Extracted
By Karen Singer
Chapter
26 – Aliens Explains Everything – Part 1 of 2
Wanda was used to throwing elaborate dinners. This one didn’t need to be elaborate, but
somehow she still couldn’t imagine it being anything but formal. She wanted it to be formal. Memorable.
Because this was the first time that both families were alone
together. And it was in her house.
She had her cook fix one of her favorite meals, knowing
from experience that almost everyone loved it.
She also made sure that both Nancy and Emily were dressed extra
nicely. Because of the Nancy-Stephen
deal, Wanda considered this was really two separate families that were now
combined into one family. It was
something stronger and more binding than the way any wedding could combine families. She wanted everyone to think of it the way
she did. They were now all one family.
As they sat eating together, the conversation was light
and polite. Comfortable. Almost like they were one family. Something that Wanda was appreciating.
“I just can’t get over…Nancy there,” Agatha said, briefly
pointing her fork at the young girl at the table. “Taking ballet lessons. And I am so happy that some of her friends have
been around to try and help her out too.
I really wish we could have gotten some of Stephen’s old friends to help
take his mind off of things, but they’ve all been away at football camp. And his girlfriend, well, let’s just say that
was a disaster that I’m glad happened.
Once she discovered that Stephen really didn’t know her at all anymore,
she practically ran from the house.”
“Melody?” Nancy asked, horrified to hear that.
“Yes dear,” Agatha told her. But when she saw the shocked look in Nancy’s
face she said, “Don’t look so disappointed.
What would you do with her now anyway?”
Nancy just shook her head. “She was fun,” she replied.
“Maybe too much fun!”
Nancy said nothing.
Wanda, not wanting her magic mood diminished in any way,
felt a change of subject was needed to get things back to the congenial keel
where they had been. “Stephen, she
said. “I just can’t get over you helping
out in your father’s office. That sounds
like important work you’re doing.”
“Filing isn’t,” Stephen countered. “Dad asked me to come in to do some filing,
but I wind up doing very little.”
“What you’re doing instead is far more important,” Henry
told him. “And you know that everyone
there, especially me, appreciates your help.”
“Thanks Dad,” Stephen said, blushing slightly. “The truth is, I really like it. It’s interesting. I’m thinking that maybe someday I might
become a lawyer.”
“Son, nothing would make me happier!” Henry told him.
“Me either,” Mike agreed.
“It’s a great idea Steve. A great
goal. And if you need anything, I’ll
help you all I can.”
“Thanks…Dad,” Stephen replied. He shook his head. “This is so weird. I’ve got two dads at this table and two moms. I don’t want to offend any of you by calling
the other one dad or mom. It’s
all…weird.”
“We know Steve,” Agatha assured him. “We all do.”
“I’m just trying to figure out my new life,” Steve told
them. “Being a lawyer is the first
semi-interesting thing I’ve thought of, but that’s a future thing. Right now, I’m just trying to figure myself
out and not screw up too much. I don’t
want any of you to get angry at me. I’ve
got enough problems.”
“Steve, we’re not angry at you,” Henry said. He looked around the table. “Anyone feel differently?”
“Nope!” Mike agreed.
“I’m proud of him.”
“I don’t think you all get it,” Nancy said, speaking
up. “I have two sets of parents now that
I want to be proud of me. Two! It’s like…twice the pressure.”
“Yeah,” Stephen agreed.
“That’s how I feel too. I want
all of you to be proud.”
“It’s just that…” Nancy continued. “It’s hard!
I’m stuck in this new life that I don’t understand, and Steve is stuck
in his life that he doesn’t understand, and it’s driving both of us crazy. And most of the time I just think that the
two of us are both the unluckiest, most cursed people in the world!”
Wanda looked at both her new daughter, Nancy, and her old
daughter, Stephen, who was somewhere inside that older boy’s body. “Maybe you should both try looking at things
a bit differently,” she suggested.
“What do you mean?” Stephen asked.
“Instead of unlucky, you both might be the luckiest people
on earth.”
“Us?” Nancy exclaimed.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No. Not at
all. You each have two mothers and two
fathers who love you.”
“And a sister who loves you too,” Emily added. “Both of you!”
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§§§§§§§§§§ ---
Detective Thomas Nolan got the news that someone had
phoned in, claiming to have information on the Marsh abduction. He doubted that very much. It either had to be someone who knew nothing
at all and just wanted some attention, or someone who knew something that they
already knew, or the most likely thing, someone who had some kind of theory
like…aliens! The only problem was that
Stephen Marsh being abducted by aliens might really explain everything! He didn’t dare mention that to either Ellen
Rosenberg or to that Mr. Curmett from the government. Especially after Curmett had come at him a
few days ago threatening to bring the world down on him if he let out any of
what they thought really happened to those kids.
Which meant, should he check the tip out, or not?
Thoughts of Ellen Rosenberg crossed his mind. Nobody knew it, but the two of them had met
secretly at a hotel in New Jersey for dinner and romancing. Twice!
They were some of the most satisfying evenings Nolan could
remember. But now the question was,
should he call her and let her know about this dubious tip? In the end, it was her case though. He guessed it was only right that she should
know about it. Plus, he wouldn’t mind
talking to her again anyway. Something
told him that she felt the same.
Two button pushes to his cellphone later, and he heard
her number ringing.
“Tom!” Ellen answered.
“Hi.”
“Hey Ellen,” Tom replied.
“How’s it going?”
“Same ol’. You
know.”
“Yeah. Listen,
Ellen. Somebody called into the police
here in Philadelphia saying they had information about the Stephen Marsh
abduction, but somehow, I doubt that very much.”
“Why?”
“Because even with all our looking, we still haven’t
found anything at all.”
“Who phoned it in?”
“I don’t know. I
didn’t get any details other than to call a desk sergeant I never heard of.”
“I just want to know if you’re interested enough to come
down and check it out with me, or do you want me to go it alone?”
“Tom, tomorrow is Sunday and I’m off. You know we were talking about getting
together anyway, so why don’t I drive down and we can see if there’s anything
to worry about, and then you can show me around Philadelphia.”
“Ellen, that sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in
years. Love to. See you tomorrow, and in the meantime, let me
call this sergeant back and get the information.”
“See you tomorrow Tom.
Bye,” Ellen told him.
Nolan dialed the number for the desk sergeant who had
phoned him. As the sergeant began
relaying the information, Nolan suddenly became a lot more interested. “Stop!” he told the sergeant. “Did you say Faucet? Doctor Faucet?”
“He said Christopher Faucet,” the sergeant replied. “Do you know him?”
“Not exactly, but I’ve met him,” Nolan admitted. “But something tells me we’re about to get
much better acquainted. Do you have his
home address?”
“Home and office.”
“I know where his office is. Text me his home address. What did he say about the abduction?”
“He said he knows what happened to a kid named Stephen
Marsh and some girl named Nancy. And if
you want to talk to him about it then you should get in touch. That’s it.”
“Thanks!” Nolan told him.
He ended the call. He knew that
Faucet had briefly been the psychiatrist for Stephen Marsh, but he wasn’t
supposed to be working with him anymore.
Did Curmett do anything to get him back to working with Stephen
again? Or was this something else?
He grabbed his phone again and called Ellen back. “Ellen,” he said as soon as she had
answered. “You’ll never believe who this
tip is coming from.”
“Who?”
“Doctor Faucet.
Stephen Marsh’s one time psychiatrist.”
“Faucet!” Ellen exclaimed. “I wasn’t exactly impressed with the man the
one time I met him.”
“Neither was I.”
“What did he have to say?”
“Just that if we’re interested, then we should contact
him. I’ve got his home address.”
“Tom,” Ellen said.
“I’ll see you in the morning, and I hope I get a chance for us to see at
least some of Philadelphia together, other than Faucet’s house.”
“Tomorrow!” Tom agreed.
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§§§§§§§§§§ ---
The following morning, the entire Stiller family was
outside waving goodbye to the Marsh family.
Before leaving, Agatha had promised that next month they’d do it again,
this time at her house. Wanda was
already looking forward to that.
Somehow, she felt like she had just made a new friend in Agatha. But as she had continually thought yesterday,
the two families had no choice now but to consider themselves as one.
As the Marsh family drove out of sight, they all turned
and trooped back into the house. Emily
came up next to her and Wanda put her arm around the shoulder of her oldest
daughter. “Mom?” Emily said softly as
they went inside.
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do about Nancy?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.
Nancy isn’t our Nancy. She’s
someone else. She’s Stephen.”
“I’m more than aware dear,” Wanda told her with some
frustration over the issue.
“But…she’s not really my sister. She’s not really your daughter either.”
Wanda could have easily pointed out that the body that
Naney was using was her daughter, but she also knew that it wasn’t what her
older daughter was talking about.
“Emily,” she said, “think of it this way. When you adopt a child, you commit to loving
that child with all your heart and all your strength. This is kind of like adopting, only more so
since I actually gave birth to that child.
So that’s just what I’m going to do.
I’m going to love her as strongly as can. And I already know that Agatha in Philadelphia
is going to do the same with Stephen, our Nancy. Nancy and Stephen both are going to get all
the love and support we can give. And
Emily, I really hope you can do the same.”
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