We drove back to Henry’s house and secured it and the chickens for a day or so. We had about four dozen eggs even after feeding the dogs a bunch, they went nuts. We arrived in Malibu just as the sun was setting, the golden hour. Trevor said nothing, but he noticed the gardens and many of the modifications in the once plush neighborhood and yards.

  “Do all of you live here?” Trevor asked as we pulled in the driveway.

  “No. We live about forty-five minutes away.” Helen said as the wolf pack scattered in different directions as Ginger and Pete welcomed Trevor to our home.

  “Only you two live here?” Trevor asked.

  “Actually, three.” Jillian said rubbing her stomach as Trevor smiled and we all carried gear and coolers into the house. Trevor placed a small cooler on the black granite counter and immediately went to the wall of pictures. Chronologically organized and labeled. He touched the photo of all of us with Mark and James.

  “This is everyone?” Trevor asked quietly after he studied all of the pictures as silent tears appeared.

  “Everyone looks so, happy.” Trevor said as Scotty handed him a glass of Bourbon. Trevor accepted without taking his eyes off the pictures.

  “Where are they, now?” Trevor asked after a long pause.

  “Catalina.” Rebecca said quietly standing next to him. Trevor turned, startled to see everyone in attendance, smiling. Trevor looked down at Rebecca and was at a loss for words.

  “I, I don’t deserve ANY of this! After some of the things I’ve done! I, I... should not be here!” Trevor said stuttering and having a mild panic attack. Trevor had a couple of flashbacks to two of his darkest moments as he closed his flooded eyes causing his tears to spill.

  “Son. All of us have said those exact words.” Scotty said looking at Trevor over the top of his glasses. After a long silent pause; “But I got you three mitts and put your name on them!” Sammy said walking up and handing Trevor a small box of baseball mitts.

  “You’re not going to say no to him. Are you?!” Reese said folding his arms and looking pissed. Trevor’s eyes darted and bounced off each of our faces before him and stopped at Sammy. Trevor selected a mitt, put it on his right hand and punched the center to properly seat it.

  “We have a ceremony to perform.” Scotty said out loud as he repeated the origin of the bourbon and brine saga and we all drank to Trevor’s arrival.

  “I used to drink pickle brine as a kid.” Trevor confessed as Rebecca through her hands in the air shaking her head. We all laughed and made the proper introductions.

  Jillian and Rebecca explained each picture on the wall as Scotty and I prepared omelets with every possible combination available along with a Lobster Bisque that Helen insisted on preparing.

  “I can’t help to think, tomorrow I will wake up and not be staring at filthy cinder blocks and smelling feet.” Trevor said as he downed his remaining Bourbon. Ginger and Pete wanted to go outside as the wolf pack appeared near the patio door. We all finished cleaning up and invited Trevor outside for a smoke.

  “I don’t smoke. But thanks just the same.” Trevor said politely as we put on light jackets and went outside as the dogs wanted to go swimming. I uncovered the pool and tested the water as a light fog rose from the surface. Scotty turned on the lights as Sammy and Reese came running from the house and jumped in. I lit the outside fire pit and Scotty lit the Tiki torches. Trevor walked outside with Rebecca onto the patio and was stunned and speechless watching Sammy, Reese and the wolf pack and the dogs all swimming together and the dark purple horizon to the west.

  “Want to go swimming?” Rebecca asked Trevor.

  “I really don’t have…” Trevor started to say as Rebecca removed all her clothes and executed a cannonball into the pool. Sammy yelled “ALL RIGHT!” and tossed his bathing suit out of the pool. Ginger exited the pool and shook off in front of Trevor. “I don’t have any other clothes.” Trevor said.

  “We have plenty of clothes, besides you're already wet.” I said. Trevor was nervous and shy. He sat down and started taking off his shoes slowly. Paul ran from the house to the pool saying “Cold! Cold! Cold!” and jumped in. Trevor turned his back to us as he removed his shirt to whistles and catcalls. He pulled down his pants and everyone screamed “I’M BLIND! I’M BLIND!” As Trevor ran and jumped into the water to a round of applause. “No peeing in the pool! Right, Uncle Greg?” Sammy said laughing.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  The night air was very cool, we all went inside and sat in the living room with a nice warm fire in the fireplace watching Helen’s slideshow presentation Jillian and she had been working on. Trevor fell asleep immediately in the comfy couch. Reese picked him up and took him to one of the guest bedrooms.

  “When do you plan on telling him about Jen?” Reese asked me as he returned, still uncomfortable with the topic. “When he’s more properly balanced.” I said.

  “Today has been very emotional and exhausting for him and all of us.” Jillian added.

  “What do you think he will do?” Paul asked looking around to everyone.

  “I know what I’d do.” Reese said plainly.

  “Reese, no one here is stopping you or anyone else from seeking justice, revenge or whatever you want to call it. Murder is murder. Will your life be somehow enriched seeing the look in her eyes as it is the last thing she sees? Her suffering has ended as a direct result of your actions. No more pain, no more fear or anxiety, no more hunger, no more thirst. Game over. Every day she has a constant reminder of what she has done, something that cannot be undone. But she has no remorse.

  She does not know how to properly filter water, cook food, apply first aid. She is dying a horrible painful slow death. Not because of us, but because of what SHE is. She has no redeeming qualities; she only knows manipulation, deceit and lies. Even if we welcomed her with open arms, she would eventually turn us against one another for her benefit, satisfaction and needs. It is in her DNA. It is what made her family’s legacy.” I concluded.

  “What family?” Susan asked.

  “A family that has been relevant in almost all of human history and significant events. Jen is the last. The final chapter.”

  “That’s why she said ‘Do NOT let me die’.” Jillian said.

  “What if she… has a child?” Susan asked holding Elaine.

  “That’s not gonna happen!” Reese said immediately thinking out loud.

  “How can you be so sure Reese.” I asked, he did not respond.

  “You have no idea who you’re dealing with Reese.” I said shaking my head.

  “I’m the only one…” Reese started to say, a little embarrassed as I wrote on a piece of paper. Reese finished his sentence and started taking off his Harley Davidson t-shirt. I handed the note to Reese. He read the note and looked at his t-shirt in his other hand and glared into my eyes. Reese threw the note to the ground and walked outside putting his t-shirt back on. Rebecca picked up the note.

  “Jen has similar skills but a lifetime of experience and training from her family.” I said.

  “Take off your shirt.” Rebecca said, reading the note.

  “All of us have this capability, we just choose to focus on a particular need or interest, and it manifests. Jillian: medical and cartography, Scotty; advanced mechanical and agriculture, Helen: botany and herbology, Paul: perception and diplomacy, Susan: philosophy and education, Rebecca: psychology and sexual behavior, Sammy: organization and structure. Reese: anatomy and culinary. For now, consider these…gifts.” I said.

  “And you are an empath.” Paul said with intrigue.

  “I’m a musician Paul.” I said in a serious tone as Scotty said “Just don’t play poker with him.”

  “It’s far too exhausting listening to my own thoughts let alone listening to others. Besides, based on the number of cards you draw, you’re going for an inside straight or a full house, eighty percent of the time. It’s just statistics.” I said to Scotty.

  One by one everyone said goodnight and retired to the guest rooms. Jillian and I were just too comfortable in the comfy couch to go to our bedroom.

  Pete’s breath woke me up as his happy panting and huge head was directly in front of mine and he licked my face. Trevor was sitting at the kitchen table staring outside. It was four forty-five AM and still dark. I got up and placed the blanket over Jillian.

  “Good morning.” I said softly to Trevor as he turned and smiled.

  “Coffee?” I asked walking toward the stove as Ginger turned to have her rump scratched by Trevor.

  “Why am I here?” Trevor asked me after a long pause affectionately petting Ginger and Pete.

  “The question is ‘Why are WE all here and what are we supposed to do.” I said.

  “Trevor smiled again and shook his head in agreement.

  “I have no fucking idea.” I said.

  “For a long time, I would go to sleep hoping and wishing that this was just a bad dream and I will wake up next to my wife and our two children and my dog in my old bed. At times I wished I was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic during a winter snow storm driving home from work. I picture myself smiling as the weather just kept getting worse and dinner getting cold on the table.

  I believe that generation after generation after generation, people were consumed by the need for financial wealth in order to make life simpler, we have lost the natural connection we have with the earth and take it for granted and have abused her to the point she decided to intervene. Earths’ timescale is very different from ours. Humanity is just a blink of the eye, let alone the industrial revolution. Native Americans, Inuit people, Aboriginal, the list of these indigenous cultures go on and on, and are considered unevolved and savage, but consider what they are protecting, we're, protecting. Again, generations after generations living and dying in the same area, now it has a strip mall with tanning beds and a sports bar. I’m just trying to make the best out of this situation without screaming.

  You have a lot to learn and we are here to help you, but if you are looking for a handout or reparations for something, think again. You need to contribute and to be an asset to everyone. Helen and Scotty will teach you. Listen and pay them back somehow. You’ll think of something. Random acts of kindness Trevor, I try for at least one every day.” I said as I poured coffee then let Ginger and Pete outside. Trevor just started talking slowly after a long silent pause.