314 Pecan : Welcome to the Family (443 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 2 on 5 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Saffron (View user info) at 2006-08-30 14:53:19 EDT
Pt 1 http://www.ubersite.com/m/91597
Pt 2 http://www.ubersite.com/m/91622
Pt 3 http://www.ubersite.com/m/91683
Pt 4 http://www.ubersite.com/m/91794
The first time there had been fear and confusion. And blood. Much more blood than the others. Or maybe it was because it was the first time and they didn't know what was happening, how something so little could cause so much blood. Over time he didn't notice the blood as much, but then again over time it became a much more private ceremony for Adeline. He was pushed to the peripheral, out of the moment and relegated to more of a janitorial role in the process. Maybe caretaker was a better word. Addy certainly needed him in those moments, if only for a little while.
Back when Addy was well, life had been exactly what it was supposed to be. He had a job that kept them more comfortable than most, a nice house in a neighborhood of other respectful, family oriented couples and a wonderful wife. It was the American dream.
His job as a mortician kept him in good community standing. He worked with the dead, isolated from the grief of the living. The routine of preservation was a comfort to him and he never felt depressed or morose. He provided a service that everyone would eventually need. It was a respectable living, and in St. Eubrie business was always steady. He had landed in a community that would push the art of his craft to its fullest and he took a great deal of pride in being capable enough to restore so friends and family could take solace in the memory of life rather than the brutality of death.
When Addy got pregnant with the twins he knew he had been blessed. He dreamt of little league and ballet recitals and even entertained the idea of buying a Sheltie when the twins turned one. Addy would sit up nights and knit over her growing belly and Gil would fuss with the directions for the cribs. Those moments would live in his mind as some of the happiest.
He was out back watering the new rose bush when he heard her scream. The sound nearly stopped his heart. He never did remember turning off the water or crossing the yard, just the screaming and the blood and the fear.
The day they laid the two tiny coffins into the ground he thought Addy was going to throw herself in behind them. Cynthia Lynn and Charles Alan had never drawn breath, but they drew Adeline. He could feel them pulling at her as her held her.
The next 2 weeks were a blur of sympathy cards, bad casseroles and grief. Addy sat at the gravesite daily, rocking back and forth and caressing the blankets she had knit for the twins. He talked to Dr. Mott about the behavior at the start of the third week and he prescribed some valium. The valium only served to stop the rocking and the daily pilgrimage continued. Dr. Mott suggested that some time in the hospital would probably be best and Gil had been entertaining the thought while praying that time would make the grief dissipate and bring his wife back to him. His love for her was absolute and the idea of being apart was just too much for him to fathom. He focused on work and Adeline and let the rest of the world fall away.
He was working late one night. Robert Aikan had been in a nasty car accident that had nearly decapitated him. If it had been clean it would have been as easy as a couple stitches, a collar and tie, but things in this life are seldom clean and the rebar that went through the windshield had peeled the man's face from his head like an orange peel. The man's lips were up near his temple. It is a simple fact of life that the more violent the death the higher the probability that the family would require an open casket. Time was not on his side with this one and he couldn't leave things over night or start the embalming process until the reconstruction was complete. He didn't generally like to leave Addy alone very long, but he had to massage mineral oil into the skin to get it to maintain elasticity immediately or the skin would set, wrinkled and grotesque. It took Gil 4 hours to get the face reasonably in place and patched. In the end Robert's skin was a bit too smooth, but you could tell it was him and he looked peaceful and intact.
He was exhausted and ready to get home to Addy. She had become more calm over the last few days, the crying had nearly stopped, and she had started puttering around the garden again. There was something therapeutic and clean about potting soil and he was hopeful that she would find happiness again soon. He smiled as he walked up the path, noting the new jasmine bush on the southeast corner of the yard. He picked up Addy's trowel, gloves and knee cushion from the front porch. She was meticulous about organizing inside the house, but outside she was just as bad as a kid who leaves his bike out on the drive. Things were coming back to normal and he was hopeful she would be ready to try again for the family they craved.
Gil walked in to the sound of Mister Rodgers. "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood," The nursery light was on and Addy was singing along with the man, " A beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won't you be my neighbor?"
"Addy?"
"Gil! Come sing along to the children. Isn't it marvelous? I bought all of the records months ago. I know they are too young to understand the stories, but they grow so fast. Join in!" she continued singing, " So let's make the most of this beautiful day, since we're together, we might as well say...."
She was disheveled but clear eyed, dancing and clapping and smiling into the cribs. His chest tightened and the tears came. He walked over to his love, his Addy and put his hand on her shoulder. In that moment he felt truly lost.
She had finished painting the nursery and hanging up the mobiles. She was so happy singing and making silly voices. Seeing her this way gave him a peculiar joy. He kissed her on the crown, breathing in deeply to catch the scent of her hair. His nose registered what his eyes had not, the faint scent of soil and formaldehyde. His lovely wife had brought the children home.
User Reviews
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-08-30 19:24:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Fantastic.
This series rocks my face off like the car crash victim in the story.
Submitted by pinkshoes (user info) at 2006-08-30 16:30:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Was getting ready for suicide or something, not that!
Fabulous!
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2006-08-30 15:32:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Whoa dude...didn't expect that ending.
Submitted by Life101 (user info) at 2006-08-30 15:27:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i liked
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-08-30 15:26:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
creepy....