Dark as Daylight Ch. 18

Chapter 18

75. Collisions

"I don't care what she says, Frank, I want to talk with her. We have been apart for more than 15 hours, that's longer then we have been apart for more than our entire lives. I made a childish mistake, and if she can't forgive me for it, I will kill myself. I don't need a gun, knife, or any man-made object to do it, and she knows it. I can't stand not being able to breathe the same air she is breathing, and thinking the same thoughts she is. I have to speak with her Frank, or I am as good as dead."

"I will relay your message to Steve, but I am not sure they are awake yet. He will not bother them if they are still sleeping."

"You know damn well they are not sleeping. If they are in bed, they are either playing 'you show me yours, and I'll show you mine', or if they have passed that stage, they are playing 'hide the salami'. I will kill my sister if they have gotten to that point, because she swore she was going to wait until she was 18 to get laid."

"Aren't you being a little judgmental, Deborah? You were getting ready to get naked for Holden, on the mats, yesterday, like a common whore."

"$50 million per breast, $100 million to bear my chest in total. I wonder what Holden would have paid to see me as completely naked 'like a common whore'?"

"It's tough to have money, and not know what to do with it."

"He knew what he wanted to do with it, but my grandfather would have killed me for doing it."

"Thank God for grandfather's."

"You guys are amazing. The minimum wage is less than $15 per hour. In less then 10 seconds, I would have made $100 million for removing two pieces of cloth, for which no one would have been harmed, and you are thanking God for my grandfather. Where is the justice in that, Frank? Call my sister, I want talk with her."

"I was just testing to see how long you could survive, without your better half in your life, Deborah. You do get quite testy when you finally realize you've made a grievous error, and have to own up to it."

"You don't want me around your neck, Frank."

"You don't want me to be the next one spanking you, little girl, because it won't be any fun."

"That bastard can't keep his mouth shut."

"Who are you talking about little girl?"

"Who do you think I'm talking about?"

"I don't play games with little children."

"I'm not talking to you, either."

"I'll call Steve."

"It's about time you did your job."

"It's a pleasure talking to you through this door. If it were open, I would've strangled you by now."

"I would have gotten my fair share of punches in."

"Joe would never allow it."

"We would have seen about that, wouldn't we?"

"It would all be on your shoulders, little lady."

"I will give it a try. Make the fucking phone call."

"Watch your mouth, or I won't make that phone call to your sister's watcher."

"I hate these damn rules. I can't make a call from my room."

"Isn't that a shame?"

***********************

Debbie grabbed the phone as soon as it rang.

"Becky, I'm so sorry, you can't stay angry with me. I'll go crazy. I'll kill myself if you do."

"Are you going to sell tickets? I don't want the front row, because blood may get on me if I sit too close?"

"Frank calls me a bitch, what do you call yourself?"

"I'm ready to hang up on a sister, who fucked up my hard work so badly, scientist who came after me, would think I was a blithering idiot for not knowing basic mathematics. It took Richard all night to calm me down, because I was so angry with you."

"Did he use oil when he gave you the rubdown?"

"He even had to put some in my bath."

"You took a bath together?"

"Yes, we did, and we both came out clean, and scented with Jasmine."

"Did he rub you down first, or did you do him first?"

"You are being very nosy this morning, little sister. I'm not sure why I'm talking to you."

Debbie shouted, "You are talking to me, because....

Frank knocked on her door, and yelled, "Miss, your breakfast is here."

"I didn't order breakfast."

"Do you wish to start an argument with your grandparents, too?"

"No, I guess not."

"Rebecca, I'll be right back. I have to open the door; my breakfast is here."

"A likely excuse."

She opened the door as wide as it would go, to allow the trolley to be rolled into her room. Instead, she was hit by a flying angry feline, who knocked her to the ground senseless. She swore she heard Frank laugh, as her head bounced off the floor the third time.

As her brain cleared, and she attempted to open her left eye, but it was blinded by the light in the room. She closed it, and tried to open her right eye, and it was easier. As things began to clear, she was sure she was going to see the snarling teeth of Laura Constantine. The face was so close to hers, it was blurry. She had to chance opening both eyes to verify who her attacker was.

She began blinking them rapidly, and rubbed her fingers across them. When she was finished with her preparations, the figure lying on top of her came into focus. It said, "Hi sis, what are you doing down there?"

Angrily, she replied, "It appears I was hit by a bitch, and I will get even with her at a time of my choosing. What are you doing here, I was expecting to have my breakfast, and instead was beaten alive by Mrs. Constantine."

With a very big smile, Rebecca said, "Richard was having me for breakfast. He said I was very tasty."

"Liar, you still have your cherry, don't you?"

"I think so. With all the stretching exercises and training we do, I might have broken my hymen a long time ago. Making love for the first time will be much less painful without it."

"So, you haven't done It, have you?"

"You know my rules, and Richard has not checked off all the boxes, YET. He is getting very close, but I am not 18, and he cannot speed up time, although he is working on it. Why am I talking to you? Oh yes, you threatened to kill yourself. Why should I care?"

"Rebecca, I am very, very sorry. I made a very stupid childish mistake, and thanks to Richard, and grandpa, it is going to be rectified before anyone knows it happened. I will always know what I did, and I will never hurt you by doing anything that stupid again. I can't live without you in my life. We've been apart for less than one day, and I was going stir crazy. I didn't know what you were thinking because there were walls between us. Normally we are shoulder to shoulder, finishing each other's sentences, or knowing each other's next sentence. I couldn't live that way, I didn't want to live that way. Please tell me you forgive me, so we can move forward, until I fuck up again."

"So, that's it, you want me to forget that you changed all the math in my Doctoral Thesis? You want me to forget that everyone who looked at my work in the future would think I'm a blithering idiot for not knowing basic math? Is that what you think of me? Do you think anyone, even God, could like you that much, and forgive you, no less me?"

"Yes, please."

"Listen to me carefully, something inside me tells me Richard and I are meant for one another. I could be totally wrong, because he is the first boy I've been attracted to. I think you have the same feeling for Holden. If we do marry those boys sometime in the future, and you start comparing their accomplishments; I will warn you once, and if you do not heed that warning, I will kill you. If we have children, and you start comparing their accomplishments, I will warn you once, and if you do not heed that warning, I will kill you, and raise your children as my own. Do you agree?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, what you asked me for."

"Rebecca, what are you doing on top of your sister?"

"Good morning grandfather, I'm trying to decide whether to kill her or not."

"Well hurry up, and make your decision, I'm hungry, and I want to go to breakfast."

Debbie asked, "A quick decision is more important than a thoughtful decision when it comes between your breakfast and my life, grandpa?"

"Do I really have to answer that for you, child?"

"Deborah, you know better than to put anything between your grandfather and food. What did you do wrong this time?"

Rebecca said, "My sister didn't have to do anything extra after last night. I'm trying my best not to be God, and only hand down corporal punishment today. You know our arrangement Deborah, don't fuck up."

"Rebecca, watch your mouth."

"I don't have a mirror with me to do that, grandpa."

"Sam, you will never learn."

"I won't fuck up, Becky."

"Deborah, watch your mouth."

"I don't..."

"Stop right there, young lady. Joan, I don't want to hear a word out of you."

"That's not fair, grandpa. Rebecca got to say the whole sentence."

"She's right Sam, and I didn't get to say my sentence either. You're being downright tyrannical this morning."

"What do you expect from me at 9:30 in the morning. I haven't had coffee, or my breakfast. My body is running on empty, and soon it will be feeding on Deborah's throat as a form of sustenance."

"Grandma, when grandpa attacks me, can I fight back?"

"I will be cheering for you, dear."

"I will be cheering for you, grandpa. I don't want you to feel that the entire family is against you."

"Thank you, Rebecca, that is very kind of you."

"I know, grandpa. You are going to get your ass kicked by my sister. So, I thought I should comfort you before you are taken to the hospital."

"Breakfast, now; Joan, you are paying."

"I'm feeling ill, I think I'll go back to our room and lie down."

"Is there anything I can do for you, dear?"

"Yes, there is, Sam, get a permanent attitude adjustment towards women. Come with me girls, we don't need him with us, since I'm paying for breakfast."

Frank said, "I'm sorry Mrs. Finch, you can't get rid of him that easily. He is going to be in the same armored car as the three of you. I apologize for that inconvenience."

"It is not your fault Frank, we will just give him the silent treatment."

Sam said, "The three of you have just made my day."

Joan said, "We will see about that when we go shopping."

"No one said anything about shopping."

No one answered.

As Joan and the girls started walking down the hallway towards the elevators, Steve and Audrey took point, and Frank pulled up the rear.

Sam asked Frank, "Did you know about a shopping trip?"

"I only work here."

"Where are the boys?"

Frank grinned. "Why don't you ask Rebecca, she may know where one is."

Sam put an evil tone on his voice and asked, "Rebecca, did you leave Richard alone in your room, unguarded?"

Rebecca didn't answer her grandfather using any known universal language. She screamed, and started running towards her room with her grandfather, and Steve trailing behind her.

Rebecca was already ahead of him by one half flight of stairs, when Steve entered. "Becky, he's watching television. He's fine, would you like to talk to him, instead of breaking every bone in your body, and probably someone else's? Slow down Rebecca; you will never get to the altar at that speed."

When Frank said the word, "ALTAR," something in Rebecca's head went from rescue status,

"Thank you, Frank, I think my granddaughter just spoke to me."

"I believe she's just spoke to the top four floors of this hotel."

Deborah said, "Traitor."

"I got your sister to call you, didn't I?"

"You can't prove you did, can you?"

"I can play it back for you on my cell phone, if you'd like?"

"Bastard."

"Deborah, how would you like to spend a week in your room?"

"Not very much, grandpa."

"If you keep using language like that, that's where you're going to be. If I were you, I would begin changing my use of language immediately."

"Sam, you are no fun at all."

"Oh, you are talking to me too?"

"Only because you're being a prick. Go ahead, tell me to watch my mouth."

"I have something better for you to do with your mouth."

"You have big dreams for an old man."

"This man is not that old; that's why we are going on this trip."

"If that's why we are going on this trip, lighten up on your grandchildren, or I'll have them put you in stasis as soon as we pass the Oort cloud."

"Grandma, I am so proud of you. Maybe Rebecca and I can get you the 1^st Good Luck University Degree."

"Don't start in on your grandfather, darling. He was just starting to cool down."

"Okay, grandma, let's go see if Becky is in bed with Richard yet?"

Sam yelled, "I will kill them both."

"Sam, where do you think they were last night?"

"They were in bed, SLEEPING!"

"I didn't realize grandpa was that gullible."

"He's not, he just lies to himself a lot. That's how we got so rich."

"One day, grandma, you are going to have to explain that to me."

"It will take longer than one day, darling."

"Joan, be nice, or there will be consequences."

"Does grandpa do consequences, like Mr. Constantine does consequences to Mrs. Constantine?"

"I don't know any couple that does consequences the way the Constantine's do, and survives. That's why Laura is always so happy."

Debbie whispered, "We have to talk about when he spanked me."

"Oh, my Lord, you must have had one whale of a reaction to it. I can't wait to hear about it."

"I did, and I'll tell you about Becky over breakfast."

"That is not a breakfast conversation."

"It all depends on what type of the eggs you want; plain, or fertilized."

"Very funny, young woman."

When the elevator door opened, Steve, Richard, and Rebecca were inside.

Richard said, "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Finch, I would like to take you to breakfast at the top of the Marriott, if that meets with your approval. They have a wonderful buffet that runs through 11 AM. The views of the harbor, and the Ashley River are magnificent."

Joan replied, "Good morning, Richard; that sounds wonderful. My skinflint of a husband was going to take us to Panera's for breakfast. There is nothing wrong with Panera's if you want a quick meal, but if you want a relaxing breakfast, with good company, and interesting conversation, the top of the Marriott sounds fantastic."

Steve said, "Sir, we do not have enough agents to cover the area."

Richard simply stated, "Get them. While you're at it, see if my brother wishes to join his girlfriend. We can take a leisurely drive through the historic area, and along the Promenade while we wait for the arrival of our support team."

"As you wish, sir."

Richard and Rebecca piled into the rear seat, leaving no room for Debbie to join them.

She frowned at them, but Rebecca stuck her tongue out and refused to move.

"Bitch."

"Get your own boyfriend."

"I'll break yours in, when I get him on the mats."

"I'll make him promise not to break your tits, while he's mauling them."

"I just want to make sure he's worthy of you."

"I checked, visually and manually; he's much, much more than worthy."

"Remember what you said Becky, we are not to compare the accomplishments of our boyfriends."

"I wasn't comparing him to anyone, was I, Deb's? I don't know the size of your boyfriend; do you know his size yet?"

"No, not yet anyhow."

Richard moved between the two sisters, and pulled Deborah onto his lap. He knew this was the best way to settle the spat between the two beautiful sisters.

Rebecca was not happy with this situation, because she knew he was at full attention.

Deborah could feel every inch of Richard. She even blushed.

"Ladies, my brother and I have measured each other in that area, and we know the results. We can proudly say that we are within a silly little millimeter of one another. Holden is slightly longer than I am, while I am slightly larger in girth then he is. I would say it all works out well for both of us."

Debbie asked, "What made you want to measure yourselves?"

"Did you ever wonder if your chest was bigger than Rebecca's?"

"No, my chest is bigger than hers."

Rebecca coughed.

Debbie said in a huff, "I am bigger, mom said so."

"Mom would do anything to keep you happy"

"Oh God, she did it again, and I fell for it."

"Yes, you did."

"How much bigger are you?"

"How bad are you going to take it?"

"As badly as I always do, when I find out someone is better than I am."

"Richard, I think you should move closer to the window, or hold my sister so she cannot move. She is going to come out swinging, when I tell her we are both perfect 34C's."

Richard moved his hands up Rebecca's chest and fondled her perfect orbs.

"And beautiful they are, dear."

"Thank you, dear."

"You are lying to me, just to make me feel better."

"Many years from now, when we reach mom and dad, you can ask her the same question, but for now I am telling you that we are both the same size. Our bra size is the same, we wear the same size blouses, and the same size dress. How much more proof do you need?"

"None, I guess."

"What are you three mumbling about?"

Richard replied, "We are playing 'license plate poker', to pass the time, Mr. Finch."

"Okay, I was just wondering."

When he faced forward, Joan said, "You are so gullible!"

"Bite your tongue when you say that about me. Exactly how gullible do you think I am?"

"Do you really want to get into this before you have breakfast; or do you want to wait until after you eat, so you have enough strength to crawl back to the hotel, and have the maids tuck you in?"

"I would never crawl, I would take a public conveyance."

"You are full of shit."

"Watch your'...' Oh, never mind, that's how I got into this mess in the first place, isn't it?"

His grandchildren yelled, "Yes Grandpa."

"Okay, how gullible am I, Joan?"

"How far back do you want me to go?"

"You may as well start at the beginning, I guess."

"This is going to hurt. You know how much you love golf."

"Yes."

"Do you really think your son studied all those hours, every day, and night, plus on the weekends, summers, and school vacation periods? As soon as we were out of the house, his girlfriend of the hour was there to help him study biology, or anatomy in a very intimate way."

"Bullshit! He had to study his ass off to get grades good enough to get into any medical school. He had to go to some Podunk medical school, in New Mexico, because he wasn't up to snuff."

"I kept all his acceptance letters. Would you like to see them?"

"Yes, I would, but for right now, just tell me."

"To ease your heart, he did not get into Harvard or Yale, but he did get into the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, in St. Louis, Chicago, and Northwestern. I don't know why he didn't go to Pennsylvania, I thought that was far enough away from us, but he didn't go to the other three because they were too close to home, and you. He didn't want you showing up at his dorm on the weekends saying, "Let's go golfing!"

That's why he went to the University of Northern New Mexico to get his medical degree. It wasn't all bad, he met Sandy, and they all gave us two wonderful grandchildren."

The children yelled, "Hooray!"

"Be quiet back there."

Debbie shouted, "No I won't. I just found out my dad pulled a fast one on you, grandpa,

and that's the reason my sister and I are here."

Sam replied, "Just think how smart you would be, if your father married a woman from the University of Chicago?"

"We didn't think about that. Our dad might have married someone so smart we would be 1000 times smarter than you, grandpa, and nearly as smart as grandma."