Olympus Drive Book 3: According to Plan

Chapter 45

Basil

I wake up with a crick in my neck, to the sensation of my phone vibrating against my ass. I'm asleep on the floor of the laundry room, leaned against the washer, with four of my kids using me as a pillow. I have no idea why, but every single one of my kids thinks that I make the perfect pillow. No matter how old---Jasmine or Thyme will still do it. They get sleepy, and automatically just lean against me. Right now Isa, Elena, and Juno are all curled up heads on my chest and stomach. Gale is very tentatively using my one foot as a pillow, poor little thing. He's not used to snuggles. These three are piled up like so many kittens. Gerard is also using me as a pillow, his head is across my legs and he's still holding all the jewels we got from little Gale. I'm glad someone brought him around.  Whatever, they didn't want him. I'm glad to have him.  I hope he knows that.

Shit my phone is still ringing. I gingerly pull it out. It's Lisa.

"Sol got home---a few hours ago, and he disappeared into his room with some of your vodka and he's blaring music and he won't open the door for me," he says, taking a deep breath, "And he never does this he always talks to me and I'm worried about him with that much alcohol he can't do that he's not allowed to drink and he won't even tell me where he's been---,"

"I'm sure he's just pouting," I don't know how to tell her how often I disappeared into my room with a bottle of alcohol when I was seventeen.... whoops I'm a bad example. Never mind.

"Can you come over? I tried talking to him he told me to fuck off this really isn't like him and I got mad and now he's stopping me from opening the door somehow and I thought you could get in when I can't. I don't know what he's doing?" she's crying.

"Yeah, yeah, definitely, on my way, do you know where Luna is?"

"She spent the night at Nym's I wasn't gonna let her after getting suspended but---,"

"No yeah whatever, I'm on my way," I say, "I've got to rearrange kids though, I'll be like ten minutes yeah? Hang on."

I sort out the kids, a couple wake but I kiss their cheeks and tell them to go back to sleep. I carry them all to Della's old room and tuck them in the double bed. Except Gale, I figure he might like his own room and so I put him in my old room. I find my teddy bear, Denver, and tuck it in next to him. Thyme always used to use it for a pillow. I smile, pulling a blanket over him. Then I carry Gerard to his room.

"How strong are you?" he mumbles as I lift him, bridal style, and carry him into his room.

"I don't know, I'm gonna go and check on the twins, I'll be back," I say, kissing his forehead.

"Okay you sure?" he asks, sleepily.

"Yeah, go back to sleep, it's fine."

I go to the dining room to check on Dara. She's awake, with three laptops up. I should have, in retrospect, never given her three laptops.

"Hey, how's my queen, the heir to my last brain cell?" I ask, kissing the top of her head.

"Fine daddy, you should be in bed."

"Um so should you? I gotta go check on Sol," I say, hugging her and kissing her cheek.

"Okay, I'll be here."

"Sleep sometime all right?"

"Okay."

My dad and Helen are still up, in the kitchen.

"I need you to look me in the eyes and verbalize to me that you regret your actions and do not plan on mind controlling anyone in the future without tellin' me about it independent of absolutely anyone or anything, but mostly anything your dumb brother has  ever done to or with anyone at any point in time----" my dad looking exhausted, holding a bottle of whiskey and sort of cuddling it as he stands over Helen, who is sitting at the table. Chiron is staring at her. Spells don't work on the dog. Our dad is not beyond having Chiron jump on her every time she tries to get up or move.

"Yes okay fine! Fucking Lucifer's Sunday picnic we've been at this for an hour—"

"Yet you have yet to convince me you actually intend to do what I say---hey B are the kids all right?" my dad asks, noticing me come through the kitchen to get my car keys.

"Yeah, I'm gotta go talk to the twins, the others are in bed, yes Helen including Isa no I didn't leave him in the laundry room because I really actually like him," I growl, because I'm still pissed at her.

"You have several others that are prettier and smarter."

"No male in our family is smart," I say, leaving.

My car is actually charged because Detective Stamos was here and he plugs it in. That's very nice of him. I think he also searches it for alcohol. I probably shouldn't blame him for doing that.

When I get there, Lisa is waiting for me on the porch. I can hear rock music playing ridiculously loud, even from the driveway.

"He's in so much trouble," she sighs, "This boy."

"Yeah I know; I'll have a talk with him," I say, patting her shoulder.

"Make sure he's okay? Then tell him he's grounded," she sighs.

"Will do," I say, going to the door. The music is extremely loud. He's turning it into little shock waves. I walk with some difficulty to his door and force it open.

Sol is sitting up on his bed, eyes closed, listening to the music.

"YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE YOUNG MAN, turn it down all right? You're gonna break my ear drums CUSSING AT YOUR MOTHER YOU WERE RAISED BETTER THAN THAT MY SON please actually seriously how do you turn this down?" I finally just mess with he electricity to turn down his sound system while he glares at me.  "YOU'RE GROUNDED YOU REALIZE THAT?? Seriously dude you have airpods for a reason, two pairs because I understand the battery life is not enough—,"

"Go away," Sol says, flatly.

"Going, sleep it off, we'll talk in the morning YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THIS DRINKING?? AM I NOT AN EXCELLENT BAD EXAMPLE FOR YOU??? I'M SHOCKED, SHOCKED AND ASHAMED, here this is Excedrine you'll thank me in the morning, drink all this water too that'll help your head SHOCKED AND ASHAMED AT YOUR BEHAVIOR THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES seriously don't cuss at your mother, love you," I say, tossing two more pairs of wireless headphones down onto his bed, and swiftly pick up the vodka, "You're gonna have such a headache seriously drink the water YOU'RE GOING ON THE CHORE CHART THAT'S A LOT OF VOLUNTEER WORK YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUNG MAN YOU'VE DEEPLY DISAPPOINT ME WORRYING YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT drink up, we'll talk in the morning all right? Get some sleep now."

"You're so fucking weird, dad," he says, flopping back down and pulling a pillow over his face.

"I love you YOU ARE VERY GROUNDED, oh and try not to plague anybody okay? I appreciate you I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN YOU RIGHT NOW love you, night," I say, ruffling his hair. He swats at me. I emerge, with the alcohol.

"Thanks," Lisa sighs, taking it from me to go pour down the sink.

"You don't have to thank me. He's my kid," I say.

"Yeah," she says, as she wastes good liquor, "I'm sorry I didn't mean---the alcohol."

"No, I didn't take it like that, we're cool," I say, stroking her hair out of her face, "I got him to turn the music down he should be quiet."

"You gonna stay?"

"No I ah, have a few issues back at the house namely Helen--- yes, yes I am staying with you and I will leave before the  kids wake up? Fair? In case Sol decides to blast you out again?" I ask, taking her in my arms.

"Fair," she says, kissing me.