Chapter Nineteen
Okay, I wasn’t flying.
I’d been thrown. And since I’m not a bird, or some other winged creature, I didn’t stay airborne very long. I came crashing down hard on the marble floor of the entryway, and went sliding into a wall. Caaarunch! The loud thud of me hitting the wall reverberated throughout the house. The building shuddered. As soon as I hit, pain rocketed throughout my body.
I looked up, and through teary eyes saw that Petros was standing over me, his fists bunched, his eyes wide and wild. “You’re right, I won’t rip you’re head off, but that doesn’t mean I won’t hurt you.”
He reached for me. I slapped at his hands, and scrambled to my feet. I wanted to swing at him. I wanted him to feel the pain I was feeling, but there was no way I could beat him in a fight, and I’d already endured enough pain for one day. I took a step back.
“Petros,” Eudora called out from somewhere behind us. “Allow Josh to finish his work. Please.”
Petros’s expression abruptly changed. The hard lines around his eyes softened. “I’m… I’m sorry, Josh. I shouldn’t have let my temper get the best of me. After all, you are practically family.”
Stop saying that!
There was something so utterly condescending about the way he spoke, I wanted to tear into him. I knew he was thinking it wouldn’t be long before I was a satyr like him, and that he would have the last laugh.
He reached a hand out. “No hard feelings,” he said.
I grasped his hand. “None. I know it’s hard on you being a monster and all.”
Yeah, I know I shouldn’t have said it. I hadn’t planned on saying it, not really, but I’d been in such a foul mood all morning. A part me felt I had to get even with him for manhandling me the way he did. I braced for the attack I knew was coming.
Petros stiffened for a moment, and then smiled. It was a chilling smile. “Touché,” he said. He gave my hand a warning squeeze, shot me a glance that implied Eudora wouldn’t always be around to protect me. Then, he headed off down the long corridor, his hooves clunking loudly on the marble floor.
I turned and faced Eudora. She was standing at the base of the grand staircase, stylishly, yet casually dressed in nineteen fifties attire.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“I’m good,” I replied. Truth is, I was aching in so many places, I couldn’t tell where I hurt worse.
“Do not provoke Petros. I won’t always be around to protect you.”
“I don’t need you protecting me,” I snapped.
She chuckled, seeing right through my bravado. “Of course you don’t. Come,” she said.
“I have to get back to work.”
“Work can wait. Now, we must talk.”
Without waiting for my reply, she started down the long corridor. I didn’t want to go. She wasn’t the boss of me, and yet, I followed.
We passed through glass doors and moved outside to the rear area where I’d first seen her. Several very attractive teen girls (water nymphs, no doubt) were frolicking in the hot spring. Tiny plumes of steam rose from the water, dispersing in the morning air. There was a warmth coming off the hot spring, and a lovely fragrance.
Eudora moved to a table with a glass top, and signaled me to the seat beside her.
“Coffee? Tea?” she asked.
“I’m good.”
“I’d like a breakfast mimosa,” she said wistfully.
Moments later, Petros entered through the patio doors carrying a tray with a pitcher of mimosas and cocktail glasses. I wondered if there was a psychic connection between them, or had she made the request earlier.
It didn’t matter. What mattered was I didn’t care how much in love they once were, Petros had been reduced to being her man servant. There were no signs of love or affection between them. Eudora was the master, and he was her servant.
He set the tray down and poured Eudora a cocktail.
“Are you sure?” she asked as she was about to take a sip.
“Yeah. I think it’s against the law to offer minors alcohol,” I said.
“Nonsense,” she said, and sipped her drink. “It’s perfect, Petros.”
The satyr smiled, nodded and disappeared back into the house.
“That song in your head,” she said without looking at me, “it’s what we call the siren’s song. You’re too young to realize this, but to find your soulmate is a blessing.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised; of course she knew.
“Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?” I said with a hint of annoyance.
She sipped her drink. “True love is hard to find. Many people meet and fall in love, and sometimes that love lasts, but usually, it doesn’t. However, when two souls meet and fall in love, that love is eternal. That love is true. Your soul and my daughter’s have been searching for each other since birth. It’s a beautiful thing. Simply beautiful.” She took another sip.
“I’m not going to wind up like Rive or Petros,” I said in a low even tone. “So let’s cut the love talk, okay?”
“True love can endure many hardships,” she said.
“Then, maybe what I feel for your daughter isn’t true love, because I’m not going out like that.” I stood. “Why are we having this conversation? I need to get back to work.”
“I can’t help but notice how happy your father seems since he’s come to work here. I’m glad to see it. I have many friends who can use his services.”
A chill stirred the contents of my belly. I sat back down. “What are you getting at?”
“I was just thinking that us parents make so many sacrifices for our children. Sometimes, children need to make sacrifices for their parents.”
The chill continued riding through me as I realized just how cunning Eudora could be.
“Thanks for the advice,” I said, through tight lips.
“I want you to know that you’re always welcome here, Josh. Always. And when you’re ready, you will be welcomed into our family. Think of this as your home,” she said.
“Thanks.” I could feel myself turning pale, so I got up and started away on wobbly legs. I hoped she hadn’t noticed. “I already have a home,” I called over my shoulder.
“I’m rooting for you two,” Eudora called after me. “True love will always win out.”
I was in a funk the rest of the morning. Eudora had all but threatened me. My family could have a good life, the life my father dreamed of, if only I was willing to sacrifice for love.
As much as I wanted to hate her, I couldn’t. I couldn’t because she was looking out for her daughter’s welfare. That was Eudora’s only redeeming quality, that she wanted her daughter to be with her one true love.
I wanted to be with Lara in the worst way; I wanted happiness, but Lara was right—at what price?
Too risky.
Around noon, Asia came out and told us they were serving lunch on the rear patio. I pulled Dad aside and told him I’d prefer not to eat lunch with the Applegates. He assumed it was because Lara and I had had a fight, so he declined the offer. The sandwiches my mother had packed were in our lunch pails. When we got hungry, we pulled them out, and sat in the truck.
Ever since I was a little kid, I always enjoyed eating lunch with my dad in the truck. It made me feel like a grownup, like I was pulling my own weight.
“You want to talk about it?” my father asked after we’d been sitting in silence for nearly ten minutes.
“Not really.”
“Okay, but we’ve got to talk about something. This silence is killing me.”
I laughed. “Sports,” I said.
“You hate sports.”
“I know, but you love sports. Tell me what’s going on with your favorite team. Is it football season, yet?”
“Baseball,” Dad replied with a chuckle.
“Great. Let’s talk about the Dodgers.”
“Uh-uh. If we talk about the Dodgers, it will be a one sided conversation, since you kno
w nothing about baseball. I’m not even sure you could identify a baseball.”
“Oblong and covered in pigskin, right?” I said, emitting a burst of laughter.
“I know an interest we share—music. Catch me up on who’s hot these days.”
I was just starting to talk about my favorite bands when Eudora appeared at the driver’s door.
“Stan Butters, I am not taking no for an answer. No, siree. I’ve invited my neighbor, Tim Patterson, over to meet you. Don’t make me look like a fool.”
Seeing Eudora, my father put his sandwich down and got out of the truck. “Tim Patterson, the movie star?”
“I just know him as Tim, the man I told about your wonderful services,” Eudora said.
My father shot me a look, and I knew Eudora had won.
“I can eat lunch by myself,” I called out.
“No, Son—”
“It’s fine, Dad. You should meet Tim Patterson, but me, I prefer to eat alone.” I shot Eudora a look that said back off.
“If Josh wants to be a fuddy duddy because of some silly lover’s quarrel, let him. Actually, I prefer adults only,” she said, smirking back at me.
Dad looked from Eudora to me, his face clouding over in uncertainty. This was the chance of a lifetime for him, for our family, a possible second, wealthy, Hollywood client in two days. It was obvious he was itching to meet Tim Patterson, but it was also obvious he didn’t want to abandon me.
“I’m good, Dad,” I said with a smile. “And when you’re finished stuffing your face and schmoozing with Tim Patterson, I will be out here working away.”
He laughed at that one, and turned to Eudora, all smiles. “Looks like I’m yours,” he said.
“Good.” Eudora locked arms with Dad. “Don’t worry about your father. I will take good care of him,” she called, before steering him away, and disappearing inside the house.
The moment they were gone, my smile, along with my spirits disintegrated.