Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2) (26 page)

“Well, I wish he hadn’t. I did not enjoy being under his thumb at all.”

“Nor I,” Mark admitted. “But it makes me work much harder on my music so that Chevaux doesn’t drop me. Being under Jules’, my father-in-law’s, and Beth’s thumb was more than even I could bear. Now I just have two of those nightmares.”

“I don’t know how you survive it.”

“I spend most of my time in Europe. I only go home to record my music. Then I’m paraded about like a fine pony for all to admire as I smile happily in pictures holding my beloved wife and my ersatz son.”

“Is Beth better now that she has what she wants?”

His face darkened. “There is no ‘better’ for Beth. There is no path to happiness. Now that I’ve dealt with her father, I believe he’s to blame for her mental instability. She only grows worse now she’s back in his loving arms.”

“Then you must focus on finding your joy of life in music,” she advised.

He groaned. “I wish I could, but everything is so technically difficult now. Were you able to find joy singing that impossible aria?”

“Yes, I was. Once I sang from memory, the technical difficulties disappeared and the joy returned.”

“Perhaps we can play together...”

“I don’t sing anymore,” she replied. “But perhaps I can write you a beautiful composition.”

He looked as if he were about to burst into tears. “But Adam said you were well and returning to school.”

“I am well, and I’m going to begin the long, arduous study of writing compositions.”

“And your voice?”

“It’s not what it was.”

“Oh, Amanda, I’m so sorry!”

“I’m not. I’d already planned to change my focus to compositions. This just makes it easier. No one can distract me with impossible arias again. To be honest, it’s not the scars in my throat that would prevent me from returning to the stage, it’s the scars of betrayal. I have a great fear of petty musicians and stagehands now.”

“You have just reason. You were treated abominably at the school, and then they attempted to murder you at the opera.”

“I would like to believe they only meant to sicken me. The girl was following instructions provided by others. It’s possible she confused the dosage.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“Not enough to ever step on another stage.”

His fingers ran beneath her chin. “Having someone try to kill you has to be life-changing.”

“Yes, well, this wasn’t the first time someone has tried to kill me, but it was the closest I’ve come to actually dying. I’d rather like a career that keeps me safely in my house for many years. It will give me time to recover.”

“Would you welcome an occasional interruption from an old friend?”

“If that friend is you, absolutely.”

He smiled. “Remember when we flew together last time and you were so determined to dislike me and I was equally determined to prove I could be a gentleman?”

“Yes, and I’m glad I finally stopped being stubborn and let myself see that beneath your superficial charm there was a very good and lovable person.”

His hand slid onto her leg. “Who is once again struggling to be a gentleman,” he admitted.

She sighed and lifted his hand and kissed it. “I will never forget what we had, but we can’t go back. Our lives have moved on, and while I hope you will always be my friend, we cannot be lovers.”

“Because I’m married?”

“I don’t want Beth in my life ever again.”

He closed his eyes to hide his pain.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“No... I was being selfish and delusional. I love you, Amanda. The last thing I would want is for Beth to enter your life again.”

When they landed, Mark kissed her goodbye on the plane and waited another thirty minutes as he “assisted” the pretty flight attendant in her cleanup duties.

Amanda’s moment of sadness ended as she stepped from the secured area. A familiar mob of people waited to greet her. Andrew, Sondra, Martin, Bastion, Pinchot, Richart, Jacque, and Simon were all there to welcome her home.

To her amazement, they all managed to crush into the Rolls. Sondra and Martin rode up front with Andrew, and the rest rode in the back with her, fussing over her with such love and adoration she wondered if this was how a newborn baby felt.

When she stepped into her beautiful home, she noticed that the antiques were back in their rightful places. Before the opening night of the opera, Andrew had resisted putting them back, finding one excuse after another why that day was not suitable for the task.

“Finally ran out of excuses,” she teased Andrew as she picked up a statue.

Bastion removed the statue from her hands and rubbed it with his handkerchief as he scolded her.  “Never touch the antiques unless you are wearing gloves. The oils on your hands could permanently change the color of the stone.”

“Were the antiques kept locked up to protect them from me?” she asked in surprise.

“No,” Bastion assured her. “Although had I realized you were prone to picking them up, I would have lectured you on the care of antiques before now.”

She laughed. “Well, can I put my hands on you?”

“Are you implying I’m an antique?” he challenged with his most stern and disapproving face.

“No, but you are valuable, and I presently want to hug you—or I did before you acquired that fierce glare. Now I wish to run from the room.”

His scowl disappeared, and before she could run away, he pulled her into his arms. “We have missed you so!”

“What? Was I not the most disruptive student you’ve ever had?” she challenged.

“Yes,” Simon agreed. “And it’s been terribly dull since you left.”

Bastion went to the cellar to select their wine and returned with a new lecture. “Now that you intend to live here, you have a responsibility to replenish the wine cellar.”

“Well, I hope you’re willing to assist me in the selection of wines, because I haven’t a clue.”

He sighed as if she had placed a great burden at his feet, then said, “If I must, then for Don Carlos I will see it done.”

She kissed him on the cheek and declared, “That was from Don Carlos.”

Simon laughed. “That was not how Don Carlos kissed.”

Bastion’s eyes flickered to Martin and back to Simon with that fierce, scolding face. Simon grimaced and mouthed a silent apology before deftly turning the focus. “Amanda, I hope you have kept up with your lessons during your six-month sabbatical.”

She stared at him in shock.

“I can see the answer is no. Well, how much have you forgotten in that time?”

She frowned. This wasn’t exactly how she wanted her welcome home party to go, but before she could suggest they wait until tomorrow to begin torturing her, Bastion came to her rescue.

“If she forgot everything, then we’ll simply have to teach her again.”

All three of her professors insisted it was too much work.

“Well then, get some help. Find some students who like Amanda and will help her catch up on her studies!”

Amanda was about to observe that task would be harder than teaching her from scratch when Richart declared it a great idea and opened the door, letting in a small mob of smiling students.

Bresnan and his European group made up the majority of the mob, but to her surprise and concern, Amy was in the group as well.

She wished Luke were there to protect her, then wondered when Adam would stop torturing her and take his place.

“Well, if you had followed my wishes, Mark Hammer would be at your side right now,” Adam scolded.

I don’t want Mark. I want you.

“You aren’t ready yet,” Adam insisted.

I’m holding out for you, Adam, and I can be very stubborn.

“I’ve noticed.” He laughed. “But remember, you taught me much of what I know, so I believe I possess a formidable stubborn streak as well.”

She sighed and turned her attention to Bresnan, who approached her and kissed both cheeks. “You look very well,” he said. “I tried to visit you in the hospital, but the police would only allow people on a very short list in to see you. I, unfortunately, had not deserved the right to be on it.”

She smiled. “Well, I’m starting a new list, and the paper is very long this time.”

“How is your voice?” he asked, and she noticed Richart looked up from his conversation, clearly wanting to know the same thing.

She asked for everyone’s attention. “Bresnan just asked me about my voice. Since you are my friends, let me tell you all at once. My voice is adequate for speaking, but my range and tone quality have been greatly lessened. I do not expect I will ever sing again.”

The finality of her words brought unexpected tears to her eyes. She thought she had moved beyond this loss and accepted it, but the devastation on the faces before her caused her initial grief to return.

She breathed in and forced a smile to her face. “But that is perhaps a blessing. Now I will remain focused on composing and not be tempted to personally sing all my lead female roles.”

They rewarded her attempt at humor with smiles and cheers. She relaxed as her ship moved back into sunny waters and away from the rain clouds that threatened to bury them all. “And I have not studied a note during my time off and have probably forgotten half of what I learned, so I will greatly appreciate your assistance in catching up.”

“I will play all your compositions if you’ll let me play your piano. It is far superior to the one in the practice hall,” Bresnan said.

“If you want to stay here, I’ve got a room open,” she offered. She then looked at Andrew. “I do have a room open, don’t I?”

“Two. The second guest room is also open.”

Everyone was now begging for the second room.

“You can get yourself into trouble faster than anyone I know,” Adam teased. “Tell them you can’t choose, so the best you can offer is to add more beds if they are willing to share the rooms.”

Her suggestion was readily met, and when the eight students went upstairs and saw their palatial rooms, they screamed and hugged each other. All except Bresnan, who simply smiled at her. “I hope you don’t regret this. I’ll try to keep them in line.”

“Then you aren’t upset that you have to share your room?”

“No, this is better. This way, I get the credit for getting us all in here. Otherwise, I’d soon be hated and reviled for living a privileged life.”

Do I really want to bring people into my house who hate me?

He must have noticed the momentary doubt in her face. “I’ll take them aside tonight and set up house rules, the first being anyone who is rude to you will be tossed from the house.”

“Add Andrew, Sondra and Martin to your rule, and make sure they understand that Andrew and Sondra are not servants. This is their home. If Sondra cooks them food or Andrew drives them somewhere, it’s because they are nice people.”

Bresnan smiled. “I will be certain they understand. We’ll write the rules down and I’ll give you a copy later. If you see anything missing, let me know.”

“Thank you,” she said, and kissed him on the cheek.

Bresnan politely escorted her to the door, then whistled at the celebrating pups and told them to gather around. “We need to make up house rules so no bad apple gets us kicked out of this place.”

Amanda listened outside the door.

“And don’t you doubt for a second that if we send Amanda into a relapse, Bastion will have us packed and living in the dungeon before we can say ‘faux pas’.”

She stopped listening and returned downstairs. She was glad Bastion was getting to play the heavy instead of herself.

Bastion and the professors were huddled in conversation when she joined them. They were evidently voting on whether the students would or would not be allowed to stay.

“Do I get a vote?”

“You may provide an opinion, but they are my students and the decision is mine,” Bastion warned her.

“Then first I should apologize for not asking your permission before offering.”

“Apology accepted, but please remember to do so in the future.”

“Secondly, I would like to observe that unless you forced them to come today, they genuinely seem to want to be my friends, and I’d like to have some friends at school. Otherwise it’s going to be a long four years.”

“I agree, but there are a few in the group we have concerns about.”

“Bresnan is upstairs right now creating house rules that enable the group to police their own and kick out anyone being rude to me before you are forced to intervene and make them all return.”

“If Bresnan is willing to take control, then I will allow this experiment,” Bastion said. “However, I will call them back if I see any deterioration in your health or your mood, or if jealousy causes the remainder of my students to misbehave.”

Bastion repeated his warning when the happy students returned downstairs.

“We considered that, sir, and we think we have a solution. The eight positions should be decided by you and the professors as a reward for students who get along and help others.”

“You do realize that means you will not be spending your entire residence in this house?” Bastion challenged.

“Honestly, sir, if we aren’t willing to share, then you’ll be pulling us back within six weeks. But for a shot to live here, I believe everyone will try to be on their best behavior. I know I will.”

“Then we will try it. Have you a suggestion as to how long a student should be allowed to remain?”

“Six months, unless they do something to get kicked out. And given the long list of things that result in immediate expulsion, you’ll probably be asked to select someone every month.”

“May I see the list?”

Amanda snuggled in beside him so she could read the list as well. It was very strict. Failure to pick up dirty clothes or make the bed was grounds for expulsion.

“Wow, I’d be kicked out of here in a day,” she admitted.

“This is your house, so you can do what you want, but we’re your guests, and we’ll be good guests or we’ll return to the dorms. There’s no reason why you or the Johnsons should have to endure any of our bad habits.”

Bastion handed the list back to him. “I suspect I will be filling the slots every day, but we shall attempt this behavioral experiment. If nothing else, it should make you aware of what a slovenly group you are.”