The Blue Orchid Years

Chapter 34: Neither Forgotten Nor Gone

Another week passed before I could leave the hospital and it would be another two months before the court hearing. Everyone would need to strategize and go over what to say and how to say it, but today all we were interested in doing was to celebrate my discharge from the hospital. Neesa had convinced us to give ourselves time to have fun after a roller coaster ride. To add to the joyful occasion, Keith had some theories about the reversibility of Moira's memory loss and although he wasn't sure his research could be any help ("I used mice in my experiments, Nardho, and you know how animals have different physiology compared to humans and thus I can't promise I can replicate the results of my experiments when it comes to your wife") I still wanted to know what was on his mind. He said he had been perfecting a headset similar to the Somnodora but didn't require its users to sleep to access their old memories. He had offered to show the workings of the device, which he called Recordatio Dulcis, at our backyard barbecue.

The smell of tomato sauce and dry rubs wafted in the air as Moira and I made our way to where Neesa and Keith had cranked up the grill. Rain and Vannie were in charge of bringing out the plates, utensils, and napkins. Meanwhile, Nardhia and Tony also busied themselves indoor, making fruit punch from watermelon and plain syrup. In the corner, George was bending over a table while chatting with Kenta and Johan as they skewered marinated shrimps and pineapples.

"So, George, did you say this marinade is also the same one you use on Blanche Pizzeria's wildly popular seafood pizza?" Kenta piped up as he grabbed more skewers. "Is that pickled garlic and pink salt I smell in the marinating bowl? Plus freshly-picked thyme and parsley?"

"I'm not sharing my recipe with you!" George stuck his tongue out. "Good luck guessing."

"Oh, he can guess ingredients in fusion foods pretty accurately!" Johan beamed. "Dude's got amazing tongue that detect even the subtlest taste profile. Don't be surprised if he becomes a copycat and unlock your secrets! We mere peasants must bow down to the king of culinary arts!" he dramatically bowed and George followed suit before giving Johan an amused toothy grin.

"Eh, as long Mr. Kinoya doesn't monetize the recipe he's stolen, we're good!" the pizza shop owner laughed. "I don't want a competition from supremely talented food connoisseur like him."

"Kenta is not competitive at all!" I chuckled. "Ambitious, yes, but he competes with no one."

"The only person I'm competing with is my younger self," Kenta shrugged. "That's how I find the motivation to keep improving my crafts. I have to continually learn and re-learn stuff."

"Wise words from a sage!" I nudged him before turning my attention to my brother. "I'm glad you're cracking jokes, Johan. Feeling a bit better? Your counselor must be very skilled."

"There are still crappy days," he sighed. "But I'm trying hard to focus on staying in the moment. I used to be unable to snap out of psychosis episodes, but now I can control them to an extent."

"That's a good start!" I squeezed his shoulder. He grimaced. "Oh, sorry. No touching?"

"Johan didn't mean to react defensively," Kenta reassured me. "He's got a long way to go before that irrational reflex completely goes away. He's still worried about killing us through touches."

"What are you guys chattering about? Could Vannie and I get a hand here?" Rain interjected before pointing at their partner, whose head was hidden behind a pile of plates. "That stack of porcelain plates is heavier than it looks. I get that Neesa doesn't want to use paper plates because they're wasteful, but for a casual barbecue this is kind of over the top."

"I'm happy to help you carry them!" Moira flashed her pearly whites as she took several plates from Vannie. Rain signed their thanks, nodded, and held the door to the backyard wide open.