It’s been a while since you played in the bath,” Honey said, finding the bag of bathtub toys on a low shelf.

She grabbed the toys from the low shelf and gave them to Maggie.

“I’ll be right back,” Honey said. She looked at Beau. “The washer is just next to this bathroom.”

Beau gave her a relieved nod. Honey started a short wash to clean all of the clothing. She was gone a total of four minutes but when she returned the kids were deep into playing with the plastic dinosaurs. Honey sat down on the top of the toilet and watched the children play.

Honey had a vague worry about her work. Lipson had started job sharing. Her team wasn’t working today or tomorrow. They had done a great job yesterday. It was a lot of work for Honey and her assistant to keep everything going.

Honey couldn’t work from this bathroom that was for sure. So she decided just to enjoy herself.

When the water was cold, the kids wanted to play in the bath more. So Honey refilled the tub and they played until the water was cold. Around the time the wash was done, the kids were ready to get out. She put their clothing into the dryer and went to dry them off.

Wrapped in small towels, the kids went to get warm at Honey’s gas fireplace.

While she could have dressed Maggie, she knew that her daughter would want do what her friends were doing. So, she dug around until she found some of her old T-shirts. She was small, but the kids were smaller. Her old T-shirt fell almost at the kids’ ankles. She dressed the boys in blue “Lipson Construction” T-shirts from when she was in high school and worked as a “sign girl.” She dressed Maggie in one of Jill’s old T-shirts from her work at Pete’s Kitchen.

Honey scooped out small bowls of ice cream for the kids. When they were done, they talked about going back into the tub. Honey had to smile at how happy the children were in each other’s company. When they’d finished their ice cream, she re-dressed Maggie and Mack.

“I bet the other kids are awake by now,” Honey said. “Why don’t you go find Jackie and Eddie?”

Maggie and Mack looked at each other.

“Can we go?” Maggie asked.

“Of course,” Honey said. “But you have to wear your masks. We don’t want to get sick like Jabari.”

Maggie gave a sincere nod.

“They’re by the door,” Honey said. “I’m going to keep Beau here to get dressed.”

“Can he come out to play with us when you’re done?” Maggie asked.

“He’ll be there,” Honey said.

“Bye, bye, Beau,” Maggie said.

Maggie ran to the door. Mack waved to the boy before running after Maggie. She grabbed a mask and put it on Mack. Then she put one on herself. The kids ran out the door.

Honey turned her attention to Beau.

“Let’s see if we can make you more comfortable,” Honey said.

Maggie had been such a tiny baby that Honey knew all of the tricks. She modified a diaper to fit Beau perfectly. She redressed him.

Without saying a word, the small child hopped up and ran to the door.

“Mask!” Honey said.

The boy grabbed a mask, put it on, and ran out the door. Honey grinned after him.

She felt like she needed a nap after all of that wild interaction. Shaking her head at herself, she grabbed her forearm crutches and went out into the main living room in time to hear Valerie and Maggie talking. Beau was hugging his brother. Joey an Máire were walking toward the toddlers.

“I was worried about you, Maggie,” Valerie said.

“My mommy really needed me!” Maggie said.

Valerie looked from Maggie to Mack. The boy nodded in agreement with Maggie. Valerie glanced at Honey. She shrugged. Valerie smiled.

“Can you try to remember to tell me next time?” Valerie asked.

Maggie and Mack both nodded.

“Beau! Nice to see you too,” Valerie said. “We’re headed outside to visit with Delphie’s bees.”

Both Maggie and Mack cheered. Valerie winked at Honey, which was the signal that she was doing okay.

Honey went back into her office and sent a note for her assistant to call her when she could. Ten minutes later, Honey was back on her call with her assistant.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday afternoon

Time and location classified

“So what happened?” Lientenant Colonel Alexandra “The Fey” Hargreaves said.

“The first time I called, they were ‘too busy’ to come to the phone,” John Drayson, MD said. “I was exhausted so Jill told me to sleep. She said they would call if the kids missed me.”

“If?” Alex laughed.

“I know,” John said, laughing.

“Did they call?” Alex asked.

“No!” John said in his voice artificially indignant.

She laughed. He loved the sound of her laugh. For a long moment, he simply listened to her laugh.

“So what did you do?” she asked, with laughter still in her voice. “Did you go there?”

“Of course I went there,” John said. “These are our children! I had to be sure they were safe!”

“Uh-huh,” Alex said.

He laughed at her comment. He could hear her smiling at him over the satellite link.

“I knew they have specific meal times,” John said.

“Like ours?” Alex asked.

“Less specific on breakfast,” John said.

“Because some of them work construction, right?” Alex asked. “That must be a real mess right now.”

“Yeah,” John said. “Jacob said it’s crazy, but they are still working.”

“That’s good,” Alex said. “They have a lot of employees.”

“Job sharing,” John said.

“Wow, what a pain!” Alex said.

John nodded. Alex waited for him to get back to the point. But he was so tired that he seemed to just fade out.

“Did you visit the kids?” Alex asked.

“Sorry, I was miles away,” John said. “This fucking virus, I swear.”

“It’s horrible,” Alex said.

“Anyway, I went at dinner,” John said. “They were all outside with Jacob on the barbecue. Everyone had masks on.”

“Even the kids?” Alex asked.

“Even the kids,” John said. “Have you seen kids in face masks?”

“Some,” Alex said.

“They are so cute,” John said. “Anyway, Holmes and Hermes are there now.”

“And our kids?” Alex asked.

“Oh, right, I’m updating you,” John said. “Just so tired.”

“I know,” Alex said.

“The kids are so happy,” John said. “They spent the morning playing and the afternoon learning about bees from Delphie. They made bee food for her hives and for ours. They took a field trip to our hives to feed them too.”

“Delphie’s the best,” Alex said.

“It was really all of them,” John said. “Beau had an accident and Honey helped him. Beau told me that Honey told him that it was normal for someone his size.”

“She would know,” Alex said. “Maggie was tiny.”

“It was just such a gift,” John said. “He’s not as ashamed. It’s like… magic. Máire told me that she was able to spend time with the older kids in the morning. Valerie was learning how to knit from Delphie so they tried it. Of course, Noelle picked it up right away. Máire showed me the scarf she’d started.”

“Very impressive,” Alex said.

“Actually, it was,” John said. “Joey said he was with Mike in his art studio. Mike set him up with paint and he even made something that’s… Well, I’m his father.”

“A masterpiece?” Alex asked.

“Indeed,” John said.

“And Chase?” Alex asked.

“Chase and Beau played with Connor and the twins — Bladen and Tanner,” John said.

“They are in heaven,” Alex said. “We’re never going to get them to come home.”

“I tell myself that they miss us,” John said with a laugh.

Alex laughed.

“Did you eat?” Alex asked.

“After visiting Julie,” John said. “They were barbecuing buffalo. They had tables six feet apart and each table had a fire or a chiminea to keep the air flowing. It was safe enough for Jabari and Jeraine to come out. I… It was really nice. Normal. Even with the masks, it felt normal.”

“Wonderful,” Alex said. “How is Julie?”

“Healing slowly,” John said.

“Poor Julie,” Alex said. “Colin says that she sounds horrible.”

“She’s a lot better than she was,” John said. “Paddie too.”

“And Connor?” Alex asked.

“Completely well,” John said. “His little immune system kicked the virus right away.”

“Amazing,” Alex said. “Are you glad you took the kids to the Castle?”

“Yes and no,” John said. “I miss them, probably more than they miss me or you.”

“That’s a fact,” Alex said with a laugh.

“I’m glad that they are safe,” John said. “They’re very serious about the virus there. Masks, hand sanitizer… Jake even set up an outside hand washing station. I saw the kids reminding each other to wash their hands.”

“Wow,” Alex said. “It’s hard to get adults to do that.”

“Well, Jabari’s sick,” John said. “So it’s really clear that kids can get sick. But the adults remind them too.”

“Makes sense,” Alex said. She paused for a moment trying to figure out how to phrase her next question. “Your siblings actually kicked the kids out?”

“Well,” John sighed. “They do have an Irish thing today, no, yesterday. Whatever. I just thought the kids would be happier around other kids. I feel guilty about it but…”

“Sometimes we have to hand off our loved ones to focus on our work,” Alex said.

“That’s what we say about your work,” John said.

“Exactly,” Alex said. “You’re a soldier in the war of Covid-19.”

She could hear him nodded.

“Rest, my love,” Alex said. “Thank you for taking care of everyone so perfectly.”

“You think?” John asked.

“I know,” Alex said. “I can’t wait to get home and let you take care of me.”

He laughed at her innuendo.

“Sleep,” Alex said. “Be extra safe. I’ll be home soon.”

He said something but she was pretty sure he was asleep.

“I love you, John,” she said.

“Love you too,” he said.

And the line was dead. She looked at the phone and then got back to work.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

“I leave you alone for one moment and you pick up some half-wit fairy,” Mari said.

“I could never replace you, my love,” Otis said. “I am simply irresistible to the females.”

Mari laughed, and the fairy shook herself head to toe.

“You’re stronger than you look,” Mari said.

“Who are you?” the woman asked, angrily through her clenched teeth.

“Princess Marigold,” Mari said. She gave a slight bow, touching the Princess Blade to her forehead. “Queen Fand’s realm. And you?”

“That’s the Princess Blade,” the woman said, her voice laced with awe. “I’ve only seen it in books.”

“What books?” Mari asked with a sniff.

“It was a long, long time ago,” the woman said. “I was a young girl.”

“Hmm,” Mari said. “Who are you?”

“I am Nixie,” the woman said. “I’m from no realm.”

“You’re one of the lost fairies,” Mari said, under her breath. “Edie.”

Princess Edith appeared wearing her full fairy armor and carrying her heavy blade, the “Head Remover.” She looked around and then gave Mari an irritated look.

“What?” Edie asked.

“A lost fairy,” Mari said.

Edie turned to look at the nurse.

“She says that she’s ‘Nixie,’” Mari said.

“Where were you born?” Edie asked.

“Who are you?” Nixie asked.

“Princess Edith,” Edie said. “I am the head of all of the fairy realms.”

“Big whoop,” Nixie said. “Why should I care…?

“We have joined the three fairy realms,” Edie said. “We’ve returned the fourth fairy queen to her throne.”

“We’ve been searching for fairies like you,” Mari said.

“Like me?” Nixie asked.

“Exactly like you,” Edie said. “It’s a very long story. If you’d like to come with me…”

“No,” Nixie said, irritably. “Look around you, princess.”

Nixie said the last word with a bit of a sneer.

“People are dying,” Nixie said. “I use my gifts to help. What do you do?”

Edie opened her mouth to say: “I just saved the entire world, little fairy,” but decided against it. Nixie turned to see Otis sitting on Sam’s bed.

“What is he doing?” Nixie asked irritably. “If he dies, it’s on me!”

Edie raised her eyebrows at Mari.

“He’s a healer,” Mari said. “He comes from a long line of healers going back to the beginning of time. That man in the bed is our friend.”

“Why not heal everyone?” Nixie asked. “You heal only this man because he’s your friend? That’s morally irresponsible.”

Mari raised her eyebrows and glanced at Edie. The sisters nodded together.

“Otis?” Mari asked.

He looked up at her.

“Come to me,” Mari said.

He walked toward her.

“Come, Nixie,” Edie said. “Take my hand.”

With Otis in front of her, Mari held out a hand to Edie and to Nixie. The nurse took Edie and Mari’s hands. They formed a circle around Otis.

“Now what?” Nixie asked.

Mari nodded at Edi. A pulse went out from the fairies through Otis and through the hospital. Everyone in the entire building was affected by the burst. Edie nodded to Mari and stepped away. She and Nixie disappeared. Mari wrapped her arms around Otis and disappeared.

“What just happened?” the ICU nurse asked.

A doctor jogged into the area. He looked went from patient to patient.

“They are getting better,” the doctor said.

The nurse and the doctor stood back for a moment.

“Let’s hope it continues,” the doctor said and jogged out.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday morning — 6:01 a.m.

Blane knocked on the loft door. When no one came to the door, he opened the door and went inside.

“Hello?” Blane asked from the door, but the cloth face mask he was wearing kept the sound from moving.

Feeling uncomfortable, he quietly walked across the floor. Jacob and Jill’s door was opened. He peeked inside.

Jill was fast asleep.

Blane cleared his throat and Jill sat up. She grabbed the cloth mask off her bedside table and put it on.

“Sorry,” Blane said.

“What’s happened?” Jill jumped out of bed. She picked up his phone and look at it. “Did you hear about Sam?”

“No, this is something else,” Blane said.

He stepped into the doorway. He held the hand of a six or seven year old Native American girl and an infant in his arms.

“You remember Ooljee?” Blane asked. He gestured with the infant in his arms. “This is her brother. I don’t know his name…”

“Bidzil,” Ooljee said.

“But they call him ‘Ben,’” Blane said.

“They just told you that because you’re white,” Ooljee said.

Blane grinned at her.

“What’s going on?” Jill asked.

“I wondered if you could check them,” Blane said.

Jill got out of bed. She came over to Blane and knelt down to Ooljee.

“Hi, Ooljee,” Jill said. “Would you mind if I touch you?”

Ooljee gave Jill a long look before giving her a slight nod. Jill touched Ooljee’s face, throat, and torso.

“You seem hungry,” Jill said.

Ooljee nodded.

“My Mom is on a trip and my grandparents are sick,” Ooljee said. “We ran out of food.”

“How awful,” Jill said. Her eyes flicked to Blane, who looked as horrified as she felt. “Why don’t we get you something to eat?”

“And my brother too?” Ooljee asked. “He’s sick. Is Katy here? My cousin?”

Jill reached out to Blane and he set the child in her arms. Jill instinctively cooed to the young boy.

“Your cousin?” Blane asked.

“Paddie?” Ooljee said. “He’s about this big…”

She held out her hand above her head.

“Has white hair?” Ooljee asked. “White skin?”

“He’s here, but he’s sick,” Jacob said.

“Katy?” Ooljee asked. “She’s probably not sick because of her mother’s gift.”

“Her what?” Blane asked trying to play it cool.

Ooljee pointed to herself, “I’m on the spirit way. I can see what people are by looking at them. Like you, Uncle Blane, have new skills from your new blood.”

“Okay,” Blane said with a nod. “I believe you.”

Ooljee gave him a beautiful smile. She was a small girl, but her mother, Margaret Peaches, was small in size. The girl’s skin was the color of milk and coffee. Her long hair was perfectly brushed into braids, and she wore clean clothing.

“Where’s your mom’s husband?” Blane asked.

“He’s on some kind of lockdown,” Ooljee said and shrugged. “Something Irish. Plus he said all of the kids were here so I asked to come here.”

“Joey and Maire are here,” Jill said, still focused on the child in her arms.

“And Paddie,” Ooljee said with a nod. “The older kids are still at home, but they mostly take care of themselves.”

Ooljee nodded.

“You don’t mind that we’re here, do you?” Ooljee asked.

“Not at all,” Jill said. “Happy to have you. Everyone’s been having a lot of fun.”

Blane just nodded in agreement.

“Your brother’s quite ill,” Jill said. “He needs to see the doctor.”

“I thought so too, but Uncle Blane wanted to see you first,” Ooljee said. “Am I sick?”

“Not that I can tell,” Jill said.

“Okay,” Ooljee said, with a nod.

The door to the loft opened, and Delphie came in. She noted that Jill was still in her pajamas.

“I came up to see if Ooljee wanted some pancakes and eggs,” Delphie said. “I’m making them. Do you eat wheat, Ooljee? Any food issues we should know about?”

“No,” Ooljee said.

She skipped away from Blane, Jill, and her brother. Delphie looked at Jill, and Jill nodded.

“Do you have a mask?” Delphie asked the girl. “We have virus here.”

Ooljee shook her head.

“We’ll get you one downstairs,” Delphie said.

Delphie held out her hand to Ooljee and they left.

Jill heard Ooljee asking if Ivy was there. They heard the low mumble of Delphie’s voice.

“Good that she came,” Jill said.

“Does he need the hospital or just the doctor?” Blane asked.

“I was just trying to figure that out,” Jill said. “I don’t think it’s Covid. It’s something else. I think.”

“Fin and Tanesha are downstairs,” Blane said. “They are getting ready to go in to work the ER.”

“Bidzel needs a doctor,” Jill said. “Do you know when Dr. Bumpy opens?”

“Soon,” Blane said. “By the time we’re dressed we can be there.”

“I can take him,” Jill said. “You have to get to Lipson.”

“I need to see Heather,” Blane said. “Hecate brought the children and Gando. He’s sick but Mike’s with him. Hecate and Heather are having a raging argument.”

“About what?” Jill asked.

“No idea,” Blane said. “They are speaking in a language that…”

Blane lifted his shoulders and shook his head.

“No idea,” Blane said. “Mostly, it seems like Hecate is freaking out and Heather’s trying to calm her, but that’s just what I see. I brought the kids upstairs just to get away from them.”

“Good plan,” Jill said.

“I am not stupid,” Blane said. “So, get dressed. I’ll check in. We can head to the clinic.”

“Good,” Jill said. “Thanks.”

Blane held out his hands for the boy. She set him into his arms.

“I’ll send Tink up to take care of the kids,” Blane said.

“Thanks,” Jill said.

Blane left the loft. Jill changed out of her pajamas and into jeans and a long sleeved T-shirt. She grabbed a sweater that Delphie had knit for her. She checked on her boys before checking in with Katy. She found Katy, standing in the middle of her room, whispering into a walkie talkie.

“Ooljee’s here,” Jill said.

“Is she sick?” Katy asked.

“She’s not,” Jill said. “She’s downstairs helping Delphie make pancakes. I have to go to see Dr. Bumpy for Ooljee’s little brother.”

“He’s sick?” Katy asked.

Jill nodded.

“Tink is coming up,” Jill said.

The loft door opened and Tink rushed in.

“She’s here,” Jill said. “Try not to be crazy while she’s here.”

Katy laughed. She waved to her mother. Jill heard Katy update Paddie over the walkie talkie. Jill grinned at her daughter’s response and turned to Tink.

“I know the drill,” Tink said. “Paddie’s still sick.”

“He’s getting better,” Jill said. “Connor’s in with the boys. If I were you, I’d wake them up rather than have them discover that you’re here.”

“Good thinking,” Tink said with a grin. “Katy?”

“She’s dressed,” Jill said. “You can send her down to have pancakes if you want.

“She’s not going to want to leave Paddie,” Tink said.

“True,” Jill said. “I won’t be gone long. I just need to take the baby to see Dr. Bumpy. I’ll stay in touch.”

Jill was at the door when she turned.

“Keep track of your hours,” Jill said. “We’re happy to pay for your help.”

Tink gave Jill a braces filled smile, and Jill left. Jill worried her way down the long stairwell to the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, she was distracted by the smell and the people. Everyone was wearing masks. The back door was open for ventilation. Delphie was laughing at something Valerie had said. Joey, Maire, Chase, and Beau were milling around Ooljee.

Jill grinned at the chaos and went to find Blane. He was standing near the door with the child in his arms.

“Any progress?” Jill asked.

“If you mean, ‘Did Abi come down and it got worse?’ Then yes,” Blane said. “Let’s get out of here before they decide to end the world or whatever.”

“You don’t think we should stay and help?” Jill asked. Grinning, she added, “With the world in the balance?”

“No,” Blane said, severely.

They got to Jill’s sedan and got inside.

“I was kidding,” Blane said.

“I know,” Jill said.

They laughed.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday morning — 5:45 a.m.

Blane and Heather were sound asleep in the pullout bed in their little basement apartment in the Castle. Blane had morning appointments and would catch up with Jacob in the afternoon. They were hoping to sleep in a bit before the chaos of the day started.

Hecate appeared in their apartment with Gando Peaches, his grandniece, Ooljee, and a toddler. She stood at the end of the bed and sighed.

“Well, get up,” Hecate said, in some language.

Blane shot out of bed, but Heather gave her friend a dark look.

“We’re sleeping in,” Heather said, in the same language.

She turned over away from Hecate. Confused, Blane looked from Heather to Hecate.

“These children and my beloved are sick,” Hecate said. “There’s a pandemic on, Hedone. You know what that means.”

“That I sleep more,” Heather said.

Sensing the tension in the room, Blane went in to wake his sons.

“How about this,” Blane said, pulling on his pajama pants. “Why don’t I take the children to see Jill and get Mike for Gando?”

Hecate and Heather glared at each other. Neither goddess responded to him.

“Good that we agree,” Blane said. “Come on, boys.”

He picked up Wyn and shuffled and arm to carry the child in Hecate’s arms. He looked at Ooljee.

“I can walk,” Ooljee said.

“Me too!” Mack said. “Bye-bye Mommy.”

When Heather didn’t respond, Mack just shrugged. Blane opened the door. Mack ran out of the room, and Ooljee followed. Blane gave the goddesses one last look before heading into the hallway.

“What is wrong with you?” Heather asked, in the same strange language.

“I am…” Hecate started.

Her lips opened and closed like a fish out of water. She dropped Gando onto the bed.

“You know what’s wrong!” Hecate screamed with such rage that magic flew out of her in a rainbow.

She held her hands out sideways. Between them there was scene after scene of Hecate being burned at the stake, drowned, her head cut off, and other forms of torture. There were images of her followers being brutalized by “Christian” men. The images flowed out of Hecate like water from a spring. When Heather looked up at her friend, Hecate’s face was covered with tears.

There was a knock on the door. Mike came into the room. He looked at Hecate and then caught what she was showing Heather. Without saying anything, Mike picked up the still unconscious Gando Peaches and left the room without comment.

The women looked at the door when it closed.

“What about this?” Heather asked.

“Most of the dragons have gone into hiding already,” Hecate said.

“Bestat?” Heather asked.

“She’s waiting for her rider to return from his trip,” Hecate said. “Every one of her family, all of her offspring, and their children have already gone into hiding.”

“You’re saying that we need to return to Olympia?” Heather asked.

“No, we won’t be safe in Olympia,” Hecate said. Her eyes were wild with fear and anger. “You remember the time that Zeus turned me over to… over to…”

Heather reached out to touch her friend’s hands rather than see the more than hundred years where Hecate was tortured. It was only stopped by Perses arriving to save his daughter. The ensuing blood bath was so traumatic for Hecate that it took Heather years to bring her back.

“We have to find somewhere safe where no one will find us,” Hecate said.

“Like Mars?” Heather asked.

“Mars won’t work!” Hecate said. “There are something they call a ‘probe’ and little computer things up there.”

“You’ve checked Mars?” Heather asked. Her face reflected her doubt.

“Of course I did,” Hecate said. “They… they….”

Hecate began to sob. Waves of energy and magic flowed out of the basement. Abi arrived moments later.

Suddenly, Hecate and Abi were in a raging argument while Heather continued to sit on the pull out bed, in her pajamas, wondering what to do. Blane arrived in the middle of that chaos. He gave Heather a compassionate look, and she shrugged. He changed quickly, grabbed his jacket, and left. Neither Hecate or Abi was aware that he had been there.

As the door was closing behind Blane, Perses, Hecate’s father, arrived. He took one look at his daughter and scooped her up. In a split second, he reached for his first wife, Cleo the cat, but Cleo hissed at him. He and Hecate disappeared.

Heather sat on her bed for a long moment. Cleo walked gingerly across the bed until she sat in Heather’s lap. Heather looked at the cat.

“Sandy’s okay?” Heather asked.

The cat rubbed up against Heather.

“You should risk traveling like that,” Heather said. “You’ll wear yourself out.”

Cleo settled on Heather’s lap.

“You did it for your daughter,” Heather said. “I understand. You probably called Perses, too.”

Cleo meowed.

“Is that Cleo?” a child’s voice asked outside the door.

Heather got up and opened the door. Rachel Ann, Sandy and Aden’s daughter, came into the small apartment. Before Heather could say anything, the child grabbed Cleo off the bed and left the apartment. Heather swung the door closed.

Heather used the bathroom. She was in the process of crawling into bed when she heard, through her mind, Hecate call her name. Sighing, Heather set her human body down on the bed and went to see what her rightfully hysterical friend needed.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

“How is Olympia?” Delphie asked

Heather took a glass of wine and glanced around at Valerie, Jill, and Delphie. She shook her head so hard that the water in the hot tub splashed a little. The women waited for her to answer.

“Stupid,” Heather said, finally. “Do you know about my grandmother?”

“What about her?” Jill asked.

“She was born of the ocean,” Heather said. “So she’s independent of family and not really connected to everyone else. Of course, Ares has a lot of family connections. You know, my father’s father. But…”

“Is there an issue?” Delphie asked.

“Of course there’s an issue,” Heather said. “She doesn’t want to be a part of all of it. She pitched a fit and I’m called in to ‘reason’ with her.”

Heather shook her head.

“It’s just stupid,” Heather added. “Makes me wish there was still a Sea of Amber.”

The women laughed. Tanesha came out on the deck. She spied the women in the hot tub and went back inside.

“How are you?” Delphie asked looking at Jill.

“I’m good,” Jill said. “A little tired.”

“It’s not too much?” Delphie asked.

“Not at all,” Jill said. “The more I use my gifts the more I seem to have to give. It’s weird like that.”

“I feel that way about acting,” Valerie said. “The more I act and the better parts I get, the easier it comes to me.”

The women nodded in agreement and understanding.

“How are Julie and the children?” Delphie asked.

“Healing, I think,” Jill said. “John Drayson was here. He said that Julie really should be in the hospital. Steve came by to assess her situation. He had her moved to the medical suites. Connor is now in with our twins. He seems totally better.”

“That’s a lot,” Heather said.

Jill nodded.

“It’s a little overwhelming,” Jill said. “But, there’s a nurse with Julie now and that’s good. Julie seems to be healing and that’s good. Paddie is still sick so he’s in our guest room in the loft. He’s quarantining there. He’s very serious about it — and so cute. He and Katy communicate via a walky-talky system.

“Adorable,” Valerie said.

“And Paddie has time to heal, as well,” Jill said shrugging. “I know that I will miss having my own thing, you know, my own life. But for now, I am enjoying being able to help.”

“Is there room for me?” Tanesha asked as she came out of the house.

Tanesha was wearing her bathing suit and carrying a towel.

“Always,” Jill said.

“Did you get a glass?” Heather asked.

“I…” Tanesha started.

Tanesha held up a glass. Tanesha climbed into the hot tub end of the swimspa.

“This is nice,” Tanesha said. “Swimspa?”

“I need to swim,” Valerie said.

“Do you mind if the rest of us use it?” Tanesha asked.

“Not at all,” Valerie said. “Do you swim?”

“When I can, which is not often,” Tanesha said. “This will really help me while I’m working.”

“Go for it,” Valerie said.

“Thank you,” Tanesha said.

“No, thank you for trying to save lives,” Valerie said.

“Here, here,” Jill said.

The women held up their mostly empty wine glassed in salute of Tanesha. Heather waved her hand and the wine glasses filled.

“What’s this?” Tanesha asked.

“I don’t know,” Heather said. “I stole it from my grandfather’s decanter.”

The women laughed.

“I will tell you that this mask thing sucks,” Delphie said.

“It’s just life now for a while,” Tanesha said. “If you’d seen how sick people are right now, you’d never want to take the thing off.”

“Sit by me,” Jill said.

Jill held out her arm, and Tanesha sat next to her. Jill placed her arm over Tanesha’s shoulder.

“Are you checking me?” Tanesha asked.

“If I were?” Jill asked.

“I’d thank you for it,” Tanesha said.

The women laughed. A few minutes later, Jill squeezed Tanesha’s shoulder and went to move away. Tanesha pulled Jill back.

“I know that I’m usually the one who’s like: ‘Get off me!’” Tanesha said, her eyes welling. “But with everything — work and Sam and Jabari… I can use the love.”

Jill scooted closer to Tanesha. Heather sat on Tanesha’s side. Delphie reached over to touch Tanesha’s shoulder. From the pool side, Valerie smiled at Tanesha. For a moment, they all focused their attention on their friend.

“Okay,” Tanesha said. “Now you can…”

“Get off me,” the women said in near unison.

They laughed. For the next hour, they laughed, drank wine, and talked about nothing. They could almost believe that Sandy was upstairs doing something, the world wasn’t struggling with a dangerous virus, and that they weren’t each in the middle of their own personal tsunamis.

Being together was exactly what they needed.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday morning — 5:05 a.m.

Jacob was standing in the middle of the kitchen missing his father when he heard a knock on the side door of the Castle. Assuming it was Aden coming to pick him up for the day, Jacob jogged to the door. He opened to find Dr. John Drayson standing on the other side. Standing next to him were his two children and two children Jacob had never met. Their hair messy and eyes half closed, the children looked as if they’d been dragged from their beds. John was carrying a duffle bag over his shoulder. The handsome doctor was wearing a fabric mask over his mouth and nose.

“You are welcome to come in, but we’re on quarantine here,” Jacob said.

“I understand,” John said.

“Then, come in!” Jacob said. “Come in!”

Jacob stepped back and let John and the children inside the house. He quietly snapped his fingers which lit the kindling in the Castle living room fireplace.

“I was just getting a fire going in here,” Jacob said.

He leaned over to put a log on the growing fire. Delphie came from the kitchen to see what was going on.

“I’m so sorry to bother you,” John said. “My siblings have been taking care of my kids. Today is some Irish something or another that I should remember or care about.”

“They just want to get drunk,” John’s son, Joey, said.

Joey’s fraternal twin, Máire, nodded. Delphie put her arms around the two sleepy children and led them to the couch. Used to Delphie, they let her snuggle them close. The other two children were younger by some years. They looked a little stunned.

“Have you met Max and Wyatt’s sons?” John asked.

“I haven’t had the pleasure,” Jacob said, holding out his hand.

“This is Chase,” John said, gesturing to the toddler with brown eyes. Turning to the toddler with blue eyes, he said, “And this is Beau. Their fathers have been taking care of all of the kids. But Wyatt’s working like I am and Max was called in by the governor to help with acquire supplies or something like that. He left for Washington DC this morning.”

“Oh that is weird,” Jacob said with a smile. “I actually know Chase and Beau from the Marlowe School. They are friends of my toddlers.”

“That’s right,” John said, looking relieved. “I’m so glad they will have friends in the house. Our home is filled with old Irish people. They long for boys to play with.”

“Done,” Jacob said with a smile.

“Jill said that I could bring the children here if I needed help,” John said.

“Of course you can,” Jacob said.

“They are welcome as long as you need a place,” Delphie said. “We have lots of kids. I seem to remember that you both are friends with Ivy.”

Máire nodded.

“Did you know that Ivy lives here?” Delphie asked.

Máire noticeably brightened.

“Katy and Paddie too?” Joey asked.

“They are both here, but Paddie is sick,” Delphie said. “I know that Katy will love seeing you. She’s been very lonely.”

The twins looked at each other and grinned.

“There are lots of people able and willing to help,” Jacob said.

“I don’t know this for certain,” John said, “but it wouldn’t surprise me if my siblings no longer want the children in the house. They are older than I and terrified of getting sick.”

“Dying,” Máire said.

“They are sure they will go to hell,” Joey said.

The twins nodded in near unison.

“Did someone say ‘Hell’?” Fin said as he came out of their apartment.

He gave John a long look and then searched the children.

“Have you met Prince Finegal?” Jacob asked.

“Fin, please,” he said, in uncharacteristic humility. “You are John Drayson, husband of the identical twins, Alex and Max?”

“Just Alex,” John said with a grin. “Max is married to Wyatt Klaussen.”

Fin waved his answer away as if what he’d said didn’t matter.

“How you know Alex?” John asked.

“She met my father earlier this year,” Fin said. “He hasn’t stopped talking about her since.”

“Dare I ask who your father is?” John asked.

“Manannàn,” Fin said. “I’m from the Isle of Man. Your mother is a distant relative of mine. Your brother is married to my sister, Edith.”

John’s eyebrows went up. The two men gave each other a long assessing look. Mike came down the stairs and through the kitchen.

“Máire?” Mike asked. “Jackie was just talking about you!”

Máire smiled at Mike and then looked at her brother. She looked back at Mike.

“Can she come down?” Máire asked, shyly.

“I’ll bring her,” Mike said. “Have you two had breakfast? I have it started upstairs. I came down to see how Jacob was doing.”

“My father’s in the hospital,” Jacob said to no one in particular. “Sam’s holding his own. That’s what the nurse said.”

“I’ll find out and call you,” John said, turning to look at Jacob. “You’re sure? Even if they are here a while?”

“Of what?” Mike asked.

“He wants to know if we can keep the kids while he’s out there trying to save humanity,” Jacob said.

Rather than respond, Mike just laughed. John kissed his children goodbye. They whispered back and forth in a language Jacob didn’t know. When John pulled away, the kids had tears in their eyes. John spoke to Chase and Beau in the same language. The boys clung to him for a long moment.

“If you’re sure…” John said.

Tink came up the stairs from the basement. She waved at everyone as she walked through to the kitchen.

“Tink?” Jacob asked.

Tink stopped and turned.

“John needs some help with his kids,” Jacob said.

“We can help,” Tink said. “Charlie and me, I mean ‘I,’ we can’t go to school and can’t work. We have lots of time.”

Nodding, Tink gave John a charming braces-filled smile.

“Would you mind keeping them overnight?” John asked.

“Of course,” Tink said. “We have plenty of space. Delphie said it would be warm enough to look in the beehives today.”

Delphie nodded.

“Beehives!” Joey said.

“We know all about them,” Máire said.

“We can help!” Joey said.

“Then it’s settled,” Delphie said. “If we finish in time, we can go to your house and check your hives too!”

Joey and Máire nodded in happy agreement.

“I have an apartment near the hospital,” John said. “If you really don’t mind, I’ll stay there. I’m just exhausted. It will be a big help for me. I will come by when I can, and their mom is due back in a week or so.”

All four children nodded.

“Great,” Delphie said.

Ivy came down the stairs and through the kitchen.

“Máire?” Ivy said. “Joey? Are you here for a visit? My aunt’s away working so I’m here.”

The children nodded. Ivy gave them a wide smile. The kids caught her infectious smile and were grinning themselves.

“They have some calls with the military folks,” John said. “I figured you could handle it because you talk to MJ when he’s gone.”

“Easy,” Jacob said. “It sounds like everything is set. I need to get to work. Why don’t I walk you out?”

John kissed every child again and followed Jacob out the door. Jacob grabbed a cloth mask sitting on a table next to the door. He gestured to John and the doctor picked one up. They left the Castle.

“You can’t imagine what a help this is to me,” John said.

“Don’t think about it,” Jacob said. “There are a lot of people depending on you. At the very least, we can help support you.”

John gave a nod and walked to his sedan.

“Get some rest, Drayson,” Jacob said. “You look exhausted.”

John waved and got into his sedan. Jacob watched him drive away. Jacob got into the SUV and called Aden.

“What’s up?” Jacob asked.

“Just a slow morning,” Aden said. “Lots going on.”

“Why don’t you send the kids here?” Jacob asked. “Drayson brought his kids. They can all entertain each other.”

“Great idea,” Aden said. “Can you pick me up?”

“I’m in the car on my way,” Jacob said.

“I’ll get that worked out,” Aden said. “See you soon.”

Aden clicked off the call. Jacob started the SUV and moved out of the lot. As he waited for the metal gate to open, he thought about how lucky he was to have the help that he had. By the time the vehicle’s wheels hit the pavement, he was already lost in thought about what had to be done that day. He pulled up to Nelson’s house, where Blane was waiting for him. Blane got into the SUV.

“No Aden?” Blane asked.

“We’re picking him up,” Jacob said. “How’s Nelson?”

“As good as can be expected,” Blane said with a nod.

“Sounds good,” Jacob said.

Jacob waited until they reached the light before beginning to talk about what they had to get done today.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday morning — 5:35 a.m.

Princess Marigold, also known as Mari, landed in the middle of the IUC. Her arms were wrapped around her boyfriend, Jill’s grandfather who went by the name “Otis” now. For a moment, she held him while he tried to breath. This type of flight always made him feel nauseous. Mari snapped her fingers and she was wearing scrubs like a nurse and personal protective gear. Otis was wearing the outfit of a doctor.

“Which one is he?” Otis asked, gesturing to a row of people lying on their stomached on ventilators.

“Where have you been?” A woman marched up to Mari. “You’re late!”

“I am?” Mari asked. She glanced at Otis. Using a bit of magic in her words, Mari added, “I thought this was my starting time.”

“Oh probably,” the woman sighed. “We’re just running like chickens with our heads cut off. Sorry I snapped.”

“No problem,” Mari said. “What can I do?”

The nurse rattled off a list of things and then told her that she probably should talk to the nurse in charge Mari raised her eyebrows to Otis, and he gave a slight shrug.

“Doctor?” the nurse asked Otis.

“I am looking for Samuel Lipson?” Otis said.

As an ex-oligarch and Russian mafia don, Otis was used to bluffing his way through tight situations.

“Are you his doctor?” the nurse asked.

“One of many,” Otis said. “I had a little bit of time this morning, so I thought I’d drop by and check on him.”

Mari used a little fairy magic to convince the nurse. Harried, the woman gestured to the bed in the middle.

“He’s right there,” the nurse said. “Come on. Let’s get you to the nurse in charge.”

Mari glanced at Otis. They gave each other a quick look, and Mari followed the nurse. Otis looked down the row of bodies. Shaking his head, he wondered if there was a way to help them all.

“Who are you?” a nurse asked.

She was covered in PPE — a paper coat, a mask, glasses, and a hat. He could only see her eyes. They were large with ridiculously long lashes. She was the same size as Mari but possibly a little smaller. He scowled.

“Who are you?” Otis asked, in an authoritative voice.

“Bloody hell,” the nurse said. The woman opened her hand and there was a ball of bright light. “You tell me who you are or I’ll…”

“I wouldn’t do that.” Mari’s voice was clear and strong.

Mari held her sword against the neck of the woman. Everything around them stopped moving. The woman whipped around. Prepared for battle, the woman raised her hands. But Mari was an experienced fighter. She stopped the woman in her tracks and looked at Otis.

“Where’d you pick up this one?” Mari asked.

“She was just here,” Otis said.

“I leave you alone for one moment and you pick up some half-wit fairy,” Mari said.

“I could never replace you, my love,” Otis said. “I am simply irresistible to the females.”

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Wednesday mid-day — 3:35 p.m.

Denver, Colorado

“Katy, honey,” Jill said opening the door to Katy’s room.

Katy was standing in the middle of the room. She held the hilt of the Vanquisher sword with both hands while the sharp point was pointed down. There was a black char mark in the wood floor around the point of the sword. Katy was in the middle of saying the word “Paddie” when Jill opened the door.

Not sure how to respond, Jill simply looked at her daughter for a long moment. Katy gave her mother her “seriously frustrated” look.

Jill raised her eyebrows.

Katy blushed.

“Why doesn’t it work?” Katy asked. She pointed the sword at her mother. “What did you do?”

“Don’t point that thing at me or anyone else!” Jill said. “I am the daughter of a Titan. Do not tempt me.”

“But…” Katy sighed. Her irritation slipped away and she dropped the sword. She looked very small and very sad. “I want Paddie to come here.”

“That’s understandable,” Jill said.

“Why doesn’t it work?” Katy asked. “The sword is supposed to bring me anything I want.”

“Anything?” Jill asked.

“Watch,” Katy said. She set the tip of the sword on the floor. “Ice cream.”

A pint of Tanner and Bladen’s favorite ice cream appeared on the floor.

“See!” Katy asked.

“This is how you get the boys to do what you say,” Jill said fighting to keep the laughter out of her voice.

“Of course,” Katy said.

Jill fought to keep her face neutral.

“Why doesn’t it work for Paddie?” Katy asked.

“Well…” Jill said. She shook her head. “Actually, I’m not sure. I think it’s because you promised not to go on any more adventures. But it could be my Dad or Abi. But more likely it’s that a promise is sacred, especially to objects of power.”

Jill shrugged.

“Could you really have taken the sword away from me?” Katy asked.

Jill nodded.

“But don’t tell anyone,” Jill said.

Nodding her head, Katy giggled. The sword disappeared.

“You came in to tell me something?” Katy asked. She crossed her hands in front of her and gave her mother her sweetest look. “Maybe like Paddie’s coming to visit?”

Katy’s eyebrows went up and her eyes got very big.

“Paddie is here,” Jill said. “But…”

Katy started jumping around with delight.

“Katy, the boys are sleeping,” Jill said.

“That’s why I’m not yelling and screaming,” Katy said. “I’m not a complete jerk, Mommy!”

Jill grinned at Katy saying a phrase often repeated by Noelle.

“But what?” Katy asked.

“Paddie is sick,” Jill said.

Katy looked immediately crestfallen.

“So is his Mommy and his brother,” Jill said. “Your grandmother, Anjelika, and my brothers and sisters helped to make them all strong, but right now they are very sick.”

“Even with cuddles?” Katy asked.

Jill nodded.

“Why aren’t they in the hospital, like Grampa Sam?” Katy asked.

“Turns out that while they are very sick, they aren’t as sick as some other people,” Jill said.

“Grampa Sam must be really sick,” Katy said.

Jill nodded.

“Is Jabari coming home?” Katy asked.

“How do you know about Jabari?” Jill asked.

“He’s my girlfriend-brother,” Katy said. “I’ve checked on him with my head.”

Jill gave Katy a long look and then shook her head.

“He’s with his dad,” Jill said. “They are in the basement isolating for a while until they are sure Jabari doesn’t get sicker.”

“Did he get cuddles?” Katy asked.

Jill nodded.

“Can I have cuddles?” Katy asked.

“Only if your promise not to go see Paddie for a while,” Jill said.

“I promise,” Katy said. Her eyes welled with tears. “Is Paddie going to die?”

“Not if I can help it,” Jill said. “You know what you could do to help Paddie?”

“Not see him,” Katy said miserably.

“Exactly,” Jill said.

Katy looked down for a moment. She gave a deep sigh.

“I promise,” Katy said.

Jill held out her arms and Katy ran into them. Jill carried her baby-girl to the bed. With Katy on her lap, they sat together for a long time.

“Want some ice cream?” Katy asked after more than twenty minutes.

“You know, I would,” Jill said. “But not that ice cream.”

Jill gestured to the melted mess of the twins’ favorite ice cream.

“I can get more,” Katy said.

“We have some of your favorites in the freezer,” Jill said. “That’s where the ice cream is coming from, you know.”

“Our freezer?” Katy asked.

“The Vanquisher won’t steal anything,” Jill said. “It’s something Dad told me because you know I how worry about that.”

“Can we have ice cream?” Katy asked.

Jill stood up with Katy in her arms. They went out to the little kitchen to have some bubble gum ice cream and worry about Paddie and his family.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday evening — 6:19 p.m.

Denver, Colorado

“I’m so sorry that I’m late,” Dr. John Drayson said. He got out of his sedan. “I know that you’ve been waiting for me. Everything is… crazy. And Alex is still gone.”

“Which just makes things crazier,” Jill said, speaking loudly to be heard through her mask.

He nodded at her understanding. Jill smiled at the handsome doctor. With the cloth mask on, his blue eyes looked even bigger and bluer.

“They’ve been resting,” Jill said. “You’re absolutely fine.”

“Do you happen to know how Nelson is doing?” John asked as they walked

“I spent an hour or so with him midday,” Jill said. “He wanted some sun, so I sat with him while the nurse had some lunch.”

“That was nice of you,” John said.

“Necessary,” Jill said. “She works really hard. Honey was able to help with the kids so it was really easy. I’m so lucky to have so much help here. Can you tell me how Sam is doing?”

“I was going to update Delphie after I check in with my sister-in-law,” John said. “I have no idea why they sent Julie away from the hospital. I can tell you that we would have admitted her.”

“She probably left,” Jill said. “She feels like she has no one to help with Paddie and Connor when the team’s gone. Less so now that Erin and Sami have left the city.”

“It’s a very difficult time,” John said. “She usually goes to one of her sisters.”

“She thinks that’s how she got infected,” Jill said.

“She’s not wrong,” John said.

John put his hand on Jill’s upper arm.

“How is Jacob?” John asked.

“No sign of illness or infection,” Jill said with a nod. “He and Aden have been working like crazy to help carry the company through this thing.”

“They’re being careful?” John asked.

“Masks, distance, reduced crews,” Jill said, nodding. “They are pretty serious about it since Sam got sick. We’ve have deliveries of cloth masks all day today. We’re going to drown!”

“Good,” John said. “We’re likely to be wearing them for a while.”

Jill grinned.

“I’ll take you to them,” Jill said.

Jill went in front of John showing him through the hallway and into the apartment at the end. He nodded to Jill. Jill opened the door.

Connor was awake and crying in the mewing cry of a baby. Paddie was asleep in the crock of Julie’s arm. Julie seemed asleep.

John went immediately to the sink in the kitchen and washed his hands and forearms. He dried them on a paper towel, put on a pair of protective glasses, and turned around to look at Jill.

“I’ll get Connor,” Jill said.

“Let me check him first,” John said, pulling a pair of latex gloves from his pocket and putting them on.

Jill held the toddler while John checked his lungs and heart.

“Thermometer?” John asked.

Jill gave him a forehead thermometer. John took off the cap and ran it over the toddler’s forehead. He looked at the number and gave it back to Jill. She wiped it off with a disinfectant cloth.

“He’s fever free,” John said.

Jill nodded. She carried him to the apartment’s small kitchen. She washed the toddler in the sink while John checked Paddie and Julie. She wrapped Connor in a diaper and some clean hand-me-downs from Valerie’s son. She grabbed some breast milk from the refrigerator and warmed it in a glass bottle I in the microwave. Connor gladly took the bottle from her. Jill carried him to the bed.

“Would you mind cleaning up Paddie?” John asked. “It looks like he’s been sick.”

Jill nodded. She put Connor into the crib they’d moved into the apartment before Julie and the children had arrived.

“Paddie still has a fever,” John said. “But it’s down from last night.”

“Come on, Paddie,” Jill said, picking up the little boy.

“Don’ tell Katy that I’m here,” Paddie said.

Jill grinned at the sincerity in his voice.

“I won’ get her sick,” Paddie said.

The little boy coughed and put his hand on the outside of his mask.

“I need a shower,” Paddie whispered. “I had an accident.”

“That’s okay,” Jill said. “We have a shower right here. I brought your favorite soap and a fluffy towel.”

Paddie nodded.

Jill carried him into the little bathroom. She helped him out of his soiled clothing and stayed with him while he showered. Halfway through, he was bent over with a hacking cough. The child couldn’t seem to catch his breath. Jill rubbed her hands together and placed her right hand between his shoulders. It took a minute or so but his coughing eased. He stopped coughing.

She got the boy out of the shower and helped dry him. Even though Paddie was a child, he was tall. Jill put him into some of Nash’s old sweats and a T-shirt. He didn’t resist her putting a child mask over his face and nose. Surprised, she leaned back when the wooden sword appeared at his waist. He ran to his mother on the bed.

“Mommy look!” Paddie said.

Julie’s eyes flicked to her son.

“It says ‘Life is Good’,” Paddie said with a grin.

“Feeling better?” Julie croaked.

“Cuddles always work,” Paddie said with a nod.

“Connor?” Jill asked.

John nodded toward the crib. Connor was sound asleep. Jill took the empty bottle from the toddler.

“He’s so much better than he was,” John said. “You’ll have to tell me about those cuddles.”

“Love always wins,” Jill said vaguely. “How is Julie?”

“She’s very ill,” John said. “For now, I’d like to keep this little family together. Paddie and Connor need their mother as much as she needs them right now. Their bond can be the difference between life and death for them.”

“We can take care of them,” Jill said and nodded.

“Does Nelson have a nurse?” John asked.

“He does,” Jill said. “We can get a nurse for Julie.”

“You may need one,” John said. “Her blood oxygen is low but not critical. At least, right now. I left a pulse ox to test her oxygen. If it falls to 80 or lower, then she needs to be in the hospital. I’d like to set up an IV but…”

John looked around the room, and then at Jill.

“Do you have IV saline here?” John asked.

“Not when MJ’s gone,” Jill said. “I will call the service when you leave and get a nurse here. If you leave the order, I can get it filled.”

“That’s a lot to ask for you to do,” John said. “You have a young family of your own to care for.”

“I do,” Jill said with a nod. “But we’ve asked Charlie and Tink to help with the kids. In fact, if you need help with the kids at your house, we can certainly take them. Plus, we have an empty apartment or two.”

“That’s very kind of you,” John said. “So far, we’re covered. My sister and brothers are doing the heavy lifting at home. I’ll tell you…”

John looked down at Jill and smiled.

“They are happy to have something new to complain about,” John said with a grin.

Jill laughed.

“I’ll write a detailed order,” John said. Pulling off his gloves. “Tell the nurse to call me if she or he has questions. Doesn’t your brother run a service now?”

“Steve?” Jill asked. “He does.”

“Brilliant,” John said. “Steve’s a good egg. I’m delighted that he’ll be able to help.”

Jill opened the door to the apartment.

“Would you mind if I shower here?” John asked. “I need to get home.”

“We have clean scrubs here,” Jill looked him up and down. “I think we have some in your size or close.”

“That would be very nice,” John said.

“I’ll show you the way,” Jill said.

She led John back into the medical offices. While he showered, Jill called Delphie and asked her to bring up some soup for Julie and food for the boys. She also called her brother, Steve, who said he’d come by the Castle to take a look at what Julie needed. John finished showering and changing. He said goodbye by reminding her to call him is she needed anything. He left through the medical offices.

Jill watched him go before heading downstairs to see what was next. She was just in the hallway when Delphie passed with a tray of soup for the little family. The smiled at each other as they rushed past toward their other duties.

~~~~~~~

Wednesday evening — 9 p.m.

Denver, Colorado

Jill had just reached the kitchen when Jacob and Tres returned from Lipson Construcation. Jeraine came up from downstairs around the same time. Because everyone wanted to be together to share their day, Jill and Heather set up the clay chimineas six feet apart. Jacob and Tres barbecued lamb chops with potatoes and a salad from the indoor garden.

It was cold and perfect. Jill hadn’t realized how much she missed talking to people. Everyone talked and laughed. The children played together in the thawing garden. Blane came in late and revealed a cake he’d worked on during the day.

With the instruction to enjoy her evening, Jacob grabbed the boys and took Katy off to bed. Tres took Wyn and Mack inside. Jeraine carried Jabari inside. Mike pulled the cover off the hot tub and brought Eddie and Jackie inside. Blane brought out a bottle of wine and glasses before heading inside.

“Hot tub?” Valerie asked after the men were gone.

“Can you go in?” Heather asked.

“Oh,” Valerie said.

Valerie gestured to the hot tub. The women looked in.

“Whhaaa??” Jill asked at the same time as Heather said, “What is this?”

“It’s a swimspa,” Delphie said as she came out of the house with another bottle of wine. “There’s a hot tub on the end and a swimming place on the other end. I went for a swim today.”

Delphie smiled.

“I bought it,” Valerie said. “I need to get some exercise but I’ve swelled up so much. My doctor in LA suggested this the last time, but I was able to swim at the rec center then.”

“The rec centers aren’t opening this year,” Delphie said.

“Because of the virus?” Jill asked.

Delphie nodded.

“So I needed a place to swim,” Valerie said. “Jake paid the delivery guys extra to move the hot tub to the other deck.”

“When?” Jill said. “I was just up there with him.”

“Yesterday,” Valerie said. “Anyway, I can hang out in the cool if I get too hot. Go get dressed.”

Delphie took off her housecoat to show a flowery bathing suit. She got into the hot tub end of the spa. Jill looked at Heather and shrugged. They went inside and changed into the suits they had hanging in the downstairs bathroom. They grabbed towels from the stack.

When they came out again, Valerie and Delphie were in the hot tub. Delphie had a glass of wine in her hand. Heather got into the hot tub and Jill gave her a glass of wine. Jill poured herself a glass and set it on the edge. Jill climbed in.

They sat together for a long moment without saying anything.

“How are you, Delphie?” Heather asked.

“Sad,” Delphie said. “Scared. It’s the worst at night because he’s always here. Always. Sam Lipson has been in this house every night since… we moved here, basically. It’s…”

Delphie stared off into space for a long moment. Shaking her head, she took a drink of wine.

“I miss him,” Delphie said.

“Me, too,” Valerie said.

Heather and Jill both nodded in agreement.

“He’s there,” Delphie said. “Fighting it out. On his own. I don’t think he’s ever been on his own. Not really. He and Celia met when he was ten when he lived with his family. I met then a few years later. Since then, it’s always been the three of us. Now, he’s in the hospital and I…”

Delphie sighed.

“You have us,” Valerie said.

Heather reached out to hold Delphie’s hand. Jill put her arm around Delphie.

“I just can’t believe it,” Valerie said. “I mean, I know that I’ve been gone and then even when I’m here I’m back and forth. But, Dad’s always been here. He’s so hearty. So tough. I mean, I knew that he wouldn’t live forever, but this? It feels a lot worse.”

Jill and Heather nodded.

“I hope he’s home before the baby’s born,” Valerie said.

Valerie looked at Delphie.

“I’m sorry,” Delphie said. “I don’t know.”

Lost in their own thoughts, the women fell silent for a while. Delphie took a breath and looked at Heather.

“How is Olympia?” Delphie asked.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Wednesday morning — 10:00 am

Denver, Colorado

“And Cathy said… Um…” Celia said. “Uh… she said…”

Celia laughed.

“What are you doing?” Sam asked. “You always ruin reading the comics by laughing at the joke instead of reading it!”

Celia grinned at her husband. For the first time in a very long time, they hugged. He kissed her lips and they clasped again.

“I have missed you,” Sam said. “Am I dead?”

“No,” Celia said. “You are in between. They put you in a coma. You’re on a ventilator.”

“Why?” Sam asked.

“You have that new virus,” Celia said. “The coronavirus, I think that they are calling it.”

“Oh,” Sam said. “I do?”

“You don’t remember?” Celia asked.

“I remember going fishing with Jake. Aden. Tres,” Sam said. “Even Blane went. We had a great time and then…”

“Jake saved your life,” Celia said.

“I’ll have to thank him,” Sam said with a nod. He paused for a minute. “How do I thank him?”

“You survive,” Celia said with a nod.

“Oh,” Sam said. “You think I can do that?”

“Sam Lipson,” Celia said with a chuckle. “You are the most stubborn of men. I’ve never met a man more stubborn than you. You are a breed of your own. If anyone is going to survive this, it’s going to be you, my love.”

“Hmmm….” Sam said, clearly thinking it through.

After a moment, he turned to her.

“I could always stay here with you,” Sam said.

“No, you could not,” Celia said, angrily. “You promised me, Sam! You promised me that you’d take care of our children. If you just give up to hang out here with me, you’re breaking that promise.”

Sam made a sour face but nodded in agreement. He sighed.

“It is very nice to see you,” Sam said. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Tears streamed from his eyes. They hugged again.

“Do you hear that?” Celia asked.

“What is it?” Sam asked.

“it’s Val,” Celia said softly.

“Sound like her,” Sam said.

They separated from their hug to listen.

“And Delphie,” Sam said.

“I love Delphie,” Celia said.

“I do too,” Sam said. “What are they doing?”

“They are reading the funnies,” Celia said.

Sam chuckled. He held out his hand.

“Shall we?” Sam asked. “I don’t know the way.”

“I do,” Celia said. “Come with me, my love.”

They floated for a brief moment following the sound of Val and Delphie. They were hovering over Celia’s burial site. Their daughter, Valerie, and Delphie, their beloved friend, were sitting on the bench next to Celia’s grave. Valerie read a comic and gave a tablet computer to Delphie. Delphie read the next comic and passed the tablet back.

“God, Val’s as bad as you are!” Sam said.

“Shh,” Celia said. “I’m listening.”

Grinning at Celia, Sam stopped talking to listen.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday afternoon — 1:15 p.m.

New York City, New York

“Seth?” the second engineer asked.

Irritated, Seth groaned and looked up at the ceiling. He banged his hands down on the piano and whipped around. He raised an eyebrow at her.

“There’s a guy here to see you,” the second engineer said.

“You’d better check with the music editor because he’s pretty pissed,” Seth said.

“I sent him in here,” the music editor said. “He speaks English. He’s some kind of chef.”

The music editor turned to a man with brownish-skin. The man was wearing jeans and a T-shirt with a heavy sheepskin jacket over it.

“I speak fluent Spanish,” Seth said. “Among other things.”

“Sir,” the man said, in Spanish. “I was told that you own the historic corner building in Hell’s Kitchen.”

“Okay,” Seth said.

It sounded to Seth as if the man was from Spain.

“How can I help you?” Seth asked, in Spanish.

“You are Seth O’Malley,” the man said.

“The last time I checked,” Seth said. “Why?”

“I didn’t expect you to be so…” the man stopped talking.

“Sweaty?” Seth asked. “Annoyed?”

“Accessible,” the man said with a smile.

“Reminds me that my asshole is slipping,” Seth said. “I don’t mean to rush but those young people will kill me if I don’t get playing again.”

“Si,” the man said. “You have a restaurant space in your building?”

“I do,” Seth said. “Before you ask, it’s up to code, ready to go. The last restaurant needed a bigger space and we just never got around to replacing them. Why do you ask?”

“I am wondering if you would do me the honor of letting me use the space?” the man asked.

“For what?” Seth asked.

“I run food kitchens for hungry people,” the man said. “People here are out of work. They are being evicted by…”

Sneering, the chef said the person’s name.

“I’ve heard,” Seth said with a scowl.

“People need food,” the man said.

“What are you asking?” Seth asked. “Specifically? I’m sorry. I’m tired and in pain.”

The man gave a curt nod.

“I’d like to use your kitchen to make meals that we will pass out all over the city,” the man said.

“But not at the building?” Seth asked.

“Not if you don’t want them to be passed out there,” the man said.

“It’s fine with me,” Seth said. “Don’t you have those trucks?”

“I do,” he said.

“We have parking,” Seth said. “Most of our residents don’t have vehicles. We have plenty of space for your trucks. Did you talk with Claire?”

“I spoke with Bernice,” the man said. Switching to English, he added, “She said that you were sick of ‘jive talking turkeys.’”

“Ah,” Seth said, with a grin. “I take it you knew Big Daddy?”

Seth asked of Bernice’s legendary deceased mobster husband. The man gave a quick nod with his chin.

“You?” the man asked.

“I met him around the time I bought that building,” Seth said. “His father-in-law, Bernice’s father, taught me jazz piano. Whatever Big Daddy was, he was very good to me. Bernice is a dear friend.”

The man nodded in agreement.

“What do you say about the space?” the man asked.

“Take a look at the space,” Seth said. “The kitchen is good sized but the restaurant is small. Just a few tables and five booths. We have a permit for outside space, but have never built it out. You’re welcome to see what you can do with it.”

“It’s okay with you,” the man said, looking relieved.

“Of course,” Seth said. “You should ask these kids to donate.”

Seth raised his eyebrows at the music editor. Looking embarrassed, the engineers and the music editor nodded.

“We’ll donate,” the lead engineer said.

“I will, as well,” Seth said. “Claire has the checkbook. Just tell her what you need.”

The man nodded and turned to go.

“How much?” the man asked.

“Why don’t you see what you need?” Seth asked. “The restaurant moved out a couple of years ago. The space will likely need some work. At the very least, we can take on whatever you need to get up and going. Let us know what you need. I know a lot of people from all walks of life. My housekeeper in Denver and her family even own farms. Let me know what you need and I can find it.”

Nodding, the man left.

“You’re okay to do that?” the second engineer asked. “That’s a lot of money!”

“The building was paid off about nearly thirty years ago,” Seth said. “Outside of updates to the building, the roof, and rehabbing the apartments, the rents go into a fund. We’ve used it before for emergencies and national disasters in the city.”

Seth shrugged.

“I’ve been very fortunate in my life,” Seth said. “I try to share that with people in need. That’s all. Now, either we get back to work or I’m going home to sleep.”

He yawned.

“My hip’s killing me,” Seth said.

“I say we call it,” the lead engineer said.

The second engineer and the music editor turned to look at him.

“What?” the lead engineer asked. “I want to see the building!”

The young people nodded. Seth stood up, pulled on his sweatshirt hoodie, and hobbled to the door of the recording area. They took a cab to the building and got there in time to see Claire unlocking the restaurant space for the man who’d just visited Seth. Claire came to help Seth up the stairs leaving the young people with the man. When Claire returned, the man nodded to her.

“This will work,” the man said.

“When will you start?” Claire asked.

“Right now, if that’s okay with you,” the man said.

“Absolutely,” Claire said with a smile. “O’Malley will be thrilled.”

The man nodded and took out his cellphone to make calls.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday mid-day — 12:05 p.m.

Denver, Colorado

“Julie!” Jill said into her cellphone.

She was bent over pulling toddler clothing out of the small dryer in the loft. While there were large washers in the basement, Jill found that her boys were whirlwinds of filth. She and Jacob needed to do smaller, more frequent loads of laundry. Paddie’s mother had called her nearly every day since they were sent home for “Safe at Home.”

“What’s up?” Jill asked.

She heard coughing.

“Julie?” Jill asked.

“Jill,” Julie croaked. “Listen, I’ll be fast, if that’s okay.”

“Sure,” Jill responded.

Jill set the dry clothing down on top of the washer so that she could to focus her attention on her friend.

“I have it,” Julie said, speaking fast. “Covid, I mean. I took the boys up skiing for Presidents’ day because Colin was deployed. He’s been gone a long time this time, so we were all mopey. My sister called and said that she and her kids were there. We joined them in one of those ski condos on the ski runs. We had a great time, but I think wel got it either from the resort or from my sister or I don’t know. They are saying that the virus was all over those resorts by then. But I don’t know. I didn’t know that when we went up there.”

“Oh Julie,” Jill said.

“My sister and her husband are both in the hospital,” Julie said. “We’ve all tested positive for this evil plague. Paddie says that he has to come here for ‘cuddles.’ That’s what he says, ‘cuddles.’ He’s very angry that he and Katy can’t be together. I think it’s just a ploy but he’s very insistent. If you can imagine a really sick little boy who is furious at me for not doing what he says.”

“Sounds familiar,” Jill said.

“I know that things are kind of different in your house,” Julie said. “I… I … really need help. I really do. I don’t know where to turn. The entire team is gone. Samantha took her daughter and went to her parents’ cabin. Erin and her daughters are somewhere else. Wyoming, I think. I’m not sure. Somewhere Matthew’s family has historic land there or someone does. I can’t remember anything anymore. The Irish next door won’t open the door because everyone’s over 70. Wyatt and Max are working. Wyatt’s at the hospital and Max is taking care of the kids. I don’t…”

Jill listened as Julie coughed and cried.

“Come here,” Jill said. “We have space for you to quarantine. I can give Paddie some cuddles and take care of Connor.”

“I’m so glad you said that,” Julie said. “Paddie’s been screaming at me. I drove here just to see if I could shut him up and I…”

“You should know that Jacob’s father, Sam, has it,” Jill said. ”We’re all on quarantine too.”

“Misery loves company?” Julie asked, hacking.

“Have you seen a doctor?” Jill asked.

“I caught John last night,” Julie said. “He told me that the hospitals are booked up. I would just be sent home again. He said if I can’t smell or catch my breath then to come in. He told me to take some aspirin to think my blood and get some rest. But I have two little boys and no help and…”

“I’m going to open the gate,” Jill said. “Drive in all the way to the back near the garage. I’ll meet you out there. I’ll take you to one of the free apartments where you’ll be away from everyone to quarantine but still can get help.”

Jill jogged down the stairs to the loft to the closet where the security equipment was located.

“Oh, Jill, that’s just what I need,” Julie said, sobbing.

“Just get inside,” Jill said. “I’ll get my brother to help.”

Jill pointed to Mike, who was sitting in the kitchen. He pointed to himself, and Jill nodded.

“I’ll get him sick,” Julie said.

Mike stood up and went out the door to the backyard.

“My brother’s kind of immune to everything,” Jill said. She pressed a button. “I’m opening the gate now.”

Julie drove her car through the gate and all the way back to where Jill and Mike were standing.

“Should I take her to the apartment next to the medical offices?” Mike asked.

“Jake finished the one on the end,” Jill said, nodding.

“Furniture?” Mike asked.

“We furnished both apartments,” Jill said. “Jake thought that our friends or people from Lipson would need our help. I finished painting them last weekend.”

Julie came to a stop in front of them. Mike opened her door while Jill opened the door to the back. The toddler, Connor, was screaming at the top of his lungs. Paddie was unconscious — asleep or passed out. Jill wasn’t sure. Both boys looked desperately sick.

“She’s out cold,” Mike said.

“Can you…?” Jill asked.

Mike was undoing Julie’s seatbelt. He lifted her out of the vehicle and carried her through the backyard.

“Paddie,” Jill said, shaking the boy. “I need to wake up now.”

Paddie didn’t move. Jill unhooked him from the booster seat.

“Connor,” Jill said. “Can you wait here?”

The child nodded. Jill pulled Paddie out of the car seat. She jogged across the yard and set Paddie on the deck. She turned back to Julie’s car and grabbed Connor.

“What’s going on?” Honey asked. “Is that Paddie? He looks really sick.”

“Julie’s here,” Jill said. “She says that they all have Covid, so don’t touch him.”

“Got it,” Honey said. “Where are you taking the kids?”

“The apartments by the medical offices,” Jill said.

“Okay,” Honey said. “I’ll open the doors.”

“Thanks,” Jill said.

Jill watched Honey struggle her way up the stairs to the medical offices. She was just opening the door when Mike came out. He jogged down the steps and took Paddie. Jill grabbed Connor from his baby seat and carried him up the stairs and into the medical offices.

“Where are the boys?” Honey asked.

“It’s nap time,” Jill said.

“Maggie’s asleep too,” Honey said. “Why don’t I get her and we can head to your loft?”

“Can you get up there on your own?” Jill asked.

“I need to try,” Honey said with a grin.

Honey was learning to walk again after Abi intervened to end her paralysis.

“Do you know if Ivy’s here?” Jill asked.

“I think she’s with her Aunt, but don’t quote me,” Honey said.

Jill nodded.

“I’ve got this,” Honey said. “Just take care of them and we’ll figure out what’s next.”

“Thanks,” Jill said.

“Masks!” Honey said.

She held out small masks for the children and one for Julie.

“Connor?” Jill asked.

She looked down to see that the child was sound asleep. She put the mask on.

“I should get him inside,” Jill said. “Thanks Honey.”

“Any time,” Honey said. “She’s a Fey wife. I would be in her situation if it weren’t for you and our Castle family. I am very lucky.”

Smiling, Jill nodded. Honey raised her hand to wave good-bye. Jill carried Connor inside. She went inside the medical offices and to the apartment. When she got to the apartment, she saw that her mother, Anjelika, and sister, Candy, were standing around the bed where Julie and Paddie were lying.

Anjelika waved Jill toward the bed. Jill set Connor onto the bed.

“We need…” Jill started.

Steve jogged into the room with a liter of water in his hands. The family took each other’s hands and focused on sending healing energy to Julie and her precious children.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday mid-day — 12:35 p.m.

Denver, Colorado

Nelson whispered something.

His nurse wasn’t even certain that Nelson was awake. She bent near him.

“Sun,” Nelson said. “Need sun.”

The nurse left the room and called Blane.

“He’s asking for sunlight,” the nurse said.

“Gretchen?” Blane asked. “Nelson wants the sun?”

“He’s saying that he needs sunlight,” Gretchen said. “The building is not built out.”

“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be over,” Blane said.

Shaking his head, Blane looked over Julie Hargreaves.

“I need to run across the street,” Blane said. “Can you stay right here?”

Julie nodded.

“Try to rest,” Blane said.

He pulled off the paper gown. He took off his face shield, goggles, and mask. He gestured to the hallway. Jill got up from where she was cuddling with Connor and Paddie.

“Nelson says that he needs sunlight,” Blane said. He shrugged.

“The windows are done,” Jill said. “The wood floor’s not in but he can sit in the windows.”

“That’s right,” Blane said. “Sorry. I’m just…”

“It’s so stressful to have all of this virus and all the crap with Lipson,” Jill said with a nod. “Not to mention, doing acupuncture with a novel virus and everything else.”

“Nelson,” Blane said, with a nod.

“Why don’t I go? The boys are really out,” Jill said. “The nurse can help me get him seated. We can wheel him out to the windows. Maybe I can give him a boost to help him heal.”

“Won’t you wear yourself out?” Blane asked.

“I don’t think so,” Jill said. “I mean, it’s happened before but I’ve been really careful since then. I’ll be careful.”

“That would be great,” Blane said. “I need to get pulses on the boys and see if they need a treatment.”

“I’ll shower and change really fast in the medical offices,” Jill said.

“Good thinking,” Blane said.

Jill waved at Blane and moved to the medical offices. She showered quickly and pulled on the medical scrubs. She walked across the street to Nelson’s old home. Coming in the front door, she heard someone running a saw on the third floor. She grinned at the progress that had been made and then jogged down the stairs to the basement.

Nelson and all of his medical equipment were housed in a room that one day would be Jabari’s. Thinking of that, Jill wondered how Jabari was doing. She sighed, pulled on a paper cover, a hat, and another mask before going inside the room. The nurse Gretchen was holding Nelson down.

“Nelson,” Jill commanded. “Stop. Lie down.”

“Need sun,” Nelson said.

“I hear that,” Jill said. “We have to figure out how to do that and keep you safe.”

Nelson collapsed back to the bed.

“Thank you,” Gretchen, the nurse, mouthed.

“I have toddlers,” Jill said. “Boys.”

“So you’re practiced,” Gretchen smiled.

“Okay, what do we need to do?” Jill asked.

“We need to get him into the wheelchair,” Gretchen said.

“Easy,” Jill said.

With much grunting and groaning, the women managed to get Nelson into a sitting position. From there, they carried and helped him into a wheelchair. With Jill behind the wheelchair, Gretchen cleared the way. They moved Nelson into the sunny patch near the Eastern windows.

The sunlight was waning for the day, but there was a sliver of bright sun on the cement floor. Jill moved him into the sunlight. Nelson groan with pleasure. Gretchen fussed over his IV and other medical gear.

“I’ll stay with him,” Jill said. “You can take a break.”

“Thanks so much,” Gretchen said. “Do you mind if I go get something to eat from Pete’s?”

“Not at all,” Jill said with a smile. “Enjoy your break.”

Gretchen grabbed her purse and left. Nelson had moved his face into the sunbeam. He was now fast asleep.

For the first time in a very long time, Jill was alone in the silence. She fell into such deep thoughts that she was startled when Gretchen returned. They got Nelson back into his room and Jill returned to the Castle. She sighed slightly at the door of the Castle.

“Let the chaos begin,” Jill said to herself and walked back into the Castle.

Denver Cereal continue next week…

Tuesday night — 9:15 p.m.

“Where have you been?” Jill demanded the moment Jacob came through the side door to the Castle. “Blane’s been back for hours. Aden’s still gone. Tres… I’ve been…”

Jill sighed.

“You suck,” she said.

“You’re absolutely right,” Jacob said. “I’m so sorry. Are the kids asleep?”

Jill nodded.

“I was… terrified,” Jill said. “What happened?”

“I will tell you everything,” Jacob said. “But first…”

“Jake?” Delphie asked, looking behind him. “Where’s Sam?”

She looked around and back at Jake.

“Where’s Sam, Jake?” Delphie asked.

“I’ll tell you everything,” Jacob said. “I need to pee and wash my hands and…”

Tres came in behind Jake. He raised his eyebrows at the women and headed down to the basement.

“Let Jake through,” Valerie said.

Delphie and Jill moved out of his way. Jacob jogged to the nearest bathroom. Jill, Dephie, and Valerie went into the kitchen. Delphie turned on the electric kettle and Jill got out a box of Cap’n Crunch, some milk, and a bowl. She set them at the table and returned to the kitchen for a spoon. Delphie made tea for herself and Valerie. Jill got two glasses of water. The women were seated when Jacob returned.

Mike came down the stairs. He looked at the women and then at Jacob. He grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and a spoon from the drawer. Jacob took an empty chair at the table and Mike took the chair opposite him.

Jill slid the glass of water to Jacob and he drank it down. Mike took Jill’s other glass of water. She groaned and Mike gave her a goofy grin.

“Thanks,” Jacob said for the water and the cereal.

He poured a bowl of cereal. For a few minutes, the only sound was the crunching of cereal.

“What…?” Jill started at the same time Delphie said, “Where’s…?”

Jacob held up a finger. No one said anything until he swallowed.

“What…? Jill started again as Delphie said, “Where’s…?”

“Give the man some room to talk,” Mike commanded.

The women turned to glare at him. He shrugged as if what he was saying was obvious.

“What’s going on?” Mike asked.

“We sent the lists, you know for job share, to the site managers,” Jacob said. “We talked them through it for more than an hour. When everyone agreed to our conditions, Tres told them that if they didn’t turn in their lists, they and their teams wouldn’t work. They agreed. I mean, everyone agreed. Even laughed.”

Jacob swallowed down the rest of the water. Jill got up to fill his glass and get another for herself.

“So Dad says, ‘Let’s go fishing,’” Jacob said when Jill sat down again. “After all of the late nights and pressure, we all thought that it was a great idea. Even Tres came. Blane had to leave early so he drove in a separate car. I took our new car…”

“The one we don’t have phone chargers for,” Jill said, mildly. “I bought them today.”

“I didn’t even think about it,” Jacob said. “It was going to be a quick trip up, fish for a while, then head home. The cabin is vacant so we went to Deckers. The plan was for Blane to head home around noon so that he could be there when Nelson got out. We’d stay until three or so and head home. Barbecue outside.”

Jacob swallowed hard.

“We all wore our masks because we want to see what it would be like for our employees and owners,” Jacob said.

“Lipson has a mask requirement,” Valerie said to no one in particular.

“But Sam…” Delphie said.

“I’m getting there,” Jacob said. “We were in the river fishing — six feet from each other. Dad was in his favorite spot. I was next. Aden behind me. Tres was on the bank because Heather had texted him about getting Nelson home.”

Jacob nodded.

“I…” Jacob stopped talking for a long moment. He cleared his throat. “Dad was laughing one minute and the next he just fell over. I was able to keep him out of the water with… well you know how. If I hadn’t seen him or been there, he would have drowned!”

Jacob’s eyes welled with tears.

“I ran to his side and he… He couldn’t catch his breath,” Jacob said. “I thought he’d had a heart attack but he… So I carried him to the car. Tres was on the bank, as I said. He was able to get the car doors open. Aden ran after us.”

“I told them…” Jacob stopped at if to catch his breath. “I told them that I would come back for them. I threw Tres the keys to the cabin and told them to go there if I was long. They wanted to come with me but if it was the virus they would be at a greater risk. So, they finally agreed because we didn’t know what was going on with Dad.”

“I thought he’d had a heart attack,” Jacob said, “but I could feel his heart beating fast and strong. No blockages or issues. But his lungs… So I raced to the nearest Urgent Care. They told me it was altitude sickness, but I knew it wasn’t that. When they saw him, they realized that it was… that it looked like…”

Jacob shook his head rather than finish the sentence.

“So I drove like a madman down to the hospital in Castle Rock,” Jacob said. “By the time he was there, he couldn’t move on his own. I didn’t want to risk getting him inside with my… talents. So, I ran inside and… My phone ran out of juice at the Urgent Care and…”

Jacob looked at Delphie.

“Dad’s in the hospital in Castle Rock,” Jacob said. “Their ventilators were full from all those people infected at the ski resorts. They think they’ll have to airlift him to Denver. For now, he’s in a drugged sleep and on oxygen. I told them about John Drayson, you know…”

Jacob did all of the remodeling work for Dr. John Drayon and his wife, Alexandra Hargreaves. Max, Alex’s twin, was also a good friend and client of Jacob’s. Now that Jill knew them through going to school with them.

“He’s been working like crazy since this thing has happened,” Jill said.

“They said they’d call him to see if he can help,” Jacob said. “They told me not to tell anyone that dad was there because they can’t handle the people. The waiting rooms are full of people who are sick. It took… forever. I was tested. I had to get Aden and Tres and get them back to the hospital in Castle Rock for them to be tested.”

“Then we came home,” Jacob said.

“So we’re all on quarantine?” Valerie asked.

“Exactly — fourteen days. Masks all the time, even in the house,” Jacob said. “They want everyone to be tested. Right now, you need a doctor’s note to get tested.”

“That’s not a big deal,” Jill said. “I’ll call our doctor’s office.”

Jacob nodded.

“Can we visit?” Delphie asked.

“No,” Jacob said.

“You mean he’s on his own to deal with this… thing?” Delphie asked as she began to cry.

Jacob nodded.

“I’m down as his contact,” Jacob said. “I told them to call — day or night. But my phone…”

Jacob reached in his pocket but his phone wasn’t there. He groaned. His shoulders rolled forward and he looked up at the heavens in defeat.

“I took it,” Heather said, as she and Tres entered the kitchen. “It’s on the charger over there.”

Heather nodded to the counter where Jacob’s phone was plugged in. As if on cue, the phone rang.

“Jacob,” Heather said. “Before you answer it.”

“What?” Jacob asked, holding the phone in his hand.

“You need to know that your new body is very vulnerable,” Heather said. “More vulnerable than any human you know.”

Jacob gave her a look of pure misery and answered the phone. They watched in anxious impatience until he set the phone down.

“Dad’s on a helicopter to Denver Health,” Jacob said. “Drayson guaranteed a ventilator either in the hospital or in the overflow at the Colorado Convention Center, you know, on Arapahoe. He should be here in Denver in a half hour or so.”

The women swallowed hard and nodded.

“But we still cannot visit him,” Jacob said. “We have to trust that Drayson will keep us updated.”

“Jill?” Heather asked.

Jill looked up at her dear friend.

“Can you check everyone?” Heather asked. “Especially the kids.”

“They say kids can’t get it,” Jill said.

“They are wrong,” Heather said.

“Are you sure?” Jill asked.

“I’ve seen this before,” Heather said. “Before you check people, you need to ask Abi for the virus signature.”

“She has it?” Jill asked.

“She has everything,” Heather said. “You can get the signature from Jill, Mike.”

Shrugging, Mike nodded.

“Abi’s standing behind you,” Mike said, pointing behind Jacob.

Everyone turned to look at her.

“Is it Sam?” Abi asked in her strong Isle of Man accent.

Jacob nodded.

“I will help,” Abi said with a nod. “I cannot stop a virus. I can take them away. Sometimes, only sometimes. That’s all. Viruses are a part of you as much as they are ‘invaders.’”

“Can you take this virus away?” Delphie asked.

“I don’t believe so,” Abi said. “It’s too young. Too new.”

Although they didn’t understand what she was saying, they nodded at her care and sincerity.

“Do you need a sample of the virus?” Jacob asked.

“No,” Abi said. “Jill, give me your hands.”

Jill walked to Abi and held out her hands.

“Palms down,” Abi said.

Jill turned over her hands. Abi took Jill’s hands. Their eyes locked. As everyone watched, something undefinable seemed to move from Abi to Jill. After a few long minutes, Abi nodded and moved her hands away.

Jill stood in place for a moment before nodding.

“We have work to do,” Jill said.

“No,” Abi said. “Your best defense is to get good sleep. A full eight hours or more. Every single night. This will keep you healthier than anything else.”

“I don’t think I can sleep,” Jacob said. “I’m too wound up and heartbroken. I mean my dad is…”

The next thing Jacob knew, he was lying in his own bed with Jill sound asleep beside him. The sun peaked in through the front windows of the loft. He looked at the clock. Ten hours had passed.

He was wearing his pajamas and his pillow was wet from a shower. He had no memory of any of this. He used the toilet and called the hospital from the bathroom.

His father was in an induced coma with a ventilator keeping him alive.

“He is still alive,” the nurse said. “Strong. Fit. Very healthy. Don’t give up hope.”

“Thank you,” Jacob said.

He ended the call so that the nurse wouldn’t hear him crying. When he came out of the bathroom, Jill was holding out a mask to him.

“How is he?” Jill asked.

“Alive,” Jacob said. “The nurse said to not give up hope.”

“Then we won’t,” Jill said.

They put on cloth masks and went to wake their children.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday morning — 9:15 a.m.

“Tanesha!” Jill said as Tanesha entered the Castle. “I’m sorry but…”

“Jabari’s in Children’s,” Tanesha said. She took a clean mask out of her pocket and put it on. “They think he has it, too. Who has it here?”

“Sam,” Jill said. “Did you get a test?”

Tanesha nodded. Jill was sitting on the floor with her toddlers. They were playing with blocks and running around the room.

“Shit,” Tanesha said. “I just came here to change and shower. They’re asking for everyone to show up at the ED, even students.”

“Shit,” Jill said.

“Right,” Tanesha said. “I wish I could join you. Where’s Maggie and the rest? I have to tell them that they need to be tested.”

“Everyone is at the doctor to be tested,” Jill said. “M.J. is hoping to get some of their military tests, but for now it’s through the doc.”

“Did you go?” Tanesha asked.

“We went this morning, first thing,” Jill said. “Jake was up because their state sites opened this morning. He also has to tell every employee owner that Sam is in the hospital. They all need to be tested because of that big meeting.”

“I bet that’s tough,” Tanesha said.

“He checked in after the first site,” Jill said with a nod. “The employees were crying — men and women. It’s made this whole thing very real for everyone.”

Tanesha nodded.

“You heard about Jabari?” Tanesha asked.

“How his mother abused him?” Jill asked. “Yes. Any news from the producers?”

“That’s where Jeraine is,” Tanesha said with a sigh. “He and his lawyers are talking to the producers. Everyone on their own computer.”

“We’re going to need more Internet service,” Jill said.

“Jeraine’s working something out with one of the suppliers,” Tanesha said. “They approached him as a sponsor for some concerts with him. It’s a good opportunity and it will mean better Internet for us. Maybe.”

Tanesha shook her head.

“It’s a lot,” Jill said.

Tanesha nodded.

“Are they keeping Jabari?” Jill asked.

“Just until they know what’s going on with him,” Tanesha said. “They won’t let us visit him or even wait in the waiting room.”

“That’s really hard,” Jill said.

“That’s Covid,” Tanesha said. “You know that kid? He was watering plants and planting seeds with Dale before we took him to Children’s. We had no idea that he was sick along with beaten! Now O’Malley’s house is on quarantine because of us.”

“Or us,” Jill said. “Sandy’s been here. We helped pick her up from the hospital. It could have come from her.”

Tanesha gave an irritated shake of her head.

“Should you be working?” Jill asked.

“I asked that,” Tanesha said. “My mentor just laughed. He said that they’d all been exposed. ‘As long as we don’t have a fever and wear our PPE, we work.’ So…”

Tanesha shrugged.

“I should go shower,” Tanesha said.

Jill nodded. Tanesha turned to head downstairs. There was a flower floating in front of her. She took the flower and turned back to the boys.

“Thank you, Tanner and Bladen,” Tanesha said. “I’ll keep it with me.”

The toddlers giggled.

“Hey, do you mind if I take a couple cloth masks with me?” Tanesha asked, gesturing to the stack on the hall table.

“Take what you need,” Jill said. “We’re making more masks at nap time. Jake and Aden have asked the Lipson crews that are off cycle to make masks. Since the word went out about Sam, our pattern has been downloaded more than a thousand times. We should have lots.”

“Good,” Tanesha said.

She raised her hand to wave and jogged down to their apartment.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday morning — 11:15 a.m.

New York City, New York

Seth O’Malley was seated at a Grand Piano in a recording studio. The lights were low. He was playing through the last of five concertos for the last movie. Like the other four movies, he had created an entire orchestral score for the movie. The orchestra, which had won awards for the first four movies, had worked tirelessly to create this score.

The movie executives didn’t like it. They wanted the last film to have a simpler, bare bones piano score.

He had less than a week to finish this piece. The movie’s music editor was working in the room next door to match what he was playing with the movie. They had been working long hours to get this done.

Today, he had been playing for more than an hour. He was hot and sweaty. A drop of sweat rolled down his back. The piece he was playing was not only technically challenging but also physically difficult. At this point in the piece, he always felt the sharp pain of his recent gunshot wound.

“Seth?” the movie studios lead engineer asked over the speaker.

Seth stopped playing. Irritated, he turned in his chair to look at the man. Standing next to the lead engineer, the second engineer shrugged.

“I told him not to interrupt you,” she said.

Seth grinned at her moxie. He never really got over this young generations dedication to speaking the truth no matter what.

“What’s up?” Seth asked, grabbing the towel from on top of the piano.

He used the towel to mop the sweat from his head and neck.

“Your friend, Claire, called,” the man said. “She said, ‘He’s kicked them all out. She said to emphasize ‘All of them.’”

“Wow,” Seth said.

He shook his head in disbelief.

“You want me to tell you the rest?” the lead engineer asked.

“Please,” Seth said.

“She said, and this is a quote, ‘We’ve made fifty spots, but there are hundreds in the streets.’ She said that you’d know what that means.”

Seth grimaced. His hip ached where the bullet had wedged itself in the bone. He shifted uncomfortably.

“What should I tell her?” the engineer asked.

“Tell her that he’s a fucking asshole,” Seth said.

“She seems aware of that, O’Malley,” the second engineer said,

Seth laughed.

“She said that he’s asking again to buy the building,” the lead engineer said. “I don’t really get it, but she said something about you stealing the building out from under his grandfather? I don’t know what that means.”

“Do you know who?” Seth said the name of someone.

“He’s married to the daughter of …” the lead engineer said the name of a famous New Yorker.

“His grandfather sold me the building at twice the asking price,” Seth said. He grinned. “Of course, I was ten years old then. He laughed at me and told me that I was a fool. I told him that I was ten and I would keep the building long enough for him to beg me to sell it back to him.”

Seth wiped his face with the towel.

“They’ve been begging for the last five years,” Seth said.

“Why?” the lead engineer asked.

“Junior’s decided that he wants to own all of Hell’s Kitchen,” Seth said. “My little building is on a corner. It has a permit for a restaurant on the bottom and apartments on top. Very hard to get that kind of permit in those new buildings. We registered the building as historic, which really pissed him off. But now, he thinks it’s a great selling point. You know, ‘Live in historic Hell’s Kitchen.’ The building’s up to code which nothing he owns really is.”

Seth shook his head.

“What is happening?” the second engineer asked.

“He’s evicting people from the buildings that surround my building,” Seth said. “We expected it and asked the people who rent from us if they could spare a room. That’s what Claire was talking about. I had the engineers in last summer to check the roof. We can set up twenty small tents on the roof. It’s just…”

Seth shook his head.

“What kind of an asshole evicts people in the middle of a pandemic?” Seth asked, his disgust apparent.

“Claire said that you should call the governor,” the second engineer said.

“We’ve stopped,” the music editor said as he flung the door open. “Have we stopped? Why have we stopped?

“O’Malley has to call the governor,” the second engineer said.

“Oh well, if it’s something important,” the music editor said, sarcastically. “What the fuck, O’Malley? I have a life too, you know. You want to socialize with your bigwig friends, do it on your own time. Not on mine!”

“Some jerk is evicting hundreds of people in Hell’s Kitchen,” the lead engineer said.

“You mean…” the music editor said the name of the person.

Seth and the two engineers nodded.

“He’s using the press focus on the pandemic to stay under the radar,” the second engineer said. “Doesn’t your wife work at the New York Times?”

“She does,” the music editor said. “I’ll call her.”

“I am calling a break,” the lead engineer said officiously.

Everyone looked at him. There was a long moment before they laughed.

“I need my phone, another towel, and some water,” Seth said. “Food. Asprin.”

“Got it,” the second engineer said.

She came into the recording studio. She gave him the towel, a plastic cup of fruit at the bottom yogurt, and his phone while taking the empty pitcher of water to be refilled.

Seth started making calls.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Monday morning — 10:08 a.m. MT

Denver, Colorado

Careful to put on her mask, Tanesha opened the door to Seth O’Malley’s house. Jeraine’s ex-wife was standing on the other side.

“Here,” she said with a sneer.

She pushed Jabari into the house. She sniffed at Tanesha.

“You look like shit,” she said.

“Where’s Jabari’s mask?” Tanesha asked.

“I threw it out,” she said, turning in place and started back down the walk where a limousine waited. “He’s ain’t no weakling. He don’t need it.”

Tanesha swung the heavy door closed. Jeraine’s ex was on a reality television show. The lawyers for the show had sued Jeraine for a chance to use the boy on the show. They’d fought for two years to keep the child off the program. Eventually, Jeraine lost the case. The producers promised that they would guarantee that the boy was well cared for. Clearly, they were mistaken.

She bent down to look at Jabari. The boy looked exhausted and filthy.

“How are you?” Tanesha asked.

“Tired,” Jabari said.

“Dirty,” Tanesha said.

Jabari nodded.

“I’m so sorry,” Tanesha said.

“Me too,” Jabari said with a nod. He looked around the entry way. “Why are we here?”

“I have to help Sandy with some things,” Tanesha said. “Maggie and the other kids are coming over later. I thought you’d want to play in the pool, but you look exhausted.”

Jabari nodded.

“Sandy’s in the pool right now,” Tanesha said. “Doing her PT. We can get you cleaned up in her room.”

Jabari had grown in height but was still slight. Tanesha easily picked him up. He instinctively nestled close to her.

“I want…” Jabari looked up at her. “Will you take pictures?”

“Of what?” Tanesha asked.

“Of me,” Jabari said.

Tanesha sucked in a breath.

“Why?” Tanesha asked.

Jabari pushed up his sleeve. His wrist had red chaff marks from being restrained.

Furious, Tanesha put the child down and started ripping off his clothing. Bruises — some deep and purple, others a few days old — were apparent through the child’s dark skin.

“Did you do this to yourself?” Tanesha asked.

“No, Mama,” Jabari said.

He held his arms up for her to hold him again. She picked him up. Not knowing what to do, she jogged through the house to the sliding glass door and went out into the yard. She ran fast, hoping the precious package in her arms wasn’t affected by the cold. She got to the carriage house and opened the door.

Sandy was standing in the shallow part of the pool with Otera, the physical therapist. They were doing slow squats in the water.

“I need help,” Tanesha said.

Sandy and Otera stopped immediately. Otera hopped out of the pool and went to Tanesha’s side. Unable to get out of the pool unassisted, Sandy went to the edge of the pool.

“What is it?” Otera asked, in her thick Belarus accent. “What has happened?”

“Jabari’s hurt,” was all Tanesha could say before starting to cry.

“Child,” Otera took the boy from Tanesha. “You will show me where it hurts.”

Jabari pointed to his behind. Tanesha hadn’t removed his underpants. Otera looked at Tanesha for a moment. Tanesha set down the boy. The three women peered at the boy’s underpants. Tanesha pulled them down and closed her eyes.

Otera and Sandy gasped.

“I must report,” Otera said. “Required by law.”

Without hesitation, she went to the landline phone hanging on the wall of the carriage house and called the police.

“What’s going on?” Dale, the O’Malleys’ handyman asked, as he came out from the tool room carrying a pipe wrench.

“Jabari’s hurt,” Tanesha said, weeping.

Dale took a look at the boy.

“Come on, big man,” Dale said. “Let’s let the grownups do grownup things.”

“Aren’t you a grownup?” Jabari asked.

Otera reported the abuse she’d seen on the boy’s body.

“You’d think so,” Dale said with an affable grin. “I know we have some cool board shorts over here.”

“In my size?” Jabari asked.

Dale pulled open a drawer with labeled “O’Malley.” Otera gave the phone to Tanesha.

“You mean this size?” Dale asked, holding up a pair of Seth O’Malley’s trunks.

“No,” Jabari laughed. “That’s too big for me!”

“How about this one?” Dale asked, holding up one of Ava’s bikini bottoms. “It’s definitely smaller!”

“That won’t work!” Jabari laughed. “That’s for girls!”

Dale continued to charm and entertain the little boy until the phone call was over. They were settling in to wait when Maresol came in. She saw Jabari just as Dale was pulling the board shorts onto him. Maresol started cursing and swearing. Maresol and Jabari’s grandmothers, Yvonne and Dionne, were her lifelong friends.

“Want to help me with my plants?” Dale asked, throwing Maresol a dark look.

Maresol hugged Tanesha, and Otera got back into the pool to help Sandy out of it.

“No funny plants,” Jabari said. “I’m too little for that.”

Dale laughed.

“Mr. Bernie would be pretty pissed if you mess with his weed,” Dale said.

Jabari laughed. Dale took the little boy into the greenhouse next to the pool area. Maresol went into the house to wait for the police.

Sandy dried off while Tanesha told her about their struggles to keep the boy safe. Even though she knew most of the story, she let her friend talk because Tanesha needed to talk. Tanesha was almost there when Hedone, Heather’s Goddess self, appeared. She wore a pure gold knit gown that accentuated her curves. Her hair hung in golden curls that made her brown skin look golden.

“What has happened?” Hedone asked.

“That stupid cow hurt Jabari,” Tanesha said. “His bottom has bleeding sores on it from a switch or a whip, something like that.”

“Heather should be here,” Hedone said. “She’s just brought Nelson home. He’s doing all right so I’ll go get her.”

She started to disappear.

“Wait,” Tanesha said. “I have one question.”

Hedone nodded.

“Can you smite someone?” Tanesha asked.

“I’m not sure,” Hedone said. “Honestly, Jeraine’s ex is bereft of friends and lovers. Her children have limited or no contact with her. She has no one, just a big empty house. Everything she touches fails. She’s not successful in any area of her life. Would smiting be worse than that?”

“How do I protect Jabari?” Tanesha asked with tears running down her face.

“That’s a human thing,” Hedone said. “We have to win in the courts.”

“Can you make that happen?” Tanesha asked.

“I can add luck, but I don’t think there’s a way for any of us to directly affect human affairs,” Hedone said. “And anyway, you don’t need me too. You just need to step through the hoops.”

“Hoops?” Tanesha asked.

“Jabari needs to see a doctor,” Hedone said. “Not his grandfather either. You need to call his grandparents and Jeraine. You need to call your lawyer and social services. There’s no reason to do all of this by yourself.”

“Oh, right,” Tanesha said. “I know this.”

“Yes, you do,” Hedone said. “Heather will call Jabari’s grandparents and your lawyer. She’ll be back with Jeraine.”

“Thanks for coming,” Tanesha said.

“You needed me,” Hedone said. “Sandy? You look a little green.”

“Pain,” Sandy said. “Just finished PT.”

Hedone took Sandy’s hand and the pain drained from Sandy’s body. Hedone nodded and disappeared. They knew that she would return in the human form of their friend from childhood, Heather.

“Do you remember what you need to do?” Sandy asked, kindly.

Tanesha shook her head and blew her nose into a tissue.

“You need to call your social services caseworker,” Sandy said. “The police will be here soon. We’ll need to talk with them and show Jabari to them.”

“Are you up for this?” Tanesha asked. “You just finished PT.”

“Hedone took my pain,” Sandy said. “I’m okay. I just need to get dress. Can you help me?”

“Of course,” Tanesha said.

“Why don’t you call your case worker first?” Sandy asked.

“You don’t mind?” Tanesha asked.

Sandy shook her head. Tanesha called the number she knew by heart. She spoke with their caseworker who said she would come out immediately. When she was done, she helped Sandy into warm clothing.

By the time they were done, the Denver Police had arrived. The caseworker was not far behind. Jeraine was there about fifteen minutes later with Heather. Tanesha’s and Jeraine’s mothers arrived right after that. The caseworker arrived and then…

“You need to eat something,” Maresol said. “You haven’t eaten all day.”

Tanesha looked up from her computer to see that it was dark.

“What time is it?” Tanesha asked.

“After eight,” Maresol said. “You’ve been talking to people and writing emails for hours.”

Tanesha looked to where Jabari was sleeping.

“I should go home,” Tanesha said.

“Why don’t you stay tonight?” Maresol asked. “Let me take care of you. Tomorrow, you have the hearing and all of that chaos. You can get some rest and quiet here. Plus, Jabari is asleep.”

Tanesha looked at Maresol for a long minute before nodding.

“Jeraine is coming back,” Maresol said. “He told me to tell you that your lawyers think that you can move forward to a complete termination of her parental rights.”

“That’s already happened!” Tanesha said. “It’s those damned producers that got the courts to hand him over.”

“His lawyers have sent the photos to the producers of the show and the judge who allowed Jabari to go to her,” Maresol said. “Needless to say, they are upset and aware of their responsibility. ‘The lawyers are on a rampage.’ That’s a direct quote from Jeraine.”

“Jabari’s lawyer told Heather that he was abused as a kid,” Tanesha said. “I bet he’s upset.”

“I’m sure Jeraine will tell you everything when he gets here,” Maresol said. “I told him to come for dinner.”

“It’s very kind of you,” Tanesha said.

“We all need help sometimes,” Maresol said. “I know that you have a lot of support at home. But I know that when we’re in crisis, it’s hard to even get there. Stay here for the night. You can go home tomorrow.”

Maresol gave her a curt nod before leaving to start a meal for Jeraine and Tanesha.

Tanesha sighed and went back to her computer where she was documenting everything that happened.

~~~~~~~~

Tuesday morning — 7:08 a.m. MT

Denver, Colorado

“You’re sure about this mask thing,” Honey Lipson-Scully, now a junior site manager, said.

“Yes,” Jacob said. “We wear masks and socially distance. That’s a mandate from the state. But more than that, that’s got to be our rule. We need to try to keep our people safe from this thing. We’ve always been a safety first company, regardless of the cost. We need to continue in that tradition.”

“It’s not going to be popular,” Rodney Smith said.

“I don’t care,” Aden said. “If people don’t want to wear a mask and socially distance then they can get another job.”

“Why are you so firm on this?” Bambi, the six foot tall, assistant to Aden asked.

“What did Delph-I say?” Jerry Siegle asked.

The site managers fell silent. They were talking via video conference.

“First, it’s an insurance thing,” Jacob said. “Right now, these masks are the only thing we have to prevent people from getting sick. The insurance company doesn’t want all of us coming down with this new virus.”

“And second?” one of the longest term site managers asked.

“Delphie says that the virus will run through our company and our families — unchecked — unless we wear our masks,” Jacob said. “We can’t have the N-95s because they are rightly reserved for the doctors and medical personnel. We just have these cloth ones. According to Delphie, they will not only protect other people but us too.”

“Don’t you think they make us look a little…” Mark Mc Daniels, a site manager with a thick New York accent asked. He shrugged. “You know, girly. Weak. We’ve got all these tough guys on our teams. Real men. Guys guys.”

“Hey,” Bambi said.

“And women,” Mark said. “Tough broads. You know, what I mean Bambi?”

“Our employees aren’t morons, Mark,” Bambi said. “You can be tough and still be careful. That is the Lipson tradition.”

Everyone started talking at once.

“It seems kind of weak to me to not take precautions,” Rodney said, his deep voice breaking into the general noise. “This disease is killing people all over the world. It’s only a matter of time before it’s here at Lipson, if it’s not here already. We’re smart to take precautions. That’s just smart.”

“I agree with Rodney,” the notorious hothead, Jasper Jacobs, said. “I’d rather look smart than worry about someone else thinking I’m weak. My kid has asthma. According to the docs, he’s at risk of dying if he gets this thing. If I get it and give it to him, it won’t matter how tough I am, he will die.”

“But what will people think?” Mark asked.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass about what anyone else thinks,” Jasper Jacobs said. “Your wife had cancer, Mark. She’s at risk too. Don’t be an asshole.”

“I am what I am,” Mark said.

Everyone laughed. Jacob nodded to Aden. They were making some progress.

“Sandy’s setting up a list of people who are okay with making masks,” Aden said. “We’re asking for help from anyone who has a sewing machine and some fabric.”

“These will be washable,” Blane said. “They should be comfortable enough.”

“The cloth masks will tide us over until we can buy something for the company,” Jacob said.

“Something manly,” Blane said. “For Mark.”

Everyone laughed uproariously. Mark, who never minded being the butt of jokes, laughed along.

“Okay, review the list,” Tres Sierra said when the laughter died down. “I need your changes tonight. We will post the list tonight. Be back to work tomorrow. Any delay on your part means your team won’t work. Got it.”

When everyone nodded, Aden, Blane, Tres, and Jacob said their good byes.

“That went well,” Sam said.

“Let’s see if they turn in their lists,” Tres said.

“Good point,” Sam said. “Can we go fishing now?”

“Why not?” Jacob asked.

The men gathered their gear, said goodbye to their families, and headed out into the mountains.

~~~~~~~~

Tuesday evening — 6:10 p.m

Nelson’s eyes fluttered open, and he was looking at… He wasn’t quite sure.

“Where am I?” Nelson asked out loud to himself.

“You are home,” Blane said.

Nelson’s head jerked to the side to see Blane sitting next to the bed.

“What are you wearing on your face?” Nelson asked.

“It’s a face mask,” Blane said. “They kicked you out of the hospital to keep you from getting the coronavirus, currently killing people around the world. We had to agree to wear face masks around you.”

Nelson touched his face and felt a mask

“Yes, you are wearing one too,” Blane said.

“Why?” Nelson asked.

“Well, you returned with a variety of old world infections,” Blane said. “Some were bacterial. Some were viral. You were locked away in a special room for people with unknown illnesses. Abi told me that she was able to help you out but you are very weak.”

“Why?” Nelson asked.

“You’ve had a number of surgeries,” Blane said. “You had a sword wound in your side. Your feet look like they have gangrene. They were going to take the ends of your toes, but Abi intervened.”

“Feel sick,” Nelson said. “Tired.”

“We were told to keep you pumped full of narcotics so you’d stay quiet,” Blane said.

“They needed my hospital bed,” Nelson said.

“Yes, they did,” Blane said. “We also wanted you home.”

“Where am I?” Nelson asked again.

“This is our new home,” Blane said. “Or what’s completed so far. You’re in the basement where Tanesha and Jeraine will live.”

Nelson looked around the room at the dry wall and noticed the cement floor.

“It’s not even painted,” Nelson said.

“It’s not,” Blane said with a nod. “You needed a place to be where you could heal and not be around people for fourteen days. There’s a full medical team here — nurses and med techs around the clock. Your doc is on call. Plus me.”

“Why so long quarantine?” Nelson asked.

“That’s the length of time they think it takes to get sick,” Blane said.

“Novel virus,” Nelson said.

“Yep,” Blane said.

“Airborne,” Nelson said.

“Yep,” Blane said.

“Nightmare,” Nelson said his energy lagging.

“I’ll let you sleep,” Blane said. “You need sleep. Days and days of sleep. If you don’t feel better, then it’s back to the hospital. I think just being home will help.”

Nelson grunted in agreement.

“How’s my dad?” Nelson asked with what remained of his energy.

“The same,” Blane said. “No change. He’s in your old house. We didn’t want to put you together because you’ve had all of these infections.”

“Makes sense,” Nelson said.

“I’m just glad you’re home,” Blane said. “I know that you have to go out again. But it’s a relief to see you safe and sound.”

Nelson smiled but then realized he had the mask on.

“Missed you,” Nelson said. “The kids. Heather. Even Tres. So glad to be home.”

“We missed you too,” Blane said. “So you have to work hard on healing. We have a big life and you’re a major part of it. So work hard at healing.”

Nelson mumbled something but was unconscious. Blane left the room. He nodded to the nurse and she went back inside the room.

Blane looked around at the construction. Progress had been made. He didn’t know what would happen now that there was this pandemic. Certainly, Sam and Jacob had committed to moving this project along.

So far, so good. Smiling to himself, he left their new home and returned to the Castle.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Nelson awoke screaming. The nurse assistant came in and ran out again. The nurse and the nurse assistant returned. Together, they tried to get from Nelson what was wrong.

He couldn’t stop screaming.

Finally, the nurse called the doctor and they agreed to medicate him. Within moments, the narcotic went into Nelson’s IV and ever so slowly, he stopped screaming. When his voice fell to a slow mewing, the medical professionals left the room, and Nelson was alone again.

He felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see Abi holding his hand while her other hand stroked his forearm.

“Are you in pain?” Abi asked.

“Terrified,” Nelson said, his voice a whisper. “I… I…”

His hand moved to his nose.

“Smell?” Abi asked.

Nelson nodded.

“Yes,” Abi said. “You smell something like that wretched dungeon?”

Nelson nodded.

“You smell me,” Abi said.

Nelson pointed at her. She nodded.

“I was trying to keep you alive,” Abi said. “You were…”

Abi shook her head.

“You…” Nelson whispered.

“Shh…” Abi whispered.

“’fraid wake up there,” Nelson said.

“I brought you home,” Abi said. “I won’t allow you to return.”

“Promise,” Nelson said.

“You can trust me when I say that no being on this planet has the power to defy me,” Abi said. “Not a one. But even I cannot save you when your will is set against it.”

When he looked at Abi, she looked like Bathsheba.

“You,” Nelson whispered somewhere between a question and an acquisition.

“I asked your mother to go to you,” Abi said. “She was busy trying to save your father, so I chose her ancestor. I had an idea that you and she were in the similar places. She was able to enter the prison of your mind, get you to see that you needed to let go.”

“She saved me,” Nelson said. “Lost in that tomb.”

“Lost in your own will,” Abi whispered.

“Yes,” Nelson said as a sigh. “That too.”

Nelson glanced at Abi to see that she was grinning at him. It was only then that he realized that Abi was doing something to him. He turned to actually look at her. Her hands had melded into his flesh.

“What are you doing?” Nelson asked.

“Strengthening you,” Abi said.

“Why?” Nelson asked. “Why help me?”

“Oh dear, child,” Abi said. “You stand at an important crossroad in human history. You may determine the difference of what will happen and what won’t happen. You must be ready for it.”

“I don’t want to save the world,” Nelson said.

Abi grinned.

“Why is that funny?” Nelson asked.

“It’s not up to you to save the world,” Abi said. “Or even the human world.”

“What am I doing?” Nelson asked.

“Dear boy,” Abi said. “You are doing what you were born to do. I am helping you do it.”

“That’s what Jacque de Molay said,” Nelson said. He was feeling stronger, but he didn’t want to admit it. “He nearly killed me.”

“Yes, he did,” Abi said. “What do you think happened?”

Nelson was silent for a long time. He shook his head.

“Yes, you do know,” Abi said.

“Bathsheba said that I had to decide to leave there,” Nelson said. “You’re saying that I set my will to stay there. But…but I… I mean, I guess that’s how I got home but… Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”

“Good question,” Abi said. “I will tell you…”

Nelson looked over at Abi.

“I hate the Templars too,” Abi said.

He snorted a kind of laugh, and she smiled.

“May I ask you a question?” Nelson asked.

“Of course,” Abi said.

“Why do you take this fairy form?” Nelson asked. “You just told me that you are the most powerful being on this planet and yet you…”

He waved his fingers around and giggled like a girl in some kind of imitation of Abi.

“I do not act like that,” Abi said.

“I have seen those little Fairy Corps outfits,” Nelson said. “You look like…”

“Okay, okay, fair enough,” Abi said, with a sigh.

“Why bother?” Nelson asked. “You could crush all of these fairies and all of their bullshit and…”

“Oh my dear boy, do you truly not know that might is never the solution?” Abi asked.

“I…” Nelson scowled. “No. No. Is that true?”

“Of course it is,” Abi said. “You want to make real change then create community, connection, and be kind. That’s what works.”

“But…?” Nelson gazed at the ceiling. “Oh my God, I feel so much better. What did you do?”

“I took away that virus,” Abi said. “You’ve had it a long time. You don’t need it, do you?”

“AIDS?” Nelson laughed. “Really?”

“Oh, is that what it’s called?” Abi asked. She shrugged. “Humans and their viruses. Crazy really. Every living being has at least one virus associated with it. You cannot have life without viruses. Yet humans have this idea that they can negotiate around their virus.”

Nelson glanced at her.

“There would be no humans without viruses,” Abi said. She nodded. “And yet…”

She put her hand on her forehead in a dramatic gesture.

“… I don’t deserve this,” Abi said and then laughed. “You know what you don’t deserve?”

“What?” Nelson said vaguely.

“Life,” Abi said. “You do not deserve to be alive. It’s a gift. Every moment of it. But no living creature ever understands that. They come. They go. They never understand that their very presence is improbable and will end sooner than they ever understand. Can you imagine the shock when the last cell took the last breath of carbon dioxide and killed them all? ‘We don’t deserve this!’ They cried.”

“First mass extinction,” Nelson said. “Single cells took in carbon dioxide and excreted oxygen until they killed themselves.”

“Yes,” Abi said.

“That’s not an answer to why you’re in human form,” Nelson said.

Abi grinned at him and pulled back. He turned on his side to look at her.

“I won’t tell anyone,” Nelson said.

“I wanted to see what it was like,” Abi said. “Have children. Live like a human.”

Abi shrugged.

“Not so complicated,” she said.

“And Fin?” Nelson asked.

“He loves me,” Abi said. “I love him. Is that not enough?”

“No,” Nelson said. “He’s such a pain in the ass. Beautiful. I’ll give you that. He’s probably a pretty great lay — all those muscles and power. But — and that’s a big but — he’s such a prima donna. Who wants to deal with all of his Prince-sized drama?”

Abi laughed, and Nelson grinned.

“He knows how powerful I am and he loves me anyway,” Abi said. “He doesn’t interfere or try to control me. He doesn’t try to take my power for himself. He lets me be me. He has fought for me.”

Abi nodded. She stood from her seated position.

“When you are well, you will speak with him,” Abi said. “He’s one of the few people who know and understand what you’ve been through. He even knows all of the humans you have dealt with. He was old in their time. He will fight with you, and you’ll see what I mean.”

Nelson nodded. Abi leaned over and kissed him.

“Sleep now,” Abi said. “When you awaken, you will be well.”

Nelson fell into a deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~

Monday morning — 9:48 a.m. ET

New York City, NY

“Hi Sandy, how are you feeling?” Dr. Nadia Kerminoff said.

They were speaking via video call. Sandy was in Denver. Nadia was in Ivan’s loft.

“Healing,” Sandy said. “Slowly.”

“At least it’s happening,” Nadia said.

Sandy nodded.

“The last surgery?” Nadia asked.

“They replaced my ankle,” Sandy said. “They say it looks good.”

“And feel?” Nadia asked.

“Okay,” Sandy said. She sighed.

“But?” Nadia asked.

“Oh, I was walking before, and now I’m back in this wheelchair,” Sandy said.

“Fair enough,” Nadia said. “But you’ll be back on your feet in no time. You’ll see. This will be much better.”

Sandy gave her a doubtful look but moved on.

“How are you?” Sandy asked.

“Tired,” Nadia said. “This coronavirus is… bad. So bad. I’ve been working. Dealing with arguing families is… a lot easier.”

“You’re amazing,” Sandy said.

“Just doing what I can,” Nadia said. She looked up and nodded. “Ian is here.”

Ian Berkenshire, the CEO of Nadia’s companies, walked into the apartment

“Hi Ian,” Sandy said. “Tanesha and Heather are here. Jill is on her way. So much is up in the air. She’s trying to help her husband’s company get on track.”

“That’s a lot of jobs,” Nadia said.

“They are considered essential,” Sandy said. “But only on some of the jobs so it’s kind of a big mess.”

“We’re in the same position,” Nadia said.

“We’re looking at converting one of our factories to making masks for people and for medical professionals,” Ian said. “We are blocked at almost every turn. Just insane.”

“We have to figure it out,” Nadia said.

Sandy nodded. Jill ran into the den of Seth O’Malley’s house.

“Jill’s here,” Sandy said. “Where are we?”

“The short answer is that we’ve been able to find the owners of about half of the remaining items,” Ian said. He nodded to Nadia.

“Among those that we’ve found, they are…” Nadia shook her head. “Angry is probably the best word to describe it. They don’t understand why we have the painting. They don’t believe that we just found their item.”

“We have shown them the videos of finding the salt mine,” Ian said. “And all of the supporting videos. It’s hard for them to believe that we don’t need to be prosecuted as Nazis or collaborators.”

“We’ve had pretty good luck with these families,” Heather said. “Would you like us to take over?”

“Please,” Ian said.

“Have you made any progress on the other half of crap?” Nadia asked.

Everyone laughed.

“Did I say ‘crap’ out loud?” Nadia asked. She blushed. “I mean, precious works of art.”

“Maybe it’s time to pay someone do to do this?” Tanesha asked. “Between all of us, we can afford to hire a company to dispose of the items.”

“Do we trust that they will get it right?” Nadia asked. She yawned. “I’m sorry. I have to get some rest.”

She clicked off the video call.

“Ian, why don’t you send us the list of families?” Sandy asked. “We’ll see what we can do.”

“You sure?” Ian asked, his Australian accent strong.

“Absolutely,” Sandy said.

“Do not over tax yourself, Sandra,” Ian said.

Sandy grinned at him in reproach, and he nodded. He wasn’t responsible for her.

“I will send what we have,” Ian said. “You’ll let me know?”

“I will,” Sandy said.

“Right,” Ian said.

Ian waved to the girlfriends, and they waved back at him. When he was gone, Sandy closed the laptop.

“You’re sure you can do this?” Sandy asked.

“Of course,” Heather said. “Easy.”

Sandy grinned at Heather. She disappeared.

“How’s school?” Sandy asked Jill and Tanesha.

“Mine’s on hold,” Tanesha said. “We can take classes virtually but they haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Same here,” Jill nodded. “I think we’re off until the end of the semester.”

“That sucks,” Tanesha said. “You were almost done with school.”

Jill nodded.

“I’d rather not catch the virus,” Jill said.

“Me, too,” Tanesha said. “The ERs are crazy. They’ve asked for volunteers and…”

Tanesha shook her head.

“I want to help,” Tanesha said. “But it terrifies me, you know. I don’t want to get sick.”

Jill and Sandy nodded.

“How’s Jeraine?” Sandy asked.

“Pissed off,” Tanesha said. “He was ready to open the show and now this. They aren’t able to open. I’m sure he and his team will come up with something. But he’s worked so hard to make this show and now there are no shows.”

“Crazy,” Jill said. “It’s all just crazy. And all of the anger and division? I don’t know how we’re going to get through it.”

“At least we have each other,” Tanesha said. When Jill and Sandy seemed lost in their own thoughts, Tanesha added, “We do have each other, right?”

Jill hugged Tanesha and Sandy reached out a hand. Tanesha began to cry.

“I don’t know what I would do without you guys,” Tanesha said. “There’s so much hate coming at me.”

Not sure of what to say, Jill and Sandy just held on to Tanesha. Heather returned.

“How’d it go?” Sandy asked Heather.

Jill let go of Tanesha. They turned to look at Heather.

“They’re suing,” Heather said. “They want to review everything we have so they can determine what we might be hiding from them.”

“Ugh,” Sandy said. She dropped her head.

“Good,” Jill said. They turned to look at her. “Then it’s up to the attorneys. We can go swimming and enjoy our day.”

“Great thinking,” Tanesha said.

“I can’t go swimming,” Sandy said.

“Heather?” Tanesha asked.

Heather snapped her fingers, and Sandy’s ankle was covered in a waterproof silicone.

“Wow, that’s cool,” Sandy said.

“Tanesha’s idea,” Heather said.

“You are such a great friend,” Sandy said.

“Come on,” Jill said.

They went out into the cool spring air to the carriage house. Jill ran ahead to open the door. They went into the warm, moist air. Like they had when they were teens, they hung out in the hot tub and swam in the pool. For the next hour or so, they were able to let their pressures and stress fade away. Soon they would return to the pressures of the pandemic and their young families.

For now, they had each other.

That was enough.

~~~~~~~~

Monday morning — 10:08 a.m. MT

“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” Katy said. “You’re finally home!”

Jill turned to see her daughter enter their loft. Charlie and Tink were taking care of the kids today in the Castle living room. Somehow, Katy had slipped out of their grasp. Jill took a breath to respond to what she knew was coming next.

“Can I go see Paddie now?” Katy asked. “It’s not the weekend. Time to see Paddie!”

Katy clasped her hands in front of her heart and then jumped up and down.

“Katy,” Jill said, evenly.

“Can Paddie come over?” Katy asked. “Can we go to Paddie’s house? Or can we have Paddie over?”

Katy spun in place and paced away from Jill. As if she had just had this thought, Katy spun around.

“How about the twins and Paddie’s little brother play, and Paddie and I can play and…?” Katy’s bright face looked up to Jill’s.

They had been through this twice already today. From the moment Katy had awakened, she had one a singular thought — play with Paddie. A smart and very articulate girl, Katy had pressed at every point. Jill knelt down and put her arm around her daughter’s shoulders.

“We can’t see Paddie for a while,” Jill said. “There’s a terrible virus and everyone has been sent home.”

“But not Paddie!” Katy said.

On her drive to the Castle, Paddie’s mother, Julie, had called Jill to commiserate. Paddie was acting out the same drama at their home. The children were devastated that they couldn’t be together. In just one more day, Katy and Paddie would have been apart longer than they had been since before they’d met.

“Paddie is not sick!” Katy said. “He’s not been sent home! And I have cuddles! I don’t get sick!”

“Katy,” Jill said in warning.

To Jill’s surprise, Katy burst into tears and ran into her room. The little girl slammed her door in anger. Jill sighed. She went to the door and tried to open it. Katy had used her psychokinetic skill to force the door closed. Jill pressed her ear against the door. Katy was crying her eyes out.

Jill had never felt more inadequate. She felt tears well in her eyes.

The door clicked open. Jill went into the bedroom and sat on the bed. She pulled her daughter onto her lap. Jill and Katy cried.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Sunday night — 11:31 p.m.

“How did it go?” Sandy asked Aden as he entered their bedroom at Seth O’Malley’s house.

Sandy had started a series of surgeries to correct some of the damage from falling down the stairs. She’d had her ankle replaced just a week ago. Because no one knew what to do about the coronavirus, Aden had stripped down at the front door. He was wearing his boxers and T-shirt.

“Hey, you’re supposed to be asleep,” Aden said.

He leaned over to kiss her. She touched his face. He pointed to the shower, and she nodded. While he showered, she rolled out in her wheelchair to the kitchen to get his dinner. Of course, Maresol was standing in the kitchen already.

“You should be sleeping,” Maresol ordered. “Those bones are not going to heal themselves.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Sandy said with a grin. “In the meantime, can I have Aden’s dinner?”

Maresol kissed her cheek and set the tray in her lap. She rolled back to the bedroom. Aden was drying off when she got back to the bedroom. He’d been fit when they moved into her biological father’s house. But their stay here had leaned him out. He was even more gorgeous. She smiled at him and he grinned back. He wrapped the towel around himself and settled down to eat at the table and chair near her bed. He ate without stopping and took a long drink of water.

Only then did he take a breath.

“Let’s see,” he said with a grin. “How did it go… Shitty. It was… God damn some people are such assholes. More than once, they were all screaming at each other. Every one of them! One of those guys I hired last year was screaming ‘Go back where you belong’ to one of the guys that Celia hired.”

“Ouch,” Sandy said.

Aden scowled and shook his head.

“Big Sam had to step in twice,” Aden said. “I… I never thought that we’d be in this place. Never. But the politics, the pandemic — everyone’s on edge and carving out their own territory.”

Sandy waited for him to get to the point.

“In the end, they went with the job share,” Aden said. “But not before Jake said that he was being badgered by two big corporate construction companies to purchase Lipson Construction. The money is great. They say that employees want the money, not the work. He’s said: ‘They believe that you will cash out today and give up on tomorrow because you’re just stupid employees and not genius old white guys.’ That shut them up.”

“What did people say?” Sandy asked.

“No one said anything for a long time,” Aden said. “Jake then said: ‘What do you believe? Do you believe that only people who look like me can run construction companies? Because that’s what you’re doing here tonight. You’re telling anyone who can listen that you’re not up to the task.’ His voice… Like his heart had just broken. He’s done so much to…”

Looking crushed, Aden simply shook his head.

“Sam finally had to hug him to keep him from crying. And, that was it, basically. Third vote, there was a majority — job share. And those pricks have no idea what a nightmare it’s going to be to set it up. God, the entire thing is going to take a miracle to just make the plans.”

“You’re good at logistical nightmares,” Sandy said.

He smiled at her. Getting up, he pulled on a T-shirt and underwear.Without saying a word, he swooped Sandy up from her wheelchair. She giggled, and he smiled. They kissed. He flipped off her covers and carefully set her into the bed. He pulled up her covers. He joined her in the bed. She turned off the light and rolled over to hold him.

He was sound asleep.

She kissed his cheek. She stared at the ceiling trying not to itch under the cast. Before she knew it, she was sound asleep.

~~~~~~~~

Monday early-morning — 2:03 a.m.

Looking for Jacob, Jill slid across the hardwood floors in her socks. She went out into the open space in the loft. He wasn’t in the kitchen or near the gas fireplace or in the boys’ room or in Katy’s room or in his office. She went out on the balcony off their bathroom and saw him sitting on the decking off the medical offices. Grabbing the baby monitor, she went down through the Castle kitchen and up to the second floor. She heard Valerie and Mike’s muffled voices from their bathroom as she passed. She went through the medical offices and out on to the deck.

“Are you okay?” Jill asked at the door.

She touched Jacob’s shoulder, and he jerked with surprise.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Jill said.

“I’m okay,” Jacob said. “Lost in thought. Please.”

He gestured to the bench, and she sat down. They looked out over the snow-capped mountains. The setting moon cast everything in a deep purple and the snow on the mountains in a shade of lavender. The night was so still that it was almost as if the entire world had paused for them to enjoy her beauty.

“Spring is coming,” Jacob said.

“When?” Jill asked, pulling her robe around her and crossing her arms.

Grinning, he pulled her close. She rested her head against his shoulder. They sat together in companionable silence.

“Want to take me back inside and ravish me?” Jill asked.

Jacob looked at her.

“Let me ravish you?” Jill asked.

He kissed her.

“I…” Jacob said. “It’s a hard offer to turn down.”

“I know, I know,” Jill said. “You’ve got a lot on your mind.”

“I’m just… upset,” Jacob said, and kissed her head. “I’m sorry. Your offer is… enticing. I just…”

“The meeting?” Jill asked.

Jacob gave an almost imperceptible nod.

“You can talk to me,” Jill said.

“Oh, I know,” he said with a sigh. “My thoughts are angry. Dark. I don’t want to vomit it all over you.”

“Vomit away,” Jill said. “I have three children. I have known my fair share of vomit. I also know how to clean up.”

Jacob chuckled.

“Well?” Jill asked with a smile.

“I…” Jacob blew out a breath. “I’ve done so much to… to… Oh, I don’t know. I’m such a big headed jerk. I had this idea that the employees could take of the company and… All they needed was a little training and they could own their own company. By owning a successful, profitable, necessary company would pull them out of paycheck-to-paycheck poverty. And they…”

Scowling, he stopped talking.

“Sounds like the meeting was awful,” Jill said.

“Worst than awful,” Jacob said. “People were screaming at each other. Pointing fingers. Raging. I couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t believe it. I was halfway between shocked and furious. I sat there dumbfounded and so ashamed. I mean, what would Mom say?”

Jill didn’t respond to give him space to talk.

“I’m so ashamed,” Jacob said. He turned to look at her. “That’s just it. I feel so full of shame and… I didn’t do anything. I’m not the one who is angry! I’m not the ridiculous fool that… I’m just the fool that thought it could work.”

“You weren’t able to come to an agreement?” Jill asked.

“We did,” Jacob said. “I mean, they did. Finally. After I told them about the offers and how greedy and stupid everyone thinks they are and…”

He sighed.

“Are you working tomorrow?” Jill asked.

“No,” Jacob said. “We’re off until Wednesday to figure out the logistics of this… bullshit.”

“Ah,” Jill said. “They chose job sharing.”

Jacob nodded.

“I believe you owe me a silver dollar,” Jill said.

Jacob turned to look at her.

“How did you know?” Jacob asked.

“Delphie told me,” Jill said.

For the first time in a long time, Jacob laughed out loud.

“I should have listened,” Jacob said.

“Now that’s something to be ashamed of,” Jill said.

Jacob looked at Jill but didn’t respond. Jill pointed at him.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Jill said. “You believed the best in people, and look — they’ve chosen to do what’s best for them. So truthfully, you were right.”

“Why does it feel so crappy?” Jacob asked.

“The fighting feels crappy,” Jill said. “All of this arguing and fake facts and this horrible virus and…” well, everything. It all feels crappy.”

Jacob nodded and went back to looking at the mountains.

“Come on,” Jill said. Standing, she held out her hand, “Come inside.”

“To ravish you?” Jacob asked.

“I have decided to ravish you, instead,” Jill said.

Jacob laughed. Grabbing his hand, Jill dragged him to her. He kissed her hard. Laughing, she ran back inside. He gave one last look at his mother’s ghost, which was hanging over the garden.

“She’s right, you know,” Celia Marlowe said.

He heard her voice for the first time tonight. He felt immediate relief.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Celia Marlowe added.

Jacob nodded.

“Go,” Celia said. “Relish the joy in your life.”

He ran off after Jill.

~~~~~~~~

Monday early-morning — 2:48 a.m.

Nelson realized that his eyes were open. Closing his eyelids felt like dragging sandpaper over eye balls. The pain was as intense as the relief. He pressed his fingers into his eyes.

And then he realized that he had no idea where he was. He tried to get up. A large hand pressed him back to the bed.

“Úbi sum?” Nelson croaked.

“Hospitium,” a male voice responded with “Hospital” in Latin.

Nelson’s mind jerked awake at the Latin. He looked over to see Tres Sierra.

“Blane?” Nelson asked.

“He doesn’t speak Latin,” Tres said with a smirk. He pressed his hand into his chest. “I happen to be fluent in Latin. You’re welcome.”

“What?” Nelson asked.

“You were raving in Latin when you woke up. Only I could help you. Well, there was that guy from the pharmacy. He was here when I got here.”

“What?” Nelson asked.

Tres just grinned at him.

“It’s good to see you, man,” Tres said. “We’ve been out of our minds with worry.”

“How long have I been gone?” Nelson asked.

“Couple of years, according to Delphie and Heather,” Tres said.

“A couple?” Nelson asked.

“Seven,” Tres said. “But in regular, non-Templar time, it’s only been a little more than a month. You got back just in time for the biggest and brightest pandemic in the last hundred years.”

“I should get to work,” Nelson said, trying to get up. “The ER must be swamped.”

“You need to sleep and rest,” Tres said.

Nelson weaved. He flopped back onto the bed.

“What’s wrong with me?” Nelson asked.

“Besides the fact that, according to the doctors, you’ve had the shit beat out of you for years?” Tres asked. “Your dad?”

“Never,” Nelson said. “War. Wars. Many wars. Jacques. Miserable fucking Templar training.”

His eyes welled with moisture. He shook his head.

“You’ve had surgery,” Tres said. “Three. Your ribs had been badly broken and set wrong.”

“Pushed off a horse,” Nelson said.

“You have been freed of your spleen,” Tres said.

“Infection?” Nelson asked.

“Injury,” Tres said. “The docs said that if you hadn’t gotten here when you did, your spleen would have likely burst. Uh. ‘Like a ripe berry.’ That’s a direct quote.”

Nelson lay back in the bed. After a moment, he turned to look at Tres.

“Why are you speaking French?” Nelson asked.

“Oh, Tres, I can’t believe you’re fluent in French now,” Tres said. “How ever did that happen?”

In a deeper voice, Tres continued, “Well, my dear friend and brother, Nelson, speaks fluent French. I thought that it would be good to learn so that when he shows up spouting languages like a cross between the Exorcist and a Pentecostal Christian, I could translate. Because, really, I have nothing better to do.”

Nelson snorted a laugh. He grabbed his ribs and moaned. Tres grinned.

“But why isn’t Blane here?” Tres said, imitating Nelson. Back to his imitation of his own voice, he said, “He’s asleep, like you should be.”

“No, really,” Nelson said.

“I know that it will surprise you, but we’re in the middle of our own drama,” Tres said.

“Shocking,” Nelson said.

“Blane’s been working like a madman,” Tres said. “He’s sleeping so that he and the others can work like madmen again.”

“Why aren’t you resting?” Nelson asked, and yawned.

“Because I know something he doesn’t,” Tres said.

“Sounds like you know lots of things he doesn’t know,” Nelson said. “What’s the deal with the languages?”

“I’m good at languages,” Tres said, with a shrug. “But mostly, I learned Latin for my high school project. Spanish was my first language, so it wasn’t a huge stretch.”

Tres shrugged.

“You should be in the diplomatic corps,” Nelson said.

“I wouldn’t be here to have this scintillating conversation with you,” Tres said.

Nelson grinned at Tres.

“I missed you,” Nelson said.

Tres opened his mouth to respond, but Nelson was asleep again. Tres got up to get the nurse.

~~~~~~~~

Monday early-morning — 4:48 a.m.

“Heh,” Sam Lipson said, softly.

His soft chuckling brought footsteps from the loft. He turned to a wet-from-shower Jacob running down the stairs. He turned back to the computer in front of him.

“You okay, Dad?” Jacob asked.

“Fine, fine,” Sam Lipson said.

Jacob put his hand on his father’s shoulder and looked over his shoulder.

“What’s that?” Jacob asked.

“Tres sent out this program for us to review and approve,” Sam said.

“Yeah, I saw that,” Jacob said. “Coffee?”

The coffee maker on the counter beeped indicating the coffee was made.

“Delphie set it up last night because she thought it would be an early morning,” Sam said.

Sam poked at the computer and then chuckled again

“Did you get any sleep?” Jacob asked, as he poured the coffee.

“Not really,” Sam said. “You?”

“No,” Jacob said, setting a mug down next to Sam.

Sam looked up at him.

“That meeting was…” Sam shook his head.

“Hard to describe,” Jacob said.

Distracted by the computer, Sam didn’t respond. He chuckled again. Jacob drank his coffee and ignored his father. He was waiting to talk to his father about what his father wanted to do with the company.

“Dad?” Jacob asked.

Sam looked up at Jacob.

“What do you want to do?” Jacob asked.

“What do you mean?” Sam asked.

“What do you want to do with the company?” Jacob asked, working to keep his frustration out of his voice.

“Oh, we job share,” Sam said with a nod.

“Last night, you…” Jacob said. “What are you looking at?”

Sam smiled at him. He turned the laptop around so Jacob could see the screen. The screen held a spreadsheet.

“What is that?” Jacob asked.

“It’s a… well I don’t know what it is,” Sam said. “Tres said it’s a ‘programmed template.’”

Jacob nodded.

“I read the email while I was in bed,” Sam said. “I said to myself: ‘Sam Lipson, you are not any good at this computer stuff. Everyone’s counting on you so you better get up and figure it out before the kids get up.’”

“Okay,” Jacob said, grinning at his father talking about himself in the third person.

“So I got that laptop you bought for me,” Sam said. “It wasn’t charged so I had to find the charger and… Anyway, I got on the main frame by myself.”

“Well done,” Jacob said.

“I was impressed myself,” Sam said with a laugh. “I followed the link in Tres’s email.”

“What is it?” Jacob asked.

“It’s the job share,” Sam said. “He says in the email that he started working on this when we lost those state contracts.”

“What does it do?” Jacob asked.

“It does the work,” Sam said.

“How so?” Jacob asked. “Aden’s going to be here in a minute. We planned to work all day on the logistics.”

“Right,” Sam said. “You have to match people up by job position, their job performance, preferred schedule, their particular skill set, and stuff like that.”

Jacob nodded.

“It’s all here,” Sam said, turning the laptop back around. “Here — I put your name in this box and get… me with alternative of Aden and possibly Blane.”

“Give me an employee’s name,” Sam said.

“Okay, Erik Le Monde,” Jacob said. Erik’s daughter Wanda was over last night to hang out with Noelle.

“Plumbing,” Sam said. “Five stars. Skills and rating match with Deter Robinson. Schedule too. Two alternatives.”

Sam grinned at Jacob.

“What about contracting?” Jacob said. “You know how those lawyers complain.”

“I already did contracting,” Sam said. “Oh, and look! You can check this box and do the entire department. It takes a long time for bigger departments but we only have eight in contracting.”

Sam turned the computer around to show Jacob.

“Really?” Jacob asked. Leaning forward to see that what he said was true.

“I did the site managers, because I know them by name,” Sam said. “I would tweak this one for that one, you know how it is, but…”

Sam shrugged. Jacob looked at his father in disbelief.

“It’s really slick,” Sam said. “We’ll easily finish this today and go fishing tomorrow.”

Jacob smiled. A bedraggled Aden came into the kitchen.

“Why are you smiling?” Aden asked.

“Tres’s program works,” Jacob said.

“No way,” Aden said. “He’s been talking about that thing for years. It actually works?”

“Looks like it,” Jacob said.

Blane came into the kitchen.

“How’s Nelson?” Jacob asked.

“In surgery again,” Blane said. “But good. Why are you smiling? I thought it would be all-sad-sacks-all-the-time here.”

“Tres’s program works,” Jacob said.

“You sound so surprised!” Tres said, walking into the kitchen from the back.

Sam got up and hugged Tres.

“Thank you,” Sam said. “You’ve saved our bacon.”

The other men looked at Sam and Tres.

“He’s serious?” Aden asked.

Jacob nodded.

“We still have to grind our way through it,” Tres warned. “It will take us all day. But we should be set to notify the employees by this evening.”

“We can have everyone here for a barbecue,” Sam said.

“Dad,” Jacob said, “Virus? Pandemic?”

“Oh right,” Sam said. “We can email them.”

“We’ll email the team leads and site managers,” Aden said. “Get their approval first.”

“Good thinking,” Sam said, with a grin.

Aden started laughing. Sam joined him. Jacob grinned while shaking his head. Blane started making breakfast.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Somewhere in time

Possibly Spain

Nelson Semaines had no idea what day it was or even how long he’d been here. He’d even lost track of where “here” might be.

Spain?

Maybe.

Sometimes.

He’d stopped trying to figure it out.

It felt like he’d been away from home for longer than grad school or internship and residency combined or forever. He’d been here forever.

Jacques d’Molay, the last publicly known Grand Master of the Templars, and his weapons’ master, Peddra, Nelson’s grandfather’s great-grandfather or something like that, had taken him to every single battle or skirmish the Templars had fought in. He’d watched the Templars bully and beat “the enemy” into submission.

Nelson had come to loath these men.

They had joyous sex with other men, but killed homosexuals in the name of God. They raped the women of their enemies, all the while believing in the pure love of their wives and, of course, the Virgin Mary. Even though they, like Nelson, had dark hair, dark eyes, and various shades of suntan skin, they loathe anyone whose skin wasn’t white.

They hated Muslim people. They hated Buddhists. They hated people of Jewish faith. They hated all of the people who celebrated earth based religions almost as much as they hated people who believed in the Greek and Roman Gods.

They didn’t hate all people, though.

They only hated anyone who wasn’t like some idealized version of them.

When they weren’t spouting racist, xenophobic, homophobic, or other disgusting rhetoric, they were blabbing on and on about the fact that they were the chosen ones.

Nelson stayed out of the fighting, the fucking, and the most of the fray.

He stayed busy working.

He kept their clothing clean and their swords sharp. After he’d hunted, slayed, cooked dinner and fed them, he was left alone to clean up the meal, bank the fire, set up their tents and beds, he finally had time to himself. He took long cold baths in the stone tub in the lowest level of what he thought was Castle Preferrada. Truth be told, all of these Templar Castles looked basically the same.

He lay in the cold water and longed for Blane. He ached to see Mack and Wyn. He missed Heather and her better half, Hedone, like a broken tooth. Much to his surprise, he even missed Tres Sierra. He worried about his desperately sick father. He missed his work family.

He missed his life and the person he was in that life.

He loved being a doctor. He loved working in forensic science with Ava O’Malley and their team. He loved his house and the promise of what it would become. He loved his modern life and the freedom of hot running water, clean sheets, and modern conveniences like deodorant.

More than anything, he missed himself. He was becoming unrecognizable to himself. Day after long wretched day, everything that he’d been was fading away leaving only emptiness in its place.

He stayed in the bath long after it felt good. He only got out when his fingers were blue and he shook with cold. He wrapped himself in a clean animal fur and crept to his bed roll.

He slept like the dead. No dreams. No visions. Just the black relief of sleep.

He woke up when Peddra shook his shoulder. His work started the moment he awakened.

At this point, it was such a routine that he didn’t notice the passage of time. During the day, he never had time to think about anything other than what he needed to accomplish next.

Some days, he hoped that he would be killed on the battlefield or possible die of overwork.

Somehow, he managed to live on day after long, horrible day.

Lately, he was pretty sure that he was losing his mind.

In the last day or so, he’d started to see a mostly naked woman walking around the lower levels of the Castle. Last night, when he round the corner to the stone bath, he caught a glimpse of her standing in the water. She had tan colored skin, round hips, and small breasts. She seemed to be coming to or coming from the bath. When he spoke, she disappeared.

He was certain that she was some kind of hallucination borne out of his desperate loneliness and this horrible hallow feeling inside.

When he turned the corner tonight, she was standing in the middle of the bath.

“Hello?” Nelson whispered.

~~~~~~~~

Sunday night — 9:59 p.m.

Denver, Colorado

“Okay,” Aden Norsen said as he stepped out in front of the large gathering of employees who owned a part of Lipson Construction. He held the microphone to the cloth mask over his mouth and nose. “I just got off the phone with the governor.”

The talking, whispering, and general conversation stopped. Aden looked out into the audience. Over the last year or so, Celia Marlowe Lipson’s weird and diverse company had become more and more segregated on racial lines. There was a section filled with mostly white people. Most of the black men were standing at the back of the auditorium while black women were intermixed with the people whose ancestors hailed from Latin America — either five years ago or a hundred.

There had been a big fight at the door over wearing facial masks. Delphie, Jill, Heather, Tanesha, and Sandy had franticly sewed a mountain of masks. Through sheer force of will, they got everyone inside the auditorium with a mask on.

“According to the governor, we are designated ‘essential,’” Aden said.

The entire auditorium broke into loud cheers and claps. Aden raised his hands to try to get people’s attention. Tres stuck his fingers under his mask to make a loud whistle. People fell silent again.

“He said that we are only ‘essential’ on the projects we are doing for the state,” Aden said.

People started yelling. Aden looked out to see rage roil over as employees fought against each other for the first time since the company’s creation. The Site Managers stood up to help get people to settle down.

“Listen, it’s late,” Sam Lipson said, stepping forward. His voice was louder than any mask could contain.“Give us a chance to get through everything we know before you start yelling.”

He wielded his status as the founder like a club. It took a while, but eventually everyone was nodding in agreement.

“Good,” Sam said. “Aden?”

“Tres?” Aden nodded to Tres Sierra, their CFO.

Tres took the microphone from Aden.

“We have three sites that are already in progress,” Tres said. “We have two others that are fully funded but the funds not released. We asked the governor and he agreed that he would work to release those funds. We’ve won another three bids but they haven’t been budgeted yet. They were for next year or possibly the following year. The governor said that there was a lot of competition for money not already allocated. With unknown costs of the pandemic, it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to start. Unlikely is not impossible, so we’ll see. The state has a lot of expenses in getting the hospitals up and running — PPE and the like, ventilators, you know.”

“Tell them what that means?” Sam asked. “These men and women are afraid for their jobs! You have to tell them what that means.”

“What does that mean?” Tres asked. “Without getting too far into it, it means that tomorrow, we have to close fifteen sites and work three.”

He looked out to see if anyone would respond.

“Jake, Blane, and Sam have agreed to pitch in to get the other two sites up and running when the funds are released,” Tres said. “But, we need to do things the way we usually do. We need to get our people out to the sites to determine what we need, to set up our systems, before we can get started. It won’t be easy or fast.”

He looked out at the crowd. The employee-owners looked angry and more than a little scared.

“We’ve come up with two of solutions,” Tres said. “We need to pick one.”

He looked out at the employees and then glanced at Aden. Aden gave him a nod.

“Okay, the first is to lay off all of the people we no longer need,” Tres said.

The crowd erupted with rage. It took Sam, Aden, Blane, Tres, and Jacob to get the crowd to settle down. Every time people seemed calm, someone would erupt with rage and the entire crowd of men and women were yelling again.

“This is exhausting,” Jacob said to things had settled to a dull roar. “Among us…”

He pointed to Aden, Blane, Sam, Tres, and himself.

“We have enough stock to make the decisions necessary for our next step,” Jacob said. “We are dedicated to have you be full owners. Full ownership means that you make the hard decisions. But we didn’t sign up for this bull shit. If you cannot stay calm, we will make a decision without you.”

The employee owners became almost too quiet. Everyone knew that Jacob Marlowe always said exactly what he meant. They were just afraid and lashing out with anger. He knew this too, so he waited a moment to give everyone a chance to breathe before turning to Tres.

“Go ahead,” Jacob said.

“Our other option is a kind of rotating job share,” Tres said. “it’s Jake’s idea, so I figured that he should tell us. Jake?”

Jacob walked to the front.

“Here’s how it would work,” Jacob said. “We can handle all of our current staff by a type of job share. This means that people would work three-twelve hour shifts and then the next group would step in. We checked our current roster and we have nearly equal numbers in every job group. This allows us to have plumbing share with other plumbers. The road crew would share with other road crew. Digging, same thing. This goes for office staff as well. We will all work thirty-six hours over three days and take only three days pay for it.”

“What about health insurance?” a woman yelled from the back.

“My sister, Valerie, has spoken to the insurance company,” Jacob said. He pointed toward the door where his movie star sister was leaning against the wall. “She and her husband, Mike, have put up over a million dollars to secure health insurance for all employees and their families. Everyone. No matter what. So your wife can continue her cancer treatments, Jen, even if we have to lay you off.”

“What about schools?” someone near the front asked. “Most of the schools are closed.”

“As you may know, the Marlowe School is funded out of a trust set up by my mother,” Jacob said. “We don’t get state funds. Every employee pays into the fund at about 1% of their paychecks. We will stop your potion of the payment while we are on this schedule. As long as it’s safe, we’ll keep the school open from the fund every employee has put in.”

“He’s asking if it will stay open,” a Site Manager asked as he stood.

“We’re not sure how we will do it,” Jacob said. “But we’ll do what we can. If we need to move outside, we’ll move outside. If we need masks, we’ll get it done. We’re not the people who stand around negotiating. We get things done. That will apply here as well.”

Jacob nodded to Aden.

“It’s up for a vote,” Aden said. “When you came in, each of you were given a sheet of paper with the number ‘1’ and the number ‘2’ on it. Pick which you want and bring it up to the front.”

“What are they again?” a woman asked near the middle.

“Number one is to lay off about half of the company,” Aden said. “Number two is to job share for as long as it takes until we’re able to finish the construction contracts.”

Blane went through the audience with a large cardboard box. He set it in the middle of the aisle.

“We’ll give you fifteen minutes,” Jacob said. “Don’t you dare take that mask off Jethro!”

“It itches,” a man’s voice said from the back.

“So does my butt,” Jacob said. “You don’t see me taking my pants off, do you?”

Everyone laughed.

“Fifteen minutes,” Aden said. “Then we have to get home to our families.”

~~~~~~~~

Somewhere in time

Possibly Spain

The woman turned to look at him. For a long moment, they locked eyes. As if she were embarrassed, she looked down. She slid into the water.

“Do you mind if I join you?” Nelson asked. “I won’t… I mean…”

“Please,” she said. “I’ve taken the liberty to turn on the warm water.”

“How?” Nelson asked. “Are you a demon?”

“A demon?” she laughed.

He smiled because of her laugh and because this ghost creature seemed so real, so normal.

“The water is warmed by the hot spring.” She gestured to an area he’d never noticed before. “I removed the block on the drain.”

“Has that always been there?” Nelson asked.

She looked at him and then at where the warm water came in. Her eyebrows went up and down as if to wonder what he was asking.

“I’m sorry, I’ve never seen it,” Nelson said. “I usually take cold baths.”

“That sounds lovely,” she said mildly.

He smiled. He pulled off the thick leather under armor. Unbuckled his sword belt. Sitting down, he took off his sandals. He noticed that she was looking at him when he pulled off his wool tunic.

“What?” he asked.

“You don’t have servants?” she asked.

“I…” Nelson started.

“Would you like mine to assist you?” the woman asked.

Two young girls stepped from the shadows. Using his hands, he indicated for them to stop.

“I am all right,” he said. “In my time, people do these things for themselves.”

“Why?” she asked.

He was about to launch into some kind of explanation when he saw that she wasn’t listening. Her back was to him. He slipped into the warm water. To his surprise, the water smelled of lavender and something lovely. The simple luxury of the warm water and scent brought tears to his eyes.

“Why did you stop talking?” she asked.

“You weren’t listening,” he said.

“So?” she said, with mild reproach.

Smiling, he slipped under the fragrant warm water. He felt his grim slid off his scalp. When he came up, he saw that she was still there.

And, she was still watching him.

He smiled.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Anything you’d like it to be,” she said.

He laughed. When she looked offended, he laughed harder. He wasn’t even sure why he was laughing. He just couldn’t stop. Tears felt down his face.

She appeared in front of him. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

“Stop,” she whispered.

When he began to sob, she pulled him to her. He wept on her shoulder like a child. His mother had died when his was an infant. He’d always loved men. Outside of Heather or one of his work friend’s hugs, he’d never been held by a woman. Her kindness brought up his most desperate grief. When he thought he’d never stop crying, the feeling disappeared. She kissed his cheek and floated away from him.

“Who are you?” he whispered in a hoarse voice.

“I believe that I am your grandmother and then some,” she said with a soft smile. “I did not believe it until I saw your face. We could be twins.”

He looked into her face and for the first time saw his own. She gave him an ironic smile.

“Please, let me introduce myself,” she said. “I am Bathsheba.”

Shocked, Nelson stopped moving.

“Wife of Uriah,” she said. “Mother of Soloman, among others. Consort to King David. You are my child by my first husband, Uriah, the warrior. He was…”

She gave him a soft smile.

“You don’t want to hear about ancient history,” Bathsheba said. “Know that your ancestors love you.”

“Why have you come?” Nelson asked. “How have you come?”

“I was invited here by my daughter, your mother,” Bathsheba said. “She has a mother’s right to be by your side. She could not attend, so she asked me to slip in here. I have tried for… a long time.”

Bathsheba looked around.

“This is a wretched place,” she said. “How can you stand it?”

“I can’t,” Nelson said.

“It’s time for you to return home,” Bathsheba said.

“How?” Nelson asked, tears falling down his face.

“Remind me,” Bathsheba said. “Who is the Grandmaster?”

“Jacques d’Molay,” Nelson said.

“Jacques d’Molay is long dead,” Bathsheba said. “Dust. He was loathed in life and left here in death.”

“I am on a quest!” Nelson asked.

Bathsheba rolled her eyes.

“Men,” Bathsheba said. “I said to my husband, ‘I will not do this! You are my husband, my love.’ He said, ‘He is my King, my friend. It’s my honor.’ His King and friend had him murdered leaving me to…”

Bathsheba stopped speaking. She gave an angry shake of her head. Nelson blinked.

“Please,” Nelson said. “I am exhausted and desperate. Speak plainly.”

“You are the Grandmaster of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon.” Bathsheba raised her eyebrow at him. “You are my descendant. They are dust.”

“How?” Nelson asked.

“Decide that you’re done with this…” Bathsheba said.

“My father’s life is in the balance!” Nelson’s voice rose with desperation. “I need to…”

“Go home, my son,” Bathsheba said. “Gather your strength. Draw from mine, your mother’s, all of your ancestors. Only then will you get where you need to be. You are dying here.”

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

“You are so loved,” she whispered and disappeared.

He closed his eyes and felt himself drifting.

When he opened his eyes, he was lying in the grass in front of the crazy house they called “The Castle.”

“Oh my God,” a young man’s voice said. Feet ran over pavement in his direction. “It’s Nelson. Go! Get Heather! Get Blane!”

The young man dropped next to him.

“Uncle Nelson?” the young man asked.

Nelson was looking into the face of Nash Norsen. He was too shocked to respond.

“Come on,” Nash said. “Slowly. He’s bruised all over. Bleeding. Badly. Noelle — call 911!”

“I did,” Noelle Norsen said. “They said they were coming.”

Realizing he was likely naked, Nelson looked down. He was wearing his mideval Templar costume.

He heard running. He felt strong hands under his armpits lifting him to standing. He felt a wave of pain and passed out. He was carried inside.

Denver Cereal continues next week…

Dear Reader,

It’s October 4th. If you’re here looking for new story, I am sorry that you’ll be disappointed.

I wanted a chance to thank you for reading and caring about the Denver Cereal. This project started in June 2008. There are a number of “reasons” for me starting this serial — one was a challenge from a friend, the other was the idea of writing something about living in Denver, another was from Charles Dickens himself (writing a serial is the best way to learn how to write.)

I had a short story about a girl showing up at an engagement party. Jacob is a character that came into my mind early on in writing. He was originally in the Fey books as their contractor. He took center place in this story when Jill arrived. The rest of them came along. A few are named after friends of mine. Some arrived with their names in place. “Delphie” is one of those. You know, the Oracle at Delphi?

Anyway, I hope you don’t find this too self congratulatory.

Because readers, just like yourself, have been a part of the Denver Cereal from the beginning. Readers donations have helped keep the Denver Cereal advertisement free. Readers have suggested storylines and resolved plot twists. They have encouraged people to suffer and suffer more — especially the wicked. They’ve celebrated the birth of children and mourned the struggles of the characters. They’ve complained when stories have gone on too long and complained when stories were too short.

You see, there would be no Denver Cereal without her readers.

When I started in 2008, I would have never believed that the story would continue all these years later.

When I walked away in March, I wasn’t sure that I would ever return.

Honestly, I’m a little surprised that I”m here now.

So here we go. I may write the Denver Cereal for another twelve years or it may be just a few more months. Together, we’ll see what happens next.

Your story will begin tomorrow and run Monday through Saturday, one chapter a week.

As always, if you have something to say, just hit return or reach out to me on social media. I can usually be found hanging out at Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Or by email. I am still running the Everyday Kindness project so if you need a little kindness in your life, that’s the place to go.

I hope you and your families are well in this crazy time.

Here we go!

Thank you for reading!

Claudia

P.S. If you’re wondering what happens next in Celia’s Puppies, you can read it in segments or weekly chapters for free or you can purchase the book where you buy books. If you’re new to Denver Cereal, the compilation “Grand Junction” is really the fastest way to catch up. Thanks for reading — chc

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

All that matters

“Details remain spotty in an incident that has both Denver Police and Homeland Security working through the night.” Adele Arakawa’s brown eyes and solemn voice reflected the severity of the situation. “This is a 9 News special report.”

“What started as a star filled celebrity party turned deadly in what appears to be a botched kidnapping attempt.”

A video of the stars entering the Castle played on the screen. The worlds famous waved and signed autographs on the Castle lawn.

“Valerie Lipson and her husband, Michael Roper, made big Denver news this week with their appearance on local and national talk shows. Tonight was to be a celebration complete with friends, fine wine and great food.”

The video feed shifted to the Chef’s staff preparing trays of hors d’oeuvres and servers with open bottles of wine. The video panned the Castle ballroom where the stars were dancing, laughing and drinking.

“It appears that around midnight kidnappers snatched Senator Hargreaves’s grandson and his best friend. In their attempt to flee, a young woman was brutally attacked and one of the kidnappers was killed,” Adele said. “We go now to TaRhonda Thomas live on Race Street in Denver.”

The camera went to a young woman standing under a stop light near the Castle’s metal gate.

“Denver Police are not releasing details on this one, Adele. We’ve been able to ascertain that Senator Hargreaves’s grandson has been rescued. The child is now at home with his parents. The other child also appears to be uninjured and is in the care of her parents. Denver Police Chief will hold a press conference tomorrow morning to answer any questions. But tonight, the mystery remains.”

“Thank you, TaRhonda. Do you know identity of the woman who was assaulted?”

“No,” the reporter said. “No details have been released. I only know that her condition is touch and go.”

“And the person killed?” Adele asked. “We understand that was a man?”

“Yes, a white male was shot after midnight tonight,” TaRhonda said. “He is believed at this time to have been one of the kidnappers. Denver Police have not released his name or the nature of the shooting. As you know, our news helicopters have not been allowed within ten miles of this location.”

“Do you have any idea why the details of this case are so few and hard to come by, TaRhonda?” Adele asked.

“National security. That’s what the Denver Police spokesperson says.”

“Thank you TaRhonda.” Adele swung in her chair to speak with her co-anchor. “Kidnapping a Senator’s grandson? Here. In Denver. It’s hard to fathom.”

“We live in dangerous times,” Mark Koebrich said. “This has been a 9 News special report.”

~~~~~~~~

Jacob helped Katy into the warm bubble bath then began undressing Jill. Jill hadn’t said a word since Trevor had been shot. It was almost as if she couldn’t speak. When Mike tried to take Katy, she shook her head and clung to her child. She sobbed when John Drayson suggested she spend the night at the hospital. She leaned into Jacob and held on to Katy. With gentle care, Jacob helped her up into their new loft apartment, where security locks had been installed that afternoon.

This was not the way he hoped to unwrap Jill.

But, he was grateful she was here with him – alive and mostly well. He set the Marlowe diamonds on the counter. Pulling off her dress, he helped her out of a gorgeous lace bra and some kind of a girdle thing. He smiled at her tiny slip of panties and thigh high stockings. They would have had fun tonight.

Through all of this, Jill’s eyes stared at Katy while her child played among the bubbles in the bath.

Under the girdle there was a small, deep cut, probably from tip of the knife. Jacob cleaned the wound and covered it with a Scooby Doo bandage over it. He rolled the stockings from her legs then helped her to stand. She shifted into him when he slipped off the panties. Pulling back to look at her face, her eyes took him in for the first time.

Somewhere behind those big eyes, his Jill was telling him she wished things were different too. He smiled then helped her step into the lavender bubbles. Jill leaned against the back of the tub and sighed.

“She’s having a flashback,” Mike had said. “Just hold her.”

“She needs a bath,” Alex had said. “That will relax her. Then maybe some chocolate. I like chocolate after I have a flashback.”

“She’s going to want… physical relief,” Dr. John Drayson had said in his prim British accent. His eyes and eyebrows told a more lurid story. “As your doctor, I cannot recommend it in your condition. But as your friend? I’d encourage you to get some assistance.”

“Assistance?” Jacob had asked.

“Sildenafil citrate,” John had said.

“Viagra?” Jacob couldn’t fathom what John was saying. Jill was traumatized not horny.

“I’ll see if one of the medics has some. You’d be amazed at what these boys have in their kits.”

Kneeling next to their new large tub, he wondered what Jill needed. When Katy splashed Jill with bubbles, Jill smiled. It was the first real facial expression she had made since she stopped crying.

Leaning forward to cup Katy’s face with her hands, Jill sighed.

“I love you, Katy-baby,” she said.

“MOMMY! You came back!” Katy was so excited she splashed water everywhere. Laughing, Jacob grabbed a few towels from the cabinet to contain the joyful mess. “Oh Mommy, I missed you! Do you know what happened tonight?”

Jill’s eyes welled. She gulped back her sorrow.

“What happened, Katy-baby?”

“A girl kissed Paddie! On the lips! He screamed. The lady Marine that was pretending to be an older kid thought he was hurt. When she found out that Paddie had been kissed, she laughed and laughed. Paddie was upset because she didn’t take him serious but that just made the lady laugh even harder. Then I laughed and finally Paddie laughed too.”

Jill smiled through Katy’s story. Katy’s giggles brought out Jill’s laugh. When Jacob set a few yellow ducks in the water, Katy began an elaborate story of Mommy ducks and Daddy ducks and baby ducks. Under Katy’s instruction, Jill, and Jacob from beside the tub, played roles in her game.

Maybe Katy was all Jill needed. That would be all right too.

“Daddy?” Katy asked when her story reached some random stopping point.

“Yes honey,” Jacob said.

“I wanna go to bed now. It’s waaaay past my bedtime,” Katy yawned. “And I’m tired.”

Jacob helped Katy out of the tub. He let some of the water out of the tub then turned the hot water on to warm the bath. Resting against the tub, Jill smiled at him. He dried Katy in a fluffy bath sheet then helped her into her new pajamas and her new big girl bed. He stayed with Katy until she was asleep. Taking a receiver to her baby monitor with him, he returned to the bathroom.

Only Jill’s eyes peeked above the bubbles. Seeing him, she moved to sit.

“Would you like to join me?” she asked.

“I’d like you to feel all right,” he said. “What do you need?”

“Hmmm….” She slipped all the way under the bubbles. Popping up, she said, “Did Delphie make brownies? Or did I imagine that?”

“Delphie’s at the hospital. Val made the brownies. They’re actually pretty good. I have them,” Jacob said. “She made them for you.”

“Where’s Sandy? I remember Sandy being with me,” Jill said.

“Sandy stayed with you while you talked to the police,” Jacob said. “She wanted to stay tonight but you just seemed to want Katy. She’s with Aden in their apartment. Would you like me to get her?”

Jill shook her head. She moved to get out of the tub. He held a large green bath sheet and she wrapped herself in it. She refused clothing, even a bathrobe. Instead, wrapped in a bath sheet, she padded across their new home to the kitchen. Standing over the plate of brownies, she started eating. Jacob laughed at her fervor.

“I haven’t eaten since breakfast,” Jill said. “Only water after that. I’m starving and these are perfect.”

Getting the milk from the refrigerator, he poured them each a glass. When he reached for a brownie, she slapped his hand away. They laughed.

“How are you?” he asked.

Jill nodded her head as she swallowed a bite of brownie.

“Hungry… For everything – food, wine, life,” she said. “I… I want to feel alive.”

“I want you to know how sorry I am about Trevor,” Jacob said. “I cannot imagine how you feel.”

Still chewing, Jill shook her head.

“I can’t do that.” Jill covered her mouth to keep from spitting brownie all over Jacob.

He nodded.

“Can you help me?” he asked. “I can’t get out of this monkey suit myself.”

Jill nodded. Taking another bite of brownie, she untied his bow tie, then helped him out of his sling, the jacket and his shirt. Leaving his white undershirt, Jill returned to her brownies.

“Thanks,” he said. He stretched his arms. “That’s much better.”

“You can move your arm,” Jill said.

“Just a tiny bit. I’ve been working on it. It hurts, but…” Jacob puzzled at the odd look on Jill’s face. “What?”

Jill shook her head then looked away from him. He stepped around the kitchen bar to her. His finger tips caressed her face and their eyes held.

“I love you,” he said. “I’m here. Right here.”

She stepped into his embrace.

“Every room,” she whispered.

“Every room?”

Stepping back she bit her lip and nodded her head.

“Jill, what’s going…”

She pulled off his t-shirt. And their spark ignited. Heat and passion erupted in a burst of haste. They fell to the kitchen floor. She pulled at him, ripping his tux pants from him. Pulling on his naked flesh, she shifted for them to join.

“Wait,” he said. “I’ll be right…”

“I need to feel you,” she said.

“Jill.” He kissed her face, her nose, and caught her mouth. “You wanted to wait.”

“I don’t care. I don’t care.” Jill’s eyes dropped tears. “I’ve never felt you. Please Jacob, please. Just tonight. Please. Let me feel you.”

“Ok, okay, shhh…” He kissed her eyes.

In a rush of sensation, they joined. As if a switch ignited in Jill, she was wild. And Jacob tried to keep up.

They moved from the kitchen floor to on top the kitchen table. From under the dining room table to the open space. They shifted location with each climax. Her heat expanded and their passion grew. Anytime he shifted away, she pulled him back to her.

Leaning against a couch in the sitting area, close to another blissful release, Jill’s sadness, panic and rage caught up to her. Her passion turned to tears and tears became sobs. She battered Jacob’s chest until he flipped her under him. He pinned her down while she writhed with unspeakable pain. Unsure of what to do, he whispered over and over again that he loved her.

In the middle of a sob, she jerked, let out a breath, and closed her eyes. Certain she was having a seizure or possibly losing consciousness, Jacob shook her shoulder. Taking advantage of his movement, Jill moved on top of him.

“YOU!” She slapped at him. “YOU! I stayed with him because of YOU!”

“I would have married you in a second. Raised any child as my own. I love you only you. I’ve loved since the moment I laid eyes on you all those years ago,” he said. “You stayed with him because of you.”

“How DARE you! I was absolutely, completely and totally alone. And pregnant. What choice did I have?”

“I understand.” With his hands around her face, his thumbs wiped her tears.

“How can YOU understand? You have all of this and I have NOTHING. I am NOTHING. And you are the GREAT Marlowe. What can YOU understand? Oh God…”

Overwhelmed, she fell against him. Jacob held her tight through her heaving sobs. When her breath slowed, he realized she was asleep. Unable to carry her to the bed, he pulled a down comforter from the wood chest near the fireplace. Turning on the fire, he wrapped them in the blanket. When he lay next to Jill, she moved to sleep on his chest. He caressed her fuzzy head and she looked up at him.

“I love you and only you, Jacob Marlowe. I’ve loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you all those years ago.”

“I’m so glad,” he said to her sleeping form.

~~~~~~~~

“You were marvelous tonight,” Valerie said.

They were sitting in a full bathtub. Mike was brushing her hair. He kissed her head. After the ‘event,’ Mike and Valerie had worked to manage their guests. The worlds famous were professionals. With smiles all around, they left the Castle with their children as if nothing had happened. Valerie made Jill’s brownies between organizing the clean up crew and dealing with the police. When they were finally on their own, Mike and Valerie migrated to the warm safety of their bathtub. They’d been soaking for at least an hour.

“I think four men asked me about your ‘country suit’,” she said.

“Frederec thought I should look like a 1940s country western star,” he said. “I love the boots and the cool ribbons down the leg of the pants. I thought I looked more like bull-fighter with the short jacket, but he said it was perfect for my shoulders.”

“You were gorgeous, and so fun to be around,” she said. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Being my one and only,” she said. “Putting up with me and all my bullshit. I see poor Jill and I… I feel very lucky.”

“Jill will be all right,” Mike said. “Ropers are made of tough stuff.”

She leaned back and they kissed.

“Do you have any idea who killed Trevor?”

“No,” Mike said. “Alex’s team was all accounted for. It had to be someone else. But who? And why? Trevor’s wife stopped talking as soon as she knew he was dead. I think she’s working on a story that makes him solely responsible for everything.”

Valerie sighed.

“I can’t believe I waited so long to be here with you. I… If that happened to you? Oh my God. I… Oh Michael, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“For everything,” she said.

He chuckled and continued brushing her hair.

“Say something,” she said.

“You take responsibility for things that are just life,” he said. “We have this time, this place. Don’t waste it on regret.”

“I have six more months on my contract,” she said.

“And?”

“I think we should try and have a baby,” she said. “When my contract expires, I mean.”

He smiled.

“Let’s see where you are in December. By then, you may be ‘A’ listed and…” He mock squealed. “Everything will be perfect!”

Laughing, Valerie slapped at him. He laughed. Valerie settled against him again.

“Let’s just stay here,” she said.

“In Denver? I thought you had to work on Monday,” he said.

“No in this bathtub. Let’s just stay here forever,” she said.

He kissed her head.

“It’ll be dawn soon. Do you want to sleep?”

“Oh tomorrow. I’d rather not have tomorrow come. I’m sick of police and hospitals and violence and drama. And I work on a soap opera! I just want…”

“To stay in the bathtub?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said.

He pulled her between his knees, then wrapped her tight in his arms. No matter what happened tomorrow, they would be together.

And that’s all that mattered.

~~~~~~~~

Saturday morning — 4:00 A.M.
Denver Police Department

“And who are you?” the Chief of Police asked.

“Major Joseph Walter, sir. It’s my understanding that you have questions about the involvement of Homeland Security and Army Special Ops on Race Street tonight. I have been dispatched to answer your questions.”

“I requested the head of the team to speak to me prior to this press conference. I’m not going to let the Army or Homeland Security leave us hanging out there like country bumpkins. Where is the Lieutenant Colonel?”

“The Lieutenant Colonel was unable to make it. I was dispatched instead. Of course, whatever I say must stay in this room. And, I promise that if it doesn’t, we’ll know.”

The Police Chief’s brow rose at the insinuation. Was this man threatening him?

“And who are you?”

Joseph smiled at the Police Chief’s repeated question. In his exhaustion, the Chief hadn’t realized he repeated himself until Joseph smiled. The Chief nodded his head.

“I’m someone who can answer your questions,” Joseph said. “Have you completed an autopsy on Trevor Mc Guinsey?”

The Chief put his hand over the autopsy report. His eyes reviewed the man in front of him. Walter was in his forties, cropped brown hair with a dusting of gray, brown eyes, medium height. He had an air about him as if he was someone you could trust, someone who was used to being trusted, but someone not to be messed with. The Chief nodded his head. He pushed the autopsy report across the desk. Walter didn’t reach to pick it up.

“I’m particularly interested in the bullet,” Joseph said. “I understand your men found the bullet in the roof of the SUV.”

The Chief nodded.

“We expect the bullet is hand made, no finger prints or DNA but is stamped with a series of characters.”

“Characters?”

Joseph took a pen from his pocket and drew a series of characters on the autopsy report.

“How would you know something like that? We haven’t entered that information into any computer or…”

Joseph nodded his head.

“May I see it?”

The Chief of Police gave Joseph a small Ziploc bag with a bullet in it.

“I’ve only heard about these,” Joseph said. “I’ve never seen one before. Wow. Frankly, I thought the whole thing was bullshit.”

“Major, what are you talking about?”

“I’d like to tell you a little story about a Russian family on the run and a little girl who was rescued by a contract killer, but we don’t have time. You have a press conference and I need to get back the team.”

“Can you tell me about the US Army’s involvement in last night’s events?”

“I’m authorized to answer your questions.”

“My questions?” the Chief of Police was too tired to play games. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Good question,” Joseph said. He smiled his trustworthy smile. “It all started when Valerie Lipson’s publicist scheduled her and Michael Roper’s appearance on Oprah.”

The retelling of Celia’s Puppies, Volume 2, continues next week…

New Denver Cereal stories begin again in October 2020. New chapter will post on October 10.