There Must Be A Mistake Ch. 33

Patti and Anna talked for a while, and then Patti realized that she and Laura were twins, and that's why they were constantly knocking heads. It was decided Patti and Laura would take on this project jointly. Mother and daughter finally started getting along much better, and the war between them ended.

Needless to say, I was thrilled. I had the two best computer specialists in the world trying to break the code of stasis. If anyone could do it, they could."

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

It was approaching midnight, and Laura and I were getting giddy, because we were so tired, and talked out. There was a knock on the front door, and Laura opened it.

George simply said, "Be gentle miss."

"What did that idiot of mine do now?"

"You were the one that ordered him to stay out until midnight. He had to do something."

Staggering up the walkway came Adam. She saw his truck parked on the swale, and she became furious. Her attention returned to Adam, he could not take one straight step after another. He did have a large smile on his face when he saw his beloved standing at the door waiting for him. Laura backed up and waited for him to enter.

Stephano was standing at the entrance to the kitchen, watching flames come out of Laura's ears.

He said to himself, "This is not good."

Adam negotiated final step into the house, grabbed the door, closed and locked it. He saw Stephano, and made a poor attempt at saying his last name. He walked towards Laura, said hello baby, and reached in for a kiss. It was the last thing he remembered until morning, when he woke up lying in the entry hall.

Before leaving Stephano said, "I don't remember that move Laura."

"George taught it to me about three years ago. I've been perfecting it ever since."

"In my opinion, I believe you have it down pat."

"I do too dad. Say hello to mom, and if she wants to stop over, please have her call first."

"I promise. I will tell her to call you first. Good night baby."

"Good night daddy."

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

When Adam woke up the following morning his back ached from sleeping on the floor, he had a welt on his neck and he couldn't move his left arm. Before he faced Laura, he wanted to see the condition of his truck, because he didn't remember driving home. He opened the front door and saw it parked on the swale, slightly askew, but without any damage. He gave out a big sigh of relief. Now he had to face her.

As he turned to walk down the hallway towards their bedroom, there were two large suitcases sitting by the wall, packed, and ready for travel.

"Oh shit, I fucked up big time last night."

He moved far enough that he could peek into their bedroom. Laura was dressed in a beautiful pantsuit, and was just finishing putting items into her pocketbook.

"Good morning."

"Shut the fuck up."

"I met friends at the bowling alley, and I got drunk."

"Didn't I just tell you to shut up?"

"I'm sorry about last night."

"I should have killed you, but my father was here, so I couldn't."

"Was getting drunk so terrible a crime that you're leaving me?"

"No, but how did you get home?"

"It was only six blocks."

"It could have been 6 inches, and you could have killed someone. You put the entire project in danger, by driving home, instead of calling home, and asking someone to come and get you. You're the only qualified plumber we have, and you fucked up big time."

"I wasn't thinking very clearly last night."

"You weren't thinking at all. If I knew you were going to be that stupid, I would have sent six agents with you, and sat you down in a bookstore."

"I think you broke my left arm."

"I should have broken your neck. Have one of the agents take you to the hospital and find out. I don't care anymore."

"Please don't say that. If we are not going to get married, I can't be around you. If I can't be around you, I just can't go. I'm not threatening you, and I'm not threatening the program, I'm just stating a fact. I love you too much to be in an enclosed space with you for all those years, without going crazy. Your love for me could not have dissipated over one act of bad judgment, could it?"

"I swear I should have hit you on the head harder. Most of the time, when you get your bell rung you're supposed to remember something. I'm not sure if you ever remember anything I tell you. I ask you not to piss me off, and you insist on pissing me off. I tell you to be careful, and you put your life in danger. What the hell am I supposed to do with you? What day is today?"

"Saturday?"

"It's Sunday you asshole. What is today's date?"

Adam counted on his fingers. He looked to the heavens for help, and he looked at Laura contritely.

"It's December 21."

"Very good, and what are we supposed to do by 2 o'clock today?"

"Go to church?"

"Let's try this on for size instead. Bring the luggage to the spacecraft."

"I remember that now. Can I take a quick shower and change first?"

"How are you going to do that if you can't move your left arm?"

"I can shower by myself, if you can help me dress."

"Brush your teeth, I can smell you from here."

Laura went to the front door, opened it, and called for George.

He shouted, "One minute Laura, I'm asking for volunteers."

George and four men walked up to her as she stood by the front door.

"These men will take the luggage to the car. Then they will help Adam shave, and get him dressed. Do you want to take him to the hospital first, to have his arm x-rayed, or do you want to go to the NEST, check in, get your room assignment, and have us bring your luggage to your assigned room."

"Why do I bother getting out of bed in the morning George, when you already know what I'm going to do for the rest of the day?"

"Well miss, you have to check in personally at the spacecraft and sign documents so the government knows you are leaving of your own free will. Then there is the transfer of your money to Anna and the agents. You have to sign your marriage certificate, if you intend to complete the ceremony. I'll kick your ass if you don't. There's the insurance papers, canceling your policies, and a few hundred other papers that you have to sign and have notarized."

"Why wasn't I told about this?"

"Because they told me, and you didn't need to be bothered with it."

"Do you remember the first time I fell off her horse?"

"It wasn't a horse, it was a pony."

"I told you I was never going to get back on that four-legged monster ever again. I never forgave you for what you did to me the next day, but as I thought about it, it was the funniest thing you ever did to me."

"You went from sitting on a tiny pony one day, to sitting on a giant Clydesdale the next. You grew to love that horse because it was the gentlest animal you ever met. Do you know why it kept nibbling at your hair?"

"It was the shampoo my mother put in it."

"No, I put sugar on top of your head."

"George, you are impossible."

"It kept you riding, didn't it?"

"Yes George, it's certainly did."

A few moments later, they heard Adam scream.

"I think they just put the shirt on over Adam's left arm. What did you do to the poor man last night?"

"The Stevedore Handshake,' just like you taught me."

"I asked you to be gentle, because you told him to stay out late."

"I didn't mind that he stayed out late. I didn't mind that he got drunk. I was really pissed off because he drove home drunk, instead of calling for help."

"I find that acceptable."

The agents dragged Adam out the front door to where George and Laura were speaking. He was not happy.

"Did you have something to say to me Adam?"

Adam's fury dissipated instantly. "Does it look like I have anything to say to you dear?"

"It looked like you had something on your mind, but it seems to have passed now. George, let's take Adam to the hospital, if he opens his mouth on the way there, I may break his right arm."

"Be nice Laura, or you could be knee-deep in shit for a long time."

Adam smiled, until Laura looked his way.

"What are you smiling about Adam?"

"I don't know, it must be gas."

"Gas my ass."

"That's the right place dear."

George said, "The both of you will shut up, this minute, or you will wind up with ball gags in your mouths, until the evening of the 25^th, when you will say I do, or get seriously injured."

"We're still getting married Laura?"

"I have been threatened with my life if we don't."

"There's no one in this world that could threaten you."

"There is one person in this world that can threaten me."

"George, thank you George, I owe you my future."

"No Adam, no one can guarantee your future. I guaranteed you are going to get married. The future is your concern. Don't piss her off. She reacts like I taught her to, and she destroys anything, or anyone that does it. You will keep Doctor Finch very busy if you keep this attitude of yours up. She will rip your balls off, and you will go from a he, to and it, before you scream."

"Thank goodness no firearms are allowed on the spacecraft. She's probably an expert with those too."

"Yes she is, and no you don't want to know her scores."

"What did you do to this woman George? She is unlike any female I've ever known."

"Laura told me her fears, and I made sure they went away. She had children's black belts by the time she was 7, and a full black belt by the time she was 12. When she entered high school, she was already developed, and a beautiful young woman.

A senior, on the football team, made an aggressive pass at her. He was among other football players showing off. Laura almost killed him. A Vice Principal yelled for her to stop and she did, just in time.

No male ever went near her again."

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

At the hospital, the x-rays showed his arm was not broken, only sprained. They wrapped it up, put it in a sling, gave him some pain medication, patted him on his ass, and sent him on his way.

They returned to the SUV, and on the way to the NEST, Adam said, "I'm sorry, I really fucked up. I will try to make you proud of me again."

"I should have broken your arm."

"What more can I say, but I'm sorry?"

"You are so dense Adam. It's going to take you 8 to 10 weeks for that arm to heal properly. If I broke it, it would have been out of the cast in 6 weeks."

"If you two back there don't shut up, I'm going to use tape. Kiss and make up, you loved each other, and you are making me sick."

"George this is none of your business."

"Harry pull over to the side of the road. I have an ass to kick."

"I'm not going to fight you George, you're too old."

"I'm going to have you on your ass on the ground in less than a minute. While you're down, I'm going to hit you, until you beg for mercy. This garbage between you and Adam has got to stop. I know he made a mistake, but you are partially responsible for it. Now get out of the car so I can box your ears like I did when you were a child."

"No. I love you too much George. I forgive you Adam, from the bottom of my heart I forgive you. I will never mention this again. When I marry you on Wednesday, it will be the happiest day of my life. Please try not to piss me off between now and then. I do love you, I have since you grabbed my hand in the theater. No other man ever had the courage to do that to me."

Laura nearly killed him as the first few words exited Adam's mouth. She was happy she restrained herself.

"I don't believe you could have forgiven me with more beautiful words. I give you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner. I promise to share your hopes and dreams. I promise to stand by you in good times and in bad for as long as we both shall live. I love you Laura Valentino. I have from the day we met, and I will for the rest of my life."

George didn't have to look in the vanity mirror to know his charge was crying. He reached into his breast pocket, pulled out a handkerchief and put his hand over the back seat. The next thing he heard was,

"God damn you George."

He just stared straight ahead and smiled.

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

157. The Lineup

There were eight double-wide desks located 50 feet before the bear traps. Eight tables for 64 individuals, or families. They were piled high with paper. Behind the tables were lawyers, insurance representatives, bankers and government functionaries from so many agencies it would take too long to mention to mention them all.

Rod Laver was the notary public, plus the final authority to make sure each document was filled out properly, so no one, especially the United States Government could say any of these people were frauds, and were not going on this spacecraft into unknown parts of the universe.

If the term 'Rank has its privileges' means anything to you, Jennifer and I went first, at table number one. Grayson, Delicious, Newton, and Teddy Thyme were at table number two. Gordon and Zoey Luck or at table number three. The other five members of the primary flight crew stood at the tables, waiting for me to begin. I nodded my head, and every female head of household began signing forms. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

As each of us finished our paperwork, members of the secondary flight crews took our places. Each of us were given rooms on the third level. These rooms were not more spacious, or better equipped than any other room, they were just closer to our stations, if we were needed in case of an emergency. The few remaining rooms on the third floor were given to members of the engineering department, but the bulk of the engineering department, and almost everyone else, went to the fourth floor.

Doctor Finch had two empty rooms next to his, which I didn't understand, even though I knew Sandy was pregnant. It would be a long time before they would be using the room next door for their child, but I still couldn't reconcile that extra empty room. The fourth floor also contained our security agents, except for one, Monty.

Monty was put on the fifth floor next to the gym. I told her it was important for her to be there to break up any fights that may occur. Only a person with her stature could do it, without breaking someone's neck.

She smiled. "What happens when Gordon is up there?"

I told her there was a switch by the entrance to the gym that would cut off all communications. When she was finished with him, she could turn it on and tell us there was an accident and someone was hurt.

She was ecstatic.

The switch was actually for was the PA and television system throughout the ship. Everyone would hear and see what was going on in the gymnasium. We couldn't see baseball, tennis, or football, but these altercations would be the highlights of our time in space.

We also had the scheduled battles between Gray and Gordon to look forward to. Once Gray was in shape, again, there battles could be epic. We were sure other members of the security force would also want to try their skills out, not only on Gordon, but on other members of their 10 team. Laura was also in the mix. It would be interesting to see how well Gordon would fair against her, and she would do against Monty. It appeared that our entertainment schedule was beginning to shape up nicely.

The remainder of the fourth floor was filled with scientists, and our guests from all walks of life.

Laura filled out her forms. Due to her wealth, and the transfers of money through her attorneys it took her nearly 35 minutes to do everything to everyone's satisfaction. When it got to Rod Laver it took another 20 minutes for him to go over everything and notarize each document.

When Adam was asked his name, he replied, "Adam, no middle initial, Schiff. Can I have a room with a window please?" He took two quick steps, one back, and one to his right. He was behind Laura before the punch that would have knocked him to the ground passed the spot where he was standing.

"I ought to kill you for that remark."

"Can't you tell when I am joking, and when I'm not? You are going to have to develop a sense of humor, or I am going to be the first death on that sphere." He held her arms down by her side, kissed her neck, and nibbled on her earlobe.

"I told you I wanted to live with you until I died. I don't want you to be the one that kills me."

She was hit so hard on the back of her head she had to take a step forward. She turned, and looked at Adam as if he was about to turn into a cooked roast beef.

George said, "You have three days, and if you don't start listening to the man, when you walk the plank to get into the spacecraft, you are going to need help."

"You hit me."

"I gave you a love tap. When I hit you, you will know it."

She turned to Adam and asked, "Are you going to protect me from him?"

"Are you crazy? I can't beat you, how am I supposed to beat him?"

"Pussy."

"I don't care if I'm the line of pussies, I'd rather be alive than dead."

"You are very smart man Adam. If you let her control your life, she will crush you to death. Stand up for yourself, I don't care if you have to sleep in a chair every night every night. She will be in the wrong, and when she realizes it, she will come to you and apologize."

"I don't like you George."

"Would you like to start here, and now, in front of all these people, Laura? I'm willing. Either you get off your high horse, and start living like a human being, or go back to your mother and live in Glens Fall for the rest of your life. You are becoming like your mother. Remember how you ran away from her? Remember how sick you thought she was? You and Robert ran away leaving Anna to take care of her. Who is going to take care of you now? If you keep acting like this Adam is not going to put up with it. Adam has to go on this trip because of his qualifications. They don't need a mentally ill person on this trip. The computer can do your job."

"George, you're fired."

"Thank you ma'am, I don't want to watch the woman I love allow herself to become so mentally ill that all the money in the world will not be able to keep her out of a mental institution."

As George walked away, the agents surrounding her said as one, "Miss Valentino, we quit."

She replied, "You can't, you're under contract."

Victor said, "You are leaving in three days, two of which are holidays; sue us."

Laura started crying so hard she couldn't see. Adam didn't approach her. She fucked up, and she had to find a way to fix.

Laura turned towards him, and asked, "Please help me. Get George back here so I can apologize to him. I can't lose him, he is part of my heart, and part of my soul. Run after him and get him back for me Adam, please."

"Baby, you are the runner. I can't run 150 feet without stopping for air. If you want George back, it's up to you to get him."

"You're lying to me, I've seen you run before."

"It was probably for a beer, and the longer you argue with me, the further George is getting away from you. Make a decision Laura, your life is falling apart in front of you."

"You are a real bastard."

"If that's what you think of me, don't marry me." He started walking away from her also.

Laura cried out, "Adam!"

Adam didn't turn, he just kept walking straight ahead.

Stephano saw his daughter standing alone, crying her heart out. He ran over to her, and crushed her body to his.

"What's going on baby, what did you do?"

"I threw my life away dad. I got angry and I fired George."

"After 21 years, you fired George? Are you out of your mind?"

"That's exactly what Adam said, before I called him a bastard. He said if that's the way I felt about him not to marry him. He walked away."