Vix

THAT’S THE FIRST TIME I’ve heard Eve mention any family, and I’m glad to hear she has someone in her life. But from the tone of her voice, I’m guessing the relationship may not mirror what I’ve always had with my parents. 

I’ll delve later.  For now, I’m counting my blessings.

I absently reach down into my pocket to finger the ring that’s burning a hole there.

Is this real?

Very real. Don’t doubt it, follow it.  Build that foundation, Vix.  Don’t waste time, you never know how much you have.

It’s my father’s voice that answers and a chill shakes me to my core.

Just as I’m walking to my mom’s sofa, the door opens again.  I turn, expecting it to be Eve—hoping it will be Eve—but instead, it’s one of the other caregivers, Genisys.

She grins at me, but I don’t have the desire to interpret the look I see there.  Instead I just smile back and let it go.

“Getting along well with the other members of staff, Mr. Vixon?”

“Yes, thanks.  There’s no need to clear that up, I can do it.”  I just want her out of here so I can figure out a way of getting Eve back.

She’s grabbing bits of wrapping paper from where it’s strewn around the room.  “I don’t mind.  Somebody has to clean up the mess.  God knows, Eve can’t be expected to.  Christmas is difficult enough for someone like her, without extra work to do.”

I’m about to ask what she means by that, when Mark Fuller comes back in, pushing my mom back through the door in her wheelchair.

“What’s she doing here?  Where’s Eve?”  Mom jerks her head to the side, motioning to Genisys.

“I needed to come back and get all your rubbish picked up, Miss Vix.  Looks like you had a good stack of presents to open.  You have a good son.”  She smiles at me, but I sense a lack of humor in her words and eyes.

Mark wheels Mom over to the small kitchen table and she motions to the box of chocolates left open on the coffee table beside the sofa. 

I step over and take one out of the box. “One more, Mom.  You’re going to make yourself sick.”

“You mean I’m going to give myself the shits.”  She holds her hand out and I put the candy in her palm.

“Mom.”  I shake my head as she pops it in her mouth, then look over at Mark.  “You want coffee?”

He has a big grin plastered over his face.  “No thanks, Vix, I have to get back to my mom.  Enjoy your candy, Mrs. Vixon.”

With that, he steps back out of the room, shaking his head as he goes.

“Well, I’ll have coffee.”  Mom says with a full mouth and I glance over to see Genisys still smiling as she hums and picks up all the wrapping paper strewn all over the floor.

I stuff my hand back in my pocket, unable to keep from the ring, silently planning on giving it to her this evening.

What if she says no?  What if she says this is crazy?

It is crazy.  Crazy is good.  Ask her.

It’s my Dad’s voice again and I shake my head as my mom looks at me with a laser focus.

“What did you just say?” She asks, and the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.

“Nothing, Mom.”

“I could swear you just said ‘crazy is good.’”  She shakes her head.  “Taking after your father, huh?”

I look at the ceiling and step over to take a seat next to my mom before I fall down.

Genisys stuffs the last of the wrapping paper into a black trash bag, then stands up straight as she looks over at us.

“It’s so nice of you spend Christmas with your mama, Mr. Vix.” 

I nod, “Thanks.”

“Hard for people that don’t have family close during the holidays.  Glad you got to spend some time with Eve, too.”

I can’t help noticing the evil sparkle in her eyes.  Something about Genisys sets my nerves on edge, and clearly it’s no different for my mom; she reaches across the table to her knitting and starts working on some red sweater, sock thing, obviously ignoring the presence of the care giver.

“Yep.”  I keep my answers short, not liking the feeling she’s digging.

“Too bad she didn’t get to spend Christmas with her family. But, just a couple more days and she’ll be back home in Baltimore. We’re having a little going away party for her the day after tomorrow.  She’ll be missed, won’t she, Mrs. Vixon?”