CHAPTER 33 34 35 36 Epilogue
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“ The few minutes you were gone seemed like an eternity.”“ Can you imagine how victims of torture feel?” Tanya asked.“ Forty-eight hours of that with people you don’ t trust would drive you insane,” Eddie said.“ I seriously doubt if there is any thought about how amazing an orgasm is going to feel at the end of this,” Sam said.“ Yes. That also kept creeping in,” Eddie smiled and kissed both of them.“ Show me how to land that plane,” Sam said to Tanya.
The house appeared to be in good order when Tanya and Eddie arrived home that afternoon. Nicole and Justin decided to keep the events of Saturday night to themselves. Nicole figured she would deal with any complications that arose, if and when she found out there was a problem. Justin challenged Eddie to a game of table tennis.
Sam received instruction from James and Maurice on culinary art. They began with the tools of the trade, starting with measuring spoons and cups and explaining the use of the variety of spatulas and utensils. A large turkey was purchased and everyone was given the opportunity to request a dish. Justin asked for candied yams. Nicole thought it was not Thanksgiving if fresh asparagus with pearl onions were not served. The oyster stuffing was a recipe given by Eddie’ s mother years ago. The acquired taste caught on and Eddie could no longer count on more than his fair share. Stopping by the house Monday, Sam familiarized herself with Tanya’ s kitchen. Eddie’ s chortle when Tanya offered the“ Grand tour” required explanation. Sam left that evening not wanting the children to see her car parked in the driveway all night. The dream was just beginning and Eddie was glad Tanya was shaking him awake.“ Eddie I heard something,” Tanya said. Eddie glanced at the clock. 1:23 AM it read. They both heard the step creak.“ Someone is coming up the stairs,” Tanya whispered. Eddie opened the nightstand drawer quickly and quietly. The thirty-eight special had not been fired in seventeen years, since his father gave him the weapon after the purchase of the house. Holding the firearm in his hand Eddie’ s thought was“ Not six dogs... six duds!” Eddie had not changed the ammunition since he never intended to use the gun. He opened the door and saw the hooded figure ascending the stairs. The crowbar in one hand was a silhouette and the huge knife in the other glinted in the light from the outside lights. Eddie knew the knife was about to be plunged to the hilt. He always woke from the dream with a pain in his chest. The sound of the gun going off in the confines of the hallway was deafening. Tanya was dialing 911 when she heard the blast and saw the flash.“ Eddie!” she screamed as the operator asked the nature of the emergency.“ Someone broke into our house,” Tanya said and heard the clatter on the stairs.“ I’ m okay,” Eddie yelled.“ My husband shot an intruder,” Tanya said and gave the address.“ The police are on the way,” the operator said. Nicole stuck her head out the door of her bedroom.“ Stay inside,” Tanya yelled, staring at Eddie, who was standing in his briefs and pointing the gun down the stairway. The assailant was sprawled on the entryway floor. A dark pool began to form on the tiled surface. The uniformed officer stepped to the open doorway.“ Put the gun down!” the young cop yelled and pointed his drawn weapon at Eddie.“ Don’ t shoot! That’ s my husband,” Tanya yelled and called Sam as Eddie slowly set the gun on the landing.“ Eddie shot a burglar,” Tanya said.“ Hang up. I’ ll call you right back. I’ m calling George,” Sam said. Tanya ended the call. The police quickly assessed the situation. It was pretty obvious. The ski mask and dark clothing along with the crowbar were standard tools of the trade. Tanya’ s phone rang.“ Okay tell me what is going on,” Sam insisted as the police called for an ambulance. The officers flipped the light switches. The entry way was bathed in the sudden glare. Nicole joined her mom at the upper landing rail. Both of them noticed Justin had not come out of his room. Nicole was the first to notice the hi-top tennis shoes and started to turn white as a ghost. One of the officers was inspecting the door jamb while the other checked for a pulse.“ No forced entry,” he said as the other removed the ski mask. Sam could hear what was going on in the back ground.“ JUSTIN!” was the scream she heard before the phone clattered to the floor. Sam yelled into the phone for someone to answer. She could hear Nicole saying“ No! No! No! It’ s my fault.” repeatedly until she said“ Mommy? Wake up.” The voice was child like and distant. Eddie picked up the phone.“ Sam?” he asked.“ What’ s going on Eddie?” Sam cried.“ I just killed my son,” he said and hung up.“ I never explained the rules,” he thought.