Peace Out (The Futures Trilogy Book 1) (14 page)

OLIVIA

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Olivia zipped her coat a little higher. The sun was bright and the sky was vast expanse of blue, but the air was still a tad chilly. She walked down the ramp, eyes searching for familiar faces.

“Grandma! Grandma!” her grandchildren shouted.

“Mom,” Mark called, waving. Olivia found herself hugged a dozen times. The children did not mention Joe. Olivia was glad they had been prepped for meeting her.

Bethany
’s eyes were red as she gave Olivia a kiss on the cheek. “It is so good to see you.”

“How are you?” Jake asked.

“Let’s talk later,” Olivia said. “I’m hungry. Where are we eating?”

They had lunch at the Red Dog Saloon. Celia had called ahead, so several tables were pushed together for them. Afterward, Celia and the other spouses took all the kids to the steamboat for a cruise around the channel. Olivia and her children walked to a nearby coffee shop and found some open couches. “OK, Mom,” Jake said, after drinks and desserts were ordered. “How are you?”

“I’m not OK,” she said. “I may never be OK again. But I have decided that I am not going to Peace Out.”

“Thank God,” Bethany said with relief.

“Amen,” Jake said.

Mark took Olivia
’s hand.

“I didn
’t want Dad to go alone,” Olivia continued, “but he left without me. While he was in a coma, I could still pretend that he would live long enough for us to Peace Out together. And then he died. And I realized that I never truly faced the fact that Dad was going to die. By choosing to Peace Out, I didn’t have to grieve. I didn’t have to accept reality. I could make my own reality. I could choose my own ending.” Olivia sighed. “I miss him so much. I am still in the process of accepting that he is gone. But a dear friend said some things I needed to hear. She showed me what I have to live for.” Olivia smiled at her children.

“Will you come stay with us?” Mark asked.

“No,” Olivia said. “I need to be at home. To go through Dad’s things. To be by myself for a while.”

“You are welcome any time,” Mark said.

“My house too,” Bethany said. “The kids have been asking for bunk beds anyway. We’ll make room for you!”

“We will always be here for you,” Jake said.

“I know,” Olivia replied.

Olivia packed the last of Joe
’s clothes into a box for the Salvation Army. The children had been by earlier that week to choose a memento. Jake picked a tweed jacket with leather elbow patches. Mark picked a soft sweater Olivia had knitted for Joe one Christmas. Bethany kept one of Joe’s hats. Olivia had started wearing Joe’s old bathrobe in the evenings. It still smelled like him. Olivia sealed the box and slid it against the wall with the others. Mark had promised to be by that weekend to pick up them up.

Olivia could hardly believe it had been two months since Joe passed. The first few nights at home she hadn
’t been able to sleep, the emptiness in the bed next to her threatening to swallow her up. She moved to the guest room and it got better. The house held so many memories of them. Memories that she cherished, but that served as constant reminders of Joe. Sometimes they were comforting; sometimes she could barely stand to be in the house.

The dining room table looked too empty with just one plate and one cup. She had started eating in front of the television. She kept it on all day too, just so the house wouldn
’t be so quiet.

The children had been wonderful, visiting as often as they could, checking in with her daily. She still felt like she was drifting, though. That her primary reason for existence had gone. Olivia was reading a lot about Enclaves in the area. They seemed to do a good job at filling the hours, at ensuring a constant community. Despite the big trip on the Lady Luck, there was still plenty left for her buy in.

In the time she had been back, the friends she and Joe shared faded away. No time for a widow when everything they did was in couples. Olivia was hurt by it until she recalled doing the same thing to another friend. Without her husband it just became too awkward to have her around. Olivia Indexed her and learned that she Peaced Out a year ago.

And now I
’ve become her, Olivia thought. How awful I was to let my friendship with her fall apart when she needed a friend the most. How selfish.

Olivia put one hand to her necklace. The hand blown glass pendant held a small amount of Joe
’s ashes. The artisan in Juneau made it right in front of her, swirling in different colors. Olivia wondered how Ned was doing. They hadn’t talked since he called to let her know Sophie was gone. Olivia had known something was wrong. She and Sophie had spoken every day since she returned to Chicago. Then Sophie missed two days in a row and hadn’t returned Olivia’s messages. Ned had looked so broken. She thought about calling him many times, but with the time difference to Sydney she never did. It was three weeks since Sophie’s death. She tried to remember how she had been feeling three weeks after Joe died.

It really was too bad that she had never been a pet person, Olivia thought. Taking care of a dog or cat would give her something to do. She decided to read a little bit more about the Enclaves. The phone rang.

“Hi Bethany,” she said, smiling at her. Bethany was in a slip, standing in her bedroom.

“Hi Mom,” she said, smiling back. “How are you?”

“Just doing some reading. How are you?”

“We
’re good,” she said. “I’m trying to decide what to wear for the benefit tonight. Are you really OK with watching the kids? I can still call a sitter.”

“Don
’t you dare,” Olivia said. “I’ve been looking forward to it all week!”

“So have you thought about taking a dance class?”

“By myself?” Olivia said.

“Not ballroom. Maybe ballet? Or how about a hobby. You cross-stitched all those samplers for the kiddos.”

“Maybe,” Olivia said. “But I don’t have any new grandkids coming, so who would I cross-stitch for?”

“Pillows? Napkins?”

“I’m not going to be one of those fussy old ladies with embroidered pillows and doilies on every surface and trunks of quilts and afghans.”

“Well, what do you like to do? You need to find something.”

“I’ve been looking at Enclaves.”

“Why? I don
’t know if you have figured this out, but my brothers and I are competing to get you to live with us.”

Not Jake, Olivia thought dryly. “Free babysitting on demand?”

“Come on, Mom,” Bethany said. “Don’t pick a fight.”

“I am perfectly capable of living on my own. If I choose to do it in this house or in an Enclave, that is my decision.”

“Of course it is,” Bethany said.

“You all have done such a good job of letting me know I am loved and wanted. I truly appreciate it, I do. But think of what it would actually be like with me living in your third bedroom. The kids sharing a room, having to give up their privacy for me. An extra person at everything. It will be crowded. There will be conflicts. Maybe in a month or year or two it would be untenable. Then what? What will happen to our relationship when I am gently told I need to find another living situation?”

“Mom, it would never be like that.”

“You say that now,” Olivia said. “I
’d rather not risk it.”

Bethany was silent for a few moments. “OK, Mom,” she said. “So which dress?” She held them up.

“The green one,” Olivia said. “It brings out your eyes.”

Olivia was in the middle of washing her breakfast dishes when the phone rang. She dried her hands on a towel and went to answer.

“Ned,” she said, surprised.

“Hi Olivia,” he said.

“It’s good to see you,” she said. “I’ve been meaning to call.”

“I
’ve been meaning to call too,” he said. “It’s been so long.”

“How are you?”

“I’m OK,” he said. “I’ve thrown myself back into work. It has helped. How are you?”

“Lonely,” she said. “There is something so pitiful about making dinner for one. I
’ve starting making a crock pot of stew on Sundays and eating it all week.”

“I
’ve just been eating out,” Ned admitted. “I’m in the States for a case, though. I was wondering if I could come to visit.”

“You
’re in Chicago?” she asked.

“Atlanta,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want you to go out of your way,” Olivia said.

“It wouldn
’t be,” he said. “My firm has a branch there.”

“Oh, OK,” Olivia said. “Then that would be great! I
’ll make you a home cooked meal.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Ned said.

ANNA AND SCOTT

Pitchman: Is Pawpaw talking to the tree again?

Pitchwoman: Does Nanny smell like stale urine?

Pitchman: Does that crazy guy panhandling near Tompkins Square give you the creeps?

Pitchwoman: Then we
’ve got the product for you!

Pitchman: Peace Out works like magic! Just pour a little on and shazam!

Pitchwoman: Cures Pawpaw’s Alzheimer’s!

Pitchman: Solves Nanny
’s incontinence issues!

Pitchwoman: Keeps the streets nice and clean!

Voiceover: May have unintended consequences. Keep out of reach of children.

Saturday Night Live Sketch, 6/13/2028

The summer was nearly over. Anna’s flight to Newark left in two days. She was surprised to realize that she would miss Scott. Anna had never tired of him, and as far as she could tell, he had never tired of her. But it wasn’t worth it. Even if they tried for long distance, Scott would never be her Mr. Right. He was a devout agnostic and wanted his kids raised that way too. There would be others to take his place. Anna recalled flirting with a student working at the library at the end of the semester. What was his name? She couldn’t remember. She had been with someone else at the time, so it had been left at flirting. Anna was very strict about her monogamy. That guy might be a good replacement, she thought. She wondered if he still worked at the library.

Anna was looking forward to her last night with Scott. He had something special planned. A surprise. Anna generally hated surprises, but decided to go with it. She had one for him too. She and Marissa had gone to the Pleasure Chest together and picked out some naughty little outfits.

“Dom is going to have a heart attack,” Anna said.

“If he does, he
’ll die smiling,” Marissa replied.

“Are you guys going to stay together?” Anna asked.

“Yes,” Marissa said. “He’s coming to my house for Thanksgiving. I’m going to his for Christmas.”

“Sounds serious,” Anna said.

“Don’t tell anyone, but we’ve kind of looked at rings.”

“What! But you
’re so young!” Anna exclaimed. “Do you really want to get tied down so soon?”

“When you meet the right guy, it isn
’t being tied down, it’s getting to spend the rest of your life with your best friend. Why not start as soon as possible?” Marissa held up a lacy white teddy. “What about this?”

“Too bridal,” Anna said.

“Maybe this?” Marissa pointed to a black leather outfit with lots of straps.

“I don
’t know if he’ll be able to get you out of that one,” Anna said.

Marissa found a turquoise and black bustier with matching panties. “What about these?”

“I like them,” Anna said.

“What are you going to get?”

“Maybe this.” Anna selected a black satin teddy and a pair of black thigh highs with a seam up the back. “I can wear it under my dress tonight.”

“I take it you two aren
’t staying together,” Marissa said.

“No,” Anna said. “We
’re just having fun.”

Nina Jenkins collected their blue coat, badges, and tablets. There was a big farewell luncheon in the dining hall. The interns had a chance to get up and talk about their experiences and thank their mentors. Then Nina made the announcement that Peace Out LA was proud to be making offers to 100% of the interns. Everyone cheered at that. Patrick had given Anna the details in his office

“As a second summer you can have your choice of geography. Of course, I’d like to have you back here, but you should feel free to try another city. Wherever you go, you will have more responsibility, handle intakes, participate more in Facilitation.”

“Thank you Patrick,” Anna said. “Working for Peace Out is what I
’ve wanted since the career fair my first year of college. Now that I’ve done it, though, I don’t know if this is the right job for me. It is so much pressure. What if you hadn’t noticed how that guy was with his mom? I didn’t pick up on it until you pointed it out. What if he’d just stayed with her for the week and Peaced her Out? I don’t know if I want that kind of responsibility.”

“That is why you receive so many years of training before you are allowed to handle a Facilitation solo,” Patrick said. “Our protocols involve so many safety measures and double checks because we don
’t want anyone using Peace Out for the wrong reasons. I know that the Thibodaux experience was traumatic for you. I’ve seen how you are with our new intakes, very vigilant, very cautious. It just makes you better.”

“I appreciate that, Patrick, I really do. I
’ve always thought of myself as someone who can accomplish anything. But I don’t think I can do what you do.”

“Give it some time,” Patrick said. “You have until the end of January to accept the offer, so don
’t reject it now.”

“OK,” Anna said.
She knew she wouldn’t change her mind, but she didn’t want to disappoint Patrick.

Anna
took the rail home by herself. Scott was supposed to pick her up at seven. Anna put on her special purchases and eyed herself in the mirror. She checked to make sure the seams were straight on her stockings. She pulled the stretchy black dress over her head. It had a deep cowl neck, dropping low in the front and back. Silver heels completed the ensemble. Anna applied some lipstick and waited for Scott.

The doorbell rang promptly at seven. Scott was wearing the suit he had worn the first day they met.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said. “You look pretty good yourself.”

A black convertible waited at the end of the driveway.

“Nice car,” Anna said.

“Thanks,” Scott said. “Some friends from Stanford were coming to LA so I asked them to drive it down for me.”

“Five years on BL?” Anna raised an eyebrow.

“Then my mother got a job as an executive assistant and married the executive.”

“Ah,” Anna said.

Scott took her to the only three-starred Michelin restaurant in Los Angeles, a sushi place called Hiroko. Anna had never been. The food was amazing, as was the sake. When they got back into the car, Scott programmed the autopilot.

“Where are we going now?” Anna asked.

“That’s my surprise,” Scott said. “It will be a little bit of a drive, so get comfortable.” Scott and Anna made out blissfully, through tacit agreement keeping it rated PG. There was so much of the night left to them.

The car pulled into a little bed and breakfast north of San Diego. The proprietor was a plump woman in her mid
-fifties. Scott gave her his thumbprint and she gave him a key to the room. It was on the second floor of the old house, with a huge four-poster bed and a window overlooking the ocean.

“This is beautiful,” Anna said.

“My bid to get you to stay with me,” Scott replied. He gave Anna a sideways glance. “Just kidding.”

Anna let it go. “I need to use the restroom,” she said. “I
’ll be right back.”

Anna
closed the door and shimmied out of her dress. She unbraided her hair and it tumbled around her shoulders. She checked herself over in the mirror a final time. When she emerged, Scott was looking out the window.

“I
’m ready,” she said.

Scott turned around and smiled.