Chapter 8

Rod looked at the old man as he opened the door. His
resemblance to Patricia was staggering. ‘Mr. Diason. I am Roderick Keyes. This
is my brother, Wayne. I am sorry that we did not make an appointment, but I
need to speak to you urgently. It is about Patricia.’
 ‘Trisha, my baby?
Why?’
He stood at the door. ‘This is a sensitive matter. I would
prefer to discuss it indoors, if you don’t mind.’
The old man looked at the men. They were good-looking and
were clearly from a wealthy family. What
has Trisha done now? Shit, I hope they were not suing her. He had better
let them in and talk them out of it. That
Trisha probably had another one of those visions. I knew that one day it would
get her into trouble. And there it was on my doorstep.
‘Okay, fine, please come inside.’
He led them in and offered them a seat. ‘Amanda, we have
guests,’ he shouted.
A small woman came out of the kitchen. ‘Who is it, dear?’
‘They have come about Trisha.’
The woman looked at them. ‘Oh.’
They got up.  ‘I am
Roderick Keyes. This is my brother Wayne. We are very sorry to intrude in your
home in this way. But we have an urgent matter to discuss. If you don’t mind, I
would like to speak to Mr. Diason alone please. Wayne can you wait in the car?’

 ‘No, please, come Wayne,
we have a garden. I will make you a nice cup of tea.’
The lady had gentle eyes and she smiled at them.
‘Thank you very much.’
Wayne followed her. He was relieved he was not going to the
car. At least now he was close enough to stop Rod from strangling the man. He
would have to wait for any sounds of struggle or pain. Shit, what am I doing here, intimidating such a nice old couple? I am
going crazy like Rod.
Amanda was very sweet. ‘So, what is this all about?’
 ‘To be perfectly
honest, my brother loves Trisha, so he wanted to clear some things with her
father. He is very protective over her.’
 ‘That is very nice. They
have been fighting a lot lately. I wish he would just leave her alone. What can
she do about it? I got so angry with him in the week. She protects him and then
he gets really angry. Each time it happens, he gets angrier, as if it will stop
it from happening. It is about her powers, isn’t it?’
 ‘Yes.’
 ‘Ah, she can’t do a
thing about it, you know. You brother can say whatever he wants, but Trisha
does not help it. It just happens.’
 ‘Yes, I know, I like
that about her, actually. She has been very helpful to me.’
 ‘Really, so he is
alright with it?’
‘Yes, yes, I think. But we shall have to wait and see. This
house was built in 1928, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes, how did you know?’
‘I am an architect. I love most buildings.’
‘Oh, how nice.’
‘I like it. But you need to replace that panel on the porch,
though. It will fall off.’
 ‘Oh I would love to.
We just can’t find the right panel that fits there. Nobody has it in stock.’
‘Perhaps I can help. If after this meeting, we are still
welcome here.’
She laughed. ‘You are a very sweet man. You don’t look at
vicious as your brother. But you will always be welcome here. Don’t mind Ken.
He just gets all huffed up for nothing.’
That is what I am
afraid of, Wayne thought.
‘I will get that panel for you. So if some guy comes here,
accept it as a gift from me, for being such a gracious hostess.’
Amanda laughed. ‘Oh you are really charming.’
But inside, nobody laughed.
 
‘Let me start off by being very upfront with you. I do apologize
for intruding in this way, but I saw no other way. I love Patricia, with or
without her powers.’
The older man stared at him. Was he some crazy? Have I let a crazy into my house?
 ‘Yes, I love her, so
that is why I am here. I want to tell you that I want to stop hurting her.’
 ‘Hurting her, are you
mad? What are you talking about?’
Rod glared at him. The
arrogant swine is going to try and deny it.
 ‘Yes. She has those
powers, Mr. Diason, whether you like it or not. What is the point of abusing
her, making her feel so awful about it? What does it help her, when it is so difficult
anyway?’
 ‘That is none of your
business. How I raise my daughter is my business.’
 ‘Oh you are quite
wrong. Patricia is not just my business, she is my life. She is everything to
me. So, I am afraid, she is my business and yours, of course. I want you to
stop hurting her. Is that too much to ask of her father?’
Ken looked down. He was very confused. What is this man talking about? I do not hurt her. He had spent
many years trying to get her to see that it would get her into trouble. He had
tried everything possible to make it stop.
 ‘I have never hurt my
daughter. We don’t agree, I admit, but really, you are going too far.’
 ‘Okay, let me help
you out here. She phones you because she is frantic you will be injured in a
bank robbery. She is your daughter, so she naturally doesn’t want her father to
be hurt. She has the information to protect you. What does she do? What is her
choice? She phones her father and warns him. Good girl, would you agree? So a
good father would phone her and thank her, grateful that his daughter was
protecting him. That is what is expected. But what does she get? A diatribe of
abuse, that she is the devil? Do you think that made her happy or hurt her?’
Ken was looking down now.
 ‘What do you think, Mr.
Diason? Does it help or hurt her?’
 ‘I said those things
so it could stop. How do think I feel when my daughter is plagued with
nightmares of peoples’ pain? I want it to stop. I have tried everything. I just
want her to have a normal life. I did not mean to hurt her. I wanted her mind
to think it was a bad thing, so it would go away.’
 ‘I am afraid it is
not so easy. You have been doing it for years. Bashing at her for years. When
did you try to gently dissuade her, to say wonderful things, so your daughter
would try to stop for love, not fear or hatred?’
Ken sighed. ‘You have no idea how hard it was, all those
years. I just wanted her to have a normal life.’
 ‘But she has a normal
life. What good does it do to tell your daughter that no man will love her? How
does that help her self-esteem?’
Ken man looked away. There was a look of horror on his face.
‘I have been hurting her, my baby. All this time, I thought I was protecting
her. God, I have hurt her. She never said anything. She simply would say, “Dad,
you don’t understand.” She never told me that it hurt. Oh God, my baby.’
Ken had tears in his eyes. Rod just glared at him.
 ‘You know, despite it
all, she always phoned me. No matter what I said. She would phone me and warn
me. She never let me down, no matter what I said. She just took the pain. God,
I have been a total bastard to my only child and she just put up with it.’
‘Okay, now we understand each other. I want it to stop right
now. I don’t mean to make this difficult, but I need you to understand that neither
you nor I can decide who or what she will be. That is Patricia. You can’t
really wish away the things about her you don’t like. That is who she is. She
is not going to stop. She is not going to change. Why put her through all that?
So it is simple. You will not talk to her that way again. You had better accept
your daughter. If you don’t, I will make sure she leaves you to suffer through
whatever. Also, she won’t see or speak to you again. I hope we understand each
other.’
Ken was looking at him. ‘God, it took some pretty boy to
show me how much I have hurt her. Thank you. Where is Trisha?’
 ‘At home. She is fine
by the way.’ Rod glared at him. The
bastard is going to phone her.
 ‘I ...I have been so self-centered
that I didn’t even know you were in her life. She never said a thing. She never
told me.’
 ‘I know that I sound
like an awful bully, but Patricia is off-limits. If you want to let off steam,
find another way. You need to understand that I am very serious. I will do
whatever is necessary to protect her. I won’t have her hurt by anyone.’
 ‘Young man, please, I
heard you. Do you know, until now, I always assumed that I should just shake it
out of her? I never considered the possibility that she had no control over it.
I never thought it was okay.’
‘It is more than okay. It makes her a very special person.
She has special needs. You need to help her. When she is afraid, you must
comfort her. She needs to be loved for everything that she is.’
 ‘Yes, yes, I ....
what can I say?’
Ken wiped his eyes and suddenly really saw Rod. ‘You really
love her, don’t you?’
 ‘Yes, very much. Most
of the time, she drives me crazy, but I love her.’
 ‘I am very pleased
that she has you on her side. How did you meet?’
 ‘At a gallery. She
was looking at a painting. I knew then that she was special.’
 ‘Yes, she is that.
Why didn’t she just tell me that I was hurting her?’
 ‘Because that is who
she is. That’s what we fight about, all the time. She just shuts down and then
we fight.’
Ken smiled, ‘yes, I must have a lot to do with that. When
she was having one of her visions, I would just glare at her and she would look
away and clasp her hands, as if to control herself from saying something.’
 ‘That is exactly what
drives me crazy. But she is a wonderful woman, with a great deal of compassion
and love. She treats all her animals as if they are her personal friends. I
suppose you know all about her powers.’
 ‘No, I don’t really
know. What do you mean?’
 ‘The way she talks to
the animals and helping people with difficult choices. It is a wonderful gift.
She needs it to complete her.’
The old man was fixated with this young man who seemed to
know his daughter so well. Where have I
been all these years? I certainly did not know she speaks to animals.
 ‘I am sorry for Trisha,
all those years, without you. All those years when we tried to shut her down. I
am a terrible father. What am I going to do?’
 ‘Leave her be, that’s
all I ask. If she wants to share something with you, just accept it. All you
have to do is not call her names. Can you do that for her?’
 ‘Yes, young man.
Yes.’
 ‘Good. I am glad we
understand each other. Because I was dreading having to threaten you with her
other powers.’
‘Other powers?’
‘Her power to make things,….the body very uncomfortable.’
‘She can do that too?’
‘Hmm. But since we understand each other, you never heard
that from me.’
‘Understood. I am sorry that we had to meet under these
circumstances. I am pleased though, that you love my daughter. Thank you. Thank
you for making me realize what a fool I’ve been.’
‘Okay. Now I have to go. Patricia is going to kill me, so I
had better get my energy up.’
‘Why?’
‘Because she is going to freak out when she finds out I came
here.’
‘She doesn’t know?’
‘Not a chance,’ and Ken laughed. ‘You are quite an amazing
young man.’
‘Be sure to tell her that,’ and they were laughing when Wayne
walked in.

It had been too quiet in there and he was convinced Ken was
lying in a pool of blood on the floor, desperately trying to breathe. He was
sure Rod had knocked him over the head and then tried to strangle him. He was
very surprised to see them laughing. Good,
I have come in time, before the bloodbath starts.
‘Everything alright?’
He looked at Rod. ‘Yes, yes, thank you for seeing us. We
really have to go now.’
‘Bye, Amanda. Hope to see you again.’

Ken Diason watched the two men leave. He felt the pain of
the young man’s words and it really hurt him. He had never imagined that he
could have so blatantly tortured his precious daughter. She has been more
sensitive lately and he should have picked it up. He should have noticed that
she was in love with that stern man. But he was also pleased, because he knew
now that she would be taken care of. No sane person would ever try to harm her
now.
Amanda watched him, the tears in his eyes.  ‘Oh Ken, is it alright?’
 ‘Yes, at long last,
it will be fine. Oh Amanda, I have been a terrible, evil father. Will she ever
forgive me?’
She held him and they went to lie down. Ken cried, because
he remembered all the horrible things he had said to her over the years. He
cried for the years he had lost, refusing to see how special she was.
~ ~ ~ ~

In the car, Wayne could not contain himself. ‘Okay, tell
me.’
 ‘He seems like a
genuine man. He started off by being defensive, so I wore him down, threatened
him and we understand each other now.’
 ‘Threatened him,
how?’
 ‘He didn’t seem to
understand he was hurting her, so I explained into him. Then he seemed to
understand and seemed quite upset, so he was crying and I didn’t know if it was
genuine or not.’
‘Rod, what was the threat?’
‘I told him that Patricia has special powers.’
‘What powers?’
‘That she could control his body and if he said anything to
her, I would make her hurt his body.’
‘What? Are you crazy? She has no such powers.’
‘He doesn’t know that.’
They laughed.
‘He won’t really take the chance to find out?’
‘Exactly.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He was horrified. If nothing worked, I am sure that did the
trick.’
Wayne laughed again. ‘Gareth is right. You are crazy. Shit!
I had better phone Gareth. He must be frantic.’
‘Hello Gareth, all is well. Can you talk?’
‘Hi, Wayne, how are you? Yes, yes, I am with Trisha.’
 ‘Okay, everything is
fine. They had a civilized conversation like two grown men, can you believe it?
It went well. So relax, I will tell you the details later. How is she?’
 ‘Not good. It appears
that just when they were getting cozy, he ran off. She is seriously pissed off
and a little rejected. How is he?’
 ‘The same. So she
wanted him?’
 ‘Oh yes. But that
crazy brother of yours ran away. This is too complicated. But she is fine, because
she is glaring at me, telling me to stop being such a blabber-mouth.’
 ‘Put her on.’
 ‘Hi, Wayne. How are
you?’
 ‘Not too good. You
torture my brother, so I suffer. You have no idea what he had made me do,’ he
laughed when Rod almost went off the road.
 ‘You have got to take
him back, just for my sake.’
 ‘I don’t know about
that. He left in a huff and a puff, the usual stuff, just when I was about to
seduce him.’
 ‘So you were trying
to seduce him? Gosh, he really needs all the help he can get, that brother of
mine. Never mind, I will work on him.’
 ‘You are in such a
good mood. What are you up to?’
 ‘Rod is driving and
he is glaring at me, because he doesn’t think this is funny.’
 ‘He is with you? I am
going to kill you.’
 ‘That’s what he says
to me all the time. He is getting really angry now, so I had better go before
he drives right off the road. Do you want to talk to him?’
 ‘No, no, absolutely
not.’
Wayne laughed, ‘okay, suit yourself. Goodbye,’ and he had a
good laugh all the way back to the house.

Rod just glared at him and stormed inside the house.
Wayne waited for Kathryn to join him at Rod’s house that
afternoon. It had already been such a long day and he needed some rational
company. Rod did not leave his bedroom. He
is probably plotting some other crazy scheme. God help us!
When he finally surfaced, he looked a little relaxed and focused.
He had lost that rough look in his eyes. ‘Wayne, thank for coming with me
today. I appreciate it.’
‘Fine. Am I off the hook now? For not telling you about
Trisha?’
‘No, never,’ and he smiled as he went to pour them a drink.
‘What are you doing tonight?’
‘Kathryn is coming over. You?’
 ‘I am going to seduce
Patricia, of course.’
‘Oh no. I knew you were busy with some crazy scheme again. What
now?’
 ‘Nothing. I am not
going to do anything, but sit quietly and listen to her and then I will make
her drunk’.
Wayne laughed. ‘I hope you stick to that plan. I really hope
so, because if you do, she will be so surprised that she will tumble into bed
with you. Will you talk about ....’
 ‘No. When she is
ready, she will tell me. Maybe she never will.’
‘Okay, I like this plan. Will you promise to stick to it,
please?’
Rod laughed, ‘yes, yes, I will.’

When he phoned Trisha, she was sounding a lot better than
she had been earlier. ‘Hi, Rod. How are you?’
 ‘Not so good. And
you?’
‘Alright. Sorry about this morning. You got me at a bad
moment and certainly too early.’
 ‘Fine, stop apologizing
so much. It was my fault. As usual, I didn’t really think. I am sorry,
Patricia.’
‘Okay, now why are you not fine? What’s the matter?’
‘The matter is that I am missing you.’
‘Oh.’
‘Can you help me with that problem?’
 ‘I don’t know. This
morning you seemed quite keen to run away.’
‘Yes, I guess I feel really shit about the way I behaved. I
want to make it up to you.’
 ‘Oh Rod, leave it
alone. What are you doing?’
‘Sitting on edge hoping you accept my proposal.’
‘What proposal is that?’
‘That I come over with a bottle of wine and we try to be
friends again. I miss you so much Patricia.’
‘Oh Rod, what can I say? We will just end up in mortal
combat.’
‘I promise that we will not fight. I will behave so well,
you won’t recognize me.’
She laughed, ‘I doubt that very much.’
‘Is that a challenge?’
 ‘Yes, Rod. You could
never spend an hour without picking a fight.’
 ‘Okay, you are on. If
I win, what do I get?’
‘Let’s see. I will think of something ....let’s see. I will
cook for you for a day.’
 ‘No, a week.’
‘Okay, but if I win, will you cook for me for a week?’
‘No, two weeks!’
‘Really, you are very sure of yourself today.’
He laughed, ‘no, just finally learning to grow up. So, what
time?’
‘You have tricked me into this, haven’t you?’
‘Yes, of course. What time?’
‘Around 7.00 will be fine. Bring some wine, okay?’
‘Fine, lots of wine. What else?’
‘Tons of good-behavior magic.’
He laughed, ‘fine, I will see you later.’

When he arrived at her house, he smile cheerfully at her and
greeted her politely. She laughed at him, hoping to goad him.
 ‘Four bottles of
wine. Are you trying to make me drunk?’
‘Of course,’ and he smiled his special smile, his dimples
flirting with her. He kissed her lightly on her cheek.
 ‘Thank you for being
so special, Patricia. Now, is there food in this house? I am so hungry.’
‘Yes, yes. Come let’s eat.’
While they ate, Rod smiled at her and listened to her
stories about her patients. ‘Are you okay with my brother being with Kathryn?’
‘Yes, they are good together. I just hope he knows what he
is doing.’
 ‘Why?’
‘She is a very strong woman. He only sees the demure little
thing that smiles sweetly. But I have seen her being strong and aggressive.’
‘Good, he needs some of that. He really likes her, so I
think it will be fine. The only problem is he might want to go back to New York
and I gather she refuses to go there.’
‘Yes, she will never leave. She loves her life here.’
‘I hope it never comes to that. I want him to be happy. When
he is not being rude and obnoxious to me, he is quite a great guy.’
 ‘Yes, he is very
sensitive and understands a lot about people.’
‘Yeah, I only recently discovered that about him. All my
life, he has been the younger, irresponsible brother. It has been quite a shock
to find out that he is more rational and responsible than I am. In an odd kind
of way, it is also quite comforting. ’
‘He worries a lot about you.’
‘Yes, he firmly believes that I have become crazy and that I
am likely to do something bizarre.’
 ‘I think he might be
right,’ she smiled sweetly at him. Shit,
he really is behaving. He did not even raise his eyebrows. No fits of anger.
‘More wine, my dear?’
‘You are determined to make me drunk.’
 ‘Yes, yes.’
‘Why?’
‘So that I can seduce you, of course.’
She laughed, ‘do I have to be drunk for that?’
‘Yes, why else would you even consider a crazy man?’
‘Rod, you are behaving a little too well. What’s up?’
‘Nothing, I told you that I am going to behave. I have a
total of 3 minutes left.’
 ‘You are watching the
time?’
 ‘Yes and after that,
the old Rod is back.’ He smiled knowingly at her.
She touched his hand. ‘Let me see if I can convince you to
misbehave in three minutes.’
She caressed his hand and he just smiled. He turned over his
hand and held hers. ‘We should have put in a clause that also required you to
behave.’
She laughed, throwing her head back. He watched as her
throat grinned at him. She face changed suddenly. My father is upset about something. She saw him, sitting on the
porch, sipping a glass of whisky. She had better phone him and find out what
was wrong. ‘Are you okay, Patricia?’ He held her hand tighter.
‘Ur, yes, yes. I just remembered I should have phoned my
father.’
She looked away from him. 
‘Fine. I will go and sit in the garden. Okay?’
‘Are you sure? It is not necessary. I will only be a few
minutes.’
‘Relax. I will be fine. Do you want me to leave?’
‘No Rod. I promise it will be a few minutes.’
‘Okay.’

He got up and went outside, carrying the bottle of wine with
him. She returned a few moments later, looking a little confused. ‘Everything
fine?’
‘Yes. I had the strangest conversation with my father. He
thanked me for caring so much, for phoning him. I hope he is alright.’
‘I am sure he is fine. Now, come, more wine for you.’
‘No thanks, I have had enough.’
‘Are you drunk yet?’
She laughed, ‘drunk enough.’
‘Drunk enough for what?’
‘For you to seduce me, of course,’ and she walked off
inside.
Rod followed her, hoping she was not just teasing him.  ‘What is the time?’
 ‘8.15.’
And he walked to her and touched her cheek. ‘Patricia, you
are quite beautiful. What am I going to do with you?’
 ‘Let me see......’
but he kissed her before she could say anything else. She flung her arms around
him and held him tight.
He laughed, ‘next time, we will see if you can behave.’
‘Rod, please will you stop behaving already?’
He laughed out loud as he led her to her bedroom. That was
the most wonderful thing she had ever said to him.
~ ~ ~ ~

It was 11.30 that evening when Rod heard the doorbell. He
wished the caller would go away. Patricia was fast asleep, looking relaxed and
pleased. He hoped they would go away and leave her to sleep. It was probably
one of her patients, needing urgent help. He got out of bed and dressed
quickly. I will just tell them to go
away, that she is ill or something. He moaned at the fool who would bother
her so late.
He opened the door and was completely taken aback to see Ken
Diason standing there.
‘I know I should have phoned first, but she would have just
told me not to drive at night. Amanda is in the car. Can we come in? I need to
speak with Patricia.’
‘Ur, of course. Please come in. I will get her.’ This is awful timing. Just when I am getting
her to relax. He went to wake her and she just slept.
‘Patricia, please, wake up.’
‘Rod, no, I am tired. Later, okay?’
He smiled. ‘Patricia, your father is here.’
‘Yes, yes, I will call him tomorrow.’
He kissed her. ‘Patricia, sweetheart, he is here in your
house.’
She opened her eyes. ‘Here? Are you sure?’
‘Yes, he is waiting in the lounge. Can you wake up please?’
‘Okay, okay.’
She jumped out of the bed and started walking out.
‘Patricia!’
‘What now?’
‘Can you put some clothes on?’
‘Shit! I am still sleeping!! Rod is my father really here?
This is not some joke, is it?’
‘No, no. Amanda is also here.’
‘Something awful must have happened.’
He went to her and helped her put her t-shirt on. ‘Now,
here, some jeans.’
‘Thank you, Rod. I think I am completely blind drunk. That
is all your fault.’
 ‘Fine, you can deal
with me later. Shall I go and make some coffee?’
She looked at him. ‘Will you? Thanks.’
‘Fine, now try to relax, okay?’
Trisha just stared at her father and then at Amanda. She
could see nothing. Okay, it can’t be that
awful. Their faces are quiet and still.
 ‘Dad, Amanda, what on
earth is the matter?’
‘Nothing, my dear. Come give me a hug.’
She went to him and he hugged her tightly. ‘Oh, my baby!’
She still could see nothing. This is very strange. There is no death, accident or anything. Why is
he acting so strange?
She went to Amanda and hugged her. Nothing here too.
Rod cleared his throat. ‘Would you like some coffee, tea, or
a drink?’
‘Yes, please, a whisky for me. Do you have any?’ Ken asked.
‘Ur. Yes. Rod, in the kitchen in that tall cupboard.’
‘Amanda?’
‘Ur, a glass of wine would be nice.’ She looked at the two
empty bottles on the floor.
‘Yes, that I definitely have. Can I have coffee, Rod?’ Patricia
was trying not to panic.
‘Sure.’
He moved towards the kitchen. ‘Rod, please, let me introduce
you to my parents.’
Rod looked at Ken. ‘We met already. Rod let us in remember?’

‘Oh yes, of course. Sorry, I am a bit confused today.’
‘Are you okay, Trisha?’
‘Yes, yes, Dad. I am fine. I am just a little surprised to
see you here, so late at night. Is everything alright?’
‘Yes, Trisha, I need to talk to you.’
‘Okay. That is my cue. I will help Rod in the kitchen,’
Amanda smiled as she walked out.
When she got to the kitchen, she smiled at Rod. ‘Thank you
for helping him. It was the hardest thing he ever did, coming here tonight. I
hope it will be alright.’
 ‘Yes, me too.’
They chatted about general things, pretending that the
conversation next door did not have a strong impact on their lives. Rod wished
he could go in there and sit with her, just in case. But he resisted the urge
and smiled politely at Amanda.
Amanda was worried that Ken would make a mess of things and
the relationship with his daughter would be worse. She wished she could sit
next to him and guide him through it.
Rod went in and gave them their drinks.
Trisha was curled up in one couch and her father sat
opposite her. He looked like a father, instructing his daughter about something
and she looked like a bored teenager who had heard it all before.
 ‘Sorry to interrupt,
but here are your drinks. Patricia, give me a shout if you need anything.’
 ‘Thanks.’
He went out reluctantly. She had her hands clasped tightly
now and he wondered what the father was saying.
‘Okay, they seem to be fine.’
 ‘Good.’ Amanda
sighed.

 ‘Trisha, I suppose I
am just talking nonsense. This polite stuff is silly. I came here to tell you
that I am very sorry for being such a terrible, useless father to you. All
those years, I tried so hard to pretend your gift would go away, but today, I realized
that it never would. I am sorry that I never stood by you. I am so sorry that I
never knew what you needed.’
 ‘Dad, look what is
going on here? What are you talking about? Are you ill?’
 ‘No, but I have been
ill for a long time. I am telling you that every time you needed my assurance
that you were okay, I just shouted at you and said awful things. I know now
that I did not give you what you needed. I would give anything to start again,
to give you the love and support you need.’
He had tears in his eyes and Trisha went to him.
 ‘Oh Dad! What has got
into you? I know that you were hoping it would stop. I know,’ and she started
crying too.
‘Oh my baby, I hope someday you will forgive me. I hope you
will show me what you need.’
 ‘Dad, just hearing
you say that is all I want,’ and they cried together for the years they had
lost as friends, as family.
Trisha moved away from him. ‘Dad, what happened to make you
change your mind?’
‘Roderick. He told me that I was an awful father.’
‘Rod, that Rod?’
‘Yes, he loves you so much. He told me that your powers made
you special and I should accept that.’
‘Dad, I am very confused. When did Rod say this to you?’
‘He hasn’t told you, has he?’
‘No Dad. What?’
‘Okay. He came over this morning to tell me that,… basically
about your powers and that it was a wonderful thing. He told me over and over,
as if I was a child, that it was not going to stop, no matter what evil things
I said to you. He was very harsh with me, but it was a good thing. He forced me
to realize what a total fool I was. He threatened me if I did not stop hurting
you.’
 ‘He threatened you?’
 ‘Yes, he told me
about ur.., your special powers that could.... You know.’
 ‘No, I don’t Dad,
what special powers?’
 ‘That you can make my
body do things.’
 ‘Ah I see. Dad I have
no such power. Rod is just demented. What else did he say?’
‘He told me that you talk.... communicate with animals and
that you see events, so you can help people. All that stuff. I must say he was
very civilized. He spoke to me as if he wanted me to know my own daughter. It was
quite shocking.’
 ‘He was calm and
rational?’
 ‘Yes, most of the
time. Yes, except when I told him it was none of his business. I thought he was
going to explode. He told me that you were his business because you are his
life. Why did you not tell me that you met a man who loves you so much?’
 ‘Oh Dad, he never
says anything to me. We fight all the time. I am surprised that he said all
those things to you. I worked hard to make sure he never knew about those
things. We never discussed it. Until now, I thought he did not know.’
 ‘That is very
interesting, because he knew so much. He was very clear that nobody is to hurt
you. I suppose hearing him speak so passionately about you, hit home. He went
on and on about how I have been hurting you. It was so sharp and clear that I
finally realized.’
Trisha had tears in her eyes now.
 ‘Oh Dad, I am sorry
that all this happened. I am sorry that I had these things that made you so
uncomfortable.’
He held her. ‘Trisha, Rod said something to me that you need
to remember. You must never apologize for who you are. That is what makes you
so special, okay? He was right. You are special and a wonderful person, so I
don’t ever want you to say you are sorry about that.’
The two of them cried. ‘Oh Dad, thank you so much.’
‘You must thank Rod. He is the one who made me realize how
wrong I have been.’
She laughed. ‘No, he is in trouble. He should not have
threatened you.’
‘Oh, but he was right. But Wayne was there, so it was fine.’

‘Wayne was there?’
‘Yes. I think he was to be the voice of reason.’
Trisha laughed. ‘I am glad you told me, because now they are
both in trouble.’
Ken laughed. ‘Rod told me that you are going to kill him
when you find out and I promised to help him. So, will you be gentle with him?
He loves you and my dear, he was absolutely right.’
‘We shall see about that. We had better let them join us,
before he does something crazy again.’
 ‘Yes.’
She went into the kitchen and watched Rod smiling at Amanda.
He was telling her a joke and she was laughing hysterically.
‘Okay, you two, break it up. Sorry about that, but we just
needed to talk.’
She did not look at Rod. ‘Would you like to join us?’
‘At last. Is everything alright?’ Rod went to her and hugged
her.
‘Yes.’
They chatted for a while and the older couple got up to
leave.
Despite Trisha’s insistence that they stay the night, Ken
wanted to go home and try to settle his emotions. ‘I promised Amanda I would
take her to a casino, so I am afraid we will stop off and probably spend the
whole night on our feet.’
 ‘Yes, it was the only
way he could convince me to go driving in the middle of the night.’
Trisha waved them goodnight and shut the door. She looked at
Rod for a long time.