Chapter 1.23

Chapter 1.23- So Many Mistakes

                As Buck was being accosted by the kids, Helen was in the backyard being accosted in an entirely different way. She was trying to make sure Barfer had food enough for the night when she found herself face to face with the Unicorn. He was the same as had appeared the night before and had blessed her. Surely, he wouldn’t be back again so soon. And yet here he was in her yard.

                The shinning animal nuzzled her gently, and as he did Helen could have sworn she heard a voice...

                “Be careful of what you take. For what you take you shall lose.”

                She had barely registered what she thought she heard when the unicorn began to shimmer, fading before her eyes. Unbeknownst to her, all memories she had of her day melted away into a summer haze along with the majestic animal.

                Standing still a moment longer puzzling over what might or might not have happened, Helen forgot completely about filling the dog bowl as well and went to bed. 

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                When she rose the next morning, the incident and the unicorn’s advice had slipped from her mind entirely. Instead, Helen went about business as usual. Fed the kids. Made sure they were all dressed. Then went about making sure the house was in perfect order.

                After cleaning the kitchen to within an inch of its shelf life, she went into the girls room. Phedra only occasionally remembered to make her bed. Layla was yet to remember to do it. Then her phone rang.

                “Lily Pad,” she answered the phone. It was not a cordial greeting. It was merely an acknowledgement. Trenton’s now ex-wife should have no business calling her. At best, they were cold acquaintances.

                “What do you want, Lily Pad?” Helen’s tone was unusually curt. Her dislike of the situation and woman on the other end put her on edge.

                “Really? You’re sure it’s Cyrus.” Helen’s shock crashed through her in waves. How could she be hearing this? How could it have happened under her nose?

                “No. No…. I totally agree, amazingly enough. I agree with you… Yeah, that is a complete shock, isn’t it?” Helen chuckled, low and nervous, rolling her eyes.

                “It can’t continue. It’s not acceptable to me, either. Just a quick question, how did you find out?”

                “Ok. Okay now, I have no doubt of what Sadie says she saw. But let’s be frank with each other. Sadie is William’s daughter, and I know for a fact that she inherited some of my brother’s madness. A lot of it in fact. I have friends at the fire department and they have friends on the police force, and I know half the doctors in town. It’s well known around town that Sadie-”

                “Oh… Is that so? Mrs. Jeffs would indeed be a reliable person to ask for verification. Cyrus has a class with her and speaks of her, obviously as does Olivia.”

                “What are you going to do? … Mmm-hmm… Yeah… Ok. Well I need to talk to my husband first, before we deal with it. And I bet that if you tell Olivia before we tell Cyrus that she’ll find a way to- yes I am implying that she would sneak around you. You are her mother. As I was- Oh, get over yourself. As I was saying-” Helen raised her voice to talk over Lily Pad. “As I was saying we need to do this at the same time so that they cannot collaborate with the other… Well, as I said, I need to talk with my husband first and tomorrow is Phedra’s birthday, so that’s not a good day. Can we give it like 4 days? … Yeah… After school… Do you want to let the principal know? Ok… Yes. Thank you for letting me know… Uh-huh. Buh-bye.”

                Helen stood still for a moment, trying to soak in what she had heard. Lily Pad was a difficult woman to trust, but as she had been talking memories had surfaced where she thought she had seen Olivia with Cyrus… somewhere… doing something… maybe. It was hazy, but it was there. And if the teacher had confirmed it… Well. She’d just have to break Cyrus’ heart.

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                Phedra’s birthday fell on a cold and rainy Monday. Trying to leave plenty of time for homework Helen always tried to have a cake ready to go the moment the kids got home from school. Today was no exception, even if Galen did drip all over the carpet.

                Phedra is actually the first one to notice that something is wrong this time. The cake looks a little funny after she blew out her candles.

                Buck doesn’t notice it until the flames are actively creeping up the table legs. The rest of the family still hasn’t registered anything out of the ordinary.

                Phedra is gettin’ out of the way of the fire. She paid attention when the fire department visited class. She knows the number you dial, and does so.

                Buck, however, has run outside. For a moment he stops, trying to stop the blood pounding in his ears, trying to control his breathing.

                It didn’t work.

                Rain drenches Buck as he lies senseless on the ground. A particularly large drop thoroughly soaks his hair.

                By the time Buck has been able to rouse himself the firefighters have already arrived on scene.

                “Hey,” The firefighter says as she leisurely strolls past. “Hey, don’t I know you? Is this the house that likes to play with matches?”

                Buck doesn’t bother to answer, glaring at the woman instead.

                When the firefighter opened the door, all Buck heard was Helen.

                “Where on Sim Planet did he go? Don’t even think about it Phedra. Not until your Dad gets in  here.”

                Buck tries to get back inside where someone has already doused the fire, and set out a fresh table and cake.

                Phedra is totally ready for this. 
                The firewoman stops, staring hard at the lit candles on the cake.

                “Doesn’t play with matches my ass,” she smirks to herself before turning to leave.

                Making a wish was easy. Phedra was ready to go out and explore the world. Nothing would stop her. Nothing could hold her back. Nothing…

                Sparkles!

                And a teenage Helen clone stands in front of them all.

                Seeing just how much her daughter resembles her leaves Helen stunned. It brings back so many mistakes she made at that age. So much that she wishes she could take back. It also makes her wonder if she needs to stop Cyrus sooner than was agreed upon. She was sure that she would have upcoming problems with Phedra to deal with soon enough also.

                “You know,” Cyrus offers tentatively. “You know that if it wasn’t for the hair and eye color, I’d swear you were a clone of mom.”

                Phedra doesn’t respond immediately, making Layla think a fight might possibly break out between her older brother and sister... again.

                “Nothing wrong with being a clone,” Phedra finally says. “Though who had this coloring in your family mom? I know it’s not Dad’s.”

                Helen chokes, and doesn’t answer right away. Buck has already left for his shift and she knows that she’s got to scramble for an answer. Maybe one day her oldest two will be ready for the surely startling revelation that they are not Buck's biological children. But not today. No, not yet.

                “Look, Phedra,” Helen chokes. “I know we talked about you getting a part time job once you were a teenager, but I would really rather you focus on school work for now. Ok? If you cope with your school work and would rather have a job, instead of an after school activity, then we’ll talk about it again.”

                Phedra doesn’t argue. And though she finds it strange that her mom would avoid the question, she figures it’s just too painful to talk about in front of the kids. Cyrus and Phedra know that there are painful things in the pasts of their parents and have gleaned snippets over the years, though the full story is still murky and broken. Instead, she gets up to wash her plate.

                Phedra stands still near the sink. She would be joining Cyrus at the high school tomorrow, and was already actively plotting on how to best squish him (grades-wise) while she's there.

                Cyrus notes that she’s quieter than when she was a kid. Maybe Fay won’t be so bad after all.

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Total.Helen.Clone. She was before the extra genetic blending mod. It shows. Check out both of them in the Generational Goals tab to see it better.

Effindamngaaaah. Totally forgot they still don’t have a smoke detector. Cyrus put out the fire. It was out before the firefighter arrived.

Aaaaaand I'M CAUGHT UP!!! I have pics in the can and wonderful things to write about them, but I'm now going to try and downsize to "not once a day" updates. lol. Maybe every three days or so. We'll see.