Brilliant Minds: The Wainwrights of Sunset Valley – Chapter 61

Brilliant Minds: The Wainwrights of Sunset Valley

Chapter 61

Leisure Day was sunny, gorgeous, and festive with everything Wainwrights celebrated at their party.  Orion and Iris their birthdays, Patrick his freedom from being grounded, Boyd and Susan their success, and, of course Leisure Day itself.  Blair had a much-needed day off, Cycl0n3 had a break from his cases, and Travis got to play in the pool for the first time.  Chris, Tad, and Maria were also finally free of their punishments, and the Wolff teens were just two of the guests that came to the Wainwrights’ summer bash.  Mortimer Goth, Wilbur Keaton, Gretchen Ursine, and Tom Sekemoto attended too, as well as several of the Bunch clan: Jack, Judy, and Ethan and his wife, Kaylynn, who had just discovered she was pregnant with their first child.  Jack and Judy were thrilled to have a third grandchild on the way, while Boyd and Susan mused at how much their own grandchildren, not to mention their other kids, had grown.

Mortimer asked Patrick about his guitar, so he brought it out to show him and played a tune.  That drew several of the guests in to listen, and Patrick’s time and practice showed.  Boyd thought again how it was a shame that his father, who’d also been a musician, never got to meet Patrick.  He imagined he’d have been proud to see his grandson following that path.  He mentioned as much to Chris, standing beside him.  “I didn’t know my great grandpa played guitar.  That’s pretty cool.”

“Guitar and violin.  He was an orchestra lead when he retired.  He also composed a few original pieces.”

“Guess Patrick got all that talent,” Chris joked.  “I can’t play anything.  I can barely hum on key.  Can’t draw like him, either.  Sometimes I think the only thing I stand out at is wisecracks and playing Cat Whisperer.  Half the strays in the neighborhood come to our backyard for treats now, because they know I’m a softy and can’t say no.  Dad complains when they fight late at night out there, though.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.  You’re a bright boy, Chris.  You could succeed at anything you were passionate about.  And compassion is in short supply in this world.  Having it’s a good thing.  I think your mom would agree.”  Boyd smirked.  “Besides, your feline friends tweaking your dad’s a nice bonus.  He’s earned it.  At least a little.”

Chris snickered.  “Yeah.”

Blair and Orion played tag before cake.  “Whew!  You’re a speedy one, Chief Engineer.  I got in my workout keeping up with you.”  She fanned herself.  “It’s so hot out here.  I think we’re both getting a tan.  You look a little darker.”

“But I’m green.  Can you call it tan on me?”

“Maybe more like olive.  But at least it’s not a burn.  I’m so pale, that’s what I usually get!  Speaking of which, I better go tell Cycl0n3 to put on some sunscreen before he gets burned.  He’s on his laptop so much, sometimes I think he forgets what the sun looks like.  I’m sure he forgot.”

Unlike his father, Chris remembered his sunscreen.  That was a mistake he only made once, earlier in the summer, and he did not intend to repeat it.  A co-worker at the spa showed him their best stuff, and he got it with his employee discount.  It worked.  Despite the blazing summer sun, his pale skin turned a golden painless tan.

“Don’t you look all nice and bronze?” Tad said flirtatiously.  “I’m jealous.  You know, it makes your hair look even redder.  Which I like, by the way.”

Chris couldn’t help but smile.  “Thanks.  And you look fine.  You don’t need a tan to look good.”

“And you claim you’re no good at being charming,” Tad teased.

“I said I was no good at being suave, not that I couldn’t be charming.”

“Close enough.”  He took his hand.  “Hey, now that we’re free again, want to do something after the party?  Just us?”

“That’d be cool.  Where do you want to go?”

“They’re having Leisure Day fireworks at Old Pier Beach tonight.  We could check that out.”

The thought of sitting on the beach under the stars watching fireworks with Tad sounded great.  “Sure!”

Patrick put his guitar away and caught up with Maria poolside.  “It’s blazing hot out here.  Want to go in the pool?”

“It is, but… nah.  I don’t want to mess up my hair and makeup.”

“Aw, come on.  It’s a pool party.  You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Easy for you to say.  You won’t look like a raccoon if your mascara runs.”  She fanned herself with a dramatic pout.

“Somehow I have a hard time picturing you looking like a raccoon.”

“Somehow I have a hard time picturing you in mascara, so I doubt you understand.  Though your eyelashes aren’t bad natural.”

“Nothing on you’s bad natural, either.”  Patrick smirked.  “And I’ve seen you pretty natural.  Just saying.”

Maria blushed, but she was obviously flattered.  “Oh, my Watcher.  Patrick!”

“It’s the truth.  But that’s okay.  Maybe sometime when it’s just us, you can skip the makeup and go in the pool.  Maybe skip a few other things, too.  Like these unnatural bathing suits!”

“If I was in the pool, I’d splash you for that.”

“Depending on how natural you are at the time, I could be into that, too.”

Maria’s response was a playful swat, but he backed away, laughing, and the two of them chased each other across the patio.

After some socializing and enjoying the sun and pool, they started the birthday celebrations.  Little Iris went first.  Susan carried her to her cake and helped her blow out the candles.  “Remember to make a wish, sweetie!”

Iris took a deep breath and blew with all her might, excited and happy.

Unfortunately, the celebration was interrupted by a cry of alarm.  Over by the patio doors leading into the study, Judy Bunch called for help, then collapsed, unconscious.  Everyone rushed to her, but there was nothing they could do.  She was non-responsive, and even though an ambulance was called, they feared the worst.

Jack was beside himself, and Ethan broke down as they couldn’t revive his mother.  Everyone else was understandably upset, and Susan dissolved into tears once it hit home that they’d lost another of their old friends.  Judy was old, and had a few health issues, but no one saw it coming.  She’d been happy, active, and mingling with the guests like nothing was wrong only minutes before.

Boyd and Susan both had the thought that chronologically, Judy and Jack were their same age.  It was a reminder of just how generous a gift the treatment Emit gave them in Oasis Landing had been.  Meanwhile, Orion couldn’t help but remember how old Gunther Goth had died at a previous birthday party of Iris’ and his, and he felt bad, even though he knew it wasn’t their fault.  He wondered why bad things kept happening on days that were supposed to be good.  It didn’t seem fair.  He saw old Mr. Bunch, a seasoned army veteran wracked with sobs over his wife, and he saluted him out of respect.  It felt like the right thing to do.

Judy did not make it.  It was her time.  When she saw Grim among the crowd, her spirit greeted him with acceptance.  She was sad to leave her family behind, but she’d lived a long and full life.  She’d had a successful career as a scientist and achieved her lifelong dream of raising a large and loving family.  All but the youngest of her children were grown now, and even Penny was close to adulthood and independence.  She had two wonderful grandchildren and another on the way.  Ethan had grown into a good man and would be a dedicated father, just like Lisa and Darlene were loving mothers to Kristian and Starla, and Arlo was on his own with his whole life ahead of him.  Judy was happy and had given her all to her family, and they loved her as much as she loved them.  They would be there for Jack in the time he had left.  She also knew that one day, she would see them all again and greet them on the other side with open arms.

“She died.”  Iris was upset by what happened to old Mrs. Bunch.  The young plantsim was as bright as the rest of the Wainwrights, having gotten Susan’s natural intelligence along with her facial structure from the DNA engineered into her seed.  The birthday and time in the sun also brought out the variety of her foliage.  As a baby and toddler, Iris’ skin had been smoother and the leaves on it similar in color.  Now, some natural purplish color stood out more.  The hair-like leaves on her head had also gotten thicker, and it had a texture more like late-season hay than fine spring grass.

Orion tried to reassure Iris.  Although they were quite different as a half-alien and a plantsim, in some ways he felt like they had more in common than their other siblings.  Not just being green, but being the youngest, and not human.  “It’s okay.  It’s not your fault.  Not anything you did.”

“Was it because she was old?”

“I think so.”  Orion looked at the grieving guests.  “You’re too young to remember, but this happened when I turned your age, and you were just growing up from being a baby.  With Mr. Goth.  Mortimer’s dad.  He was really old, too.  He died in the rocking chair.”

“Was everyone crying and upset, too?”

“They said it was his time.  It was Mrs. Bunch’s time this time, I guess.”

“She was nice,” Iris said softly.  “She gave me and Patches chips.  I gave her a flower from my hand and she said it was pretty.”

“She was nice to me, too.  A nice old lady.”

“And now she’s gone and everyone will miss her.”  Iris blew a flower out the patio door into the breeze.  “I hope Mrs. Bunch will be okay wherever she is now.”

“Kaylynn’s taking Dad to the car.  There are some things we have to sign and fill out, officially.”  Ethan tried to keep himself composed.  As the oldest Bunch child, he’d always been responsible and level-headed.  “I’ve got to tell Lisa, Arlo, Darlene, and Penny.  Darlene took Penny to the stables for her riding event today, so Starla could see the horses.  So Mom and Dad came here since Penny told them not to worry about it, it was just a local thing and they could see the big regional show next time.”  He sniffled.  “Now she won’t… but at least she was here having a good time with everyone when…”  His voice cracked, and Susan put a hand on his shoulder.

“Your mom was a good lady and a great friend.  She was happy, and don’t forget that.  She loved all of you very much.  She just told me today how proud she was of you, and how excited she was for you and Kaylynn and the baby.”

“We’ll miss her,” Boyd added.  “I’m so sorry.  If there’s anything we can do, for you or any of the family, let us know.”

“And it goes without saying, take any time you need off and don’t worry about it,” Susan told him.  Ethan had followed in Judy’s footsteps career-wise, and he worked at the lab with them.

“Thanks.  I appreciate it.  Tell Orion and Iris happy birthday.”  He smiled.  “Mom wouldn’t have wanted you to stop their party on her account.  She’d want them to have as great a birthday as they could.  You know her.”

“We do,” said Boyd.  “Take care, Ethan.”

After paying their respects to Judy, they celebrated Orion’s birthday.  His birthday wish was simple—that this would be the last birthday of his someone would die at.  Despite his rebellious streak, Orion had a kind heart and an altruistic nature, much like his older sister Blair.  Boyd and Susan had raised him with the qualities Emit hoped they would, and they were both proud of him.

Along with the other physical changes of adolescence, Orion now had a full head of hair.  Much like his descendant Ronald Wainwright said in Oasis Landing, the patchy hair that came in late in his childhood was now full and thick.  It was an odd shade of green, unnatural for a human, but also strange-looking when compared to the bald full-blooded Sixam alien look of his genetic mother, Eni Jish Xip.  Having hair made Orion feel like he fit in a little better, although sometimes Susan hinted that she wished he’d keep it a little less shaggy.  “You are your father’s son,” Susan would tease after he’d brush that suggestion off, although it was in fondness.

Iris and Orion ate their cake with Chris and Wilbur.  “Are you sure that’s not going to make you sick?” Orion asked his plantsim sister.  “I never saw you eat that much before.”

“It’s not going to make me wilt or anything.  Besides, it’s yummy.”

“So, Iris, are you ready for school?” Chris asked.  “It’s probably not going to be much fun for you stuck inside all day.  They only let you out at recess.”

“Mom’s sending a note that says I have to sit by windows, so I get enough sunlight.  Oh, and I’m not allowed outside if it’s too cold once fall and winter come.  Patrick said that wasn’t fair, because I’d get out of running when it’s cold out and he wished he had that note for gym class.”

Chris shrugged.  “Wouldn’t do him much good now.  He’s already a senior.  Besides, running’s not that bad.  Better than climbing the rock wall.  I fell off last week and bruised my butt.”

“No offense, but you fall off of everything, Chris,” Orion pointed out.  “I’m surprised you made it up the pool slide.”

“Did you see his epic belly flop on the diving board earlier?  That was impressive,” Wilbur said, and Iris, who’d seen it happen, laughed.

“Ha ha.  You wouldn’t be laughing if you knew how much that hurt.  Don’t think I’ll be joining the swim team anytime soon, though.”

“Speaking of which, I thought about joining clubs now that I’m going to high school.  My ballet teacher said I should try sports club since I’ve got so much energy, but when I asked Dad what sport I should try, he looked at me like I had an extra head.  I was also thinking maybe shop club.  I like building things.”

“You can make some neat stuff in shop club.  Tom showed me a model he made there before math class the other day.”

“What about you, Iris?  You taking up ballet, or scouts?” asked Wilbur.

“Scouts.  I don’t dance good like Orion, and I like doing stuff outside.”

“Scouts was fun,” Chris agreed.  “You’ll like it.  You get to go fishing and look for stuff in the woods and the lakes and beaches.  You find all sorts of cool things, like rare mushrooms and rocks and bugs.”

After cake, Orion caught up with his father.  “Hey, Dad, you said you got fireworks for the party, right?  Can we set them off soon?”

“Sure.”

“And I can light some, right?”

Boyd was hesitant.  “I don’t know.  They’re kind of dangerous.”

“I can do it, Dad.  I know how to be careful around fire and explosives.”

“And where exactly did you get experience with explosives?”  Boyd shook his head.  “Never mind.  I probably don’t want to know.”

“Uh, you really think I don’t know what chemicals in the chemistry table could make a huge explosion?  I did get an A in science.  Besides, you and Mom both told me what to be careful with.”

“All right.  Just promise you’ll keep a steady hand and be careful.”  He lowered his voice so only Orion could hear as Chris walked by.  “And if anyone asks, I’m only letting you because it’s your birthday.  The last thing I want is one of you kids getting hurt in a fireworks accident.  Chris is clumsier than a llama, and Iris, especially, keep her away from it.  Even if she wasn’t still too young, one spark on her…”

“I know, Dad.  Relax.  It’ll be fine.”  He gave him a thumbs-up.

“Heh.  Famous last words,” Boyd said, while Orion called Patrick to help him bring them out.

Cycl0n3 overheard Orion shouting to his brother for firework assistance, and he went over to Blair, admiring her tanned physique.  “I hear they’re getting out the fireworks.  But I think you and I could light a few of our own, pink bikini babe.”  He waggled his eyebrows and adjusted his sunglasses in sync for effect, then kissed her.

She enjoyed that, but when his hand got a little too friendly on her rear end, she wriggled back.  “Aren’t you a little feisty tonight?  But this should wait until we get home.  We’ll have it mostly to ourselves anyway.  Chris just told me he and Tad are going to Old Pier Beach’s fireworks show, and that ends pretty late.  Travis will be asleep.”

“All right.  I’ll behave and try to keep my eye on the fireworks, then, even if you are hotter than that Red Glare they’re setting up over there.”

Although Boyd’s fears about Orion having a mishap with the fireworks were misplaced, they were not unfounded.  Patrick lit one before Boyd had time to say anything, and as bad luck would have it, it had a faulty fuse, and exploded with fire instead of sparkles.  With a shout of panic, Patrick jerked back and kicked it toward the pool, but it did not make it before it went up in a pillar of flame.

“Oh my Watcher, oh my Watcher, oh my Watcher!”  Boyd started hyperventilating as his mind fast forwarded the scenario to flames everywhere, catching the house, the patio, and everyone on it in a blazing inferno.  Iris looked dangerously close and he screamed for her to get back, but Susan was already on it and pulled her out of harm’s way.  Patrick cursed a panicked blue streak, almost as freaked out as his father, while Orion grabbed the fire extinguisher they kept near the grill.

“I got it!”  He sprayed down the blaze, and no harm came to anything but Patrick’s pride and Boyd’s nerves.  There was some soot on the patio, but that would clean easily enough.  Still, Orion had the thought that his father would be unbearable with his what-if catastrophe paranoia for a while, now that one of his long-shot worries had actually happened.

Boyd ran over to Patrick.  “What happened?  Are you burned?  Oh, you’ve got to be careful with that stuff!  I’ve said a million times!  Let me see your hands, are they—?”

“I’m fine, Dad.”  Patrick was shaken up, but still felt the adrenaline from almost being caught on fire.  He held out his unburnt hands.

Orion picked up the charred remains of the ill-fated firecracker and looked them over before tossing them in the trash.  “I think it was messed up from the factory or something.  It didn’t light right when the fuse caught.”

Susan nodded.  “I saw.  It flared.”

“Does this mean no more fireworks?”  Iris was disappointed.

“No, we’ve just got to check them first, that’s all,” Orion said without waiting for either of his parents to verify.

“Really?”  Boyd was still paler than a ghost, despite the day in the sun, but he could tell everyone else wanted more.  “Okay, just please, be careful.  Check them all.  Carefully.  In good light.”  He brought over a table lantern.

Once everything was cleaned up and the remaining fireworks verified as safe, they started again.  Cycl0n3 jumped in the pool and treaded out a few feet, and Blair called out to him.  “What are you doing?”

“Getting prepared in case of Inferno: Round Two!”

“Llama,” Patrick muttered, while Susan just shook her head, and Boyd debated for a moment whether or not to join him.

Across town, Chris and Tad missed the fiery home fireworks at the Wainwright mansion just as the extravaganza at Old Pier Beach started.  The crowd gathered as the opening burst lit up the sky.  Tad looked around.  “We should find somewhere to sit,” he said just as a loud one went off.

“What?”

Tad took Chris’ hand while eyeing a prime unoccupied spot of sand.  “Just follow me.  Come on.”

They wove through the crowd and around the lighting areas until they reached the spot Tad wanted to claim.  As they approached, Tad tripped over something in the sand.  “Whoa.  You okay?” asked Chris.

“Yeah.”  Tad lifted his foot from what looked like a wire or cord he’d snagged.  “Just got caught on this.”

There was a loud shout behind them, and one of the event attendants rushed their way.  Chris looked over, and shoved Tad.  “Plum!  Keep moving!”

“What?  Why—? Oh!”  It seemed that whatever he tripped over caused a disturbance that led one of the displays, which had been lit, to tip.  It sparked wildly and danced in the sand, lighting before its time and creating a light show that was almost as impressive as it would have been had it lit properly.  Luckily, Tad and Chris escaped into the crowd before anyone could pin them as the clumsy culprits behind the accident.

“That was close,” Chris said as they found a new spot to watch the fireworks.  “The last thing we need after getting un-grounded is getting blamed for screwing up Sunset Valley’s Leisure Day fireworks show.”

“Oh, I know!  Mom would not be zen about that, especially this soon.”  Tad stretched out in the sand, and when Chris lay down beside him, he put an arm around him.  “And I think Dad donated some money to this show as a business write-off, so I’d probably hear all about it from him, too, once he found out his screw-up son made him look bad again.”

“I think we’re in the clear.  They shouldn’t have had a wire half buried in the sand where anyone could’ve tripped on it anyway.”  Chris frowned.  “Did your dad say you were a screw-up?  That’s kind of harsh.  I mean, my parents were mad about the party and stuff, but they weren’t like that.”

Tad sighed as a brilliant blue and gold firework exploded above them.  “It’s just how he is.  Everything’s always got to be up to his impossibly high standards.  Better never have a grade below a B, but anything other than an A gets a ‘try harder next time.’  Maria’s and Mom’s art is a waste of time, I’m lazy and unmotivated, I expect everything just handed to me and don’t know the value of hard work.  Mom spoils me, that’s why I’m so irresponsible and won’t ever amount to anything if I don’t shape up.  On and on.  Like that.  He was just pissed he’d have to explain to Mrs. Landgraab why his kids had the cops at their house, because everyone at the water cooler would be talking about it in the morning.”

“Mrs. Landgraab wouldn’t have much room to talk, being her daughter was at the party too.”

“Yeah, well, when you sleep with your boss, you worry about things like that, I guess,” Tad said, while Chris looked over in surprise.  “Oh, yeah.  Dad totally had a thing with her.  Right after she divorced her husband for sleeping with Pauline Wan.  Who my dad also cheated on Mom with years ago when he and Mom were still married.”  Tad rolled his eyes.  “Dad should talk about screw-ups. Especially since I think he’s got another married girlfriend now.  Last week when I was still grounded, he came by to pick up something he forgot while he was staying at our house.  There was a lady in the car with him and it didn’t look like a business connection, if you know what I mean.  I saw her at your grandparents’ party today.  Kaylynn, the pregnant one.  Hope for her husband’s sake it’s his and not some sibling-to-be of mine.”

Chris leaned against Tad as they talked.  “Ethan’s wife?  Wow.  That sucks.”

“It was pretty awkward.  I played it like I’d never seen her before and I guess she did the same, if she recognized me.  I don’t think her husband has any clue.  But that’s as close as I’m getting to that mess.”

They lapsed back into silence and watched a multi-color firework ripple out in bands across the night sky, followed by a rocket that exploded with three colorful bursts in succession.

“Okay, that one was cool,” Chris remarked.

“Yeah.  Not one we could get for a home party, either.”

“You don’t know my grandparents.  They probably could.  They find a lot of crazy stuff.  Though I’m not sure they’d shoot it off in their yard.  Grandpa gets paranoid about stuff like that.”

“Aren’t your grandparents mad scientists, pretty much?” Tad joked.  “That’s what Maria says.  Not like it’s a bad thing, just… weird.  Like eccentric weird, in a good way.  They seemed okay, and they’ve got a pretty sweet mansion, that’s for sure.”

“Hope you’re not hoping I’m going to inherit it, because I’m way down the list, you know.”

Tad rolled over and stroked Chris’ cheek.  “It’s not a big house I’m after.”

“Oh, is it a big something else, then?”

Tad just smirked and answered him with a kiss.

After they finished the fireworks back at the Wainwright mansion, most of the guests left, although a few hung around shooting the breeze for the last few hours of Leisure Day.  Maria was one of the ones who lingered.  Since Tad was allowed to stay out until the fireworks in town ended, Morgana said she could stay at Patrick’s until the same time.  They settled into the hot tub together.

“This is so nice,” Maria sighed happily.  “I could relax out here all night.”

“Stay as long as you want, or at least that you won’t get in trouble for.”  Patrick put his arm around her.  “I like having you here with me.”

“I like being here.  Especially since we’ve got it to ourselves.”  Everyone else was on the other side of the patio.  “A nice romantic moment under the summer stars!”

Patrick kissed her.  “Happy Leisure Day.  Here’s to leisure, relaxation, and pleasure.”

“Pleasure, hmm?”

“Absolutely.  It’s a vital component to Leisure Day, you know,” he said with a flirtatious grin.

“Oh, is that some scientific fact?  Like 9 out of 10 doctors say pleasure is a part of a balanced Leisure Day outing?”

“Could be.  My parents are scientists, your mom is a doctor.  Pretty sure that gives us the credentials to run our own study to prove it.”  He slid his hand along her thigh under the water.  “And we’re pretty alone over here.”

“Not that alone.”  Maria placed her hand on top of his.  “But maybe alone enough for this.”  She climbed into his lap and kissed him.  He circled his arm around her waist and leaned back in the bubbling water with her, and they conducted their impromptu Leisure Day study.

After the last guest left, Susan was surprised Iris was still outside and energetic at that hour.  She was next to the moondial flowers, humming happily.  Susan wondered if they were communicating in a way only a plantsim could understand.  “Usually you’re beat this time of night.  Is it the excitement of the birthday and party?  Or are you just enjoying the flowers?”

“They liked the party, too.  Though the fire scared them.  They’re glad it happened far away.”

“I imagine so.”  Susan found it both fascinating and sweet that Iris could indeed communicate with the plants.  Although she wouldn’t want to take advantage of her in any sort of undue way, she could not help but think how incredibly useful that ability could be with their gardening experiments.  “But it’s been a while since you’ve had any sun, and you’ve got your first day of school coming up.  Maybe you should say good night and head to bed?”

“Okay.”  She bent down and brushed her fingertips against one of the flowers, as if speaking telepathically, then gave her mother a hug.  “G’night, Mom!”  She went inside.

Once Iris was in bed, Susan found Boyd out on the private deck off their bedroom.  “There you are.  I wondered where you went off to.”

“I came up to take a shower but got distracted.  The sky is pretty tonight.  Relaxing.  You can even see the fireworks from town if you look that way.”

Susan joined him and remembered a previous Leisure Day, many years ago now, when she and Boyd were on their roof patio at their old house on Maywood Lane together.  She had only recently learned she was pregnant with Patrick, and they’d spent the day at the Goths’ for the holiday.  Now Patrick was nearly grown, and both Gunther and Cornelia were gone, like most recently, Judy.

Boyd’s thoughts ran in a similar vein.  “Do you remember the Leisure Day when we’d just finished University, after Blair moved out, and you’d just found out we were having Patrick?  When we were watching fireworks from our roof at our old place, and we saw lightning?  It was here.  I don’t know why I thought of that.  But it was.  Right here.  You said it was probably humidity from the beach.”

Susan smiled.  “You joked that it was weird lightning.  You wondered if it could be a dimensional portal or alien attack.  You said I Scully-ed you with the mundane possibility.”

“You did, but… I need Scully-ing sometimes.  Like you sometimes need a bit of Mulder-ing.”

“Much as I love Mulder and Scully, ‘Mulder-ing’ doesn’t have the nicest ring to it.”

“No.  A bit too much like ‘moldering.’  It’s just an odd coincidence.  Another Leisure Day, and here we are.  Where lightning struck.”

“Yes.  It’s nice tonight, though.  I don’t think there will be any freak storms this time.”

“After Judy and the fire?  I hope not.”  Boyd drew Susan into an embrace.  “Though there’s a spark of something.”

She leaned in for a kiss.  “Definitely.”

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Author’s Note:  I updated the Children of Sunset Valley page along with this chapter. Orion, Iris, Tara Keaton, and Venus Alvi all have new pictures reflecting their age-ups.