Dark as Daylight Ch. 18

Before Senior could reply, Junior said, "My father thinks your ideas are perfect."

"I do?"

"Yes dad, you certainly do."

Patrick said, "I second that motion, let's get the old man settled."

"I guess I'm outvoted."

Patricia kissed her father. "Dad, if you are sick tomorrow, you and I are going to have a talk."

"What about the talk between you and Stephano?"

"We are staying at the Fairfield. It's only a block away. If you're not good, I am here in two minutes. You will rue the day you fucked my mother."

"I had sexual intercourse with your mother many times. I'm not sure which one of them created you. How am I supposed to 'rue the day' when I don't know the day you were conceived?"

Stephano said, "Dad, that is too complex thought for her to work on without a computer in front of her. I'm going to take her to dinner. Then I'm going to do things to her that are going to make her scream. Then I'm going to have sexual intercourse with her. It will keep her mind busy for a long time."

"Fuck you, Stephano."

"Yes dear, you will." He grabbed her by her legs, through her over his shoulder until she was facing the floor.

"Dad, what would you like for breakfast?"

"I'll call you in the morning. I'm not sure what they going to serve me here."

"What ever you want, we will bring it for you. Please rest, we do not want to sick people in this hospital."

"Patricia, kiss your father goodbye."

"I hate when he does this to me, dad."

"Just remember how hard you ran away from him, to catch him."

"You told him where I was, blabbermouth."

"Your mother had a big mouth. I remember it well."

"That's what I'll do, I'll make moms linguine, but you must put the final touch on it."

"Who's going to eat it?"

"Oh Shit, it's backwards. Forget what I said."

"Say goodbye Patty."

"Goodbye Patty, I love you dad."

"I love you too Patricia. Take care of her Stephano."

"Trust me, dad, I intend to."

A nurse walked into the room with a tray of needles.

Patrick said, "I didn't know you were a user dad."

"Today would make anyone a user, son."

"Isn't that the truth. We are together now, we will survive this."

"Mr. Zabo, Doctor Braverman changed his mind after going over your chart. I'm going to put an IV into your arm. This way I will not have to wake you during the night to give you medication."

"That was very nice of the doctor, especially since I'm looking at four needles now."

"Yes, one of them is preventative. It is an antibiotic that will kill bacteria that may be in your bloodstream. No one knows how your wife contacted the bacteria that resulted in her getting the flesh-eating disease, so this is just a way of warding it off if it is in your system."

"What about my children?"

"I would have them checked out by a pediatrician."

"I will take care of it, dad."

"You have wonderful veins."

"I guess I should say thank you."

"It is much better than my digging around to find one, and hurting you."

"I agree."

"The first one I am going to give you is your sleeping medication, so say goodbye to your sons and your daughter."

William asked, "Do you want me to stay with you tonight, dad?"

"Why would I want you to do that? Go home and enjoy the children, I'm going to be fine."

"I was never surer of anything in my life."

"Good night dad, and he is sure of something else. If he plays chess with me, I'm going to beat his ass into the ground."

"Watch out for Jessica, she is tricky. We have been playing daily for the last three years."

"I think I'll have some fun with her."

Gwen said, "I think I'll watch as she takes you apart."

"She's kidding isn't she dad?"

"Jessica has been playing with me every day for three years. Over 1000 games of chess against the Chess Master. I wonder if she learned anything?"

"What kind of game does she play?"

"I don't remember."

"Try to remember."

The nurse said, "Say good night, Mr. Zabo."

"Good night children."

"Good night, dad, we will see you tomorrow."

"What kind of game does she play?"

"I don't remember."

Gwen said, "Patrick, you do have a photographic memory, don't you?"

"I do, why?"

"Think back to the day your dead beat you when he finally allowed you to play chess against him. What was the name of the game he played?"

"I don't remember."

"I rest my case."

"Will, what is she talking about?"

"I think when you were born, mom dropped you on your head."

"She did not."

"I'm hungry, let's get something to eat."

"Jim, where are we eating tonight?"

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

76. Rebound

They arrived at the buffet late, and the pickings were very slim. Richard went to the manager and told her to refill everything, and not to worry about the cost. He would cover it.

She asked him to leave everything that was on the buffet alone, because it had been out for over an hour. She would have it restocked in less then 15 minutes.

Richard thanked her, and told the group to sit down and wait for the fresh food. Everyone did accept Sam. He was too hungry to wait.

Joan told him he was impossible.

He said he knew it, and if she didn't like it, she could stay home, while he went to Atwater Luck.

The girls just looked at their grandfather, because there was nothing they could say to respond two his intransigence.

When the fresh food arrived, he was the first one online. No one said a word. There was no sense in it. There was more than enough to go around, and the day was young.

Debbie asked, "Are you going to let me knock you on your ass today, Richard?"

"Are you asking me permission to knock me on my ass? If so, the answer is no. If you want to try to knock me on my ass, that's fine. However, I get to knock you on your ass, during the attempt. You have no idea how easy you are, do you? Every one of your moves is telegraphed. You may as well send me a note, in advance, telling me I'm going to be doing this next, so be prepared."

"I do not telegraph my moves. Most of the time, I don't know what I'm going to do, before I do it. I act spontaneously to my opponent's openings, as soon as I see them. I am much better than my sister, and you can ask her if it's true."

"Rebecca, is Debbie better than you?"

"No."

Debbie screamed, "I am better than you are."

"Mom really did a number on you, but that's another issue. Richard wants to take you apart today and I can't wait to see him do it."

"I will bet you one dollar he can't do it."

"Accepted."

"Do you to always wager for such high-stakes?"

"We are not as rich as you and your brother are."

"I apologize, that was not an appropriate thing for me to say."

"You can make it up to me tonight, when we are in a darkened room and learning braille."

"I don't like the way you said that Rebecca."

"Grandfather, I have my rules, and Richard gave you his word. How much more do you want?"

"I don't need anything else. I trust both of you."

"Thank you, Mr. Finch."

"You're welcome Richard, you've earned it."

Debbie asked, "So what are we going to do during the afternoon?"

Sam replied, "What do we normally do during the afternoon? We our going to play a round of golf."

"The boys don't know how to play golf."

"They will be your caddies."

"Do you mind, Holden?"

"I have to carry your clubs, while you play 18 holes of golf?"

Debbie whispered, "There will be certain benefits...later."

"I volunteer to carry Debbie's clubs."

"Joan that girl is evil."

"I know, she takes after me."

"She does, doesn't she?"

As they were walking towards the elevator Rebecca whispered into Richard's ear, "You should order Joe to take the next few days off. You do know his wife is pregnant, and is not feeling well, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

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

When everyone was assembled, in the lobby of the Marriott, Richard asked, "Mr. Constantine, how is Mrs. Constantine feeling?"

"She has had to take a few days off from work, because of morning sickness. The doctor has given her some medicine to keep it under control. She's not used to being sick, and she's really ticked off about it. The doctor said it will go away and another three or four weeks. Until then, she's taking it out on me."

"Mr. Constantine, you will take today and tomorrow off. That is not a request, that is an order. You will take care of your wife, as you take care of my brother and me. If she is still unwell on Monday, and Tuesday, you are to take those days off as well. I will not take any rebuke from you on this matter. Mrs. Constantine is very important to us, just as you are.

Stephanie, please take Mr. Constantine home."

"Yes sir."

"Richard, you cannot order me around like this. I oversee your safety."

"Are there any credible threats to our safety now?"

"No, there are not."

"Mr. Constantine, go home and take care of Mrs. Constantine. Give her our best."

"She(Rebecca)put you up to this, didn't she?"

"One more word from you, and I will have our agents put you in irons, and take you home that way."

"I will quit."

"You promised my father you would never quit, while you were alive. Are you reneging on that promise?"

"No, I'll go home. She'll be happy to see me. She'll beat the shit out of me. It will make her stop throwing up."

"That's the spirit, Mr. Constantine, always looking at the bright side."

"Let's go Joe, he has you beaten this time, but there is always another day."

"Yes, there is, but he is growing up fast, and the spacecraft is almost completed. There is a limited amount of time for me to get even with him."

"Why would you want to get even with someone that's paying us such a god-awful amount of money to protect him, and is sending you home to get the shit beaten out of you by your wife?"

"I know it's illogical, but I have a logical reason to do it."

"Let me know what it is before they leave. Now, get in the Suburban and let's go."

"Be nice, I'm still your boss."

"Yes master."

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

"Okay, who's in charge?"

"Stephanie is."

"She just took Joe home."

"Yes, you told her to take him home."

"Who's next?"

"We all are, so pick one of us."

Rebecca said, "You better pick a girl, I'm tired of being bossed around by men."

"Steve, you are in charge."

"I told you to pick a girl."

"Yes, you did, but I'm tired of being bossed around by girls."

"Your side of the bed is going to be very cold tonight."

"I'll have them change our king size bed to a twin."

"Do you enjoy sleeping on the floor?"

Sam said, "Richard don't ever argue with a woman, you will never win. I don't care if you have an IQ of 260, and she has an IQ of 1, you will always lose."

Joan said, "Listen to him Richard, he learned that lesson the night we were engaged."

"Engaged, Mr. Finch, why did you marry her?"

"Young man, you have a lot to learn. It has nothing to do with sex, because Joan and I did not have sex until our wedding night. It must do with a word that keeps people together for a lifetime, through thick and thin, and it's not love. It's 'attraction.' It's much different than love. Love makes you goo-goo eyed, and your heart speeds up until you palpitate.

In the book '50 Shades of Gray', initially Christian tried everything in his power to stay away from Anastasia. He was not in love with her, he was attracted to her in a way he didn't understand. He even warned her off, telling her he wasn't the man for her. Later, the attraction grew to love, but it was the attraction that hooked him.

That's what happened when I saw Joan for the first time. I was fiercely attracted to her. I still am. I don't love her anymore, because she picks on me all the time. I could never live without her, because I wouldn't have anyone to argue with when I wake up in the morning?"

"Grandpa, you are such a liar."

"Prove it."

"Grandma, divorce grandpa."

"He just gave away all my money, why would I divorce him now?"

"You want to him to prove his point that he doesn't love you."

"Let him prove his own point, let him divorce me."

"I just told you I can't divorce you, I am madly attracted to you."

"That's not good enough, Samuel."

"I also love you very, very much."

"Where are my Belgian chocolates? You know when you lie to everyone about our relationship, you have to buy me Belgian chocolates."

"We will go downtown today and buy them out of Belgian chocolates. Is that good enough?"

"You are going to get down on your knees and apologized to me for saying you didn't love me."

"I will get down on both knees and apologize for saying I didn't love you."

"Do you see what I mean Richard, never argue with a woman. You will wind up like my husband, prostrate before her begging for your life."

Sam shouted, "You did that to me to prove a point to Richard?"

"Do you want me to tell you to kiss my ass?"

"Yes."

"Later."

"Thank you, Mrs. Finch, your point is well taken."

Richard asked, "Mr. Finch, where are you going to play golf today?"

"Are you girls up to trying 'Turtle Point' on Kiawah Island?"

"We've never played that course before grandpa, have you?"

"Maybe once or twice."

"He means like 20 or 25 times children. He loves that course."

"What are we going to play for grandpa?"

"Since this is the first time you're going to play the course, I'll only let you give me 9 strokes."

"9 strokes, grandpa, I know we are young, but we were not born yesterday. You've played this course 20 times, or more. We will give you three strokes per side, and that's all."

"I knew you would dig your own graves if I threw out a big enough hook. You girls are so easy."

"Grandpa, if you had asked, we would've given you four strokes per side."

"Joan, they only said that to piss me off."

"Watch your language dear, there are children present."

"Where?"

Holden said, "Here!"

Sam replied, "In a pig's eye."

Richard said, "Maybe we should take my laptop so we can work on your time machine problem."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. If there is only a way to keep the vessel sterile at the receiving end when it opens, then we could prove that it made a full trip to the past, without one of us going."

"Mr. Constantine would have a heart attack if we told him one of us was going to the past just to prove our theory works."

"Well, we have to get a volunteer to go to the past and bring back something to prove they were there, without staying there, with all the knowledge the person has of today. The person could change our future. He could take control of all the patents our father invented, and change the history of the entire world, if he was unscrupulous."

Joan asked, "What would this person have to bring back to prove they made a round-trip?"

"That's the conundrum Mrs. Finch. Everything we have now was made back then. Going back 10 years, and bringing back a daily newspaper would be nothing, because anyone could print up a newspaper like that easily today. Even going back 100 years it could be done. We have to find something that is so out of the ordinary, 'it is a 'one of a kind' item'."

"Why don't you go the other way, and go into the future? Bring back an invention which is 50 years ahead of today's technology."

"That would be unethical."

"You boys are too cute. Let me ask you a question: There is a disease that is going to kill 1 million people next year. You have the power to go into the future five years, and bring back the cure for that disease. You won't do it, because it's unethical. Which is worse, leaving 1 million people to die, or being unethical?"

"Holden, I don't want to finish our machine. Mrs. Finch has brought up a very vexing problem. If someone less ethical than we are, gets a hold of our machine, he may choose to make money rather than doing the right thing."

"I agree, Richard, let's do it now."

"Boys, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you such a terrible problem."

"Mrs. Finch, you didn't cause us a terrible problem, you solved a future problem, for which we are very grateful."

"I will watch out for you boys as if you are my own."

"Thank you, Mrs. Finch. Now, would you please do us the honor of pressing Control, shift, W, asterix, Delete."

"Control, shift, W, Delete. Now what?"

"Press enter."

"Just like that and it's all gone?"

"It's not all gone. It's still on the disc but no one can see it because it's not on the menu anymore. We must remove the disc and destroy it, and then go back to the lab and destroy the main program and wipe the computer clean of our work. Thankfully, it was only done in our spare time, so it didn't slow any of our regular work down."

"Aren't they amazing, grandma? They built a Time Machine in their spare time. Why can't you guys find a cure for the common cold?"

"Deborah, I've tried to explain that to you six times. There is nothing common about a common cold. Once it enters your system, and you attack it, it immediately mutates. A cold is no one's fool. If we could get a computer to think as fast as that virus, it would almost be godlike. There is no other way to put it."

"Isn't he boring?"

"I can't wait until he spanks you, Debbie. The one thing this young man isn't, is boring."

Steve said, "Mr. Finch, your tee time is 12:15. They would like you there at 11:15 to sign in."

"Can you have someone go to the hotel and pick up our clubs, and meet us at the golf course?"

"It's already taken care of, sir."

"Way to go, Steve!"

"Ladies, gentlemen, let's saddle up, and head over to the golf course."

Debbie grabbed Holden's arm and pulled him into the back seat of the van, believing she was outwitting her sister. When her grandmother and grandfather got into the seat in front of her she knew she outwitted herself. She looked out the window and saw Rebecca and Richard walking slowly towards the suburban in front of her van.

Rebecca waved. Debbie gave her the finger.

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

They arrived at the golf course at 10:45 AM and went directly to the clubhouse to register. Rebecca told Debbie that the boys were not dressed properly to be their caddies. It was up to them to correct that error. Debbie could not have agreed more.

They grabbed their men and pulled them towards clothing area. They started with the hats with the little multicolored umbrellas on the top. Wide green frog-like sun glasses were next, with the obligatory white zinc oxide protectant covering their noses against sunburn.

Rebecca tried to find women's underwear in Richard's size, but when he saw what she was doing, he literally put his foot down...on hers.

"Do you need this foot to play golf?"

"Yes."

"I believe you should move on to another area, and I will see how far I am willing to go with this game of yours."

"If you're willing to go along with this game of mine, I'll be willing to go along with our games later tonight, in our king size bed."

"I find it totally acceptable."

"Alright, I think this beautiful fuchsia Under Armor sleeveless shirt will go perfect with these white knickers, with the multicolored golf balls arranged in the appropriate place. Don't you, dear?"

"My legs stick out the bottom."

"Yes dear, we must get you socks now. I believe argyle socks will go nicely with this outfit."

"May I pick out your wedding dress?"

"My mother would kill you."

"So, would mine."

"Please sit down while I put on these gorgeous socks."

"Someone is going to think we are colorblind."

"Do we care?"

"I hope no one takes a picture of me in this outfit, no."

"What do you think, black, or saddle shoes?"