Portal (18 page)

Rupert drove. It gave Olivia some time to mull things over. There was definitely something up with Arizona just as Glenda had warned. Her passion for hockey and her aggressive behavior was worrying. It was like she was a Stevens again, but that was surely impossible? She must be having a hard time dealing with this change in herself. Her friends must wonder what was happening, too. There had also been a significant change in the relationship between Arizona and Kellan. She seemed totally attached to him, which was unusual for both her Arizonas. Neither had exhibited a strong attachment to anyone before. Neither had ever shown an interest in boys. She wondered what Kellan made of all this. She would need to get him on his own and talk to him later. Why had she picked on Justin? Or perhaps it was Justin who picked on her? She would have to get to the bottom of this puzzle and deal with it before things got really out of hand again, as it had today.

As they pulled into the driveway Kellan asked, “Is it ok if I bring her up to her room and get her to her bed?”

“Thanks, Kellan, that’s nice of you. We appreciate all your help today,” said Rupert as Kellan let himself out with Arizona still in his arms and carried her upstairs.

“She’s like a baby!” Ella laughed.

“Ella, would you like a snack and then you can play Guitar Hero with Harry for a while?” Olivia suggested trying to distract her young daughter.

“Yes, please,” said Ella excitedly, “Here’s Harry now.”

They went to the kitchen together and sat down.

“Is Kellan upstairs with Arizona?” Harry asked.

“Yes, he carried her up the stairs like a baby,” giggled Ella.

“I should give him a break. Come on, Ella. Bring your snack with you. Let’s go up and read the big baby a bed time story.”

Ella got up and followed Harry up the stairs.

Olivia looked at Rupert with worry, “I guess we should try to find out as much as we can from Kellan?”

Rupert nodded as they heard Kellan come down the stairs and walk into the kitchen. He sat down, looking exhausted.

“What happened to your hand, Kellan?” Rupert asked, pointing to his right hand. It was scratched up with dried blood around numerous cut marks. Kellan looked down examining his hand and smiled, “Your daughter is strong.”

“Arizona did that?” Olivia asked in surprise.

“She didn’t mean to. It’s been a difficult day for her. She used me as a security blanket, I don’t mind.”

“Let me clean the cuts for you and put some bandages on,” said Olivia as she rummaged in the medicine cabinet for the first aid kit. She found it, came back and took Kellan’s hand in hers. It was worse than it had looked from a distance. There was still a nail attached to one of the cuts. She took a pair of tweezers and gently pried it out. She held it up for Rupert and Kellan to see and shrugged her shoulders. Then she cleaned out each cut, applied Neosporin and put bandages on the bigger cuts.

“My apologies, Kellan. Arizona really did some damage here.”

“I should go back up to her. She was asleep when Harry came up. She’ll freak out if I’m not there when she wakes up. It’s probably best if I hang out in her room tonight.”

“I guess that’s ok. Keep the door open so we can hear you if she or you need anything. Kellan, thank you again, for being so thoughtful. I’ll call your Dad and let him know what’s going on.”

Olivia continued, “It would be useful for us to know what happened in the parking lot to cause the row with Justin. Harry was able to fill us in with the part from when he arrived at the scene, but could you tell us what happened before that? What started it?”

“I should really head back up, the details aren’t important. Sufficient to say that Justin was being, well Justin and was winding Arizona up. She got so angry that she grabbed her stick to go and hit him. Harry arrived in time to help me deal with the situation. I held her back while Harry dealt with Justin.”

Kellan got up to leave. The last thing he wanted to do was discuss his kissing their daughter with them, especially since they had just given him permission to watch over her. That would be voided instantaneously.

“I’ll bring you up something to eat, Kellan,” said Olivia as he was leaving the room.

“Thanks,” said Kellan and left.

Harry came back to the kitchen with Ella.

“Well, that was boring, wasn’t it, Harry! She’s sleeping. We had to just sit there quietly and watch her. I want some more to drink.”

Harry laughed and got her some water.

“Here, drink this and then get Guitar Hero set up. I’ll be through in a minute.”

Ella purposefully marched off to the family room.

“Harry, what’s going on between Kellan and Arizona? They seem inseparable,” Rupert remarked as Harry rummaged around.

“You noticed?” he laughed. “Yes, I’ve noticed a change this week, mainly from Arizona. Not sure what Kellan makes of it, but he does not seem averse to it. He hasn’t said anything to me, but then this has been a busy week. I’ll try to pin him down for a chat later.”

“I said that he could hang out in Arizona’s room. I hope that was ok,” Olivia wondered.

“It’ll be fine. Kellan adores Arizona, always has. He’ll look after her.”

“Well, I need to pop into work and I was hoping to take Dad with me. Will you be ok with the munchkin? We’ll be on our cells. Call us if Arizona wakes or if there’s any change in her condition and we’ll head right back.”

“Sure, no problem. It’s almost bedtime for Ella anyway. We’ll play a couple of games and then I’ll put her to bed.”

“Great, thank you. I’ll go and say goodbye and then we’ll head off.”

They took Rupert’s bike. Olivia didn’t really need to head into work but she decided that she really did need to talk to Ariele. She had to try to figure out what was going on. Glenda had said that Arizona and Ariele had a conversation earlier this week and that she had a feeling that something was up. As she clung on to Rupert’s leather jacket, Olivia’s thoughts wandered back to their ride to the airport after their first night in their cozy London flat.

It had been a rainy, cold drive to Heathrow that October afternoon. She had clung on to Rupert wondering if this was going to be the last time that they would be with one another. When they reached Heathrow she had hung on to Rupert’s hand with the same desperation her daughter had shown today. She wouldn’t let go and Rupert had tried to persuade her to stay. But she had to go back for her two daughters. She had crumpled into a heap at the thought of leaving Rupert behind.

“Ollie, let me come with you,” Rupert had pleaded.

“Come with me?” Ollie mused, surprised. It was an option that she had strangely not considered.

“Yes, there is no reason I can’t get a ticket and we do this together.”

It had never occurred to her to take him back with her. What would be the harm? She wanted to share all of her with him, all her various aspects.

“Rupert, can you really come with me? I don’t want to leave you here.”

He nodded relieved that she was not parting from him again. They purchased another ticket and Olivia found herself happily sitting next to Rupert on the long flight back to California, holding on to him tightly.

As they pulled into the Moreaus’ driveway they saw Glenda waiting on the porch, Olivia had called her before they set off.

“Hi, Olivia, Rupert! Ariele is upstairs. Do you want to come in for a coffee with me first? You look like you need it.”

“A beer for me, Glenda, would be even better,” said Rupert with a chuckle.

“A beer it is! Wine for you, Olivia?”

“Yes, please, that sounds perfect,” she replied thankfully.

They congregated in Glenda’s small but cozy kitchen, perching themselves on the barstools.

“You guys look beat,” Glenda remarked as she handed out the drinks. Olivia sighed and nodded in agreement as Rupert put his arm around her and pulled her closer.

“You were right, Glenda, something has changed with Arizona. I think she has had some recall or perhaps it’s intuition that’s responsible for the changes we are noticing. I am hoping its intuition rather than recall. I couldn’t even begin to explain recall, but what you said at the office seems to point to recall though.”

Rupert looked over at Glenda and asked, “Has Ariele mentioned anything?”

“No, she’s been very secretive about her conversations with Arizona. They seem to have become close lately. She has now been included in Arizona’s circle of friends and seems more happy and settled.”

“Do you think she’ll share anything with us?” Rupert wondered.

“Not willingly. You’re welcome to talk to her though,” said Glenda taking a sip of her coffee.

“That would be great. I promise not to upset her in any way. I’ll keep it as casual as I can.”

Glenda nodded at Olivia appreciatively, thankful that she understood that interrogating Ariele would just have the same effect, as it always did when Olivia tried it on her own teens.

“I’ll go and get her,” said Glenda and went up the stairs.

Olivia looked at Rupert and said, “Hon, perhaps you should do most of the talking? Teens tend to freeze up on me.”

Rupert chuckled, “The girls maybe, but I know the boys are more relaxed around you.”

Glenda came back to the kitchen with Ariele who looked withdrawn and suspicious.

“Hi, Dr. Sssss… Darley.”

“This is Arizona’s dad, Rupert.” Glenda interrupted. Everyone noticed Ariele rolling her eyes at this.

“Why the attitude, Ariele?” Glenda asked.

Ariele took a deep breath, “Mom, you know as well as I do that this is not Arizona’s dad, not her real one.”

“Ariele, this is complicated and not something we have time to discuss with you right now. Did you say anything to Arizona about Rupert not being her real dad?”

“No, of course not,” said Ariele defiantly shaking her head.

Olivia sighed in relief and Rupert added, “Ariele, this is a complex situation. We need to know what you know about what’s happened over the last few days. It will help us help Arizona. She is very distraught at the moment.”

“I don’t know anything more than I already told you at the hospital. It would probably help Arizona if you two explained to all of us what’s going on,” said Ariele with a challenge.

Olivia ignored the teenage tantrum. “This is not the time for it. I don’t fully understand it myself. I need to figure it all out. For now, keep what you know to yourself. Do not share it with Arizona. It will do her more harm than good.” She was grateful to see Ariele nodding as she took a cookie and left the kitchen. No one spoke until Ariele’s bedroom door banged shut.

“Olivia, what’s going on? You haven’t shared anything with me, surely you brought me over to do more than just crunch data coming off the collider unit,” Glenda asked carefully studying Olivia’s expression.

“Glenda, I’m sorry but that’s all there is to your project for now. The data is extremely sensitive and I wouldn’t trust anyone else to it. There is something strange going on, but I can’t explain it to you because I don’t know what’s happening myself. Give me some time.”

“Can I ask you something else, Ollie? I was in Larry’s office the other day and he mentioned the ‘October Project’ to someone on the phone. I’m guessing it was you? I looked it up in our database but there was no output. Is this a project you’re working on? Is it what I’m working on? Does it have something to do with all this?”

“Glenda, I’m not in a position to discuss this with you at the moment. I really hope that you can be patient with me. I’ll discuss my projects with you when appropriate. For now, I would be grateful if you could keep an eye on Ariele. How’s your husband coping with all this?”

“He is coming to terms with it. He interviewed at the high school today for a French-teacher position and he is feeling confident.”

“That’s great, Glenda. Convey my congratulations to him when he gets the offer.”

As Rupert and Olivia stood up to leave, Glenda said, “It’s some sort of portal isn’t it? I always knew you had it in you Olivia Darley, but this is sheer genius!”

A portal. It sounded so simple.

I woke with Kellan still asleep next to me. It was four in the morning. He looked so peaceful that I decided not to disturb him. My neck was still throbbing. I ran my fingers over the bruises.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Simla, I would teach her a lesson she’d never forget. What was going on with that girl? I couldn’t believe she did this to me, that I had allowed her to do this to me. Sweet, meek Simla, whatever had happened to her? She had become one of my good pals at Princeton. We had been unlikely friends, mismatched, but we had enjoyed each other’s sense of humor. Her shyness had put a lot of people off, however, I had gotten to know her in my geometry class during freshman year. I had spent most of my first week in that class peering over her shoulders to copy her work.

She had finally looked over at me and softly murmured, “I can help you out after class if you want.”

I had smiled at her. I didn’t really need any help. I just needed someone to do my homework for me occasionally. After all, hockey didn’t leave much time for math. We had initially struck up a silent friendship. We always nodded “hello” and smiled at each other when we passed each other in the corridor.