Against The Odds (29 page)

They
drove silently to Rowena and George’s house. It was an anti-climax.
Clayton was been all prepared to have his back stripped and Rebecca
to die. They had survived, and as Nana had said, it had been
relatively easy.

They sat
on the patio having a drink.

“
Is it really over?”

“
Yes, I think so. I have buried the hair in my garden. At
least I know it is safe there.”

“
How did they get a piece of Portia’s hair? It seems a lot of
hair for her not to notice.” Clayton said.

“
They were friends. She properly offered to style it, I guess.
I don’t know.” Rowena replied.

“Does
this mean we will be ‘normal’ now?” Rebecca asked and Clayton’s
eyes flashed at her.

“
Sweetpea, you have always been normal. But I think you are
asking whether you can talk to Clayton in his head. Well, Rowena
and I were just making after dinner plans just now, so I guess
so.”

“I
have a confession to make.” Rowena said sweetly. Clayton rolled his
eyes.
Like
mother like daughter.

“When I thought of how to unbind the spell, I was told to
use as much of it as possible. I did slip in a small little bonus
to us. Remember I said ‘may regain and
retain
their power of
love and power of light’? What did you think I
meant?”

“
Mother, you didn’t.”

“
I don’t understand. What?” Clayton and George were
confused.

“I
figured since you men have been so generous and given up so much to
protect us, you needed a big, fat reward. George has been wondering
around the house sulking, saying he would lose his power to
...well, shall I say, his special sexual powers. I added
retain.....the
power of light
. I did
not need that, but I figured, why not? Let them keep their powers,
after all, they earned them.”

The men
looked at each other and laughed. They had spoken on the phone on
many occasions about how hard it would be to play by the rules
again. They had quite enjoyed the games they could play as
Protectors.

“
I don’t believe it. Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because that is all you would have
been thinking about.
It was too
risky. I couldn’t afford to take the chance that you would focus on
your selfish manly needs.”

“Rowena, you are wicked. You watched me tortured, thinking
how I would actually have to
speak
to you? You let me go through all that?”

“
Yes, my dear. But I think you should thank me, not shout at
me.”

“
Clayton please. Mother, what have you done? You should have
stripped them of everything.”

“No, Princess, your mother is right. I like my
compensation. It is most delightful. Thank you
very
much Rowena.” He was beaming.

“
I think we should all go to bed now, seeing we worked so hard
tonight. Rowena, George, good night. Princess, come, let me take
you to bed.”

He held
out his hand and she went to him quickly, for fear of what terrible
comment her father would make. He just laughed and said, “Rowena,
you know what? When I said I loved you out there in the dark, in
the middle of nowhere, I think I actually meant it.”

Rebecca
complained bitterly as Clayton woke her up at five in the morning.
They had to get back to work and he had an appointment at
nine.

“
Clayton, please, let me sleep. Leave me behind. I will get
home later. Please, leave me alone.”

“
Rebecca, you are coming home with me. I am going to get you
coffee and if you are not awake, I promise I will get back and
shock you, understand?”

“
Go away, arrogant swine.”

When he
came back with the coffee, she was sitting upright, glaring at
him.

“
That’s better. Now, coffee and get ready. We have to leave
soon. Your parents are already wondering the around the garden.
They are talking to butterflies. What does that mean?”

“
They are making a wish. Who knows? Don’t talk to me. I am
asleep.”

Clayton
was ready fast and he sat on the bed, monitoring her. He knew if he
left she would just go back to bed.

She
reluctantly dragged herself around, glaring at him
occasionally.

Arrogant swine!

Get dressed, Rebecca!

Hhhggghhhhh!

Get dressed, Rebecca!

When
they eventually got downstairs, her mood had improved and Clayton
gave her a hard pat on her bottom.

“
That’s my girl.”

“
Piss off or I will torture you at work, in your
appointments.”

He just
laughed.

George
was sitting in the kitchen, eating furiously.

“
I am starving. That old crone really makes me work so
hard.”

“
I know the feeling.” Clayton laughed, as he gobbled a
sandwich.

“
George, I need to ask you something, privately.”

“
Dad, if you teach him any funny tricks, I swear I will tell
Mum to stop having sex with you.”

They
ignored her and went outside. George was laughing and laughing.
They spoke softly.

“
Clayton wants to know if he can make love to you with his
mind. George has just told him to he has to wait for you to
initiate and then he can do it too. Clayton is telling your father
that you torture him and he wants to pay you back. George says he
can’t, he must just enjoy.”

“
Mum, how do you know?”

“
I am reading their lips.”

“Oh Mum,
you are wonderful. Just for that, I will deal with him, when he
least expects it.”

They
left soon afterwards and Rebecca wanted to sleep again.

“
Are you tired?”

“
Of course, that light really drains me. Also, you were hardly
a gentleman last night.”

“
Go to sleep. You did not complain last night. Anyway, you
came straight to my bedroom. You did not need an invitation. Sleep
so I can think.”

Clayton felt relieved that they had performed the ritual
last night. But he was still worried about Double J and Rebecca.
How could they be sure that it was over? He wondered how they would
know.
He phoned their
house.

“
Clay darling, where have you been? We phoned last night and
this morning.”

“
Why, Jackie, what’s wrong?”

“
Nothing, I don’t know. Is Rebecca with you?”

“
Yes, but she is sleeping. Jackie, what is the
problem?”

“
Your butterfly came last night, in my dreams. It was complete
and it fluttered around my tummy. Then it left. I didn’t feel
scared, but when I told Jono, he went berserk.”

“
Oh Jackie, I guess it was just trying to comfort you. You
have been so worried about things going wrong. If it was complete,
then that is definitely a sign that things are alright. Relax. It
was just comforting you.”

Rebecca
was fully awake now.

“
Jackie, are you alright?”

“Yes,
just that Jono is now pissed off. He keeps saying ‘what does it
mean that you have taken over Clayton’s butterfly? Will we have the
same problems?’ Over and over again.”

“
Oh Jackie, you know how logical Jono is. He wants things neat
and tidy. I’m sure it is alright, as Clayton says, just for
comfort. Anyway, you are so close to Clayton, it just wants to
help. Tell Jono to relax. Where is he?”

“
He left just now. I think he was hoping to see Clayton to
make himself feel better.”

“
I will calm him down. I am on my way to work now, okay? We
will pop over tonight for a drink. See you later.”

“
So, not sleeping?”

“
How can I? You are always on the phone.”

“
Ouch, grouch. Are you busy today?”

“
Not really. I have two appointments, and I thought I would
get some other stuff done.”

“
Try and go home and get some sleep.”

Rebecca
left work midday and slept the whole afternoon and by the time
Clayton came home, she was feeling freshened and in a much better
mood.

*****

Clayton paced up and down the maternity ward. The hair on
the back of his neck was standing up and his eyes were icy blue. He
could not bear the waiting.
What is taking so long? If there were any
complications or problems with this baby he would go to the
mountain and rip that creature’s heart out. He would do so with his
bare hands. Where is Rebecca anyway?
He had phoned her a long time ago to tell her that
Jackie had gone into
labor
. He was pacing, a furious and agitated man. The nurses who
walked pass
felt sorry for the mother, married to such a
ferocious man. He heard the door on the end of the passage open and
Jonathan stepped out. Jonathan stopped.
Oh no, does he have to do that tiger thing
now? In the hospital, when J just had a baby?
He was
wondering if Rebecca was
okay, but just then, she came through the door and rushed to
Clayton. She touched his shoulder and he turned.

Clayton, what’s wrong?

Nothing, where were you?

I got held up - long story. Is something wrong?

No, but if there is, I swear I will kill that thing
myself.

Clayton, please, calm down before you scare the whole
hospital off.

She
leaned over him and kissed him.

“Now, will you please
try
and
calm down?”

“
Yes, Clayton. This is not the time for one of your tiger
tricks.”

“Jono
, is everything okay?” His eyes were still icy
blue.

“
Yes, we have a bouncing baby girl. She is beautiful,
magnificent.”

“
Is J okay?”

“
Of course. Clayton, what is the matter?”

“
Nothing, I was just worried, that’s all. I need to see them
Jono, please, now.”

“
Will you stop behaving like a tiger first? Gosh, Clayton,
relax.”

They
went into the ward and there was Jackie, looking drawn and tired,
but laughing joyously when she saw them.

“
Oh hello. I am so happy.”

Clayton rushed to her and hugged her. “Are you
ok
ay?”

“
Of course. There is our little girl.”

The baby
was lying in the cot, wrapped tightly in a blanket.

Clayton went straight to the cot and lifted the baby out.
He held her gently, looking at her face. It was as if he was
inspecting her. Then he looked at
Rebecca

Thank God, there is nothing. She is fine.

“
She is so beautiful, Double J. Congratulations.”

Rebecca
was crying and Clayton went to her.

“It’s
okay. It’s all over, Princess. It’s okay. They have a beautiful
girl, just as you thought.”

“Excuse me, you
two, but this is my moment, okay?
I
am the one who did all the
work.” Jackie was laughing.

“
It is a good thing this is not your baby, because the way you
are acting, you would not cope in a million years.”

“Sorry Jackie. We have been so worried, you
know
.”

She
hugged both of them and simply peeked at the baby.

“
Jackie, how do you feel?”

“
Absolutely fabulous. And Jono, he is beaming with glee. Look
what I have done, he told the nurse. But I am also so
tired.”

When
they were leaving the hospital, Jonathan said. “You need to tell me
something, don’t you?”

“
Yes, but it is all fine. Go and keep your family company.
Come over later to get some food and we will talk.”

~ ~ ~
~

Jonathan jus
t
stared at them. He had always known that something would go wrong.
He had felt it right from the beginning. How strange Jackie had
been, how weird he had been. He had known that they were tied to
Clayton in some odd way, but he never imagined his own precious
daughter, not yet even born, would be the target of an
assault.

“
But Clayton, how do you know it is okay?”

“
We destroyed it, Jono. It was still weak, so it was
relatively easy. We made sure of that. We could not take the chance
that it would live with her. We made sure.”

“
Then why were you behaving like a tiger?”

“Because
I was thinking, if there is a
hint
of trouble, I was ready for warfare. I had to
ready, to be sure. But when I held her, I knew. It was my own
anxiety, really. I am absolutely sure.”